USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1860-1869 > Part 14
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EAST.
SUMMER .- Teacher-Miss Mary A. Thayer, of this town.
This school is of a very mixed nature, both in regard to age and attainments. Miss Thayer taught it last summer, and her
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services have proved very successful, now as then ; and as we said then we will say now, only more emphatically, the order and general deportment were of the best kind; the interest, indus- try, and real thoroughness of improvement, were of a high character. A reporting system was used with large scholars, and merits for small ones.
In this school, summer and winter, and in Miss Fuller's school, older pupils assisted the teacher in hearing smaller classes; but these classes have not been placed under the entire charge of the pupils. The recitations have alternated between pupil and teacher usually every day, sometimes every two or three days,- thus bringing the progress of cach scholar under the teacher's attention. This method, well practised with faithful pupils, is an advantage to the school, as a whole.
WINTER .- Teacher-Mr. Simeon J. Dunbar, of this town.
I am called, ex officio, again, as last year, to report the success of my labors in this school. As this is a very delicate duty to perform, and as the school has not yet closed, we will simply say that we are thankful for all good co-operating influences that have favored us thus far, and hope they may all continue until the close, and our success be as good as our best efforts can make it. The teacher feels that he almost trespasses upon the privilege of his school by so frequent absence in attending to his duties as Superintendent.
CENTRE.
WINTER .- Teachers-Mr. Heman Copeland, Principal, and Miss Carrie Howard, Assistant, both of this town.
Heretofore, only those scholars over ten years old of Nos. 4 and 7, have been admitted to this school by a regulation of the Union District; but now, scholars of all ages attend, formerly belonging to the two districts, who do not go to the South school. This school, therefore, is of a very mixed character, both in re- gard to ages and classification, and its size, (70) together with its internal management, with two teachers, render it, in some respects, not so easy and satisfactory to teach, as it otherwise might be.
The discipline and deportment have been good ; a very good
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degree of obedience and quietness was secured by the sternness and perseverance of the teachers. Both teachers have labored equally well for the benefit of the school, and their success has secured thoroughness of instruction and good progress in the branches taught.
There is a deficiency noticed in this school in general interest and animation on the part of many pupils. In this respect, there is not that energy of action and vividness of thought which secures interest and attention, and moves the mind forward to successful and useful results. This school would give many more advantages to its pupils, if it was graded.
SOUTH.
WINTER .- Teacher-Miss Charlotte A. Crafts, formerly of Lexington.
This school has been established this term, in the No. 7 school house moved to the southerly part of the town, remodeled and newly furnished for this purpose. This building has been fitted up under the charge of a special building committee, and has furnished a very pleasant and convenient school-room for the size of the school which now occupies it. The seats are arranged for 48 scholars ; the number of scholars this winter has been 50; others have attended, but not long enough to be scholars. The scholars are nearly all of a foreign element, yet the attendance has been better than at some other schools in town. The discipline is very uniform, decided and good, and quietness and good general deportment have been secured .- This school, as a whole, is not advanced, but there are many dili- gent pupils, and if it should continue under as good instruction as it is now receiving, we think it would produce a good degree of proficiency.
Miss Crafts' instruction is very thorough indeed, and her method of teaching secures industry and real progress in the minds of the pupils-making them use their own faculties of development. Great attention is given to articulation, correct pronunciation, and complete statements and answers.
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NORTH.
SUMMER AND WINTER .- Teachers-Miss Sarah B. Packard, of Marshfield.
This school in attendance and deportment during the year, has been decidedly the very best in town. As a fact in relation to the interest in attendance, we will state that this school was taught every school day through the "great snow storm," with a good attendance. The teacher used a very systematic record of lessons and deportment-having scholars report themselves. Scholars were always in a very erect position, and at times, the school seemed almost motionless, but always very studious. Move- ments in and out of the school-room, to and from recitations, were very orderly and uniform.
Words can hardly express the quietness and deportment of this school; it was remarkable. The methods of teaching and improvement of the school in all respects correspond well with the deportment. There were more general exercises and expe- dients outside of the text book, brought into the instruction of this school, than in any other in town ;- such as compositions, map drawing, speaking, and various forms of recitations. A very pleasant and obedient disposition was always manifested, and the general willingness and submission of the scholars to do, or even think as the teacher requested, reminds us of the truth of Paul, "When I am weak then I am strong." There are scholars in other schools more advanced than there are in this. At the present time there is a good unanimity of action and in- fluence among the parents and pupils toward the prosperity of this school.
BEAVER.
More than two-thirds of this school belong to East Bridge- water; this year it is under the care of this town.
SUMMER .- Teachers-Miss Jeanette C. Harlow, of East Bridge- water, Principal, and Miss Hannah Richards, of this town, Assistant.
This school is of a very complicated character in classification, degree of attainments, and disposition of scholars, and is diffi- cult for most females to govern or teach. The teacher worked
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earnestly, and in her efforts was watchful and persevering, and secured, in many cases, ordinary quietness and deportment .- Discipline and general conduct, and influence of the girls, were very good ; but on the other side of the house, among the older ones, there was not that degree of obedience and respect towards the teacher which was necessary to make her labor pleasant and improving in all respects. Nevertheless the discipline was or- dinarily fair for so large a school ; Miss Harlow had many good qualities of teaching, was faithful in her duty, and her success with many pupils was marked by improvement.
The Assistant had been formerly a member of this school, and had never taught before. Scholars recited to her in the lower room. She was much devoted to her work, faithful in her ser- vices, and, for her first term of teaching, secured good results.
WINTER .- Teacher-Mr. George J. Cummings, of North Groton, N. H., a member of the Sophomore class in Dartmouth College, and a person of rare qualities and excellent methods of teaching.
Discipline was positive, pleasant, and very good ; for a school of so mixed a nature, at times, it was very still, and industry and respectfulness always pervaded the school. Tact in governing and methods of interesting the pupils, secured a good degree of enthusiasm in study and attendance. The instruction was well adapted to secure thoroughness, and produced excellent results and improvement. Mr. Cummings' services raised this school to a higher position than it has occupied for the last three years, since I have been on the committee. Older pupils took the place of an Assistant this winter. The full advantages of this school cannot be received until it is graded.
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NAMES OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE BEEN PERFECT IN ATTENDANCE.
COCHESETT .- Grammar Department. SUMMER.
Cora Alger,
Addie Jennings.
WINTER.
Loraine Alger,
Julia Lothrop,
Cora Alger,
Charlie Tisdale,
Louise Jennings,
Henry Sullivan,
*Addie Jennings,
*Horace Vosmus,
* Alice Tisdale,
*Walter Brown,
*Sarah Vosmus,
* Adella Brown.
Primary Department. SUMMER.
Sarah Vosmus,
Julia Lothrop,
Sarah J. Alger,
Katie V. Shaw,
*Fanny Vosmus,
Warren Jennings,
*Hattie Pratt.
WINTER.
Fanny Rounds,
Nellie Peckham,
Hattie Pratt.
Lizzie Tisdale,
Percy Peckham,
Alton Peckham,
Warren Jennings,
David Ames,
*Charles Sullivan,
*Frank Tisdale.
JERUSALEM. SUMMER.
Mary Sullivan, Rosanna Lineham,
Hannah Lineham, *Jonas Hartwell,
*Minerva Hartwell. WINTER.
Charles H. Egan. Willie M. Egan,
Milton Howard.
NORTH CENTRE. SUMMER .- None. WINTER.
John T. Wade, *Horace Packard,
* Miles Leavitt.
*Lizzie Tisdale, Fanny J. Rounds, Horace Vosmus,
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OLD NO. 4 .- SUMMER.
Susie W. Dunbar, * Minnie Howard,
*Cora Woodward, *Rhoda Rice, *Hattie Packard.
*Charlie H. Morey,
EAST .- SUMMER.
Mary E. Hayward,
Mary J. Perry,
*Ernest Thayer,
Julius Hayward, R. Warren Thayer, Ida F. Vosmus.
WINTER.
Lydia Anna Ryder,
Horace M. Caldwell,
George Beals, *Chester Thayer,
George A. Dunbar,
*Ernest Thayer.
BEAVER .- SUMMER.
Myron E. Hayward,
Barty Doody,
H. Galen Richards, Agnes H. Littlefield.
WINTER.
Mary A. Doody,
Frank R. Littlefield,
Agnes H. Littlefield,
Forrest N. Willis,
Fanny I. Leach,
Lottie K. Richards,
Mary M. Thresher,
Bradford Allen,
Hiram C. Curtis,
Barty Doody,
John Doody,
Myron E. Hayward,
Zenas A. Jenkins,
Rufus A. Littlefield,
Daniel E. Littlefield,
Eddie Welch.
OLD No. 7.
Lizzie A. Dunbar, *Ora Packard,
Fred. Leonard,
Mary E. Dunbar,
Mary S. Perkins,
Samuel Reed,
Gertie Freeman,
Josie Freeman,
Eddy Dunbar.
NORTH .- SUMMER.
Irene A. Edgecomb,
Abbie T. Bacon,
Amanda Perkins,
Abbie Eldridge,
Lizzie Packard, Lizzie Eldridge,
Annie Perkins, Wallace Keith,
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B. Edgar Perkins,
*Jane Howard,
*Flora Packard,
*Eddie Keith,
*Eliza Geary,
*Eliza Bacon,
Pardon H. Bacon,
*Warren Keith, *Hattie Geary,
*Marianna Hayward,
"Josie Keith, *Mabel Packard.
WINTER.
Irene A. Edgecomb,
Amanda Perkins,
Annie Perkins,
Warren Keith,
Pardon K. Bacon,
*Emma Millet,
* Abbie Bacon,
*Lizzie Packard,
*Annie Clark,
"Jane Howard,
* Horace Keith,
*Eddie Keith.
SOUTH .- WINTER.
*John Murphy, "John Brottomer,
*John Condon, "George Frye.
CENTRE .- None.
NAMES OF SCHOLARS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE GREATEST NUMBER OF MERITS IN COCHESETT PRIMARY.
SUMMER.
Lizzie Tisdale,
Edith Howard,
Fannie Vosmus, Sarah Vosmus,
Sarah Alger.
WINTER.
Katie Shaw,
Freddie Shaw,
Sarah Alger.
Fanny Rounds, of this school, has not been tardy nor absent for five terms, and Warren Jennings has been absent but two days for three years, and has never been tardy during the time.
NOTE .- Those scholars whose names are marked thus, (*) have been absent or tardy but a very few times, on account of bad weather, necessity, or sickness.
Josiah Perkins, Edgar Perkins,
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.
Amount paid by local committees for repairs, fuel, care of school-houses, and incidental expenses :
COCHESETT.
General repairs and painting inside and out of the
whole building, by a special vote of the town,
$258 45
Wood, sawing, splitting, and carrying in,
36 12
Ink, crayons, and erasers,
5 43
Making fires and care of both school-rooms,
7 50
Total,
$307 50
JERUSALEM.
Repairs on building,
$6 58
Wood, cutting and getting in,
12 00
Crayons and funnel,
1 05
Making fires and care of house,
5 00
Cleaning house,
2 00
Total,
26 63
NORTH CENTRE.
2 cords of hard wood,
$15 00
1 cord of pine wood,
5 00
Cutting and getting in,
8 00
Setting glass,
2 00
Broom and box of crayons,
70
Total,
$30 70
EAST.
Cleaning house,
$2 00
Bucket, dipper and crayons,
1 00
Wood, (nearly a cord left,)
23 70
Cutting, splitting and packing,
7 58
Making fires and care of house,
5 00
Total,
$39 28
CENTRE.
21 00
1
2§ cords oak wood,
4
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1 cord pine,
5 00
Cutting and carrying in,
8 75
Cleaning house,
4 00
Making fires and care of house,
6 00
Chair, dipper and hooks,
1 25
General repairs on building,
18 33
Total,
$64 33
SOUTH.
1 ª cords of oak wood,
$14 00
3} feet of pine,
2 12
Cutting and carrying in,
4 00
Three window curtains,
2 75
Brooms, pail, eraser and pointer,
1 25
Making fires and care of house,
4 00
Total,
$28 12
NORTH.
Wood, (good supply on hand,)
$11 67
Cutting and splitting,
4 00
Crayons, dipper and funnel,
1 00
Cleaning house,
1 00
Total,
$17 67
Expenses in the summer schools in old Nos. 4 and 7,
$4 87
Whole amount of expenses incurred by order of local committees,
$519 10
For five sets of Guyot's wall maps, (by special vote of the town,)
72 05
For printing blanks, revenue and postage stamps, stationery, and incidental expenses of Commit- tee and Superintendent, ·
14 80
For teaching, summer and winter terms, amount taken from statistical table,
1,641 66
Total for support of schools, $2,247 61
1
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By examination of the local committees' accounts we find that fuel and its preparation has cost $177.94, and making fires and care of houses $27.50, which added to the amount for teaching, makes $1,847.10. This is $9.55 more than $1,837.55-the appropriation and school fund which has formerly been used according to law, in paying teachers, providing fuel, and taking care of houses ; the repairs and incidentals having previously been paid for by the districts.
The Committee have endeavored to keep within the limits of the appropriation for schools, and as the expense for fuel is very liable to change more than $10.00 from year to year, the sup- port of schools for the present year has cost virtually no more than last, and there has also been one new school established in the south part of the town, and supported three months in the winter. There is a bill of about $20.00 for slating black-boards in the Jerusalem and South schools, which is not yet settled, but is to be paid in part by the building committee of the South school. No expenses of that committee have been presented in our account.
The compensation of the Superintendent has been $81.00, about $10.00 more than last year. This is accounted for by the extra care of Beaver school during the year, and the South school in the winter, which were not under his supervision last year. The Superintendent has received nothing for attending any Committee meetings, but has charged only as the law directs in the supervision of the schools; and no other member of the Committee has received any pay for the time spent at such meet- ings, or for visiting schools.
Before concluding our financial duty, we would respectfully invite all candid persons to examine, impartially, carefully and critically, the expense in the management of our schools during the past year ; and then ask, has there been any more expense involved in any way, or is there likely to be, upon the School Sys- tem endeavored to be presented in this report, than there was under the management of the District System ? Does not, and cannot the present system, with the same expense, secure all the favorable results that were or could be secured under the district system ? And has it not, during the past year, in some sections
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of the town, though perhaps not in all, secured better economy and more uniformity and prosperity than there had been before, and removed some obstacles to the welfare of the schools ? Candid answers to these questions will determine whether we were wise or unwise in changing our system.
The Committee, as has already been stated, have endeavored not to exceed the town appropriation, and have secured, by close calculation, sufficient schooling to answer the demands of the law. They offer the following estimate of expenses necessary to sup- port the schools for the ensuing year. At an average of $6.50 per week, nine summer schools three months each, $692.00 ; nine winter schools three months each-7.00 per week for six females and $10.00 per week for males-$864.00; Beaver school for the year, by the scholar, $90.66 ; fuel and care of school-houses, $200.00 ; total, $1,846.66. These wages and expenses are about the same as last year ; and allowing the whole number of scholars in town, and in Beaver District to be the same, provided the school fund should be as last year, the above estimate would exceed the usual appropriation, $1,700.00, by $3.11 ; therefore, $1,700.00, according to the above computation, by strict econo- my will give with the same wages as last year, which in some cases were low, just six months schooling.
The Committee have been thus careful in drawing these con- clusions, in order to show that to support the same kind of schools in the same condition, and with the same length, by the town system, it will cost no more than by the district system ; and we have also endeavored to show by our financial report that every dollar of expense is accounted for, and very little room is left for extravagance. With these results, we leave it to the citizens of the town to make such appropriations for schools as will be for their interest. We would here suggest that a few weeks more of schooling would be very beneficial in most parts of the town; and we would also suggest that very often a half dollar or dollar per week additional compensation would secure very good teachers, when otherwise their services would be lost. The Committee, therefore, should not be too closely limited in this respect. In the matter of prices there is but little room for unreasonable expenditure, for the wages of every teacher have
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to be fixed by a vote of the whole Board of Committee, and in that board there is much shrewdness manifested.
By examination of the last Report of the Secretary of the Board of Education, it will be seen that in Plymouth County, of twenty-five towns West Bridgewater enjoys the reputation of being at the foot of the list in " per centage of valuation appro- priated to public schools," and next to the foot in the " sum appropriated to each child between the ages of five and fifteen years."
The Committee would ask appropriation for furnishing brooms, pails, chalk, setting glass, &c., for nine schools-$5.00 each, $45.00 ; and for painting and repairing, inside and out, the Jerusalem and East school-houses, $275.00. Total, $320.00. Something also needs to be laid out in fencing and fixing the lot for the South school. According to the deed the town must fence the lot. In this connection we willl state that we believe our school-houses, with one exception, are not insured.
The painting and repairing of the Jerusalem and East school- houses should not be delayed. The East school house ought to have been painted last year ; the District, before abolished, had voted to raise $200.00 for that purpose.
These repairs are no more expenses of the new system, than the transfer of school property, according to law, from district to town ; the several taxes of the smaller corporations are simply assessed in one tax on the property of the whole town.
CONCLUDING REMARKS AND SUGGESTIONS.
The Secretary is requested by the Committee, to state that the best interests of the Centre School cannot be secured, in its pres- ent condition ; it should be graded, and for that object it needs two rooms, instead of one for two teachers, with all the necessary complications of so large a mixed school. The Committee, therefore, recommend the town, at their earliest convenience, and this spring, if possible, to appoint and instruct a committee to provide two suitable rooms for this school, in a way consistent with the best interests of the scholars and town. The two dis- tricts which have formerly composed this school in winter have
80
now been permanently united, and the school should be divided into two departments-Grammar and Primary-without delay.
During the year, in my general work in the schools, and by the aid of the blanks before spoken of, there are a few facts of interest which I will state. I have kept a complete record of all the classes in the different schools and the progress and thorough- ness of cach. I find the largest number of classes in any school has been 28, and the smallest number 15 ; largest average num- ber of scholars in a class, 9; the smallest average, 2; largest average time given to a class, 18 minutes ; smallest average, 11 minutes. In taking the average of all the schools, summer and winter, we find the average number of classes in a school to be between 21 and 22; average number in a class, between 6 and 7 ; average time given to a class, about 14 minutes, exclusive of devotional exercises and recesses.
An account of all damages, and the names of the scholars by whom done, has been kept. This record also shows what have been paid for and what not. As a whole, there have been com- paratively few injuries to school property ; in some schools there have been none. The greatest amount of injuries during the year will be found in the Centre school house, while in Cochesett, which before has led in this respect, the school house has received but slight injury this winter.
A record in full might be given in regard to the classification and damages of the several schools, but for want of room they are omitted. The facts relating to classification show the com- parative amount of labor to be performed and the results which can be obtained in the different schools.
By inquiry, we find that in all the schools there are less than 40 dictionaries of any kind in the hands of the pupils,-books which are essential to an intelligent teaching of reading. Over a year ago we recommended to Baker & Williams to keep a few on hand for the accommodation of scholars, seeing the need and believing they would be purchased by pupils ; but not one of these dictionaries have been called for. The dictionaries furnish- ed on the teachers' desks, cannot supply the whole school ; they are designed more especially for teachers' use, except in partic-
31
ular cases; therefore parents will not do unwisely in allowing their children dictionaries.
By a vote of the town, on the recommendation of the Com- mittee, five sets of Guyot's wall maps have been put into the Co- chesett, Jerusalem, North and South schools, and have been re- ceived with satisfaction and benefit to scholars and teachers .- The other schools are all supplied with Fowle's maps, published in 1849, and most of them have a large map of the United States, of a later date.
Many interesting and comparative facts with regard to tardy marks and visits of parents and guardians, during the term and at examination, will be found in the table. There is one thing especially, and the object for which we mainly kept this record, which has been noticed,-that a true index to the interest of parents and friends of the community is not always found in the number of their visits to the school during the term. We think it is more generally marked by their attendance at the examina- tion, but the influence of the parents and community in general is more truly represented by the interest in study and develop- ment of character manifested among the pupils.
During the present term there are 16 scholars at Bridgewater Academy attending from this town, at an average cost, at least, of $7.00 per term for tuition, and including other expenses, their schooling must cost, exclusive of board for those that board there, as much as $1.50. As many as this have attended there at different times within the past year, at an equal expense .- There have also been at the Bridgewater Normal School, 7 pupils from this town ; one-fourth of the graduating class was from here. This gives a slight idea of school tuition which goes out of town. Now there are half enough of these scholars to make a school, and there is no doubt that if a school was established here, with some of the privileges of an Academy, it would 10- ceive three times this number. At the Union or Centre House School, there is at present only six months of schooling in a year, and a school could be supported here two terms, three months each in spring and fall, by a person qualified to teach any branch studied at the Academy. The extra expense now incurred in sending scholars out of town, together with the patronage of
.
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those who could attend and cannot go away, and a little encour- agement by the town, would support such a school. If scholars are compelled to obtain the instruction they require, in other places, their school interest is not with the town in many re- spects, and the general interest in the welfare and support of the public schools consequently declines to a certain degree. Such a thing as a half public and private school might be established, and pupils of other schools who have attained a certain profi- ciency might be admitted by paying a low tuition, and a small appropriation by the town might support it in part. This would establish a kind of high school, if the people were interested, with little additional expense.
Last year, rather hastily, some thought, we voted ourselves into the town system. But this was not, as some supposed, a new system ; it was an experience of some of the best school towns of our Commonwealth, framed into a system by wise legislation. The interests of the several schools are simply transferred to the whole town, and the welfare of all must receive equal attention, and be supported by the wealth of the town. There have been no radical changes, for in our circumstances there could not be ; but some of its effects are known. We have nine committee men, and they must of necessity be interested, and do find that they must know something about schools in order to employ teachers. understandingly, and care for the interests of the schools; and that interest has been manifested the last year. For a plan of the town system we refer you to the regulations appended, which have been carefully prepared from our observation and experi- ence of the workings of this plan in other towns, with adaptation to ours. The Superintendent prepared these Regulations by vote of the Committee and their suggestions, and submits them as Regulations for the Public Schools. They may be considered lengthy, but they are simply an interpretation of the general principles of the school laws, and from our careful observation and supervision for the last three years, are, in our opinion, what we need ; and it only remains for the town to do their duty at town meetings, with manifest interest in the schools, and for the School Committee to discharge, faithfully and responsibly, all the duties devolving upon them. I will state, here, that the
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