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 1880-1890 > Part 19
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The provision for our truants has been the same as that of last year.
In a circular relating to truant schools received from the Secretary of the State Board of Education,
" It is recommended that the towns of the counties of the State (except Hampden and Berkshire counties, which have already established county truant schools,) at their next annual meeting, petition according to Sect. 14, Chap. 48 of the Public Statutes, their county commissioners to establish county truant schools, in which a class of children now wandering about the streets . may receive such discipline and instruction as will pre- pare them for good citizenship in our Commonwealth."
The Supreme Judicial Court has just rendered a decision that
" This statute is mandatory, and county commissioners, upon a proper requirement under it, should establish a truant school, without reference to their own views as to the expediency of so doing."
Another State law
" Provides that no apportionment or distribution of the income of the school fund shall be made to a city or town which has not complied with the laws relating to truancy."
It is therefore quite important that action should be taken by our town this year, in accordance with the request of Secretary Dickinson.
Sect. 14, Chap. 48 of the Public Statutes, provides that
" If three or more cities or towns in each of the four contiguous counties, Norfolk, Bristol, Barnstable and Plymouth, so require, the county commis- sioners of such counties shall, at the expense of the same, establish at a convenient place therein, a union truant school, to be organized and con- trolled by the chairmen of the county commissioners of such counties, in the manner provided for the government and control of county truant schools."
36
The appropriation made by the town last March was suffi- cient to lengthen the school year two weeks, and another week was added on account of a small extra sum received from the State under the head of school revenue, making a total of thirty- five weeks for each school, except the Centre Primary that had a deficiency of one week in the preceding year. Interruptions in the schools caused by the agricultural fairs of the region were made good at the close of the winter term, or previously.
It seemed best in some instances to substitute a vacation at Christmas for that heretofore given at Thanksgiving, and if there should be a general desire for it, such arrangement could be adopted in future.
In accordance with a vote of the committee, the spring term for 1889 will begin Monday, March 25, and continue eleven weeks to June 14.
In localities not affected by berry-picking, the close of the summer term may be deferred one or two weeks.
The general school appropriation recommended for this year will be sufficient to cover all expenses for at least thirty-four weeks, and that asked for repairs may, if no unusual demands are made, give a small sum with which to commence the work of grading about the new school-house at Matfield.
The appropriations recommended for this year are these :
For the support of schools, $3,500 00
For furnishings and repairs, 300 00
For text-books and supplies, 150 00
37
At the next annual meeting two members of the school board are to be chosen for three years.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. SHORES, M. K. CROSBY, A. S. LELACHEUR, F. S. TISDALE, B. PERKINS, School Committee.
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Feb. 1, 1889.
Superintendent's Report.
In the review of our school work to which the close of the year summons us, we can see in the distance, still illumined with hopes of their fulfilment, the carefully-formed purposes and plans with which our labors were begun ; while near at hand we are confronted with results, necessarily incomplete, but showing, we trust, well-laid foundations for future ad- vances, as well as substantial progress towards the completion of worthy labors continued from previous years.
We may take encouragement from the fact that no disturb- ance has occurred in any school of sufficient importance to seriously interfere with its good order and diligent work.
The six schools that have been privileged to retain their excellent teachers bear continued testimony to the success that has rewarded these faithful workers.
The work accomplished in each school cannot be fairly esti- mated without a good knowledge of the varying conditions under which it has been carried on. The real progress of an individual pupil or a class must be measured from the starting point, and when comparisons are drawn between classes or schools, justice requires that allowance should be made in case the circumstances may have been more or less favorable.
A comparison of the " course of study " announced in our report for last year with that proposed for " ungraded schools " by the Secretary of the Board of Education in the State Report sent to our town later in the year, shows an essential agree- ment in work to be attempted and in methods.
-
39
Prang's system of "Form Study and Drawing " has been introduced into our schools in furtherance of the excellent re- quirement of the State that "Industrial Drawing shall be taught because of its educational and industrial value."
All of the primary children, and in the mixed schools those more advanced, entered with keen delight upon the use of clay in their study of form, and each school could exhibit really good miniature specimens in clay, of either nuts, apples and other fruits, or of familiar articles like hats, bottles, rolling-pins, etc., in addition to creditable imitations of their form models, - the sphere, cube and cylinder. This clay modelling can be restricted to the fall term when the clay is most easily handled, and during the other two terms, the brief time allotted to this study can be occupied with crayons or pencils. The training thus given to eye and hand will add to the usefulness and hap- piness of each child's whole life.
The fall term, when our national election was pending, seemed a fitting time for directing attention to the form of government under which we live, and the older pupils read and studied with much interest, portions of the Constitution of the United States, together with the simple exposition of the same contained in a little book prepared for schools, entitled "Civics for Young Americans."
Beginning with the winter term, all of the schools except those composed of the youngest children have been furnished with a weekly news journal, - " The Week's Current,"- that aims to bring before its readers a " clean and careful summary of important and interesting topics." Familiar acquaintance with this little paper, besides keeping our youth wide-awake, intelligent observers of passing events the world over, must help to form the valuable habit of selecting only the best from
40
the overwhelming mass of items furnished by our daily papers.
More changes have occurred in our corps of teachers than is usual in a single year.
Miss Mary C. Keith, a resident of the district, took charge of the North school at the beginning of the year in place of Miss Ellis. Miss Keith's zealous devotion to her work received the hearty approval of her pupils and their friends, and her withdrawal early in the fall, to accept a position in one of the schools of Brockton, was sincerely regretted by all connected with her school.
Miss Ida Wyman, of Maine, her successor, carried the school to the end of the year in good order and with increasing interest in study. The quiet industry of this school is a feature worthy of notice.
Miss Ellis, whose previous experience had so well prepared her for the place, began the spring term as teacher of the Centre Primary school, but, one week later, was compelled by ill health to tender her resignation.
Miss Corelli C. Brown of this town was engaged temporarily to fill the vacancy. The earnestness which she manifested in the school-room work and her consequent success, secured her continuance in the place.
Just at the close of the summer vacation Miss Littlefield, whose efficient labors as teacher in the Centre Grammar school have been noticed in previous reports, was obliged to resign her position, on account of illness. This necessity called forth much warm sympathy and deep regret from her devoted pupils.
The new teacher, Miss Mary F. Hanscom, a graduate of the Salem Normal School, and a lady of some experience in teach- ing, has labored with singleness of purpose, enthusiasm and patient thoroughness. Under her judicious direction, there has
41
been steady advancement in all that pertains to a well ordered school.
A call to one of the schools in Easton took from the Jeru- salem school its highly valued teacher, Miss Waldron, during the summer vacation.
Miss Lida W. Copeland, a resident of our town, accepted an offer of the vacant place which she has since most acceptably filled. Her previous experience in similar schools has been of great service in the work of adjusting in the various classes a large addition of pupils that the school has received from families recently located in the region.
Most of the older boys and girls whose familiar seats were found vacant when our schools re-opened in the autumn, could be seen a few weeks later, happily at work in the pleasant room assigned to their use in the Howard building. Our interest in their progress and good conduct is not lessened though they have passed beyond the official care of the School Board, and the assurance given by their teachers that they are diligently improving this opportunity for advanced study will be received with satisfaction by all interested in the future welfare of the town.
Book-keeping has been added to the studies announced for the early part of the course in the High School.
With the present population and industrial pursuits of our town, it cannot be expected that its common schools can furnish each year so large a number (eighteen) as that admitted to the High School department of the Howard School last summer. But it is to be hoped that some pupils fairly well prepared may be found ready to avail themselves of the advantage offered by this " High School or Seminary of Learning" that has been established to fulfil the expressed intent of the generous donor :
42
" Believing that it will be for the good of my children as well as a benefit to my native town and the public, I give and bequeath
It is a constantly recurring problem in the care of our schools to make such provision for the children of families whose stay in town is often very short, that they shall be brought into harmonious working with our more permanent pupils and not retard the progress of the latter. All will acknowledge it to be our first duty to provide the best educational opportunities in our power for those to whom we naturally look for the future prosperity of our town, -the children of those parents who show a sense of responsibility in the general management of town affairs, as befits good and patriotic citzens. At the same time we should recognize it as a duty and privilege to freely offer these advantages to all children that may chance to live within our borders.
The serious nature of this problem will be seen by comparing the number of changes caused by removals, with the whole number of pupils for the year :
Whole number enrolled for the year, 288
Number that have left town, 48
Number that have moved into town, 19
Several pupils have changed residence in town. The schools most affected by these changes have been the North Centre, Cochesett and Jerusalem.
Irregular attendance continues to interrupt the steady pro- gress of some pupils. In most such cases the difficulty lies with the parents, and to remedy this evil our State has made it the legal duty of the committee to insist that all children of school age shall receive their share in public school instruction or some equivalent therefor.
43
Deliberate truancy is of very rare occurrence amongst us, and the instances in which parents attempt to interfere with the teachers' unquestionable authority on the school premises are not worthy of mention.
The new law that went into operation July 1, 1888, respect- ing the employment of children under sixteen years of age, requires a certificate from school officials, a blank form of which is here presented for the benefit of those who may have occasion to ask for a " Certificate of Schooling " under its provisions.
EMPLOYMENT TICKET, LAW OF 1888.
When
, height
complexion hair , presents a certificate duly signed, I intend to employ Date 18
Signature of intending employer or agent.
Town or city, and State,
AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATE, LAW OF 1888.
This Certifies that I am the of ., and
that was born at , in the
county of ., and State (or country) of ., on the , and is now old.
Signature of father, mother, or guardian.
Town or city, and State.
Then personally appeared before me the above-named , and made oath that the foregoing certificate by signed is true to the
44
best of knowledge and belief. I hereby approve the foregoing certificate of
height , complexion ...
hair .... . , having no sufficient reason to doubt that is of the age therein certified. And I hereby certify that can read at sight, and can write legibly simple sentences of the English language, and that
has attended the public (or private) day school according to law, for weeks during the year next preceding this date, and that the last twenty weeks of such attendance began
This Certificate expires
Date
18
Signature of person authorized to sign, with official character or authority.
Town or city, and State.
This law prohibits the employment of any child under six- teen years of age, " in factory, workshop, etc.," unless the employer keeps on file the required certificate.
Every parent or guardian certifying falsely over his signature, is liable to a fine of fifty dollars and imprisonment for thirty days.
The Superintendent of Schools in any town is the authorized person to sign the certificate, and if there is no such official, the school committee must choose from their number, one to attend to this duty.
If the child's attendance has been at a private school, the signature of the teacher is also required.
Though the years are few in which our youth are receiving instruction in public schools, it is the formative period of their lives, and impressions then made are lasting.
45
Moral instruction is, at the present time, prominent amongst the topics discussed by distinguished educators.
One of the ablest of these writes, " morality is behavior. The moral education relates strictly to the will, and is a train- ing in habits of action. The theory of morality is an important aid, but not morality itself," and the writer calls attention to the efficiency of the school in securing the actual growth of moral habits in the community.
Another work of vital importance is the formation of a taste for good reading. The earliest years of school life must be mainly occupied in the mechanical preparation known as " learning to read." This process, once so laborious and irksome to the average child, is now made bright and attrac- tive by excellent books and charts, with improved methods in their use. Not until a child can easily follow the order of printed words and perceive the thoughts they express, will he receive much pleasure or profit from reading, but when this power is once gained the eager young mind is ready to be directed in its search for the wisdom stored in books.
The studies selected for the later years of school life are chosen in part with a view to present such a variety of subjects that each pupil may find one or more of sufficient interest to be continued as a study in the midst of the labors of mature life.
Just at the age when the appetite for knowledge should be keen, most children leave school, and from that time, if there is proper encouragement at home, they will naturally continue to satisfy their desire for reading and study by the help of books from the Public Library, and such others as wise parents will provide for the mutual improvement and pleasure of the family circle.
46
If the books belonging to its several members, not forgetting those of the little ones, are kept together in some convenient place, the sense of their possession is strengthened and their influence increased.
This home supply need not be expensive or procured with great outlay at one time. Works treating of biography, travel, religion, poetry and fiction, would usually be represented according to the taste of the readers, and in addition to these let there be gradually collected upon the simple book shelves that are to be found in every country home, books of reference and daily use like these.
A good dictionary, atlas, history of our country, and a general history of the world, an arithmetic, books treating of the human body, plants, animals, and the common phenomena of nature, as winds, rain, frosts, etc.
Many of the books here named have already become like old friends to the children from their use in study at school.
A small dictionary is invaluable, but either Worcester's or Webster's unabridged would be a mine of information in a household, and these with all other books desired, can be obtained at comparatively low prices.
Few older persons have left their school-days so far behind that they cannot enjoy with the young, locating upon maps new places brought to notice in the daily papers, or looking up the meaning of an unusual word met with in general reading.
Would not children soon regard the family library with such affection and pride that they would gladly save for its increase, their pennies so often spent in the purchase of articles harmful or of trifling value ?
Such collection of books in our homes will tend to keep
47
happy and contented by the fireside their younger members ; will secure a more intelligent use of the Public Library and other opportunities for intellectual improvement, and in these as well as in other ways, help carry onward through life the development of mind and character that our public schools were established to promote throughout the community.
Respectfully submitted, MARTHA K. CROSBY.
1888-1889.
Report of the Agent for School Supplies.
The money voted by the town for books and other school supplies has been expended as follows :
To Harper & Bros., grammars and spelling books, $8 24
Cowperthwait & Co., geographies, copy-books and language books, 27 60
Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., arithmetic and readers, 2 54
William Ware & Co., arithmetics,
23 46
Warren P. Adams, readers,
2 00
The Thorp & Adams Co., paper, pens, pencils and various supplies, 29 60
J. B. Lippincott & Co., dictionaries, 3 90
Prang & Co., drawing books, pencils, models and clay, 30 05
Houghton. Mifflin & Co., readers,
2 34
Globe and map,
2 25
Business forms and employment blanks,
2 50
Express, freight and postage,
8 21
Miscellaneous small supplies,
7 31
Total, $150 00
Inventory of stock on hand Jan. 31, 1888,
$32 07
Amount drawn from town treasury,
150 00
$182 07
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Inventory of new stock on hand Jan. 31, 1889, Supplies furnished schools,
$17 25
164 82
$182 07
INVENTORY OF SUPPLIES ON HAND JAN. 31, 1889.
6 readers,
$1 87
3 spellers, 45
3 arithmetics, 88
4 3-4 doz. copy-books, 4 22
1 3-4 doz. spelling blanks,
53
7 half reams paper,
2 00
7 quires manila paper, 1 40
Miscellaneous.
Crayons, pens, pencils and erasers, 5 90
$17 25
The average number of pupils enrolled in the schools is 251.2; the cost of supplies provided by the town has been $164.82, or 65.6 cents per scholar.
It can be seen that the cost of the supplies given out to the schools exceeds the town's appropriation for this purpose, and that the amount of unused supplies left at the close of the year is less than at the close of the last year, by this difference.
The chief expenditure for books during the coming year must be for readers, as many books used in the younger classes have become too badly worn and soiled for further service. Addi-
50
tional dictionaries should also be furnished to those schools that have pupils sufficiently advanced to profit by their frequent use.
After purchasing the most necessary books and supplies like paper, pencils, etc., that perish in the using, there remains but a mere pittance for maps, charts, and like articles that add so greatly to the interest and usefulness of a school.
Persons interested in special schools or desirous to contribute towards the improvement of all, may rest assured that benefac- tions could not be bestowed where they would be more highly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted,
MARTHA K. CROSBY, Agent.
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SCHOOLS.
Length in weeks.
Scholars enrolled.
Average member-
ship.
Average attendance.
Not absent or tardy."
Over fifteen years.
Less than five years.
Wager per month.
( South Primary
13
23
22.2
20.4
5
0
2
$36
Centre Grammar .
12
29
25.2
23.2
4
1
0
40
East
11
33
31.6
28.3
5
1
0
40
Matfield .
11
26
24.6
22.8
1
1
0
40
North .
12
18
16.3
16.
3
0
0
36
North Centre
11
29
22.
18.
1
0
0
40
Cochesett Grammar
11
21
18.
16 8
7
1
0
40
Cochesett Primary
11
29
23.7
21.2
5
0
1
36
Jerusalem
11
15
13.3
11.
0
1
0
36
South .
12
23
22.5
20.29
6
0
0
36
Centre Grammar
10
19
18.2
15.8
0
0
0
40
Centre Primary
12
28
21.
19.6
0
0
1
36
East
11*
39
36.5
35.2
6
3
2
40
Matfield
11*
25
21.4
20.3
1
1
0
40
North .
12
19
18.
16.9
1
0
0
36
North Centre
12
26
24.3
20.5
1
3
0
40
Cochesett Grammar .
11*
21
20.1
18.9
6
4
0
40
Cochesett Primary
11*
32
29.6
26.9
6
0
2
36
Jerusalem
11*
23
19.
15.5
2
1
0
34
South .
10
21
20.9
19.5
S
0
4 36
Centre Grammar
9
22
20.1
16.3
0
1
0
40
Centre Primary
10
22
20.6
19.2
0
0
0
36
East
10*
34
34.
30.3
4
2
0
40
Matfield
9*
26
23.9
21.
1
1
0
40
North .
8
20
19.3
18.4
2
0
0
36
North Centre
10
28
24.1
21.
0
1
0
40
Cochesett Grammar .
9
20
18.5
17.2
5
6
0
40
-
Cochesett Primary
9
30
30.
26.
3
0
1
36
l Jerusalem
10
27
22.5
18.8
2
0
0
36
12
27
23.7
21.7
0
0
0
34
Centre Primary
Spring Term.
Summer Term.
Winter Terni.
*These schools had some additional days.
Town Clerk's Report.
Marriages Recorded in West Bridgewater in 1888.
Jan. 16. Elijah Austin Keith, of West Bridgewater, and Lillian May Keith, of Brockton.
Jan. 21. William H. Perkins, of Bridgewater, and Mabel L. Field, of West Bridgewater.
Feb. 24. Lemuel A. Williams and Addie H. Hodley, both of Taunton.
April 8. William H. Alger, of West Bridgewater, and Emma Millard, of Brockton.
May 10. Willard Ames and Catherine A. Goddet, both of West Bridgewater.
June 12. Hillard H. Paine, of West Bridgewater, and Carrie E. Rogers, of Orleans.
June 21. John B. Jackson, of Bridgewater, and Katie M. Egan, of West Bridgewater.
July 3. Charles H. Alger, of Brockton, and Florence F. Keene, of West Bridgewater.
July 3. John Jackson and Hannah Anderson, both of West Bridgewater.
July 29. Daniel E. Bosworth and Sophia A. Bullard, both of West Bridgewater.
July 30. Fred. H. Washburn and Cora F. Ellis, both of West Bridgewater.
53
Sept. 16. James McFadden, of West Bridgewater, and Mary Cull, of Bridgewater.
Sept. 16. George H. Lothrop, of West Bridgewater, and B. Alice Bosworth, of Easton.
Nov. 12. John M. Allen and Nellie E. Harvey, both of West Bridgewater.
Nov. 17.
John Belair, of West Bridgewater, and Mary Miller, of Bridgewater.
Nov. 20. Fred E. Hood, of West Bridgewater, and Hannah P. Kittrell, of Brockton.
Nov. 27.
William Donovan, of West Bridgewater, and Annie M. Dunn, of Bridgewater.
Nov. 29.
Alton W. Snell and Clara B. Leach, both of West Bridgewater.
Fred Field, of West Bridgewater, and Ottelina Taber, of Brockton.
John R. Perkins, of West Bridgewater, and Lulie F. Drake, of Campello.
Births Registered in West Bridgewater during the year 1888.
Date.
Name of Child.
Sex.
Names of Parents.
1886.
April 1887.
19
Philip Sullivan
Male .
Philip and Mary Sullivan.
February 22
Delia Belmore
Female .
Octave and Eliza C. Belmore. ·
August 1
Mary Carroll
Female . .
.
William W. and Eda H. Stedman. .
September 21
Edith D. Stedman
Female .
.
Christopher and Susan B. Erskins.
October 30
Frank Vernon Crosby
Male . ·
George W. and Katie M. Crosby. ·
Austin Howard
Male .
Willard and Mary D. Howard. .
Addie May Wilds
Female
.
George W. and Mary L. Wilds.
1
Julia Cotter
Female .
.
.
Frank and Mary F. Willis.
Female .
Zeno L. and Laura P. Silsby. .
Male .
.
.
James and Margaret F. McFadden.
7
Margaret Lynch
Female
Daniel and Joanna R. Lynch.
19
Patrick Sullivan
Male .
Philip and Mary Sullivan.
5
Joseph Louise
Male . .
.
Francis Lynch
Male .
Michael and Ellen C. Lynch. . Arthur P. and Almira M. Packard.
17
Mary Fidelia Packard
Female
17
Charles Wallace Hopkins
Male .
·
Clarence W. and Eveline S. Nute.
May
3
Leon Howard Dunbar
.
Male .
Eddy P. and Jennie T. Dunbar. .
3 Fred Norman
.
15
Anson Wesley Cobbett
Male .
·
· Anson E. and Mabel G. Cobbett.
17 Jeanette Elizabeth Bismore
Female
·
.Male .
Charles and Harriet B. Bismore.
54
January February March
17
James F. W. Willis
Male .
.
Ethel May Silsby
3 4 6
Male
.
.
.
.
.
Manoel and Isabel Louise.
10
George G. and Etta R. Hopkins.
18 Elizabeth Atwood Nute .
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