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 1891-1900 > Part 6
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32
FINANCIAL REPORT.
TEACHERS.
Paid Miss R. L. MacDonald,
32 weeks,
$304 00
Miss E. E. Wilson,
32
287 10
Miss F. A. Dunn,
17
170 00
Miss I. S. Wood,
29
290 00
66 Miss E. A. Morrow,
16
160 00
66 Miss L. W. Copeland.
3
..
27 00
Miss W A. Holmes,
34
340 00
Miss L. V. Wesel,
18
180 00
Miss E. V. Wadsworth,
16
..
160 00
66 Miss M. Alden,
32
304 00
Miss M. A. Dewyre,
32
320 00
Miss M. C. Keith,
32
،،
320 00
" Miss L. A. Burke,
103
95 40
" Miss H. Hill,
4
..
36 00
' Mrs. L. M. Toothaker.
16
،،
160 00
$3,153 50
JANITORS.
Paid for Jerusalem,
$7 00
Cochesett,
21 20
Centre,
22 00
South,
12 00
East,
12 00
Matfield,
12 00
North,
12 00
North Centre,
12 00
$110 20
33
FUEL.
Paid E. T. Snell. 7 cords hard wood, $35 00
66 3} cords pine wood, 14 00
Owen King, labor on wood, 20 00
P. K. Bacon, 5 cords hard wood,
25 00
2 cords of pine wood,
8 00
C. T. Williams 1 cord pine wood
4 00
W. Penpraise, labor on wood,
18 50
J. E. Ryder, 4 cords oak, 1 cord pine, 24 00
C. Keene, labor on wood, 11 69
Erland Thayer, ¿ cord pine wood,
2 00
B. Perkins, labor on wood 18 00
Bradford Copeland, 1 cord pine wood, 4 00
10 00
L. A. Flagg, 2 cords hard wood, 66 1} cords pine wood,
6 00
L. E. & E. Copeland, ¿ cord pine wood,
2 00
labor on 4 cords wood, 8 00
H. Bartlett, 6 ft. oak wood, 4 13
Thomas Ladd, labor on wood, &c., 4 50
F. Vosmus, 5 cords oak wood, 25 00
$243 82
Expenditures.
Teachers' wages,
$3,153.50
Fuel,
243.82
Janitors,
110 20
$3,507.52
Receipts.
Town grant,
$3,750.00
34
REPAIRS.
General Repairs and Incidentals.
Paid C. P. Hillstrum, labor and zinc, 4 stoves, $6 00
labor and 2 stove screens, 12 50
66 labor and stock, cleaning 10 stoves and pipes, 38 75
C. P. Hilstrum, stove for Centre, 30 00
Gurney Bros. 3 clocks and labor, 13 25
J. H. Potter, repairing 4 clocks 4 65
H. A. Millett, labor at North Centre, 66 66 teaming and materials, 7 00 7 50
22 35
J. L. Hammett, 2 maps of Mass.,
7 sets relief maps &c., 21.50
For labor and stock for closet, (Jerusalem,)
11 37
G. H. Stone, labor on black boards, 4 07
Jarvis Burrill, printing and materials, 7 26
Alger's Express, 7 05
Small Repairs, Furnishings and Cleaning.
Jerusalem,
6 88
Cochesett,
13 30
South,
9 05
Centre,
13 65
East,
10 35
Matfield
5 15
North,
7 90
North Centre,
8 95
Whole amount of repairs,
$268 48
Town grant, 300 00
35
SCHOOL SUPPLIES.
Paid D. H. Knowlton & Co., school periodicals $1 20
The Thorp & Martin Manufacturing Company, paper, pencils, pens, and other supplies, 67 23
American Book Co., geographies, spelling
blanks, copy-books, histories, and language, tablets. 43 71
J. L. Hammett, paper and dictionaries,
7 32
Ginn & Co., readers 2 50
Wm. Ware & Co., readers and arithmetics, 7 34
Silver, Burdett & Co., readers, 5 00
Leach, Shewell & Sanborn, grammars, language and number lessons, 26 86
Prang Educational Co., drawing supplies, 2 98
Boston School Supply Co., readers and histories, 2 40
University Pub. Co., dictionaries,
11 00
$177 54
Iventory of stock on hand January 31, 1892,
$13.16
Amount drawn from town treasury, 177 54
$190 70
Inventory of new stock on hand Dec 31, 1892,
31 88
Supplies furnished schools, 158 82
$190 75
New Text Books on hand Dec. 31, 1892.
Readers, grammars, dictionaries, arithmetics,
geographies and spellers, $15 16
Copy, drawing and exercise books, 9.51
36
Miscellaneous Supplies.
Paper, pencils, pens &c.,
7 21
$31 88
The average membership in the schools for the year has been 233.5. and the cost of supplies furnished by the town has been $158 82 or 68 cents per scholar.
The school census for May 1. 1892 gave 279 children in town between the ages of five and fifteen years. Of these 233 were in the common schools. 3 in the Howard school, 4 taught at home, 12 (10 of whom were above 14 years and 1 above 13 years at work, 3 incompetent. 7 sick. 15 young and not yet in school, and 2 out for other reasons.
Whole number of pupils enrolled for the year, 298
Number that have left town, 18
Number that have moved into town, 26
We are indebted to Professor Willard for these statis- tics of the town pupils under his charge in the High School.
Number admitted in Sept. 1892, 10
Number attending Jan. 1893, 25
Number of different pupils for the year, 36
Percentage of attendance for Fall term 92.24
CALENDAR FOR 1893.
WINTER TERM, Jan. 9 to Mar. 24, 1893. 11 weeks.
Vacation. 2 weeks.
SPRING TERM, April 10 to June 16. 10 weeks. Vacation, 12 weeks.
FALL TERM, Sept. 11 to Dec. 22. 15 weeks.
Recess, Thanksgiving week after Wednesday.
Vacation. 2 weeks.
WINTER TERM, 1894, JAN. 8th.
Changes may be made in this to accommodate different schools.
37
Children sentenced under the truant laws will be cared for at the Union County Truant School, at Walpole.
The old South Primary school building was sold at public auction in the autumn and has been removed. Some clearing away of the foundations remained to be done.
As the income of the Mass. School Fund is not sent to the towns until the last of January in each year. our finan- cial account shows nothing from that source, but here- after we shall have the advantage of knowing early in the year the total amount available for school expenses.
On account of the financial year closing Dec. 31, our accounts for this year show payments to the teachers (in most schools) for 32 weeks beginning about Feb. 15th.
The balance was included in the accounts for 1891 & '92.
We leave a balance in the treasury from the special appropriations for schools, and also from the grant for re- pairs.
In April two meetings of the joint school committees of Raynham, East Bridgewater and West Bridgewater, were held for the purpose,-first of organization, and after- wards of selecting a superintendent for the Union District formed by the three towns.
Roscoe D. McKeen of Danforth, Me .. was chosen for the position and entered upon the work May 20th. Fol- lowing as far as practicable the proportionate number of schools in the several towns, it was agreed by the joint committee that the twenty school days of each month should be given by the Superintendent to the towns as follows. viz: Raynham, 5 days, West Bridgewater, 6} days, and East Bridgewater, 82 days.
The short time remaining in the Spring term after May 20th., was used in our town by Mr. McKeen in visit- ing all of the schools with the former Superintendent, and in assisting the teachers to select candidates for the en- trance examination at the High School.
38
Our schools are prospering under the efficient care of our Superintendent and we refer all interested, to his re- port for suggestions and plans of work, from which we may confidently expect excellent results after sufficient time has been allowed for carrying them ont.
The Course of Study and Rules and Regulations pre- pared by our Superintendent and adopted by our Board has been printed with the intention of supplying a copy to each family from which pupils attend our schools.
We heartily endorse the suggestions respecting music made by Mr. McKeen and have asked for $150 additional in the appropriations, to enable us to supply instruction in this branch, beyond what the teachers give.
Acts of 1888. Chapter 431.
STATE AID FOR SUPERINTENDENTS.
3. Whenever the chairman and secretary of such joint committee shall certify to the state auditor, under oath, that a union has been effected as herein provided, that the towns, in addition to an amount equal to the average of the total sum paid by the several towns for schools during the three years next preceeding, unitedly have raised by taxatlon and appro- priated a sum not less than seven hundred and fifty dollars for the sup- port of a superintendent of schools, and that under the provisions of this act a superintendent of schools has been employed for one year, a warrant shall be drawn upon the treasurer of the Commonwealth for the payment of one thousand dollars, one-half of which amount shall be paid for the salary of such superintendent and the remaining one-half shall be apportioned and distributed on the basis of the average public school attendance of the towns forming such district for the year next preceed - ing, which amount shall be paid for the salaries of teachers employed in the public schols within such district.
About the last of May we shall receive from the State our share of the $500 given to aid the district supervision, above the $500 paid directly toward the salary of the superintendent.
The average attendance for the three towns is 708, ours being 202 of this.
39
Our share of the $500 will be $142.65, leaving from the $250 appropriated by the town for the union supervision, a balance of $107.35 the actual cost to the town for the year.
The sub-committee appointed by our Board to consider plans for a new school house in the north part of our town, report that a suitable building with two school rooms on the ground floor could be erected at a probable cost of $2800, exclusive of seating, heating and cost of the land.
Our estimates for 1893 cover a school year of 36 weeks.
The appropriations recommended for this year are these :
For the support of schools, $4,150.00
For furnishings and repairs, 300.00
For text books and supplies, 175.00
There should be two members of the School Board chosen for three years at the annual town meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
J. A. SHORES,
M. K. CROSBY,
A. S. LELACHEUR,
School Committee.
B. PERKINS,
W. H. BOSWORTH,
G. C. HOWARD,
WEST BRIDGEWATER, Jan. 21, 1891.
40
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of the town of West Bridge- water.
I take pleasure in submitting to you my report of the schools of the town of West Bridgewater for the year ending Dec. 31st., 1892.
Although I have virtually had charge of the schools since the latter part of May, my report covers only that portion of the school-year from September until the close of the fall term as I had opportunity only to make an average of one visit to a school for the summer term.
I have issued a blank form for a monthly report from the teachers, for the purpose of obtaining a more compre- hensive knowledge of the condition of the different schools.
By means of these reports the following statistics have been gathered which may be of some general interest :
NAME OF SCHOOL.
Whole No. registered
Average no. belong-
Whole no. of ab-
Average daily at-
*Per cent of daily at.
No. of pupils over 15
No. of half-days of
No. of cases of tardi-
No. of cases of dis-
No. of cases of corpor-
tNo. times the teach-
No. half-days 1each-
er has been absent.
No. of visits and calls by the School Com.
No of visits and calls
by Superintendent.
No of visits and calls by others.
Centre
Grammar
26
25.11
165
23.97
95+
1
0
58
25
0
0
0)
7
7
80
Centre
Primary .
2
19.46
223
17.88
91+
0
-
52
21
2
1
0
2
5
16
Cochesett
22
2.08
205
19.39
92++
1
1
20
74
0
0
0
6
5
45
Cochesett
Primary
29
26.28
333
25.2
92+
00
0
19
31
0
0
2
5
42
South
25
23.74
511
19.37
82
0
84
15
0
3
4
3
16
East
24
23.01
402
20.01
88+
0
0
15
14
0
2
4
6
17
Matfield. ..
35
31.37
449
28.87
90+
0
16
39
0
0
0
6
6
12
Jerusalem
31
29.68
675
24.79
85+
0
17
5
1
0
1
1
6
33
North Centre.
25
23.92
376
21.75
89+
1
0
98
17
A
1
0
5
3
63
North ..
22
21.5
128
20.93
96+
()
0
45
95
20
1
22
4
6
8
*1. The basis of the per cent of attendance is the average number belonging, and not the whole number enrolled.
2. A pupil who is present less than half a school session must be marked absent.
3. A pupil is not counted in this report in either of the following cases:
(1) When the teacher has reliable information that the pupil has left the school not to return.
(2) When the pupil has been suspended from school.
+Teachers are required to be present fifteen minutes before the commencement of the morning exercises, and ten minutes before the afternoon exercises unless a special permission is otherwise obtained from the Superintendent.
41
·
·
.
for Fall Term.
ing.
sences.
tendance.
tendance.
years of age.
truancy.
ness.
missal.
al punishment.
er has been tardy.
Grammar
OA
00
42
ATTENDANCE.
Only one case of truancy in the schools of this town has come to my notice. Several cases have been reported in which children have absented themselves from school, pre- sumably by consent of their parents or guardian.
The results of this, as regards the school work, are just as bad as in cases of truancy. A child who is absent during one recitation actually loses the benefit of two days' recitation in the same study ; for one lesson lost wholly unfits him to receive the next; the child soon falls behind his class, and to the surprise of his parents, he is set back into the next lower grade. Rarely is it absolutely necessary that a parent should require a child to lose a day from school except on account of sickness. I would urge that the parents make an extra effort to have their children regular and punctual in attend- ance.
Our teachers would then feel more encouraged, they could accomplish more in the same time, the average attendance of the school would be raised, the children would manifest greater interest in the schools, and a desire for study would be awakened.
COURSE OF STUDY.
On entering upon his duties, your Superintendent found a Course of Study laid out for the schools of West Bridgewat- er. But as this course was prepared for the schools as they were at the time of its adoption, it seemed wholly inadequate to the wants of the schools for this year.
Under the care of an efficient Superintendent your pupils had proved themselves capable of doing more work in a giv- en time than was laid out.
It was evident that a Course of Study was much needed, in order that our excellent teachers might do good and sys-
43
tematic work. Such a course was presented for your consid- sideration and was adopted by you near the beginning of the fall term.
The introduction of this Course into the schools called for a partial regrading in some schools, and although a very few instances of disappointment occurred at first in consequence of the regrading, all seemed to recognize that it was decided- ly best to conform to the judgment of those having this duty in charge.
This Course covers a period of eight years, and pupils sat- isfactorily completing the studies of the same ought to be fitted to enter the Howard High School.
TEACHERS.
My associations with the teachers you have selected to work with me have been pleasant, and I have the most friendly feelings toward them, as I hope they have toward me. Whatever I may suggest will depend upon the individ- ual teacher for its efficiency in carrying it out. Our teachers have been zealous and interested and I can but speak in terms of commendation of their work.
In the character of the teacher is found the directive and inspiring force which shapes the work of the school to the largest or least results. Whatsoever, then shows that teach- ers of larger experience and higher qualifications are in the schools, and whatsoever shows greater permanence of the same teachers in the same schools are evidences of a better quality of instruction.
At the close of the summer term, several changes in teach- ers were made. Those who left werc:
Miss Wesel, of the Centre Grammar School,
Dunn, 66
66 Cochesett 66
Mrs. Toothaker," " North Centre -
44
They were succeeded by:
Miss Elida V. Wadsworth in the Centre Gram. School.
66 Emma A. Morrow 66 " Cochesett "
Mary C. Keith transferred from the North to the North Centre School,
Miss Lucy A. Burke in the North School.
Other things being equal, too frequent changes in teachers usually result in a waste of time and effort of teacher and pupils. The changes of teachers this year have taken place during the summer vacation, so that the schools have not suffered from interruptions in the term.
Miss Burke's temporary absence on account of sickness for the last three weeks of the fall term was provided for in a very satisfactory manner by engaging the services of Miss Henrietta Hill of East Bridgewater.
SALARIES.
Our schools are frequently visited by Superintendents in search of desirable teachers, and by offering greater compen- sation, they are often successful in securing teachers whom our schools can ill afford to lose.
If talent and ability are to be estimated at their worth, some of our teachers are underpaid.
I believe that efficiency and experience should determine the salary of a teacher, rather than the custom of grading the salaries according to the consecutive stages of classification of the schools.
I believe, too, that the teacher of an ungraded school should receive as much salary, if not more than those of the graded schools provided that she proves herself efficient in her work.
45
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
With your permission, I have held several meetings at which the teachers have all been present, and much interest and enthusiasm has been manifested.
These meetings have been far from being formal, for each teacher has been free to suggest or ask questions. The time has not been fully occupied by myself, but each teacher has taken a part in the discussion of the latest and best methods of teaching Reading, Arithmetic, Geography, Language etc.
I can say that these meetings have been good fruit, and I have noticed numerous cases in which the points made prominent have been put into successful operation in the school room. Besides the above named meetings, I have been successful in bringing about a meeting of the teachers of this town and those of East Bridgewater, at which State Agent J. T. Prince addressed the teachers and gave them very valuable and profitable instruction.
GRADING AND PROMOTIONS.
If provisions were made so that pupils of Grades VII and VIII in town could all attend one Grammar School for two years preparatory to entering the Howard High School, the pupils would then command equal privileges in the school room ; there would not be that diversity in attainment among the pupils which arises largely from the diversity in methods of instruction, and better work could be accomplished.
But, as you lacked the necessary means for transportation and the room for the accommodation of the pupils, I con- cluded that for the present, it would be well to make the best of what means you had.
In the Centre and Cochesett Schools we are trying to fit for the High School in two rooms with four grades in each room. By permission from the parents, the older pupils from the North School have been sent to the North Centre
46
School, thereby virtually grading the two schools, making a Primary grade of the North School and a Grammar grade of the North Centre School. By thus establishing a Grammar School in three different parts of the town, one of them ought to be accessible to all pupils of the Grammar grade.
At the beginning of the fall term you adopted the follow- ing system of marking for the Public Schools of this town :- Work that is excellent should be marked, A; satisfactory work should be marked, B; unsatisfactory work should be marked, C. The above system has been in use since its adoption and has merited success.
By this method, the old percentage system so largely used in many towns and cities is avoided, by means of which pupils are allowed to cheat, cram, or use other desperate ef- forts in order to obtain high percentages for promotion.
Believing that some record should be kept by which school officials and others interested may know the standing of any pupil at any time, I think that the systen now in use will show, in a fair way, a better record of the pupils' labors. I believe that pupils ought to be credited and promoted not only according to the results obtained, but according to their efforts made in obtaining certain results.
While tests of some sort are necessary in a graded system of schools and should be frequently given, their purpose ought to be to ascertain how much thought power has been develop- ed, and to train the pupils to express themselves intelligently and legibly whenever required to do so.
Whatever system of marking may be employed, it will, by no means, be an infallible test of the amount of education the scholar has received.
I would add, that if, under a pains taking superintendent and an efficient teacher, a scholar for a year, obtains A or B in the studies of his grade, he should, without examination, be given a certificate of promotion to the next higher grade.
47
DRAWING.
Owing to the necessary changes and the extra amount of work required in some schools in consequence of the change in the Course of Study, very little work has been done in Form Study and Drawing.
Form Study is fast becoming an important part in our school work and more attention should be given to it. When the daily programme covers from eighteen to twenty-five recitations, some study must be slighted. As the so-called "common school studies" must have preference, the amount of time for Drawing must be curtailed.
MUSIC.
In nearly all the schools of this town, some work has been done in vocal music. In a few schools, quite an interest has been awakened in this study.
With Music as with any study, a good instructor is the first requisite to success. The teacher of Music should be one who not only knows the subject thorougly and who has the faculty to impart, but one who can easily gain good-will of the smaller children.
As such a large percentage of the pupils in town are young and in the lower grades, it seems quite reasonable that a lady instructor could accomplish better results than a gentleman of equal musical ability.
While the instructor should be held responsible for meth- ods employed and for general results, it is of vital importance that this instruction be supplemented by the assistance of fellow instructors in the daily class work.
I, therefore, recommend to your consideration the employ- ment of a special teacher of Music for the schools of West Bridgewater, for one day in a week.
Certainly, we should in no way neglect an art that con- tributes so much to human happiness, and which, by its re- fing influence, has tended to make the world not only happier but better.
48
SCHOOL PROPERTY.
Seven of the school buildings in town are in good repair. I recommend that a school house be built on suitable grounds near Copeland's corner, to accommodate the pupils that now attend the North and North Centre Schools.
The North School building is in very poor condition and the cost to repair the same so that it would be neat and at- tractive, would equal that of building a new school house. Besides, the grounds are neither suitable nor in a desirable location. At the North Centre, the school building is not in as bad condition, but if a two-room building could be built to accommodate the children of both schools, the schools could be graded and the children would then have the same advantages as those at Cocheset and the Centre.
IN CONCLUSION.
I wish to express to your former Superintendent my high- est appreciation of the assistance and kind suggestions she has given me in my duties. To you as a Committee, I ex. tend my sincere thanks for the confidence you have reposed in me and for your constant aid and support in my efforts to elevate the schools, and my thanks are also due to the citi- zens of West Bridgewater for their cordial assent to our plans and their hearty co-operation in executing them.
Respectfully,
R. D. McKEEN,
Supt. of Schools.
Jan. 14, 1893.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 1, 1894.
TAUNTON : J. S. SAMPSON, PRINTER. 1894.
ANNUAL REPORTS
OF THE
TOWN OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 1, 1894.
TAUNTON : J. S. SAMPSON, PRINTER. 1894.
TOWN OFFICERS FOR 1893.
SELECTMEN, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR AND ASSESSORS. JOSEPH A. SHORES, E. BRADFORD WILBUR,
SAMUEL G. COPELAND. TOWN CLERK. CHARLES R." PACKARD. COLLECTOR AND TREASURER. GEORGE M. PRATT. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
MRS. M. K. CROSBY, GEO. C. HOWARD,
WILLIAM H. BOSWORTH,
JOSEPH A. SHORES, :
MRS. A. S. LELACHEUR, BENJAMIN PERKINS.
TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY.
CHARLES R. PACKARD,
MISS ELIZABETH KINGMAN,
JOSEPH A. SHORES,
MRS. EMILINE B. COPELAND, MISS EDITH F. HOWARD, HORACE M. WILLARD.
ROAD COMMISSIONERS.
JOSEPH C. HOWARD, WILLIAM F. RYDER
LOREN A. FLAGG. CONSTABLES.
ELLIS R. HOLBROOK,
LOREN A. FLAGG,
JOSIAH A. PERKINS, CHARLES H. EGAN.
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
GEORGE M. PRATT.
FIELD DRIVERS.
JOHN FALLON, GEORGE N. BLANCHARD,
WM. H. STAPLES.
FENCE VIEWERS.
('LINTON P. HOWARD,
DAVIS COPELAND.
LOREN A. FLAGG.
MEASURERS OF LUMBER.
LESTER P. RIPLEY, SAMUEL L. RYDER,
LOREN A. FLAGG, DANIEL P. DAVIS.
MEASURERS OF WOOD AND BARK.
FRANK JONES, JOSEPH E. RYDER,
GEORGE A. VOSMUS, MOLBRY A. RIPLEY.
REGISTRARS.
JAMES A. FOBES, LUCIUS DUNBAR, EDWARD H. KEITH.
AUDITORS, H. W. HOWARD.
CHARLES E. TISDALE,
POUND KEEPER. WARDEN OF TOWN FARM.
DANIEL W. GARDNER,
:
Annual Report of the Assessors, Overseers of the Poor and Selectmen.
The following report of the financial condition of the town, January 1, 1894, is respectfully submitted :
REPORT OF THE ASSESSORS.
VALUATION.
As Assessed May 1, 1893.
Value of real estate,
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