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 1901-1905 > Part 12
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W. Bridgewater W. Bridgewater Bridgewater
Auburn, Me.
Mar. 28 Stephen Schaughnessey
1
Sept. 26 Alice M. Wentworth J| 4| 8 18 Gun-shot wound
Oct. 8 Benjamin F. Shattuck
69| 50 I| 7 Heart Disease
Oct. 17
Benjamin Beale Howard
Oct. 26 Elizabeth T. Jackson
Dec. 2 Julius L. Hayward
83 II 47| 3
Peritonitis 6 Heart Disease
Dec. Dec.
7 8 Elizabeth J. Lincoln
13 85
5 8 Pneumonia 2 25 Inanition
Dec. II Lester Allen Winberg
Dec. 15
Winthrop Brown Alger
Dec. 15
Ruby Alice Gould
Dec. 19
Henry W. Ripley
Dec. 30 Bridget Keenan
63
Cardiac Hyp'rtrophy
W. Bridgewater E. Pepperell W. Bridgewater Halifax W. Bridgewater Dedham
Dresden, Me. W. Bridgewater W. Bridgewater W. Bridgewater W. Bridgewater Ireland
Theodore F. and Dora (York) Wentworth David R. and Eliza (Williams) Shattuck Benjamin and Mary (Ames) Howard Melvin and Mary (Besse) Crooker John L. and Eliza F. (Manley) Hayward Wallace A. and Bessie (Lowner) Hefler Theophilus and Avis (Weld) Colson George A. and Annie E. (Risberg) Winberg George W. and Corelli C. (Brown) Alger John E. and Desire (Crowell) Gould Molbry and Data (Bray) Ripley Michael Crennan (mother's name unknown)
I 2 9 Hemor'age of Lungs
4| 3|Congestion of Lungs 69 10 20 Carbuncle
.
|Convulsions
Bronchitis
George A. Hefler
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
At the beginning of the school year of 1904, the fol- lowing were members of the school committee:
Mrs. M. K. Crosby, Mrs. C. H. Copeland, for three years.
W. H. Bosworth, S. H. Marshall for two years.
Mrs. A. S. LeLacheur, C. P. Howard, for one year.
The organization for the year was as follows:
A. S. LeLacheur, chairman.
M. K. Crosby, secretary.
W. H. Bosworth, C. P. Howard, S. H. Marshall, and M. K. Crosby, committee on repairs.
The schools were assigned as follows:
North to Mrs. Copeland.
Cochesett to S. H. Marshall.
Centre to Mrs. LeLacheur.
South to C. P. Howard.
East and Matfield to Mrs. Crosby.
Jerusalem to Mr. Bosworth.
To A. S. LeLacheur, M. K. Crosby and C. H. Cope- land was assigned the approval of teachers selected to fill vacancies.
M. K. Crosby was appointed agent for school sup- plies.
W. H. Bosworth and D. R. Simmons were chosen truant officers, and E. R. Holbrook has been chosen since.
59
FINANCIAL REPORT.
TEACHERS.
Paid Miss E. A. Morrow, 36 weeks, $499 99
Miss R. L. MacDonald, 34 weeks, 472 22
Miss G. E. Downing, 36 weeks,
432 00
Miss L. G. Reed, 36 weeks,
432 00
Miss M. A. Dewyer, 36 weeks,
468 00
Miss E. Randall, 36 weeks,
360 00
Miss E. A. Lavalette, 36 weeks,
360 00
Miss A. E. Hennessy, 36 weeks,
295 50
Miss F. L. Beckwith, 36 weeks,
396 00
Miss B. C. Fuller, 36 weeks,
324 00
Miss F. Howard, 14 weeks,
42 00
Miss L. Newman, drawing, 9 months,
108 00
Miss M. S. Jones, music, 9 months, 194 45
Conveyance of music teacher,
64 00
$4.448 16
JANITORS.
Paid Janitor at Center,
$200 00
Janitor service at other schools,
163 30
$363 31
TUITION.
Easton High School, 6 terms and 2 months,
$79 20
Brockton High School, I term, 20 00
Pupil in Easton in 1902 and 1903,
10 00
Pupils in Bridgewater (1903-4),
81 50
$190 70
60
TRANSPORTATION.
Paid D. R. Simmons, coach,
$300 00
J. S. Jones, carriage,
II 00
C. F. Haynes, carriage,
38 95
Electric car tickets,
255 50
$605 45
FUEL.
Paid C. Eddy, 4 1-2 cords oak I I-4 cords pine, $30 37
E. E. Howard, 5 cds. oak, 27 50
B. Copeland, 4 I-2 cords hard, I I-2 cords pine, labor, 34 50
S. H. Marshall, I cd. hard, I I-4 pine, 10 00
C. P. Howard, 2 1-2 cords hard, I pine, labor, 21 50
E. T. Snell, I cord oak, 1-2 cord pine,
7 00
E. H. Thayer, I 1:2 cords pine,
6 75
E. H. Thayer, sawing, splitting and hous- ing 10 I·4 cords, 12 38 .
A. Manley, wood for Jerusalem, 22 00
C. H. Eagan, labor, 4 80 .
Philip Fay, labor, IO 50
H. Bartlett, labor, 4 25
E. L. Lothrop and Son, 4 tons broken coal, 28 00
G. R. Drake, 21 tons Lehigh broken coal, 147 00
$366 55
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
Paid Raynham, 6 months to May 20, $125 00
East Bridgewater, 7 months to Dec. 20, 145 83
$270 83
61
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
Paid Milton Bradley Co., general supplies $31 60
E. E. Babb and Co., text books and supplies, 65 62
The J. L. Hammett Co., general supplies, 63 62
American Book Co., spellers,
25 40
Benj. H. Sanborn & Co., spellers, 8 75
Silver, Burdett & Co., readers and music,
18 30
Ginn & Co., new arithemetics,
99 10
Newson & Co., grammars and language books,
80 00
Ginn & Co., copy books, readers and geog- raphies, 60 22
Small supplies, 4 48
Music-chart, Amer. Book Co.,
3 20
Periodicals, (Transcripts and Youth's Com- panion,)
14 38
F. E. Fuller, pens,
I 80
$476 47
SUNDRIES AND INCIDENTALS.
Paid small furnishings, $14 27
Printing, J. Burrill, (1903-4), 7 43
Expense for diplomas, 4 45
D. R. Simmons, truant service, (1903-4),
17 60
W. H. Bosworth, truant service,
3 75
Freight and postage,
14 4I
Clerk of School Committee,
10 00
Team for committee meetings and supplies, 5 75
$77 66
62
EXPENDITURES.
$4,448 16
Teachers' wages, Fuel, 366 55
Janitor service,
363 31
Transportation,
605 45
Tuition at Easton High School,
79 20
Tuition at Brockton High School,
20 00
Tuition in Easton, (1903),
10 00
Tuition in Bridgewater, (1903-4),
81 50
Books and supplies,
476 47
Sundries and incidentals,
77 66
School Superintendent,
270 83
$6,799. 13
RECEIPTS.
Town grants,
$5,500 00
Income of Massachusetts school fund,
779 86
On account of district supervision,
166 67
On account of state wards.
100 00
On account high school tuition, (1903-4);
84 00
On account pupil East school,
18 00
From Howard Trustees, music, fall term,
17 00
Conveyance of pupils and sale of text books,
7 81
$6,673 34
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL FUND
Received from fund,
$779 86
Paid Periodicals and chart,
$17 58
Instruction in music,
258 45
Instruction in drawing,
108 00
Tuition, High schools,
99 20
Tuition in other schools,
91 50
New text books,
179 10
Balance, 26 03
$779 86
63
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Paid Wm. McElwain, blackboards, (South), $1I 83
L. A. Flagg, pump and fittings, (Cochesett), 15 61
E. W. Foster, inside work, (Jerusalem and East), 37 00
C. M. Shaw, stoves, etc., stock and labor, 22 50
N. W. Bradford, painting, stock and labor, (Center), 112 50
John O. Dean & Co., shingles, (Jerusalem), 50 00
H. H. Crowell, labor, (Jerusalem), 30 00
J. M. Howard & Son, stock, (Jerusalem), 6 38
C. P. Howard, lumber for staging (Jerusalem) 3 55
C. H. Innis, wire fence, labor and stock, (Center), 32 04
J. M. Howard & Son, well pipe, (Matfield), 31 80
F. H. White, pump, fittings and labor, (Matfield), 14 86
J. M. Linehan, labor and stock, (Matfield), 40 00
W. H. Bosworth, labor, (Matfield, South, etc.) 4 40
E. H. Thayer, carting stone, (Matfield), 1 00
C. P. Howard, platform for well, I 56
E. B. Wilbur, land for school lot, Matfield, 75 00
Small repairs, 36 23
$526 26
RECEIPTS.
Town grant, repairs and incidentals, $250 00
Town grant, Matfield lot, 75 00
Town grant, shingling and painting,
200 00
Well at Matfield, 100 00
$625 00
64
SUMMARY.
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Expenditures, Receipts,
$6,799 13
6,673 34
Overdrawn,
$125 89
REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS.
Receipts,
$625 00
Expenditures,
526 26
Balance, 98 74
Overdrawn,
27 05
Balance from School Fund,
26 03
Total deficit,
$1 02
CALENDAR FOR 1905.
WINTER TERM,-January 3 to March 17, 1905. Eleven weeks.
Vacation,-Two weeks.
SPRING TERM,-April 3, to June 9. Ten weeks.
Vacation, thirteen weeks.
FALL TERM,-September 12 to December 22. Fifteen weeks.
Recess,-Thanksgiving week, after Wednesday.
Vacation,-Two weeks.
WINTER TERM,-1906, January 3 to March 23.
Changes may be made in this to accommodate different schools.
65
The Town is to be congratulated that the year has passed with no change of teachers in any school, and that the school work has gone forward satisfactorily under the continued wise and efficient direction of our Superinten- dent, Mr. E. H. Grout.
A constant increase in the membership of the Center Primary School has added so much to the labor of the teacher, that temporary help has been provided since the beginning of the Fall term.
As the Sub-Grammar School has an excessive num- ber of pupils, (which condition is likely to continue), it may seem best to employ a regular teacher who can assist in both buildings at the Center.
The Mass. School Fund will help meet such extra expense, but with the uncertainty attending expenses in different departments for the year, the Committee find it necessary to ask for an additional $200 in the general appropriation, and $75 for Sundries and Incidentals.
An extra grant of $175 is needed for shingling the roof of the South School building, and one side of the roof of the East.
Inside repairs are also needed at the South. The ordinary appropriation for repairs should cover other expenses.
Some change has been made in classifying the expenses in order to conform to the returns required by the State Board of Education.
"Repairs and Permanent Improvements" are not to be included under "Support of Schools."
The receipt of the School Fund and other money from the State is made dependent upon strict observance of the laws.
66
CHAP. 107, ACTS OF 1904.
"No town shall receive any part of the income of the Massachusetts School Fund unless it shall have complied, to the satisfaction of the Board of Education, with all laws relat- ing to the public schools."
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
The treasurer must hold the money received from the School Fund of the State, subject to the order of the school committee only. . . .. .
"The treasurer must keep a separate account of the money so received and expended. ."
. ."If at the close of the year there is an unexpended balance from this fund, it cannot be turned back into the town treasury, but must be held subject to the order of the school committee. The school committee must make an annual report to the State Board of the sums received and expended from the School Fund. . ..
"The distribution of the entire income of the School Fund among the towns is for the purpose of improving the schools, not to lessen local taxation."
"The best way to improve the schools is to improve the teachers, and the chief use of the state aid should be for this purpose. The other expenses of school support should be largely paid from the town appropriation."
There should be chosen at the annual meeting of the town two members of the school committee for three years.
67
We recommend the following appropriations :
For the support of the schools,
$4,700 00
Text books and supplies, 250 00
Conveyance of pupils,
500 00
Superintendent's salary,
250 00
Sundries and incidentals,
75 00
General repairs,
250 00
Shingling and painting,
175 00
Respectfully submitted,
A. S. LELACHEUR,
M. K. CROSBY,
C. H. COPELAND,
W. H. BOSWORTH, C. P. HOWARD,
L. H. MARSHALL,
School Committee.
THIRTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of West Bridgewater, Mass.
I have the honor of submitting to you my second annual report as Superintendent of Schools for your town. Your attention is called to the following
TABLE OF STATISTICS.
Population of the town, census 1900,
1,819
Number of schools,
IO
Number of teachers required,
IO
Special teachers,
2
Number of different teachers employed,
I2
SCHOOL CENSUS.
1903
1904
Number of children between 5 and 15,
300
308
Number of boys between 5 and 15,
I46
I45
Number of girls between 5 and 15,
I54
163
Number of boys between 7 and 14,
96
II2
Number of girls between 7 and 14,
II2
II5
SCHOOL RECORDS.
Year ending June 1903
Year ending June 1904
Number of pupils enrolled,
322
328
Number enrolled between 5 and 15,
276
Number enrolled between 7 and 14,
205
214
Average membership,
278.87
280.74
Average attendance,
257.90
257.61
Per cent. of attendance,
92.35
91.76
69
ATTENDANCE BY SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL.
GRADES.
Total Mem- b'rship
Av'ge Mem- b'rship
Av'ge Atten- dance
Per cent. of Atten- dance
Centre Grammar
V, VIII, IX
32
27.88
25.96
93.12
Centre Sub-Grammar
VI, VII
47
40.85
37.91
92.73
Centre Primary
55
45.32
42.36
93.45
Cochesett Grammar
VI-IX
18
15.15
14.27
94.13
Cochesett Primary
I-V
39
33.15
28.76
91.62
East
I-VI
26
20.52
19.02
92.6
Jerusalem
I-VI
25
20
18.
90.
Matfield
I-VI
40
33.67
31.73
94.2
North
I-V
24
22.4
20.4
91.5
South
I-V
23
21.8
19.2
88.07
A comparison of the tables of attendance published during the past few years with that given in this report shows that our average membership, average attendance, and per cent. of attendance have become almost constant quantities, varying but little from year to year. The per cent. of attendance for the statistical year ending June, 1904 was 91.76, a slight decrease from that reported one year ago. This decrease can be more than accounted for by the very severe weather of last winter and the unusual amount of sickness that prevailed during a part of the year.
In my last report emphasis was laid upon the neces- sity for regular and punctual attendance upon all sessions of the schools, as the habits of regularity and punctuality there formed not only have a commercial value in the business world but are essential elements in the formation of strong and vigorous character. Parents should realize more deeply than they frequently do that the work of the school is real and serious business from the day when the child first enters the schoolroom to the end of his school course. Nothing but serious illness or matters of grave importance should ever be responsible for even a day's absence. The State by legislative enactments recognizes the child's right to uninterrupted attendance at school, and as parents no one of us should be remiss in his duty.
70
Teachers are often asked to excuse pupils for absence for reasons which when analyzed, amount to nothing more than indifference or lack of ambition on the part of the pupil, caused oftentimes by late hours or the gratification of desires wholly foreign to school work. In marked con- trast to this class of pupils are those who are present at every session, whom neither storm nor indisposition can keep at home.
In this connection parents are urged not only to co- operate with the teachers in their attempts to secure good attendance, but to remember that a live interest in the daily work of the school, expressed by frequent visitation, will do much to secure the end desired.
ADMITTANCE TO GRADE ONE.
Attention is called at this point to the following amended rule of the School Committee. Section 7. "Children who have never attended school shall not be allowed to enter the first grade, except during the first month of each school year, unless they show evidence that they are capable of taking up the wok of the grade at the time they apply for admittance. No child less than five years old shall be allowed to enter the school unless his birthday comes during the month of September."
Under the amended rule children who would formerly have been excluded from school until their fifth birthday had actually been reached, may now enter the first day of the term, provided their birthday comes before the first of October.
This rule has been amended for the benefit of those parents who feel that they must send their children to school at the very earliest moment possible. I am still of the opinion expressed in my report of last year, however, that such children would in most cases do better and more satisfactory work, if entrance to the school should be post-
71
poned at least one year. As a general thing such pupils are too immature to comprehend the work of their grade and as a result become a drag upon the class. To be con- vinced of this fact, one needs but to visit almost any of our first grades and study these pupils as the lesson is being taught.
AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATES.
For the benefit of any who may not understand the laws relating to the employment of children in factories, the following extracts from the public statutes, with com- ments upon them, are given here.
Under the laws of Massachusetts all children between the ages of seven and fourteen years are required to attend the public schools, or some approved private school, during the entire time the public schools are in session, unless the "physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable." Children be- tween fourteen and sixteen years of age must attend school or be regularly employed.
The laws governing the employment of children are clear and specific. Revised Laws, Chap. 106, Sec. 28. "No child under the age of fourteen years shall be employed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment. No such child shall be employed at work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides are in session, nor be employed at work before six o'clock in the morning or after seven o'clock in the evening."
Section 30. "An age and schooling certificate shall be approved only by the superintendent of schools or by a person authorized by him in writing, or, if there is no superintendent of schools, by a person authorized by the school committee ; "
72
This age and schooling certificate can be granted by the superintendent only on the presentation by the appli. cant of an employment ticket properly filled out and signed by the intending employer as evidence that the applicant will be employed if the certificate is granted. This employment ticket can be obtained from the superin- tendent of schools. In making application for an age and schooling certificate, the applicant should be accompanied by his parent or guardian.
EXTRA TEACHER NEEDED AT THE CENTER.
In this section of my report I wish to speak briefly of the condition of the schools, and of one pressing need that should receive immediate attention.
It is a noteworthy fact that of the ten teachers who were members of our teaching force when school opened one year ago last September, all are with us today. Through the generous policy of the school committee in recognizing merit and efficient teaching, we have been able to retain teachers who would otherwise seek more remunerative positions. The result of this policy has been less loss of time at the beginning of new terms, and greater efficiency in the work. Our teachers as a whole have been deeply interested in their work and very willing to receive and act upon suggestions made by their super- intendent, facts that in themselves are conducive to a healthy condition of school work.
On the other hand there are points of weakness in our system that should receive due consideration. I refer to the crowded condition of our primary and intermediate schools at the Center.
At the opening of the fall term the primary school enrolled nearly sixty pupils divided into four grades, while the intermediate room numbered nearly as many pupils distributed among three grades. Temporary relief has
73
been afforded by employing an assistant on half time for the primary school, and by dividing the work of the fifth grade between the regular teacher and the teacher of the grammar school. Such relief, however, must be regarded as only temporary, for even under the present arrange- ment recitations requiring twenty-five or thirty minutes must be cut down to fifteen minutes in length, a period altogether too short for a profitable presentation and dis- cussion of the lesson. By the time the class have become thoroughly interested in the recitation, the period has come to an end. Furthermore, the strain upon the teachers in thus rushing from one class to another tends to weaken their powers, and to that extent to decrease their efficiency as teachers and instructors of youth. Attention to the needs of individual pupils is out of the question, or can be given only at the expense of other pupils in the class. Under such conditions teachers feel their limitations and realize the impossiblity of doing their best work for the schools.
In the light of these facts, I recommend the employ- ment of an extra teacher whose time could be divided according to the respective needs of these three schools. That there is need of such a teacher in our schools, and that the benefits that would result from the adoption of this recommendation would more than outweigh the addi- tional expense involved, I am firmly convinced.
PROMOTION OF PUPILS.
There is probably no one problem connected with the work of the schools that demands of teachers and superin- tendent alike more careful consideration than that of pro- motion from grade to grade.
For the purpose of promotion pupils may be divided roughly into three classes : first, those who have been blessed with good health and a fair amount of ambition
74
and a consequent ability to do well the work of the grade. These we may safely assume will be promoted at the end of the year. To the second class belong those who through lack of ambition or through inability to maintain a creditable standing must of necessity fail of promotion. Between these two extremes comes a third division that may be classed as doubtful. It is to this class of pupils that most careful consideration must be given, for an error in judgment here may be fraught with consequences fatal to the child's intellectual growth. Circumstances over which a pupil has no control may have placed him tem- porarily in this class, yet it would be manifest injustice to such a pupil to promote or to degrade him without taking into consideration these extraneous conditions. Each case must be considered on its own merits regardless of per cents. actually earned. Any system of marking, however good it may be in determining the standing of pupils, has its limitations and must at times give way to other con- siderations which cannot be expressed in terms of per cent.
In our school system we endeavor to approxinate this ideal. The daily work, written tests (in the higher grades), and the child's individuality are all factors in determining his fitness for promotion. Reports of each pupil's progress are sent out at regular intervals, and parents are urged to examine these carefully before approving them. If the report shows that the pupil has fallen into the doubtful class, or if for any other rea- son it is not satisfactory, parents should confer at once with the teacher. As a result of such conference, the pupil may frequently be inspired to renewed efforts, and promo- tion at the end of the year thus ensured.
NEW TEXT-BOOKS.
In the modern school system economy of time is an
75
element of prime importance and is effected by thorough organization and equipment. During the past year we have been able, by careful economy in all school expenses, to take a step in the direction of better equipment. Our text-books in language and arithmetic had been in use for many years, and in some respects were but poorly adapted to our present needs. It is a pleasure to report that we have been able to replace these with new and up-to-date books, which after four or five months' trial commend them- selves heartily to pupils and teachers alike.
The arithmetics avoid the extreme spiral method of treatment, which has become decadent, but preserve the best features of that method combined with the old or topical arrangement of subjects. The examples given are modern in character and are such as the pupil is likely to meet with in the affairs of every day life.
Our work in language involves a large amount of prac- tice in thought expression. In the upper grades there seems to be a need of more work in technical grammar, and in consequence of this need we are laying more stress upon this phase of the subject, being careful at the same time not to neglect the literature and language work begun in the lower grades. Technical grammar, while not a desideratum in itself, does play an important part in pre- paring a pupil for reading intelligently the masterpieces of English and American literature, and on this ground its study is not only to be defended but also encouraged.
The work in spelling also has been strengthened by the introduction of new books well graded and well adapt- ed to our pupils. The books are conservative in charac- ter and afford excellent drill in syllabication and in apply- ing the common rules which govern the intelligent spell- ing of words. Our work is both oral and written, in order that the ear as well as the eye may be trained to assist the memory.
My recommendation of last year relative to the pur-
76
chase of new material for reading classes has been adopt- ed, and we are gradually strengthening this feature of our work.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
In our high school department good, faithful work has been done during the past year. With a few exceptions the teaching force remains the same. At the opening of school in September, Miss Warner succeeded Miss Graves as principal. Three new teachers have been added to the teaching force, Miss Deyo in science, Mrs. Little of the Bridgewater Model School as director of the work in art, and Miss Caryl as assistant in all departments.
It is a pleasure to report that the teachers without exception are enthusiastic in their work and the pupils deeply interested.
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