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 1910-1914 > Part 23
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$471 00
Roland Reid, janitor,
16 00
Joe Souza, janitor,
22 25
L. M. O'Neil, janitor,
13 75
Mrs. Luddy, janitor and cleaning,
23 50
Mrs. Charles Erland, cleaning Jerusalem school,
2 05
Otis F. Kinney, janitor,
160 00
Leo Miller, janitor,
34 50
Mary A. Dewyer, janitor,
25 00
L. A. Tower,
7 50
C. S. Johnson, cleaning Cochesett school house,
5 00
Rosa Silveria, cleaning North school house,
3 00
Elwyn Baker, janitor,
21 00
Willard Andrews, janitor,
3 60
Mary A. Maderoe,
4 70
$812 85
Fuel.
Paid John McDonald, housing wood,
$ 50
E. E. Howard, wood,
61 25
George S. Drake, 97,470 lbs. Lehigh broken and 3 tons stove coal,
337 98
George S. Drake, 38,900 lbs Lehigh broken @ $7.50 125 90
George S. Drake, coal
38 07
Bradford Copeland, wood,
33 75
E. H. Thayer, wood,
28 00
Albert Manley, wood,
30 00
E. T. Snell, wood,
19 00
Leo Miller, housing wood,
3 75
C. P. Howard, wood,
21 00
$699 20
9
Miscellaneous.
Paid S. B. Hetherington, janitor's supplies, 8 48
Otis Kinney, janitor's supplies, 14 05
Mary C. Dewyer, janitor's supplies, 3 50
G. S. Drake, 2 brooms, 95
J. E. Howard, janitor's supplies,
90
Anna H. Dewhirst, janitor's supplies, 1 00
L. A. Tower, janitor's supplies, 70
George F. Logue, janitor's supplies,
1 25
West Bridgewater water department rates and® construction, 158 25
$189 08
EXPENSES OF MAINTAINING SCHOOL PLANT, REPAIRS, ETC.
Paid H. O. Davenport, cement work, grading, etc., $189 60
C. F. Jordan, work on furnaces, 43 00
Gurney Bros., fixing clocks, 1 50
W. J. Cairnes, carpentry, tile, cleaning vaults, etc., 24 29
Old Colony Piano Co., tuning piano,
2 50
Chester Thayer, carpentry,
58 12
Mary C. Dewyer, minor repairs,
35
Stone Underhill Co., work on heater,
29 98
Wm. Cole, carpentry,
15 50
N. W. Bradford, painting,
192 18
Albert Manley, carting for grading,
16 59
E. E. Crowell, painting, etc.,
31 40
Arthur H. Willis, exit signs,
1 87
W. J. Cairns, carpentry,
2 25
C. P. Howard, repairs,
12 00
F. W. Redman, carpentry,
39 91
$661 04
10
PROMOTION OF HEALTH.
Paid E. S. LeLacheur, M. D., medical inspection, etc., $69 50
W. C. Whiting, M. D.,
1 50
E. S. LeLacheur, M. D., medical inspection and record book (1912), 67 50
$138 50
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
Paid Bay State Street R. R., strip tickets, $42 50
William S. Irwin, transportation, 273 00
H. E. Marble, transportation (music teacher), 45 00
E. H. Crocker, advertising, proposals for transportation, 1 30
Chas. H. Fuller, transportion,
293 37
F. Chas. Quallins, repairs on coach,
71 21
C. A. Noyes, carriage lamp and carriage, 2 75
$1,099 13
4
MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES.
Sundries.
Paid Octave Belmore, constable, Cochesett School, $9 00
Arthur H. Willis, school reports, etc., 5 75
F. W. Martin Co., engraving diplomas,
12 65
Rose L. MacDonald, graduation expenses, postage, etc., 6 75
$34 15
11
NEW EQUIPMENT.
Paid Badger Fire Extingisher Co., 14 extinguishers and expressage, $94 75
Chester Thayer, equipping doors with vesti- bule locks, 41 76
$136 51
EXPENDITURES.
Expenses of general control,
$91 00
Other expenses,
44 65
Superintendence of school and educational control,
720 57
Other expenses,
12 09
Expenses of instruction, salaries of teachers,
7,908 69
Text books,
671 98
Stationery, supplies, and other expenses of instruc- tion, 109 51
Expenses of operating school plant, wages of jani- tors and other employees,
812 85
Fuel,
699 20
Miscellaneous,
189 08
Expenses of maintaining school plant, repairs,
661 04
Promotion of Health,
138 50
Transportation of pupils,
1,099 13
Sundries,
34 15
New equipment,
136 51
$13,328 95
FUNDS AVAILABLE.
Town grants, support of schools,
$11,450 00
Mass. School fund, balance of 1912,
56 97
Mass. School fund, paid 1913,
952 55
12
From Howard trustees (music),
40 00
East Bridgewater,
3 10
Return insurance,
19 75
Sale of books,
1 13
James Smith, tuition,
18 00
State Treasurer, tuition,
203 50
State Treasurer, on account of Superintendent's salary,
250 00
State Treasurer, on account of teachers' salaries,
166 66
$13,161 66
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL FUND.
Received from fund,
$952 55
Balance of fund of 1912,
56 97
$1,009 52
Paid for teachers' salaries,
$1,007 21
School supplies, Amount remaining,
2 25
06
$1,009 52
Remaining expenditures, $12,319 49
Income:
Town grants,
$11,450 00
Other sources,
702 14
Overdrawn,
167 35
$12,319 49
13
The opening of the year finds our schools well equipped with all that seems essential to the well-being, comfort and safety of the pupils. Our scholars are under the guidance of painstaking, efficient teachers whose efforts are appre- ciated by all who are interested in the maintenance of good schools.
We refer with pride to the large number who graduating from our Grammar School have diligently taken up some one of the several courses at the High School.
It may interest all to know that we are permitted by law to expend the money received from the Massachusetts State Fund for the payment of teachers' salaries and school sup- plies only. For that reason a separate account is made of that expenditure.
Our funds were inadequate to meet the unexpected de- mands made by a State Inspector. Instructions were received calling for the immediate installment of a given number of a certain kind of fire extinguishers, also that all doors should be made to open outward, outside doors be equipped with vestibule knobs, also hand rails be added in certain stairways -all of which called for the expenditure of a larger sum of money than the appropriations of the year would cover.
The wisdom of these permanent improvements is at once evident when we consider the greater safety insured our school children in case of fire or accident.
The relation of parent and teacher should be a most in- timate one. Frequent visits to the schools by the parents is commended, while an occasional invitation to teachers to visit the homes of their pupils in a social way would greatly strengthen the acquaintance and mutual interest of those most deeply interested in the education and methods of in- struction afforded our school children.
14
RECOMMENDATIONS.
We recommend the following appropriations for the
coming year:
General control,
$ 800 00
Teachers' salaries,
6700 00
Text books and supplies,
750 00
Janitors and supplies,
900 00
Maintenance of buildings,
700 00
Transportation,
1100 00
Fuel,
750 00
Sundries,
100 00
Respectfully Submitted,
MRS. A. S. LELACHEUR,
MRS. CORELLI C. ALGER, FRANK L. HOWARD, CLINTON P. HOWARD, L. AUGUSTUS TOWER, HERBERT HOLMES.
School Committee.
TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of West Bridgewater, Mass.
I beg to submit to you the following report:
TABLE OF STATISTICS, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1913.
Population of the town, census of 1910,
2231
Estimated population 1913,
2,534
Number of schools,
15
Number of regular teachers required,
15
Number of regular teachers employed during the school year,
16
Number of special teachers,
2
SCHOOL CENSUS.
1912
1913
Number of boys between 5 and 15
226
240
Number of girls between 5 and 15
269
274
Total,
495
514
Number of boys between 7 and 14
159
171
Number of girls between 7 and 14
186
189
Total,
345
360
16
SCHOOL RECORDS.
Year ending June, 1912. 486
Year ending June, 1913 471
Number of pupils enrolled
Number of pupils enrolled between 7 and 14,
350
354
Number of pupils over 15
8
7
Number of different pupils in attend- ance during the year,
518
527
Average membership,
456
455
Average attendance,
424
426
Per cent. of attendance,
93
94
Aggregate number of months schools
have kept during the year,
138m, 18d
137m, 18}d
Average number of months schools
have kept during the year
9m, 5d
9m, 4d
ATTENDANCE BY SCHOOLS, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1913.
SCHOOL.
Grades.
Total
Registration.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent. of
Attendance.
Center
IX
32
31.65
29.86
94.35
VIII
45
41.85
39.46
94.31
VII
46
38.95
36.53
94.07
VI-VII
42
38.43
35.78
93.12
III-V
36
30.69
28.23
92.00
I-II
32
28.88
25.53
88.40
Cochesett Intermediate
IV-VI
27
23.84
22.60
94.80
Cochesett Primary
I-III
42
31.24
28.71
91.25
Sunset Ave. Intermed.
IV-VI
41
38.86
36.24
93.25
Sunset Ave. Primary
I-III
43
34.30
32.44
94.57
North
I-II
18
17.54
16,45
93.76
East
I-V
27
25.70
23.50
91.42
South
I-IV
34
21.95
21.07
95.98
Matfield
I-VI
43
32.25
31.43
97.45
Jerusalem
I-VI
26
19.20
18.10
94.30
MEMBERSHIP BY GRADES, DECEMBER 1, 1913.
High
Totals
SCHOOLS.
1
2
3
4
5 6
7 8
9
10
11
12
13
High
28
30
17
16
91
Center IX
45
VIII
44
VII-VIII
31
8
VI-VII
18
24
42
III-V
13
16
8
37
I-II
18
17
35
Cochesett Intermediate
7
9
10
26
Cochesett Primary
3
9
6
18
Sunset Ave. Intermediate
16
12
13
41
Sunset Ave. Primary
11
10
17
38
North
14
8
22
South
7
4
3
7
6
27
East
3
5
3
6
4
21
Matfield
7
8
8
8
9
6
46
4
5
1
6
3
3
22
503
Totals
67
66
51
66
51
50
55
52
45
28
30
17
16
594
17
.
Jerusalem
45
44
39
18
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS FOR TEN-YEAR PERIOD.
Year ending
June.
Registration.
Average Membership.
Average Per cent. of Attendance. Attendance.
1904
281
258
92
1905
307
283
92
1906
314
289
93
1907
404
348
322
93
1908
416
366
340
93
1909
422
370
341
92
1910
447
394
366
93
1911
472
420
383
91
1912
518
456
424
93
1913
527
455
426
94
TABLE SHOWING LOCAL TAX FOR SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Year.
Assessed valua- tion of the Town
Tax Rate.
Actual cost to the Town for support of Schools.
Appropria- tion on each $1,000 of val- uation.
Average Cost per mem- bership pupil in average member- ship.
1901
$1,053,325
$14.00
$5,186.84
$4.92
276
$18.79
1902
1,061,900
14.00
5,349.35
5.04
280
19.10
1903
1,089,194
14.50
5,902.79
5.42
278
21.23
1904
1,116,194
13.50
5,651.82
5.06
280
20.19
1905
1,123,222
14.10
5,552.77
4.05
307
18.09
1906
1,124,130
11.00
5,841.60
5.19
313
18.66
1907
1,188, 741
13.60
6,308.53
5.31
348
18.13
1908
1,221,718
16.80
6,892.43
5.64
365
18.88
1909
1,271,348
15.00
7,592.02
5.97
369
20.57
1910
1,342,167
12.60
7,919.10
5.90
394
20.10
1911
1,404,527
17.40
9,777.82
6.96
420
23.28
1912
1,534,588
19.60
10,132.39
6.59
456
22.21
1913
1,554,039
19.20
11,501.03
7.40
455
25.27
19
During the past year we have lost to the city of Brockton three of our valued teachers, two of whom had served with us eight and eleven years respectively. While we regret the loss of teachers who have been trained in our schools, we must recognize the fact that the election of our teachers to much better positions is a direct complement to our own school system. Fortunately, the changes necessitated by these resignations came during the summer vacation, a time when they could by made with a minimum amount of loss and inconvenience.
The school statistics reported this year vary but little from those reported one year ago, showing, however, a slight gain in the total number of pupils in attendance for the year. In view of this fact, it has seemed best to your committee and superintendent to defer for another year any recommen- dation for additional school accommodations. This decision is justified by the fact that several of the outside schools have had a smaller enrolment than usual, and there seems to be no prospect for any large increase in the membership of these schools during the next year. Readjustment of grades will, therefore, be possible to such an extent as to relieve the crowded condition at the Center and Sunset Avenue schools. The citizens of the town should be prepared in the near future, however, to consider seriously the question of an addition to the building on Sunset Avenue to accommo- date all of the pupils living at that end of the town. Such an additon, converting the present school into a four-room building, would materially lesson our bill for transportation and enable pupils to attend school near their own homes. The health of the pupils would thereby be conserved, and many of the disadvantages connected with transportation and care of the pupils during the noon hour would be re- duced to a negligible quantity.
In my last report reference was made to the recently in- augurated plan of giving small certificates at the end of each
20
school month to those pupils who had been neither absent nor tardy during the month. Seven or more of these small cer- tificates earned during the year would entitle the holder to a larger certificate. Eighty-four pupils, or nearly sixteen per cent. of the total registration earned the larger certificate; the names of these pupils will be found in appendix D. Others tried equally hard but failed through sickness or other unavoidable causes.
The result of this attempt to secure more regular attend- ance is shown in the record for the year. The per cent. for the whole town is 94, the highest recorded for a long period of years, if not the highest on record, the average for the past ten years being 92.6 per cent. The Matfield school leads all others for the year, with a record of 97.45 per cent. Only one school has fallen below 91, while ten of the fifteen schools show an improvement over the record for the previ- ous year.
The annual tests for defective sight and hearing have been made with the following results: number of pupils ex- amined, 470; number with defective vision, 20; number with defective hearing 1; number of parents notified 19. The re- port of the Medical Inspector is incorporated with this report and should receive careful consideration. In general, parents have responded well to his recommendations and have sought medical advice for the treatment of adenoids and enlarged tonsils. Decayed teeth should be cared for at once, as they not only interfere with a child's progress in school work by the suffering they occasion and by impairing his general health, but such teeth may harbor the germs of certain con- tagious diseases.
A record of the year would be incomplete without refer- ence to the efforts of the different schools in the line of schoolroom decoration. Such efforts are commendable and indicate a genuine interest on the part of teachers and pupils. Special reference should be made to the fact that the schools
21
at the Center raised sufficient funds to purchase a Victor ma- chine, together with a number of records.
RECENT LEGISLATION.
One of the most important school measures passed at the last session of the Legislature is known as the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System, an arrangement for paying annuities and pensions to teachers. So far as teachers are concerned this system goes into effect July 1, 1914.
Teachers already in the service of the public schools or who may enter such service before June thirtieth of the present year may, upon application to the commissioner of education, become members of the retirement association. Teachers who enter the service on or after July first shall thereby become members of the association. This act, how- ever, does not apply to teachers in the Boston schools.
The management of the retirement system is vested "in the teachers' retirement board, consisting of seven members: the insurance commissioner for the commonwealth, the bank commissioner for the commonwealth, the commissioner of education for the commonwealth, three members of the re- tirement association and one other person."
The funds of the retirement system are derived from as- sessments paid by members of the retirement association and from such amounts as shall be appropriated by the general court from time to time on estimates submitted by the re- tirement board. The rate of assessment, determined annu- ally by the retirement board, "shall at any given time be uni- form for all members of the retirement association, and shall not be less than three per cent. nor more than seven per cent. of the members' salary." It is further provided, how- ever, that no member shall be assessed less than thirty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for any school year. This assessment is paid in regular instalments due on
22
pay days and is deducted by the city or town treasurer from the teacher's salary. All deductions are forwarded once a month to the secretary of the retirement board. The state treasurer is the custodian of the funds. Assessments are payable until retirement, but no teacher is required to con- tribute more than thirty assessments.
Members of the association may retire at the age of 60 and must retire at 70. The school committee, with the approval of the retirement board, can retire a teacher over 60 years of age. To share in the retiring allowances a member must have taught at least 15 years in Massachusetts, five years of which must immediately precede retirement. The retirement al- lowance in a given case is made up of such an annuity as the assessments for the given period would buy, plus a pension for an equal amount provided by the state, and in no case is to be less than three hundred dollars.
Teachers withdrawing from service before becoming eli- gible for the retiring allowance have all their assessments refunded to them, with interest at three per cent. com- pounded annually. The law makes no provision for disability before the teacher reaches the age of sixty, except the re- funding of assessments with interest as stated above; it pro- vides merely for old age. The teacher's interests, however, are so well safeguarded that she has much to gain and prac- tically nothing to lose from membership in the association.
Another important piece of school legislation enacted the past year is that relating to the employment of minors. This act took effect September first, and under its provisions all working certificates issued prior to that date became obso- lete. The issuing of new forms to all employed minors be- tween fourteen and twenty-one years of age entailed a great deal of extra work upon the superintendent of schools, as well as occasioning inconvenience to employers and employes. The law is, however, a distinct advance in legislation, limit- ing the hours of labor for minors and women and closing to
23
them certain dangerous occupations. The restrictions as to hours and occupations placed upon minors between fourteen and sixteen years of age will make it more difficult than for- merly for such to find employment and will have a tendency to keep these boys and girls in school. Before leaving school a boy or girl over fourteen and under sixteen years of age must obtain an employment certificate from the office of the superintendent of schools. Before this can be granted, how- ever, the applicant must file with the office a promise of em- ployment, a physician's certificate, a school record, and one of a series of prescribed proofs of age. Minors from sixteen to twenty-one years of age can obtain an educational certifi- cate on presenting the proper form of proof of age. A cir- cular giving an outline of the laws relating to the employ- ment of women and children can be obtained on application to the superintendent of schools.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
The past year has been one of expansion for the high school. The use of the entire building, including assembly hall and gymnasium, and the employment of our teachers on a full time schedule have added materially to the efficiency of the school in meeting the real needs of the community. The membership has increased to more than ninety, with a good prospect for reaching the one hundred mark next Sep- tember. This steady growth in numbers is gratifying to teachers and school officials, as it indicates a recognition of the value of high school work and a desire on the part of pupils to avail themselves of the opportunities offered by the school.
The courses of study have been re-arranged and enriched the past year so that now our curriculum compares favorably with that of larger schools. Not only are opportunities pre- sented for fitting for college, normal, and technical schools,
24
but we can now prepare competent boys and girls for actual positions in the business world. A school can do much for a boy or girl but not everything. The pupil must remember that the school is but a miniature world wherein he receives a training for the larger world which he must soon enter, and in which he will find there is but little room for the man or woman who has not learned the meaning of hard work and of responsibility.
There seems to be a growing spirit of loyalty to the school, a spirit that is fostered by the healthful development of athletics and by proper attention to the social life of the pupils. The opening of the gymnasium has made possible the organization of basket ball teams among the girls and boys. Through this and other games our pupil learn the valuable lesson of co-operation or team work, a lesson fre- quently learned in no other way.
The organization of a school debating club, or congress, is due to the efforts of Mr. Maglathlin. This congress pro- vides an opportunity for the study of current events and a special training for public speaking.
As the school grows in numbers, additional teachers will be needed and an opportunity thus afforded for still further enriching our course of study.
In this connection it is proper to speak of the report made to the Association for the Revision of College Entrance Re- quirements. At present it is practically impossible for the smaller high schools to provide preparation for college and at the same time offer courses which represent the trend of modern educational thought and practice. Furthermore, it has happened that pupils who would undoubtedly do good work in college, if given the opportunity, have been automa- tically excluded through failure to meet the entrance require- ments in certain traditional subjects. The plan recommended in the report provides that such subjects as drawing, manual training, household arts, music, agriculture, and commercial
25
branches may be substituted for some of the traditional sub- jects usually offered for admission to college. By this plan pupils desiring a college training will be encouraged to pursue subjects that have a "vital interest for them and that will function with their future lives." It is believed that the adoption of this plan would be a distinct benefit not only to the high schools but to the colleges as well, by drawing to them boys and girls of exceptional ability in subjects not at present recognized by colleges in their entrance require- ments.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING.
Mr. Edgar H. Grout, Superintendent of Schools : -
During the year which has just passed the course in drawing has been much the same as in the past and the attainment equal to if not above that of any previous year.
In beginning each new subject in freehand drawing prac- tice work has first been done on the blackboards by the children, to obtain proportion and learn the characteristics of the object to be drawn. The drawings made on the board are large and the errors more readily seen by the children than when first drawn on paper. After this practice the drawings were made on paper as usual but have been done more intelligently. This way of teaching has given greater breadth to the subject and made it possible to draw things like wagons, automobiles, fishing schooners, trains and houses which the children could easily study outdoors or from pictures. It does not need to be added that the children thoroughly enjoy this kind of drawing.
The younger children like to construct Indian villages and colonial settlements from heavy paper, and they have been so instructed in this work that they can make these things at home as a part of their home play. They have drawn large landscapes with crayons representing the differ-
26
ent seasons. The course in drawing is planned to be of such interest to children that it unconsciously becomes a natural mode of expression with them.
Excellent work has been done in mechanical drawing in the upper grades, and in the ninth grade drawings have been made by the boys and then the object constructed in wood. Besides this, the boys in that grade are working out a course iñ mechanical drawing which is equivalent to the first year in mechanical drawing in the average high school.
I wish to thank you and the teachers for your cordial support during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND KETCHUM, Supervisor of Drawing.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.
To the School Committee and Superintendent of the Schools in the town of West Bridgewater : -
It gives me great pleasure to present my report as Med- ical Inspector in the public schools for the past year as follows : -
27
DISEASES FOUND.
Total No.
Advised
Treatment.
Treated?
Improved
or Cured.
EYES :-
Conjunctivitis,
2
1
1
2
EARS :-
Otitis media (Inflammation of middle ear),
1
1
1
NOSE AND THROAT :-
Adenoids and enlarged tonsils,
46
46
16
14
Slightly enlarged tonsils,
58
36
Deflected nasal septum, Cleft palate,
1
1
SKIN :-
Eczema,
4
1
Urticaria
6
2
Rhus poisoning (Ivy),
5
4
5
Farus,
1
1
Scrofulosis,
1
1
BONES AND JOINTS :-
GENERAL DISEASES :-
Anaemia,
2
2
1
1
Slightly anaemic,
7
2
2
Malaria,
2
1
1
Boils,
1
1
1
Sick headache,
13
Rheumatism,
1
Enlarged cervical glands,
5
3
3
Indigestion,
5
2
2
Valvular disease of heart,
1
Appendicitis,
1
1
1
Wry neck.
1
NERVOUS AND MENTAL DEFECTS :- Backward,
2
Lack of muscular co-ordination,
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