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 5
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To meet the needs of another year we would recommend the following appropriations:
Administrative salaries and other general salaries and other general expenses,
$650 00
Teachers' salaries,
5,500 00
Text books and supplies,
· 600 00
Transportation, 900 00
Janitors' services, 800 00
Fuel, 550 00
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds (including all repairs and labor and janitors' supplies), 300 00
Furniture and furnishings, 100 00
Other expenses (including cost of graduation, ex- pressage, teaming, etc.), 100 00
$9,500 00
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. A. S. LELACHEUR,
MRS. M. K. CROSBY,
CLINTON P. HOWARD,
L. AUGUSTUS TOWER,
HERBERT HOLMES,
FRANK L. HOWARD,
School Committee.
NINETEENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of West Bridgewater:
It gives me pleasure to submit for your consideration my eighth annual report.
TABLE OF STATISTICS, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1910.
Population of the town, census of 1910,
2,231
Increase since census of 1905,
225
Number of schools,
12
Number of regular teachers required,
12
Number of different regular teachers employed during the year,
14
Number of special teachers,
2
SCHOOL CENSUS.
1909
1910
Number of boys between 5 and 15,
205
207
Number of girls between 5 and 15,
204
237
Total,
409
444
Number of boys between 7 and 14,
149
153
Number of girls between 7 and 14,
158
167
Total,
307
320
15
Number of male illiterate minors over 14 years, 1 0
SCHOOL RECORDS.
Year ending June, 1909. 392
Year ending June, 1910. 409
Number of pupils enrolled,
Number of pupils enrolled between 5 and 15,
384
401
Number of pupils enrolled between 7 and 14,
280
304
Number of different pupils in attend- ance during the year,
422
447
Average membership,
369.90
393.53
Average attendance,
341.27
365.64
Per cent. of attendance,
92.26
92.91
Aggregate of months schools have kept during the year,
109m., 9d
Average number of months schools have kept during the year,
9m., 2d
ATTENDANCE BY SCHOOLS, YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1910.
SCHOOL.
Grades.
Total
Registration.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent. of
Attendance.
No. cases of
Tardiness.
Av. Tardiness
per Pupil for the Year.
Center
IX
37
32.05
29.80
92.90
49
1.53
VII-VIII
38
32.86
30.54
93.09
63
1.90
VI-VII
40
33.98
32.07
94.41
72
2.12
IV-V
43
38.42
35.09
91.31
12
0.31
I-III
40
33.49
30.45
90.01
21
0.63
Cochesett Grammar
V-VII
39
34.85
32.71
93.60
39
1.11
Cochesett Primary
I-IV
41
34.17
31.82
92.81
23
0.67
Matfield
I-VI
36
32.56
30.86
94.77
1.84
Jerusalem
1-VI
36
30.40
28.07
92.34
61 29
0.97
North
I-IV
41
30.99
28.22
90.01
128
4.13
South
I-V
40
35.97
33.91
93.65
25
0.69
East
I-IV
27
23.79
22.10
91.64
13
0.54
Number of female illiterate minors over 14 years,
16
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.
The national census, taken the past year, shows that the population of West Bridgewater is 2,231, or 225 more than the number given by the State census of 1905, repre- senting a gain of 11 per cent. Compared with the national census of ten years ago, there is a gain of 520, or more than 30 per cent. In these same periods of five and ten years, the per cents. of gain in average membership in our schools have been 28 and 50, respectively.
The returns for the past year show an improvement in attendance over that reported one year ago. Attention is called at this point to the record of tardiness given in the at- tendance table above. The total for the year is 535, which, with an average membership of 393, makes an average of 1.36 per pupil for the year. This number is higher than it should be, but reference to the table will show that the gen- eral average is raised by the poor record of a few schools. On the other hand, one-half of our schools have an average of less than one tardy mark per pupil for the entire year. A study of the several school registers reveals the additional fact that in schools having the poorest record, most of the tardiness is chargeable to a comparatively small number of pupils. Our teachers are making a commendable effort to reduce the number of tardy marks, and it is hoped that they will be aided in this attempt by the cooperation of parents and others having children under their charge. Indifference to a pupil's record of attendance is a serious fault, and one of which no parent should be guilty, for the habit of punctu- ality which the school strives to develop in every pupil, will prove to be a tremendous asset in after life. To know how to do things well is important; to get them done on time is the key note of success.
Pursuant to the recommendation made in my last re- port, the town voted, at its regular meeting in March, to add two weeks to the school year, making the length at present thirty-eight weeks. This action places us more nearly on an equality with other towns and cities, and makes possible a
17
better grade of work. It is hoped that results have justified our expectations, and that the experiment tried this year may become a permanent feature of our school work.
The problem of finding teachers adapted to our needs continues, with little or no hope for relief in the near future. The rapid growth of city population creates a demand for experienced teachers, which is met in large measure by prey- ing upon less favored communities. During the past twelve months your superintendent has found and employed no less than twenty-four new teachers for the schools of his district, an average of two each month. When one considers that for each teacher hired, from five to ten candidates must be inter- viewed and their qualifications considered, one can see that this function of the superintendent forms no inconsiderable part of his regular duties. Though changes come each year in our teaching force, yet our policy of gradually increas- ing salaries, where results seem to justify such action, has given to our teaching force, as a whole, a permanency and stability unknown in many of the smaller towns of the State.
An important change in the marking system was intro- duced at the beginning of the fall term. The pass mark in each study was raised from 65 per cent. to 70 per cent., and the values of the letters used on the report cards were changed to conform to the requirements of the new standard. The letter A now represents a mark of 90 to 100 per cent .; B, 80 to 90 per cent .; C, 70 to 80 per cent .; D, anything below 70 per cent. To insure promotion from one grade to the next, a pupil must receive an average of at least 70 per cent. for all of his studies, and not less than 50 per cent. in any study.
The past year has been marked by the opening of the fourth room in the new building at the Center, and a rear- rangement of grades to meet the needs of our increasing school population. In the two buildings at the Center, we now have 207 pupils, a gain of 31 over the number enrolled one year ago. During this time we have transferred the fifth grade from the South school to the Center, but have offset this increase in number by returning the corresponding grade from the Center to the East school.
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We have been fortunate in retaining for another year the services of our supervisors of music and drawing. The open- ing of three new schools in recent years has greatly added to the work of music supervision, and rendered necessary a new schedule, which calls for less frequent visits to the schools, but allows more time for each visit. The new schedule seems to be working well, and will undoubtedly make possible a continuance of the same good work to which we have been accustomed in the past. Under the present arrangement the drawing supervisor meets the regular teachers once each month, for the purpose of examining and criticising the work of the pupils, and of outlining and explaining the work for the coming month. This plan is, on the whole, satisfactory, and is productive of good results. In his report to me, Mr. Ketchum says: "The course in drawing is practically the same as given last year. Such changes as have been made are of minor importance. The work has progressed well and smoothly. The teachers have carried on the work with the children in a very satisfactory manner, taking pride in keep- ing the quality at a high standard."
The enforcement of the compulsory vaccination law, to which reference was made in my last report, has continued through the year with good results. Early in the fall term notice was given that no child under seven years of age would be admitted to school without a certificate to the effect that he had complied with the law. It is the purpose of the committee to continue the enforcement of the law, so that parents who are contemplating sending children to school for the first time next September, should see that they are pro- vided with a certificate of vaccination, or of lawful exemp- tion.
The test for sight and hearing, required by law to be made once each year, was made during the fall term, with the following results: Number of pupils examined, 424; num- ber with defective vision, 23; number with defective hear- ing, 1; number of parents notified, 14. For information re- garding health conditions in our schools, you are referred to the report of the medical inspector, which is incorporated
19
with this report.
The state law forbidding the use of the common drink- ing cup in public institutions, applies to school buildings. In compliance with this law, the common cup has been removed from all of our schools, and sanitary water coolers, with faucet attachment, have taken the place of water pails. The pupils are providing their own drinking cups.
CHANGES IN THE AGE AND SCHOOLING CERTIFICATE LAW.
The law in regard to granting age and schooling certifi- cates has been amended the past year by inserting the pro- vision that no certificate shall be issued until the person ap- plying "has received a certificate signed by a physician, as provided in Chapter five hundred and two, of the Acts of the year nineteen hundred and six, and Acts passed in amend- ment thereof, or by a physician appointed by the school com- mittee, stating that said minor has been examined by him, and in his opinion is in sufficiently sound health, and physi- cally able to perform the work which the minor intends to do: provided, however, that the age and schooling certificate may be approved and issued without a physician's certificate, if there shall be on file, in connection with the public schools, a written record in regard to the child's physical condition, made within one year, and the person authorized to approve said age and schooling certificate, after having examined such record, shall certify that, in his opinion, said minor is in sufficiently sound health, and physically able to perform the work which the minor intends to do."
Another enactment provides that: "Whoever forges, or procures to be forged, or assists in forging a certificate of birth of such minor, and whoever presents, or assists in pre- senting, a forged certificate of birth, to a school committee, or to the person authorized by law to receive certificates, for the purpose of fraudulently obtaining the school certificate mentioned in section sixty (age and schooling certificate), shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred, nor
20
more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not less than three months nor more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
The approval of the age and schooling certificate is based upon the following conditions: (1) A statement of age. The applicant must be at least fourteen years of age and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who must sign the cer- tificate and, under oath, give the age of the applicant. (2) A satisfactory test, made by the person who approves the age and schooling certificate, of the ability of the applicant to read and write. This test is met by an ability to meet at least the requirements for admission to the fourth grade in the public schools. (3) Certification as to the health and physical fitness to perform the work indicated. This certifi- cate should be obtained from the school physician after the applicant has had promise of work, and before he applies to the superintendent for an age and schooling certificate.
NEW SCHOOL BUILDING NEEDED.
In my report of last year attention was called to the in- crease in the school population, and to the probable need of additional accommodations in the near future. The commit- tee and superintendent have given this matter careful consid- eration, and are now prepared to recommend that an appro- priation be made at the coming town meeting for the purpose of building a new school on the lot in the North district, al- ready in the possession of the town. Tables, giving the en- rolment for January of the present year and the average membership for a period of years, have been prepared, and are here submitted for the consideration of the citizens.
21
MEMBERSHIP BY GRADES, JANUARY, 1911.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Totals.
Center
207
Grade IX
22
22
Grade VIII
44
44
Grades VI and VII Grades V and VI
26
11
37
Grades III and IV Grades I and II
13
15
28
22
12
34
Cochesett Grammar
9
10
16
35
Cochesett Primary
11
7
13
13
45
Matfield
5
8
4
6
2
6
31
Jerusalem
5
4
5
5
5
4
28
North
10
5
9
5
29
South
9
6
5
8
28
East
9
4
5
6
6
30
Totals.
72
46
54
58
48
51
38
44
22
433
TABLE OF AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP-YEAR ENDS IN JUNE.
1904,
281
1908,
365
1905,
307
1909,
370
1906,
313
1910,
393
1907,
348
1911, (Jan.) ·
425
20
22
42
Looking back over the records for a period of seven years, we find there has been a gain in average membership of 144 pupils, or more than 50 per cent. In this period we have built a four-room building with a seating capacity of 168 pupils. The promotion of pupils already in our schools will overtax this building next September, and leave no room for such pupils as may move into town before that date. Again, the upper grades are growing larger each year, and it will no longer be possible to combine such grades, as we have done in the past. Next year grades seven, eight and nine will number from 35 to 45 pupils each and each will require the entire time of a separate teacher. If, as now seems probable, we shall be obliged to tranfer the seventh grade from Cochesett to the Center to make room for the increasing
22
school population of that village, the need of the proposed new building will be still more imperative, as it will be neces- sary to provide an overflow for some of the intermediate pupils from outside districts now housed at the Center.
Thus far the question has been considered chiefly with reference to its bearing upon the situation at the Center. Let us look at conditions as they exist in the North district. For some time the building has been inadequate to meet the needs of even the lower grades, and we have been compelled to transfer young children to the Center. This plan is unsat- isfactory to school officials, as it certainly is to parents, for it involves electric car transportation and all day absence from home for pupils who, because of their age, ought to have school accommodations within walking distance of their own homes. Furthermore, the heating and ventilating arrange- ments in the building now in use are very unsatisfactory and far from being in conformity to the requirements of the state law. Until recently the number of pupils in the North dis- trict has not been sufficient to warrant the erection of a new building in that section of the town, but by next September the enrolment in the first six grades will be large enough to justify the opening of two rooms in the proposed new build- ing. With this additional accommodation we shall be enabled to return to their home district a number of pupils whom we are furnishing transportation, thereby making a saving on this item of approximately $150 per year.
To us who have studied the situation carefully there seems no alternative to the plan to erect a new building in the North district. The only question in our minds is whether it shall be a two-room or a four-room structure. The probabil- ity that this section of the town will continue to grow some- what rapidly argues for the larger building. Two rooms will meet our needs for the present, perhaps for two or three years, but if a two-room building is decided upon, the two rooms should be on the same floor, and plans and construc- tion should contemplate the possibility of raising the structure for the purpose of converting it into a four-room building. It is earnestly hoped that the citizens will give this recom-
23
mendation careful consideration, and feel free at any time to ask committee and superintendent for additional information or explanation.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
During the past year the course of study has been revised, the details of this revision being found in Appendix B. Our commercial course has been strengthened by the in- troduction of book-keeping. For next year we have in mind a still further extension of this course which seems to be meeting a real need on the part of our boys and girls.
The school opened in September with an enrolment of forty-three pupils, the largest in its history. Of this number twenty-two were girls and twenty-one were boys. Next year our enrolment will probably be about the same as this year. but in the following years the large classes to be grad- uated from the Grammar school ought to mean a much larger enrolment in the High school. I see no reason why the en- rolment should not increase in the next three or four years to at least sixty pupils.
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL INSPECTOR.
To the School Committee and Superintendent of the Schools in the town of West Bridgewater:
It gives me pleasure to present my report for the year as Medical Inspector in the public schools.
A perusal of the following tabulated report is significant, revealing the fact that a large proportion of the children attending school were not at the times of inspection well.
As our rigorous changeable New England climate is in- ducive of repeated colds and catarrhal conditions of the nose and throat the results of these ailments are often adenoids and enlarged tonsils. Thirty-four per cent of our school children have adenoids and enlarged tonsils or slightly en- larged tonsils. Fifty notices have been sent to parents or
24
guardians advising treatment.
To neglect the treatment of adenoids is but to invite the development of graver conditions. All cases of nasal ob- struction tend toward producing chronic catarrh, weak eyes and catarrhal ear troubles, and furnish an admirable soil for the germs of consumption.
During the last school year 334 or nearly 78 per cent of the children attending our schools were found affected by the following:
DISEASES.
Total No.
Advised
Treatment
Treated
Improved
or Cured
EYES :-
Conjunctivitis,
2
Pink eyes,
2
2
2
2
EARS :-
Otitis media (Inflammation of middle ear), Abscess,
6
6
3
1
NOSE AND THROAT :-
Adenoids and enlarged tonsils,
61
50
12
10
Slightly enlarged tonsils,
75
15
Deflected nasal septum,
5
4
SKIN :-
Eczema,
6
3
Impetigo contageosa,
7
7
7
7
Scabes, (Itch),
3
3
3
3
Urticaria,
3
3
Rhus poisoning, (Ivy),
4
4
4
BONES AND JOINTS :-
GENERAL DISEASES :-
Anæmia,
4
4
3
2
Slightly Anæmic,
6
Malaria,
2
2
1
1
Boils,
1
1
Sick headache,
12
Rheumatism,
2
Enlarged cervical glands,
2
1
Indigestion,
1
1
Valvular disease of heart,
1
NERVOUS AND MENTAL DEFECTS :- Backward,
5
Defective speech, (Stammering),
2
TEETH :-
Dadly decayed,
96
18
10
10
PARASITIC :-
Pediculosis, (Lice),
25
25
20
20
334
126
68
82
3
1
25
About 22 per cent of our pupils have badly decayed teeth. This percentage, though seemingly unnecessarily high, is by no means as high as is often found in the large city schools. A greater number of the children are having their teeth properly cared for than before this year. Many people seem unaware that decayed first teeth are not only a menace to a child's general health but also infect the permanent teeth as they appear. No child should remain out of school for tooth- ache only long enough to have the offending tooth treated or extracted.
Measles and mumps have been in evidence, and during the fall term many absences from school were caused by these ailments.
No cases of scarlet fever have been reported, and but one case of typhoid fever.
Special visits have been made to the schools, and a num- ber of pupils have reported to the office for diagnosis.
The general health of the pupils is good, there being a verv small number of weakly and anæmic children attending school.
I wish to express my appreciation for all assistance and courtesies extended me by all connected with the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
ELLIS S. LELACHEUR, M. D., School Physician.
West Bridgewater, Jan. 1, 1911.
26
CONCLUSION.
The principal topics considered in this report are as follows:
1. Comparative statistics.
2. Record of tardiness.
3. Changes in the marking system.
4. Standard for promotion raised.
5. Enforcement of vaccination law.
6. Common drinking cup abolished and water coolers introduced.
7. Changes in age and schooling certificate law.
8. New school building recommended.
9. Howard High school.
I desire at this time to express my thanks to the mem- bers of the school board for continued support and encourage- ment, to the teachers for faithful service, and to all others who have in any way contributed to the measure of success attained by the schools during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR HOMER GROUT, Superintendent of Schools.
West Bridgewater, Mass., Jan. 21, 1911.
Appendix A.
LIST OF TEACHERS FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR, 1910.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
WHEN FIRST APPOINTED.
WHERE EDUCATED.
Center
Grade IX
Rose L. MacDonald
1890
Bridgewater Normal School Fitchburg Normal School
Grade VIII
Grace E. Downing
I902
*Jennie R. Dunham
1908
Smith College
Grades VI and VII
Agnes Shannon
1910
Framingham Normal School
Grades V and VI
C. Louise Williams
1910
Bridgewater Normal School
Grades III and IV
Annie L. Danforth
1909
Tufts College
Grades I and II
Mildred Packard
1905
Bridgewater Normal School
Cochesett Grammar
Emma A. Morrow
1892
Castine, Me., Normal School
*Carrie L. Matthews
1908
Castine, Me., Normal School
Cochesett Primary
Elizabeth L. Holton
1910
Symond's Kindergarten Sch.
Matfield
Mary A. Dewyer
1874
Bridgewater Normal School
East
Nettie M. Woodbury
1907
South
Grace E. Dorman
1909
Bridgewater Normal School Castine, Me., Normal School Hyannis Normal School
North
+C. Louise Williams Amey C. Dyar
1910
Salem Normal School
*Mrs. Ellen C. Pierce
1909
Melrose High School
Jerusalem
Elizabeth A. Martin
1910
Taunton High School
Music
Mildred S. Jones
1901
N. E. Conservatory of Music
Drawing
Edmund Ketchum
1909
Mass. Normal Art School
*Mrs. Blanche K. Howell
1909
1910
Bridgewater Normal School
*Not in service at end of the year. +Transferred.
27
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Appendix B.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL,
COURSE OF STUDY FOR 1910-11.
College Preparatory Course.
General Course.
First Year.
English (4) Latin (5) Algebra (5) Freehand Drawing
English (4)
Algebra (5)
Commercial Arithmetic (4) · English History (4) § Physiology 1 (2}) Botany 2 (2}) Freehand Drawing
Second Year.
English (4)
Algebra 1 (2)
Geometry 2 (3)
Medieval History (3) § Physical Geography 1 (2}) ? Geology 2 (2}) Freehand Drawing Book-keeping (4)
English (4) Latin (5) Geometry (4) 2 French or German (4) Chemistry (5)
Third Year.
English (4) Chemistry (5) Greek and Roman History (3) Geometry (4)
Freehand Drawing
Greek and Roman History (3) Mechanical Drawing Freehand Drawing Mechanical Drawing
English (4) Latin (5) Algebra 1 (2)
Geometry 2 (3) 1 French (4) Freehand Drawing
29
Fourth Year.
English (4) Latin (5) Physics (5)
English (4)
Physics (5)
U. S. History (4)
3 French or 2 German (4)
Astronomy (3)
U. S. History (4)
Freehand Drawing
Mechanical Drawing
Mechanical Drawing
Freehand Drawing
1 and 2 immediately at right of studies indicate first half year and second half year respectively; figures in parenthe- sis, value in diploma points.
A diploma will be granted in the College Preparatory Course to those pupils who gain 65 points and who pass in the studies which prepare for admission without condition to any college represented on the College Entrance Examination Board.
A diploma will be granted in the General Course to those pupils who gain 65 points, 16 of which must be for work done in English. Algebra and Geometry are not required of pupils who take Commercial Arithmetic and Bookkeeping.
30
Appendix C.
EXERCISES OF GRADUATION
CLASS OF 1910.
Howard High School, West Bridgewater, Mass., Friday Evening, June the Tenth, Eight O'clock.
"Esse quam videri."
Chorus-"Praise Ye the Father." Gounod
School.
Prayer- Rev. J. J. Farrelly.
"The Romaunt of the Page. Elizabeth Barrett Browning Katherine Brown Alger.
" Romola and Savonarola. George Eliot Helen Covington Howard.
Chorus-"Summer Roses." Geibel
School.
"A Royal Princess." Christina Rossetti Grace Linwood Alger.
"The East and West." Rudyard Kipling John Frank Ferranti.
Chorus-"Hark! Hear the Cannon's Thunder Pealing." From Wagner's "Tannhauser." School.
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