USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 23
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Stone,
PRIMARY,
Miss L. M. Allen,
Stoddard,
SUB-PRIMARY,
Miss ». I .. Phillips,
McFarland.
SYCAMORE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Jaques, Goddard, O'Reilley, Pervear, Bowles, Dean, King, and Stone.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
S. W. Hale,
Miss A. S. Dunton,
" C. A. George,
('Reilley,
SECONDARY,
C. R. Clements,
Goddard,
J. A. Green,
Stone,
PRIMARY,
6
E. F. Marsh,
Deau,
King.
PROVIDENCE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE -- Messrs. O'Reilly, Goddard, Bowles, Dickinson, Murphy, Earle, Putnam, and Meriam.
Grade.
GRAMMAR,
Principals. HI. M. Harrington, Miss M. F. Reed, J. F. Smith,
O'Reilly,
Goddard,
Bowles,
SECONDARY,
" P. M. Cole, Earle,
L. A. Perry,
Dickinson,
PRIMARY,
L. Goodwin,
Murphy,
SUB-PRIMARY,
" S. J. Newton,
Meriam,
M. T. Maginnis,
Putnam.
DIX STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Bowles, Nelson, Earle, Power, Stoddard, Stone, Ship. pen, Daniels, and Dickinson. Grade.
GRAMMAR,
Principals. Samuel E. Fitz, V. E. Hapgood, E. M. Aldrich, E. Merrick, K. A. Meade,
A. H. Barnes, D. A. Lathrop, Rebecca Jones
Special Committee.
Bowles, Nel-on,
Earle,
Power,
Stoddard,
Stone, Shippen, Daniels, Power. Dickinson, Stoddard.
Bowles,
SUB-PRIMARY.
M. A. Smith,
Jaques, Pervear,
..
S. R. Clements,
Special Committee.
SECONDARY, 66 TRAINING SCHOOL,
49
LAMARTINE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Newton, Power, Dickinson, Daniels, McFarland, Me- lanefy, Murphy, and Shippen.
Grade. Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR, C. C. Foster,
Newton,
A. E. Daniels,
Power,
66
M. A. Smith,
Dickinson,
SECONDARY,
J. E. Prentice,
Daniels,
Il. N. Perry,
McFarland,
PRIMARY,
M. P. Valentine,
Melanefy,
INT.
L. E. Goodwin,
Murphy,
SUB
N. L. Moore,
Shippen.
PLEASANT STREET AND MASON STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Bowles, Shippen, Cutler, Williams, and Jaques.
GradF.
Principals.
Special Commiitee.
GRAMMAR, SECONDARY,
Miss Mary F. Wentworth,
Bowles,
Caroline Hewett,
Cutler,
Lizzie Graham,
Shippen,
M. E. Bothwell, Shippen,
PRIMARY,
L. M. Wilmarth,
Williams,
SUB
H. N. Perry,
Jaques,
M. E. Pease, Cutler.
ASH STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Pervear, Stone, Melanefy, McFarland, Gale, and Daniels.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR,
Miss M. M. Lawton,
Pervear,
SECONDARY, 66
J. K. Prentice,
Daniels,
PRIMARY,
« M. J. Mack,
Gale,
SUB «
" H. M. Shattuck,
Stone,
McFarland.
SALEM STREET AND FRONT STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE -- Messrs. Newton, King, Stone, Jaques, Merriam, Power, and Melanefy.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committee.
GRAMMAR, .6
Miss A. E. Daniels,
Newton,
Jaques,
Merriam,
PRIMARY,
" M. Hobbs, King, Newton,
" K. Hobbs,
H. A. Harrington, Stone,
Melanefy,
66
A. Pratt, C. M. Draper, Power.
EAST WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Power, Putnam, King, Nelson, Murphy, Dickinson, Newton, and McFarland.
Grade.
Principals. Miss E. Merrick,
Power,
Nelson,
Newton,
McFarland,
Dickinson,
Murphy,
SUB PRIMARY,
E. G. Wheeler, Miss C. E. Putnam, " E. L. McFarland,
Special Committees
GRAMMAR, SECONDARY,
66
PRIMARY,
H. Hathaway, L. L. Newton, A. Brown, Mrs. T. S. Darling,
King,
Putnam.
C. N. Follett,
Melanefy.
( M. E. Fitch, R. Barnard,
SECONDARY,
SUB PRIMARY,
" E. L. Brooks,
50
SUMMER STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Williams, Cutler, Gale, and Earle. Grade. Principals. Miss T. S. Nichols, SECONDARY, PRIMARY, E. G. Chenery, SUB PRIMARY,
Special Committee. Williams, Cutler, Earlo, Gale.
Grade.
GRAMMAR,
ELM STREET SCHOOL. Principal. Miss Emma Brown,
Special Committee.
Daniels and Newton.
TEMPLE STREET SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE -- Messrs. O'Reilly and Murphy.
Grade.
PRIMARY,
SUB «
M. J. Morse,
Special Committec. O'Reilley, Murphy.
ADRIATIC MILLS AND SOUTH WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Goddard and Dean.
Grade.
Principals.
Special Committes.
GRAMMAR,
Miss E. Osgood,
Goddard,
SECONDARY,
M. Harrington,
Dean,
PRIMARY,
" A. E. Hall,
Dean,
Goddard,
NEW WORCESTER, VALLEY FALLS, AND LEESVILLE SCHOOLS. GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Jaques, Dean, and Stone.
Grade.
GRAMMAR,
Principals. Miss M. E. Maynard,
Special Committee. Jaques, Dean,
SECONDARY,
Margaret Metcalf,
PRIMARY,
M. P. Valentine,
Stone,
SUBURBAN,
M. E. D. King,
Dean,
Jaques.
UNION HILL SCHOOL.
Grade.
Principal. Special Committee.
SECONDARY,
Miss A. E. Ayres,
Meriam.
QUINSIGAMOND SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-O'Reilly and Goddard.
Grade.
GRAMMAR, PRIMARY,
Principals. Miss M E. Carr, " L. E. Perry,
Special Committee.
O'Reilly,
Goddard.
TATNUCK SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEZ-Messrs. Dickinson and Stoddard. Grade.
GRAMMAR,
PRIMARY,
E. M. Rice,
Special Committee.
Dickinson,
Stoddard.
NORTHVILLE SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Mestrs. Daniels and Merriam. Grade. Principals.
Miss E. S. R. Kendrick, S. M. Brigham,
Special Committee.
Daniels,
Meriam.
GRAMMAR, PRIMARY,
Principals. Miss M. S. Leonard,
Alice Dean,
M. Parker,
Principals. Miss M. M. Geary,
M. A. Slater,
I. C. Upton,
51
OTHER SUBURBAN SCHOOLS.
Districts.
Principals.
Committee. Williams,
BLITHEWOOD, Miss S. E. Goddard, POND, " M. O. Whitmore,
Putnam,
ADAMS SQUARE,
F. J. Bean, Nelson,
BURNCOAT PLAIN,
C. L. Goodale,
Nelson,
NORTH POND,
H. S. Clarke,
Daniels,
CHAMBERLIN,
E. G. Cutler,
Power.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMMITTEE-Messrs. Power, Newton, and McFarland.
Location.
Principals, Special Committee.
ORANGE STREET.
Thomas Wheelock.
66
Miss P. E. King.
Power, . Newton.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
GENERAL COMNMITTEE-Messrs. Jaques, Newton, and Daniels.
Location. Principals.
Special Committee.
Orange st.,-Boys,
A. L. Smith,
Jaques,
Elm st.,-Girls.
Miss L. Lawrence,
East Worcester,-Girls
E. Merrick,
Daniels, Newton.
VOCAL MUSIC.
HIGH, GRAMMAR, AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS-I. N. Metcalf, Teacher. COMMITTEE-Power, Shippen, and Cutter.
The members of the Visiting Committees are all of equal rank ; they are expected to report once a month upon all the schools specially assigned to them. Each member of a General Committee is expected to report, at least, once in three months, upon each of the schools assigned to such Committee.
The Committees of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them according to the provisions of the statutes, not less than once in four weeks, and generally during the week preceding the monthly meeting of the Board, at which they shall report their true condition .--- Rules Chap, 3, Sect. 6.
Superintendent's Report.
To His Honor, the Mayor,
and the School Board of Worcester :
In conformity to your regulations, I respectfully sub- . mit the following report of the public schools of the city for the year 1868 :
STATISTICS.
Estimated population of the city, 40,000
Number of voters in the city,
6514
Valuation as returned by the Assessors for 1868,
$26,220,200
Increase for the year,
$3,620,350
Amount of tax assessed, $355,203.57
City Debt, aside from Water Investment, 228,240.07
City Debt, including Investment,
645,547.05
Value of school houses and lots,
385,000
Per cent. of same to valuation,
.014++
Per cent. of tax to valuation. .01285
Salaries of Teachers, Superintendent, and Secretary of the Board, $72,459.19
Ordinary repairs, fuel, &c.,
13,965.33
Ordinary expenses for the year,
$86,424.52
Increase, $10,565.40
Average cost per scholar, 14.14
Books, apparatus, &c., for new school houses, $1,465.24
Rents, and desks, seats, walks, and
other improvements for new houses, 9,061.91
Extraordinary expenses,
$10,527.15
Amount raised for school buildings and lots,
$47,464.85
Amount spent in the department, 8
$144,416.52
54
Per cent. of ordinary expense to valuation, .0033
Per cent. of ordinary expense to entire city tax, .2433
Per cent. of whole cost of school department to entire city tax, .4065
SCHOOL HOUSES.
Number belonging to the city, occupied at the close of 1867, 30
Number at the close of 1868, 31
Number of rooms hired in 1867,
3
1868, 2
Number of school houses completed and occupied during the year, 2
1
Number of school rooms occupied in 1867,
102
66 1868, 111
Number of sittings in the city in 1868,
6469
Increase for the year, 609
SCHOOLS.
High School, seven rooms,
1
Grammar Schools, four grades,
31
Increase for the year,
Secondary Schools, two grades,
21
Primary Schools, three grades, including Training School of four rooms,
41
Increase for the year,
4
Ungraded School for Boys,
Girls,
1
Suburban Schools, 9
At Tatnuck,
Valley Falls,
Leesville,
Blithewood,
Pond,
Adams Square,
Burncoat Plain,
North Pond,
Chamberlain District.
Evening Schools, 4
On Orange street, for young men, 2
1
On Elm st. for young women,
On Shrewsbury st. for young women, 1
Whole number of Schools, Increase for the year,
109
10
1
Number of old houses abandoned,
55
The following schools are double : The Grammar Schools at Quinsigamond and South Worcester. 2 The Primary Schools at East Worcester, 2
The Primary Schools at Thomas street and Summer street, 2 The Evening Schools, 4
The Training School, four rooms,
2
TEACHERS.
Male teachers in the High School.
2
Female
5
Male teachers in Grammar and Ungraded Schools,
6
Female teachers in Grammar, Secondary, Primary, and Un- graded Schools, 102
Male teachers in Evening Schools,
1
Female ** 66
7
Special teacher of music, male,
1
Number of male teachers,
10
female 114
Whole number of teachers,
124
Increase for the year,
9
PUPILS.
Number registered in the Public Schools during the year, Increase for the year, 1278
9003
Estimated number from the city belonging to Private Schools here, 450
Number of children in the city between the ages of five and fif- teen, as returned by the Assessors, 6460
Average number belonging to the Public Schools, 6112
Increase for the year, 616
Average daily attendance,
5427
Increase for the year, 493
Number at close of Fall Term, 1867,
5499
Number at close of Winter Term, 1867-68, 5492
Decrease, 7
Number at close of Spring Term, 1868, Decrease, 226
5226
Number at close of Summer Term, 1868,
5356
Increase, 130
56
Number at close of Fall Term, 1868,
Increase, 574
Per cent. of daily attendance to average number belonging, in the Centre District, .91542
Decrease, .00548
Per cent. of attendance in the Suburban Schools. Decrease, .02673
.82844
Per cent. of attendance in the whole city. Decrease, .0076
.90673
Number perfect in attendance the whole year, Increase, 14
152
Number perfect three terms, 188
Number perfect two terms,
815
Number perfect one term, 1924
Whole number registered in High School, 275
Increase for the year, 17
Average number belonging to the High School,
182
Average daily attendance,
178.2
Per cent. of daily attendance
.97899
Increase for the year,
.0062
Number perfect in attendance,
40
Number perfect three terms,
35
66 one term, 66
Average number of pupils belonging to a teacher in the High School, 26
Average attendance, 25.45
Average number to a teacher in Grammar Schools, 43.44
Average attendance, 40.43
Average number to a teacher in Secondary Schools, 51.56
Average attendance, 47.16
Average number to a teacher in Primary Schools, 60.19
Average attendance, 53.09
Average number to a teacher in Suburban Schools, Average attendance, 24.06
29.29
Average number to a teacher in Ungraded Schools, Average attendance, 40.15
45.40
Average number of pupils to a teacher for all grades in Centre District. 51
5930
two terms, 62
57
Number of pupils in the Evening Schools,
675
Increase, 257
238
Average number belonging, Average attendance,
138.4
The Evening Schools are in session four months-from December to March, inclusive.
yrs.
Average age of pupils in the High School, Jan. 1, 1869,
16 11
In Grammar Schools, first grade,
14 7
In Grammar Schools, second grade,
13
6
In Grammar Schools, third and fourth grade,
12 5
In Secondary Schools, both grades,
10
11
In Primary Schools,
9
3
In Intermediate Primary Schools,
8
1
In Sub Primary Schools,
6 9
In Ungraded Schools,
11
4
In Suburban Schools,
9
11
Average age of Scholars in all the Schools,
9
7
From the above it appears that since the last report, the population of the city has increased from 36,000 to 40,000, or more than eleven per cent. There has been a still greater increase in the number of pupils registered in the public schools, or about sixteen and a half per cent. The rate of increase in the ordinary expenses of the schools has been about twelve per cent. The effect of this rapid growth should not be overlooked in consid- ering either the condition and progress of the schools, or the increased outlay for new buildings. In an old city, where the population does not change, and where about as many pupils enter the lower grades as leave the upper, it would be comparatively easy to conduct the schools systematically. No new buildings would be re- quired ; no re-districting would be necessary ; and the ordinary as well as the extraordinary expenses, would be much less. The problem becomes more difficult when at every stage twelve or fifteen per cent. of new material is being added to the schools.
58
But with this large growth in population, and conse- quent increase in the number of pupils and the outlay for school accommodations, there is a still larger increase -more than sixteen per cent .- in the valuation of the city. The new citizens are a resource the most valuable of all ; for they create wealth.
The ownership of each citizen in the school property is a little above eight per cent. more than his property tax. The ordinary expenses of the schools the past year have cost him about three dollars and thirty cents on a thousand, or a little more than one fourth of his tax; and his proportion of the whole amount spent for schools and school houses the past year, is about forty per cent. of his tax. Such is the pecuniary interest which every tax paying citizen has in the schools.
But the interest of no one should end here. There are nine thousand children to be educated. Labor is made more valuable by educating the laborer; and if by this means one dollar a day for ten years should be added to the productive industry of these children, the amount would be greater than the present valuation of the city. So much for this mercenary view of the case. There are considerations vastly nobler and higher; the im- proved character of the community in which our chil- dren are to dwell ; the influence in state and nation to be possessed by our city, which, destitute of great wealth and natural advantage, must make her way by educated brain ; and, above all, the increased capacity in each of these children, for seeing and enjoying all the beauty and loveliness there is around them, for develop- ing the wonderful powers within them, and for catching glances along the opening vista of a future replete with glories, yet to be revealed.
59
SCHOOL HOUSES.
The buildings which were in process of erection on Lamartine street and Dix street at the time of the last report, were completed and occupied in May last. These houses are of brick, two stories high with basement, and Mansard roof. They are rectangular, with a projection at the centre of each side. The house on Lamartine street has a hall extending through the centre, with east and west entrances and porticos, the one for the boys and the other for the girls exclusively, when the yards shall have been completed. There are two rooms on each side of this hall, which are entered through recesses near the centre, about five feet square. On the side of each of these recesses towards the centre, is a closet opening into the school room, with sink and water; and on the other side, opening both into the recess and into the school room, is a long dressing room. On each side of the building a flight of stairs, commencing on a line with the outer side of these recesses, rises to a landing over the outer door, and thence in the opposite direction to the floor above. The second floor is similar in plan to the first, except that the centre of the hall between the entrances to the four rooms, is occupied as a private room for the Principal, opening on two sides into the hall, and on the third into his school room. In the roof is a hall ninety feet long and sixty feet broad, the size of the building. This is designed as a place in which to assemble all the children, of every grade, as one school. This building, with its eight rooms, will accommodate about four hundred and fifty pupils. The Dix street house is like the other, except that the entrance on the north side is into the basement, where there are two school rooms, making ten in all. This house will accom- modate about five hundred and seventy-five pupils.
60
These houses are convenient and comfortable for teachers and pupils, and creditable to the city. But it may be questioned whether a little more regard to archi- tectural effects and elegance of finish, even at an in- creased cost, would not have been wiser. Such houses are built not merely for the present and immediate fu- ture. They are to last scores of years ; and if not fully up with the present, they will be still farther behind the cultivated taste of the future. Only two rooms belong- ing to the city are unoccupied; one at Tatnuck, and one on Union Hill. Two, not by any means the best, are hired. And one, where the " Juvenile Class " of the High School is stowed away, is a low, ill-shaped, ill-ven- tilated room, in the roof of the building, such as no other pupils are afflicted with.
UNFINISHED HOUSES.
A new house, with four rooms and a hall in the roof, is being erected at Fairmount in the northern part of the city. The houses at Quinsigamond and South Wor- cester are each being enlarged by the addition of four rooms, with a hall in the roof. A house similar to that upon Dix street is also under contract, to be built this year on Woodland street. Probably not all the rooms at Quinsigamond and South Worcester will be needed for immediate occupancy ; and probably the same may be true of the Woodland street house. But no one can doubt the wisdom of that policy, which, in building these houses, provides not only for the present wants, but for the evident needs of the immediate future. The in- crease of pupils the past year, with those who ought to be removed from schools now crowded for want of suit- able rooms, would more than fill all these new houses.
HOUSES NEEDED.
There is no reason to doubt that the increase of pupils the next year will be as great as the last. A house will
61
be needed in the vicinity of Temple street. Another should be erected on the old lot on Summer street for an ungraded school or a primary school ; and it might be so constructed as to be used as a Ward room. The time has come when a new High School building is im- peratively demanded. A larger number of pupils will wish to enter the High School each succeeding year. The Juvenile Class will be larger the next year than it has been the past. But the accommodations are insuffi- cient for those already there. A whole class looks through windows built out upon the roof. The experi- ments in chemistry and natural philosophy are perform- ed in a narrow corner of the house-top. The house is destitute of almost every modern improvement and con- venience. This school stands at the head of the educa- tional system. To it the pupils of every grade aspire ; and for it we secure the best teachers. Its influence, then, should not be circumscribed, nor its efficiency be crippled by want of a suitable building. It is probable that no city of its size has, within the past two years, built more school houses than Worcester. But in re- spect to the High School we are sadly behind other cities. The erection of a new building is only a ques- tion of time-probably the short space of three years. The additional cost now, would be only the interest of the investment till that time ; and this interest would be more than paid by the advantages of the new house. All admitting that a new house must soon be paid for, the question is, Shall the children now on the stage en- joy its benefits ? As a year or two must be spent in the erection of the house after it has been ordered, to delay now is to invoke upon this school in the next two years an irreparable injury. If it is objected that the expense for school buildings is already large, let it be remembered
9
62
that one cause of this increased expenditure is the in- crease in population ; and this increase is an indication of the city's greater prosperity and ability to pay.
GRADES AND PROMOTIONS.
At the age of five years pupils are admitted to the Pri- mary Schools, where there are three steps of one year each. They then pass to the Secondary or Lower Grammar Schools, where they remain two years. Four years are next spent in completing the studies of the Grammar Schools ; after which they should be well instructed in writing, reading, spelling, arithmetic, geography, history of the United States, English Grammar and analysis, and to some extent in physiology. They now enter the High School. Here are two courses of study, the Eng- lish course and the Classical course, each occupying four years. It will thus be seen that a pupil who enters the lowest grade and passes along by regular promotions, will graduate from the highest at the age of eighteen. Each grade is a year in advance of the next lower ; and the amount to be learned in each is designed to be as much as a pupil of average ability can accomplish in a year. If any pupils are prepared to enter a higher grade, they can do so at any time. But it is not often the case that a scholar can do the work of a year in six months. There are sometimes those who cannot complete the studies of a grade, in the whole year. These are not promoted with their class, and do not al- ways need another year to complete the studies of the grade. Occasionally, a nervous little girl, or a quiet
thoughtful boy who loves his book but does not love his play, can complete the studies of a grade in six months. But they are the very ones who ought to be encouraged to join in active sports, rather than stimulated to over- work, by the thought of promotion. These few excep-
63
tional cases, on both sides, only show that the general plan is not far from correct. To the question so often asked, Why can we not have promotions every six months. as they have in other cities, this is the answer: that one of our grades comprises a year's study, and one of theirs but six months. By doubling the mumber of schools, the number of grades might be doubled, so that regular promotions would occur twice a year. By quad- rupling the number of schools, pupils might be promoted
every quarter. Plainly this should not be done. On the other hand we might have only half as many grades with twice as much work in each, and promotions once in two years ; and the pupils would advance in their studies as fast as now, if they all had the same ability. If our one hundred schools could assemble at one place, there might be one hundred grades, and promotions every month. Of course this is impracticable and unde- sirable.
On the same principle two schools, each having ten grades, might be united, making one school of twenty grades. This also is impracticable, because our popula- tion is scattered, and our buildings are not arranged for it. There is another way to regular six months' pro- inotions ; that is, to have two classes in each grade, or room, one six months in advance of the other, and the higher class in one grade six months below the lower class in the next higher grade. The objection to this is, that the time of the teacher would then be divided be- tween two classes. If it should ever appear that this plan or any other would increase the efficiency of the schools, it would at once be adopted; for it is only for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of the schools that they are graded.
In passing from grade to grade scholars go on by classes, and as a matter of course, more than as the re-
sult of any thorough examination ; leaving it to the teacher in the higher grade to determine whether they are capable of remaining. This might be improved by marking out the course of study by topics, and examin- ing each class, above the Primary, by printed questions. Promotion could then be made to result from this exam- ination and the scholar's record.
The Ungraded Schools on Orange street are designed for those pupils who are unable to attend school regu- larly, and those who fall out of their class through indo- lence, insubordination, or truancy. A large part of those attending, is of the former class ; and though their pro- gress is not marked, it is real and of great importance to them. Many of this class periodically make their ap- pearance at the graded schools for a term, and then dis- appear like comets. Such attendance is of little benefit to them, and injures the schools. Another Ungraded School should be established for them. The Evening Schools provide for young men and women who work during the day. The Suburban Schools are all ungraded.
TRAINING SCHOOL.
This school, which has been established during the year, is located in the new house on Dix street. It is composed of about two hundred and twenty-five primary scholars, in four rooms, and in four classes, all under the direction of two experienced and accomplished teachers. To instruct these children, and at the same time to ac- quire experience, and be instructed in methods of teach- ing, there is a practicing class of eighteen young ladies. In each room two members of the practicing class remain during the morning session, one as instructor and one as critic; and two others during the afternoon. Among these there is an exchange of duties once a month. At the noon intermission, after the children are dismissed,
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