USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1911-1915 > Part 5
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Michael Connor, janitor 200.00
H. Letellier, janitor 75.00
W. C. Campbell, janitor
105.00
W. C. Campbell, labor
22.50
John Van Slyck, cleaning
18.75
August Ackerman, janitor 18.00
John Curran, labor. 6.12
F. E. Campbell, labor 2.13
Albert V. Rousseau, building fires. 13.50
Bertha E. Appleton, care of room. 16.00
Emma L. Dee, care of room. 16.00
Fannie E. Mason, care of room 16.00
Hannah A. Phair, care of room. 6.50
Hyacinth E. Roy, care of room. 9.50
Helen P. Mahoney, care of room 6.50
Mary L. Powers, care of room. 9.50
$729.12
FUEL.
O'Connor Coal Co., coal
$673.20
James F. Barry, wood
6.50
Nelson King, wood.
6.00
F. H. King, wood.
22.00
$707.70
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS.
T. M. Walker & Co., glass for ventilators .. $7.50
Smith & Murray, window curtains. 3.60
American Seating Co., desks and chairs. . . 84.50
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H. J. Davison's Sons, clock. $4.00
John Hall, Jr., sanitary drinking fountains. . 80.00
The F. A. Robbins Co., clocks. . 10.00
Meekins, Packard & Wheat, cabinet. 13.00
$202.60
OTHER EXPENSES.
W. E. Gushee, express. $8.06
J. A. Roy, freight and express 8.71
Herbert Whiting, express 1.05
George Cooley, teaming.
1.25
$19.07
SUMMARY OF AMOUNT EXPENDED FOR SCHOOLS,
SUPERINTENDENCE, AND SUPPLIES.
General expenses $774.41
Teachers' salaries 5,932.71
Text-books and supplies.
741.31
Janitor service
729.12
Fuel
707.70
Furniture and furnishings
202.60
Other expenses
19.07
$9,106.92
AMOUNT AVAILABLE.
Appropriation $7,700.00
From State for Superintendent. 493.42
Used of income from Massachusetts School
Fund 915.00
9,108.42
Unexpended balance $1.50
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HIGH SCHOOL TUITION.
Town of West Springfield, spring term, 12 weeks $572.63
Town of West Springfield, fall term, 15 weeks 881.25
$1,453.88
Appropriation
1,600.00
Unexpended balance $146.12
REPAIRS.
J. A. Roy, labor and supplies. $9.80
Edward M. White, electrical repairs.
12.47
Oliver & Howland Co., plumbing. 2.73
C. W. Smith, labor.
7.95
Geo. H. Reed, fence posts. 2.00
J. C. Jones & Co., glass and putty
1.71
W. C. Campbell, labor. 8.75
Simpson Clark, supplies. 3.20
Whitcomb Stove Co., supplies. .55
C. H. Wood, labor.
31.90
J. A. Roy, slate blackboards and setting
18.00
Nelson G. King, lumber and shingles.
28.95
T. A. Kingsley, repairs
1.00
Hewes & Co., glass.
4.61
John Griffin, labor.
2.22
Homer Foot & Co., supplies
5.74
F. E. Treuchet, furnace repairs
63.25
H. J. Pratt & Co., repairs.
3.61
John Duval, labor.
2.50
D. D. Bessette, repairs.
10.25
O. C. Alderman, supplies
1.65
$222.84
Appropriation
200.00
Deficiency
$22.84
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TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
William E. Schmautz, transporting pupils ... $37.50
Harry Noble, transporting pupils. 31.25
James Cleary, transporting pupils 31.25
Judson Wescott, transporting pupils 31.25
Daniel Sullivan, transporting pupils 31.25
Byron C. Bailey, transporting pupils 25.00
D. E. Bailey, transporting pupils. 36.00
M. L. Ahl, transporting pupils 38.40
Fred Dudley, transporting pupils. 18.00
Springfield Street Railway Co., car tickets .. 10.00
$289.90
Appropriation
450.00
Unexpended balance $160.10
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
J. W. Hastings, M.D., Medical Inspector ....
$100.00
Appropriation
100.00
SANITARY EQUIPMENT.
Stone, Underhill Co., contract. $967.75
D. D. Bessette, contract and extra work.
1,070.50
Appropriation
$2,038.25
2,000.00
Deficiency $38.25
ACCOUNT WITH INCOME FROM MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL FUND.
Received in January, 1911. $1,201.22
Appropriated for teachers' salaries.
$915.00
Unexpended balance February 7, 1911.
286.22
1,201.22
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SUMMARY OF ALL EXPENDITURES FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES.
Schools, superintendence, and supplies. $9,106.92
High School tuition. 1,453.88
Repairs
222.84
Transportation of pupils
289.90
Medical inspection
100.00
Sanitary equipment
2,038.25
$13,211.79
AVAILABLE FOR ALL PURPOSES.
Appropriation for :-
School, superintendence, and supplies. $7,700.00
High School tuition 1,600.00
Repairs 200.00
Transportation of pupils 450.00
Medical inspection
100.00
Sanitary equipment 2,000.00
Received from State on account of Super-
intendent of Schools 493.42
Used of income from Massachusetts School Fund 915.00
- $13,458.42
Superintendent's Report
School Committee of Agawam :-
GENTLEMEN-In accordance with your rules I herewith sub- mit my annual report for the year ending February, 1911. This is my tenth report, the twentieth in the series of Superintendents' reports, and the eighth since the formation of the present union with the Town of Ludlow.
RETROSPECTIVE.
This year marks the close of two decades since the employ- ment of the first Superintendent of Schools in this Town. It is well occasionally to look back over a longer period than the year just closed, to note carefully the trend of happenings through a series of years. By viewing the situation in perspective, events assume their true proportions and results can be more accurately determined. Following I give a brief résumé of the work during the last twenty years. In obtaining the necessary data I have been interested to go over with much care the files of school reports for not only this period of time but also for the preceding decade. I have had access to nearly all the reports since 1882, and have read with much interest all the available reports of the School Committees and Superintendents since that date, covering one decade before the employment of a Superintendent of Schools.
I wish, in the first place, to pay tribute to the conscientious, able, and intelligent service that has been rendered the Town by the different School Committees as evidenced by the reports which they have submitted from year to year. The able reports of my predecessors have been read with much interest, and testify to their zeal and general efficiency.
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It is evident on examining the earlier files that all good things did not originate with the advent of the School Superintendent. Good work had been done, and there was a good foundation upon which to build when the Superintendent came upon the field of action.
The Superintendent has in no sense usurped the powers and duties of the School Committee or made that body less of a factor in the successful conduct of the schools. He acts as the agent of the Committee, looking to that body for instructions. The School Committee has come to be more legislative and judicial in its functions, while the duties of the Superintendent may be regarded as executive. He carries into effect the directions of the Committee, and reports back to that body, who then act in their judiciary capacity, passing upon results. On account of his experience and special preparation, and the fact that he gives his whole time to the work, that he is in close touch with all the schools of the town, and is, presumably, familiar with the trend of educational thought in general, the Superintendent should be in a position to make valuable and helpful suggestions regarding the conduct of the schools. His opinions and recom- mendations always remain subject to approval or veto by the Committee.
At the time of forming the supervision district there was an average attendance of 386 pupils housed in six buildings-at Agawam Center, as at present, a one-room wooden building for primary grades, and a brick building with two rooms; a one- room building on the River Road in Agawam; the South School, a one-room wooden building; a four-room wooden building at Mittineague ; a brick building at Feeding Hills, two rooms being used for school purposes; and the West Street School, Feeding Hills, a one-room building.
The River Road School has been dispensed with. Two one- room wooden buildings have been built-the Suffield Street School and the Primary School at Feeding Hills; and a modern six-room brick building replaced the four-room wooden struc-
98
ture at Mittineague. This building was later destroyed by fire and a six-room building with hall erected in its place.
The old-fashioned benches in all the buildings, except the Suffield Street School and Agawam Primary, have been replaced by adjustable seats and desks, wooden blackboards have been replaced almost universally with slate, new floors have recently been laid in the rooms of the brick buildings at Feeding Hills and Agawam Center, running water has been provided for all the schools except the West Street and Suffield Street Schools, and, this year, where there is running water, bubbling fountains have been installed, thus doing away with the unsanitary drinking cup. This year, also, great improvement in conditions at Aga- wam Center and Feeding Hills has been brought about by the installation of the Fuller and Warren sanitaries, making it pos- sible to do away with the unsightly and inadequate outbuildings.
In organization important changes have been effected. All the schools have been graded. Uniform courses of study have been introduced. Children may be transferred from one school to another in Town without interrupting the continuity of their work. A cumulative record system has been introduced, so that a continuous and complete record of each pupil's attendance, standing, and promotions is kept on file in the school office. Through teachers' meetings and frequent visits by the Superin- tendent to the various schools, an exchange of ideas is made possible that must result in greater unanimity of action on the part of teachers, and more efficient and effective work in all schools and in all departments.
In regard to methods of instruction much might be said. There has been, during the last twenty years, considerable waver- ing and evident uncertainty in regard to the best methods of presenting the various subjects.
In matters of organization, grading, centralization, sanitation, etc., educational thought seems to be pretty well crystallized, and has been for the last decade. We are still wrestling over ques- tions of pedagogy. What proportion of time shall be given to
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the various subjects taught, what are the essentials in education, and what is the most efficient method of teaching these subjects, are still live questions.
In your Superintendent's report for 1895 he emphasizes the importance of drill and thoroughness in the fundamental proc- esses of arithmetic. He says: "I have furnished each school with a drill table, prepared in the hope of making children as rapid and accurate in all possible combinations of small numbers as they were ever expected to be in those of the multiplication table alone." Several years later the drill work was dispensed with largely. All the primary number work was made objective and concrete, the Superintendent quoting, " 'You cannot make the human mind fall in love with formal study.'"
In a still later report-1902-your Superintendent comments upon the unsatisfactory results being obtained in arithmetic. He finds that through neglect of "formal study" and drill the pupils are not getting a sure knowledge of the simple number combina- tions, so essential to accurate and rapid work in the higher grades.
There is a school of educators who seem to feel that formal study should not be required; that children should be led along the lines of least resistance ; that work should be made play ; that school should be made so attractive, the children so highly enter- tained and interested that they will rush to school as to a place of divertisement and recreation. I have failed to see any great educational uplift as a result of these methods ; only flabbiness of thought, lack of information, and indisposition to work.
I believe it a sin not to give our children the pleasure that comes from accomplishment. They should be made to know the satisfaction that comes from accomplishing a definite piece of work, to realize the satisfaction and pleasure derived from tac- kling a stiff proposition and mastering it.
It is interesting to note the changing ideas in regard to pen- manship. In the fall of 1897 vertical writing was introduced into the Agawam schools. The Superintendent writes in his
100
annual report: "We have made no experiment at the expense of the children. 'Vertical penmanship is no fad. It is a genuine newcomer and will abide as long as it reforms penmanship as fast as it has in the past two years.'"
A later Superintendent comments as follows: "The system of vertical penmanship in most of the schools is being well taught. The handwriting of the pupils has been greatly improved, thus showing the change to have been a good one."
The adoption of vertical writing in the public schools was general throughout the country. All Superintendents seemed to feel that it was a good thing and that it had come to stay. The present incumbent in Agawam was no exception to the rule.
To-day vertical writing has been done away with. It would appear that there has been as much or even greater haste in getting rid of it than there was in adopting it. The children through vertical writing did learn to write a more legible hand more quickly and readily than by the slant system. It was evi- dent, however, as its use was continued, that we had sacrificed certain essential features. The muscular movement and easy- running hand are not possible with vertical writing. We had sacrificed speed and ease in writing for form, and that is not consistent with the spirit of the times.
The new slant has gained something in legibility over the old slant in that the letters are rounder and possibly better pro- portioned, so that the time spent on the vertical may not be regarded as wasted entirely.
Just what method of teaching reading was being used in Agawam when the first Superintendent was employed I am not able to learn through any of the reports. Prior to that time, and since the days of the "A B C" method, several methods have been in vogue-the "Word Method," the "Sentence Method," the "Pollard System," etc. Each of these had its period of ascendency and decline. In 1900 the "Ward" or "Rational" method was introduced into Agawam. This method is a com- bination of "Word" and "Phonetic" methods, retaining the good
101
features of each and eliminating what had proven to be the weak features of the earlier methods. We are still using this method, and your Superintendent sees no reason for recommending any change at present. It is true that other and more recent methods are in use in some places, and we are watching with interest what will develop.
The lesson to be learned from this backward look is that the sum of all knowledge is not contained in one mind, or confined to one epoch.
"Be not the first by whom the new is tried, Nor yet the last to lay the old aside."
Following is a chronological arrangement of the principal events in connection with school administration in Agawam dur- ing the last twenty years :-
1890-1891.
First Superintendent employed, G. T. Wiggin ; district, Long- meadow, Agawam, Granville.
Install ventilating system in Feeding Hills Grammar School building.
1891-1892.
Discontinue employment of Superintendent.
First attempt at any form of manual training-sewing for girls, knife work for boys introduced at Mittineague. No evi- dence that it was continued in later years.
1892-1893.
Suffield Street schoolhouse built.
Second Superintendent employed, Eugene Wheeler.
Mittineague four-room wooden building condemned by State authorities.
Law enacted compelling towns to maintain a High School or pay tuition of pupils in other High Schools.
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1894-1895.
Superintendent Wheeler resigns.
Fairfield Whitney elected as Superintendent ; begins duties May 19, 1894.
1895-1896.
School year lengthened from 33 to 36 weeks.
River Road School closed.
First appropriation for High School tuition-$600. Twenty- one pupils attending West Springfield High School.
New six-room brick school building erected at Mittineague.
1896-1897.
Mary E. Phelon "Trust Fund" accepted by Town. Income of fund to be used "solely for the benefit of the schools at Feeding Hills."
State "Course of Study for Elementary Schools" adopted.
Vertical writing introduced.
Music introduced ; Miss Belle W. Corwin, Supervisor.
1897-1898.
Herbert F. Richardson succeeds Mr. Whitney as Superin- tendent of Schools.
1898-1899.
Reapportionment of Superintendent's time on a basis of num- ber of schools in the towns comprising the district, giving Aga- wam forty-two per cent. of his time instead of thirty-three and one-third per cent. as in former years.
Elaborate course in history and literature by months intro- duced for all grades.
Course in science by months introduced in all grades.
Drawing as outlined by State Supervisor of Drawing intro- duced; two lessons a week required.
Town voted to dissolve supervision district, to take effect in
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June, 1899. At an adjourned meeting, held April 18, voted to extend the time one year.
1899-1900.
Water supply provided for Center and South Schools.
Voted at regular Town Meeting to rescind the vote taken at the last regular Town Meeting relative to dissolving supervision district.
First transportation of pupils at Town's expense.
Mr. Richardson resigns position as Superintendent to take effect April 1, 1900.
First use of Springfield Public Library by Agawam teachers under arrangement consummated by School Committee.
1900-1901.
Francis S. Brick elected to succeed Mr. Richardson as Super- intendent.
No appropriation for transportation.
Replacing of old furniture by new adjustable furniture begun in earnest.
"Ward Method" of teaching reading introduced.
1901-1902.
Primary School building erected at Feeding Hills; cost, $1,211.
W. E. Gushee elected Superintendent, succeeding Mr. Brick, December 1, 1901.
New school at Mittineague opened, making six in all.
New school in Feeding Hills opened in new Primary building.
1902-1903.
Courses in language and grammar, arithmetic, and drawing revised.
Complete equipment of wall maps introduced.
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1903-1904.
Agawam withdraws from district of Agawam, Southwick, and Granville, and unites with Ludlow, forming a new district, April 23, 1903.
School year lengthened one week, making it 37.
Card system cumulative record introduced.
1904-1905.
Mittineague building burned during summer vacation, Au- gust 1.
Mittineague pupils transported to Feeding Hills and Agawam Center; accommodated in Town Halls during erection of new building.
New six-room building occupied January 30.
Slate blackboards put in at West Street and South Schools.
1905-1906.
New room opened in Parochial School at Mittineague, making two.
Adjustable furniture put in South and West Street Schools.
Slate blackboards put in Feeding Hills intermediate room.
Schedule of time allotted to each subject adopted.
One room closed at Mittineague on account of falling off in attendance due to opening new room in Parochial School.
1906-1907.
Uniform program for three-grade Grammar Schools adopted.
Law passed by State Legislature requiring medical inspection in the schools.
First sight and hearing tests given by teachers.
1907-1908.
Medical inspection in the public schools established.
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Adjustable desks and chairs purchased for Feeding Hills Primary School.
1908-1909.
Transfer of some Feeding Hills pupils to Mittineague School on account of crowded conditions at Feeding Hills.
Adjustable desks and chairs put in Agawam Center inter- mediate room.
Superintendent changes residence from Agawam to Ludlow.
Teachers' Institute for Agawam-Ludlow district held at Ludlow.
Crowded conditions at Agawam Center and Feeding Hills.
1909-1910.
Re-open room in Mittineague building that was closed fall of 1905, now using six rooms here.
New floors laid in the four rooms in the two brick buildings at Agawam Center and Feeding Hills.
High School tuition for pupils attending West Springfield High School raised from $40 to $45.
Pupils transferred from Agawam Center and Feeding Hills to Mittineague on account of crowded conditions at these two villages.
"Rules of the School Committee" formulated, adopted, and printed in pamphlet form.
1910-1911.
Install sanitaries at Agawam Center and Feeding Hills Gram- mar buildings.
Install bubbling fountains at Agawam Center, Mittineague, South School, and Feeding Hills Grammar.
High School tuition at West Springfield raised from $45 to $50.
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DRAWING.
From time to time more or less formal work in drawing has been undertaken in Agawam during the last twenty years.
In Superintendent Whitney's report for 1894-1895 he says : "Elaborate work in drawing can be expected only in those towns where a special teacher is employed, but, in harmony with the law of the State, some elementary instruction is given." The following year the State course in drawing was introduced into all the schools, and the material necessary to carry out its pro- visions was provided. Three years later the Superintendent in his report for 1897-1898 says: "Drawing and painting have not been taught as isolated subjects, but have been related to every line of school work." Here again "formal study" was done away with. Correlation was the watchword to success. The result was, drawing was correlated out of existence.
A few years later your present Superintendent attempted to reinstate the subject of drawing. Much time and study were given to arranging a course of study that would meet our peculiar conditions. It was based on the New York State course, modi- fied by some features of the Massachusetts State course, con- densed, and arranged to fit our particular system of grading. It was definite, contained quite complete instructions to teachers, and was profusely illustrated, with a view to making it intelligible and easy to follow. Every teacher was provided with this course. The necessary material was purchased and the work started.
It remains to be said that, to the Superintendent, results were disappointing, and to the teachers, the Superintendent has every reason to believe, the work was irksome.
I agree with your former Superintendent, already quoted, that "elaborate work in drawing can be expected only in those towns where a special teacher is employed." In fact, our experience teaches us, I think, that nothing of real value, nothing that can be raised to the dignity of drawing, as we understand the term to-day, can be accomplished under present conditions. Our · teachers, unassisted, are not qualified to interpret and carry into
107
effect a comprehensive course in the subject. This is not to be wondered at. The best teachers in city schools where con- ditions are most favorable are not expected to do it. Many of them have had no instruction in the subject except what they received as they went through the public schools. Those who have had normal school training have had some instruction along this line, but the course is brief at best. Those who are fitting themselves for teachers of drawing or for positions as super- visors of the subject are taking four-year courses in preparation, and, presumably, those electing this work have a natural bent in this direction before undertaking it. When drawing consisted simply in drawing a few type solids and representing a few natural objects based on these type forms, with possibly a few simple principles of perspective, it was comparatively a simple matter to teach the subject. But to-day it is expected that our pupils in the grades get a wider and far more comprehensive knowledge of the subject, including representation, free-hand sketching, mechanical drawing, geometric constructions, working drawings, decorative drawings,-various styles,-color, color scales, harmony of colors, and possibly something of historic ornament,-all with a view to acquiring, not only skill in manip- ulating pencil and brush, but to cultivating the powers of obser- vation and a taste for the beautiful in nature and art.
Our experience and observation teach us that this work, to be carried on in the schools with any sort of guarantee of success, must be under the close oversight of a supervisor, a teacher specially trained in this department, who can give her whole time to instructing and directing the teachers. I believe drawing, properly taught, to be an important department of school work, and, under adequate direction, there is no reason why our teachers cannot, as in other places, handle the subject satisfactorily.
I wish, in closing this topic, to recommend the employment of a Supervisor of Drawing to take charge of this work in all the schools of the Town. We should need the services of such a Supervisor for about two days each week.
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STATISTICAL DATA.
Table A contains the usual data of attendance, etc. In pre- vious reports the data given in all but the four last columns was for the fall and winter terms only, the last four columns covering the spring term as well as the fall and winter. Beginning this year the books have to be closed and the reports made up a month earlier than heretofore on account of the change in the time of the annual Town Meeting. It seems desirable on this account to include in the table of attendance the data for the preceding school year, September to June. This, of course, does not bring the data down to date. To show the present conditions as to enrollment, table B is given.
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