USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Eastham > Town of Eastham Annual Report 1923-1931 > Part 3
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Juniors
Everett Gross
Charles Wilcox
Sophomores
Gladys Fulcher Edith Knowles
Irma Penniman Harry Kempt
Freshmen
Althea Bangs Rebecca Brown Alton Crosby Warren Daniels
Margaret Dill Althea Gill James Howland Bertha Keefe
John Knowles
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1924
Winter Term: January 2 to March 21-12 weeks. Spring Term : April 7 to June 6-9 weeks. Fall Term: Sept. 2 to December 12-15 weeks. Winter Term : 1925, begins December 29, 1924.
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Financial Statement
General School Appropriation
$9,733 00
Dog Fund
43 59
On account of repairs
2 60
Sale of outbuilding
10 00
$9,789 19
EXPENDITURES
Committee's Salary
$100 00
Other expenses of Committee
33 77
Salary of Superintendent
372 49
Other expenses of Supt. and clerk hire
52 82
Attendance Officer's salary
20 00
Supervisor of Music and Drawing, salary 180 00
Teachers' salaries
2,340 24
Books
211 09
Supplies
97 25
Janitor's salary
324 00
Fuel
143 91
Miscellaneous expense of operation
95 31
Repairs and incidentals
335 93
Health
107 50
Transportation, High
1,600 00
Elementary
864 00
Tuition at Orleans High
2,236 14
Sundries, insurance
236 10
Ł
$9,350 55
$438 64
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ESTIMATES FOR 1924
Committee's salary
$100 00
Other expenses of Committee
35 00
Salary of Superintendent 400 00
Other expenses of Supt. and clerk hire
60 00
Attendance Officer and Census
25 00
Supervisor of Music and Drawing
265 00
Books and supplies
200 00
Janitor's salary
324 00
Janitor's extra labor
65 00
Fuel
125 00
Miscellaneous expenses of operation
100 00
Repairs and incidentals
150 00
Health
225 00
1,712 50
Transportation, High Elementary
#70 50
Tuition, Orleans High
22,&CC 00
Sundries, etc.
35 00
Teachers' salaries
2,550 00
Grounds
50 00
$10,198 00
ESTIMATED INCOME FOR 1924
Rebate on Superintendent's salary
228 49
High School Tuitions
1,591 83
High School Transportation
1,210 80
General School Fund
420 00
Tuition of City and State wards
341 74
3,792 86
Estimated Net Cost to Town
$6,405 14
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OBSERVATION
Six weeks is a rather brief space of time for one to become thoroughly familiar with four systems of schools. It is too brief to learn the routine of administration peculiar to each town. To know intimately the accomplishment. of the various classrooms likewise requires a more extended observation. In addition to learning the routine of admin- istration, the organization of the schools, and what each classroom is accomplishing one also needs to study the com- munity for the purpose of determining how each particular school system meets the needs of its community. When the community and its needs are known it is an easy matter to determine the kind of school that should be organized for that community. My first report to you, then. will of ne- cessity be lacking in such specific comment as I would like to make after a fuller observation of all conditions affect- ing our schools.
THE TEACHING STAFF
No system of schools can ever be more than what its teachers make it. If the teachers are inefficient the schools will likewise be inefficient. If the teachers are superior the schools may or may not be likewise superior. For, some- times the obstacles in the way of good schools are so great as to thwart the very best efforts of the very best teachers.
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My brief observation is that your teachers as a whole are well trained for their work and seem to be capable and effi- cient in the management and control of their respective classrooms. They are earnest in their efforts to produce satisfactory results in their work. While I believe good re- sults are being accomplished it is too early for me to state specifically just how good they are. I can see even 110w, however, some conditions that prevent the teachers from ac- complishing better results.
SCHOOL SURVEY
At present I shall not specify these unfavorable condi- tions, partly because the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has asked you for the privilege of making a survey of your schools, and partly for reasons mentioned above. Until it is decided whether or not this survey of the public schools of Cape Cod by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is to be made I deem it best to refrain from making more than a general observation of our school conditions.
POLICIES
As time advances I shall make a number of suggestions for the improvement of your schools. These suggestions will be made from time to time whenever the occasion seems opportune for their adoption. Some of these suggestions will be presented in the annual reports, while others will be presented to you at our regular meetings and conferences. To state at this time all the propositions that I have in mind for the improvement of your schools would be confusing to all. Rather do I prefer to see one project placed on a satis- factory basis before another is attempted.
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MATTERS OF CONSIDERATION
Some of the matters upon which I shall offer suggest- ions are :
Better housing conditions,
Better grading of the schools,
Professional improvement for teachers in service,
Better safeguards for the health of our pupils, and bet-
ter medical inspection,
Improvement in specific subjects of the curriculum,
More attention to physical culture,
Enrichment of the courses of study,
Enlistment of the interest and co-operation of parents in the work of the schools,
Better school attendance,
Better administration.
These and other matters of more or less importance are of such a nature that they cannot all be undertaken at once but will require a period of time before they can become outstanding features of our school system.
THE SCHOOLS IN THE PAST
In setting for ourselves the task of improving the work of our schools we do not wish to be understood as saying that our schools are very poor. School work is of such a nature that it must either improve or deteriorate. It is like the ocean tide, constantly rising or falling. So while good work may have been done in our schools in the past no one can be found who would be willing to assert that im- provement is impossible. New conditions, new demands, new desires and new opportunities are apearing constantly. To meet them successfully requires our eternal vigilance and most earnest endeavor.
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MUSIC AND DRAWING
The work in Music at the present time in your schools is being conducted in a commendable manner, and if the present supervisor were to continue her work here I doubt not that highly satisfactory results would be secured. It is a matter of keen regret to all concerned that she is soon to sever her connection with our schools. Highly gifted and well trained for her work, she brought to the classroom an abundance of inspiration that is bound to produce a whole- some and lasting effect upon her pupils.
While I have not made as careful a study of the work of Drawing I wish to strongly commend you for placing this work under the direction of a competent specialist. Although the regular teachers have studied the subject more or less in their training course, yet it may be doubted if any could qualify as specialists. Even with specialists we too often fail to get the results that should obtain. If it should even be necessary to dispense with the services of either the Music or Drawing supervisor we would do less harm to the school system by leaving the work in Music to the regular teachers. More teachers can teach the rudi -. ments of Music with fairly good success than is the case with Drawing. Further, Drawing is of more practical im- portance than Music. There are few vocations in which a knowledge of Drawing is not of some use.
AS SUBJECTS FOR COLLEGE PREPARATION
The College Entrance Examination Board now gives regular examinations in both Freehand and Mechanical Drawing, and the number of candidates offering this sub- ject as a part of their preparation for courses in institutions above the high school is constantly increasing. Not so with
79
Music. While some school systems may now be offering courses in Music worthy of recognition as a part of one's preparation for college, the great majority of the public school systems do not offer any such courses. Yet the time is not far distant when the work in both Music and Draw- ing will be so organized that definite accomplishments will be possible for the individual pupil who elects courses in either of these subjects.
A supervisor for each of these subjects one and one- half days per week will accomplish much
OTHER REPORTS OF THE DEPARTMENT
With the assistance of the clerk of the Department the usual statistics and reports are presented herewith for your consideration.
SCHOOL REPORT
Frequently someone asks, "Why are school reports published ? Nobody ever reads them." To some extent this may be true. However, they can be made as interesting as the daily paper, and when this is done they will be read with as much eagerness. I regret that I have had so little time to devote to the preparation of this one. There is an abundance of items which, if reported, would enlarge the interest in the work of our schools. To collect and prepare them for an interesting presentation requires more time than has been available for this report.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM FISHER SIMS,
Superintendent of Schools.
January 3, 1924.
Report of Principal
REPAIRS
The school building having been painted is now in tip- top shape with the possible exception of the grammar room whose side walls and ceilings could be touched up to good advantage.
REFERENCE MATERIAL
The school has been supplied with several new sets of books and other paraphernalia which make the studies more modern and enthusiastical.
MUSIC AND DRAWING
We have two very competent supervisors in the Misses Dix in Music and Drawing respectively.
MANUAL TRAINING
While we do some work in manual training, it would be very practical, if within means, to have a similar super- visor to instruct and interest the boys of the school.
CLUB WORK
Miss Erhard in the Junior extension work has recently visited us and anticipates a busy year forming and main- taining clubs, agricultural, canning, etc., for the boys and girls.
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PROGRAM
The school programs are practically outlined for us in Boston. With the limits they have set for us we have from twenty to twenty-five recitation per day in each of the two rooms. With an enrollment of about seventy pupils our time is necessarily rather limited in the different subjects, having a tendency to hold our standards perhaps below the average. We may give tests for re-grading before the end of the year. With the outlook for a larger number of pupils next year it is possible that the elementary room will be in operation, especially if the legal reimbursement from the State is forthcoming at that time.
CO-OPERATION
I take this opportunity to say that I appreciate the co- operation of the chairman and the members of the school board, also the loyalty of the town to the best interests of its school, and to express gratitude for the many acts and words of helpfulness that we have received.
Respectfully submitted,
VERNE E. PARSONS,
Principal.
E-6
82 1
I am Musir
Servant and master am I; servant of those dead, and master of those living. Through me spirits immortal speak the message that makes the world weep, and laugh, and wonder, and worship.
I tell the story of love, the story of hate, the story that saves and the story that damns. I am the incense upon which prayers float to Heaven. I am the smoke which palls over the field of battle where men lie dying with me on their lips.
I am close to the marriage altar, and when the graves open I stand nearby. I call the wanderer home, I rescue the soul from the depths, I open the lips of lovers, and through me the dead whisper to the living.
One I serve as I serve all; and the king I make my slave as easily as I subject his slave. I speak through the birds of the air, the insects of the field, the crash of waters on rock-ribbed shores, the sighing of wind in the trees, and I am even heard by the soul that knows me in the clatter of wheels on city streets. I know no brother, yet all men are my brothers; I am the father of the best that is in them, and they are fathers of the best that is in me; I am of them and they are of me. FOR I AM THE INSTRUMENT OF GOD.
I am Mugir
Report of Supervisor of Music
PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC
Broadly speaking, the important function of music in- struction in the public schools is to teach children to sing and to foster in them a love of good music. We of the United States are not a singing people; we have been too busy with other pursuits. Today, however, the nation as a whole has come to recognize that music is a matter of vital importance and a universal need which must be met largely by the public schools.
ELIMINATION OF MONOTONES
One of the most important things we do in the primary grades is to teach the children how to use their singing voices, not only those who sing naturally, but also the large group who have poor pitch or no pitch at all. We patiently apply corrective drills for the cure of so-called monotones, so that no "grumblers or growlers" slip through into the upper grades, for the pliable voice capable of sustained tone is the cornerstone of successful vocal music.
I want to quote briefly from the report of the Educa- tional Council on a Standard Course in Music for Graded Schools.
First; in the third year it says, "The monotone to be practically eliminated."
Second; beginning in the third year, "Development of power and skill in independent sight-singing."
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A mountain of work is wrapped up in these two short sentences, but due to the industry and co-operation of Miss Keith a great deal has been accomplished.
TECHNICAL WORK
We often hear it said that asking a child to exercise his mentality in reading music is destroying his natural love for it. All learning finds its expression in symbols. We cannot conceive of arithmetic without figures, geography without maps, literature without words. The man who talks, but who cannot read or write, is illiterate; he cannot vote. Similarly, the power to sing by imitation if unac- companied by a knowledge of the symbols of the art, fails to place the possessor in the literary class. It is the task of the upper grades to develop the ability to sing at sight with good tone, and to sing in parts, songs of good musical content with enjoyment. Progress is being made in this direction.
I have enjoyed my work with the children of Eastham and found them responsive, and am grateful for the inter- est manifested by the school committee.
I would like to add that your knowledge of music and intelligent understanding of the problems involved argue well for the future advancement of the subject in the towns over which you are superintendent.
Respectfully submitted,
VIVIAN DIX,
Supervisor of Music.
1
Report of Supervisor of Drawing
AIMS
The time of my service is so short that little more than the fundamental reasons and aims can be given. In the elementary grades which comprise the Eastham schools three results should be secured. The first, a general mastery of the elements necessary to further progress: i. e., color nomenclature and ability to make and appreciate simple color harmonies; ability to represent certain symbols and use them in self expression; simple problems in construc- tive and applied design. These give the tools with which to work. The second, present pleasure arising from in- creased power over symbols and a growing intelligence in appreciation of beauty. The third, the acquirement of use- ful information to be applied to the ordinary transactions of life.
WORK IN PRIMARY GRADES
The work outlined in the primary grades has been planned according to the project method. Subjects of in- terest to the children, as home life and occupations, plays and games, are suggested. The elements are taught, the final work showing as far as possible an original grouping of the elements. The use of the ruler has been taught and simple holiday constructions made. The organization of this room is excellent and the children are fortunate to have such good foundation for their future work.
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WORK IN HIGHER GRADES
The pupil at the adolescent age is sensitive to beauty, imaginative and idealistic. The endeavor has been to stim- ulate the appreciation and love of nature through the study of flowers and landscapes. The children have responded in a remarkable way and have shown an unusual amount of aesthetic appreciation.
THE BEAUTY OF CAPE COD
One coming to Cape Cod for the first time cannot fail to be impressed by the unusual type of landscape; the beauty of inlets, rolling hills, evergreen trees, and gray and white houses well-kept. This beauty has been absorbed by the children and they show a love and natural appreciation for nature. The enthusiasm and joy which they have man- ifested in the work has made the teaching most pleasant.
Respectfully submitted,
LULA M. DIX,
Supervisor of Drawing.
Report of School Physician
Superintendent of Schools, Town of Eastham, Mass.
My dear Sir :
Who is most interested in the schools in your town? If there are doubts in your mind, let me ask who should be? It will not take long to answer that, and the answer will be "the fathers and mothers whose children are there."
Then it is to you, fathers and mothers, that I direct this plea for your more active interest and support in school matters. I know that the superintendent and school com- mittee are interested and understand the problems of ad- ministration and keenly feel that the lack of positive in- terest shown in most towns; the reason I know this is be- cause I am speaking not only as your school physician and health officer,but also as a member of the school committee in my own town.
We all know that our schools come in for a big share of criticism. Let me tell you where I have found that this criticism starts. There are groups of people in every town known as the "They Saids." They said: "The teachers are untrained, the schools unsanitary, the rooms too hot or too cold, the children undisciplined and unsupervised at play, the floors are dirty and the lunches cold," etc., etc., ad infinitum. Now let me advise every father and mother who have listened to these people to go and find out for
88
themselves! Then be an "I tell you" who has facts and fig- ures, and you will no longer expect your superintendent to fish for fifteen hundred dollar teachers with one thousand dollar bait; to get one thousand dollar janitors for four hundred dollars, or to make a dilapidated worn out school house take the place of a modern one. There is not a town on Cape Cod that will not spend thousands annually for roads. Do we think more of our roads than our children ? Pardon me for getting away from my legitimate field in your town, but it is just because these fundamentals mean so much to the children in whom I am interested.
You who use tools in your trade, whether it be as builder or housekeeper, who own a boat, an automobile or live stock, you know that all these things need a certain amount of intelligent skilled care to keep them efficient. The same thing is doubly true of your children with their much more sensitive nervous systems and bodily machin- ery.
The fact that you and I send our children to school at all is a confession that, with all we have learned, we do not feel capable of teaching them the rudiments of what they will need to battle with life. Let me urge you to take some time to look after the greatest responsibility that nature has given you-your children.
A school health department is new since you and I went to school; in fact the very things it teaches are newer still. If there were a new method of carrying your children to school, you would probably go and look it over. Now here is a new method of carrying your children to a healthy adulthood, minus many of the ills which you and I suffered ; a new method to make their bodies sound vehicles for growing brains. May I ask you to go and look this over soon ?
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Talk to your superintendent, the committee, the teach- ers and to those who are giving their life for a purpose ; find out what it is and what can be done with your help. Every teacher, nurse and school physician is handicapped by lack of active interest on the part of the parents. Go to your school committee with these facts and say : "Here is what we want for our school children and we will go into town meeting and vote the money to do it with." Our children are the most valuable of our possessions and in a few years they will be beyond the help which they now need to make them healthy and successful.
May I thank the one hundred and thirty-nine parents who, out of a total of some thirty-two hundred, have come to the school and given me their support and encourage- ment ? It meant more than I can tell you to feel your inter- est in an uphill fight. Will you get behind my successor thirty-two hundred strong? He is giving his life's work for this object because his training shows him the need. Show your appreciation of his interest in you by working with him.
Respectfully submitted,
RUSSELL B. SPRAGUE, M. D.
School Physician Town of Eastham, Mass.
P. S.
During the fall and winter term of 1923 the Bureau has been working at a distinct disadvantage in Eastham because of the lack of a school nursing assistant.
I cannot too strongly recommend that the town con- sider this need as early as possible.
The probable solution of this difficulty will be through combining with other towns in the Superintendency Dis- trict, if practical to make such an arrangement.
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SCHOOL CENSUS APRIL 1, 1923
Boys Girls Totals
Children in town between 5 and 7 years 8 6 14
Children in town between 7 and 14 years 27 26 53
Children in town between 14 and 16 years 4 9 13
Illiterates between 16 and 21 years None reported
-
Total
39 41 80
Actual number enrolled Dec. 1923, Elementary
64
Actual number enrolled Dec. 1923, High
22
ELEMENTARY ATTENDANCE DATA FOR YEAR
ENDING JUNE, 1923
Pupils enrolled 60
Pupils in High School at Orleans
19
Non-resident pupils
8,585
- Average attendance 52
Average membership 58
Number of days schools were actually in session 165
Percentage of attendance 90
CORPS OF TEACHERS, JANUARY, 1924
NAME
SCHOOL
PREPARATION
Date of
Appointment
previous to Experience
Sept .. 1923
Annual
Salary
Home
Address
Verne E. Parsons
Grammar
No. Adams High
July
1923|16 years
$1350
Eastham
Florence W. Keith
Primary
Extension Courses No. Adams Normal
July 1906
24 years
1200
Bridgewater
Lula M. Dix
Drawing
Mass. Normal Art
Sept. 1923
16 years
90
Orleans
Vivian Dix (resigned)
Music
N. E. Conservatory Boston University
June 1923
7 years
175
Orleans
92
PUPILS CLASSIFIED BY GRADES
DECEMBER, 1923
School
Grade
Boys
Girls
Totals
Grammar
VIII
5
3
8
VII
0
2
2
VI
7
8
15
V
6
2
8
Primary
IV
0
3
3
III
3
5
8
II
9
2
11
I
5
4
9
-
-
35
29
64
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Graduation Exercises
EASTHAM GRAMMAR SCHOOL Class of 1923 Town Hall, Eastham, Mass. Friday Evening, June 8, 8 o'clock
PROGRAM
March Prayer
"All On a Summer's Morning"
Greeting
"'Grandmother's Garden" Selection from "Lay of the Last Minstrel"
Rev. Alfred Wood School Chorus Ruth Louise Rich School Chorus
James Reed Howland
Class Prophecy "Height of Ridiculous" "Morning Awakening" Presentation of Class Gifts Address
Piano Solo Presentation of Diplomas Class Song Benediction
Althea Frances Gill Warren Osbourne Daniels School Chorus Bertha Ellen Keefe Director Frank W. Wright Department of Education Margaret Adams Dill Supt. Loring G. Williams
Rev. Thomas Cross
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Class Motto
DARE STRIVE WIN
Class Colors : Green and White Class Flower: White Rose.
CLASS SONG
Calm is the summer's night ; Stars in the heavens bright Shine on us here. We keep on venturing, DARING to STRIVE and WIN No longer here we wait, Happy past year.
Solemn our thoughts are made, As we may onward tread; Partings are near. Well has he served us all, Well may we fondly call. "Blessings upon the fall, Faithful past years."
Who, crowned with golden locks, Now at the portal knocks, Bringing good cheer? "Open, my friend, and see, I have great gifts for thee ; Open and welcome me, Hopeful new year."
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HONOR ROLL Rank of B or better for the year
Althea Frances Gill
Warren Osbourne Daniels
Margaret Adams Dill Ruth Louise Rich
Bertha Ellen Keefe James Reed Howland
Days When the Flag Should be Displayed
New Year's Day
Lincoln's Birthday
Washington's Birthday
Inauguration Day
Battle of Lexington
Battle of Manila Bay
Mothers' Day
Memorial Day (half staff until noon) Flag Day
Battle of Bunker Hill
Independence Day
Labor Day Lake Erie Day Lake Champlain Day Columbus Day Battle of Saratoga Surrender at Yorktown Armistice Day
January 1 February 12 February 22 March 4 April 19 May 1 2nd Sunday in May May 30
June 14 June 17 July 4 1st Monday in Sept. September 10 September 11 October 12 October 17 October 19 November 11
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"American liberty is dependent on quality in citizen ship. Our obligation is to maintain that citizenship at it .: best."
-Calvin Coolidge.
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING WARRANT, 1924
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Barnstable, ss.
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