USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Franklin > Town of Franklin annual report 1910 > Part 7
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Grammar, too, can be made more rational. And a few of our reading books would better be supplanted by easier pages. Do we realize the harm of allowing pupils day after day to call. words without at the same time getting the sense ? Yet this becomes a habit where children are compelled to read from books which are beyond their com- prehension.
"Revision downward" is one of our present duties toward the course of study.
4. A SUMMER SCHOOL. If all other methods for re- ducing failures prove ineffectual, then, as a last resort, let
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us open a summer school for those who cannot attain the required proficiency in the allotted thirty-eight weeks, but can by attending four, six, or eight weeks longer. The successfulness of such a plan is made probable by the fact that almost every summer pupils who fail in June are able to remove their conditions before the next Sep- tember by a course of lessons with private teachers. Such a school as the one proposed would necessarily be more or less ungraded, and daily attendance would vary with the needs of each pupil.
RESEARCH WORK.
Studies like some already presented raise the ques- tion, Do we sufficiently investigate local school conditions ? One authority says that, as a rule, out of every hundred pupils who enter the schools of New England only sixty- two reach the eighth grade What is the case in Frank- lin? Another writer finds that courses of study are be- yond the powers of the average pupil ; that our schools are better adapted to girls than to boys ; that 13 per cent. more boys than girls fail to pass; that not one pupil in ten graduates from the high school, and that nearly one- fourth of the withdrawals from the high school are due to ill health. Are these conclusions true of our schools? Of course research work of this sort takes time, but we can readily see that claims like the above, if found to be facts here, would materially influence our educational policies.
A NIGHT SCHOOL
This leads to the suggestion that we look into the advisability of a night school. Of the thirty-two "work" certificates issued from this office in 1909, twenty were taken out for persons fourteen years of age. and the rest for persons a year older. Not all of these boys and girls had completed even eight years of schooling. Of former pupils now at work, many who left school through necessity, or of their own accord but have since "come to themselves," would doubtless be glad of an opportunity to return to the pursuit of learning, especially if studies were practical, and attendance free. The night school,
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besides, furnishes one means for the furtherance of in- dustrial training.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
No one would think of a. deliberate reduction in teachers' salaries, yet what is tantamount to that is con- stantly going on by reason of the rising cost of the neces- saries of life and of the profession. A few years ago, when the prevailing wage in Franklin was ten dollars a week, it was very generally agreed that that amount ought to be made larger, yet, small as it was, it probably went farther than the twelve and one-quarter dollars will go to- day, which most of the teachers are receiving. This is another matter which ought be investigated. It will be surprising if, as a result, our lowest salary is allowed to be less than five hundred dollars a year.
SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
What was said in this series of reports two years ago on "Stricter Observance of District Lines" is equally per- tinent today. The committee would do well late in the summer to publish the boundaries of the several dis- tricts, and require each pupil to attend where he belongs so long as room lasts. Unless some unforeseen contin- gency arises, it will be quite possible to carry out such a regulation next year almost without exception.
PRINTED MATTER NEEDED.
Rules and Regulations. It is more than ten years now since. the regulations of the local board were printed. During that time they have undergone many changes. There are now over 100 which have been brought to- gether, and many more scattered through the records of the school committee in the form of votes. It is next to impossible to keep all of the teachers informed all of the time of these various regulations. They are read from time to time in teachers' meetings, but until they are printed and distributed it will be out of the question to hold the teachers responsible for their full enforcement.
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Courses of Study. Another need is for a sufficient supply of the course of study. At present there is only the one set of office outlines. This is annually circulated among the teachers, but with only partial success. New teachers regularly ask to see the course before they come to Franklin. All should have it at hand all of the time. Before another year the course of work in the major sub- jects, it not in all, ought to be printed. It would be more convenient if each subject were outlined on a separate leaflet or folder, instead of all being bound together in a single pamphlet.
A New Type of Report Card. A report card that speaks in plain English, or that is prepared in the form of a chart, would be a great improvement over the one now in use. But as this matter is under the consideration of the committee, no further comment is necessary.
EQUALIZATION OF PHYSICAL CONDITIONS.
At one school or another the outside doors open the wrong way, or the furniture is not adjustable, or there are not windows enough, or there are too many trees in the yard, or there are not proper walks to and from the street. The policy of equalization of conditions which has been so beneficially pursued in the past ought to be carried still farther.
SCHOOL NEWS.
No doubt school authorities are themselves somewhat to blame that the people are not in closer touch with the schools. One way to improve matters would be for the department to issue an occasional leaflet, briefly and simply setting forth items of interest from the educational world at large, and from the local field in particular. To illustrate we may suppose the following to be a part of the January number :
EDUCATIONAL NEWS.
Published by the School Department. Franklin, January, 1910.
In the 100-question test given in the grammar grades last spring, Miss Reilly's room led all others by a good
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margin. Florence Connery stood highest of all pupils, and Richard Fiske was second. Lucile Murdock and Bartholomew Cody were tied for third place.
First grade children are making much better pro- gress this year than heretofore owing to the fact that they are not admitted until 5 1-2 years old. They would do still better if they did not enter until 6.
See the Roll of Honor in the town report. A long list of pupils went a whole term without being absent or tardy, or losing membership.
Parents are urged to send their children to school CLEAN in body and in dress.
The noon-children at the Ray and Thayer schools now eat their dinners at long tables which have been es- pecially made for the purpose.
Attendance at the South Franklin school has been very regular. It was above 90 per cent. all through the fall term.
As last reported Franklin appropriates to the sup- port of schools $6.51 for each thousand dollars of valua- tion. This makes us the 58th town from the head of the list of the towns of the state.
Education in our high school today costs approxi- mately $50 per year for each pupil. The town has a right to expect that its high school students will do their best.
Visit the schools. Don't wait to be asked, and don't come only on a "public day.
It is easy to conceive that a simple publication like this, emanating directly from headquarters and carried by the pupils into the approximately 600 homes now represented in the schools, would more than pay for it- self in the interest it would awaken and in the informa- tion it would disseminate. To be of widest usefulness it should be printed in French and Italian, as well as Eng- lish.
OTHER REPORTS.
The high school, and Drawing and Manual Training are reported upon below by the heads of these depart-
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ments. What they have to say merits careful reading.
With full realization of the zealous and unremit- ting work of the committee, and of the effort of all who have helped make the Franklin public schools what they now are, and with a renewed desire to devote whatever is left of my administration to their best interests, I respectfully commend my ninth annual report to your faithful consideration.
IRVING H. GAMWELL, Superintendent.
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Report of School Committee.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN :
Another year has passed and with it comes the ne- cessity of giving to the citizens of Franklin an account of our stewardship.
To the School Committee is entrusted the expendi- ture of a large part of the money received from taxes and in a large degree the welfare of more than a thousand children. While it is incumbent upon us to see that the money is wisely spent, it is also our duty to see that everything is done to give to the children the best educa- tion possible.
Great responsibilities rest upon us, and any unful- filled duty may mar, if not wreck, the lives of many child- ren. With this in mind we have tried faithfully to exe- cute the trust imposed upon us.
One year ago your Committee asked the sanction of the town to form a Superintendents' Union with some oth- er town. The matter was left with the Committee to re- port at the next annual meeting, and we desire at this time to state our views. Of the 359 cities and towns in the State, 244, or a fraction over two-thirds, have formed Unions as provided by law. There are 79 districts, each composed of from two to six towns. So far .as we know, there is little, if any, dissatisfaction.
It is a maxim in business that an expert for a part of the time is better than a poor man all of the time, and we believe the same is true of the schools. The best is none too good and inefficient service is expensive at any price.
Section 47, Chapter 42 of the Revised Laws, gives to towns the privilege of forming such Unions, and it is the opinion of the Committee that such a Union should be formed at the first favorable opportunity. One year
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ago your Committee urgently recommended that the town provide more school rooms so that some of the grades in the Horace Mann building could be taken and so give to the High School the room it needs to properly carry on the work of an up to-date High School. We regret that the recommendation was not heeded; as a result the work of the school has been handicapped. To be sure we have got along without it, but we want results, and we cannot get results with poor equipment.
The next entering class will undoubtedly be the larg- est in the history of the High School, probably between 50 and 60.
The commercial department is now more than full. The class in commercial arithmetic numbers 18, and there are seats for only 14, so that four I upils have been obliged to sit at the desk with the teacher. The class in book- keeping is so large that three have been obliged to use a table. The next entering class will probably add 25 to this department and it becomes a serious question of how to care for them. The room now occupied by the 8th grade should be taken for this department and the 8th grade placed in new quarters. The rooms now used for High School pupils have a seating capacity of 117. There will be over 130 pupils next year, and again the question arises of how to care for them.
At the present time there is no room where the High School pupils can study without the interruption and con- fusion of recitations. The laboratory is now used as a class room for 4 out of 7 periods each day, and the classes in physics and chemistry do not have opportunity to do their experimental work. With the large incoming class it will be impossible to do satisfactory work, and it does not speak well for a community which tolerates such over- crowding. We do not believe the people of this town care to continue this and will insist that the children be given, what by right, belongs to them. We therefore re- commend that the changes recommended last year to be made in the Thayer school be made this year, and that a sufficient amount of money be appropriated for that pur- pose.
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Frequently, for the last few years, your attention has been called to the condition of the buildings at Unionville, Four Corners and Brick school.
They are not properly heated and ventilated and do not comply with the State requirements. Shall we do it voluntarily or wait until compelled to do it by the State ?
The repairs and improvements for the year have been quite extensive. The special appropriation of $800 for the South Franklin school has been used in repairing the old building, shingling, painting, putting in a fur- nace, etc. The opening of this school is giving to the parents of this neighborhood what they have long wanted.
It has solved the difficulty of barge transportation from this part of the town, and we believe is a step in the right direction.
The special appropriation of $1,600 for the Thayer building has been used in putting in sanitary plumbing and excavating the basements. Steam coils have been placed in the school rooms and the building made more comfortable than it has been for a long time.
Financially the school department is in a very satis- factory condition. Every bill is paid and a small unex- pended balance remains in the treasury.
Herewith is appended a statement of receipts and ex- penditures :
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation
$25,707 00
L. F. Thayer, Tuition
28 50
Bellingham, Tuition
87 75
98 25
66
186 00
State, Tuition
231 90
City of Boston, Tuition
33 00
A. Sherman,
9 00
A. Simons, Junk
7 75
M. & M. St. Ry. Co., Tickets
45 00
Rebate, Glass
10 00
Books and Supplies Sold
15 40
Guns Sold
38 00
Rebate, Mosher
11 50
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Dog Licenses
709 84
I. H. Gamwell
1 63
Bellingham, Tuition
153 00
$27,373 52
EXPENDITURES.
Paid Teachers
$15,906 51
66 Janitors
2,334 35
Transportation
2,807 44
66 Fuel
1,446 84
66 Repairs
1,052 66
66 Telephone
31 17
Electric Lights
58 82
66 Toilet
34 27
66 Teachers' Supplies
113 70
66 Pupils 66
014 43
66 Office
13 73
66 Janitors'
17 00
.. . Books
1,140 66
66
Printing, Advertising, etc.
139 60
.6 Water
135 58
66 Express and Carting
82 10
6. Manual Training
66 72
66 Medical Inspection
228 50
66 Miscellaneous
270 50
$26,794 58
Laid over from last year
561 69
$27,356 27
Balance
17 25
$27.373 52
We estimate our expenses for the coming year as follows :
Teachers
$16,075 00
Transportation
2,800 00
Janitors
2,000 00
Fuel
2,375 00
Books and Supplies
2,000 00
Repairs
1,000 00
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Miscellaneous
700 00
School Physicians
150 00
$27,100 00
Estimated receipts :
Dog Licenses
700 00
From all other sources
800 00
$1,500 00
We recommend that the town appropriate for school purposes $25,600 00.
Respectfully submitted, SOLON ABBOTT, WILLIAM A. WYCKOFF, J. H. KNAPP, School Committee.
Report of Principal of High School.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
In accordance with the usual custom I herewith sub- mit the annual report of the High School. The same course of study and the same policy are being followed as when last reported with the exception of a few min- or changes. The year has been one of progress in all branches of its activity. Only one change in the teach- ing force occurred, that caused by the resignation of Miss Bertha F. Hayes to accept a position in Belmont, Mass. Miss Edna F. Carter of Newton Center, Mass., a graduate of Newton and having taught one year in a com- mercial school of Worcester, took Miss Hayes' place in September, and has proved an able and efficient teacher. It has been the aim of the teachers to hold the school up to a high standard and they are all enthusiastic workers, always seeking to set high ideals before the pupils and encourage high attainment in scholarship.
The additional apparatus in the Physical Laboratory has enabled the course to be made more comprehensive and permits a wide range to the pupils' personal investi- gation. Each year a certain amount ought to be expend-
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ed in new equipment and in replacing the old to keep the work up to the highest standard.
Entertainments. The several classes during the year have given creditable presentation in Alumnae Hall. These having been under the direction of the teachers, in every instance, have reflected merit upon the High School and to those who took part.
These plays furnish a means of providing Elocution in a way which it would be well to change, and by some means arrange for Elocution in the requirement of the school.
Athletics. Athletics have been conducted according to the policy of previous years. They have done much to create interest in the school and I beg to report that they have in all cases been a credit to Franklin and are a means of making the Standard of the school the very best.
Gifts. The class of 1909 presented the High School a Mahogany Cabinet for the receipt of cups and trophies won in athletic events. This has been placed upon the wall in the upper corridor beside the banner presented by the same class for the inter-class track meet to be held an- nually at Lake Pearl.
The Teachers in the High School, and the course that they teach are as follows :
Miss Wiggin, English, History, and in addition this year, a class in sewing.
Miss Frances E. King, American History, Civics, Algebra.
Miss Ellen S. Somerby, Latin, French, Mathematics. Miss Edna Carter, Commercial, Algebra.
Miss Helen Gartside, German, Latin.
Miss Florence L. Goding, Manual Training, Drawing.
GRADUATION EXERCISES JUNE 24, '09. PROGRAM.
MARCH, PRAYER,
Rev. G. W. Miner.
1. MUSIC-Clickety Click March
School Chorus. Macy
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2. SALUTATORY, Florence Lyons Grant.
3. ESSAY-The Value of a Broad Education to a Commercial Student Agnes Hannah Mullen.
MUSIC-"From a By-Gone Day" Osgood Girls' Glee Club, High School.
5. CLASS HISTORY, Edward Ernest Bassett.
6. CLASS PROPHECY, Annie Sullivan Holmes, Edith Lillian Laycock.
7. PIANO SOLO-Scherzo Brilliant Wollenhaupt
Lillian Mary Cross.
S. ADDRESS TO UNDERGRADUATES, Alexander Leroy Haggart.
9. ANNOUNCEMENT OF CLASS GIFT, Luthera E. McDowell.
10. MUSIC-"When the Roses Bloom Again" Wilson
School Chorus.
11. ORIGINAL STORY-"Like a Thief in the Night" Ann Elizabeth Walsh.
12. PIANO SOLO-Saxonne Godard
Jeremiah Joseph McCartliy.
13. VALEDICTORY-Our Springtime, Florence McGregor Simionds.
14. PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS, Dr. Solon Abbott, Chairman School Committee. BENEDICTION.
NAMES FOR RIPLOMAS.
+Ann Elizabeth Walshı *+Florence Lyons Grant
#Lillian Mary Cross §Luthera Estelle McDowell
SJeremiah Joseph Mccarthy #Annie Sullivan Holmes
#Agnes Hannah Mullen +Edith Lillian Laycock
** Florence McGregor Simonds +Katherine Martin Tomasian
§Alexander Leroy Haggart §Edward Ernest Bassett
*First honors. ¡ College Preparatory. #Commercial course. §General.
OFFICERS.
President, Ann Elizabeth Walsh, Secretary, Annie Sullivan Holmes,
Treasurer, Katherine Martin Tomasian.
Motto, "Semper Fidelis" Color, Green, Gold, White
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Report On Drawing And Manual Training.
The results of any course of study in schools to be fairly judged must be viewed in the relation of the time spent in that subject to the time given other subjects. During the past year the time allotted to drawing was less than in 1908, and consequently the results of the year's work have not been as satisfactory as in the former year, judged by the standard of work accomplished when moretime was given.
However, with the coming spirit of Industrial Train- ing abroad, it seems reasonable to predict that this subject of school study will not suffer further cutting of time.
Different studies are planned to promote different fac- ulties in the individual. Our regular schools ubjects are admirably adapted to the development of the mind, mem- ory and reasoning powers of the child-and this is their primary aim. The training of the hand and of the eye must not be neglected if we are to give the children of the public schools all that is their due.
A child may do arithmetical problems all day long and though he hold his book for that length of time, he receives from the exercise no training of the eye or hand-he draws, and with the same amount of mental ex- ertion-he not only is training mind, but hand and eye.
Recently the supervision has asked the children in various schools why they supposed they were taking time for drawing? Many answers have been received from "To give us a change," to "So we can be artists." This is not only the child's view but in many cases the idea of the grown up on this subject of the curriculum. That draw- ing is a non-essential has been preached too long.
It is unnecessary to review in detail the value that the power to draw has in almost every human occupation. President Eliot, in a conference at Harvard on the rela- tion of the High School to the College, said : "I have re- cently examined all the courses offered by the University and I find but one-the course in Theology-in which a
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knowledge of drawing would not be of immediate value. The power to draw is greatly needed in nearly all the courses, and absolutely indispensible in some of them. A very large proportion of studies now train the memory, a very small proportion train the power to see straight and do straight, which is the basis of industrial skill."
The educational value of drawing is very great .. First, drawing develops a man's power to see ; secondly, it develops his power of expression ; thirdly, its practice develops his power of appreciation.
In a shop, which man is of the more value, the one who can intelligently express with his pencil his ideas or the man who has no ability to make known his ideas save with words ? In a textile industry, which operative is worth the more,-the one with an eye trained to the niceties of color distinction or the untrained man ?
It is true that some boys and girls have naturally more graphic ability than others-some observe the dif- ferences of color with no education in that line-some more easily discern between the square edge and the un- true.
It is no more fair to keep the ability to learn to draw from the one who has not the gift than it is to with- hold instruction in elementary mathematics from one who at first finds this subject hard.
The power to draw is within the reach of every boy and girl in school. What we need is more time, and an appreciation of its value by the parents that the child- ren may not look upon it as a time of recreation, but as a necessary and serious study.
Manual Training. Since the beginning of Septem- ber there have been four different classes at the shop each week.
On Wednesday afternoons the two eighth grade class- es come for elementary work from 1:15 to 2:30 and from 2:30 to 3:45 respectively. These boys are taking up the reading and making of working drawings, and the simple tool exercises, having gone up to this time through the prescribed course of models up to the coat hanger. It is
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the purpose of the teacher to have each boy work out an individual problem before the end of the year.
The ninth grade boys come on Thursday mornings from 8:10 to 8:55, and have so far been at work on joints. At present a system of community work is being carried on-the result to be the making of four or five large screens and a like number of plate racks.
The High School class comes twice a week on Tues- day and Thursday mornings from 10:05 to 11:10. These boys having taken the regular tool exercises finished this fall round tabourettes, and are about to begin individual problems according to their own desire and design.
Respectfully submitted,
FLORENCE L. GODING.
Report of School Physicians.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
When medical inspection of schools was first pro- posed it did not meet with a hearty endorsement, but rath- er was frowned upon by a large proportion of the com- munity, not only as another fad, but an added expense for which there could be no adequate return. Time and ex- perience have dissipated this view. The community as a whole is learning the lesson that a healthy mind must have a healthy body; that sickly, poorly nourished child- ren cannot compete with children not thus handicapped, that in the struggle for existence, it is a question of the survival of the fittest. If the recommendations of the physician is received in the proper spirit by the parents and all work together, very much will be gained for the moral, physical and mental uplift of the community. Our experience teaches us that our work in the schools of Franklin has been of great value. Children have learned habits of personal cleanliness, and the conditions are much better in some of the schools than ever before. The re-
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sults obtained prove its value, and we believe it has come to stay.
Respectfully submitted, SOLON ABBOTT, M. D., AMBROSE J. GALLISON, M. D., School Physicians.
Report of Truant Officers.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
During the twelve months ending Jan. 31, 1910, we have investigated fifteen cases of absence from school. One was a case of habitual truancy, which was prosecuted in court, and the pupil was committed. Seven were due to alleged sickness, and seven to detention with parents' knowledge and consent.
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