USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1903 > Part 9
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
The courses of instruction in our best High schools have been broadened and enlarged in all departments. Great advance has been made in the use of the laboratory method of instruction in all High school work during the past few years, and its influence is felt in all departments of instruction, even in the languages, and it behooves us to take time and care sufficient in laying our plans to meet all the exigencies of the case in such a way that when we have completed the building upon the most desirable site we shall have the same satisfaction which has been experienced by our citi- zens in reviewing the action taken by the Town, at the suggestion of the Committee, on the location and erection of the Highland building on Middlesex avenue. That building will always be a joy and a pride to the Town, because it is a thing of beauty, adapted to
195
the purpose for which it was built, and rightly located, in the building of which, the Town received full value for every dollar expended. The members of the Committee are impressed with the great responsibility of the undertaking in the matter of our High school. We feel deeply that no mistake should be made, either in the building itself, the surroundings, or in the administration of it.
Therefore, we recommend that the Town accept the offer of Miss A. M. Sheak and purchase the lot on Sanborn and Linden streets with all the buildings thereon for the sum of eight thousand dollars, for a site for the new High school building.
Should the recommendations of the Committee be adopted and the proposed site secured, it is the intention of the Committee to submit to the Town some time during the year, plans for a new High school building.
The Committee desires instruction in regard to the selling of the school house on Main street in the north part of the Town.
VACANCIES
The terms of Mary L. Nesmith and Henry C. Parker expire at the ensuing town meeting.
APPROPRIATIONS
The Committee recommends the sum of $24,200 for regular school expenses, and the sum of $4,800 for incidental school ex- penses.
Adopted in Committee Feb. 12, 1904.
WALTER S. PARKER, Chairman. HORACE G. WADLIN ELIZABETHI H. BROWN HENRY C. PARKER MARY L. NESMITH GILMAN L. PARKER, Secretary.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of the Town of Reading :
My fifth annual report, the eleventh in the series, is herewith respectfully submitted.
Considering first the condition of our school buildings, it is a source of satisfaction to be able to report that they are all in better condition today than they have been during the last five years. The greatest outlay this year was necessitated by the large increase in the enrollment of the High school.
At the close of the school year it became certain that an en- rollment of at least one hundred ninety (190) must be provided for and our plans were laid in accordance with that understanding. This required the removal of the desk platforms and arranging the desks in alternate double rows throughout the main room. The desks in single rows were provided with new adjustable castings and thirty new desks were set in the space gained by the new ar- rangement.
The first week of school gave us an enrollment of two hundred twelve (212), which increased to two hundred eighteen (218) for the first month and continued at that number through the first four months of the year.
With so large a school it was very soon found that the build- ing was not arranged to give the needed recitation rooms for so many large classes, and the only feasible plan for securing relief
197
was decided upon. A partition was built across the main room during the last week of October when school closed on Friday for the County Convention. By careful planning and working well into the evening it was finished so that no loss of school work was sustained.
With this additional room it was possible to relieve the pres- sure of work by the employment of another teacher and prepare the way for giving due attention to rhetoricals for the remainder of the year.
Regarding our accommodations I can only repeat what was given in my last report, that more room must be provided by Sep- tember of this year, or part of the schools will necessarily be given half day sessions.
The census of last September showed a gain of thirty-seven between the ages of five years and fifteen years, while for two years previous the gain was twenty-five each year. This showing, to- gether with the fact that ten of our schools have an enrollment of fifty or more, indicates a permanent growth in our school popula- tion. As lack of room made it impossible to admit new pupils last spring, so a still less number of unoccupied desks forbids our ad- mitting them the coming spring.
In my judgment the best solution of the problem is the build- ing of a new home for the High school and so setting free the present building for the accommodation of the intermediate grades.
Present indications point to an entering class for the High school of about seventy-five pupils next September, which means securing an outside recitation room or arranging the daily program for two sessions and perhaps both.
Three of the rooms are too small to accommodate classes that must recite at certain hours of the day, and the laboratories are far from properly equipped to do the work required to be done in them.
I mention these conditions to show how imperative is the
198
necessity for taking the initial steps to secure a new High school building at once.
We have received the certificate of the New England College Entrance Certificate Board, which allows our pupils admission with- out entrance examination, to the following colleges : Amherst Col- lege, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Brown University, Dartmouth College, Mt. Holyoke College, Smith College, Tufts College, University of Maine, Wellesley College, Wesleyan Uni- versity.
In order to accomplish the required work in different subjects, some changes have already been made in our work as outlined two years ago, and still further change will become necessary to meet the college requirements.
As more time must be given to some subjects than we have given before, this increase of work, together with the gain in en- rollment of thirty-seven, called for the services of another teacher, and Miss Gertrude C. Brown was secured to take the classes in French and German.
The resignations of Mr. F. E. Whittemore and Miss Clara D. Merriman were received at the close of the school year and their places were filled by the election of Mr. Harry T. Watkins of Old Town, Me., and Miss Mildred L. Powell of Orono, Me. Miss Christina M. Scott was able to resume work at the beginning of the year, and after a two years' absence she was warmly welcomed to the corps of teachers of the Reading High school.
Several changes have taken place among the grade teachers during the past year. In January, Miss Mabel R. Miller found that her health required that she give up her work with us, and Miss Florence B. Messer was elected to succeed her. In March, Miss Esther G. Bailey received a call from Malden at an advance of about two hundred dollars in salary, and Miss Cora J. Gile was secured to take her work. After the June election all the teachers
199
accepted their positions except Miss Kenerson of the Prospect street school. Miss Emma E. Morse was elected to take one room of seventh grade and Miss Rosa E. Richardson was given the other room of seventh grade. Miss May M. Badger was assigned to a sixth grade and Miss Florence B. Messer was given work in the eighth grade.
Schools opened last September with only one new teacher in the grades, which was an unusual experience for us and one that was appreciated all the more because of its rarity.
Our fortunate condition was destined to be of short duration, for early in October Mrs. Drew was elected to a position in Somer- ville at a salary of six hundred fifty dollars ($650), and in November Miss Morgan was elected to a position in Medford at a salary of six hundred dollars ($600). Miss Evarts was transferred from Chest- nut Hill school to take the school of fourth grade in the Highland school left by Mrs. Drew, and Miss Florence B. Parker was elected to take the primary school at Chestnut Hill. Miss Mabel Darrah of Manchester, N. H., was secured to take the primary school at John street left by Miss Morgan.
Besides these permanent changes, the past four months have brought us an unusual number of cases of substitute service. In addition to the usual number of cases of a day or half day at a time, in November it became necessary to provide for the work of Miss Page, who was called to endure a long period of sickness, and in December Miss Lane was also obliged to give way to a substitute. Mrs. Granger is still in charge of Miss Page's work and Miss Pierce is still in Miss Lane's room at the Union street school. In Decem- ber, too, Miss Badger found it necessary to stop work for a time and Miss Moore was secured to take her room.
Reports from Miss Page and Miss Lane indicate that we shall soon see them in their accustomed places. They have our warmest sympathy and we sincerely hope that they will soon be able to re-
200
turn to their work with renewed strength to give us their efficient service.
COURSE OF STUDY
Brief reference has been made to the slight modification of our High school work on account of the additional requirements of the colleges.
Careful consideration leads us to recommend the course in History which will be found appended to this report to supersede the one now offered, as soon as the transition can be made satisfac- torily. This conforms to the college requirements and for those who have no opportunity to pursue their studies beyond the High school, the course presents an orderly survey of the history of the world's great nations, terminating with an intensive study of Amer- ican History with special reference to its bearing upon the develop- ment of our system of government.
It is a pleasure to report on the success and popularity of our commercial course. The beginning of this year found sixty-six (66) pupils electing Stenography, fifty-three (53) Juniors and thir- teen (13) Seniors, about the same number taking Typewriting, while only twenty-eight elected these subjects a year ago. In spite of the increase in the classes, the instructor in this study has succeeded in securing a high grade of work. She reports that at the close of the first four months of the school year the average speed for the Juniors in Stenography is ninety-five (95) words per minute, and for the Seniors one hundred forty-five (145) per min- ute, while individuals of the respective classes have attained a speed of 100 and 150.
In Typewriting, accuracy as well as speed has been the aim. Dictation has been taken on the machine as well as copy work, and shorthand notes have been transcribed. The interest continues keen as the results given indicate. Among the Seniors a speed of
201
sixty-five (65) words per minute has been attained already with good prospect of improving this record before the end of June.
In spite of our poor equipment for doing the best work in Chemistry, Physics, Botany and Zoology, our course in these sub- jects is laid out on modern lines and meets the approval of the Certificate Board before mentioned. All the greater credit is due to the teachers who find their work thus handicapped.
While the work of the school has always been strong in Latin and Greek, this year is the first in which the Freshman class in Latin has been ready to take up Caesar at the middle of the year. This shows good work both here and in the eighth grade of last year.
With a large share of the Mathematics in charge of the present teacher of that subject, we have reason to expect that this work will continue to reach the high standard previously maintained by her.
In French and German the pupils manifest a keen interest in their work and a spirit of co-operation with their teacher, and these conditions will always secure the best possible results under exist- ing conditions.
To meet the higher requirement of the colleges our work this year is strengthened by the use of the conversational method, and our pupils show marked progress toward a fluent command of those languages.
The report of the Master includes the following suggestions, which I endorse and recommend for your consideration in the near future :
"1st. The establishment of a system of diploma points : "
42d. That the option of electing studies be confined to the general course : "
"3d. That Biology (including Botany and Zoology) be made a five hour study in the Freshman year."
202
Another suggestion concerning the treatment of Music is well worthy of consideration now that credit is given for this part of a pupil's education by a number of our higher institutions. Our High school is rapidly undergoing the transformation from the small school to the large suburban school, and new plans of work must be adopted suited to its growing needs. The consideration of diploma credits involves the question of educational values of the different subjects studied, as well as the time devoted to them, and all these matters force themselves upon us with greater emphasis as our number increases.
The work in the grades is developing along lines adopted two and three years ago in the fundamental studies of the course.
In Arithmetic the results secured by the use of the Werner series of arithmetics are very satisfactory.
One evidence that our work is approved by others is found in the fact that a class of fifth grade pupils from Miss Alice E. Hood's room was selected by Dr. Gertrude Edmund, to illustrate the spiral plan of teaching, numbers before the Mass. State Teachers' Associa- tion in convention at Boston last November.
Dr. Edmund is principal of the Lowell Training School and was elected director of the elementary section of the convention work.
In Grammar and Language work our teachers are securing still better results as they avail themselves of the various suggestions afforded by the latest text books in this kind of work, and study the condition of the class carefully in order to adapt the lessons to their present needs. In the eighth grade considerable interest in writing stories has been aroused and the co-operation of our local editors have been secured to heighten this interest by publishing in The Chronicle a few of the best productions. We desire right here to express our high appreciation of the Messrs. Twomblys' evident de- sire to render all the aid in their power to further the interest of our schools.
203
This plan of putting in print the best productions in English is one of the several means used to arouse in the pupils the desire to put forth his best effort, to show that he remembers the early les- sons taught. Another means, which we have not used to any great extent, is opening correspondence with pupils of other sections of the country. This gives a real interest in letter writing and addi- tional zest to the study of History or Geography as facts of either kind are thus secured. This plan is found helpful in those schools where it has been tried, and I recommend that our pupils be given the opportunity to profit by this method.
In Geography our plan of work is taking on more definite form as the material outside the regular text books, the Frye series, is secured. In the second, third, and fourth grades the first, second, and third books of the "Around the World" series are found very helpful. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth the Tarr-McMurry series gives much useful information, while Carpenter's Geographical Readers give needed help in the work of seventh, and eighth grades Our teachers are making great gain in treating the subject so that the pupils get a good idea of the life of the people in other lands, com- paring their customs and habits of living with our own, and thus connecting the work in geography with real life.
Our work in History is becoming more systematic than former- ly in the grades below the seventh, as we are able to secure the material best adapted to the different grades. As low as the second grade we find the recent revision of Mara L. Pratt's history stories very interesting reading, while a little more difficult material is found suitable for fifth, and sixth grades. The love for the great men whose lives have accomplished so much in the development of our country gives added interest to the detailed study which is taken up in seventh, and eighth grades.
The continued use of the Ivanhoe Historical Note Book proves of great value in developing an ability to gather from various sources the facts of special interest in connection with each topic
.
204
thus treated. As a means of forming the habit of bringing facts into a systematic arrangement, I know of nothing better.
Work in Manual Training continues along the lines indicated a year ago. Since last March the Sloyd work has been given to the boys of sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, while sewing has been given to the girls of these grades.
The interest of the pupils continues unabated, while the girls displayed work at the May exhibit which would do credit to those of greater maturity. As suggested in my last report, basketry has been taught in the fifth grade by those teachers who were ambitious to learn this work a year ago. This gives a pleasing variety for three months of the year in place of cardboard construction, which is taken once a week for the remainder of the year.
In Sloyd the advantage of giving the boys of sixth grade an opportunity to begin this work is already apparent, and the instruc- tor reports, that, when the grading is fully established, our eighth grade will rank very nearly with the ninth in other towns in this subject. Another gain in this department was the change of plan by which the mechanical drawing connected with it has been given to the teacher of Sloyd, who can in this way direct the entire mental process of the pupils, observation, and definite recep- tion of ideas as the working model is studied, and expression as the drawing is made, and later as the model is fashioned with the tools. This gives the instructor a better opportunity to hold the boys to good logical thinking in this work, and so derive still greater benefit from it.
Very creditable programs arranged for various anniversaries as Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, Longfellow's, Lincoln's and Wash- ington's birthdays, Patriots' Day, and Memorial Day are found to be an effective means for developing patriotism.
Humane Education still receives its share of attention, and the occasional programs of our Bands of Mercy produce an impression
205
whose influence is sure to be lasting. In this connection, it affords great pleasure to acknowledge the gift of twenty-two volumes by a friend whose generosity was enlisted in our behalf through the kindly suggestion of Rev. A. J. Leach, State Agent of the Society for Humane Education.
Special effort was made last April to raise funds for providing additional pictures for our schools, and an exhibition of fine carbon photographs from the H. K. Turner collection, held in Highland Hall, April 22-25, yielded two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225). On October 28th, this amount stood eighth on the list of the firm's orders in a prize competition for the largest order of 1903 in pro- portion to population.
The following pictures were secured, sufficient to allow one to nearly every school room in town :
Sunset Glow
Rieche
Spirit of '76
Willard
Children of the Shell
Murillo
Golden Autumn Days
Marke
Wait a Minute
Elsley
Return to the Barnyard
Troyou
Fog Warning
Homer
Children of Charles I
Van Dyke
Girl with Cat
Hoecker
Distinguished Member of Humane Society
Landseer
Kittens in Hat
Dolph
Oxen Ploughing
Bonheur
Lion of Lucerne
. Thorwaldsen Adam
Kittens at Play
The Windmill
Ruysdael
King Charles Spaniels
Landseer
Penelope Boothby
Reynolds
Breaking Home Ties
. Hovenden
Horses of Diomedes-a plaster relief
206
The eighth grade, following the custom of the Highland School, gave an entertainment in which Scottish songs and Scottish dress combined to produce one of the most delightful programs ever rendered by the Highland School. The proceeds proved sufficient to purchase a bust of Wagner with bracket, an etching of Strat- ford-on-Avon church, a Dutch landscape in color and a photograv- ure named Sea Gulls.
These additions mark a definite progress in the work of making beautiful the environment of our children while in school. The influence of all this cannot be overestimated. It means the differ- ence between the old regime when so great reverence was paid to drudgery as a good in itself, to uncomfortable surroundings, cush- ionless pews in church, for example, as a means of grace, and the new order of things which demands especially for the children the most comfortable and beautiful surroundings, in which their whole nature may be called into activity and developed along the highest plane of moral and ethical culture.
In close connection with this it is proper to refer to the report of the Supervisor of Drawing, as this work throughout the schools is designed to develop an appreciation for the beautiful as well as to provide another means of soul expression. I quote from Miss Parker's report.
"The biennial exhibition of drawing was held this year as usual, in connection with those of manual training and sewing, June 17- 20, and showed gratifying progress and improvement in all grades. This exhibit illustrates fully the course of study in drawing. Beginning with the youngest pupils especial emphasis is laid upon nature drawing in fall and spring. Colored crayons make an excellent medium for their childish representations of bright leaves, berries, flowers and fruit. Simple objects of attractive form and color are drawn with freedom and delight, developing considerable power of observation and recognition of form. First grade pupils are taught the use of the ruler and to measure by inches, the second
207
grade by half inches, and the third by quarter inches. Brush work is begun in the third grade, with ink for silhouette nature drawing in the autumn, and liquid water colors for design, which in its simplest elements is studied during the spring term. The inter- mediate grades continue the ink brush drawing with more difficult subjects. Simple working drawings form the mechanical drill for these grades in addition to cardboard construction work. Pictorial representation of objects includes a little shading, and the simplest of perspective principles, the foreshortening of circular and rectan- gular faces. The seventh and eighth grades continue and amplify the same lines of work with, of course, increased facility of expres- sion.
"Groups of interesting and beautiful objects drawn and shaded with crayon pencils form an important part of the representation work, illustrating the perspective principles of convergence and foreshortening as well as composition and arrangement. These groups have also been represented in water colors in three tones of gray or sepia. The color work in design is one of the most impor- tant and interesting features for bowls, vases, stained glass windows, book covers, surface patterns for textile fabrics, borders for rugs. The color and design work of the High school was particularly noticeable at the exhibition, and received the highest commendation for beauty and harmony of color and originality of design. The mechanical course of the High school includes geometric problems, orthographic projection, sections, etc. The Sophomore class had a little practice in representing light and shade by means of charcoal, and made good progress for the time allowed, and considering the cramped and rather unsuitable conditions of the class room.
"Drawing is elective in the second year but should be obligatory for those pupils who expect to attend Normal or Technical Schools. A teacher needs all the practice and experience possible in this line not only during the Normal course but much more in grade teach-
208
ing. Ability to teach drawing is an indispensable requirement of the modern teacher.
"The pupils of the eighth grade were invited to design a cover for the year book of the Reading Home for Aged Women. Master Forrest Eames won the honor of first choice by submitting a very attractive but simple design which was accepted by the committee."
The cover for this report was also selected from the numerous designs submitted by pupils of the eighth grade.
One proof of the excellence of Miss Parker's work in our schools is found in the request of the president of the Eastern Art Teachers' Association that she send an exhibit of pupils' work in design for the annual meeting at Baltimore, April 22-24. As only twenty supervisors of the hundreds located east of the Alleghanies were requested to contribute to the exhibit, the honor of such recognition was highly esteemed by her.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.