Town of Westford annual report 1886-1895, Part 31

Author: Westford (Mass.)
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Westford (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 896


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > Town of Westford annual report 1886-1895 > Part 31


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Aunt Jo's Scrap Bag. L. M. Alcott. 6 vols 921-26


Barberry Bush, The. Susan Coolidge.


9:28


Big Brother. Annie Fellows-Johnston . 932


Boy Travellers in Southern Europe. T. W. Knox 951


Camp Life in the Wilderness. C. A. J. Farrar. 937


Clocks of Roudaine. Frank R. Stockton 912


Comic Tragedies. L. M. Alcott. 927


England, A Child's History of. Charles Dickens .. 950


Evening Tales. Ortoli. Trans. Joel Chandler Harris 931


France, A Child's History of. John Bonner 934


Girls and I, The. Mrs. Molesworth .. 909


Jenny Wren's Boarding House. James Otis 946


Larry. Amanda M. Douglas. 916


Little Miss Boston. Mrs. Harriet A. Cheever.


917


Little One's Annual ..


913


Lost Jewell, A. Harriet Prescott Spofford.


918


Mary. Mrs. Molesworth ..


938


Melody. Laura E. Richards ..


940


Memoirs of a London Doll. Ed. Mrs. Fairstar.


2 vols .. .. 919-20


Miss Gray's Girls. Jeannette A. Grant. . 947


Moon Prince and Other Nabobs. R. K. Munkitrick. 936


More English Fairy Tales. Coll. Joseph Jacobs. 949


Music and Musicians for Young People. Lucy C. Lillie. . . 907


No Heroes. Blanche Willis Howard. 939


One I Knew Best of All. Frances Hodgson Burnett. 942


On the Old Frontier. William O. Stoddard. 944


Outdoor Games and Recreations. G. A. Hutchison 914


Polly Oliver's Problem. Kate Douglas Wiggin. 929


Robin's Recruit. A. G. Plympton . 915


Rosebud Garden of Girls. Nora Perry 910


Spain, A Child's History of. John Bonner


933


Twenty Years at Sea. Frederic Stanhope Hill .


93(


Voodoo Tales. Coll. by Mary Alicia Owen. 948


When I Was Your Age. Laura E. Richards.


941


Witch Winnie in Paris. Elizabeth W. Champney. ·


943


Wonder Web of Stories. M. R. Carlton and C. A. Frazer .. 945


World's Fair Book for Boys and Girls. Tudor Jenks. 952


Mate of the "Mary Ann." Sophie Swett. 935


77


M


At the North of Bearcamp Water. Frank Bolles 724


Children of the Poor. Jacob A. Riis. 716


Books and Men. Agnes Repplier .. . 733


Concerning All of Us. T. W. Higginson. 730


Customs and Fashions in Old New England. Alice Morse Earle.


736


Eighteenth Century Vignettes. Austin Dobson 739


Englishman in Paris, An.


721


Essays in Idleness. Agnes Repplier


735


Goethe, Reviewed after Fifty Years. J. R. Seeley.


738


Hard-Tack and Coffee. John D. Billings 715


Heart-Beats. P. Z. Mozoomdar. 727


Hic et Ubique. Sir William Frazer. 731


Highway of Letters. Thomas Archer 717


Home Life on an Ostrich Farm. Annie Martin 720


Japanese Interior, A. Alice Mabel Bacon 732


Land of the Lingering Snow. Frank Bolles. 723


Obiter Dicta. Augustine Birrell. 2 vols. 725-6


Old Colony Town and Other Sketches. Wm. Root Bliss ... Orations and Addresses of George William Curtis. Ed. by


741


Charles Eliot Norton. 2 vols 743-4


Points of View. Agnes Repplier 734


Quabbin : Story of a Small Town with Outlooks upon Puri- tan Life. F. H. Underwood


719


Random Rambles. Louise Chandler Moulton.


729


Recent Rambles. Dr. C. C. Abbot.


718


Speeches and Addresses of William McKinley 745


Studies in Letters and Life. George E. Woodbury 722


Success and Its Conditions. Edwin P. Whipple. 742


Victorian Age of English Literature. Mrs. Oliphant 740


World's Columbian Exposition. Trumbull White, William Ingleheart, etc. 746


N


A. L. A. Index to General Literature. W. I. Fletcher, etc., 136 Annual Cyclopædia, 1892 .. 122


Appleton's Cyclopædia of American Biography, 6 vols 126-31


Book of Days. Edited by R. Chambers, 2 vols 123-4 Poole's Index to Periodical Literature, 4 vols. 132-5


Synonymes, Dictionary of. Richard Soule 125


PAMPHLETS.


A


Agricultural Experiment Station, Amherst. Report, 1892. . 33 Feeble-Minded, Massachusetts School for, 1893. 34


Free Public Library Commission of Massachusetts, 1893. .


36 Institute of Technology, Massachusetts, Sketch of. 35


Public Reservations, Report of, 1892. 37


B


Consular Reports, Nos. 147-161 155-71


Consular Report, Special


Australian Sheep and Wool. 172


Commercial Relations with Foreign Countries


175


Exports. 174


Fire and Building Regulations in Foreign Countries 173


Education, Bureau of :


Education in Alaska. Sheldon Jackson 181


Education in Delaware. Lyman P. Powell. 180


Conference of National Educational Association, Dec., 1892, 179


Public Libraries, Statistics in U. S. and Canada, 1893. Weston Flint. 177


Public Libraries, Statistics in U. S., 1884-5.


178


Spelling Reform. Francis A. March 176


Congressional Dictionary, 1893. 182


Address of George J. Burns on Tennyson, 1894.


35


Catalogue of Westford Academy, 1892-3. 32


First Maine Bugle, Campaign II, Call 10. 88


Maine Bugle, Campaign I, Call 1. 39


Problem of Man-flight. James Means. 36


Pepperell Public Library, Catalogue. 37


University of Pennsylvania, Report of Provost, 1892. 33


University of Pennsylvania, Catalogue, 1892. 34


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


OF THE


TOWN OF WESTFORD, MASS.


FOR THE


SCHOOL YEAR ENDING MARCH 1, 1894.


LOWELL, MASS. VOX POPULI PRESS, 130 CENTRAL STREET.


1894.


SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1893-94.


A. J. ABBOT, Chairman .


Term expires 1894


A. A. BICKFORD, Secretary


66


66 1895


ALFRED WOODBURY


66


1896


A. R. CHOATE


66


66


1895


FRANK HILDRETH


1896


GEORGE DREW


66


66 1894


REPORT.


Fellow Citizens and Friends:


The School Committee organized at the first meeting of the year, March 31, 1893, by the choice of A. J. Abbot chairman, and A. A. Bickford secretary. Mr. Bickford continued to act as superintend- ent during the first or summer term. It seemed wise to the Com- mittee, in view of the great inducements held out by the State and the earnest recommendations of the leading educators of the country, that Westford should enter into arrangements with other towns for the employment of a superintendent. At a meeting of the Town early in the summer the necessary votes were passed empowering the Committee to bring about a union of towns for this purpose.


A desirable opening was at once presented, and at a joint meeting of the Committees of Ayer, Littleton, and Westford, it was voted to obtain the services of Edmund P. Barker, of Ayer, as superin- tendent of schools for the three towns. His term of office for West- ford began with July 1, 1893. The Committee are well pleased with his work, and believe that the benefits of his skilled and sys- tematic supervision will appear in the year to come more manifestly than they could do in this, the first season he has served with us.


Perhaps some persons may not understand the charges for the superintendent's salary which will appear in the Treasurer's report. It will there appear that $300 has been paid by this town previous to the present time. Let it be explained that at the end of one year with the superintendent, there will be a rebate paid us from the State treasury, and that two thirds of this sum will be returned to Westford with the condition that it shall be added to the school funds.


It will be observed that the cost of the school supplies has again overrun the appropriation. Looking backward over the year's


6


4


work we do not see how this could well be avoided. A large case of chalk crayons and one of slate pencils, probably sufficient for sev- eral years to come, was purchased that we might take advantage of wholesale rates. Some new arithmetics, primary histories, and books for supplementary reading have been introduced also, but all seemed to be demanded for the best interests of the schools. There are many new subjects which are taught and which must be taught in our schools unless we are willing to be left far behind the great advance that is going on in the education of the youth of our country. There are many improved appliances, some of which can not be dispensed with. Nothing will be taken up without a careful weighing of the benefits as against the costs, but it seems to us that the appropriation for supplies must be made somewhat larger than in the past few years. We believe, however, that with the constant oversight and careful keeping of records, which will be possible with our superintendent's help, losses by carelessness will be very small indeed.


The Superintendent's Report will show the condition and needs of our schools as seen by him, and will, we trust, receive the careful attention from all our citizens which it deserves. These remarks, with all the matter relating to our schools, are most respectfully submitted.


A. J. ABBOT,


A. A. BICKFORD, ALFRED WOODBURY,


A. R. CHOATE, FRANK HILDRETH, GEORGE DREW,


School Committee.


1


FINANCIAL STATEMENT.


Whole amount of school money $5,135 45


Paid teachers' wages .


$4,271 50


For fuel, care of houses, etc


769 02


On hand


94 93


$5,135 45


Due teachers, not yet paid, about $123 50 Due janitors, not yet paid 15 00


$138 50


Paid for books and supplies


$402 74


A few bills not yet settled which may increase this amount to about $125.


REPORT OF TRUANT OFFICERS.


Cases investigated 5 Brought to trial . 0


A. R. CHOATE,


WILBUR PARSONS,


EUGENE DEROEHN,


Truant Officers.


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


To the School Committee of Westford:


GENTLEMEN,-My first annual report is herewith respectfully sub- mitted, treating upon the following topics: Superintendent's Work, Attendance, Employment of Children, Schools and Teachers, Course of Study, Teachers' Meetings, Northwest Middlesex Teachers' Asso- ciation, and Recommendations for Improvement. Following this is the Roll of Honor, a List of Teachers, and the Table of Statistics.


SUPERINTENDENT'S WORK.


The Superintendent's field of labor comprises the schools of Westford, Ayer, and Littleton; the last named receiving one-fifth of his time and service, the others two-fifths each.


Every third week the Superintendent has spent in the Westford schools, usually„ visiting two schools each half-day and holding a teachers' meeting on Thursday afternoon. The time of the six days and evenings not spent in school visiting and in teachers' meetings has been devoted, with scarcely an exception, wholly to school work :- to planning courses of study, preparing examinations, arranging for teachers' meetings, visiting schools in other towns, organizing and attending conventions of teachers and Superin- tendents, conducting a large correspondence, and, in general, serv- ing the interests of the schools in every direction as circumstances would allow.


The work of the Superintendent who is in the town but one-third of the school time differs necessarily from that of a local Superin- tendent. The law nowhere specifies what these duties are, save as to signing "age and schooling certificates," but leaves them to be adjusted in each town by the Committee and Superintendent. The


7


experience of towns which have had district supervision for some years is gradually revealing certain fundamental and economic principles, gaining wider recognition each year, in accordance with which the relations of Committee and Superintendent come to be adjusted, and the school work best promoted.


A large part of the duties of the School Committee as provided in the Statutes may be classified under the following heads:


I. PROPERTY Ordinary Repairs. Janitor Service.


II. PUPILS


--


III. INSTRUCTION.


L Attendance. Classification. Health. Discipline. Supplies. Books. Methods. Studies. Teachers.


These duties are both of a legislative and an administrative nature. The Committee legislate exclusively. In matters of ad- ministration they share with the Superintendent, naturally expect- ing møst help from him in matters of instruction, and least as to school property. All of these matters, however, have a direct influ- ence upon the kind and amount of education received by the pupils, and so become of interest to the Superintendent.


The full Committee, among their numerous duties, elect teachers, fix their compensation, decide upon text-books, appoint a supply agent and truant officers, vote repairs, and make rules for the man- agement of the schools. They also designate certain of their mem- bers to act as sub-committees in those parts of the town in which they severally reside.


The Sub- Committeeman has general care of the school property in his part of the town. The teacher may refer to him in emergen- cies for advice in matters relating to the care of the school property, the admission of pupils, their attendance, health, and discipline. In case of the sickness of the teacher he may provide a substitute.


The Superintendent regularly examines the school premises, mak- ing suggestions as to their condition. He encourages regularity and promptness of attendance and co-operates with the truant officers to


8


secure it. He classifies pupils according to their advancement and, with the approval of the Committee, makes the promotions from grade to grade. He advises as to the kinds of supplies needed for the schools. New text-books are introduced only upon his approval. He prepares a course of study for use in the schools with the ap- proval of the Committee. In teachers' meetings he explains the course of study and good methods of teaching. In his visiting from day to day he observes the success of the teachers with their classes and suggests possible improvements. He guides the teachers in their visiting other schools. He aids the Committee in the selec- tion of suitable teachers, the Committee giving him the privilege of nominating teachers to them for election. He studies educational history and educational problems in general and in detail. By his acquaintance with the citizens of the town, and in his annual reports, he endeavors to interest the public in the welfare of the schools, exhibiting their present condition and suggesting means for their improvement.


With the generous freedom accorded me by your Committee upon taking up the work in Westford, it has been quite natural that my efforts should follow in the same directions outlined above.


ATTENDANCE.


Special effort has been made to improve the promptness and reg- ularity of attendance, and it is believed with valuable results, for whatever increases the attendance by so much enhances the power of the schools for good. At the end of each month reports of attendance from the different schools have been compared and the school having the highest standing has received a banner bearing the inscription, "Best School in Attendance." During the five full months the schools have been in session since Sept. 1st, this banner has been assigned twice to the Parkerville School, and once each to the Long-sought-for, Lyon, and Forge Village Grammar Schools. The heroic efforts made by those whose names are on the roll of honor, and of a great many others, deserve high commendation.


The law of the State requires thirty weeks of attendance by all children between the ages of eight and fourteen. This attendance ought to be continuous, beginning with the first day of school in the year and continuing through the first and second terms and far enough into the third term to complete the required thirty weeks. Considering that our school-year contains but thirty-four or thirty-


9


five weeks, and the frequency with which sickness obliges children to be absent, it becomes evident that every pupil should attend every day, as far as possible, even to comply with the law, until the thirty weeks of attendance have been actually recorded.


The registers furnished by the State this year contain a new rule to the effect that the time lost by each pupil by reason of tardinesses and dismissals shall be recorded, and that when these amount to one hundred and eighty minutes they shall count the same as one- half day of absence. From this it follows that when necessarily tardy or dismissed the pupil should make the time lost as little as possible.


The table of statistics found at the end of this report contains much information of interest. A slight increase is shown in several respects. The whole number of pupils is four hundred and forty- five, ten more than last year. The average membership is three less, the average attendance three more. The per cent. of attend- ance, based on average membership, is consequently larger, ninety- one per cent. This may be due to the application of the new rules in the register for computing attendance, or to greater effort on the part of pupils.


The number of tardinesses is eight hundred thirty-six, or two and one-half for each pupil. This is less than in Ayer last year, but more than in Littleton, where it was less than one for each pupil. Doubtless our schools can improve in this respect another year.


The number of dismissals, six hundred thirteen, indicates a serious interruption to the school work. Parents should ask to have their children dismissed as seldom, and for as short a time, as possible.


The number of visits made by the public, seven hundred thirty- eight, is creditable, and a source of profit to the schools, of which we invite a still larger measure.


EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN.


Following is given a brief statement of the law in relation to the employment of children. Chapter 348 of the Acts of 1888, as amended, provides that :


I. No child under thirteen years of age shall be employed at any time in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment, or in any indoor work for wages while the public schools are in session.


II. No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed in any manner before six A. M., or after seven P. M .; nor in any


10


manner during school hours, unless during the year next preceding such employment he has attended school at least thirty weeks.


III. No child over thirteen and under fourteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment except during vacation, or in any indoor work for wages during school hours, unless his employer procures and keeps on file an em- ployment ticket, and a certificate as required by law, stating that the child has attended school thirty weeks during the year next preced- ing such employment, and can read at sight and write legibly sim- ple sentences in the English language.


IV. No child over fourteen and under sixteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop, or mercantile establishment unless his employer procures and keeps on file an employment ticket and certificate, as required by law, stating the age of the child.


To obtain a certificate the child procures from his prospective employer an "Employment Ticket " in which the employer states his intention to employ the child. This is brought to the Superinten- dent of Schools, or someone whom he may designate, before whom the parent or guardian of the child certifies under oath to the facts stated in the certificate. The Superintendent of Schools signs the certificate. The child carries it to his employer.


Mr. Alfred R. Choate has been designated by the Superintendent of Schools to sign " Age and Schooling Certificates" in the Town of Westford for the current school year.


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.


The usual number of schools, fifteen, has been maintained, the most of them with unquestioned success. Sickness and resignations, however, have caused interruptions in a few schools, in spite of our best efforts to keep them supplied with suitable teachers.


Eleven of the teachers of a year ago are now serving in our schools, faithful and ambitious for success. The others have brought to their work a commendable degree of devotion and industry. All have labored conscientiously, and with such good results as their several abilities and environments would permit.


The importance of the teacher cannot be over estimated. The appropriations of money made by the town, the care exercised by the committee, the assistance brought within the teacher's reach by the Superintendent, all depend upon her for their effectiveness. To meet adequately the responsibilities of her position she should be well educated in High School or Academic studies, she should have Normal training, and some successful experience. A student of


11


good methods, she should be interested in her pupils, be willing to take suggestions, and skilful in incorporating improvements into her work.


The large degree to which our teachers have possessed some or all of these qualifications among others has determined the value of their teaching, has furnished the opportunity for the Superintendent to help them, and contributed much to the pleasure with which my labor has been performed.


COURSE OF STUDY.


A course of study was placed in the teachers' hands in Septem- ber, similar to that in use in Ayer and Littleton, but modified so as to include two years' work in each department, the first and second years forming the D department, the third and fourth years the C, the fifth and sixth the B, the seventh and eighth the A. Not a list of books and pages, but rather topics orderly arranged, with state- ment of principles and methods, accompanied by references to teachers' helps.


This course of study has furnished the basis for the work in our teachers' meetings, for the tests given by the Superintent, for the regular half-term examinations, and for the grading of the pupils into the different departments, according to their ascertained ad- vancement in studies.


Some of the, principles recognized in making up this course of study are that the practical must receive most attention, that the child must be brought to see and understand before he is required to memorize, and that many topics, usually left for the last years of school life, may be introduced profitably much earlier, using abun- dant illustration and small numbers. For example, fractions and decimals are introduced in the third year, percentage in the fourth, mensuration and interest in the fifth.


TEACHERS' MEETINGS.


These have been held regularly three times a term, and have proved an invaluable means for prosecuting our work. The course of study has been explained, good methods have been discussed and illustrated by class exercises, educational literature distributed, and the school work unified. The regularity of teachers in their attend- ance has been uniform, except where the great distance and bad weather combined have made it imprudent for two or three to at- tend.


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NORTHWEST MIDDLESEX TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.


The teachers of this town joined with those of Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Boxboro', Dunstable, Groton, Littleton, Pepperell, Shirley, Stow, and Townsend, in the formation of a teachers' association in this part of Middlesex county. The first meeting was held at Ayer on Nov. 17. Representatives from ten of these towns took part, Miss Drew worthily representing Westford on the programme. The Secretary and Agents of the State Board of Education were present and took part in the exercises. Competent judges pronounced the meeting one of unusual merit and profit. Certainly it has not been my privilege heretofore to witness so much of inspiration in school work follow upon any like gathering.


RECOMMENDATIONS.


Having presented above something of the present condition and working of the schools, it only remains to indicate, in a few words, some ways by which the schools may be improved.


In general it may be said that our schools suffer from the remote- ness of their location, the small number of pupils attending, and the low wages paid the teacher. For each of these reasons it becomes more and more difficult to secure suitable teachers. Better induce- ments are offered by towns elsewhere, in which the conditions of school life are being improved, and, if we are even to hold our own, improvements are necessary on our part.


In these "hard times" it is not recommended that an increase in the appropriations for school purposes be made. Such an increase will be desirable, however, upon the return of business prosperity, and should then be made. What can we do better with our present resources ?


I. The remoteness of the schools accounts in part for their small attendance, and a small school labors under serious and inevitable disadvantages. It requires as much time to teach a class of two as one of ten, as much fuel to keep them comfortable, as much educa- tion for the teacher, as much of the Superintendent's time to visit the school, and all for results quite disproportionate. Other towns in the state are experiencing this same waste of money and energy, and are considering a lessening of the evil. The only " remote" school in Ayer may soon be brought to the village. Littleton spent in 1892-3 the sum of $433.00 for transportation of pupils from


13


three out districts, almost precisely one-half of what the teachers' wages would have been. Add to this the saving in fuel, in janitor service,'repairs on three school buildings, and it will appear that from five hundred to six hundred dollars must have been saved. The Superintendent, too, must have spent at least one third of his time in traveling to and from these small schools, with correspondingly brief or infrequent visits. Whether economy or efficiency be considered the more important, in either case the answer is, transport the pupils.


Upon this subject Agent Fletcher, of the Board of Education, writes: "The small size of many rural schools is one of the most serious obstacles to success. Teachers and pupils find difficulty in maintaining an interest in the exercises. The increased expense of educating each child renders the employment of inefficient teachers probable. The town that has one hundred pupils in four schools can afford to have much better buildings, appliances, and teachers than the town that scatters its one hundred children among ten schools. There must be concentration of schools to insure more efficient work; and conveyance of pupils is the only solution of the problem at present known."




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