USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Westhampton > Town of Westhampton annual report 1891 > Part 2
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teacher and pupil would be more enthusiastic in the work, and the pupil would be able to make a much more rapid advancement than by taking the five or ten minutes which is now commonly taken for each lesson, allowing the teacher only half the time needed for a clear explanation of the subject.
1
HILL SCHOOL. Miss H. A. Orcutt, three terms.
Number of pupils enrolled,
10
Average membership,
6.5
attendance, 6.2
Number of pupils under 5 years, 1
over 15 0
66 between 8 and 14 years, 6
Wages of Teacher, $208 00
Fuel, $13 40
Chas. S. Bartlett has not been absent during the year, and Oscar C. Bartlett but one day on account of sickness.
This school has been in session thirty-two weeks, with the same teacher the entire time. The average number of pupils is small, and if Mr. E. A. Bartlett should leave town, the school would be so small that it is a question with the committee what would be the best thing to do for them. During the last term the scholars from the South school have attended this school and together there has been a membership of only six, at an average cost to the town of about forty dollars for each scholar, and if both schools are united the cost can be but little, if any, less than fifty dollars a year for each scholar.
SOUTH SCHOOL.
Miss Olive L. Farrar, one term. Miss Susie A. Burt, four months.
Number of pupils enrolled,
18
31
Average membership, 8
attendance, 5.6
Number of pupils under 5 years,
1
over 15 66
1
66
between 8 and 14 years, 10
Wages of Teacher, $175 50
Repairs, $48 45
Length of school 27 weeks.
Robbie Lyman has not been absent or tardy dur- ing the year.
At the beginning of the year this was one of the larg- est schools in town, but during the year several fami- lies have removed until there was at the beginning of the last term only four scholars in attendance, and the committee engaged Mr. Snow to convey them to the Hill school at an expense of four dollars a week. Miss Burt was then transferred to the Bridgman school house and taught there the rest of the year. There will probably be but three scholars to attend school here the next term. and it is difficult to secure a teach- er willing to take so small a school.
NORTH-WEST AND NORTH-EAST SCHOOLS.
Miss Elizabeth E. Ryan, one term. Miss Emily A.
Edwards, one term. Miss Susie A. Burt, one term. Number of pupils enrolled, 15
11
Average membership,
attendance, 10
Number of pupils under 5 years,
0
over 15
0
66
between 8 and 14 years, 12
Wages of Teacher,
$203 00
Fuel, $8 55
Length of school 32 weeks.
These schools have been united for several terms, and those living in the North East have been con- veyed by Mr. I. O. Shaw to the school house in the North West. At the close of the fall term your com-
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mittee found that there were several scholars in the North East who were anxious to attend school, and thought it would be best for all interested to change the place of holding the school to the North East school house, and so voted to convey those in the North West to the other school house. We could find no one in the North West willing to carry the schol- ars for less than ten dollars a week, so we engaged Mr. I. O. Shaw to carry them for five dollars, and he went for them one week but finding no scholars to be conveyed, we instructed him not to go for them long- er. Upon examination we found but one family hav- ing children of school age, viz., from 8 to 14, anxious to send this term, and made them the proposition to pay for conveying this scholar, a sum sufficient to cover the expense of board near any of the other schools; this, however, was not accepted. We pre- sent these cases to the consideration of the town, and hope that at the annual town meeting you will make such recommendations to your committee as will en- able them to adjust this matter to the best interest of all parties concerned.
EXPENSES.
Teachers' Salary and board,
$840 90
Loudville School,
171 66
Superintendent,
62 18
Conveying Scholars,
89 00
Fuel,
36 90
Repairs,
51 95
Stoves,
19 00
Books,
66 52
Cleaning School houses and making fires,
11 00
Express, Postage and Freight,
7.25
Miss Caroline Burt,
10 00
Orville Flint,
10 00
Chas. N. Loud,
28 00
$1,404 36
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RESOURCES.
Town Appropriation,
$900 00
School Books,
100 00
State School Fund.
305 18
One half Dog Fund.
37 26
From State for Superintendent,
35 40
$1,377 84
There has been for several years bills remaining unpaid which have been transferred from one year's account to another, until this year we were enabled to get them all in and make a complete settlement of all bills. The amount left over from last year was $112 92. 3 This sum with the amount of this year's ex- penses as reported above makes the amount corres- pond with the Treasurer's account of bills paid.
You will see by our report of expenses as paid by us, that it must cost, to maintain our schools 32 weeks in a year, about the same amount each year, and un- less we can unite some of the schools we shall need to raise the same amount another year that we have raised this year, and would recommend that this sum be appropriated.
CAROLINE BURT, 1 School Committee.
ORVILLE FLINT,
CHAS. N. LOUD,
I have examined the accounts of the School Com- mittee for the year ending Feb. 28, 1891, and find them correct, with vouchers on file for orders drawn to the amount of $1.517.28.
A. D. MONTAGUE, Auditor.
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Superintendent's Report.
To the School Committee:
MADAM AND GENTLEMEN :- The Superintendent of the Public Schools would respectfully submit his second annual report. The annexed schedule summarizes the facts relative to membership and attendance of pupils.
The schools have made a decided progress owing to the improved methods of instruction. The teachers have zealously labored to secure. on the part of their pupils, a good record in attendance, scholarship and conduct. Their zeal has been rewarded with excellent results. There have been no cases of truancy; and, with few exceptions, the pupils have been exemplary in their manners and deportment. By an act of the General Court, passed in 1889, persors convicted of "persistently violating the reasonable regulations of the common schools." may be committed to the same places of confinement as are provided for truants. Immorality is far worse than truancy; and, while we may never need to avail ourselves of the Goshen Truant School, for the commitment of truants, it would exert a most salutary influence should the town, by amending its By-laws. designate that school as a suitable place for the confinement, discipline and instruction of boys whose influence is corrupting and who cannot be controlled by the agencies of the Public schools. Your experiment of uniting small schools ought to have a fair trial. It is true that consolida-
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SCHOOL RECORDS, 1890-1891.
Number of Pupils.
Number of Absences.
Number of pupils present every half day.
Number of Marks for Tardiness.
Number of Pupils' Number of Pupils not Tardy. neither absent nor tardy.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Totals.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Totals.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Totals.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Totals.
Spring.
Fall.
Winter.
Totals.
Center.
22
24
23
144
273
98
515
7
9
13
29
6
5
16
18
21
20
59
9
12
28
Hill.
10
8
9
32
52
139
3
1
6
9
8
19
S
16
2
1
1
4
South.
15
126 392
518|
3
1
4
13
21
9
6
15
1
North-West
14
13
79
135
214
6
4
10
0
14
1
21
6
9
Bridgman.
6
38
38
10
20
4
1
1
Totals.
61
38
381 855
188|1424
18
17
16
51
21
29
15
65
49
37
29
115
17
14
14
45
-
--
-
-
-
-
SCHOOLS.
-
-
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tion is in the interest of a wise economy, and yet it should not be advocated on economical grounds, but rather because it will give a greater benefit to the children, who need the fresh and healthful stimulus which is gained by contact with many earnest workers. In the Winter term, the younger pupils are unable to attend with regularity, and it is with difficulty that arrangements can be made during that season, for transporting pupils. Your Superintendent, therefore, would venture the suggestion that it may be wise to consider the advisability of changing the arrange- ment of terms. Would it not be practicable, and for the welfare of all concerned, to provide a sufficient number of schools which should extend through two long terms of fifteen weeks each: the first, beginning on the first Monday in April; the second, to commence early in September. In addition to these schools for all pupils, -a Grammar school course of ten weeks could be conducted at the Center, commencing on the first Monday in January.
Such a school would afford preparation for higher institutions of learning; would strengthen the whole public school system; and would furnish our boys and girls, who cannot pursue their studies elsewhere, a good scholastic training right here at home.
This arrangement would give annually 40 weeks of schooling to a large number of our scholars, and all others would have 30 weeks in the most favorable portions of the year. The Superintendent has exer- cised a watchful care over the schools. In addition to the regular visits of supervision, he has held ten meet- ings for the benefit of the teachers, and attended special sessions of the committee to discuss questions relative to school management and the purchase of text books and supplies.
During his visits to the schools the Superintendent has given teachers and pupils more encouragement than criticism. By judicious questions to the several
37
classes, he has sought not only to test the scholarship and progress-but to improve the methods of teaching, and to enable the pupils to study with a view of learn- ing principles which they can apply for themselves, and ideas which they can express in words of their OWI.
At the teachers' meetings the discussions have been mutually helpful. School discipline and instruction have been considered in the treatment of a wide range of topics. Suggestions were given for the better teaching of Reading, Spelling, Penmanship, Drawing and Music; and definite courses of study have been presented for Language, Arithmetic and Geography. Courses are being prepared to cover work in History and Civil Government, Physiology and Hygiene. The Language study has been placed on the old foun- dations. By a thorough and systematic training in the analysis and parsing of sentences, good gramma- rians are made, and clear thinkers as well.
Diagrams should be eliminated from the text-books on Grammar. They have wrought mental confusion in the study of language, without affording any real help whatever. The words for oral spelling should be taken from the regular lessons in the various subjects. All difficult words should be syllabicated; and those learned from the spelling-book should be written in sentences improvised by the pupils. The teaching of Arithmetic ought to be improved. As early as possi- ble the children must be taught the simple ways of solving hard problems. The use of contractions and short methods, in place of long and abstruse calcu- lations, will save much valuable time and secure a far better training of the mental powers.
The voluminous and unimportant details of Geog- raphy may be omitted, and a larger share of time given to the map-drawing which is an interesting and refining exercise. The outlines for the study of Language, Arithmetic and Geography are published
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in the Easthampton School Report, copies of which will be given to all of the teachers in the three towns.
The Statutes require that special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the human system, shall be taught as a regular branch of study to all pupils of the public schools. The teachers have complied with this requisition and are performing their duty with conscientious fidelity. The evil effects of tobacco and alcohol can be effect- ively taught in connection with the subjects of Physi- ology and Hygiene; but temperance instruction should go hand in hand with lessons in Language, Arithme- tic, History and rhetorical exercises. Pupils should be taught to set their faces as flint against intemperance. It is related of Hannibal, one of the most skillful gen- erals the world has ever seen, and the most formid- able enemy of the Roman nation, that his father, Hamilcar, took him at the early age of nine years, into the camp and made him swear upon his country's altar eternal hatred to Rome. Even so it would seem to be the duty of teachers to use their highest endeavors to the end that the children committed to their care shall early pledge themselves in perpetual hatred to all that intoxicates.
The chief defect of our schools is the lack of oral in- struction. The teacher is too often a slave to the text- book. A teacher ought to be so well prepared for her work that she can manage the recitation in absolute independence of any text-book. The teacher can do no real teaching unless she be self-reliant and free. Let the text-books and charts perform their functions -that of assisting both the teacher and the pupil; but they must not usurp the place which rightfully belongs to a resolute, industrious, progressive teacher.
The interest taken in the problem of popular educa- tion may be justly hailed as among the most auspi. cious signs of the times. But, to the reflecting mind, in this phase of our age, apparently so encouraging, can
39
be discerned prospects of the greatest usefulness only so far as general intellectual training shall be accom- panied with a faithful inculcation of some moral prin- ciples. In the formation of character a due submis- sion to authority is the first essential. In disobedience to parents and teachers can be seen the germ of that anarchy which strikes at the root of all government. Upon those who are now in the schools, must some day devolve the responsibilities of administering our republican institutions. If the children make a good use of their opportunities they will become good citi- zens qualified to receive and transmit unimpaired the heritage of worthy men. Back to first principles must we go in this problem of the moral education of the young. The time. strength and earnest endeavor of teachers must be given to the establishment of good habits in their pupils. A bad habit cannot be laid aside at will, like a superfluous garment. It can only be changed. when once formed, by the most vigorous effort. The habit of industry is necessary to the hap- piness of any individual. Let our youth be thoroughly trained in this habit. not alone because it will give strength to body. mind and heart-but because it is the surest and the most honorable means of a constant livelihood.
Useful employment is the safeguard of virtue. If a child be inactive he will be viciously inclined. This is a law of human nature as beneficent as it is funda- mental. It affords the needed spur to the efforts of wise teachers to lead the ever expanding mind in some noble pursuit. In close alliance with industry is economy. Children should be taught to economize. This would mean a just distribution of their time; a careful use of property loaned to them; the judicious spending and a wise saving of money: the proper hus- banding of the resources of the whole being. Another imperative duty of teachers is to assist their pupils in forming the habit of truthfulness. The telling of what
40
is not true is emphatically the besetting sin of child- hood. Deception is of so protean a form as to require the utmost vigilance of educators to effectually check its development. Its evil effects need to be painted in all the vividness of their sad reality that children may be led rightly to judge place and emolument as but dust in the balance, when compared with their integ- rity and honor. Cultivate the wisdom of knowing that deception can never prosper; for though it be un- observed by man, it cannot hope to escape the all-see- ing eye of God. By interesting and impressive devo- tional exercises, it is within the province of the teacher to deepen and extend the spirit of reverence- so wanting in the youth of our day. Great harm will be done to modern civilization if the teachers fail to impart the reverential spirit. It will be letting down a veil of obscurity between the eye of the soul and its high destiny. Reverence involves the whole of con- duct. He who is reverent will render his best service in favor of what is pure and true against everything that is false or unclean.
Let it be urged upon the parents to give their child- dren a fair chance. Many of them are too soon removed from school. It is true that the majority do not absolutely require more than a thorough training in the common branches. But so much as that they all should have to enable them to live well among their fellow-men. To deprive the average child of so much scholastic training as a good grammar school affords will shunt him into a narrow groove, and he will keep in it to the end of his days. When we are inclined to count the cost, and to think chiefly of com- mercial values-let us remember the wise words of Franklin: "If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."
At the close of his second year of service, the Super- intendent would express his gratitude to the members
41
of the School Committee, to teachers and citizens, who in many ways have aided him in his work.
EDWARD B. MAGLATHLIN, Supt. of Schools. WESTHAMPTON, MASS., March 10, 1891.
1 L
Warrant for Town Meeting, March 23, 1891.
HAMPSHIRE, SS.
To either of the Constables of the Town of West- hampton in said County, GREETING:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Westhampton, qualified to vote in Elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Westhampton, on Monday, the twenty-third (23) day of March, current, at nine o'clock, A. M., then and there to act on the following articles, to wit:
ARTICLE 1 .- To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2 .- To act on all reports presented at said meeting.
ART. 3 .- To choose all necessary Town Officers for the year ensuing.
ART. 4 .- To bring in their ballotts Yes or No on the question "Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town ?"
ART. 5 .- To see if the town will accept of the List of Jurors proposed by the Selectmen.
ART. 6 .- To see if the town will accept of the pro- visions of Sections 74, 75 and 76 of Chap. 27th of the Public Statutes concerning Road Commissioners.
ART. 7 .- To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the year ensuing.
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ART. S .- To take action in regard to the collection of taxes.
ART. 9 .- To see if the town will authorize its Treas- urer to borrow money to meet current expenses.
ART. 10 .- To see if the town will rescind the vote taken at the annual meeting, March 25th, 1889, under Article 11, or unite with the towns of Easthampton and Southampton for the purpose of employing a Su- perintendent of Schools under the provisions of Chap. 431 of the Acts of 1888.
ART. 11 .- To see if the town will enlarge the Town Hall, and raise money for the same.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by post- ing an attested copy thereof in the recess of the Town Hall, ten days at least before the time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting.
Given under our hands this ninth (9th) day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety-one (1891).
E. W. KINGSLEY. F. C. MONTAGUE. A. D. RICE, Westhampton.
Selectmen of
898
50
120
25
100 2625
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