USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wilmington > Town of Wilmington Annual Report 1907-1908 > Part 2
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Sept. 11 Helen M. Simonds, at Woburn, Mass., aged 69 yrs. 11 mos. 13 days
Oct. 18 Elizabeth Rebecca Carter, at Andover, Mass., aged 60 yrs. 1 mo. 3 days
Nov. 1 Lydia Harnden, at Medford, Mass., 76 yrs. 8 mos.
Nov. 22 George Wroe, at Reading, Mass., aged 37 yrs.
Dec. 2 Ruth K. Buxton, at Reading, Mass., aged 25 yrs. 8 mos. 8 days
7
Apr.
28
Elizabeth S. Bell
F
W
80
4
17
Bright's Disease
Wilmington
14
Sept. 16
- Taylor
M
S
7
9
Cholera Infantum
Wilmington
Boston, Mass.
16
Sept. 20
Carle Kimball
M
S
18
Oct.
3
Henry R. White
M
S
2 27
1
Consumption
20
Nov. 13
Sabra J. Jaquith
F
S
82
6
1
Paralysis
Wilmington Wilmington
Reading, Mass.
19
Oct.
12
Edna E. Foley
F
S
14
Acute Indigestiou
Wilmington Wilmington
Wilmington
Henry Morgan, Emma Roberts
8
Wilmington
Samuel B. Wells, Delia A. Bowles Charles M. Taylor, Sadie Arnold William R. Fletcher, Helen L. Rollins
Jonas Alexander, Hannah Hopkins Joshua Jaquith, Sabra Gowing
Peter Clark, Letitia Baldwin
3
18
Eugene P. Messer, Jennie Jaques
Recapitulation
Births registered in 1907
39
Males
21
Females ·
18
Marriages registered in 1907
15
Deaths in 1907
25
Males
13
Females
12
Dog License Account : -
Number of Licenses issued, 153.
By cash paid County Treasurer, $329.40.
Account of printed Records of Births, Marriages and Deaths : -
Number on hand Jan. 1, 1907 257
Sold during the year
8
Number on hand January 1, 1908
249
·
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES E. KELLEY, Town Clerk.
The Town Clerk will furnish to parents, householders, physi- cians and midwives, applying therefor, blanks for returns of births as required by law.
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
-OF THE-
TOWN OF WILMINGTON, MASS. ... 1907 ...
GTO
/ THE
WHITEFIELD ELM
730
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ROBERT H. GOWING, Chairman
Term expires March, 1908
HOWARD M. HORTON, Secretary · Term expires March, 1909
CHARLES E. LITTLEFIELD, Auditor Term expires March, 1810
SUPT. OF SCHOOLS WN. N. CRAGIN
TRUANT OFFICER WM. E. SWAIN
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
TO THE CITIZENS OF WILMINGTON :
In presenting to the citizens of Wilmington our report of the past year's work of the School Department we feel that the results of the year, considering the limited means at our disposal and the increase of expenditure at the High School, should be fairly satis- factory.
The details of the work that has been carried on in the various schools are quite fully set forth in the report of the Superintendent, also in that of the Principal of the High School and the Directors of Music and Drawing.
The urgent need of increased facilities at the High School is undeniable. Just how much we can do this year is a problem which we hope will be given careful consideration by the citizens at the Annual Town Meeting. If the room occupied by the Eighth Grade in the High School Building could be appropriated for the use of the High School, that would solve the problem of additional room in that building ; but there seems to be no suitable place elsewhere to send the Eighth Grade. The vacant rooms in the Whitefield Building could be used, but the pupils living in the vicinity of the Southern Division station and beyond would have too far to walk in reaching school.
The High School is becoming more popular with the young people each year, and there seems to be no prospect of any decrease in the present enrollment.
The Committee has considered the advisability of making an addition to the present High School Building, and the plan which appears to be the most economical and at the same time give us the
30
needed space is the extension of the gable in front thirty (30) feet toward the street, thus making two good sized class-rooms.
The Superintendent calls attention to the fact that the Town has not provided for the attendance of a School Physician. Per- haps that matter should be considered at the Town Meeting.
The withdrawal of Lincoln from the Superintendent of Schools' District has enabled Wilmington to have one-half of the Superin- tendent's time devoted to its schools. This has entailed an addi- tional expense, nearly all of which will be returned to us next year from the State. The extra time given to our schools we are con- fident will be of value.
We recommend an appropriation of $8,000.00, an increase of $500.00 over last year.
ROBERT H. GOWING, HOWARD M. HORTON, CHARLES E. LITTLEFIELD.
31
RESOURCES
Appropriation
$7,500 00
Mass. School Fund
845 63
Dog tax ·
308 43
Mass. High School account
500 00
Mass. Supt. account
437 50
$9,591 56
EXPENDITURES
Salaries
. $7,026 77
Fuel .
591 05
Books and supplies
758 47
Superintendent
787 50
Transportation
225 00
Miscellaneous
190 87
$9,579 66
Unexpended balance
$11 90
EXPENDITURES ITEMIZED TEACHERS
J. A. Sinclair
$600 00
S. A. Loring
360 00
Ruth R. Cole
518 01
Florence G. Deedy '
315 02
Margaret I. Cutler
210 01
Adella R. Goodrich
488 00
Blan Alexander
476 75
Sylvia Prescott
425 20
Gertrude L. Kivlin
180 00
Carolyn S. Spencer
240 00
Olivia H. Norcross
370 00
Lena M. Shaw
370 00
K. Barker
42 00
Lena Doucette
6 00
.
32
Carrie M. Swain
380 53
Lucy S. Carter
216 00
Florence B. York
130 00
Henrietta A. Swain
370 00
Nettie M. Haley
130 00
Ida Gurney
99 00
- Vose
18 00
Margaret Hill
195 00
Maybelle B. Proctor
190 00
$6,329 52
JANITORS
J. A. Taylor
$450 00
Mrs. Babine
185 00
Mrs. Surrette
18 50
Mrs. Spaulding
18 50
Geo. Foley
18 50
Chas. O. Blaisdell
6 75
$697 25
$7,026 77
FUEL
F. A. Eames, coal
$368 00
F. A. Eames, coke and sawing wood
29 93
L. C. Swain, wood
20 73
E. W. Taylor, wood
172 39
$591 05
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
E. E. Babb & Co.
$542 70
J. L. Hammett & Co.
91 87
L. E. Knott Apparatus Co. 38 58
Silver, Burdett & Co.
64 17
C. C. Birchard & Co.
3 50
J. R. Ruiter & Co.
9 00
D. C. Heath & Co.
2 60
A. J. Wilkinson & Co.
3 60
C. E. Littlefield .
1 70
Carpenter, Morton & Co.
75
$758 47
33
SUPERINTENDENT
W. N. Cragin
$787 50
TRANSPORTATION
T. Call
$222 00
B. & N. St. Ry.
3 00
$225 00
MISCELLANEOUS
W. L. Kincaid, repairing clocks $1 50
H. M. Horton, expressing and freight 5 34
American Seating Co., repairs 1 00
Hoffman Seal & Eng. Co., stamp
1 00
Daniel M. White, tuning piano
2 00
W. B. McIntosh, teaming
4 00
S. R. McIntosh, repairing pump
50
C. V. Blaisdell, moving piano
12 00
W. E. & J. F. Twombly, printing
9 50
J. L. Hammett & Co., lettering diplomas
1 00
J. E. Kelley, surveying 1 25
C. B. Blaisdell, cleaning vaults
14 00
I. Lappin Wall Paper Co., floor oil
13 00
Mrs. Kernon, cleaning East school
3 30
Mundy Babine, cleaning Whitefield school .
12 60
J. A. Taylor, cleaning High and Walker
28 12
Mrs. Surrette, cleaning North school
3 00
Mrs. Spaulding, cleaning South school
5 50
E. C. Metcalf, supplies
2 55
W. N. Cragin, freight
50
Roxanna Eames, taking census
18 00
W. B. Eames, book binding
5 00
Carrie M. Swain, supplies
50
Norman S. Buck, teaming
1 35
Edward Caldwell, shades
3 20
American Express Co.
2 17
34
Ida B. Gurney, storing wood
2 00
Congregational Church, graduation
10 00
J. R. Ruiter & Co., printing
7 75
C. E. Littlefield, express
1 88
Buck Bros., sundries
7 72
E. E. Carter, hardware
4 25
E. G. Avery, repairs
2 00
H. M. Horton, repairs
3 39
$190 87
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
GENTLEMEN : - Herewith is submitted my eighth annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
The attendance table for the past year does not reveal any marked deviation from the facts recorded in previous years. The total membership has decreased very slightly, while the average membership and average attendance have increased considerably. The percentage of attendance is also somewhat better than that of last year, and the instances of tardiness are fifty less.
While all these facts, except the first, are gratifying, they are not different from what we should expect, and do not indicate that our attendance has been more than ordinarily good. Although our percentage of attendance is good for a town where pupils travel long distances to school, yet there is a very considerable waste due to irregular attendance, which we should constantly strive to reduce. Ninety-three per cent. of our pupils are present every day of the school year. The seven per cent. of absence, if it were confined to the same pupils and were continuous, would represent the absence of twenty-five pupils for the entire year. As the town must pro- vide schools and teachers enough to instruct every pupil every day in the school year, the absence of these twenty-five pupils means the expenditure of money and energy for which there is absolutely no return. The energy thus wasted is not easily computed, but the money expended for which there is no return received is easily found, and amounts to about $500.00 annually in this community. The obvious and only way to stop this waste is to insist upon the pupils' presence every day when the schools are in session. This
36
we endeavor to do ; but we have to accept illness as an excuse for non-attendance, and there are other occasional emergencies which render the pupil's absence really necessary. We receive from par- ents many excuses for their children's absence which we cannot question and which, yet, do not convince us of the necessity of the case. We can only urge that parents exercise due care in writing excuses and discourage absence for trivial reasons.
There has been a gratifying decrease in the amount of tardi- ness in the High School. I hope during the current year to see it still further reduced. There should be very little tardiness among High School pupils, who are certainly old enough to realize the business value of punctuality : a value that should be taught and emphasized through all the years of school life. We have no more right to let a pupil go through the schools without acquiring the habit of being on time than we have to let him go through without. learning his other lessons. I fear that we are not doing quite our full duty in this matter in the northern part of the town, at least; for there is more tardiness in the three northern schools than all the other schools of the town. We have been rapidly reducing the evil for the past two years, but have made less progress in the north than in any other sections of the town.
At the close of the year we lost by resignation the services of Mr. Sinclair, Miss Deedy, Miss Kivlin, Miss Spencer and Miss Car- ter-thirty-eight per cent. of our regular teaching force-and all of them valuable teachers whom we would have been glad to have retained. It was somewhat difficult to fill acceptably all of these vacancies, for good teachers are always hard to find. However, the following teachers were selected : Mr. S. A. Loring, Miss Mar- garet I. Cutler, Miss Ida B. Gurney, Miss Florence B. York, Mrs. Nettie M. Haley, and their work thus far has amply justified the judgment of the committee in electing them. I think our teaching force has not deteriorated.
In the matter of school accommodations the conditions are much the same that they were last year, except that the crowding has grown worse in the High School building. The lowest primary
37
room at the Walker building is somewhat overcrowded, a condition which could be remedied to some extent by sending some pupils back to the South School who really belong in that district, but who for one reason or another have been allowed to attend the Walker School. The Whitefield Primary School has also rather more pupils than it ought to accommodate. If the East School, which numbers only thirteen pupils, could be transferred to one of the vacant rooms of the Whitefield School, it would solve the prob- lem very satisfactorily and save the expense of employing another teacher.
The High School seems to have fairly outgrown its present quarters and is in urgent need of more room. The normal seating capacity of the High School room is sixty pupils and a few years ago this looked ample for some time to come, but we have approached the limit rather more rapidly than we had anticipated. Last year, with our total membership of sixty-six, we managed without inconvenience, for a few dropped out and there were occasional absentees. With the opening of the current year, we had an enrollment of seventy-seven, or seventeen more than can be comfortably seated. We have managed as best we could, seating the surplus number here and there about the building wherever a vacant place could be found. We have felt the inconvenience of this arrangement but can put up with it for the rest of the year if need be, but how about next year ? It seems certain that the num- ber of pupils will be larger than it now is, and I do not see how the question of providing suitable accommodations can be postponed any longer. We need either the whole of the High School building for High School purposes, or if the Grammar School must remain there, the building should certainly be enlarged.
The school is experiencing a period of rapid and healthy growth, and the increase in numbers is demanding increased equip- ment in very way.
In 1901 the High School had 26 pupils, 7 per cent. of the total school membership, and 16 High School pupils to each one thousand inhabitants. In 1907 it had 77 pupils, 19 per cent. of the total
38
school membership, and 46 High School pupils to each one thousand inhabitants-a somewhat remarkable gain, when the fact is taken into consideration that the town has increased in population but little during that period.
It has been the purpose of the school officials to make the school fully meet the requirements of the law and at the same time offer something of practical help to the boys and girls who go out from the school to engage in commercial activities.
The present principal, Mr. Loring, has been in charge of the school but a single term, and it would be neither just nor profitable to compare his work with that of his predecessors. It is sufficient to say that he has entered upon his work with enthusiasm and energy ; the spirit of the school is excellent, and there is an atmos- phere of industry about the school which promises well for the future. The conditions are right for success, and we believe that we have the right man in charge.
The subjects of music and drawing have been continued under the same teachers as last year and the interest has been for the most part well sustained. The pupils in the various grades up to the High School show commendable progress in their singing and the increasing number in the High School gives promise of some good chorus work there. It seems to me, however, that we ought to make a more serious study of music in the High School, and not content ourselves with mere practice in singing.
In drawing, the growth of the High School has made it in- creasingly difficult for the teacher to give the proper amount of in- struction in that school and not neglect the lower grades. As time goes on it looks as if we should have to engage a teacher for more than one day a week or else have her limit her lessons to the High and Grammar grades and instruct the Primary Schools only through lessons assigned to the regular teachers. I hope that we may be able to do some work in applied design this year.
During the past year we made, as required by law, a careful examination of the eyesight and hearing of all pupils in school. We found 73 cases of defective vision, and notified the parents in
39
each instance. Many, but not all, of these cases have been remedied. Of defective hearing we found 14 instances and the parents were also notified of this defect. We are required by law to make these tests once each year and to notify parents of any defects found. It is hoped that, as far as possible, the parents will endeavor to have these defects remedied, for a child who has not normal sight and hearing has a poor chance in a large graded school, and many a dull pupil is dull solely because he doesn't see or hear as he ought.
The town has not seen fit to provide for the appointment of a school physician. Most towns around us have done so, and many have found the services of such an officer extremely valuable in pre- venting the spread of contagious disease in the schools.
If convinced that the small expenditure required to secure the services of a school physician would materially improve the physical condition and safety of the school children, I have no doubt that the town would readily make the necessary appropriation. We have little evidence thus far to offer, but what we have seems to indicate that a physician of good judgment can do much good by an occasional visit to the schools.
The usual special reports and tables are appended.
Respectfully submitted,
W. N. CRAGIN,
Superintendent of Schools.
Wilmington, Mass., Dec. 31, 1907.
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
GENTLEMEN : - A single term is scarcely sufficient to furnish the data necessary for a complete report of our High School. There are, however, several existing conditions which have expressed a few of the needs attendant upon its rapid growth and development.
First. We need more room. The school was opened in Sep- tember with 77 pupils; of these we still retain 70. It seems likely that our school will graduate 10 in June. This, I think, will be the largest in its history. The class to enter numbers 28, which, in the natural course of events, will mean that the minimum for next year will be 80. We have seating accommodations for 60. This year we have improvised the matter through the extreme affability, earnestness and voluntary help of the pupils.
Second. We need a clearer conception of just what our school is doing. At first the omission of the ninth grade seems a big de- ficiency, but a closer knowledge of the school history of Massachu- setts makes its value evident. The belief was that eight years in the grades and a four years' course in the High School were ade- quate for a general education, but in course of time the fact became obscured that an extra year in the High School was generally necessary for those attempting to fit for college. Some of us have been inclined to forget that other schools were doing this in thirteen years, while we were trying to do it in twelve. The extra year has meant much, but our scheme in its germs is so good that it is now generally adopted throughout the State of Massachusetts, but they are not forgetting the post-graduate year. For the future I wish to state now that our High School will require a fifth year of the aver-
41
age student who expects to go to college, unless there is some les- sening of the college requirements soon. I speak of this now that there may be no misunderstanding in the future.
A closer touch between parents and teachers would be appre- ciated, and at this time I wish to extend a cordial invitation to parents and friends to visit us at any time which meets their con- venience. It is our pleasure to explain or to show any parts of the work in which visitors are interested. Personally, I have felt, in the brief time since I came to Wilmington, that visiting the schools is one of the things which the parents of our pupils are neglecting altogether. This is essentially and vitally wrong. It seems more than passing strange, when parents are met socially and they show so much apparent interest in the school, and then will not give the teachers the real support and co-operation which entails not over three or four hours' time on their part. The parents owe their entire confidence to the teacher until the teacher ceases to deserve it, not a ready ear to the first petty matter which may arise. They should give the teacher a fair hearing. This can be better accom- plished by seeing the teacher in her school-room and at work. So, then, I would urge it as one of the duties of the parents to see whether they are getting what their funds should accumulate.
Third. We need a quiet room for study. All of the pupils have felt the need, and it certainly is not tending toward concen- trated attention and the most efficient results when an interesting subject is being taken up by another class.
Fourth. We should fit for college. Let me not be misunder- stood. I still feel that the primary object of our High School is not to be a college preparatory school, but a training school for life with all its diversified interests and conditions. There are, however, seven of the third year pupils who have expressed the wish to be fitted for college. It is a desire which should be granted, a worthy ambition, and an ideal, the accomplishment of which means an up- lifting of the community, and a happier life to those who can share it. To accomplish this efficiently our teachers should have more time. As at present, overcrowded programs to all our teachers and the kind assistance of Miss Goodrich have rendered possible two
42
courses, the Business and the General. Even so, some of the science cannot be taught this year. A large eighth grade next year will remove all possibilities of help from Miss Goodrich. This leaves sufficient work with a very small decrease in the tasks of our present teachers, to keep another busy throughout the day.
Fifth. It seems to me that putting another teacher in our High School would be adequate to fill the needs. It would make for greater efficiency in the present corps, make possible a quiet room for study, and incidentally, the chance for a little private work with those pupils who need it most. It should also give oppor- tunity for a little work where our pupils are now weak. I mean in speaking their thoughts with the dignity, bearing and articulation necessary to bring the hearer to their way of thinking. I refer to the art, progress and practice of public speaking.
Sixth. With the present size of the school, it would seem that our reference books are entirely inadequate. The beginnings of a permanent school library should soon be established. This should receive a substantial foundation through the gift of a set of modern encyclopedias and historical works of the best authors. It would be of inestimable value to the progress of the work in the English, the History and the Science. This might be attained through the efforts of the Alumni.
Respectfully submitted,
SETH A. LORING.
REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF MUSIC
MR. W. N. CRAGIN, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :- In accordance with your request I herewith sub- mit my report for 1907. I am pleased to announce that the year has been a very successful one from every point of view. It has been a time of results and of good disposition upon the part of every scholar to retain the standard we have desired for the schools.
The work in music is often judged by the public exhibitions which occur at the closing of the school year. The musical numbers on the High School graduation program were well rendered, and many kind expressions of appreciation were heard from those pres- ent. It was a fitting close for the year's work.
The primary scholars are doing excellent work from the charts in the various keys, and they are taught attractive rote songs which are of great value in helping to establish time and rhythm, besides instilling a desire for good music.
In September, new books were purchased for the other grades. The books contain excellent material, and the songs, studies and technical lessons are presented in an interesting manner and seem to appeal to all the classes. So far the results have been very satis- factory. In the Grammar grades writing music from dictation has been given some attention. More of this sort of work might be done if there were proper material for it. A great deal of time is spent and wasted from the music period in ruling the blank sheets and I would recommend the purchase of properly ruled paper as will supply the grades. I desire to make one more suggestion for a plan of work which is being used in other schools under my super- vision, and which would help if adopted for the grades of Wilming- ton. Each of the eight grades is given a definite proportion of the
44
whole to do, and this outline, which corresponds to the new music books, will replace the old one which was arranged for another system. A neatly printed copy in pamphlet form should be at the desk of every teacher.
The High School is being treated as a choral society. The pupils are now supposed to be able to put into practice what they have learned in the grades. In previous reports mention has been made of the conditions which existed in the seventh and eighth grades and their possible effects upon the High School. The mem- bers of the incoming class are making their influence felt in the. chorus and have proven to be a very valuable addition. At the be- ginning of the fall term we were very fortunate in securing the services of a regular pianist, who is present each Friday for the music period. The High School has had an excellent supply of sheet music at its disposal, and with the exception of one or two songs purchased for the last graduation the music has been provided free of expense from other school collections.
In closing, I desire to express my appreciation to the school officials, teachers and parents for their kind expressions of interest and for the cordial relations which have existed between them and the Supervisor of Music.
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