USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1902-1912 > Part 28
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 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
36
and it seems that it would be well to avail ourselves of her aid while we have a supervisor who is able to give such instruction.
In a little school in Peru, visited in October, the boys had sheathed three sides of a room, and in Clarksburg they had turned their knowledge of board measure to good use in order- ing the lumber for an out-building for which they had drawn the plans, and which they were about to erect. This had been done in school hours and, instead of falling off in their regular studies, they were more alert, more accurate and showed a deeper interest in them.
In the evening school in North Wilbraham the sewing is taught by Miss Baldwin, who reads to the girls as they work. The boys, under the care of Rev. Mr. Williams, are learning the requirements of the Boy Scouts and are evincing great in- terest in their tasks and sports.
The law of 1911 requires all illiterates employed in factory, workshop, mechanical or mercantile establishment to appear be- fore the superintendent of schools, or some person authorized in writing by the superintendent, that the date, place of birth and a personal description may be recorded. Cards furnished by the district police and approved by the attorney general of the state are made in duplicate, and since the first of October over one hundered and ninety have been thus filled out, chiefly for persons in the employ of the Ludlow Manufacturing Associates. All literate minors between sixteen and twenty-one must also receive certifications from the same source before they can be legally employed in mercantile or manufacturing establish- ments. No illiterate under sixteen and no one under fourteen may be employed in such work.
Our teachers are fully the equal of those in other towns of similar size and valuation. Some are of exceptional strength and merit and none without professional training or previous experience. The fact that they are frequently called to positions paying higher salaries and that their pupils are received in paralled grades of larger places and admitted, on recommenda- tion, without question, to the best high schools in the state, furnishes evidence of their efficiency. But I am not so sure that the town is receiving full value for the money and effort
37
expended for the support of its schools. Records of health and attendance, deportment and scholarship from the date of entrance till the time of leaving have been kept for the last ten years and are on file for each pupil. These show waste and loss. Under waste are chargeable irregularity, caused by absence, tardiness and mis-behavior, the consequent injury to the punctual and orderly, the additional strain upon the strength of the teacher and the expense of the enforcement of the attend- ance laws. These the statutes may remedy but the heavy burden of loss is borne by the children who, in time to come, will unavailingly deplore it.
It will be borne in mind that the usual course of study in the grades covers nine years and that while there are some cases of retardation, where a longer period is necessary, and occas- ional instances where it is accomplished in less, the majority require that length of time to complete the schedule. In 1903 there were 68 in the first grade of the schools of this town. The present ninth grade which should be graduated in June, 1912 -or in the nine years - numbers nine. The four grad- uating in June increase the number to thirteen. Some have accomplished the work in a shorter time, several were state wards whom we could not expect to retain, others, of whose record we know nothing moved from the town, but after all these reasonable deductions have been made, we have a small per cent of the original number left to take high school work. This may not be worse than in other places but it gives room for the fear that there is lack of appreciation of the superior advantages for higher education made free to every child in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. This schooling is not indeed worth the sacrifice of life or health of parent or child, but it is worth almost any other price and, like everything else of value, it takes full toll. It requires determination and self-denial, but is obtainable by any, who, for the sake of future good, will say no to present pleasure, while generous hearts are open and willing hands held out to those who are willing to work and prove themselves reliable and staunch.
Respectfully submitted,
January 12, 1912.
MARY L. POLAND.
38
Schools.
Total
Membership.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent of
Attendance.
Tardy Marks
1
23
18
16.3
90.4
11
2 Ad.
17
14.6
13.2
90.
13
2 P.
18
15.4
14.4
93.6
00
3
16
14.7
13.4
91.3
23
4 Ad.
22
17.7
15.9
89.5
20
4 P
22
17.7
19.6
85.5
20
5
13
10.5
9.7
92.
14
6
26
22.3
20.1
91.8
50
7
17
16.8
16.5
94.5
32
8 Gr.
28
27.5
26.4
95.
9
8 Int.
15
12.5
11.6
93.3
6
8 P.
21
20.4
18.1
86.1
2
238
208.1
195.2
91.75
212
Roll of Honor.
Names of pupils neither absent nor tardy from Sept. 5, 1911, to Jan. 15, 1912.
No. 1. None.
No. 2, Advanced. None.
No. 2. Primary. Wilfred Brodeur.
No. 3. Clarence G. Hemenway.
No. 4, Advanced. John Beardsley, Burton Robbins, Max Weinstein.
No. 4, Primary. Stephen Conery.
No. 5. Herbert Tupper.
No. 6. Edward L. Graves.
No. 7. Mildred Bennett, Roland Bennett, Ida Eddy, Winnifred Rogers.
No. 8, Grammar. William Bell, Mildred Fuller, May Lynch, John Powers, Robert Silk, Earl Tupper.
No. 8, Intermediate. Helen Lynch.
No. 8, Primary. Dorothy Lambert Smith, Rosina Moody Whiting.
Neither absent nor tardy, spring term, 1911.
No. 1. None.
No. 2, Advanced. None.
No. 3, Primary. None.
No. 4, Advanced. Harold Foster, Andrew Rice, Max Weinstein. No. 4, Primary. John Beardsley, Ida Bosley, Christine Conery, Stephen Conery, Fred Rice. No. 5. Herbert Tupper.
40
No. 6. Carl E. Bourbeau, Earl L. Bourbeau, Edward L. Graves, Katherine Narmoyle, Myrtle E. Vinton.
No. 7. Elva Day.
No. 8, Gr. Marjorie Bell, Winthrop Bell, Marion Driscoll, Mary Kimball, Ernest Roberts.
No. 8, Int.
James Ashe, William Bell, Kathryn Bosler, Mar- garet Cray, Katherine Garvey, Harold Gregory, Mary Lynch, Cecile Murphy, Francis Rising, Albert Rising, Charles Roberts.
No. 8, P. Eunice Bell, John Bosler, Helena Driscoll, Kathryn Keefe.
LIST OF TEACHERS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
ELECTED.
EDUCATED.
Stony Hill.
Miss Harriet M. Cushman, Aug.
1ยบ08
The Pines Adv.
Miss Jennie L. Hurwitz,
July, 1907
The Pines Prim.
Miss Emma B. Smith,
Nov. 1907
Black River, Vt. Acad. emy. Springfield High, West. field Normal. South Norwalk, Ct., High. Froebel Normal Train- ing College Course, New York City. Wesleyan Academy, Hy- annis. Normal Sum- mer Course Wesleyan Academy,
Mile Tree.
Miss Elizabeth Pease,
May, 1909 Westfieldl Normal.
Springfield St. Adv. Mary E M. Mack,
Jan. 1902/ Wesle. an Academy.
Springfield St. Prim. Miss Alice E. Morse,
Apr. 1911 Athol High.
No. 5.
Miss Catherine C Curron,
June, 1911 ) field No: mal.
East Wilbraham.
Miss Mary E. Marsh,
July,
1908
Abbott Female Seminary Andover.
Glendale.
Miss Florence M. Moore,
July,
1908
Princeton High, Fram- ingham Normal
No Wilbraham Gr. Miss Effie L. Morgan,
Jan. 19013 Wesleyan Ac demy.
No. Wilbraham Int. Miss Irene M. Horrigan,
Aug. 19103
No. Wilbraham, Pr. Miss Alice Jane Hall,
May,
1911
Holyoke High, West- fieldl Normal Brock on High, Bridge- water Normal
Music.
Miss Phoebe Hooper,
May,
1910
Maine Seminary, Bucks port, Me , Boston Con- servatory of Music.
Grafton High, State Nor-
Drawing.
Miss Marjorie Fletcher,
May,
1910 / mal Art., Boston.
Mile Tree.
Miss Lanra Rice,
July,
1909
Holyoke High, West-
Report of the Supervisor of Music.
Miss Mary L. Poland, Superintendent of Schools :
It is with pleasure that I submit the following report of what has been accomplished in music in the Wilbraham schools during the current year, and I wish to express my hearty appre- ciation of the work done by the teachers in general. There has been marked improvement in the study of music - a willing and enthusiastic spirit among the children.
In the primary grade especially progress consists in doing simple things better, rather than doing more difficult things, The syllables of the scales are learned by singing them over and over until the performance becomes the most natural thing for the child. The same is true of the rote song, the many repeti- tions enabling the pupil to express his own mood, and thus the song becomes self-expression.
In the intermediate and advanced grades the work has ad- vanced to a stage in its development which calls for greater power and a higher degree of proficiency among the pupils. In these grades the pupils are able to apply their technical knowledge directly to the song in the singing of notes and words individually and in class, which means a knowledge of the fundamental principals of music as expressed in staff nota- tion. The results accomplished during the last year reflect credit upon the teachers.
No study is more dependent upon drill than is music. After the fact has been presented so that the pupil understands it there must be vital practice drill until the application of the knowl- edge gained gives speed and fluency.
The Weaver System is designed to reach every individual child and expects practically every child to be able to sing and to
42
sing. It develops mental poise, self-control and confidence in the individual.
Respectfully submitted,
PHOEBE HOOPER, Supervisor of Music.
1
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing.
Miss Mary L. Poland, Superintendent of Schools, Wilbraham :
It is with pleasure that I submit the following report of the work of the Department of Drawing for the school year of 1911 and 12. Briefly stated one of the fundamental purposes in giving instruction in drawing is to develop ability to make it a common means of expression and to train the taste in the fine and industrial arts.
The work in the primary grades has been divided into the following topics : Illustration and Object Drawing; Nature Work, Paper Folding and Free Hand Cutting. In all of these we have tried to get the children to use their hands a little more readily and to develop a fondness for drawing.
The children in the intermediate grades represented fairly well in their nature work - the growth, proportion and colors of the plant they were studying. In the object drawing emphasis was placed upon correct shape and general proportions. In design we aimed to develop appreciation of well-related spaces. This is a fundamental necessity in matters of taste.
The work in the grammar grades consisted of nature work with (a) brush and ink, to show with as few strokes as pos- sible the growth and indvidual characteristics of the plant ; (b) drawing with pencil to show the botanical detail of struc- ture ; (c) careful sketches in pencil outline and in water color.
Emphasis in the object drawing was laid upon correctly rep- resenting the appearance of the rectangular solids in different positions and grouped in various combinations.
The boys in the grammar grades at No. 8 spent an hour and a quarter every two weeks on wood working in the shop. The
44
girls spent an equal amount of time in sewing. In both of these branches of work we are tending towards a vocational education instead of a solely-cultural one.
I feel that the creditable results which have been obtained are due to the hearty co-operation of the Superintendent and the Committee, to the careful supervision of the teachers and to the hard work on the part of the children.
MARJORIE FRANCES FLETCHER,
Supervisor of the Manual Arts.
Town Warrant.
ARTICLE 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
ART. 2. To hear and act on the reports of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, Treasurer, School Committee and other town officers.
ART. 3. To fix the compensation of the collector of taxes for the ensuing year.
ART. 4. To determine the manner of repairing the highways and bridges for the ensuing year.
ART. 5. To choose a Town Clerk and Treasurer, one Select- man, for three years, who shall be Overseer of the Poor, one Assessor for three years, five Constables, four Fence Viewers, one Auditor for the ensuing year, one School Committee for three years, Collector of Taxes for the ensuing year, one Library Trustee for three years, one Tree Warden for the ensuing year, all on one ballot ; also all other town officers. To decide by ballot, which shall be Yes, or No, the question, " Shall license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in this town?"
ART. 6. To raise such sums of money as may be deemed necessary for defraying the expenses of the town for the ensuing year, and appropriate the same, and vote how the same shall be raised.
ART. 7. That the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, be and hereby is authorized to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of taxes of the municipal year begin- ning March 11, 1912, to an amount not exceeding in the aggregate ($6,000) six thousand dollars, and to issue a note or notes therefor payable in one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the taxes of said municipal year.
ART. 8. To see if the town will instruct their Selectmen to prosecute any persons selling or transporting intoxicating liquors in this town contrary to the laws of the Commonwealth, or take any action in regard to the same.
ART. 9. To see what disposition the town will make of the dog fund of 1911.
46
ART. 10. To see if the town will grant money for the proper observance of Memorial Day.
ART. 11. To see if the town will appropriate money for the care and winding of the tower clock in the Memorial church.
ART. 12. To see what action the town will take in regard to its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary in 1913.
ART. 13. To see what action the town will take to encourage the building of an electric railroad from Springfield to North Wil- braham by way of Wilbraham, and appropriate money for the same.
ART. 14. To see what action the town will take in regard to a water supply for this town.
ART. 15. To see if the town will extend the street lights on Springfield street to Cooley's Corner and establish four lights, one at the culvert near Mr. Chase's, one at the fork in the road, one at the bridge over Pole brook and one at Cooley's Corner.
ART. 16. To see if the town will appropriate money to build a vault in the Adams cemetery.
ART. 17. To see if the town will vote to discontinue the road which originally led to Butler's crossing, so called, to the present highway on both sides of the B. and A. R. R. tracks.
ART. 18. To see what action the town will take in regard to establishing an Isolation Hospital.
ART. 19. To see if the town will vote to paint and repair the fences of the cemeteries in town and raise money for the same.
ART. 20. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money for the suppression of the Gypsy and Brown-tail Moth.
ART. 21. To see if the town will vote to accept Section 21 of Chapter 78, Revised Laws. And authorize the Selectmen to appoint three Commissioners to act for one year.
ART. 22. To see if the town will vote to introduce Manual Training in No. 4. school at a cost not to exceed fifty ($50.00) dollars.
REFERENCE
WIL COLL
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.