USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Wilbraham annual report 1902-1912 > Part 8
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THE HIRAM DANKS CEMETERY LOT FUND- ESTAB- LISHED 1903.
This is a fund of one hundred dollars, left by the will of Hiram Danks, the income only of which to be paid to the treasurer of the town of Wilbraham for the perpetual care of the Hiram Danks burial lot in the Wilbraham cemetery.
Report of Sealer of Weights and Measures.
April 13, 1904.
Went out and sealed for E. Lord :
1 platform scales and weights, $ .50
1 counter scales and weights,
.25
2 liquid measures,
.06
2 dry measures, .06
Sept. 7, 1905. $ .87
Went out and sealed for R. F. Hudson : 1 platform scales and weights, $1.00
JAMES EGAN, Sealer.
Report of the Board of Assessors.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING FEBRUARY 23, 1905.
Appropriations,
Highways and bridges,
$2,000.00
Schools,
4,000.00
Repairs on schoolhouses,
400.00
Support of poor,
1,000.00
Contingent expenses and town officers,
1,500.00
Street lights,
250.00
Care of cemeteries,
50.00
Public library,
25.00
Instruction in music,
150.00
$9,375.00
State tax,
$800.00
County tax,
1,041.83
Road tax,
130.74
Overlayings,
28.14
$2,000.71
Total,
$11,375.71
Besides the above amount, there was taken from the treasury at the beginning of the fiscal year,
Tuition, High School,
$800.00
Memorial day,
75.00
Care and winding tower clock,
25.00
Old Home Week,
25.00
Raised by taxation,
$10,892.66
Taken from treasury,
925.00
$ 925.00
Total raised and appropriated,
$11,817.66
20
Number polls at $2 each-401,
$ 802.00
Value assessed personal estate,
$285,285.00
Value assessed real estate,
723,781.00
Total property assessed, Tax on personal estate, Tax on real estate,
$1,009,066.00
$2,852.85
7,237.81
Total tax, town, county and state, Excise tax, street railway, '03 and '04, Rate of total tax per $1,000, $10.00.
$483.05
Number of Horses, assessed,
268
Cows,
612
Neat cattle, other than cows,
208
Swine,
69
Fowls,
1,390
Dwelling houses,
290
Acres of land,
12,956
A. A. PHELPS,
Assessors
J. S. MORGAN, of Wilbraham.
W. H. McGUIRE, JR.,
$10,892.66
Report of the Trustees of the Free Public Library.
Number of volumes in library, last report, 2037
Number of volumes added, .
102
Number of volumes in library Feb., 1905,
2139
Number of books loaned from library during past year, 2453
RESOURCES.
Appropriation by the town, $ 25.00
Income Chloe Bliss Stebbins fund, 3.53
Balance on hand Feb. 26, 1904,
188.35
$216.88
EXPENDITURES.
H. R. Johnson, books,
$76.95
F. W. Green, transportation of books, Librarian,
10.20
24.00
A. H. Bartlett, list of new books,
56.15
Balance on hand Feb. 23, 1905.
49.58
$216.88
The legacy from the estate of Henry Cutler is deposited as follows :
$500 in Springfield Five Cents Savings Bank, book No. 55,481. $500 in Springfield Institution for Savings, book 145,815.
H. W. CUTLER, Trustees FRANK A. GURNEY, Free Public
VERNON H. DEMING, Library.
Report of Special Committee on Schools.
After a careful examination of the school expenses for the last twenty years, your committee concluded that a table of expenses, showing increases by five year periods, would be the simplest way to present the facts. These tables are submitted at the end of this report and are taken, as are all our statistics, from the reports of the town of Wilbraham and of the Massachusetts Board of Edu- cation. Of this latter we had nothing earlier than 1891.
We find that the increase in expenses has been general through- out the State, as shown by the following figures :
AMOUNT RAISED BY TAXATION EXPENDED FOR SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
Wilbraham, 1891-$3,761.34. Wilbraham, 1903- 5,642.47.
An increase of $1,881.13, or 50 per cent. During the same period expenditures in the County of Hampden have increased 87 per cent, and in the whole State of Mass. 75 per cent.
AMOUNT APPROPRIATED TO SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR EACH ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($1,000) OF VALUATION.
Wilbraham, 1891-$4.10. Wilbraham, 1903- 6.39.
An increase of $2.29, or 56 per cent. In the same period there has been an increase of 75 per cent for the whole State of Mass.
Your committee was unable to get figures for Hampden County on this matter, but the highest expenditure reported in the state was $9.84 in West Boylston, and the lowest was 84c in Gosnold.
In analyzing the statistics of our own town we find that the largest item of increase is in teacher's wages ; of this increase about
23
one-third is caused by additional teachers made necessary by the in- creasing number of pupils in Districts No. 8, No. 2 and No. 4, by the closer grading of the schools and by changes in the number of pupils in the different districts. The other two-thirds is due to a general rise throughout the state, as shown by the following figures :
AVERAGE WAGES PER MONTH PAID FEMALE TEACHERS.
Wilbraham, 1891-$29.70. Wilbraham, 1903- 33.87.
An increase of $4.17, or 14 per cent. During the same period expenditures in the County of Hampden have increased 26 per cent, and in the whole State of Massachusetts 13 per cent.
Above figures indicate that Wilbraham is pursuing a rather conservative course and certainly is not extravagant. We also find that Wilbraham is paying less for teachers than surrounding towns of similar circumstances, and as we know it is difficult to retain ex- perienced teachers, we cannot see how this item of expense can be reduced without great detriment to the schools.
Next to teachers' wages we find in books and supplies the larg- est item of increase, amounting to $2.73 per pupil in Wilbraham, which is considerably more than the surrounding towns and looks high compared with the state average of $1.58. We believe every- thing essential to the best education of the child should be provided ; at the same time it is not well that wasteful habits be acquired in our schools. We, therefore, recommend that the teachers by precept and example strive to inculcate care and economy on the part of the pupils in the use of books and supplies, also, that the superintendent and committee keep as low as possible, without detriment to the schools, the expense caused by changes in text-books, methods and books of reference.
Unless such an arrangement is already in force, we would sug- gest that the cost of books and supplies would probably be less if they were constantly under the personal care of a teacher or monitor, especially during recreation periods.
We would, however, remind the town that a large part of the money received from the State School Fund is dependent on the equipment of our schools with first-class books and supplies and the employing of experienced teachers.
24
The increase in expenses due to transportation of pupils has been eliminated.
The town now furnishes high school pupils with books and sup- plies, still the high school expense is not only normal but much less than in towns providing their own high schools.
The increase in the superintendent's salary was caused by the town of Ludlow leaving this union, as the salary is apportioned according to the number of schools in each town ; Wilbraham pays now about one-third of the whole, and this can hardly be remedied during the continuance of the present union.
Having found some little difficulty in tracing expenses, we would suggest that a form such as was printed in the report of the Town of Wilbraham for the year ending March 15th, 1889, gives details in regard to these matters which might be of interest to the voters of the town.
The repairs on our schoolhouses have been so well planned and executed that for a small sum our buildings present an attractive appearance. It is doubtless the thought of the school committee that the expense for care and sundries shall give to the school rooms an air of refinement that will be an incentive to the pupils and a pleasure to teachers and visitors.
We recommend better daily care of schoolhouses and the pay- ing of more money for such service if necessary, as we believe such a course will save in repairs needed. We recommend that interiors of schoolhouses be kept in a better state of maintenance, more money being expended when necessary for keeping them fresh and clean ; such improvements as hard wood floors, which have been put into some of the buildings, being a step in the right direction.
We recommend that three suitable rooms be provided for the present schools in District No. 8 in a new building. We also rec- ommend that three suitable rooms be provided for the present schools in District No. 4, either by erecting a new building on a new and desirable location, which is available, or by raising the present No. 4 schoolhouse and building an addition thereto, the changes and new buildings being planned to give better light, heat and ventilation. wherever required.
Your committee has caused to be prepared drawings and esti- mates covering these plans, and hopes to present them at the town meeting so that the town can act intelligently in the matter.
SCHEDULE OF WILBRAHAM SCHOOL EXPENSES SHOWING INCREASE BY FIVE YEAR PERIODS.
Increase '83-'88
Increase '88-'93
Increase '93-'98
Increase '98-'03
1883
1888
Total
Per Cent
Total
Per Cent
1898
Total
Per Cent
1903
Total
Per Cent
Teachers' wages ...
$2,033.20
$2,155.00
$121.80
6
$2,744.70
$ 589.70
27
$3,265 48
$520.7S
19
$3,973.48
$ 708.00
21
Books and supplies.
250 21
250.21
100
396.10
145.89
58
363.59
693.01
329.42
90
Fuel and sundries .. Care ..
329 28
153.25
232.10
78.85
271.51
39.41
17
382 36
110.85
14
125 34
24.14
23
155.07
29.73
23
194.75
39.68
25
Repairs .
253 89
72.88
243.72
170.84
296.65
52.93
215.93
19.84
Committee.
135.02
128.75
274 39
274.39
300.29
25.90
500.94
200.65
66
Transportation
75.00
75.00
20.00
150.00
150.00
150.00
Drawing .
150.00
150.00
Total common schools.
$2,751.39
$3,007.69
$356.30
9
$4,246.32
$1,238.63
41
$5,065.34
$819 02|
19
$6,640.02
$1,574.68 31
High school tuition ....
$ 270.00
$ 270.00
$ 488.44
$ 218.44
Total expenses ....
$2,751.39
$3,007.69
$256.30
9
4,516 32
1,508.63
59
5,553.78
1,037.46
23
$ 792.40| 90.00 7,522.42
$ 303 96 90 00 1,968 64|
35
State school fund ..
227.84
$ 206 54
$ 333.55
$ 127.01
459.24
$ 125.69
$ 929.86
$ 45.50
From state for state children ..
425.12
425.12
From state for superintendent
304.88
304 88
285.91
319.15
33.24
Tuition from other towns ..
229.60
229 60
85.45
86.63
1.18
Total refunded ....
227 84
206.54
868.03
320
1,255.72
387.69
44
1,335.64
79.92
6
Net cost of common schools.
$2,523 55: $2,801 15
$ 277.60
11
$3,378.29
661.49 $577.14
20
$3,809.62
$ 431.33
13
$5,304.38
$1,494.76
39
Number of schools .....
9
9
10
1
11
1
32
34 210
2
36
36
Average membership ....
198
12
212
2
3
20 03
5.71
40
22.81
2.78
13
29.64
6.83
30
Total average cost per common school pupil. Net average cost per common school pupil ..
12.74
13.33
.59
4
15 93
2.60
20
17.15
1.22
6
23 68]
6.53
38
.
. ..
....
.
.. .
.......
....... .. ....
....... ... . .
.....
.... .. .
.
.. ........
$
.. . .
.
.
....
.
12 36 2224
1
Number weeks of schools.
13.89
14.32
.43
209.97
$1.22
112.75
138.00
25.25
Superintendent
371.71
371.71
Musie .
1.40
71.40
19.84
Tuition paid other towns ..
High school supplies.
.
10
101.20
1893
TABLE COMPARING WILBRAHAM WITH OTHER TOWNS AND STATE AVERAGE.
1902-1903.
Wilbraham.
Monson.
Ludlow.
Blandford.
Brimfield.
East
Longmeadow.
Belchertown.
Hinsdale.
Ashland.
State Avg.
$33 87 $37.48 $37.88 $30 00 $31.90 $38 15 $29.17 $32.44
$38.22 $54.06
Number of pupils.
215
570
447
111
120
287
438
248
269
Books and supplies, per pupil
2.73
1 27
2.57
1.23
1 52
1.93 21.75
1.14
1.93
1.78
1.58
Total cost per pupil.
29.95
27.72
25.01
29.17
25 11
15.16
18.62
28 32
35.80
Net cost per pupil.
24.39
24.54
21.61
18.41 240
16.84 269
12.79 322
12.07
14 39
23.54
34.69
Rank by local school tax
103
102
162
330
313
114
Respectfully submitted,
H. W. CUTLER, C. S. MERRICK, HENRY I. EDSON, WM. KALLMAN, FRANK A. GURNEY, J
Special Committee ¡ on Schools.
Teachers' monthly wages .....
Report of School Committee.
The School Committee respectfully submit their annual report : The revenues of the current year have been as follows :
Appropriations for school purposes, $4,000.00
. 6 repairs, 400.00
Tuition, High School, 800.00
66
" Music,
150.00
Dog fund, 1903, 217.21
Interest on town loan, 78.50
From State school fund, 1904,
1,136.49
66 account Superintendent of Schools,
468.75
state children,
251.50
66 66 pupils attending Palmer High
School, September, 1902, to June, 1904, tuition refunded, 120.00
J. M. Davis, Tuition Earl Davis, 14.00
Town of Monson, Tuition, March, 1901, to March, 1902, 60.00
Mrs. F. W. Green and Mr. Bartlett, books, 1.00
Due from State, account Supt. of Schools, 351.56
Due from town of Monson, Tuition, 145.00
Unexpended balance State school fund, 1903, 27.69
$8,221.70
EXPENDITURES.
TEACHERS' WAGES.
Mary E. M. Mack,
$253.80
Martha White, Fannie C. Pease,
70.20
318.00
28
Effie Morgan,
$318.00
Martha Bowdish,
360.00
Gwendolen M. Jones,
266.64
Charlotte S. Sibley.
102.00
Jessie E. Burnham,
102.00
Elsie M. Crosier,
216.00
Mabelle A. Wilson,
204.00
Stella M. Greene,
108.00
Edith Chase,
204.00
Eva S. Morse,
108.00
Julia Connoly,
216.00
Hannah G. Hammond,
108.00
Hannah L. Conway,
102.00
Mertie E. Jenkins,
102.00
Rose C. Smith,
503.00
Mima Smith,
120.00
Emily A. Talmadge,
150.00
Olive F. Wartman,
93.00
Bertha Burridge,
120.00
Ina Ballou,
228.00
$4,372.64
SCHOOL BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
H. M. Green,
$ 25.00
L. L. Farr,
35.00
J. L. Hammett & Co., 98.07
Springfield News Co.,
20.02
Silver, Burdette & Co.,
78.25
Houghton, Mifflin & Co.,
13.11
American Book Co.,
54.37
D. Appleton & Co.,
1.93
Ginn & Company,
73.22
D. C. Heath & Co.,
8.46
A. H. Bosworth,
.60
Benj. H. Sanborn,
44.36
Henry Holt & Co.,
14.47
H. G. Webber,
103.89
Fannie C. Pease,
.70
29
V. H. Deming,
$ .17
H. M. Bliss,
82.50
Frank Rindge,
75.00
Edw. E. Babb & Co.,
18.84
A. H. Bartlett,
4.90
Sibley & Co.,
6.18
W. R. Jenkins,
3.36
Whitcomb, Kirkham & Gray,
.79
Homer Foot & Co.,
1.20
Springfield Second Hand Furniture Co.,
9.00
F. E. Ladd,
5.94
A. L. Burt & Co.,
3.84
C. W. Sever,
2.87
G. & C. Merriam Co.,
11.25
F. W. Christern,
2.13
Ethelbert Bliss,
27.50
Methodist Book Concern,
2.21
James Egan,
.77
Thompson, Brown & Co.,
33.00
Milton Bradley Co ..
6.91
Rand, McNally & Co.,
42.25
Lee & Shepard,
.60
Oxford University Press,
1.91
Longmans, Green & Co.,
2.15
W. H. Day,
11.00
Meekins, Packard & Wheat,
12.15
A. A. Phelps,
11.00
C. E. Peck,
.75
Allyn & Bacon,
.75
Thomas Y. Crowell & Co.,
5.96
C. M. Calkins,
2.00
F. G. Calkins,
.75
H. G. Wells,
6.00
H. W. Burbank,
11.00
J. A. Beunett,
25.00
F. A. Gurney,
6.70
J. W. Baldwin,
10.50 ·
$1,020.28
30
SCHOOLHOUSE REPAIRS.
C. W. Vinton,
Arthur Vinton,
$179.50 .50
E. S. Keyes,
270.68
W. T. Eaton,
11.38
F. D. Benton,
2.50
C. G. Robbins,
1.50
F. G. Calkins,
.75
V. H. Deming,
.50
W. H. Day,
.75
F. A. Fuller,
5.11
J. W. Rice,
5.50
$478.67
HIGH SCHOOL TUITION.
Town of Palmer,
$ 45.00
Wesleyan Academy,
656.45
Town of Ludlow, tuition Earl Wood,
CARE OF SCHOOLS.
Mary E. M.Mack,
$12.45
Martha White,
2.80
Effie Morgan,
18.00
Fannie C. Pease,
18.00
Martha Bowdish,
13.80
George R. Stephens,
27.00
E. Grace Greene,
4.20
Edith Chase,
5.85
S. E. Bennett,
2.85
Arthur Vinton,
7.35
Hazle Vinton,
5.70
Bertha Farr,
3.15
A. L. Farr,
10.20
Mrs. J. H. Farr,
2.50
V. H. Deming,
12.50
A. D. Tufts,
2.00
$702.45 $ 8.00
31
Mrs. F. O. Boyle,
$ 4.00
George Simons,
17.50
W. V. Baldwin,
1.70
C. P. Bolles,
20.50
H. G. Webber,
3.50
A. J. Bryant,
3.25
$198.80
Salary Supt. of Schools,
$626.12
Salary Supervisor of Music,
150.00
TRANSPORTATION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN.
F. W. Green,
$114.00
C. E. Pease,
36.00
Mary L. Poland, S. & E. R. R. tickets, 16.25
$166.25
Rent of room at Wesleyan Academy for grades
8 and 9, Nos. 1, 3 and 4, 83.32
Total expenditures,
$7,806.53
Value of books and supplies on hand March 1,
1905, $ 200.00
Value of books and supplies in schools,
(estimated), $1,200.00
$1,400.00
Unexpended balance state school fund, 1904, $415.17
We recommend the coming year an appropriation of $4,000 for school purposes, $400 for repairs, $800 for high school tuition, $150 for music.
Respectfully submitted,
H. G. WEBBER, V. H. DEMING, School
C. P. BOLLES,
Committee.
32
Names of students attending Wesleyan Academy at the expense of the town of Wilbraham :
Ruth Bates,
William V. Baldwin,
Ethel S. Bodurtha,
Clarance E. Edson.
Hazle M. Bolles,
Walter Green,
Mary Baldwin,
Raymond Gurney,
Minnie Coote,
Charles B. Hitchcock,
Ruby Couch,
Harold Mowry,
Eva Gebo,
Roderick Merrick,
Mildred Grant,
Henry Otto,
Ruth Green,
Allen J. Robb,
Ethel I. Mowry,
William Thompson,
Nina J. Newhall,
Harold M. Wade,
Lilly Rice,
Laura Rice,
Sarah Segeal,
Alice Thompson.
Attending Palmer High School :
Marion Demond, Elmer Demond, Raymond C. Fuller.
HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTION.
The town having voted to pay the tuition at the Wesleyan Academy for high school instruction of such children as are duly qualified, the following regulations have been adopted :
1. Examinations shall be given by the Wesleyan Academy to those candidates ouly who are recommended by the Superintendent of Schools.
2. No candidate shall be recommended by the Superintendent for examination unless he has satisfactorily completed in course or by examination the studies of the "Course of Study" for the public schools of Wilbraham.
3. Examinations shall be given by the Wesleyan Academy in Arithmetic, English, Grammar, Geography, United States History and Spelling.
4. All who shall pass these examinations shall receive from the Superintendent of Schools a certificate which shall entitle the person named therein to tuition at the expense of the Town of Wil- braham, in the Wesleyan Academy in the Academic, Classical, In- dustrial Science, or Latin-Scientific Courses.
5. All students educated at the expense of the Town of Wil- braham in the Wesleyan Academy shall be under the rules and regu- lations of that institution.
H. G. WEBBER, VERNON H. DEMING, School Committee.
C. P. BOLLES,
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of Wilbraham :
GENTLEMEN : --
The year just closing has been marked by an unusual number of changes among our teachers.
At the end of the winter term, Miss Elizabeth Wells, elected Aug. 1903, resigned the North Wilbraham primary, and at the close of the spring term or very soon thereafter, we received the following resignations :
ELECTED.
TERM OF SERVICE.
No. 4 Miss Charlotte Sibley,
Dec., 1902,
5 terms
2 years.
66
5 Miss Stella Greene,
July, 1902, April, 1898,
6 years, 1 termin
5 Miss Eva S. Morse, April, 1902, 2 years, 1 term
5 Miss Hannah Hammond, Nov .. 1903, 5 terms 66
5 Miss Mima Smith,
July, 1903,
1 year.
5 Mrs. Bertha Burridge,
March, 1904, 1 term
As it had been decided to open a school on Wilbraham Street, for the pupils of grades eight and nine, it became necessary to en- gage eight new teachers.
The fall term opened with the following corps :
ELECTED.
School No. 1 Mary E. M. Mack, Fannie C. Pease, Effie L. Morgan,
January, 1902
July, 1903
June, 1901
3 Martha L. Bowdish,
December, 1900
4 Gwendolen M. Jones,
June, 1904
4 4
Elsie M. Crozier, Mabelle Willson, Edith Chase,
June, 1904
6 Julia M. Connally,
September, 1904
June,
1904
Rose C. Smith,
Plymouth, N. H , Normal,
July,
1903
Emily A. Talmadge,
June, 1904
Westfield Normal, Westfield Normal,
June,
1904
8 8 Ina Ballou,
EDUCATED. Wesleyan Academy, Westfield Normal, Wesleyan Academy, Vermont Academy, Mt. Holyoke College, Framington Normal, Bridgewater Normal, Bridgewater Normal, Framington Normal, Westfield Normal,
June, 1904
June, 1904
5
Hannah L. Conway,
4 Miss Jessie Burnham,
34
Six of these were without experience, but they had received the best Normal training, and took up their work intelligently and with enthusiasm.
At Thanksgiving, Miss Conway aud Miss Talmadge resigned and their places were filled by Miss Mertie Jenkins, No. 7, Miss Olive A. Wartman, No. 8.
No one can take up new work exactly where her predecessor left it, but each teacher has had a very definite type-written plan furnished her each month from this office, and, taken as a whole, I have never seen the schools of the town in better condition.
We have at present twenty-three (23) town pupils in Wesleyan Academy ; nine are fitting for examinations in June ; of this number one is at North Wilbraham, and eight are in the room hired from the Academy.
At the beginning of the fall term the Ward method of teaching reading was introduced into the first and second grades of the town. This involved slight extra expense, as our primers and first readers get worn and often need replacing.
The method originated with Edward G. Ward, at that time associate superintendent of public instruction in Brooklyn.
Mr. Ward claimed that his system was a combination of the best which he had observed and seen tested. It was first used in a few schoolrooms under his supervision but is now very generally employed and is in especial favor in Western Massa- chusetts. While it is too early to make comparisons, we can, at least, affirm for it that which is so well exemplified in our music, namely, the requirements are clearly and definitely stated. The children all over the district are learning the same things and, by the use of the manual, each teacher may know each step in its order and take up new work with small loss of time. Those, who have tested it for years, assert its superiority over all other methods, claim- ing that children learn to read more quickly, enunciate more clearly, and have greater power to determine new words and thus become independent readers in less time than when taught in any other way.
For nearly twenty years prominent educators have been telling us that the schools were giving too much time to arithmetic and that studies of as much, if not more, value were consequently neglected.
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Teachers, makers of text-books, and thoughtful school directors have studied this matter carefully and now agree in excluding obsolete and strictly technical matter, confining the attention of children to fundamental processes and the principles in general use in the outside world.
The following subjects which used to be found in text-books are now omitted : "Jagged fractions" with denominators never used in real life, intricate problems in denominate numbers, compound pro- portion, permutation, alligation, foreign exchange, and arithmetical and geometric progressions.
Last year the school superintendents in this part of the Connec- ticut valley devoted much time to the consideration of the essentials of arithmetic, and although there were differences of opinion on many minor topics all were unanimous in the decision that accuracy and rapidity in the four fundamental processes and an understanding of the principles of the most common business transactions should be the specific aims in the teaching of arithmetic.
A proposed course of study, drawn up by a committee chosen for that purpose, was discussed and studied during several meetings and though there may be no superintendent who is implicitly follow_ ing it, as it then appeared on paper, children are, in all probability, doing about the same work in all the grades in this vicinity.
The combinations of numbers, the four underlying processes, common and decimal fractions, the tables in common use, easy denominate numbers, percentage and the business rules which cluster around it, should be drilled upon until they are thoroughly known.
For the benefit of those who do not have access to the course of study and who could and would effectively aid their children in the home, and to all who are interested in the work of the schools, I give, in part, the work which is now required of each grade.
There is now with us no formal teaching of numbers in the first grade. In the second, teachers are expected to test the children to see how far their ideas of numbers extend. It is rare to find those who do not recognize a group of two objects when placed before them, but children very frequently fail to know the number three. Beginning then with that number they are taught to recognize it as a whole, or as one group, to say "There are three," and then, the two numbers which added make 3, and the numbers which can be sub-
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tracted from it, as : 2+1, 1+2, 3-1, 3-2. When they know these they go on to 4, and learning one fact at a time at length come to know 3+1, 1++3, 2+2, 2×2, 4 -: by 2, 3 of 4.
By the close of the second year, numbers have been studied as far as 20. The emphasis this year is laid on the addition and sub- traction facts.
Parents can give most effective aid by daily drilling on the addi- tion of two numbers, one of which is always less than ten, and the sum never more than 20. 9+4, 8++5, 7++8, 9++7, 8+9, 12+8, etc., are difficult, and can never be too well known.
In this grade, numbers containing one figure each are set in. col- umns and added, the sum not exceeding 20 ; subtraction, with a min- uend less than 20 and a subtrahend of one figure ; multiplication and division in two forms, as 3×6, 3, and 18 -:- 6, 6)18, are taught. X6'
Children measure and compare the length of lines, count by twos and fives, learn the Roman numerals to XX, and do sim- ple problems with but one condition, as, I paid five cents for a spool of thread and nine cents for a sponge. How much did both cost ? What will a quart of milk cost at three cents a pint ?
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