USA > Maine > Oxford County > Norway > Annual report of the municipal officers of the town of Norway, 1916 > Part 2
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$1.048 91
W. F. JONES, Treasurer.
We have this day examined the foregoing accounts and find them correct and properly vouched.
SELECTMEN OF NORWAY.
17
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of the
Superintending School Committee
Norway, Me., Jan. 31, 1916.
The superintending School Committee of the town of Norway, com- posed of L. H. Trufant, member for one year, H. L. Horne, member for two years and W. F. Jones, member for three years, met and or- ganized on March 23d, 1915. Dr. L. Hall Trufant was elected chair- man of the board for the year.
On the 23d day of March, 1915, the joint committee of the two towns of Waterford and Norway met at Waterford Flat, for organi- zation. William F. Jones was elected chairman and Dr. L. Hall Tru- fant, secretary.
The following accounts show the appropriation of money for school purposes :
COMMON SCHOOL ACCOUNT.
DR.
To Balance 1914 appropriation. $2,296 35
1915 appropriation. 2,700 00
Received from State on Mill Tax Fund. . 2,870 78 Received from State on Common School Fund 2,505 81
Tuition from town of Waterford. 30 00
$10,402 94
CR.
By Teachers' wages $6,667 50
Transportation
1,240 40
Janitor services 564 00
Fuel 434 90
Tuition paid Waterford. 30 00
Unexpended balance in treasury. 1,481 14
$10,402 94
3
18
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
FREE HIGH SCHOOL ACCOUNT.
DR.
To Balance 1914 appropriation $ 246 99
1915 appropriation. 3,000 00
Amount received from State.
500 00
Amount received from tuition.
230 00
Overdraft 245 36*
$4,222 35
CR.
By Teachers' wages
$4,054 36
Fuel
150 00
Diplomas, etc.
17 99
$4,222 35
*This account shows an overdraft, but there is enough due from the different towns to give a balance of $44.64.
-
MUSIC AND DRAWING ACCOUNT.
DR.
To Balance 1914 appropriation. $ 1 50
1915 appropriation. 650 00
$651 50
CR.
By Teachers' wages
$560 90
Supplies
36 51
Team hire.
13 00
Unexpended balance
41 09
$651 50
REPAIRS ACCOUNT.
DR.
To 1914 appropriation.
$1,500 00
$1,500 00
CR.
By 1915 overdraft. $465 32
General repairs and supplies for same. 691 10
Unexpended balance. 343 38
$1,500 00
19
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
FREE TEXT BOOK ACCOUNT.
DR.
To Balance 1914 appropriation
$ 17 76
1915 appropriation.
700 00
$717 76
CR.
By Amount expended for texts
$673 90
Unexpended balance
43 86
$717 76
INSURANCE, APPARATUS, APPLIANCES, ETC.
DR.
To Balance 1914 appropriation
$ 1 09
1915 appropriation. 1200 00
$1201 09
CR.
By General supplies.
$1166 05
Unexpended balance.
35 04
$1201 09
We recommend the raising of the following amounts for the year 1916-1917.
For Common Schools $3,000 00
Free text books.
700 00
Repairs 500 00
Insurance, apparatus, etc. 750 00
Free High School.
3,000 00
Music and Drawing
700 00
Office of Superintendent.
75 00
Respectfully submitted,
L. HALL TRUFANT, M. D., Chairman, HERMAN L. HORNE, WILLIAM F. JONES,
Superintending School Committee.
Norway, Maine, Jan. 31, 1916.
20
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND CITIZENS OF THE TOWN :
In submitting my fifth annual report I am impressed with the idea that we have made creditable progress and improvement in our schools for the year. Yet progress is only comparative. It has been said that all progress is a series of blunders and that the advantage lies with the individual or the nation that can reduce its blunders to a minimum through the exercise of intelligence.
The factors that make up a successful school system are: (1) equipment, (2) pupils, (3) teachers, (4) patrons, (5) school officials. Let us consider these factors in the order named. I have often said and now repeat, that I believe that the rural school should have equal advantages with the village school so far as circumstances will per- mit. So far as texts, and general supplies are concerned I think this has become an established fact. Many of the school houses have been put in first-class condition. Some, however, still need black- boards which are to be installed during the next year. Other minor repairs will be made. In the village more extensive repairs should be made. I am authorized by the board of education to equip the Academy building with adequate fire escapes. Those already at that building are of ladder form which would not be usable when one was not excited to say nothing of an emergency. The escape that leads from the laboratory on the third floor past the high school room should be constructed as stairs with doors leading to them.
It becomes more evidently necessary each year that it is impera- tive to provide more room for those in our high school and grades at the Academy building due to the increasing registration each year.
Various plans for providing more room have been under considera- tion. It was thought advisable, at first, to recommend enlarging the present building by building a wing of two rooms and increasing the capacity of the heating plant which would cost about $5000. This plan, however, presents so many objectionable features it has been abandoned.
21
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Another alternative is to build a new high school building costing not less than $25,000. This would be the ideal plan to adopt provid- ed the town could better afford it at this time. This would present an opportunity for some citizen of means to present such a building to the town and perpetuate their name and at the same time do the town a lasting service. I think that within fifteen years it will be- come necessary to provide such a building.
The enlarging of the present building is not wholly desirable. First: Because the basement facilities are not wholly adequate for present needs. Adding more to the building would only complicate matters. Second: Because a new heating plant placed there would not be correctly located, provided another building should be built on the lot for high school purposes. Such a plant should be located by itself so as to accommodate both buildings. If at the end of fifteen years it became necessary to build a high school. the $5,000 already expended would then be in the wrong place. This amount of money combined with what the Alumni is raising for a gymnasium, $1,500, would be quite a beginning toward a high school building. This would place the gymnasium in the basement of the new building where it should be.
But the urgent need at this time is for more room in the present building and I will present the following two alternatives for consid- eration. First: Concentrate the first two grades at the upper and lower primaries which would make about forty-five pupils at each school. An objection to this plan would be the long walk for those now attending the Middle Primary. This plan would make the Middle Pri- mary building available for the third grade, which grade is at present in the Academy building. This could be done without extra expense, but with inconvenience to those who naturally attend the Middle Pri- mary. Second: Build another room on the Middle Primary school building, thus providing a room for the third grade. This would cost about $1200. This plan seems to me to be the most desirable alter- native, aside from building a new school building and the most econ- omical way of solving a most urgent problem. If this can be done it will place the present eighth grade room at the disposal of the high school for a recitation room. We cannot continue to broaden the effi- ciency of our high school without more room.
With more pupils in the school and no more room the coming year, it almost seems that it will be necessary either to not admit tuition pupils, which money now practically pays for the running of the com- mercial department or, without the tuition pupils, for the town to ap- propriate the $570, or more each year, or get along without the de- partment.
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
The school census of 1912 showed 428 boys and 364 girls in town between the ages of live and twenty-one years, a total of 792. In the spring of 1913 I made a card index of this list of names in town, to avoid the possibility of omissions from the list and last spring I sent 531 names to the state. It would have been nearly impossible to have had so complete a list but for the card system. Each name sub- mitted means about $6.50 to the town. A glance at the tabular page for school enrollment will reveal the fact that we have an unusually large enrollment.
I am encouraged by hearing that the pupils from the grades are coming each year better prepared to do their work in the high school. I mean by this that they have a better knowledge of all the subjects taken rather than over-developed in some one or two subjects, and I am also pleased to note that the apt students are not trained to the expense of those who need the most attention. I encourage my teach- ers to group their teaching around the average pupil in the class and not direct their main efforts to the brightest pupil which is naturally the way of least resistance.
Not long ago I heard that a teacher said that she would not do work not directly connected with her school work because she wasn't paid for it. There are two kinds of service: that which is not worth having at any price and that for which no money ean pay. I am not in sympathy with the teacher who is determined to give her services for just what she is paid for in so doing she cannot extend her in- fInence beyond the schoolroom walls. If she be imbued with the idea of service and influence then she cannot afford to put less than her best efforts into her work. Service is considered an opportunity of life by the most progressive and successful teachers.
I am very grateful for what has seemed for the past year to have been a greater unity of purpose between parents and teachers in the town than any year since serving as your superintendent. My best teachers are never satisfied with the results they are getting and that is the attitude that gets the best results. Schools are the most hu- man institutions on earth and so will succeed or fail in the same de- gree with the success or failure of individuals. I find that most par- ents realize that the factor of the unity of purpose in working in sympathy with the teacher promotes the best interests of the school and their children. Then when they have a real grievance they know it will receive prompt and sympathetic attention.
I am of the same opinion as last year concerning the desirability of a centralized school at Swift Corner. The present school building at that place could be used as a primary room. A two-room build- ing to accommodate Intermediate grades (IV, V, VI), and Grammar
23
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
grades (VII, VIII and IX) could be constructed near-by. Such a group of schools would accommodate the pupils from the schools of Pierce, Chapel, Center and Noble's Corner. It would be possible to have music and drawing in such a group of schools and even to teach the first year of high school subjects in the grammar room. School gardens could be developed as well as manual training, and a domestic science department could attend to the noon lunch problem. This plan of work has been carried on so long in the Middle West that it an established fact and thought to be as necessary as the school itself is thought to be necessary here. I mention this again this year for consideration, as I believe it will become an established fact sometime.
GYMNASIUM.
I believe that the movement inaugurated by the alumni of Norway High School for the building of a gymnasium is a most commenda- ble one. I believe that it should receive the moral if not the finan- cial support of every citizen of the town. Such a building could be the social center for the school without the necessity of paying hall rent for rehearsels and staging of school functions. I believe in or- ganized athletics for a school, for those of athletic abilities and ten- dencies must work off the surplus of physical energy either by a sys- tem of organized exercise or have a disproportionate education. Ed- ucation is not merely book knowledge. When a pupil is graduated from high school he should have not only a fund of useful informa- tion but also a well developed body and a well balanced mind capa- ble of clear thinking, unbefogged and with a finely developed char- acter. Can such possibilities be developed without physical train- ing? Athletics appeal to the ambition and to self-restraint; they give crude youth tasks in which it can attain finish and skill.
I have asked the teachers of the High School to make reports for their several departments, as I believe they are doing a work of which the citizens of the town will be pleased to learn.
I desire to call the attention of the voters of the town to the fact that the School Board in its recommendations is asking for the raising of $1,725 less than last year for the support of the different school accounts.
I am truly grateful for the helpful support of an efficient school board and to the citizens of the town who have shown their apprecia- tion of what I am trying to accomplish for the schools in my work. I trust that in the following year we may accomplish as much as in the past year.
Respectfully submitted, TRUE C. MORRILL, Superintendent of Schools.
2.1
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR.
The fall term at Norway High School begins the second Monday in September for a fourteen-week term. The winter term begins the first Monday in January for a twelve-week term. The spring term begins after a two week recess following the winter term, for a ten- week term. The common schools begin one week after the opening of the high school year, and close one week before the high school year closes making 36 weeks for the High School and 34 weeks for com- mon schools.
TUITION PUPILS IN HIGH SCHOOL.
Graduating
Name
Year
Town
Adams, Thankful
1916
Albany
Andrews, Frances G.
1916
Waterford
Barker, Carlton H.
1919
Stoneham
Barker, Errol. 1919
Stoneham
Barker, Carlton F. 1919
Stoneham
Gammon, Beatrice I.
1916
Waterford
Gammon, Hyacinth M.
1916
Waterford
Tracy, June. 1917
Greenwood
Dudley, Mattie E.
1918
Winthrop
Heath, Elsie M.
1918
Waterford
Maxim, Flora E.
1918
South Paris
Durell, Bessie R.
1919
Otisfield
Durell, Mildred F.
1919
Otisfield
Martin, Linda B ..
1919
Greenwood
Me Alister, Milo E.
1919
Lovell Center
Mc Keen, Muriel B. 1919
Stoneham
Noyes, Walter F.
1919
Greenwood
Pottle, Bessie.
1917
West Burke, Vt.,
Scribner, Georgia E.
1919
Harrison
In Common Schools:
Farrington, Theona (ninth grade)
Lovell
Everett, Victor and Lillian (Sodom).
Waterford
Howe, Julia (Holt)
Waterford
25
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
NORWAY VILLAGE TABULAR STATEMENT
.
School
Teachers
Term
Enrollment
Av. Attend.
Salary
Per Week
High
Haliberton Crandlemire, Science Florence A. Rideout, English. .. F. Marion Lougee, Latin, History Edith M. Knight, Commercial Supervisor of Music and Drawing, Anna M. Mealand
W S
107 106 101
102 103 98
$41.66
F
24.00
16.66
16.25
15.00
15.70
W
15 14.
12.00
Ninth
Helen R. Cole
S
12.00
Lilla B. Young
W
40 36 6
10.00
Eighth
Marion Smith, Assistant
S 39 37.1 5.00
W
40 37.6 11.00
Seventh
Lola D. Smith
S
40 36.8 11 00
F 34 32.9 11.00
Sixth
Emmie J. Young
S
F
32 29.4 11.00
W
31 26.7 10.00
Fifth
.6
S 31 29.5 10.00
Arlettie M. Richardson
F 36 32.7 10.00
W 36 32.2 11 00
Fourth
Mary L Whittredge
36 33.5 11.00
Third.
Tessa R. Thibodeau
S 33 31.8 12.00
F 31 28.2 12.00
W 30 12.00
Upper Primary Gertrude Gardner
S 31 28.3 12.00
F 33 29.9 12.00
W
32 22.5 12.00
Middle Primary
Elizabeth O. Lasselle
S
F 32 30.3 12.00
W 20 15 5 12.00
Lower Primary Mildred J. Holmes
S 18 17. 12.00
F
21 19 3
12.00
F
14 13. 35 32.4 12.00
Dora F. Goldrup
F 41 37 3 10.00
36 32.8 34 31.5 11.00
11.00
Harriet J. Smith
S F 37 34.2 11 00
W 37 33 9 11.00
27 25.3 12.00
P. E. Hathaway .
4
26
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
RURAL SCHOOL TABULAR STATEMENT
School
Teacher
Term
Enrollment
Av. Attend.
Salary per
week
Chrystal B. Harriman
W|14|12 .7 +9.00
Lake
66
S 17 15 4
9.00
F 18|17.
9.50
Katherine L. Flint.
W
12 11.1
8.00
Center
Myra H. Noble
S
13 12.7
7.00
Winnifred I. McKeen
W
14 13.2
8.00
Swifts
66
66
66
S
14 12.9
8.00
Marion C. Noble
S
17 16.2
7.50
Chapel
Ora Howe
F
11
9.5
8.00
Edith G. Millett
S
8 7.1
7.50
F 9 8.3
7.50
Dorothy F. Noble
W 13 11.7
7.50
Noble's Corner
Marion C. Noble.
F
9 S.4 8.00
Ruth Holgate
W
21|18.3
9.00
Crockett Ridge
16
F 23 21.4 10.00
W
12 11.2
7.50
Sodom
66
S
11
9.6
7.50
F
15 12.5
8.00
Holt.
Eleanor F. Kneeland .
F
9
8.2
7.50
Eleanor F. Kneeland
WV
3
2.9 7.00
Millettville.
66
S
3
3.
7.00
.
MUSIC AND DRAWING DEPARTMENT.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :
This year the music in the schools has attained a higher standard than ever before. The primary children are further advanced in their work than last year at this time. The intermediate grades are about where they should be, and the seventh and eighth grades are doing excellent two and three part work.
We are working very hard to get a Victrola for school use. In this way the children can learn not only to understand but to like the very best music. Each room will have the machine for a certain length of time each day. It will benefit them in their work, for in-
15 9.7
7.50
Pierce
Beryl B. Young
F 11 10.2
7.50
8.00
F 14 11.9
6.5
7.50
S 11
8 5 7.50
S |22
19.6 9.00
Katherine T. Delano.
66
27
ANNUAL TOWN. REPORT
stead of having to listen to monotonous counting for writing exer- cises, it will be much more enjoyable to keep in time with the steady rhythm of a stirring march or a slow waltz song. With its help the children will be quieter when marching in and out of the building.
The lower primary already has a small machine and several re- cords with which they vary and brighten their day's work.
No up to date city school room is considered complete now with- out a machine of some sort to help the mental growth of the children.
The drawing this year has gone well. The upper grades have made some very original and striking stencil designs which we hope soon to have on public exhibition.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNA MARY MEALAND, Supervisor of Drawing and Music.
PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL.
TO THE SUPERINTENDENT AND SUPERINTENDING SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
At your request I am submitting the following brief report con- cerning the work and needs of Norway High School.
The enrollment for the present year is one hundred two (102). In June of the present year a class of twenty-one (21) girls and boys will be graduated and in September a class of (at least) forty (40) will enter the High School.
The problem of seating a school of one hundred twenty (120) in a room already crowded, is one which must be solved in the near fu- ture.
Three ways of releaving the congestion might be suggested: 1st. To limit the school privileges to boys and girls of the Town of Nor- way. 2nd. To provide seating arrangements in another room for one or more classes, and 3rd. To provide for an enlargement of the pre- sent High School assembly room. The first method, I hope, will never be resorted to, as it has always been the policy of the school to try to attract to it as many out of town boys and girls as possible. Al- most without exception they are studious and hard working, and to bar them out would be a big mistake. Fifty per cent. of the pre- sent freshmen class are students from other towns.
The second method has already been tried and will serve as a tem- porary arrangement; this would call for an extra room, probably the present eighth grade room, which is very much needed as a recitation room. If a new High School building is out of question for the next few years, probably the third method would be the best.
28
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
The broadening of the course of study to include a complete busi- ness course has been very successful, and I hope that the near future may find Domestie Science, Manual Training, and Agricultural Cours- es also added to our curriculum.
All the work in the various departments is going nicely, and it seems to me that, as the years go by, the attitude of the young peo- ple toward their school is steadily improving. They seem to realize more and more what privileges and opportunities are theirs, and to be resolved to make the most of them.
In the English Department, in particular, great progress has been made in the last two years. I say in particular because while Eng- lish is, in my opinion, the most important of all the subjects, it is the one which least of all attracts the average high school student. Improvement in this respect is especially gratifying, much credit be- ing due to our present efficient English instructor.
The reports of the different departmental instructors accompany this.
During the past year our library has been growing rapidly, and the cataloging of the books, which is being done by the Junior girls, will add much to its usefulness. Many of the best magazines, too, are now coming to the school each month, and are proving an added source of interest and instruction.
Respectfully submitted, PERCIVAL E. HATHAWAY.
REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH.
'To THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS:
During the last twenty-five years the course in English in high schools has changed more than any other branch with the exception of a few scientific subjects. In order to measure up to present day standards in this department, we have altered the course at Norway Iligh to meet as far as possible the changed requirements. The aim of English work today is two-fold: cultural education and practical training.
These two aims are combined in the work of the first two years. This consists of careful training in advanced grammar, including parsing, analyzing and diagraming; a study of rhetorie with special attention to word study and accurate forms of expression; also prae- tire in the simpler forms of composition, such as sentence and para- graph structure, simple letter writing, description and narration.
29
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
In addition most of the students enjoy the study of such books as Ivanhoe, Lady of the Lake and The Merchant of Venice with empha- sis placed on beauty of style, the value of the vivid word, historical backgrounds, as well as the portrayal of life and character, the pur- pose of the author, the central thought, and whenever possible the ap- plication of the latter to modern life and problems.
The two-fold aim of the course is more apparent in the last two years. In order that students who are not planning to enter gradu- ate schools might have more of the practical training, we have divid- ed the junior and senior classes and have given to the A division of each class much more of the cultural or literary work and to the B divisions drill in the fundamentals of business English.
In the third year both divisions study the history of English litera- ture, study quite extensively the writing of the short story and the essay, learn how to preside in public meeting and how to give without notes, short speeches before the class on topies of current interest, as well as read and comment on the best modern periodicals. The "A"' division reads many of the classics, but the "B" division studies practical exercise work and business letters.
In the fourth year the work of the preceding year is continued and extended, and the study of American literature substituted for the English. The study of the essay is continued, and also public speaking which fits for work in debating. Work in the latter is very valuable training. I have not been able to do as much of this work as I should like to do because eight classes a day have not left me the time necessary for such work. Miss Lougee has taken up this work and established a debating league among the young men. Our High School will be represented this year by members of this league in de- bate with Lewiston High School and Leavitt Institute.
In addition to the regular English work each student is required to read (during the year) outside of school, three books selected from carefully chosen lists. Many children, whose choice of books is not directed by the parents, are reading "trash" and fiction that, al- though not harmful to mature readers, gives wrong impressions of life to young minds. This extra reading is intended to help cultivate an appreciation for the better class of books. It is much to be re- gretted that more of such supervision is not done for children below the high school.
In this connection it is well to speak of our High School Library Books and the best periodicals are in great demand today because they are in actual and practical use, but the demand is greater than. the supply. We have at present about two hundred forty volumes in good condition. The students are helping to increase the number by a penny a-term crusade. Such books as Up from Slavery, The Making of an American, The Promised Land and A Biography of
30
ANNUAL TOWN REPORT
Thomas Edison are greatly appreciated by the students. Two hun- dred more volumes would give us a good working library.
Certainly books are needed, but the greatest need of all is more room. Good nature, vigorous effort, and self control, as well as a seating arrangement that resembles the sardine method of packing, prevent catastrophes when thirty students are crowded into one small room 12 feet x 18 feet, for an hour each morning. But what about health? It is hoped that the citizens of Norway who are so proud of their schools will before long be able to provide for their students sufficient room and ample breathing space. This means not only better health, but also greater efficiency in the work of our schools.
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