USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Alton > Annual report for the Town of Alton, New Hampshire, 1907-1911 > Part 2
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30 00
29
Gertrude McGrath
30 00
32
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
Oct
1 Paid B L Blaisdell 14 00
2 Idella Berry 10 00
5 Mary L Griffin .
13 50
Margaret H Manning
40 00
8 Maud M Whitehouse
13 00
Bertha M Stevens
20 00
15
Walter M May
67 50
17
Eva M Harris
35 00
18
Margaret Manning
10 00
Gertrude Coppinger
30 00
Gertrude McGrath .
30 00
20
Maud M Whitehouse
13 00
27
Sarah Queeney
30 00
29
B L Blaisdell
16 00
Nov
6
Margaret Manning
39 00
3
Hezekiah Bennett .
9 50
6
Sarah Queeney .
52 50
7 Frank A Varney
150 00
8
Bertha M Stevens
40 00
9
Maud M Whitehouse
19 50
10
Gertrude McGrath
20 00
13
Mrs Geo F Clough
2 50
14
Eva M Harris
21 00
15
Gertrude Coppinger
30 00
16
Walter M May
67 50
23
Grace H Rollins
78,00
24 Virginia E Dorr
84 00
Bertha M Stevens
30 00
25
Elizabeth Davis .
72 00
27
Margaret Manning
30 00
Eva M Harris .
28 00
Everett E Walker 1 40
28
Gertrude McGrath
40 00
Gertrude Coppinger ยท 20 00
Maud M Whitehouse
13 00
33
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
Dec
3 Paid B L Blaisdell 22 35
6 Charles Hatch 5 75
13 Alta H McDuffee
10 00
66 66
34 81
10 85
Maud M Whitehouse 13 00
Edward Doane . 9 00
14
Sarah D Queeney
16 00
18 Effie M Prescott . 25 00
21
Gertrude Coppinger 30 00
Gertrude McGrath .
30 00
Bertha M Stevens 40 00
22
Margaret Manning 40 00
Walter M May 67 50
B L Blaisdell 12 00
George Dore .
2 75
Maud Whitehouse
13 00
1907
Jan
7
Frank A Varney .
60 00
12
Sarah D Queeney . 91 50
Virginia E Dorr . 49 00
Jan
16 Paid Paul E Buckley .
12 75
18 Maud Whitehouse .
19 50
19 Elizabeth Davis
42 00
19 Effie M Prescott .
108 00
22 New Durham School Board
25 00
24
Stephen P Barnes
27 00
25
B L Blaisdell .
13 25
26
Eva M Harris
28 00
Fred S Gilman
6 50
28
Walter M May
67 50
Chas A Rollins 1 46
Grace H Rollins 45 50
Feb
1
J H Downing Co
1 30
2 Bertha M Stevens
40 00
34
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
.
Feb 2
Gertrude Coppinger
40 00
Gertrude McGrath 40 00
9
Eva M Harris
21 00
Margaret Manning
40 00
EO Prescott
2 74
A D Varney .
9 25
11
Frank A Varney
120 00
Oscar Duncan
4 25
Gertrude McGrath
20 00
Gertrude Coppinger
20 00
Walter M May
101 25
13
B L Blaisdell 13 50
Jones & Lamprey
3 17
A S Emerson .
1 50
A E Barnes
1 00
Walter W Durgin
14 50
Walter M May
1 75
Archie Frohock
1 00
Albert J Jones
6 50
Geo W Place
63 25
Geo W Place
30 25
14
S E Colbath & Co
2 11
15
R A Frohock .
1 75
Alton & Alton Bay Water Co .
10 00
J Jones & Son
15 95
Bertha M Stevens .
20 00
Total,
$4.696.59
Balance cash in treasury,
171 97
Total
$4,868.56
FRANK A VARNEY, Treasurer.
We, the undersigned, having examined the foregoing account, find it properly vouched and correctly cast. WILLIS P. EMERSON, CHARLES H. DOWNING, Auditors.
Alton, N. H., Feb. 15, 1907.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
PART I
To the residents of the outside sections:
The education of your children is exactly as important, and worthy of just as much consideration as that of village or city children. I think really, it is more important, because a great portion of the state is made up of such communities, and the intelligence of the citizens in these rural sections de- termines in a large measure the progress of the state. And more than that-such places are usually neglected.
Now I believe you are entitled to educational advantages equal to those of any town or city.
Never with my consent or approval, will one of your out- side schools be closed, unless an overwhelming majority of the people involved desire it. As long as I am superintend- ent of your schools, I will oppose any measure calculated in my opinion to increase the advantages of one part of the town at the expense of another part.
I am working for the town of Alton, not for any special part of it. It's all one town and should have one policy. Any sectional feeling, any petty factions, any policy based on selfish interest, is bound to hurt, and should never be al- lowed to enter into town affairs, in school or any other mat- ters.
Now I have observed your school conditions for a year and a term, and I want to tell you what I know is the truth of
36
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
the whole situation. I would rather speak to you, than write for you to read; but I have no opportunity to speak to you.
The very fact that you live in rural and scattered sections prevents your having, or ever having under your present school system, educational advantages equal to those of village or city dwellers. There is distance; and bad roads. No matter where you put a school, (unless you provide one for every family ) some of your children will have to come quite a dis- tance, Your school authorities tried to solve the problem by providing seven or eight small schools.
This means hiring a teacher for each.
Last year you spent $1,709.50 for salaries of common school teachers. You had two village schools, and seven (part of time 8) country schools. Your two village schools had an average attendance of 61.4 pupils and cost for salary $507.
Your seven outside schools combined had an attendance of about 69.1 pupils and cost $1202.50 for salary. That is, more than 2/3 of total salary was spent on country schools, and ed- ucated a few more than 1/2 of total number of pupils in town. And the salary of your country teachers (and therefore pre- sumably the quality of instruction) was lower, at that.
The cost to the town per pupil in the village schools was about $8.31. In the outside schools about $17.40.
Here is a table of statistics for this year, after you have opened another school in the village:
Outside Schools and Village Schools,
Outside Schools
Village Schools
Number of schools,
7
3 $10 00
Average salary of teacher (per week)
$6 90
number pupils to a school,
10
24
*Total number different pupils registered,
76
31
Average daily attendance (for all)
63.01
71.2
* daily absence,
7 21
2.3
Per cent of attendance,
89.7
96 8
Number cases of tardiness,
263
118
Total cost for instruction,
$912.00
$570.00
Cost for instruction per pupil (19 weeks)
$14.476
$8 005
Cost per pupil per week,
$ .762
$ .421
Estimated cost per pupil per year(30 weeks)
$ 22.86
$ 12.63
Number visits by superintendent (for one term)
35
26
*Does not include any pupils from outside schools who entered village school during second term.
(Statistics based on 19 weeks of 1906-7)
37
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
A study of this will show that while more than 2/3 of total town salary is devoted to hiring teachers for outside schools, less than 1/2 the pupils actually in attendance in town, go to these schools.
So much for salary of teachers. Now the cost of fuel for the outside schools was greater in proportion than same item for the village; for the combination of grades in high school building made a saving there, and the wood item was of course very much smaller.
Text book expense will be about the same per pupil under any system.
Expense for maps, charts, ctc., is greatly increased by num- ber of schools; for one map of North America, for example, can be used by 40 pupils in one room. While four maps are necessary for four schools of 10 pupils each.
Janitor sevice is an item greater in the village than in the country, and the results are worth the difference.
Repairs can not be properly estimated, because your coun- try schools have been neglected, and only minor repairs made. To put your country schools, all of them, in proper condition, will cost about as much as to construct a new building, capable of containing all the children in town. For they are dilapidated, and sadly in need of attention,
Then there is the question of equipment, blackboards, erasers etc, Cost will be greater for seven schools than for three or four, even if the seven are small schools.
Then come such things as school libraries, pictures, etc., which are of educational importance, and here again the num- ber of schools makes cost greater.
There are many more things in favor of the consolidated plan, but space forbids more.
38
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
To sum up :
Your present system of maintaining a large number of small schools is an expensive system, and one tended to foster sec- tional, rather than town interests.
It gives you schools which are in poor repair, and not cal- culated to inspire in the pupils very much enthusiasm for ed- ucation, now or hereafter. Go and look at these schools. You certainly can't be proud of them. You surely want some- thing better for your children.
It gives you rather poorly paid teachers, and you can't very well increase the salary without extra expense.
Your attendance is not so good as that of the village school. Your number of cases of tardiness is twice as great.
Also, the interest in work is greater in a larger school. Pupils get more from recitations, gain considerable confi- dence, and get rid of diffidence and bashfulness. I have heard some people claim that the moral conditions are not so good in the larger schools, but my experience among my vari- ous country towns does not substantiate this claim. In fact, in many cases, I find the opposite true.
Now look at the whole question at issue, what is best to be done to improve conditions ?
One of two things :
1. Repair your schools, and improve the general attractive- ness of buildings and surroundings. Paint. Whitewash. Plaster. Finish inside; doors; windows. Provide better supplies; better heating; better lighting; better ventilation; better toilet facilities; better paid teachers; better everything. In short, you can't afford to go on as you have been for years past in these matters. You can't be satisfied with conditions as they are. You must want something better for your boys and girls.
39
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
2. Let the town build a new school, or enlarge the pres- ent high school building sufficiently (some change there must be made any way) and provide proper conveyance for the children of all rural sections straight to door of school.
The second is unquestionably the better,and with anything like equal efficiency, by far the cheaper to support. Your town will have to build, or enlarge the present high school building, very soon; accommodations are not sufficient for pupils in classes, and this year another room, capable of hold- ing 25 pupils, was hired.
And when you do build, it will cost but little more to build for all. Your pupils can then have better heated, better light- ed, better ventilated, better furnished, better supplied, better taught schools. And they will not have to walk through bad roads. They would not be tardy.
Now I know some of you will object. People always do to anything new or different. Men will arise who will proceed to show how it "Could never work in our town." Men will get up and condemn the whole thing as a piece of foolishness. They did that about the telegraph. They claimed Edison's telephone was a nice toy to amuse the baby, but never would be of any practical use. Of course it's got to be done right, or it will not work. Almost anything improperly done will be a failure. The biggest obstacle to be overcome however, is not physical,but mental. The inertia of popular opinion and the sentiment that "the way we have always done is good enough" is about the first, last and only really great obstacle.
Now understand me about this: I am not advocating this measure for immediate action. I am not advising the school board to adopt this plan. They never heard of it from me until they read it here. If the school board should propose such a plan now, I would fight against it; because I do not believe you are ready to adopt it. [ would always oppose it,
40
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
even though I know it is right, until you say it is what you want. And so I am laying it before you first, because you are the people interested. And you are to be the judges. I do not advocate forcing this or any other policy upon an un- willing and resisting people.
If you are interested in this, I should be glad to give you further information or discuss the question with you. Only you will have to ask me: [ do not propose to force my views upon you, if they are not wanted.
"Look before you leap" is a good maxim. I simply lay be- fore you the thing which, as an educator, and one familiar with your conditions, I know is right, and capable of giving you better schools. Practical people of community after community have become convinced that this is feasible, and the start toward better things for the country boys and girls
Consider it, talk it over, take your time to look at it from all sides. And than adopt it, or reject it, as you please.
In the meantime, we will still keep on working to improve our schools as they are, not waiting for a decision on this question to solve our troubles.
PART II.
TO THE SCHOOL BOARD OF THE TOWN OF ALTON:
I have the honor to present my second annual report as su- perintendent of your schools, as follows:
1 SCHOOL SYSTEM.
With respect to this, I have little to say, and nothing to recommend now. My word to the citizens of the outside sections contains my ideas on this subject. I believe that is the solution of your problem. But I do not advise adopting this plan until the people realize that it is for their advantage to have it, and are ready for it. Then I will submit detailed report, if I am still with you.
41
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
The opening of another school in the village, and the con- sequent reduction of the number of grades under one teach- er, has made a marked advance in the work of our pupils. I believe every grade has accomplished at least 50% more than last year, and I compliment the citizens of Alton on the wis- dom of their action
I spoke last year of the advisability of lengthening the year for our common schools. This can be done this year, and give every school at least 30 weeks. Again I compli- ment the citizens of Alton, but would remind them that I believe the length of year in all schools should be the same, if conditions permit.
2. ADMINISTRATION.
PURCHASE OF SUPPLIES.
Better rates are obtainable on orders in bulk, so we should endeavor to take advantage of this whenever possible. If you employ a superintendent, and he has other towns, he could act as purchasing agent for all, and obtain better rates by ordering all at once. I am not looking for the chance to do this. I have enough to keep me busy now; only that is one of the ways a superintendent could help you, and when you elect my successor, if the other towns are agreeable, you would do well to elect him on that basis, subject of course, to your approval and verification of every order.
HIRING TEACHERS.
Teachers should be hired by the year instead of by the term whenever possible. Every teacher, before assuming charge of the school, should be examined in the branches which she is to teach and a certificate granted, if she is qual- ified. If not qualified, she should not be allowed to teach. I recommend that certificates be granted to all teachers now employed in our schools. I further recommend that the ser- vices of these teachers, as long as they are of the same stand-
.
42
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
ard, be retained, for they are doing excellent work. We are working in harmony, and I should regret any change.
PAYING TEACHERS.
It seems to me that there should be certain definite days for paying teachers. And that this should be done monthly at a fixed time and place, where the school board, teachers, and superintendent may all meet and so discuss or suggest anything that may pertain to the wellfare of the schools. This would provide regular school board meetings for the transaction of business, and would also serve as teachers' meetings for suggestions or general directions. It certainly is more business like, and would keep us all in closer touch with the schools and each other.
PERMANENT RECORDS.
In the first place I recommend that a safe and convenient place be provided for all public school records. There is no such place, and there are no such permanent records. There should be, and these records should be classified and ar- ranged by years, and preserved always. I also suggest the purchase of suitable record books (a very small expense) for each department; that these be plainly marked and properly kept.
Such records, with the exception of registers more or less accurately kept, are usually unknown and unheard of in country schools. Each teacher is a law sufficient unto her- self, who, when she takes the school, receives little if any information as to what had gone before; and who, when she departs, leaves little in the way of guidance to her succes- sor.
Every good school should have the following permanent records :-
1. REGISTER CORRECTLY AND HONESTLY KEPT. An attempt at this is usual in every school. As a matter of fact a large per cent of teachers' registers are inac-
43
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
curate. This is due to ignorance of the correct form, or carelessness. I have examined many of the registers for previous years, and have found inaccuracies and inconsisten- cies in almost every one. This year I have had printed pos- tals with the statistics for four weeks, mailed to me every month. This has enabled me to keep track of the attend- ance, etc., and has been the means of discovering and cor- recting several errors. There are doubtless some mistakes that have slipped past me, but at least I have been able to prevent some. I am ready to explain the mysteries of the register to any teacher at any time.
2. A RECORD OF EVERY PUPIL-his full name, age, grade, parent's name and occupation, with special note of any physical defect, or other useful information. These records have been made, and I have such information about every pupil in the district.
3. A RECORD OF THE DIFFERENT CLASSES, with names of the pupils in each class. This information is inval- uable to a substitute or to a new teacher, and should be kept in plain sight in every teacher's desk, ready for instant refer- ence. I have caused such to be made.
4. A WRITTEN DAILY PROGRAMME OR TIME TABLE. Many schools have no such thing, and you can easily see what an advantage this is to a new teacher, as well as to the regular teacher, pupils and visitors. It shows bet- ter than any other thing the work of the school. Each school has this posted in the room, and I have a duplicate.
5. A RECORD OF THE WORK DONE BY EACH CLASS, including pages in text books, topics, outline of sub- ject, etc. The possession of such a thing for the previous year would prevent many of the dreary reviews and going over again processes so devoid of interest to the pupil. It also is a means by which the work may be checked up, and is
44
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
a definite statement of what the pupil has or has not been taught. By it we may see just where the various classes stand. By it we may judge the clearness and definiteness with which a subject has been presented, and by means of it bring to light many places where improvement is possible.
These have been made out on cards every four weeks. They are classified and filed in my office, and will be returned to the school at the end of the year.
6. A DEFINITE COURSE OF STUDY. We have been following, as nearly as possible, the uniform course for com- mon schools in the state of New Hampshire, published by the State Department of Public Instruction. This course is already in use in many of the schools of the state, and being adopted by others every day. Its adoption will tend to make our schools more nearly alike, and when a family moves from one town to another, the children will not have to lose a year or two because the courses are different.
The course is broad enough to allow for local conditions, and variation in detail, and contains many suggestions on out- line and teaching of great value to teachers. A copy has been placed in every school and it should serve as a guide and subject of study for every teacher. It is the result of the combined efforts of the best educators of New England, and is of far greater value than that which any one man or any school board could provide. Having a course is one thing,and following it is another. The checking up by means of item 5 helps on this.
7. A RECORD OF PUPILS' WORK AND A REPORT OF SAME TO PARENTS. These reports are for the pur- pose indicated on the back of each, and have been sent out so that the parents may have some idea of how the pupil is getting along.
8. A RECORD OF THE BOOKS ON HAND. Many teachers have a rather vague knowledge of the books in their
45
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
own school. And sometimes school boards do not exactly know what is on hand for text material.
A record of all books, their titles, authors, publishers, num- ber and condition should be kept, and revised up to date as often as any changes are made. This record should show both the books in actual use, and the books on hand, but not in use, as well. You have kept such record, I find.
9. A RECORD OF BOOKS LOANED TO EACH PUPIL. Every text book, upon purchase, should be stamped with the school district stamp, and a label (for record of pupil who uses it) pasted in front. This label should state the con- ditions under which the book is loaned to the pupil.
Each book should have a number, and this number, with the name of the pupil and the date, recorded by the teacher.
Free text books cost the town money. They should be looked after with extreme care, and pupils should be held strictly accountable for proper use of them. I strongly urge teachers, school boards, pupils and parents to greater care in this matter, as it means hundreds of dollars to the town, be- sides the moral effect of respect for the rights and property of others.
I recommend the purchase of record books (such as pub- lished by Lee and Shepard) made especially for this, one or more for each teacher, and advise more strict and accurate account of text books. It is some trouble, of course, to do this, but it means an annual saving of perhaps hundreds of dollars to the taxpayers. Besides, it is business, a strictly business proceeding; and it sometimes seems as if business methods and the public schools needed an introduction.
10. AN ACCURATE RECORD BY THE TEACHERS OF ALL SUPPLIES RECEIVED, WITH DATES AND AMOUNTS. There is waste in the use of supplies. A sheet of paper wasted every day by each pupil means at the end of
46
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
the year, a loss of four or five dollars to the district. The same applies to pencils, pens, blotters, chalk, etc.
I do not mean to be niggardly in regard to supplies. That would be poor economy, But I do mean that the teacher should take great pains to teach the value of economy and to avoid waste in the use of materials.
So I recommend that each teacher be provided with a book (such may be purchased of supply dealers for a few cents) made especially for such record, and that account be made of every article supplied at public expense, and that such account be returned to the Supt. of schools, and through him to the school board, at the close of every term.
This will not only account for what becomes of our supplies, but also enable us to check up and detect waste, as well as furnish a basis for estimate of purchase for succeeding years.
Again it is an application of business methods to schools and a strict application of such methods, with frequent check- ing up, will reveal many a leak, and result in saving your dis- trict many dollars. Only, someone has to have charge of it, and be given authority to handle it as he sees fit, or you can not place responsibility.
III. THE SCHOOLS THEMSELVES. PHYSICAL' AND SANITARY CONDITIONS.
1. TOILET FACILITIES. Without sewerage or other proper means of disposing of waste matter this question be- comes extremely difficult to settle. At the same time, it is the most important question that a local school board ever has to consider, and one which is universally neglected, and passed over as of secondary consideration, or regarded as a negligible quantity in the solution of the school problem.
The results of its solution affect a school in three ways- physically-mentally-morally. And the greatest of these is morally.
47
REPORT OF THE TOWN OF ALTON.
It's a question of which the average citizen fights shy, and the average school board dare not attack. It is usually dis- missed by rural citizens with the soothing remark that it is "as good as we had when we went to school" or "as good as other country towns have," both of which are disgracefully true, but of no value toward a solution of the problem.
What we need is the advice of a competent sanitarian backed up by a little hard cash.
This suggestion, as my others, I give you because I know it is right. You may heed it or not. If your schools as they are, are good enough for you, they surely are good enough for me. Neither you nor I have to go to them. But your children do, and they are not good enough for them, by con- siderable.
And the sop to conscience, the makeshift afforded by a few pine boards, or a coat of paint, will not settle the matter. It should be well done; for it surely is worth doing.
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