USA > New Hampshire > Belknap County > Laconia > Annual report of the receipts and expenditures of the city of Laconia, New Hampshire : for the year ending 1894 > Part 9
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177
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
children around the school premises, are unnecessary and irk- some as applied to scholars of a more mature age.
When the matter of a new building was brought to the at- tention of the City government in the summer, the financial depression was so great that it was deemed necessary to prac- tice the most rigid economy and hold the work in abeyance until another season. There were also involved questions of location, consolidation of schools, and other considerations- all of which were perplexing and about which there was not unanimity of opinion. As regards the location of a building for primary children, the present site might be enlarged, though a suitable lot in that vicinity is to be preferred.
The question of consolidation of schools and re-adjust- ment of grades, can be satisfactorily arranged upon principles of justice and equity when a commodious, well appointed structure, worthy of the spirit and prosperity of our progress- ive city is erected at some place midway between the centres of population, and that shall be accessible to all. The number of scholars and the resources of the city warrant a careful con- sideration of this problem which calls for an early solution.
The general work of the year has been along lines that seemed to meet the requirements of a majority of the patrons of the schools. The scholars in the main have been attentive to their duties and cases of discipline have been rare. The teachers are active and on the alert for whatever may be an aid in the improvement of their methods or work.
The usual table of statistics is appended.
Respectfully submitted,
C. L. PULSIFER.
Superintendent of Schools.
12
$30 a month.
full year, 36 weeks. White Oaks district, $25 a month. Governor's Island district,
$450. Grammar School, $406. Intermediate and Primary teachers, each, $360, for SALARIES : - Principal, including duties as Superintendent, $1,000; assistant,
TEACHERS.
SCHOOLS.
Weeks of School.
Number of different scholars.
Reading and Spelling.
Penmanship.
Arithmetic.
Geography.
Language.
History.
Book-Keeping.
Algebra.
Astronomy.
Civil Government.
Physiology.
Latin.
Drawing.
Music.
Other Studies.
C. L. Pulsifer, Vina A. Dole, I term. Cornie M. Spear, 2 terms,
1
High
... 32 ... 30 ... 17 ... 25 ... 21
..
4 ... 21 ... 18 . .. 5 . . 12 ... 12 ... 22 ... 24 .. 24 .. 17
Mary E. Bennett, I term Carrie E. Drake, 2
--
Grammar
... 32 ... 56 ... 56 ... 56 ... 56 --- 54 ... 56 ... 55
... 50 --. 50
Alice R. Jones
East Intermediate.
... 32 ... 61 ... 61 .. 61 ... 61 ... 61 .. 61
.61
.. 61
Emma E. Morse
West Intermediate
... 32 ... 41 .41 ... 41 .41 -.- 41 ... 41
... 41 ... 41
Mary Calley, I term, J. Anne Robinson, 2 terms )
East First Primary ... 30 ... 72 ... 72 ... 72 --. 72
43 -. 72
Sarah E. Sturtevant
East Second “ ... 30 ... 68 ... 68 ... 68
. .- 68 ... 68
Sarah K. Smith
West First
... 68 --- 531 ... 68 ... 32 ... 83 ... 83 ... 83 ... 83 ... 24 ... 83
... 32 .. 83
Mary II. Cook
West Second “
... 32 ... 64 ... 64 ... 64 .. 64 ... 64 ... 39 ..
.. 64 .. 64
Mabel M. J. Smith, I term } Alice E. Sanborn, 1
White Oaks
... 26 ... 17 ... 17 ... 17 ... 12 ... 6 ... I
5
Perry E. Hunt, I term Hattie C. Tebbetts, I +
--
Governor's Island ... ... 22 ... 19 ... 19 ... 15 ... 15 . 10 ... 12 ... 2 ...
3
*Classes have been formed in Geometry, Physics, General History and Greek.
ENDING FEB. 16, 1894.
178
· STATISTICAL TABLE FOR THE YEAR
CITY OF LACONIA.
179
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
REPORT OF MUSIC TEACHER.
To the Board of Education :
LACONIA, N. H., Feb. 12, 1894.
In compliance with your request for a report of the condi- tion of vocal music in the public schools of Laconia, this re- port is respectfully submitted :
As my connection with the schools only dates back to Sept. 11, 1893, my report will be correspondingly brief.
While not a stranger in the city, I was a stranger in this particular line of work, and of course have not been able to do as much as my very able predecessor would have done in the same number of weeks. I do feel, however, that we have made good progress all things considered.
During the week I visit twenty-nine school-rooms, and in most cases with pleasing results. We find it much easier to keep up with the course of study in rooms which contain only one grade than in those which contain two, for in the latter case the senior class is just reviewing what it has done the previous year.
During the winter the class comprising students from the upper grammar, commercial and high schools, have been equipped with new books, and greater interest is looked for- ward to with confidence.
I would be pleased to see parents and friends of the chil- dren make frequent visits to the school-room, and feel that they would be enjoyed by all.
With the earnest support of all our teachers, and by special care of the many beautiful voices under our charge, I feel sure that this department can be made more perfect each year, and to compare favorably with other cities of the same size.
Thanking you and all with whom I have been associated for the courtesy received,
I am, very respectfully, F. H. OSGOOD.
180
CITY OF LACONIA.
MUSIC TEACHER'S APPOINTMENTS.
Monday, A. M .- School Street building (4 rooms).
וי P. M .- Bowman “
Tuesday, A. M .-- Gilford Avenue building (4 rooms).
P. M .- At High School (3 rooms).
Wednesday, A. M .- Pear Street (2 rooms) and High School building (3 rooms), at Lakeport.
Wednesday, P. M .- School Street (1 room) and Washington Street (2 rooms), at Lakeport.
Thursday, A. M .- Lake Street (1 room) and High School building (2 rooms).
Thursday, P. M .-- Weirs, Union and Crockett Schools (3).
181
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
REPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL DE- PARTMENT.
COMMERCIAL EDUCATION.
By this term is meant the training of those faculties of ob- servation and thought which are specially useful in the conduct of business affairs. It also aims to impart a knowl- edge of the routine to be found in a mercantile house or in a commission business or in a banking concern, and still further to supplement and extend in a practical way the knowledge to be gained in the less technical schools.
The special knowledge required in any particular branch of trade (including in that term the handicrafts) was formerly to be gained by an apprenticeship to a master engaged in the particular business contemplated. In such cases the educa- tion was and must always be of the severest practical character. The youngster is not entrusted with the mysteries of book-keeping nor the important task of recording the trans- actions of the day and the striking of a true balance at night. Still less is he entrusted with the delicate and responsible. management of drafts and bills of exchange. No, he begins with the small duties of the office, such as keeping the record of the postage, addressing and copying letters, carrying com- munications from his employes to other firms, and the while taking half unconsciously the methods in use about him in the enterprise of commerce. As he grows in knowledge the petty cash of the office comes under his charge and habits of accuracy are trained and fostered by the weekly balance of his accounts and by the checking of inward and outward in- voices and the preparation of bills of lading. Drafts are presented by him to the proper parties for their acceptance and thus he learns something about negotiable paper. As he gains in knowledge he will be employed in making out account sales and also he will have to perform the various calculations,
182
CITY OF LACONIA.
from data furnished by the manager of the office, necessary to find the prices on merchandise under the various conditions of "free on board," "cost and freight," cost, freight and in- surance, etc. This, the middle period of his apprenticeship, is usually the busiest. Under the supervision of the cashier he will undertake the making of cash statements upon invoices to be settled involving the allowance of interest and will check the bank statements of discount upon discounted paper, etc. During the last year of his apprenticeship he will be entrusted with the writing of some of the simpler letters of advice or specific inquiry and to the making up of accounts current, commission accounts, and the like.
During the whole of his apprenticeship he comes into con- tact with keen business men. Business is all about him. Samples of the goods dealt in continually present themselves for his judgment, although that same is not asked for nor likely to be heeded if given. On the other hand his judgment is trained by comparison with that of riper and more experi- enced men.
Such is the outline in brief of a business apprentice's com- mercial education which, in this form at least, usually extends over a period of five years. The details vary with various businesses. The main point to be kept in view is that the routine is graded from the simple duties to those of a more complex character and is practical in the highest degree. In an office there is no room for theory and but very little for teaching. The models are all about the learner ; he must learn to understand and apply for himself.
Of those boys who, less fortunate, have to gain their busi- ness knowledge starting with the end of a broom in a store, and bye and bye, driving out delivery teams, attaining the position of shipping clerks, salesman, buyer and, finally, the goal of a partnership or the starting business for themselves. it is scarcely within the scope of this report to speak. Their education is a scramble, a struggle for existence in which the fittest survive and the weaker ones succumb. Many success- ful men have gained their early training in this way, which with all its drawbacks has at least two strong points in its
183
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
favor, viz .: that nothing is to be had without determined effort, and livelihood depends in great measure upon the at- tainment of success.
Between these two forms of commercial education the school of commerce ought to stand It should supply with certainty that information concerning the methods and tech- nical forms of business which the apprentice only partially acquires in the course of his apprenticeship and reduce the time from five years to two. It should at the same time par- take as far as possible of the practical character of the merchant's office, and should be carefully graded from simple to complex duties. In addition it should supply the student with a fund of general information concerning the trade of the world and the principal centres thereof, and with some fairly accurate notions as to the laws of civilized nations gov- erning commerce. Such an education implies the study of such subjects as,
1. Book-keeping.
2. Commercial arithmetic ; that is to say, making out and settling invoices, account sales, accounts current, etc.
3. Commercial law, contracts, negotiable paper, bill of lading, deeds, etc.
4. Business correspondence, commercial markets and prices current.
5. Banking.
6. Shorthand and type writing.
7. Commercial geography.
HOW TO STUDY.
Perhaps the best form of a commercial school is that which most nearly approaches the actual mercantile office. Not that I mean in furniture and fittings, which are cf secondary importance, but in methods. To be efficient it should be graded. The standard of admission should require a thorough knowledge of the common English branches, especially spell- ing and the Common School arithmetic. In short, just such qualifications as are required by a merchant in a candidate for employment as a beginner.
The first two terms should be employed by the scholar in
184
CITY OF LACONIA.
acquiring a knowledge of the simpler matters of office routine and business forms, such as invoices. freight bills, bills of lading, account sales, etc. The third term he should begin the practice of book-keeping, including the keeping of a stock book, and also the simple methods of calculating prices. During the fourth term he should work upon lines similar to those of the previous term with the addition of practice in arranging schedules of various natures and generally more complicated accounts than those of the third term. The fifth and sixth terms should be devoted to rendering his knowledge of book-keeping fairly complete and to the study of commer- cial law, together with practice in actual business, such as judging samples, buying and selling upon such judgment, writing all the firm's business letters connected with buying and selling and the supervision of the work of those students attached to him by the teacher to act as his clerks for the time being.
WHAT WE NEED.
To carry out such a method we need first of all sufficient room. Our commercial school at present is much too crowded for efficient and thorough work. The desks now in use are well adapted to office work, although they do not demand the traditional high stool of the hum-drum quill driver. But we need some additions to the facilities of the room which may be enumerated as follows :
A. At least two copying presses.
B. A suitable arrangement for filing letters and invoices.
C. Sufficient floor space to accommodate a large table for the display of samples of merchandise, such as wools, cot- ton, hosiery and yarns, coffee, sugar, etc., rice, syrup and molasses.
D. A substitute for money.
E. A banking institution.
Of these additions only that of the bank incurs much extra expense. Nor is there any need of expensive fittings in order to teach the practice of banking, but if appearances are to be considered then they. like more solid matters, have to be paid for.
F. W. BIRCHALL.
185
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
REPORT OF DRAWING.
To the Board of Education :
In compliance with your request I will report the work done in the schools this year, also what we wish to accomplish during the coming weeks.
Although this year has been the first in which drawing has been taught, and the work has been entirely new to most, still it has proven very satisfactory as a whole, due chiefly to the interest manifested by the pupils and the hearty coopera- tion of the teachers. I wish to thank you for your willingness to provide necessary material.
The system used is Prang's course in study, form and drawing. The course is continuous throughout all the school years, developing with the mind of the pupil. This year the work has not been carried beyond the ninth grade. After this the classes entering the high school should continue the work through the four years.
In the primary grades the models and objects are studied not only by the eye but also by the hand. Ideas thus gained are real to the children. The exercises aim to develop in the minds of children, through observation, thought and expres- sion, complete images of type forms, to give them ideas of location, position, direction, size, proportion, distance and appearance, and to lead them to see, enjoy and produce beau- ty of form, of color and of arrangement. Throughout these grades and also the grammar grades, the drawings, with the exception of the geometrical problems, are entirely free hand. From the first, pupils learn to draw from real objects, not from copies of objects.
The work which we class as grammar, begins with the fourth year in school. It is strictly educational ; it deals with the mind. Through the study of concrete objects, thoughts are
186
CITY OF LACONIA.
awakened, which the hand and eye are trained to express. The imagination is cultivated and the sense of beauty is devel- oped.
The work in drawing is especially important when consid- ered in connection with the other studies. It should be used as writing and talking are used by the children of all grades.
To many people the word art suggests something sentimen- tal and unpractical, yet it is the art side that is to give all this work in form and color, that is being introduced into our schools, its chief money value. In our wood, metal and tex- tile industries, skill of hand is not all that is needed ; a taste - and knowledge of what is beautiful in the application of that skill are of the greatest importance. But we, as true Ameri- cans, are apt to look only at the useful and practical side of education. The present age is demanding not only the educa- tion of the masses, but the elevation to a higher level ; for this reason native talent is being recognized and developed.
Even from the knowledge of drawing which the pupils get in the public schools, architecture will mean more to them than a systematic arrangement of building material ; a picture, more than a combination of beautiful colors, and nature will reveal to them that which otherwise might be ever concealed.
The spring term of this year will be spent mostly in nature study. Both the teachers and myself will be pleased to have any one interested in this branch of education visit the schools and see for themselves the work that the children have been doing. I will also invite all to attend at the end of the year, at the high school building, the exhibit of work from all the schools.
Respectfully submitted, EDITH A. STEARNS,
Supervisor of Drawing.
187
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
COURSE IN DRAWING.
FIRST PRIMARY YEAR.
Solids used, sphere, cube and cylinder. . Each solid studied as a whole, and models in clay. Study surface of each solid and model natural object based on each. Study faces and find shapes in tablets. Study edges of each solid and objects. Represent edges by sticks and drawings. Study corners, make them with sticks, paper folding and cutting, by model- ing and drawing. Drill in pencil holding and free hand movement to train the muscles. Drawing of straight lines, horizontal and vertical and circles. Paper-folding of objects ; cutting and pasting of articles to illustrate forms studied. Drawings to illustrate simple stories. Drawing from memory objects seen on the way to school, from the window, etc.
Color. Exercises to train the color sense by the six spec- trum colors. Distinguish and arrange. .
A great deal of kindergarten work is introduced into the first year's work.
SECOND PRIMARY YEAR.
Review solids of first year and in addition study hemis- phere, square prism and right triangular prisms. Model forms in clay and make hollow forms in paper. Draw semi- circle, oblong and triangle. Draw five views and the appear- ance of each solid. Physical drill and practice lessons con- tinued. Color. Six specimen colors. Cutting and pasting in these colors.
THIRD PRIMARY YEAR.
Review type forms previously used. Additional models, ellipsoid, ovoid, equilateral triangular prism, cone, square prism and vase form. Physical drill. Models studied and drawn as in the two previous years. Cut, paste and arrange shapes of faces in borders and rosettes, in colored paper. Model and draw fruit, leaves, nuts, etc. Draw, cut and paste in borders and surface coverings, the quatrefoil, trefoil, Greek, Latin, Maltese and St. Andrew's crosses. Proportion of lines and division into equal parts.
Color. Six spectrum colors and two tints of each.
188
CITY OF LACONIA.
FOURTH YEAR.
Geometric views of sphere, cube and hemisphere. Outline drawings of natural objects, as apples, leaves etc., trisecting and bisecting of lines. Draw, cut and piste, quatrefoil and Greek cross. Make cube, sphere and boxes from pat- terns drawn from the objects. Modeling of natural objects. Color. Six spectrum colors and three intermediates; two tints and shades of each.
FIFTH YEAR.
Physical drill and practice lessons continued. Draw geo- metrical views of cylinder, square prism and oblong tablet. Drawing from natural objects as sprays, leaves, vegetables. Study of proportions and drawing from objects, as tumbler, envelope, fan, etc. Original units of design. Simplest His- torical ornaments studied. Draw groups of models. Square prism, envelope and shield made from patterns.
Color. Six intermediate colors, two tints and shades of each.
SIXTH AND SEVENTH YEARS.
Physical drill and practice lessons. Geometrical drawings of vase, equilateral triangular prism, ellipsoid and ovoid. Appearance below the level of the eye of cylinder and objects based on it. Groups of models and natural objects. Origin- al modifications of units and decorative designs from flowers. Moorish ornament studied and drawn. Drawing and making toy house. First laws governing perfection.
Color. Six spectrum colors, tints and shades. Color harmony.
EIGHTH AND NINTH YEARS.
Geometrical drawings of cone, square pyramid, and square plinth. Working drawings with figured dimension lines. Instrumental drawing of geometric problems. Appearance of cone below the eye, and objects based on it. Drawing of rectangular objects below the eye, facing and turned at angles.
189
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
First principles of light and shade. Historic ornaments ; Moorish Egyptian wave, scroll and spiral, Gothic ivy leaf, Fleurdelis ; study and draw each and cut and paste as units in tyle, border and surface covering. Conventionalization of flowers and the application in decoration by drawings and color. Drawings of natural growth spray and branch.
Color. Primary and secondary colors. Color harmony and theory of colors.
190
CITY OF LACONIA.
REPORT OF THE TRUANT OFFICER.
To the Board of Education :
GENTLEMEN .- I have the honor to submit the following re- port of my official work for the past year from March 1st, 1893, to February 15th, 1894, inclusive.
No. of public schools 33
St. John's parochial schools 3
No. of visits to schools 3,135
of calls on parents
1,115
of cases investigated 1,065
returned to school by request of parents 25
school age temporarily confined in station 4
put in school as direct result of officer's work 125
returned to school not recorded as arrested 273
of employment certificates granted 49
of scholars in St. John's parochial school 111
furnished with clothing, boots, shoes etc. . 35
In most schools of the city but little trouble is experienced from genuine truancy. I find some of the schools are more or less interrupted by absence which is either truancy or a worse type of absence even, caused by the indifference or in- tent of misguided parents. It is only through a wholesome fear of the law and the untiring efforts of the truant officer that a fair attendance can be secured in such cases. There is much more trouble by unnecessary absence than by truancy. It is an evil that affects all schools and all grades, and to a much greater extent than is generally supposed. Boys stay out to "carry in some wood," and consider this a sufficient excuse for absence from school. They stay away from school to attend a ball game, to sell papers, to do chores, to go on errands, to go on a visit or excursion, and some lay in bed until it is too late to attend the forenoon session, and a varie-
191
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
ty of other things of a similar nature, as though school was a matter of secondary importance. I hope that parents and guardians especially, and all who are interested in our schools, will exert an influence to lessen this kind of absence and thus increase the chances of success.
It is with pleasure that I now have this opportunity of thanking the superintendents of schools for their kindness and cooperation during the past year.
Respectfully submitted
HENRY L. WILKINSON,
Truant Officer.
192
CITY OF LACONIA.
SCHOOL REPORT OF WARD ONE.
WEIRS SCHOOL.
Spring term of school
10 weeks
Fall
11
Winter
66
15
Number of scholars .
27
Boys
13
Girls
14
Number of scholars on roll of honor
visitors during the year
40
scholars in reading
27
66
grammar
11
..
algebra
3
book-keeping
10
66
commercial law
2
..
vocal music . 27
history . 3
Teacher, Miss Gorda N. Bean ; wages per week, $7.50.
CROCKETT SCHOOL.
Spring term of school
10 weeks
Fall
11
Winter
. 15
Whole number of scholars
21
Eldest scholar
16
Youngest "
6
Number of pupils in spelling
21
4
spelling
24
66 writing
23
arithmetic
20
66 geography
15
193
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Number of scholars in arithmetic
12
66
writing . .
21
geography
7
grammar 7
history .
1
composition
4
66
drawing
18
5
book-keeping 3
of weeks for the year
36
of scholars on the roll of honor 4
Teacher, Miss Edith H. Cate. All three of the Ward 1 schools begin May 1st.
UNION SCHOOL.
Fall term
11 weeks
Number of pupils
Average attendance
Number of scholars in reading
15
6.
spelling
10
grammar
9
arithmetic
12
algebra
4
..
book-keeping
1
66
66
history .
5
4
66
physical geography
Oldest pupil, 16 years, 7 months ; youngest pupil, 6 years, 3 months. Teacher, Miss Nora O'Neil.
UNION SCHOOL.
Winter term . 15 weeks Number of pupils 13
Average attendance 12
13
.6
geography
1
civil government
13
66
writing .
15
13
physiology
194
CITY OF LACONIA.
Number of scholars in reading
13
spelling
13
66
66
algebra
2
60
66
civil government
3
physical geography
3
66
66
writing .
13
66
grammar
6
geography 8
2
66 arithmetic
11
vocal music .
13
No. of pupils on the roll of honor for the year
1
Oldest pupil, 20 years, 1 month; youngest, 6 years, 9 months.
Teacher, Mrs. O. E. C. Swain.
UNION SCHOOL.
Spring term .
. 10 weeks
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