"This Fortunate District": Green School History

Welcome to Green School History, a site devoted entirely to the Green School in Middleborough, Massachusetts. Located on East Main Street in the Green section of Middleborough, the school was built in 1871 and was in continual use until June, 1941, when it was closed. Reopened for a short period of time in the 1990s, the Green School in 2009 was threatened with demolition. A group of concerned residents banded together to save this one-room schoolhouse. Thanks to the interest of the community supported by financial contributions by residents and former pupils, the building has been preserved and the exterior restored. A new use for the structure is currently under consideration. This site hopes to convey the immense historical and educational value which the Green School still retains, particularly its ability to speak to the educational history of the community of Middleborough.

The easiest way to navigate through the site is by using the left-hand sidebar. Click on the icons to read about some of the unique aspects of the Green School's history, to view pictures of the school and documents related to its history, or to make a contribution towards its preservation. Also, for a quick reference, you can also click on the chapters underneath each icon to go directly to a topic of interest.

Monday, August 3, 2009

Grades & Report Cards

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During the 1880s, teachers completed monthly reports on pupils above the primary grades which were submitted to parents, grading students in their various fields of study numerically on a scale of 100.

In 1893, the numerical system of grading and the rationale for promoting students came under considerable discussion. Superintendent Jacoby found that “teachers were opposed to the daily marking of pupils, and the marking in per cent.” Jacoby concurred, calling the daily marking of pupils a “pernicious practice … which dissipates energy and wastes precious time”. Consequently, on January 26, 1894, the Middleborough School Committee adopted new rules governing both grading and promotions. Commencing in February, 1894, students were to be graded weekly by means of letters representing excellent, good, fair, poor and very poor. In 1885, the grade of “low” falling between “fair” and “poor” was adopted.

In September, 1919, a new system of report cards was adopted. Cards were sent home five times yearly (every two months) for students in the fourth grade and above. No cards were issued for pupils of the first three grades, though if their performance became a concern, parents were to be informed by means of a personal letter from the teacher.

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