USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1896 > Part 16
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It is probable that they will be able to occupy the improved and enlarged school on Ashland street early in the new year. They will have then the best building for school purposes in the city, with improved heating and ventilating arrangements. If this building should be as excellent in these and some other par- ticulars as it promises to be, it will not only provide suitable ac- commodation for the children attending, but will be an object lesson for our consideration when efforts are made to secure bet- ter accommodations and conveniences for other schools.
29
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
JOHNSON SCHOOL (Primary Department)
JENNY P. HASKELL, Principal. GRACE E. BARTLETT, Assistant.
Total enrolment
91
Average membership
72.6
Average attendance
67.9
Per cent. of attendance
93
Cases of tardiness
91
Dismissions
67
Average age
8 yrs.
Number under five
0
Promoted to grammar school without examination
12
Promoted to grammar school by examination
5
BROMFIELD STREET SCHOOL (Primary Department)
ELIZABETH HOXIE, Principal.
MARY '1'. COLBY, Assistant.
Total enrolment
113
Average membership
81.7
Average attendance
75.2
Per cent. of attendance
91
Cases of tardiness
173
Dismissions
72
Average age
. 7 yrs. 7 mos.
Number under five years of age
0
Promoted to grammar school .
14
JACKMAN SCHOOL (Primary Department)
JOSIE W. KIMBALL, Principal.
LILLIAN HAMILTON, Assistant.
Total enrolment
80
Average membership
72
Average attendance
66
Per cent. of attendance
91.2
Cases of tardiness
148
Dismissions
273
Average age
9 yrs. 10 mos.
Number five years of age
0
Promoted to grammar grade
11
30
ANNUAL REPORT
TEMPLE STREET SCHOOL LILLIAN GOODWIN, Principal.
Total enrolment
44
Average membership
40
Average attendance
35
Per cent. of attendance
87.5
Cases of tardiness
70
Dismissions
45
Average age .
Number under five years of age
8 yrs. 6 mos. 0
TRAINING SCHOOL FRANCES W. RICHARDS, Principal.
Toval enrolment
227
Average membership
172
Average attendance
155
Per cent. of attendance
88
Cases of tardiness
322
Dismissions
289
Average age .
. 8 yrs. 3 mos.
Number under five years of age
2
Promoted to grammar school without examination . 32
Promoted to grammar school by examination .
10
CONGRESS STREET SCHOOL
ELIZABETH CHEEVER, Principal.
SARAH A. Ross, 1st Assistant. GERTRUDE E. LEWIS, 2d Assistant. ANNIE P. TOPPAN, 3d Assistant.
Total enrolment
177
Average membership
151
Average attendance
138
Per cent. of attendance
91
Average age
8 yrs. 2 mos.
Cases of tardiness
463
Dismissions
246
Number under five years of age
0
Promoted to grammar school
35
31
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
CONGRESS STREET WARDROOM SCHOOL
CHARLOTTE K. DICKINS, Teacher.
Total enrolment
34
Average membership
22.9
Average attendance
20
Per cent. of attendance
80
Cases of tardiness
110
Dismissions
20
Average age
6 yrs. 1 mo.
Number under five years of age
0
ASHLAND STREET SCHOOL
FRANCES L. PETTIGREW, Principal. SARAH F. BADGER, Assistant.
Total enrolment
105
Average membership
91
Average attendance
85.6
Per cent. of attendance
94
Cases of tardiness
118
Dismissions
173
Average age ,
8 yrs. 7 mos.
Number under five years of age
0
Promoted to grammar school without examination .
17
Promoted to grammar school by examination. 7
PURCHASE STREET SCHOOL MARY A. ROAF, Principal.
Total enrolment
66
Average membership
41
Average attendance
37.6
Per cent. of attendance
91.5
Cases of tardiness
81
Dismissions
18
Average age .
6 yrs. 5 mos.
Number under five years of age
0
32
ANNUAL REPORT
ASHLAND STREET WARDROOM SCHOOL JULIA HUBBARD, Principal.
Total enrolment
35
Average membership
29
Average attendance
25.5
Per cent. of attendance
80
Cases of tardiness
91
Dismissions
40
Average age
Number under five years of age
. 5 yrs. 4 mos. 0
TRAINING SCHOOL
Our city training school, which has been for five years in charge of the present principal, Miss Frances W. Richards, began as an experiment and is now a well established fact. It starts on its eighth year in a prosperous condition, having graduated thirty-seven pupil teachers.
No one thing benefits a school more than cordial sympathetic relations between the parents and the school ; in some cities soci- eties for the strengthening of this tie have been formed. The training school is most fortunate in this respect, parents co-oper- ating heartily with the school in every detail.
The aims and methods used this year are very similar to those of previous years. The subject of fractions introduced in the lowest grades last year has been faithfully carried on and with astonishing results. The system of vertical writing intro- duced this year is very successful so far and seems to be the nat- ural method for little people.
A class of three, Ella Richardson, Bessie Pike and Charlotte Holmes, was graduated in February, 1896. The exercises were held in one of the rooms of the Kelley building and were con- ducted by the superintendent of schools, who presented the diplomas. An address to the students and their friends was given by Mr. Henry T. Bailey, state supervisor of drawing. It would be of great benefit to the school if the course could be sup- plemented and enriched by occasional lectures from some of the leading educators of our land. This would broaden the pupils' ideas as to what a teacher's work consists.
In June a class of four more young ladies left the school as graduates to find positions in other schools. The class consisted
34
ANNUAL REPORT
of Jennie Adams, Grace Morse, Alice Stevens and Maud Hunting- ton. All the year's graduates are successfully teaching : three in Amesbury and four in cities near Boston.
Although the school trains its pupils in only primary work, still several of the graduates are teaching in grammar grades and doing the work with quite a little satisfaction to those having the schools in charge. Nearly all the substitutes needed in the city
have been furnished from the school. During the spring term a pupil teacher was sent to assist in the Temple street school and for a short time one was sent to the Purchase street school for the same purpose.
Number of graduates for the year 7
Number of graduates teaching 29
Number admitted during the year 11
Number in school at present 14
Number of half days substitutes have been furnished 55 . Number of half days pupil teachers have assisted teachers 70
EVENING SCHOOLS
The evening schools were held, as usual, in the Temple street schoolhouse. Mr. Irving H. Johnson was principal of the boys' school. He was assisted by Miss Elizabeth Dodge, Miss Helen S. Merrill and Miss Harriot Colman.
Miss Lizzie C. Ireland took charge of the school for girls. Her assistants were Miss Margaret Sargent and Mrs. Amos Geary.
The sessions continued till late in March, giving each school about thirty evenings.
The dulness of business and consequent removal of many families lessened, to some extent, the number of pupils. Other- wise the schools were quite successful.
DRAWING
Just a year has elapsed since Miss Sadie Morse was em- ployed as supervisor of drawing in the public schools.
For only one year's work the result from the schools is very good. Improvement is seen, first in the way in which the pupils start in on a lesson, and second, as a consequence of the first, in the result obtained. It is necessary at first to explain a great deal, and show many sketches on the blackboard. Now less of both is required, as the pupils can do more for themselves.
Some pupils find freehand drawing easier; that is drawing from flowers, sprays, vegetables and other objects; while others do better in mechanical work, drawing by means of instruments.
This is one reason why both freehand and mechanical draw- ing are in the course. This year they will also have some work in design. There is no one who cannot do something. Of course all cannot do equally good work. Can one imagine a person so situated that he will never need to use drawing in any one of its various phases? Here we find a second reason why drawing should be taught in all its many divisions.
There is no broader subject in the schools than drawing. It is capable of correlation with every other study, hence it is sug- gested that the pupils should be asked to illustrate their regular work. Drawing is a language and pupils should use it to help express their thought. It is not merely an independent subject.
The primary and grammar grades are doing their own work, as far as is possible, with two or three grades in one room.
The supply of geometric solids in the grammar rooms has been increased. The pupils draw first from a certain geometric
37
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
solid, as a cylinder, to learn the principle, and then apply it to some common object based upon that solid, as a tumbler, a bottle, a cuff.
It has been difficult to obtain a sufficient number of objects that are similar for a whole room. It would save much time and trouble as well as insure better results if each school owned the necessary number of objects just alike.
In the High school there has been marked improvement. Last year the supervisor of drawing met three classes, each one period per week. Those of the seniors and juniors who wished to take drawing made one class of thirty ; all of the third class, numbering seventy-two, made a second division; and all of the fourth class numbering eighty-five made a third. There is a great deal of individual work necessary in teaching drawing, hence it is quite difficult to compress the work, with such large classes, into forty minutes. This year the supervisor gives one whole day each week to the High school and meets six classes, none numbering more than twenty-eight and some less. With this arrangement there must be a great improvement as she can give more time to each pupil. There is more material with which to work, that is, ten casts and various dishes, etc., have been added recently. Having the proper material all we need is the time to show results. It will take two or three years, if not more, to bring the High school up to the work of its own grade, because it was necessary to begin with the grammar grade work. In nearly every schoolroom in the city the best results from the last lesson are placed on the wall, so there is a constantly chang- ing exhibition of the pupils' work. This has proved helpful in many ways, By looking at good drawings, especially if done by one of their own class, the children can understand how to con- tinue and improve their own work much better than they could from any explanation. There has been some good work done, and by the end of the school year there will be quite a good deal which the parents and the general public will be interested to see, especially as drawing is a new subject and so few know what we are doing in the public schools.
For this purpose it is recommended that toward the last of
38
ANNUAL REPORT
May a suitable place be provided where work from every school in the city may be placed on exhibition and that this exhibition last a week.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS
At the opening of the schools in September, 1896, a meeting of the teachers of the grammar and primary schools was held to consider the work for the new school year.
An effort was made at this meeting to take a broader view of what should be the aim of the teachers in their several schools. It was felt that the true welfare of the children and the schools demanded something more than the mere attainment of a certain amount of efficiency in the various branches of study. The teachers were asked to endeavor to so conduct their schools that there might, as far as possible, be developed and strengthened those traits of character that would make better men and women of their pupils, and to pay particular attention to the results of their efforts in securing correct habits.
It was impressed upon them that truth, industry, integrity and self-control might be attained to a certain degree, by atten- tion to the methods of study and recitation, and by care in the details of the schoolroom and that no amount of merely intel- lectual acquirements would be of so much value to the pupils in their charge as to counterbalance the loss of good habits already acquired, or a failure to regard the development of character in school life. As school children are advanced from room :0 room, it should be the aim of the teacher to consider their previ- ous training, and to see that while advancing in learning, there would be no falling off in whatever they had already acquired of · correct habits, but that with each step forward there should be an equal advance in good conduct and in the attainment of those virtues and correct habits that were of far more importance to
40
ANNUAL REPORT
their true success in life than knowledge in any or all branches of study.
At the various grade meetings, besides the consideration of methods of instruction and school management, many other topics have been considered. Among others may be mentioned the in- fluences that might be brought to bear upon the children to in- duce them to aim at keeping the school premises neat and orderly, and an attempt to help the improvement societies in that way, and by care in avoiding littering the streets with paper. And again teachers were requested to do whatever could be done by them in preventing the use of vulgar language among their pupils either around the schools or about the streets. Whether these ends can be attained, or not, it is certain that in many schools, the teachers have the respect and affection of their pupils, and great influence over them, even away from the schoolroom. In such cases, if complete success is not attained by their efforts, it is certain that much good will be accomplished, especially in cre- ating a sentiment in the school for the good and against the evil.
REPORT OF THE TRUANT OFFICER
GENTLEMEN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
I have the honor to submit my report in tabulated form for the year ending June, 1896, with the census of school children for May, 1896.
The conditions for the year have been about the same as in previous years. In visiting the several manufactories I found a disposition to comply with the requirements of the law.
While truancy occasionally occurs, and will not be entirely eradicated till human nature changes, I have done all in my power to prevent it, and think that it has decreased since last year.
Respectfully,
ROBERT G. ALLEN,
Truant Officer.
TRUANT OFFICER'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 27, 1896.
No. of schools visited
teachers
notified
No. of children absent from
Truancies determined by in-
Truants returned to school
No. of children warned
No. of children returned to
school from the streets
Tardiness investigated
No. of manufactories visited
No. of certificates issued
No. of children found em-
ployed contrary to law
No. of children discharged to
No. of employers notified
No. of half days' truancy
No. of children placed before
No. of children sent to truant
No. placed on probation
September, 1895
122
121
107
6
6
3
4
15
11
4
4
12
:
...
...
:
November
149
157
143
5
5
2
1
20
=
2
1
2
6
...
...
....
December .
158
173
160
6
6
5
4
15
8
2
2
2
00
...
...
...
January, 1896.
132
158
141
9
7
7
9
3
6
17
11
2
2
12
...
...
...
February
149
174
146
9
9
9
9
5
5
16
11
1
1
1
24
...
...
March
172
205
192
6
6
6
7
6
12
7
...
:
...
8
1
1
April
124
119
106
CO
7
7
8
5
3
4
1
-
...
...
..
May
125
169
140
00
8
8
8
7
4
00
1
...
1
16
...
...
...
June .
192
168
152
9
9
9
9
7
=
12
3
20
c
12
...
...
...
Totals
1468
1596
1432
89
70
70 90
41
45
128
94
19
19
113
2 20
1
1
Respectfully submitted,
ROBERT G. ALLEN, Truant Officer.
ANNUAL REPORT
October
145
152
135
7
7
4
3
13
11
3
3
10
the court
school
.
No. of absences reported by
No. of parents or guardians
school on suspicion
vestigation
00010-
00020=
...
crão
...
...
attend school
42
EXTRACTS FROM PUBLIC STATUTES [CHAPTER 498 ]
SECTION 8. Every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen years, and in every city and town where opportunity is furnished, in connection with the regular work of the public schools, for gratuitous instruction in the use of tools or in manual training, or for industrial education in any form, a child between the ages of eight and fifteen years, shall annually cause such child to attend some public day school in the city or town in which he resides, and such attendance shall continue for at least thirty weeks of the school year, if the schools are kept open for that length of time, with an allowanee of two weeks' time for absences not excused by the superinten- dent of schools or the school committee. Such period of attend- ance shall begin within the first month of the fall term of school, and for each five days' absence of any such child thereafter, in excess of the above allowance, before the completion of the re- quired annual attendance of thirty weeks, the person having such child under his control shall, upon the complaint of the school committee or any truant officer, forfeit to the use of the public schools of such city or town a sum not exceeding twenty dollars, but if such child has attended for a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such city or town or if such child has been otherwise instructed for a like period of time in the branches of learning required by law to be taught in the public schools, or has already acquired the branches of learn- ing required by law to be taught in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable, such penalties shall not be incurred.
44
ANNUAL REPORT
SECTION 3. The truant officers and the school committee of the several cities and towns shall vigilantly inquire into all cases of neglect of the duty prescribed in section one, and ascertain the reasons, if any, therefor ; and such truant officers or any of them, shall, when so directed by the school committee, prosecute in the name of the city or town any person liable to the penalty, pro- vided for in such section. Police, district and municipal courts, trial justices and judges of the probate court, shall have jurisdic- tion within their respective counties of the offences described in section one.
SECTION 15. Whenever a truant school has been established for any county it shall be the place of confinement, discipline and instruction for all truants within the cities or towns of said county, unless said cities or towns have made other provision therefor ; and police, district or municipal courts, trial justices and probate courts, shall have jurisdiction within their respective counties of the offences described in sections nineteen and twenty-one of this act ; and may commit truants to such truant school or union tru- ant school as may be established for their respective counties un- der the provisions of this act.
SECTION 22. Whoever, after notice from a truant officer to refrain from so doing, offers a reward for services to any child, in consequence of which reward such child is induced unlawfully to absent himself from school, or whoever, after notice as afore- said, in any manner entices or induces any child to truancy, or whoever knowingly employs or harbors any truant or unlawful absentee from school, shall forfeit not less than twenty nor more than fifty dollars to the use of the public schools of the city or town in which said offence occurs, to be recovered by complaint.
SECTION 23. Truant officers in cities and towns are hereby authorized, under the direction of the school committees of their respective cities and towns, to apprehend and to take to school without warrant all truants found wandering about in the streets or public places.
SECTION 13. No child under thirteen years of age shall be employed at any time in any factory, workshop or mercantile es- tablishment. No such child shall be employed in any indoor
45
ANNUAL REPORT
work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the city or town in which he resides are in session, or shall be employed in any manner during such hours unless during the year next pre- ceding such employment he has attended school for at least thirty weeks as required by law.
SECTION 10. The school committees shall not allow any pupil to attend the public schools while any member of the household to which such pupil belongs is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, re- covery or removal of such sick person; and any pupil coming from such household shall be required to present, to the teacher of the school the pupil desires to attend, a certificate, from the attending physician or board of health, of the facts necessary to entitle him to admission in accordance with the above regulation.
46
ANNUAL REPORT
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH GRADE, DEC. 1, 1896
Schools
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Total
Johnson.
26
20
24
18
18
14
17
10
11
158
Bromfield St.
15
27
23
18
22
20
22
8
13
168
Purchase St.
34
12
28
16
19
22
24
22
21
170
Temple St.
17
10
16
7
..
...
...
...
...
Kelley, Room E.
..
...
...
..
...
...
...
..
Kelley, Room F.
..
...
...
..
...
...
...
...
Kelley, Room I ..
...
...
...
...
26
15
...
...
...
Kelley, Room G.
...
...
...
...
..
...
..
...
..
...
...
...
...
. .
...
35
11
211
Training, Room A.
53
Training, Room B.
...
49
...
...
...
..
..
..
...
Training. Rcom C.
49
..
...
..
..
.. .
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
.. .
...
128
Congress St. ward room.
14
8
...
...
...
..
...
..
...
...
...
...
...
25
13
13
6
7
64
Forrester St., girls.
...
..
...
...
17
21
14
7
8
67
Ashland St ..
18
30
39
...
...
...
.. .
...
...
23
12
..
...
..
...
...
...
...
35
Moultonville
7
4
12
2
11
6
3
3
1
49
Storey Avenue
2
1
1
4
4
3
2
4
2
23
Total.
226
207
213
184
186
153
136
95
74
1474
High school --
First class
35
Second class
36
Third class.
49
Fourth class
70
191
Total
1665
..
..
..
..
...
. .
..
46
Jackman
..
...
...
...
...
..
Congress St.
35
23
30
35
...
...
...
...
...
22
Forrester St., boys
...
...
196
Training, Room D.
45
44
39
41
Kelley, Room H.
18
50
...
87
Ashland St. ward room.
47
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
STATISTICAL TABLE OF THE SCHOOLS December, 1896.
SCHOOLS
TEACHERS
GRADES
No. Desks
No. Pupils
High
G. A. Dickey, principal
191
Arthur H. Berry, assistant
Sara A. Leonard,
Mary T. Spalding, 66
Ida M. Wallace, 66
Sarah Dean, 66
Inez Cohen,
Kelley .
H
Irving H. Johnson, prin.
VIII, IX
49
46
G F
Grace L. Rivers, assis ant
VII
49
41
Anna L. Whitmore,
VI
49
39
E
Clara J. Edgerly,
V
49
44
I
Alice W. Hopkinson, “
V, VI
41
41
Training school.
D C B A
Frances W. Richards, prin.
IV
56
45
III
56
49
II
56
49
I
56
53
Johnson
. .
Anna L. Coffin, principal,
VII, VIII, IX
33
38
V, VI
34
32
III. IV
40
42
A
Grace E. Bartlett,
I, II 40
46
Bromfield
D C
Pri-cilla G. Craig, principal,
VII, VIII, IX
39
43
Abbie L. Frost, assistant,
V, VI
39
42
B
Lillian Greenleaf, Mary T. Colby,
I, II
40
42
Jackman.
D C
George W. Brown, princ.
VIII, IX
50
43
VI, VII,
50
46
B
IV, V 50
35
A
Lillian Hamilton, 66
II, III 50
46
Forrester street, boys.
A
V, VI
36
38
Forrester street, girls.
B Sarah E. Whitmore, prin. A Ellen Frothingham, ass't,
VII, VIII, IX V, VI
36
38
Moultonville ..
B
Helen S. Merrill, principal, Flora Pettigrew, assistant,
V, VI, VII, VIII, IX I, II, III, IV 36
36
24
Storey avenue ...
Nellie G. Stone, principal,
I to IX inclusive
48
23
Congress street.
D C B
Elizabeth H. Cheever. prin. Sarah L. Ross, assistant, Gertrude L. Lewis, “ Annie P. Toppan, 66
I
44
35
Congress st. w. r.
Charlotte K. Dickins, ass't,
I, II
40
22
Purchase street.
Mary A. Roaf, principal,
I, II
42
46
Temple street ...
Lillian Goodwin. principal,
I, II, III, IV
48
50
Ash'and strect ..
Frances L. Pettigrew, prin. Sarah F. Badger, assistant,
III, IV
54
39
II, III
54
48
Ashland st. w. r.
Julia J. Hubbard, principal,
I, II
43
35
IV
40
35
40
30
II
44
28
A
III, IV
40
41
A
Anna M. Lamprey, assist't, Josie W. Kimball, 66
VII, VIII, IX
36
26
B
Sarah B. Chute, principal, Alice A. Bartlett, assistant,
36
29
A
25
Emma M. Lander, assistant, Jenny P. Haskell,
D C B
..
Room
48
ANNUAL REPORT
AVERAGE AGE OF EACH GRADE, SEPTEMBER 1, 1896
SCHOOLS
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
y. m.
Johnson.
5
5
7
6
9
1
9
2
11 5
11 10
12 4
13
0
14 6
Bromfield.
6
4
7
10
8
9
7
11 3
11 10
12 1
13
1
14 1
Purchase street ...
6
4
7
9
9
6
11
11
0
11 8
13 3
13 11
14 4
Temple street.
6
4
7
5
8
8
10
....
11 2
12
4
13 0
9
13 11
Forrester street, girls.
Ashland st. ward room
5
9
6
9
·
8
10
9
8
11 0
11
8
13 2
13
9
14
3
Storey avenue.
6
7
6
11
10
8
10
9
10 11
12
2
13 10
13 5
14
High School -
Fourth Class ...
.15 years
Third Class.
. 15 years, 5 months
Second Class
. 17 years
First Class
.17 years, 9 months
. .
.. .
...
10 11
Training school.
5
7
7
8
8
8
10 4
Congress street ..
5
t-
1
8
8
10 10
11
11 11
12
2
13
0
13 14 1
15
Ashland street ..
Moultonville .
5
6
6
1
8
3
9
5
6
13 3
13 1
13 5
14 6
Kelley, Room H.
Kelley, Room G.
Kelley, Room F
Kelley, Room I.
Kelley, Room E.
...
..
Forrester street, boys.
....
..
. .
12
.
12 5
...
·
Jackman
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