USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1899 > Part 14
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21
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
BROMFIELD STREET SCHOOL (Grammar Department)
Priscilla G. Craig, principal.
Abbie L. Frost, assistant.
Total enrollment
84
Average membership
74
attendance
68.4
Per cent of
92.4
Cases of tardiness
218
Average age
12 years 9 months
Number over fifteen years of age
4
admitted to High school without examination . 11
.. 66
by 66 from 9th grade 3
66
66
66
8th
2
Names of pupils admitted to High school :
Edith Merrill, Marguerite Pritchard, Vera Castelhun, Nellie Anderson, Ethel Lowell, Ida Gerrish, Marguerite Corcoran, Elizabeth Whiton, Alice Higgins, Daniel A. Goodwin, 3d .. Margaret Doyle, Mary Hadden, Jean- nette Noyes, Emma Brown, Ada Reed, Mary Doyle.
JACKMAN SCHOOL (Grammar Department)
George W. Brown, principal.
Josie W. Kimball, assistant.
Total enrollment
82
Average membership
75
attendance 70
Per cent of
93.3
Cases of tardiness
567
Average age
13 years 3 months
Number over fifteen years
7
66 admitted to High school without examination
14
.6
by 66 from 9th grade 2
.6
66
66
66
8th
11
Names of pupils admitted to High school :
A. C. Titcomb, Allan Shepard, Charles Walton, James J. Dugan, Fred. Wayland, Chas. H. Green, Chas. P. Bollman, James E. Ricks, Fred T. Ryan, John J. Doyle, Geo. L. Wheeler, Edward P. Woods, Robert Fowle, Ralph Goodwin, Otis W. Greene Chas. A. Dondero, William H. Safford, Morris E. Norton, F. Walter Knapp, John L. Barrett, John Doyle, Russell Atkinson, Harry L. Moody, Frank W. Johnson, Irving Felch, Frank R. Coffin, T. C. Simpson.
1
ANNUAL REPORT
22
CURRIER SCHOOL
Sarah B. Chute, principal.
Adelena Sargent, 1st assistant. Clara J. Edgerly. 2d assistant. Cassine H. Brown, 3d assistant.
Total enrollment
150
Average membership
134
attendance
124.5
Per cent of
92.9
Average age
12 years 9 months
Cases of tardiness
194
Number over fifteen years of age
12
admitted to High school without examination
10
66
by
from 9th grade 3
66
66
66
8th
8
Names of those admitted to High school :
Bertha M. White, Sadie F. Ross, Carrie I. Coffin, Lillian M. Atwood, Ervilla H. Jackman, Grace E. Hewitt, L Belle Smith, Frank E. Wilson, Myron E. Berry, Ralph B. Currier, Charles J. Chisnell, Ralph C. Dickey, Howard W. Sargent, Marion Blake, Bessie Langley, Edith M. Parsons, Agnes Purcell, Winthrop Currier, Leander Brown, Carl Merritt, George W. Johnson.
MOULTONVILLE SCHOOL (Grammar Department)
Helen S. Merrill, principal.
Total enrollment
34
Average membership
26
66 attendance 23
Per cent of
89₺
Cases of tardiness
68
Average age
12 years 7 months
Number over fifteen years of age
.
5
66 admitted to High school by examination from 9th grade 1
8th .
1
Names of pupils admitted to High school :
Sarah B. Kenna, Harriet Jackman.
23
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
STOREY AVENUE GRAMMAR AND PRIMARY SCHOOL
Georgie Bartlett, principal.
Total enrollment 27
Average membership
22
attendance
19
Per cent of
86
Cases of tardiness
79
Average age
12 years
Number over fifteen years of age
1
.
under .6 66 66
0
Admitted to High school by examination from 9th grade
1
Name of pupil admitted : .
Edith E. Davis.
1
PRIMARY SCHOOLS
The only change of teachers since the last annual report was caused by the resignation, in August, of Miss Mary A. Roaf, principal of the Purchase Street School. Miss Roaf had filled that position for about ten years in such a manner as to secure the affection and respect of the pupils and the confi- dence of their parents. Miss Katherine Nutting, a graduate of the Training School, who had assisted during the last term of the school-year, was appointed as Miss Roaf's successor.
The rooms used for these grades are most of them poorly adapted to the purpose. They are not of uniform size and capacity. The number of seats varies from thirty in the smallest to fifty-six in the largest. There are forty-two in each room of the Curtis School, with ample air-space, abund- ant light and excellent ventilation. The rooms at the Kelly School are large with fifty-six desks in each, and are next to the Curtis School in air-space and ventilation. The other rooms, with perhaps the exception of that in Temple Street, are small, inconvenient and poorly ventilated. They are far inferior to those in most of the cities and large towns in Mas- sachusetts.
At the beginning of every new school-year, and frequently also in April, when new pupils are admitted, some of these rooms are taxed beyond their capacity, and it becomes neces- sary to transfer children to other schools, much to the dissat-
26
ANNUAL REPORT
isfaction of their parents. This is particularly the case in the two lower rooms on Bromfield Street, and in the room used for the first grade in the Congress Street School.
Notwithstanding these disadvantages the primary schools are generally in good condition in respect to instruction and discipline. The teachers are ambitious and eager to adopt the best methods. The day allowed each term for visiting has been beneficial, enabling them to compare the progress made by their own pupils with that in other schools of the same grade, here and in other cities. Each teacher sends to the superintendent a report telling where she has visited, and what she saw that was worthy of commendation.
The grade meetings held each month at the office of the superintendent have also had a good influence. There meth- ods of teaching and management are discussed. The younger teachers gain valuable information from the experi- ence of others. Sometimes a class of pupils is introduced to illustrate the progress made in some branch of study.
It is to be regretted that so few parents visit the schools to see for themselves what they really are. They would be sur- prised in some rooms to find how much is done for the chil- dren, to interest and instruct them, and how eager the pupils are in their exercises.
27
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
JOHNSON SCHOOL (Primary Department)
Jennie P. Haskell, principal. Grace E. Bartlett, assistant.
Total enrollment
83
66.7 Average membership 6. attendance 60.7
Per cent of
91
Cases of tardiness
184
Average age
8 years 11 months
Number under five years of age
0
promoted to grammar school 17
BROMFIELD STREET SCHOOL (Primary Department)
Mary T. Colby, principal. Eleanor S. Robinson, assistant.
Total enrollment
91
Average membership 75 66 attendance 69.5
Per cent of
92.7
Cases of tardiness 104
Average age 7 years 6 months
0
promoted to grammar school 16
JACKMAN SCHOOL (Primary Department)
Lillian Hamilton, principal. Dorothy Packer, assistant.
Total enrollment
91
Average membership
77.7
66 attendance 70.7
Per cent of “ 90
Cases of tardiness 300
Average age . 9 years 8 months
Number under five years of age
0
Number under five years of age
promoted to grammar grade 13
28
ANNUAL REPORT
TEMPLE STREET SCHOOL
Lillian Goodwin, principal.
Total enrollment 49
Average membership
41
attendance
35.7
Per cent of
87
Cases of tardiness
127
Average age
8 years 8 months
Number under five years of age
1
promoted to grammar school 6
TRAINING SCHOOL
Frances W. Richards, principal.
Total enrollment 243
Average membership
168
66 attendance 152
Per cent of “
90
Cases of tardiness
513
Average age
8 years 4 months
Number under five years of age
1
promoted to grammar school 31
CONGRESS STREET SCHOOL
Elizabeth Cheever, principal.
Saaah A. Ross, 1st assistant. Gertrude E. Lewis, 2d assistant. Annie P. Toppan, 3d assistant.
Total enrollment 155
Average membership 128
attendance 112
Per cent of “ 87}
Average age
8 years 2 months
Cases of tardiness 428
0
Number under five years of age
66 promoted to grammar school 26
29
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
CURTIS SCHOOL Frances L. Pettigrew, principal.
Sarah F. Badger, assistant. Charlotte Dickens, assistant. Julia J. Hubbard, assistant.
Total enrollment 159
Average membership
125.7
attendance 114.7
Per cent of
91.2
Cases of tardiness
184
Average age
7 years 8 months
Number under five years of age
C
promoted to grammar school 37
PURCHASE STREET SCHOOL
Mary A. Roaf, principal.
Total enrollment
56
Average membership . 6 attendance
37.8
Per cent of 66
90.6
Cases of tardiness
72
Average age
7 years
WARD ROOM, WARD ONE
Ina C. Walton, teacher.
Total enrollment
35
Average membership
25
attendance 21.8
Per cent of 66
87
Cases of tardiness
74
Average age
Number under five years of age
6 years 2 months 0
41.7
30
ANNUAL REPORT
MOULTONVILLE SCHOOL (Primary Department)
Flora Pettigrew, teacher.
Total enrollment 41
Average membership 66 attendance 26
28
Per cent of
93
Cases of tardiness
76
Average age
7 years 5 months
Number under five years of age
0)
promoted to grammar school 4
TRAINING SCHOOL
This school continues in charge of Miss Frances W. Rich- ards. It has steadily advanced in public estimation, so that graduates find no difficulty in securing positions, if they are willing to accept schools out of Newburyport, there not usu- ally being enough vacancies here for all of them Yet in or- der to carry on the work of the school successfully we need as many pupil-teachers as have been received. In fact to maintain its good standing, a larger class of applicants is de- sirable. Then perhaps a higher standard of admission might be required and yet enough secured to carry on the work of the school.
This work is necessarily difficult and needs on the part of the pupil-teachers thorough academic preparation, so that their whole time may be devoted to professional training and practice. It would also be well if a plan were adopted whereby some could be retained longer, before graduation, without feeling it to be a cause of reproach or discourage- ment. All are not equally rapid in acquiring skill in impart- ing knowledge or in controlling a room, and some whose de- velopment is slower would make valuable teachers if more time could be given them.
At present there are ten pupil-teachers. Six of these will complete their course at the end of January, leaving but four
324
ANNUAL REPORT
to carry on the work of the four primary rooms. As only one of these will be a senior there will not be enough with experience to take charge of these rooms unless some of those who graduate are retained to assist.
GRADUATES SINCE OPENING OF SCHOOL
Name
Year of grad.
Began teaching in Newburyport
Present position
Eleanor Towle
1991
Moultonville school
Malden Not teaching
Annie Pike
1891
Lillian Greenleaf
1891
Congress St. school
Kelley school
Judith Plummer
1991
Not teaching
Sarah Ross
1891
Congress St. school
Congress St. school
Florence True
1891
Ashland St. school
Berlin, N. H.
Ida Blaisdell
1891
Merrimacport
Mabel Hodgkins 1891
Not teaching
Edith Johnson
1892
Training school
Not teaching
Elizabeth Hoxie
1892
Bromfield St. school
Josephine Kimball
1892
Congress St. school
Gertrude Lewis
1892
Ellen Greeley 1892
Not teaching
Grace Bartlett
1893
Johnson school
Annie Toppan
1993
Congress St. school
Grace Hallier
1893
Ethel Savage 1893
Lillian Hamilton
1894
Training school
Charlotte Dicking
1894
Congress St. school
Curtis school
Julia Hubbard
1894
Curtis school
Curtis school
Alice Hatch
1894
Not teaching
Emily Smith
1894
Alice Bartlett
1894
Bromfield St. school
Not teaching
Gardener Jackman school
Congress St. school
Johnson school Congress St. school Amesbury Amesbury Jackman school
Jennie Smith 1891
33
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Name
Year of grad.
Began teaching in Newburyport
Mary Greenleaf
1895
Nora Whittier 1895
Mary Colby
1895
Lillian Goodwin
1895
Temple St. school
Eleanor Robinson
1895
Alice Hopkinson 1895
Training school
Kelley school
Hattie Baxter 1895
Merrimacport
Caroline Hardy
1895
Ella Richardson
1896
Bessie Pike 1896
Charlotte Holmes 1896
Jennie Adams
1896
Grace Morse
1896
Maude Huntington
1896
Alice Stevens
1896
Georgie Bartlett
1897
Storev Ave. school
Storey Ave. school
Margaret Cockburn 1897
Melrose
Cora Oliver
1897
Georgetown
Grace Gale
1897
Maine
Edith Smitlı
1897
Elizabeth Merrill
1897
Julia Boyle 1897
Milford
Dorothy Packer
1898
Jackman school
Jackman school
Charlotte Noyes
1898
Florence Ingalls
1898
Natick
Mary Davenport 1898
Newbury
Jenny Locke 1898
Weymouth
Ina Walton
1898
Temple St. school
Ward Room
Mary Hallier
1898
Exeter. N. H.
Carrie Merrill
1898
West Newbury
Maria Cogger
1898
Not teaching
Mary Wlıitmore 1898
Temple St. school
Newburyport
Emily Upton 1898
North Bellingham
Jennie Lowell
1899
Newbury
Emma Woodwell
1899
Sharon, Ct.
Ethel Brown
1899
West Newbury
Katherine Nutting 1899
Purchase St. school
Purchase St. school
Winchendon
Sarah Holmes
1899
Present position
Not teaching
Not teaching
Bromfield St. school
Temple St. school
Bromfield St. school
Beverly
Amesbury
Watertown
Somerville
Not teaching
Waltham
Amesbury
Not teaching
West Chesterfield
Grafton
Attleboro
34
ANNUAL REPORT
Name
Year of grad.
Began teaching in Newburyport
Present position
Annie Richardson
1899
Florence George
1899
Mendon Amesbury
Whole number graduated 64. Number employed in the city 18.
EVENING SCHOOL
The evening schools were held as usual from early in De- cember till the end of March. Owing to the small number of pupils, after a few evenings, it was decided to unite the school for boys with that of the girls The pupils, as in pre- vious years, might be divided into two classes :- those whose attendance was compulsory, and those whose education had been limited, but who were ambitious to improve it. The latter are especially worthy of all the help that can be given them. Their progress is generally rapid, as their sole purpose in attending is to learn
Many of them are grown men, who labor during the day, and are willing to work evenings to acquire knowledge that they feel the need of in their business, and which they had no opportunity to acquire as children. The Committee on Evening Schools has been liberal in supplying ample teach- ing force, so that the best results possible in the brief time of study might be secured.
DRAWING
The work in drawing has progressed well during the past year and much interest has been manifested by both teachers and pupils.
Part of the aim in this work is to develop originality and good taste and these are beginning to show themselves :--- first, in the placing of the drawing upon the paper-the chil- dren are told to make their drawing "where it will look best" -second, in choosing the medium in which they work- whether pencil, ink, or water color. This should be deter- mined by the nature of the subject.
In all the work it is well to remember that the development of art-appreciation is of as great importance as skilful execu- tion.
There is no conflict between artistic "freedom" and ac- curacy, when the work is properly guided.
In mechanical drawing the utmost exactness is necessary and this can only be accomplished by the use of accurate in- struments.
There has been good work shown in all the grades in draw- ing from flowers and from other objects. The mechanical drawing should be improved and the design work much im- proved. The work in design more than any other part of drawing depends upon the ability of the teacher to make crit-
38
ANNUAL REPORT
icisms and suggestions. Necessarily, then, the work in de- sign is the last to be what it ought.
The drawing in the High School is satisfactory considering the conditions under which the pupils have to work. The room in which the lesson is given is a regular recitation room and the seats are much too low for the desks, thus bringing the pupils' arms so high that it is difficult to get freedom in movement.
The exhibition held from June twelfth to seventeenth proved a marked success. Printed invitations were given out and a large number of relatives and friends of the pupils re- sponded.
From this exhibition a careful selection was made and sent to the State Exhibition of Drawing which was held in Copley and Allston Halls, Boston, September twenty-seventh to October fifth. Eleven mounts, twenty two by twenty-eight inches were sent and nine of them were hung. These draw- ings are now on exhibition at the superintendent's office.
This year, for the first time, pupils from Newburyport schools entered drawings in the Amesbury Agricultural Fair. Pupils from two other towns entered work also. Newbury- port pupils won first and second prizes in fifth grade, first and second prizes in sixth grade, first and second prizes in seventh grade, second prize in eighth grade, first prize in ninth grade, first prize in High School.
MUSIC
The report of the music for the past year is simply one of progress. Better work has been done by teachers and pupils, and a better understanding of the work is shown by the teachers.
The greatest need in the work is not more musical knowl- edge for the teacher, so much as a better conception of the line of work she is to pursue. For instance, many a musical teacher has for her ideal, simply part-singing, pretty song work, etc. But these will come as a matter of course, pro- vided the grade work is followed implicitly, as laid out by the supervisor that is certain definite musical problems to be learned each year, and all scholars should pass to the next grade as well prepared in these problems as in the case of mathematics. The music work of each year includes one or more problems in tune and time, and ample time is allowed for them, and for the pure enjoyment of song singing.
This is the line of work followed out in every other study, and it is singular that teachers should not naturally see its application to music.
Music is a matter of growth, and the many difficulties are not to be learned at once.
The desire for song work, part singing, etc., leads many teachers to neglect drill, and to do practically rote work,
40
ANNUAL REPORT
which is out of place in the study period. A feeling which pervades many schoolrooms, that only the so-called musical scholar can intelligently take up the work, is a great hin- drance to good school work.
In spite of all this and the minimum of time allowed for music, the work has progressed favorably. Another new book and new charts have been introduced since the opening of the school year, and the work is getting on a sound basis. The suggestion made in this report last year, that the in- struction should be given by the best prepared teachers in the schools, is one that must be heeded, for some teachers are poorly prepared for teaching music. That good progress has been made in such schools, is due to the previous training and the natural ability of the class.
It may not be out of place in this report, to speak of the excellent progress made in the boys' schools. Anyone doubt- ing a boy's ability or willingness to improve should observe their work.
Nothing but the highest praise can be given to practically all of the teachers for the conscientious work they have be- stowed on this branch of instruction. The same spirit and en- deavor will surely bring about the success we are all striving for.
COOKING SCHOOL
For more than a year the lower room in the Temple Street schoolhouse has been used for the Cooking School. This room being centrally located, well-lighted and easily ven- tilated has answered the purpose admirably.
The girls of the eighth grade throughout the city were divided into three divisions, each division coming once a week to receive instruction in the composition and value of foods and ,in practical cooking, dish-washing, scrubbing of tables and other points in housekeeping.
The School Board had decided to have the course consist of twenty lessons, twice as many as in the course of the pre- vious year, but so much interest was shown by the pupils and by their parents, that it was extended to thirty lessons.
A record was kept of the dishes prepared at home, by the girls according to the instruction given at the school, each girl stating what dishes she had cooked during the week. The whole number amounted to several hundred.
At the close of the year an exhibition of the pupils' work was given. The result of their instruction was shown by dishes of meat, vegetables, fish, bread, puddings, pies, cookies, doughnuts, all prepared by members of the class. The mothers who were present were warm in their praise
42
ANNUAL REPORT
and thought that there was no mistake on the part of the School Committee in introducing cooking as a part of the school course.
MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL LEGIS- LATION
CHAPTER 496-SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
SECT. 12. Every child between seven and fourteen years of age shall at- tend some public day school in the town or city in which he resides during the entire time the public day schools are in session, subject to such excep- tions as to children, places of attendance and schools as are provided for in sections three, seven, ten and eleven of this act : provided, that the superin- tendent of schools or, where there is no superintendent of schools, the school committee, or teachers acting under authority of said superintend- ent of schools or school committee, may excuse cases of necessary ab- sence ; and provided, further, that the attendance of a child upon a public day school shall not be required if such child has attended tor a like period of time a private day school approved by the school committee of such town or city in accordance with section two of chapter four hundred and ninety-eight of the acts of the year eighteen hundred and ninety-four, 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 learning required by law to be tauglit in the public schools, or if his physical or mental condition is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impracticable. Every person having under his control a child as described in this section shall cause such child to attend school as required by this section.
SECT. 24 Every habitual truant, that is, every child between seven and fourteen years of age who wilfully and habitually absents himself from school contrary to the provisions of section twelve of this act, upon com- plaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, and if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECT 25. Every habitual absentee, that is, every child between seven and sixteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets
44
ANNUAL REPORT
or public places of any town or city of the Commonwealth, having no law- ful occupation, liabitually not attending school, and growing up in idle- ness and ignorance, upon complaint by a truant officer or any other per- son, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state indus- trial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
SECT. 26. Every habitual school offender, that is, every child under fourteen years of age who persistently violates the reasonable regulations of the school which he attends, or otherwise persistently misbehaves therein, so as to render himself a fit subject for exclusion therefrom, upon complaint by a truant officer, and conviction thereof, may be committed, if, a boy, at the discretion of the court, to a county truant school for a period not exceeding two years, or to the Lyman school for boys, and, if a girl, to the state industrial school for girls, unless such child is placed on probation as provided in section twenty-eight of this act.
CHAPTER 494 - EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN
SECTION 1. No child under fourteen years of age shall be employed in any factory. workshop or mercantile establislinient. No such child shall be employed in any work performed for wages or other compensation, to whomsoever payable, during the hours when the public schools of the town or city in which he resides are in session, nor be employed at any work before the hour of six o'clock in the morning or after the hour of seven o'clock in the evening.
SEOT. 2. No child under sixteen years of age shall be employed in any factory, workshop or mercantile establishment unless the person or cor- poration employing him procures and keeps on file and accessible to the truant officers of the town or city, and to the district police and inspectors of factories, an age and schooling certificate as hereinafter prescribed, and keeps two complete lists of all such children employed therein, one on file and one conspicuously posted near the principal entrance of the build- ing in which such children are employed, and also keeps on file a complete list, and sends to the superintendent of schools, or, where there is no superintendent, to the school committee, the names of all minors em- ployed therein who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language.
SECT. 3. An age and schooling certificate shall be approved only by the superintendent of schools or by a person authorized by him in writing, or,
45
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
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