USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > City Officers and the Annual Reports to the City Council of Newburyport 1915 > Part 9
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Marion H. Bayley, English
665 00
700 00
Ethel M. Stevens, French
660 67
700 00
William W. Lee, Jr., Algebra, Economics
1,000 00
1,000 00
Dorothea Castelhun, Office, Laboratory Assistant
250 82
Mary I. Collins, French, German, Mathematics
210 00
Katherine E. Barrett, Stenography, Typewriting
225 00
750 00
Lefee Ayer, German, French, English
240 00
800 00
Ethel M. Jameson, French
210 00
700 00
Marguerite Russell, Physical Geog., English
491 25
Josephine L. Bayley, Typewriting
55 00
275 00
Helen B. Parker, Substitute
96 00
Mrs. John D. Brooks Substitute
174 00
Harriet Smith, Substitute
60 00
Edith Bancroft, Substitute
21 33
J. Telford Elliott, Laboratory Assistant
12 50
$12,258 75
* -$400 paid by the Putnam Trustees.
-Paid by the Putnam Trustees.
600 00
Lisbeth Larned, Physical Geog., English
39 00
6
ANNUAL REPORTS
Currier School
Sarah B. Chute, Principal, Grade Nine $ 996 66
1,000 00
Gertrude L. Barrett, Assistant, Grade Eight
600 00
600 00
Retta V. Marr, Assistant, Grade Seven
600 00
600 00
Goldia S. McArthur, Assistant, Grade Six
600 00
600 00
Elizabeth M. Roaf, Assistant, Grade Five
595 00
600 00
Helen S. Merrill, Assistant, Grades Five and Six
539 00
600 00
$ 3,930 66
Jackman School
George W. Brown, Principal, Grade Nine
$ 1,500 00 $ 1,500 00
Mary E. Chesterman, Assistant, Grade Nine
418 00
Ella M. Furlong, Assistant, Grade Nine
105 00
350 00
1
Priscilla G. Craig, Assistant, Grade Eight
600 00
600 00
Abbie L. Frost, Assistant, Grades VII, VIII
600 00
600 00
Josie W. Kimball, Assistant, Grades VII, VIII
600 00
600 00
Ellen deS. Barrett, Assistant, Grade Seven
600
00
600 00
Florence Carleton, Assistant, Grade Six
216 50
600 00
Lillian W. Greenleaf, Assistant, Grade Six
600 00
600 00
Lelia E. Kimball, Assistant, Grade Five
464 50
600 00
Helen E. Somerby, Assistant, Grade Five
180 00
600 00
Helen S. Merrill, Substitute
60 00
Susie E. Knapp, Substitute
72 00
Bessie D. Safford, Substitute
372 00
Catherine C. Lunt, Substitute
74 00
Etta H. Bray, Substitute
188 00
Marion G. Knight, Substitute
8 00
$ 6,658 00
Kelley School
Irving H. Johnson, Principal, Grade Nine
$ 1,300 00 $ 1,300 00
Nellie G. Stone, Assistant, Grade Eight
600 00
600 00
Anne J. Dixon, Assistant, Grade Seven
599 00
600 00
Anna L. Whitmore, Assistant, Grade Six
600 00
600 00
Emily F. Upton, Assistant, Grade Five
599 00
600 00
$ 3,698 00
Bromfield Street School
Tula M. Reed, Principal, Grade Four
$ 639 16 $
650 00
Feroline L. Woods, Assistant, Grade Three
598 00
600 00
Ella F. Robinson, Assistant, Grade Two
598 00
600 00
Elizabeth Boardman, Assistant, Grade One
599 00
600 00
$ 2,434 16
7
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Curtis School
Edith E. Davis, Principal, Grade Four
$ 195 00 $ 650 00
Clarissa E. Hathaway, Principal, Grade Four 340 17
Julia J. Hopkinson, Assistant, Grade Three
565 00
600 00
Effie G. Armstrong, Assistant, Grade Two
415 00
450 00
Mary F. Whitmore, Assistant, Grade One
600 00
600 00
Catherine C. Lunt, Substitute
116 45
$ 2,231 62
Davenport School
Mary E. O'Connell, Principal, Grade Four
$ 646 75 $
650 00
Marguerite L. Pritchard, Assistant, Grade Three
599 00
600 00
Laura W. Hopkinson, Assistant, Grade Two
365 00
400 00
Beulah Evans, Assistant, Grade One
600 00
600 00
$ 2,210 75
Johnson School
Charlotte K. Dickins, Principal, Grade Four
$ 650 00 $
650 00
Isabelle N. Parker, Assistant, Grade Three
463 50
500 00
Jenny P. Haskell, Assistant, Grade Two
600 00
600 00
Julia J. Hubbard, Assistant, Grade One
598 00
600 00
$ 2,311 50
Temple Street School
Mary A. Doyle, Principal, Grades Three and Four $ 650 00 $
650 00
Anna L. Doyle, Assistant, Grades One and Two
600 00
600 00
$ 1,250 00
Training School
Frances R. Rodigrass, Principal $
778 83 $ 1,000 00
Mary Bachelder, Training School Pupil
54 00
Elizabeth Caldwell, Training School Pupil
54 00
Gertrude Carter, Training School Pupil
54 00
Esther Crocker, Training School Pupil
50 00
Ella M. Furlong, Training School Pupil
54 00
Helen A. Hayes, Training School Pupil Marguerite Houlihan, Training School Pupil
54 00
Marion Knight, Training School Pupil Elizabeth Goodwin, Training School Pupil
50 00
22 00
Lelia Knight, Training School Pupil
22 00
Alice Lord, Training School Pupil
22 00
Gertrude Nealon, Training School Pupil
22 00
Hazel Weare, Training School Pupil
22 00
$ 1,312 83
54 00
8
ANNUAL REPORTS
Moultonville School
Elizabeth A. Walsh, Principal, Grades I, II, III, IV $ 615 00 $ 650 00
$ 615 00
Special Teachers
Florence M. Murphy, Drawing $ 747 50 $
750 00
Elizabeth C. Adams, Music
600 00
600 00
Sarah A. Chase, Domestic Science
731 25
750 00
Eleanor N. Lowell, Assistant Domestic Science
135 00
400 00
Abby L. Goodrich. Assistant Domestic Science
325 84
$ 2,539 59
Vacation Schools
Elizabeth A. Caldwell
$ 15 00
Gertrude L. Carter
15 00
Ella M. Furlong
15 00
Marguerite M. Houlihan
15 00
Elizabeth Goodwin
10 00
Lelia Knight
10 00
Gertrude Nealon
10 00
Alice Lord
3 20
Beulah Evans
6 00
M. Alice Lyons
40
Marion G. Knight
60
. .
$ 100 20
Evening Schools
William P. Lunt, Supervisor Kelley School $ 162 00
Sarah B. Chute, Supervisor Currier School 81 00
Catherine C. Lunt, Assistant
81 00
Susan E. Lunt, Assistant
81 00
Cora O. Jaques, Assistant
81 00
Gertrude E. Nelson, Assistant
49 50
Jenny C. Brown, Assistant
81 00
Flora Pettigrew, Assistant
81 00
Edith M. Merrill, Assistant
70 50
L. Jeanette Pillsbury, Assistant
52 50
Vera Castelhun, Assistant
81 00
Ella M. Stevens, Assistant
81 00
Elizabeth M. Roaf, Assistant
40 50
Goldia S. McArthur, Assistant
81 00
Retta V. Marr, Substitute
7 50
$ 1,111 50
9
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Janitors
James H. Brown, Jackman School $ 600 00 $ 600 00
Michael T. Carey, Kelley School *** 364 83
Philippi J. Champoux, Kelley School
*** 236 51 574 00
Philippi J. Champoux, Davenport School
177 18
Casper Kohlhaas, Davenport School
58 32
John Leary, Substitute, Kelley School
9 50
True D. Pike, Davenport School
87 50
Dennis C. Lowell, High School
775 00
775 00
Charles B. Cressy, Assistant High School
75 00
Joseph L. Dockam, Currier School
*** 654 00
600 00
Albert C. Chase, Moultonville School
100 00
100 00
Dennis Finnigan, Curtis School
450 00
450 00
Charles W. Thurlow, Bromfield Street and Johnson School
541 66
400 00
John Robinson, Temple Street and Purchase Street Schools
75 00
300 00
$ 4,204 50
Total Salaries $49,855 06
Receive $1.00 per night for evening school sessions.
GENERAL EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION
Bishop & Pettingell, Printing $ 23 25
Herald Job Print, Printing 19 75
Herald Publishing Company, Printing and Advertising .
74 63
News Publishing Company, Printing and Advertising . .
73 38
John D. Brooks, Rent of P. O. Box, Traveling Expenses. .
39 70
William C. Moore, Rent of P. O. Box, Traveling Expenses
2 67
Edward H. Porter, Traveling Expenses
3 45
William C. Coffin, Postage
108 70
New England Telephone Company, Telephone Service
128 38
Brown, Howland Company, Office Supplies
31 70
Library Bureau, Office Supplies
31 84
Manifold Supply Company, Office Supplies
4 50
Neostyle Company, Office Supplies
16 18 -$ 558 13
10
ANNUAL REPORTS
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES
American Book Company, Text Books $ 237 62
Allyn & Bacon, Text Books 49 77
A. E. Barnes Company, Text Books 3 84
E. P. Dutton & Company, Text Books 3 79
Educational Publishing Company, Text Books 12 30
A. Flanagan Company, Text Books
3 24
The Frontier Press Company, Pedagogical Books
5 85
Funk & Wagnalls, Text Books
3 80
Ginn & Company, Text Books
323 81
D. C. Heath & Company, Text Books
190 67
Houghton Mifflin Company, Text Books
25 67
D. H. Knowlton & Company, Text Books
31 57
Little, Brown & Company, Text Books
80 00
MeLaughlin & Reilly Company, Text Books
8 50
Macmillan Company, Text Books
137 17
Rand McNally, Text Books
3 30
Row, Peterson & Company, Text Books
15 63
Benjamin H. Sanborn, Text Books
58 82
Scott, Foresman & Company, Text Books
6 86
Silver, Burdett & Company, Text Books
55 31
Thompson, Brown & Company, Text Books 12 65
Warwick & York, Text Books 1 25
F. J. Barnard & Company, Rebinding Text Books
83 36
American Express Company, Express
18 36
John M. Little, Freight and Teaming
11 86
Mottram's Express, Express
1 25
People Express Company, Express
26 00
W. B. Porter, Teaming
68 48
Auto Pencil Sharpener Company, Supplies
2 80
Edward E. Babb & Company, Text Books and Supplies
1,004 13
A. B. Dicks & Company, Supplies 6 16
308 78
Est. Geo. H. Pearson, Supplies 77 85
American Bank Note Company, Diplomas 9 00
Anna F. Brooks, Engraving Diplomas 19 50
A. R. Andrews Company, Typewriting Supplies
51 00
Milton Bradley Company, Paper and Drawing Supplies 89 12
A. J. Nystron, Maps 24 00
H. A. Wales, Flags 1 25
Elizabeth C. Adams, Music Supplies
3 19
The Boston Music Company, Music Supplies
1 19
C. C. Birchard Company, Music Supplies
56 79
Oliver Ditson, Music Supplies
2 15
C. W. Dow, Drawing Supplies 3 79
F. W. Perkins, Drawing Supplies 1 90
J. L. Hammett & Company, Supplies
11
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Wilbur Abbott, Domestic Science, Supplies 3 59
Edward W. Eaton, Domestic Science, Supplies 1 15
D. A. Goodwin, Domestic Science, Supplies 96 82
Edward Hale, Domestic Science, Equipment 11 00
Jordan Marsh Company, Domestic Science, Equipmene ... 41 12
E. N. Lambert, Domestic Science, Supplies 38
George A. Lang, Domestic Science, Supplies D. F. Noyes, Est., Domestic Science, Equipment
1 14
12 82
II. W. Pray & Company, Domestic Science and Janitors' Supplies 76 30
E. P. Stickney, Domestic Science, Supplies 100 08
The Tarpon, Domestic Science, Supplies
4 23
Yerxa & Company, Domestic Science, Supplies
99
Albert E. Fowler, High School, Science Department 75
Charles L. Davis, High School, Science Department. 50
Margaret B. Flewelling, High School, Science Department 50
Gould & Adams, High School, Science Department. 4 85
Henry J. Green, High School, Science Department
3 21
Howe & French, High School, Science Department
26 79
Frank Hoyt, High School, Science Department 50 86
L. E. Knott, Apparatus Co., High School, Science Depart- ment 110 79
W. E. Morse, High School, Science Department 12 48
George E. Noyes, High School, Science Department. 6 60
Taylor Instrument Co., High School, Science Department. . 8 00
Charles H. Thomas, High School, Science Department
4 69
United Electric Co., High School, Science Department
6 11
Wetmore & Savage, High School, Science Department. . .
5 63
Wild & Stevens, High School, Science Department.
1 76
$ 3,742 42
MISCELLANEOUS
A. & E. Burton Company, Floor Brushes $ 41 00
Somerville Brush Co., Floor Brushes 26 00
M. F. Ellis Company, Paper Towels 33 00
Philippi Champoux, Labor and Janitors' Supplies
6 00
Carl C. Emery, Janitors' Supplies
8 50
S. J. Hughes, Janitors' Supplies 17 19
George H. Jaques, Janitors' Supplies
14 63
George T. Johnson, Janitors' Supplies
15 75
Casper Kohlhaas, Janitors' Supplies
1 00
L. L. Peavey, Janitors' Supplies
80 21
Charles W. Thurlow, Janitors' Supplies
5 00
12
ANNUAL REPORTS
A. P. Wilson, Janitors' Supplies 5 05
Dustbane Mfg. Co., Sweeping Compound 5 25
Salem Kil-Dust Co., Sweeping Compound 12 50
West Disinfecting Co., Sweeping Compound 13 00
Herman Goldberger, Subscriptions to School Magazines 5 70
School Arts Publishing Co., Subscriptions to School Maga- zines 11 95
J. J. & H. J. Chase, Repairs, Locks, etc. 2 94
Edward Perkins Company, Lumber for Repairs
52
Albert Russell Sons Co., Repairs, Castings
50
A. P. Marden, Tuning Pianos
8 00
F. W. Peabody, Rent of Piano, Graduation
5 00
Charles C. Stockman, Rent of Chairs, Graduation
3 50
Remington Typewriter Co., Typewriters
160 00
Samson Laundry Co., Laundry, Cooking School 13 43
495 62
TRANSPORTATION
Mass. Northeastern St. Ry. Company, Transportation $ 275 00
D. P. Newhall, Transportation of his children 17 70
Rosewell S. Norris, Transportation of his daughter 4 15 -$ 296 85
FUEL
S. P. Bray, Coal $ 395 20
Jerome A. Chase, Wood
117 12
Cashman Brothers, Coal
2,246 87
Perkins Lumber Co., Wood
24 00
John Ronan, Wood
18 00
Labor screening coal
10 80
$ 2,811 99
SUPPORT OF TRUANTS
Essex County Training School $ 210 14
13
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HIGH SCHOOL DOMESTIC SCIENCE BILLS
Contracted in 1913 and paid during the year 1915.
Atkinson Coal Company, fuel
$ 55 63
F. W. Field
8 89
Globe Tea Company
45 00
W. M. Horsch
9 10
S. J. Hughes
22 92
L. W. Menard
40 06
Newburyport Gas & Electric Company
36 70
Osgood & Goodwin
25
H. W. Pray & Company
1 16
Chas. C. Stockman
12 55
The Tarpon
36
$ 232 62
Total
$ 8,347 82
14
Text Books
Salaries
Janitors and Supplies
Fuel
Light
Repairs
Total' $ 3,368.41 16,447.81
Cost per pupil $ 1.67 42.86(d)
High School
$ 2,988.00 12,258.75
$ 850.00
$ 380.41 2,066.86
$ 576.37
$149.12
$ 546.71
Grammar Schools:
Currier School
3,930.66
600.00
241.14
530.67
44.82
61.73
5,409.02
30.83(c)
Jackman School
6,658.00
600.00
438.44
431.97
21.86
114.44
8,264.71
25.49
Kelley School
3,698.00
278.42
251.16
227.61
67.88
62.66
4,585.73
24.76
Primary Schools:
Bromfield Street
2,434.16
200.00
220.08
83.24
46.03
2,983.51
19.01
Curtis School
2,231.62
450.00
148.71
237.68
105.84
3,173.85
28.91 (c)
Davenport School
2,210.75
323.00
154.10
260.87
102.42
3,051.14
26.65
Johnson School
2,311.50
200.00
145.05
93.92
65.52
2,815.99
26.18
Temple Street School
1.250.00
166.66
104.78
70.76
1.86
102.72
1,696.78
22.24
Moultonville School
615.00
100.00
25.70
27.00
26.86
794.56
37.83
Training School
1,312.83
278.42
178.95
227.61
62.66
2,060.47
16.51
High School Domestic Science (a)
232.62
Cooking, Elementary Grades
731.25
50.00
306.51
42.29
43.09
93.58
1,266.72
8.44 (c)
Sewing, Elementary Grades
460.84
32.63
493.47
2.97
Drawing
747.50
71.34
818.84
45
Music
600.00
5.38
605.38
.30
Evening Schools
1,111.50
108.00
24.98
1,244.48
8.29
Transportation
296.85
296.85
Miscellaneous
2.00(b)
188.85
190.85
Truants
210.14
210.14
Total
$45,650.56
$4,204.50
$5,480.20
$2,867.62
$328.63
$1,580.02
Amount expended by the School Committee
.$58,202.88
Total cost of schools .. $60,111.53
Cost per pupil not including repairs .. $28.41
Cost per pupil including all charges $29.19
(a) Bills contracted in 1913.
(b) Use of city teams.
(c) Includes the cost of transportation.
(d) In computing High School costs Putnam School figures are excluded.
ANNUAL REPORTS
100.20
.93
Summer Schools
100.20
176.99
55.63
Administration
COMPARATIVE EXPENSES FOR TEN YEARS
1906
1907
1908
1909
1910
1911
1912
1913
1911
1915
Administration
$1,937.50
$2,266.25
$2,347.80
$2,350.00
$2,467.50
$2,540.00
$2,598.92
$2,773.00
$2,674.00
$2,988.00
Salaries:
High School Teachers
8,060.00
8,132.50
8,197.50
8,400.0
9,312.50
10,423.00
11,640.00
12,814.17
12,672.83
12,258.75
Grammar School Toachers
11,559.20
12,006.40
12,697.78
13,451.97
13,730.49
14,096.01
14,345.14
14,382.30
14,179.00
14,286.66
Primary School Teachers
8,215.63
8,559.28
8,626.32
8,362.28
9,149.55
10,425.33
10,682.06
11,074.97
11,086.36
11,153.23
Training School Teachers
1,542.73
1,464.00
1,486.00
1,198.00
1,334.00
1,434.00
1,434.00
1,443.20
1,492.00
1,312.83
Evening School Teachers
248.50
456.84
616.00
608500
655.50
1,008.00
1,392.00
1,389.00
1,027.50
1,111.50
Special Teachers
1,622.50
1,660.00
1,730.00
1,777.50
1,835.00
2,910.00
3,239.32
3,391.45
2,773.00
2,539.59
Janitors
3,086.81
3,094.60
3,100.99
3,117.96
3,222.50
3,525.92
3,952.35
4,059.33
4,252.46
4,204.50
Fuel
2,932.08
3,447.82
3,051.33
2,749.46
2,950.15
2,675.33
4,061.58
2,939.97
3,442.33
2,867.62
Supplies and Miscellaneous
3,795.96
3,815.76
4,264.69
1,363.22
4,858.59
6,866.96
5,648.01
5,164.82
3,569.85
5,480.20
Total Expended by
School Committee
$13,000.91 $44,903.45 $46, 118.41 $10,378.39
$49,524.78
$55,904.55
$58,993.38 $59,432.21 $57,169.33 $58,202.88
Light
155.00
166.88
215.32
213.64
164.50
215.29
299.44
367.99
311.34
328.63
Repairs
1,808.98
3,378.91
4,848.04
2,107.02
5,604.79
3,237.33
2,366.85
5,279.12
1,380.37
1,580.02
Total cost of Schools
$44,964.89 $48,449.24 $51, 181.77 $48,699.05 $55,291.07
$59,357.17
$61,659.67 $65,079.32 $58,861.04 $60, 111.52
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
15
17
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the City of Newburyport:
I have the honor to present for your consideration the twenty-fourth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools. This report, so far as it is based on my own personal acquaintance with the school system, must be limited to the activities and conditions manifested during the first three months of the school year.
General Statement of Administrative Policy
The opportunity for constructive work in the schools of Newburyport seems to me promising. The hospitable attitude which the teachers have shown towards me and the many assurances from members of the Committee of their desire to make my administration of school affairs free from lay interference are very encouraging. The co-operation of the teaching staff on the one hand and the support of the board of education on the other are absolutely neces- sary, as you all know, for successful work by the superintendent. As the teachers and committee become better acquainted with my educational aims and methods it is hoped that I shall more and more possess their confidence and that my efforts to improve the schools of Newburyport will therefore be increasingly effective and fruitful.
In every school system today there are many problems demanding solution, and the system under my charge is no exception. But it would be unwise to attempt to solve all these problems at once, or even to formulate too many of them at one time. A superintendent may well keep all these things in his mind but should bring into the foreground for discussion only those which are possible of improvement under existing local conditions. Further, in determin- ing the lines along which improvements shall be instituted he should dis- tinguish between those which involve additional cost and those which may be brought about through readjustment and improvement in existing practices without material increase of expenditure. With little or no additional outlay financially but by systematizing the efforts of the teaching staff through certain reforms in the subject matter and methods of instruction there is much that can be done towards increasing the efficiency of the schools of Newburyport.
Relation of the Superintendent to the School Committee
For the purpose of realizing the greatest efficiency in the administration and supervision of the schools there should be a revision of the rules of the school committee. Some of the customs honored in the present rules and regulations hark back to the time when the committee was called upon to exercise both legislative and executive functions. A clearer definition of the
18
ANNUAL REPORTS
authority and responsibility of the superintendent as business executive of the board and as administrator of strictly educational matters is something very much to be desired.
As you undoubtedly know, it is a well established principle of the modern administration of public education that the school committee should delegate the executive function to one professionally trained in school administration and supervision and should devote itself to legislation upon all financial mat- ters and advice upon all educational affairs. That is to say, in the most successfully managed school systems it is the practice for the committee to exercise supreme control of all matters involving the spending of money but to serve in an advisory capacity in regard to courses of study, the appoint- ment of teachers, the selection of text books and the internal management of the schools. In this advisory capacity the members of the school committee should be able to assist the superintendent in formulating a wise educational policy and in carrying out without friction his administrative plans. In fact, every fair minded superintendent will seek just such advice and assistance, for, while his knowledge of educational matters should be that of an expert, he may not be intimately familiar with the public opinion of the community upon which all successful school administration must rest and which the school committee may naturally be expected to represent. On the other hand, a wise school committee will seek the advice of the superintendent upon such financial matters as the salaries of teachers, the amount and kind of school supplies and equipment, and the need of increased school accommodations. When the legislative and advisory functions are clearly distinguished and practiced the relations between the school committee and superintendent will become cor- relative and supplementary each to the other.
At this point it may be well to consider briefly the practice of appointing numerous sub-committees. It is very generally recognized that the existence of sub-committees tends to shift responsibility from the full board, where it belongs, to somewhere else. Division into sub-committees is apt also to result in the assumption by school committee members of administrative work which should be under the control of the superintendent. With the reduction of the size of school boards, which has been taking place all over the country, the sub-committee plan has become unnecessary, for with a full board of five, six or seven members, the committee as a whole is none too large for deliberate and effective work. At the present time, therefore, small boards with no sub- committees are considered most desirable. But, with a school committee of twelve or thirteen members like our own, there is some reason, it seems to me, for the existence of a limited number of sub-committees. In addition to the committee on school athletics which, in a measure, is an institution by itself and is not included in this discussion, I should advise that, for the most effect- ive administration of our school affairs, there should be, say, but three sub- committees of four members each to be known as the Committee on Schools, the Committee on Buildings and Janitors and the Prudential Committee.
Some General Comments On Our Schools
The equipment and organization of the schools of Newburyport are what would be called very conservative if not inadequate. The presence of so many
19
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
school buildings, more or less antiquated in design and arrangement, fitted with desks and chairs of a by-gone generation, lighted so poorly as to encour- age the development of defective vision and provided with inadequate means for ventilation are well known to you all. It has been said that the character of the school buildings is an index of the educational ideals of any com- munity. In some measure this statement may be true, but one would hardly be justified in interpreting the culture of Newburyport in terms of its school buildings.
The organization of the school system is in keeping with its limited equipment. The absence of the kindergarten, the lack of any form of manual training for boys and of domestic science in the high school for girls are the most conspicious indications of a kind of education which tends to impose uniform conditions upon all pupils. In the elementary schools, moreover, there is no provision for special classes for backward children, no attention paid to mental defectives and no systematic plan for the more rapid progress of pupils who are capable of advancing faster than most of their fellows.
To the extent that the conservative element above referred to makes for stability in school matters it should be encouraged but it ought not to be allowed to react unfavorably upon the ideals of education nor to limit the possible usefulness of the schools. We ought not to settle back with com- placency offering the excuse that what was good enough for the parents is good enough for the children or resign ourselves to what seems to be the inevitable on the grounds that we cannot afford anything better. To quote from a recent declaration of the National Educational Association: "The increased cost of living and the steadily increasing number and scope of public educational activities have rendered it necessary that larger expenditures be made for schools than in the past; it, therefore, becomes imperative that all communities in the nation recognize, as many have already done, that more money must be contributed and expended for schools, both locally and by the state, if our young people are to have that kind and quality of education demanded by the times."
The important question therefore, should not be upon how slight an expenditure can the schools be run. That is a shortsighted and parsimonious policy. It would in time so limit the usefulness and efficiency of the schools as to make them utterly unable to serve their purpose. The question, on the contrary, ought to be how much money can be invested to advantage from time to time in the truly business enterprise of training future citizens. Like every business the preparation of children for life involves an element of competition, and we cannot afford, no matter what the money cost may be, to handicap the young men and young women of our city in their struggle for success by refusing them advantages which are freely offered elsewhere. If our schools are to furnish even in a reasonable degree something of the kind and quality of education which our young people ought to have we must recognize the necessity of providing adequately for their support.
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