USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1879-1884 > Part 36
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
While an eight-year course is contemplated, some are
6
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
longer while others are a shorter time in traversing the ground, depending on aptitude, health, and the circum- stances of home.
But better grading is in many instances a sufficient off- set to shorten the course by a year, or bring it within the time meditated.
COURSE OF STUDY.
One word regarding this nightmare of overwork, - this " undermining of the health " and "wrecking of the constitu- tion," that is to result from the requirements of our course of study. Five hours a day, five days in the week, and forty weeks in the year, in mental activity, is going to effect nervous and physical degeneracy in the future man ! The curriculum of the Melrose schools-and the same is probably true of every Massachusetts town - is in no way excessive in its requirements, or prejudicial to the attainment of the highest standard of bodily health, - a sound mind in a sound body. Work and hard work are necessities of our nature. But if, in addition to school requirements, nervous energies are diverted to outside tasks, and expended in follies and dissipations, place the responsibility where it belongs. Do not let us deceive ourselves with this platitude, nor foster the sentiment that our children are made up of a little more delicate material than their parents, or that they require special coddling ; else we will find them always distanced in the race by the country stalwart, whose knocks and knowl- edge have each a value in life. No: it is that children are underfed, even in the most luxurious homes, that causes pale faces and bright eyes. A cup of coffee and a slice of bread for breakfast is not fuel enough for five or eight hours.
HEALTH. - MORALS.
The entrusted responsibility of your Committee compre- hends the complete welfare of your children; and mental culture is not paramount, in our obligations, to morals and
7
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
health, - mental and physical purity. Teachers are enjoined by a law of our State to impress on the minds of their pupils the virtues of chastity, sobriety, temperance, &c., and we believe that they conscientiously perform this duty. Public schools, being democratic in their ends, are essentially so in their composition; and elegance, refinement, and good-breeding are not attendants in every household. Hence the necessity to protect on the one hand, and reform on the other; for such is to be the sovereign people.
Physical culture has justly become a feature of instruction in all grades, from " mother's little darling " to Master Whit- man's broad-shouldered fourth-year "boys." It is recreation, relaxation, and reconstruction epitomized. It aids discipline, sweetens disposition, facilitates mental digestion, and is in every way salutary.
The sanitary condition of the various buildings is on the whole very fair; but in no single instance are all things as they should be, -i. e. heat, light, ventilation, drainage, and sewerage. There are no crying evils, and the buildings and surroundings will compare favorably with the various homes. We note the following :---
Ist. It is quite impossible, with a very low temperature in connection with high winds, always to warm the larger buildings to a comfortable degree with furnace heat, notwith- standing the fires are run night and day; and possibly this could not be wholly obviated with steam heat, as there are individual days when in the large towns schools are ad- journed for like cause.
2d. During the short and dark days of winter, the rooms of the High School Building, especially the First Grammar, suffer inconvenience from insufficient light; and, while this was bettered by alterations two years since, further improve- ment cannot be had, and the evil will have to be borne.
3d. As to ventilation, the newer houses are well provided, especially the Grove Street and Franklin. The assembly room of the High School, which was defective in this respect, has been cared for during the past year. The Lynde Street
8
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
and Vinton Street are defective, but, with strict attention on the part of the teachers in opening windows during re- cesses and physical exercises, are made tolerable.
4th. With the exception of the High and Vinton Street, the locations of the houses are such as to afford good surface drainage, and with the latter the sandy nature of the soil is such as to readily dissipate the rain-fall; but, with the High School, neither the lay of the land nor conditions of the soil are such as to immediately free it from saturation, although steps have been taken to prevent the water from the roof finding its way into the cellar. With an unusual amount of rain it may cause some inconvenience ; still, it cannot remain long, nor be serious in its consequences.
5th. The most important, and at the same time most perplexing, question to deal with in this connection, and the same can be said of the town generally, is how and where to locate vaults, and how dispose of sewage. There being no system of sewerage for all, each householder resorts to ex- pedients. The older buildings are provided with detached out-door buildings with dry vaults, which, while being an evil, may be less so than some more modern arrangements. The Centre and Grove Street buildings, which are provided with water-closets in the basements, the former with water vaults and the latter with individual bowls, have been causes of complaint ; but during the past summer certain defects were obviated, and since that time repeated inspection and the testimony of the teachers discover no cause for complaint. If the steps taken do not continue efficient, an out-house will have to be built for the Centre, for which emergency we have provided in asking for a special contingent in our next appropriation. With the Franklin, last built, a departure in furtherance of a better plan has been made, which consists in combining the advantages of separation and flushing,- de- tached water-closets. The success or failure of this may help to solve existing problems, and aid future building commit- tees.
9
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE AND ITS SCHOOLS.
During the past year there has been built on Franklin Street, and known as the FRANKLIN, a four-room building, for the accommodation and requirements of this growing section of our town.
The committee having the matter in charge have been successful in giving you a building both ornamental to the town and happily adapted to its purposes.
Three schools are at present lodged there, and there is a spare room for another when organized. Before the consoli- dation of the Highlands and the two Green Street Schools, from which these three schools were formed, they were all mixed schools, containing each two or more grades; but in reorganizing them two were given a single grade,- one primary and one intermediate, - while one remains, as before, a mixed grammar grade, and this may be simplified when another school is established. To be more explicit: the Green Street Lower School, by the transfer of the greater number to the Franklin, and a few to whom it was quite as convenient to the Centre, was better graded, and the tax- payers saved about six hundred dollars in one school less. But this arrangement is not intended to be permanent; but, in justice to residents in the neighborhood, a school for the younger ones should be re-established at Green Street when the number of pupils warrant it.
OLD HIGHLANDS BUILDING.
It was a question with your Committee whether or not this building should continue to be occupied as a school for the very young pupils living west of the railroad. There seemed to be reasons for and against it ; but it was decided, according to the preferences of those immediately interested, to abandon it for the more attractive new one.
It will be many years ere it will be necessary to increase the accommodations for more scholars than are furnished by
10
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the new building ; and when overflow does come, a large part can be turned back to the Green Street building, from whence it has been diverted.
With this statement of the facts, we submit to you, whether it would be for the best to dispose of the house and lot, for which there is little prospective need, and convert the proceeds into a building where there is present demand.
DEDICATION OF THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE.
The following was the order of exercises at the dedication School-house, Sept. 20, 1884 :-
1. Music. By the Pupils.
2. Dedicatory Prayer By REV. J. G. TAYLOR.
3. Hymn (composed for this occasion) By J. G. ADAMS, D. D.
[Tune, Webb.] Great Source of Light and Blessing, This day we come to Thee, In grateful songs addressing Thy throne of majesty ; Thy gracious aid imploring On waiting servants here, Who, while Thy name adoring, Would feel Thy presence near !
In mutual joy we gather To offer up to Thee This Science-Temple, Father,- Henceforth, we trust, to be A home of Learning's graces, A court where Mind is Might,
One of our fair high-places Of Wisdom, Truth, and Right.
And while in Art's own beauty This noble structure stands, Be the great work of duty Done by our faithful hands ; Work that, by Thine ordaining, Our youth shall share and bless,
In their own growth and training For Life and Righteousness.
On this and every nation, Great God of all, we pray Let sovereign Education Open its radiant day ; Till man, from darkness waking Throughout our earth, shall be In Wisdom's guidance, making His upward steps to Thee.
11
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
4. Delivery of the Keys
By Mr. JOEL SNOW, Chairman of Building Committee ; acceptance
by Rev. C. FLETCHER, Chairman of School Committee.
5. Addresses . By Rev. Messrs. J. G. TAYLOR and J. G. ADAMS.
6. Evening Hymn.
7. Benediction.
FELLS.
Through the continued courtesy of Hon. E. W. Con- verse, we have been permitted, for another year, to occupy a room in the Fells Chapel building, in consideration of the fact that the town was to build at the Highlands during this time, which was of itself a reasonable undertaking for one year.
How long this indulgence of Mr. Converse will continue, we are unable to say; nor would it be either wise or mag- nanimous to ascertain by prolonged inaction in the matter of providing for our own wants. The pupils in this district increase in numbers month by month, and the present ac- commodations are nearly taken, and by the time a building could be erected the present room would be inadequate. As stated in last year's report, Mr. Converse invited the Committee to select a desirable lot for school purposes, and they designated a spot on Washington Street, hill side, a short distance north of the factory; but, as they had no authority in the premises, they could take no formal action. However, at the last November meeting, this authority was conferred, and action has been taken in accepting the same. Many children living on Washington Street, now attending the Vinton and Grove Schools, would be better accommo- dated at the Fells, in case a two-room building were located there ; and this would relieve, to some extent, the present pressure on those schools.
12
REPORT OF THE, SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
NEW SCHOOL.
An addition of one to our number has been made in the formation of the Centre Intermediate School. This be- came necessary in order to relieve the others of this grade from their excess. For the better accommodation of all, this was located in the Centre Building, and, to make place for this, the Third Grammar (Miss Barrett's) was trans- ferred to Grove Street Building.
THE CENTRE.
That the town of Melrose will have to engage in school- house building in the immediate future is evident, and an early recognition of the fact is important.
There has been a large increase in population and pupils during the past few years, and the increase in school accom- modations has not been proportionate. A limited increase of pupils in a town can be cared for by the elasticity (so to speak) of its several schools, as has been with us; but the limit of accommodation has been reached in several schools, -notably, the Second, Third, and Fourth Grammar grades. The natural increase in school population first appears in the lower grades, and, like an incoming tide, is upward in its course. Having experienced the beginning of its rise during the past three years, we have established six schools of lower grades : Primary (2), Intermediate (2), and Fourth Grammar (2).
At the beginning of the September term the tide had come up to the grammar grades; and with the increased accessions that must come next September from below, we shall have to provide another school for each of the second and third grammar grades, and, possibly, for a fourth gram- mar. In brief : the Fells needs two rooms by next Septem- ber, and the Centre three additional rooms as soon as Sep- tember, 1886.
Number pupils last term of 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884.
813 892 913
987 1,087
Increase of thirty per cent. in five years.
13
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TOWN AGENCY - FREE TEXT-BOOKS.
For the past two years Miss .Carrie A. Eastman has acted as agent for the sale of books, at cost prices, under the auspices of the Board, and in a highly satisfactory manner.
Under the new law, however, additional and peculiar duties are involved, which seemed to demand a knowledge possessed by one familiar with and engaged in every-day school work ; and an authority over teachers and pupils and property inherent in the Board, or one of its members, and which possibly could not be legally delegated, caused the selection of one of our members, Mrs. A. K. Miller, for the performance of these duties. The work is systematized in the following manner :-
An open account of all supplies is kept between the Board and its agent ; between the agent and the several teachers ; and between the teachers and their pupils. The vouchers of disbursement for the agent are the receipts of the teachers, which, with the stock on hand, is compared with the invoice of purchases, and audited by the Board. The ultimate agents, the teachers, assume as on hand what- ever they have receipted for, less the amount expended,- such as, pens, paper, ink, &c.,-and whatever is from time to time condemned as worn-out or useless,-as, books, &c., which are dropped.
The law referred to makes it obligatory upon the several towns of the Commonwealth to gratuitously furnish all sup- plies that are required for use in the school-room. Hereto- fore this has been optional with the towns, and a number of towns for several years past have tried the same, and, as far as we know, have been satisfied with its practical opera- tions. Undoubtedly, there are many things to be said for and against the wisdom of this measure. With limited observation and experience, we will not presume to pass em- phatically upon it ; yet, the following are some of its good features : As the children of the rich and poor alike receive
14
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
this bounty, no child or parent can feel pauperized, as many did when books were furnished, as heretofore, only to the indigent ; no child can offer, as an excuse for absence or truancy, that he or she has no book; no time is lost at the beginning of the term for children to provide themselves with books, which has in the past been equivalent to several days' tuition for the whole school. While it directly in- creases public taxation, and imposes a special tax where its special benefits are not always had, yet it lessens indirect taxation, or taxation as a whole, in that the aggregate sum expended is much less ; because, when books are purchased and owned by the pupil, the original cost is increased by so much as the retailer's profit may be, and the complete utility of a book is frequently limited to one pupil, where there is but one in a family, instead of doing duty for two or three successively, as it can and will, as now owned and controlled. These are its economic and disciplinary advantages.
As the passage of this law was subsequent to our last report, no appropriation was asked for, which rendered it necessary at the September town-meeting to ask for an appropriation of $2,000, which we had anticipated. As a complete outfit for every pupil was required, the outlay was double the amount required for annual expenditure.
TEACHERS - CHANGES.
A number of changes in the corps of teachers have oc- curred ; but they were fortunately so timed as to work the least detriment to the schools.
Five teachers resigned to further their professional inter- ests : viz., Miss Ella F. Norris, of Grove Street Intermediate, in order to further prosecute her studies at Wellesley ; Miss C. E. Sewell, of Highlands; Miss H. Harden, of Green Street ; Miss C. L. Hollis of Upham Street ; and Miss Emma Perley (who succeeded Miss Norris),-to accept more lucrative positions elsewhere. The first three terminated their connection with the school year, and their successors
15
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
began with new classes: Miss Lena Bracket, Miss Belle Mitchell, Miss Emma J. Davis, and Miss Alma J. Guptil, were elected to the above vacancies, in the respective order named. They are all teachers of experience, and much will be expected from them. The newly-formed Centre Inter- mediate was given to Miss Emma L. Randlette, whom the Committee had in view for some time, and from whom good things were expected, and have been realized.
The changes in the High School are noted under that caption.
DRAWING.
For the past ten years this branch of education has been taught in our schools, to an extent at least to discover where natural aptitude is found, and perhaps this is as far as the genius of our common-school system leads. Where so much is to be taught, and so many things to be learned, it is of doubtful propriety to give non-essentials great prominence or special attention.
MUSIC.
Mr. Whiting still continues in charge of this branch of instruction with zeal and fidelity. Americans are not pro- verbially a musical people, and for this reason the cultivation of the ear and voice of themselves cannot be more success- fully begun than in our public schools; but, aside from this, it is refining to the sensibilities, promotive of good feeling, and an aid to discipline. While not originally contemplated as essential to public instruction, it has become so.
SUPERVISION - SUPERINTENDENCE.
What the true interests of the town are in the matter of supervision is a question that cannot be settled by mere dictum. Your committee have never felt, all things con- sidered, that the time had come when it became their duty to unqualifiedly recommend the employment of a superin- tendent.
16
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
As an abstract proposition, immediate superintendence is a good thing, and good superintendence is an excellence. With a large number of schools (say fifty), personal oversight and direction is indispensable for educational and financial interests. In towns of less than ten thousand inhabitants, whether it be desirable or otherwise depends upon certain peculiar conditions of the town in question : whether suffi- ciently good work is being done under committee supervis- ion; whether the town can afford the outlay (and it can, if it must); and whether the probabilities of better results suffi- ciently outweigh possibilities of less favorable ones.
The latter contingency depends upon the endowments of the man selected. Many towns in the Commonwealth have ยท employed superintendents to their great satisfaction ; others, less emphatically so; while not a few, after years of trial and for competent reasons, have returned to Committee supervision. If attainments, aptitude, and experience are found in the one man, his administration will be a success. But these attributes may not be found in one who is both a prime scholar and teacher.
It is said, however questionable it may be, that poets are born and orators made ; and while the ideal superintendent need be neither a poet nor an orator, yet it is a prerequisite that he be both born and made. The town is growing, the schools are increasing, and the work and responsibility of your Committee yearly enlarges ; and how long you will be able to enlist citizens in this work, with even its present demands on time, and how satisfactory may be their con- duct of affairs, are questions to be weighed, now and hereafter, in determining the question of supervision and superintendence.
DISCIPLINE.
The matter of discipline caused but little concern during the year. Some violations of the rules have occurred ; but these have been satisfactorily dealt with by the teach- ers without resorting to severe measures, and no grave
17
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
infractions of rules have necessitated action by the Board. Corporal punishment is, as a rule, the resort of an incom- petent teacher ; yet there are cases arising when this mode of action is the only alternative to expulsion, and of the two to be preferred : as there may and do occur instances of obscene language and conduct when an heroic remedy is called for, and here the conventional birch (Solomon's rod ?) will be found to retain its pristine virtues, heedless of time and sentiment. The government of a school must be posi- tive and efficient.
PARENTAL VISITATION.
As a matter of business, every man should know from personal investigation, from time to time, what his agents are doing, In the ordinary affairs of life this is done; but in the more important interests of education he is content to delegate his authority, unquestioned except perhaps in town- meeting, to others. And this applies not only to those who have a general concern, but to parents, who have special and vital interests involved. At all times parents are welcomed by teachers ; but, in order to promote visitation, a particular day in each month has been set apart, hoping thereby that parents might feel increased obligations, but without success. Much assistance can be given a teacher, in dealing with so many children of various habits and dispositions, if previously acquainted by the parent with many little things regarding the child. And when anything unsatisfactory occurs between teacher and pupil, with what ease, generally, it can be ad- justed by the parent going directly to the teacher, rather than coming to the Committee with one side of a story.
TEACHING.
Good teachers are a sine qua non to a good school. Ex- ternal agencies supplement them only. Goldsmith's village schoolmaster "could read and cypher too," and withal may have been something of a teacher. The world was not full of perfect teachers then,-nor is it now ; for, when we are in
18
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
want of one, we find it so. Professor Tyndall said, in a clever speech, lately, that in his youth, while master in Queenwood College, he learned by practical experience that two factors went to the formation of a teacher.
In regard to knowledge, he must, of course, be master of his work. But knowledge was not all. There might be knowledge without power,-the ability to inform without the ability to stimu- late. Both went together in the true teacher. A power of char- acter must underlie and enforce the work of the intellect. There were men who could so rouse and energize their pupils -so call forth their strength and the pleasure of its exercise -as to make the hardest work agreeable. Without this power it was question- able whether the teacher could ever really enjoy his vocation,- with it he did not know a higher, nobler, and more blessed calling than that of the man who, scorning the cramming so prevalent in our day, converted the knowledge he imparted into a lever to lift, exercise, and strengthen the growing minds committed to his care.
These are sentences which should be weighed by all who propose to become teachers. Not until the world of in- struction is filled with such teachers will the profession take the rank which it ought to occupy.
FIRST GRAMMAR.
For the past four years this school has been in charge of Miss Fairbanks, and, to those who have been wisely fortunate in availing themselves of privileged visits, it speaks for itself. With many scholars this is the end of school life. This is necessarily so with some, as the circumstances of home will not suffer continued expenditure of means, nor allow of longer absence from bread-winning. With others, those who have lesser abilities and ambitions, longer continuance at school is of questionable value. The requirements of this grade are up to those of the high-school grades in many parts of the country, and the course of study so selected as to give a good practical equipment for life. With the parents of a few, the question of a high-school course has turned, in the weigh-
-
19
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ing of possibilities, on the outlay for books. Now, with the gratuitous supply of these, some will attain this object that in the past would not. Your Committee are entirely satisfied that they have vigorous teaching in this school, and are as- sured that no more work or better teaching is accomplished anywhere than in this grade and school.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.