USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1900 > Part 3
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
The action of the committee in abolishing the above posi- tion was due to the necessity for rigid economy in school expenditure and to the fact that it was felt that, after three years of careful training in teaching the new system of pen- manship, teachers ought to be able to secure reasonably satisfactory results in this line without special supervision.
38
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE III.
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN DIFFERENT GRADES, DEC., 1900
HIGH SCHOOL.
SCHOOLS.
Kindergarten
Grade I
Grade II
Grade III
Grade IV
Grade V
Grade VI
Grade VII
Grade VIII
Grade IX
Grade X.
Grade XI.
Grade XII.
Grade XIII.
Post-graduate
Totals
High
116
61
50
40
9
276
Franklin .
50
50
52
64
48
39
41
344
Washington
33
38
30
41
49
49
43
52
335
Horace Mann
37
32
40
46
35
32
48
51
321
D. W. Gooch
30
27
26
34
30
28
64
274
Lincoln
25
36
23
40
36
34
42
44
46
.
326
Mary A. Livermore
43
44
47
48
182
Warren.
36
44
33
24
22
157
Winthrop
27
15
32
30
104
Sewall.
36
39
25
23
40 ..
163
Whittier
38
46
50
. . .
3+
Ripley
9
13
9
Total, Dec. 1900 ..
132 316 268 304 309 270 255 215 202 139
116
61
50
40
9 2,686
Total, Dec. 1899.
140 316 320 289 277 265 242 213 158 1221
88
59
47
46
72,589
. .
. .
·
. . .
. .
. .
. . .
134
Converse
18
9
12
31
COMMENTS ON TABLE III.
The following are some of the more interesting facts re- vealed by the foregoing table :
(1) The registration in the kindergarten department in December, 1900, was 8 less than a year previous. This slight decrease is due, probably, to the fact that at the be- ginning of the term in September, 1900, the minimum age of admission to the kindergarten was changed from 31/2 to 4 years.
(2) With the exception of grade one, which remains the same, grade two, which shows a loss of 52, and the senior class in the high school, which shows a loss of 6, the regis-
. . .
..
. .
39
SCHOOL REPORT.
tration of every grade shows an increase, so that the total number of pupils connected with the schools in December, 1900, was 97 more than were registered in December, 1899.
(3) It will be observed that the largest gains are in grades eight, nine and ten (the first year in high school). Grade eight has gained during the year 28% ; grade nine, 14%; and grade ten, 32%. These increases should be carefully noted by any one who wishes to form a fair judgment either of the efficiency or of the cost of the school system. On the one hand, gains in these upper grades indicate an increased appreciation of the advantages offered by the schools which leads pupils to remain in them longer than formerly ; on the other hand, taking into con- sideration that the cost of educating a pupil in the upper grades is necessarily greater than in the lower grades, it is easy to see that such gains would tend inevitably to increase the average per capita cost in the schools.
TABLE IV. AVERAGE NUMBER OF PUPILS PER TEACHER IN THE AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCHOOLS.
Kinder- garten
Grade I
Grade II
Grade III
Grade IV
Grade IV
Grade VI
Grade VII
Grade VIII
Grade IX
High
Summary for all grades
19
36
33
34
35
39
39
42
26
20
20
31
40
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE V.
AVERAGE AGE OF PUPILS IN RESPECTIVE GRADES SEPTEMBER, 1900.
19The large figures indicate the years and the small figures the months.
PRIMARY.
GRAMMAR.
HIGH.
SCHOOLS.
Kinder- garten.
GRADES.
GRADES.
GRADES.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
IX
X
XI
XII
XIII
High
Franklin
. . .
.. .
8.4
9.8
10,3
11.7
13
14,2
14.9
14.11
Lincoln
4.5
5.11
7
8.6
9.4
10.9
11.7
12.7
. ...
14.11
D. W. Gooch
5.9
7.1
8.2
9.7
10.8
11.11
12.8
13.10
Horace Mann
6.3
7.1
8.8
9.7
11.4
12.5
13.2
13.10
Livermore.
.
..
. .
10.9
11.7
12.8
13.11
Warren
5.11
7.8
S.4
9.8
11.2
Winthrop
5:10
7.5
8.8
9.5
Sewall
4.4
5.9
7
7.11
3.10
Whittier
4.7
5.7
7.1
7.10
Ripley
....
6
8.2
8.9
..
.
.. .
. .
Throughout the
city, Sept. 1900.
4.6
6
7.8
8.2
9.5
10.11 11.10
12.9
13.11
14.10
15.7
16.6
17.2
18.2
Throughout the
city, Sept. 1899. .
4.5
6
7.3
8.9
10
11
12,1
12.11
14
14.11
15.8
16.
|17.2
17.6
·
.
.
15.7
16.6
17.2
18.2
Washington
4.6
5.10
7.5
8.2
9.4
11.3
11.9
..
...
.
. .
Converse
....
6.10
6.4
. . .
.
. .
.
. .
COMMENT ON TABLE V.
Comparing the average ages of pupils in the respective grades in September, 1900, with the average ages in the corresponding grades in September, 1899, it appears (I) that, in the kindergarten grade, the average age has in- creased one month during the year, a fact easily accounted for by the change to which I have already referred in the age of admission to this grade; (2) that the averages in grades one and two remain the same, and (3) that every grade from the third to the tenth inclusive shows a decrease in the average age of the pupils. This evident tendency toward a lower average age throughout the grades is grati-
...
41
SCHOOL REPORT.
fying to one who feels that the age at which pupils have graduated from our schools has been, as a rule, too high; and it may be fairly attributed (a) to the better teaching which, I believe, is being done in the schools today, and (b) to a more careful supervision of promotions.
At the present time, instead of making the promotion of a pupil depend primarily upon his demonstrated ability to secure a certain average rank set arbitrarily by school authorities as the standard of fitness for the next higher grade, the principal consideration affecting his progress through the grades is whether or not, in the judgment of the teacher, principal and superintendent, it is for his high- est good to be advanced, in view of all considerations af- fecting his case. This plan has been in force for the past two years, and I am satisfied, not only that the efficiency of the schools has not suffered thereby, but, as I have sug- gested, that it has lowered the average age of pupils in the various grades, -a result that, on the whole, I consider a distinct gain.
42
TABLE VI. ATTENDANCE EXHIBIT FOR 1900.
SCHOOLS.
No. of Different
Pupils
Enrolled.
No. of Boys.
No. of Girls.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Per cent. of
Attendance.
Half days
Absence.
Cases of
Tardiness.
HIGH
266
117
149
250.26
239.56
95.72
3,892
156
WASHINGTON.
Grade IX .
37
24
13
42.18
40.80
96.73
533
75
Grade VI .
46
23
23
42.46
39.80
93.74
1,023
101
Grade V.
47
25
22
46.58
42.94
92.19
1,055
75
Grade IV
42
18
24
42.06
39.44
93.77
894
58
Grade III .
36
16
20
37.75
36.11
95.66
670
81
Grade II, Kindergarten
56
29
27
28.01
25.77
92.00
746
121
Grade II .
36
15
21
30.03
28.72
95.64
490
108
Grade I .
76
47
29
36.45
33.17
91.00
1,200
102
Summary for Washington School ..
376
197
179
305.52
286.75
93.86
6,611
721
FRANKLIN.
Grade IX
41
20
21
38.34
36.39
94.91
719
56
Grade VIII
42
18
24
38.04
35.43
93.14
974
84
Grade VII
52
24
28
47.70
44.23
92.73
1,285
84
Grade VI .
53
22
31
42.10
38.83
92.23
1,212
152
Grade V
49
28
21
46.82
43.11
92.08
1,355
136
Grades IV, V, VI .
48
23
25
36.79
34.32
93.29
979
120
Grade IV
43
11
32
43.60
40.53
92.96
1,129
91
Grade III . .
49
25
24
44.03
41.52
94.30
892
51
Summary for Franklin School
377
171
206
337.42
314.36
93.23
8,545
774
.
.
...... ......
.
· . ... ......
.
.
..
. .
.....
.
.
..
.
.
..
.
. . ..
. ...
....
.
........
·
SCHOOL REPORT.
.
LINCOLN.
Grade IX .
51
15
36
46.94
45.03
95.93
699
79
Grade VII
38
21
17
37.54
34.46
91.80
840
58
Grade VI .
40
19
21
36.86
34.47
93.51
885
46
Grade V
41
19
22
33.82
31.83
94.12
757
48
Grade IV .
7
5
2
14.40
13.82
95.97
222
3
Grades III, IV
54
29
25
45.23
42.27
93.46
1,257
S5
Grades II, I ..
88
45
43
49.13
44.55
90.68
1,674
37
51
27
24
28.18
24.29
S6.20
1,444
65
Summary for Lincoln School
370
180
190
292.10
270.72
92.68
7,778
421
D. W. GOOCH.
Grade VIII .
44
24
20
42.85
41.38
96.57
522
34
Grades VII, VIII
39
19
20
38.47
36.69
95.37
642
27
Grade VI
31
17
14
27.62
26.44
95.73
384
23
Grade V .
43
23
20
33.09
31.57
95.41
554
55
43
26
17
35 99
34.46
95.75
580
48
Grade IV .
36
19
17
29.90
28.55
95 48
497.
25
Grade III .
39
26
13
30.00
28.71
95.70
528
41
Grade II . .
71
38
33
33.13
30.96
90.43
816
60
Summary for D. W. Gooch School
346
192
154
271.05
258.76
95.47
4,523
313
HORACE MANN.
Grade VIII .
40
24
16
42.02
40.91
97.36
404
72
Grade VII .
52
24
28
48.01
45.07
93.83
1,073
273
Grade VI .
38
24
14
34.26
33.29
97.17
339
125
Grade V .
37
20
17
35.22
33.69
95.65
587
120
Grade IV .
42
19
23
39.47
37.55
95.14
672
145
Grade III
43
24
19
33.97
31.63
90.17
844
162
Grade II . .
68
33
35
31.66
29.33
92.64
889
137
Grade I.
Summary for Horace Mann School
359
186
173
298.20
284.23
95.32
5,147
1,144
.
.
.
.
.
.
. . ...
. . .
. .
.
..
. .
...
..
39
18
21
33.59
32.76
97.53
339
110
....
..
.
.
...
..
SCHOOL REPORT.
..
......
....
....
. .
.
...
..
Grade I ..
.
.. .... ....
..
43
.
..
Kindergarten . ..
44
SCHOOLS.
No. of Different
Pupils
Enrolled.
No. of Boys.
No. of Girls.
Average
Membership.
Average
Attendance.
Percent. of
Attendence.
Half days
Absence.
Cases of
Tardiness.
MARY A. LIVERMORE.
Grade VIII ..
42
22
20
43.08
41.71
96.82
480
25
Grade VII ..
53
24
29
46.92
45.32
96.59
596
18
Grades VII, VI.
48
25
23
41.94
40.20
95.85
668
30
Grade V .
42
16
26
38.12
36.69
96.25
517
46
Summary for Livermore School
185
87
98
170.06
163.92
96.39
2,261
119
JOSEPH WARREN.
Grades V, IV .
27
14
13
32.75
32.14
98.14
241
11
Grade III .
32
17
15
29.61
28.81
97.30
338
24
Grade II .
44
24
20
42.48
40.93
96.35
599
67
Grade I .
83
46
37
37.17
34.24
92.12
1,060
65
Summary for Warren School .
186
101
85
142.01
136.12
95.85
2,238
167
WINTHROP.
Grade IV
36
19
17
30.70
28.78
93.75
709
84
Grade III
29
15
14
27.84
25.70
95.91
422
85
Grade II .
38
17
21
27.93
26.44
94.67
641
114
Grade I .
56
30
26
27.37
24.71
90.28
770
142
Summary for Winthrop School
159
81
78
113.84
106.63
93.67
2,542
425
.
·
.
·
.
.
.
SCHOOL REPORT.
.
255
119
136
164.48
148.93
90.55
4,274
268
WHITTIER.
Grade II
44
23
21
35.85
979
98
Grade I
98
56
42
38.74 43.06 33.09
28.86
87.22
1,287
113
Summary for Whittier School.
206
115
91
114.89
105.57
91.89
3,098
252
CONVERSE.
Grades IV, III . .
18
10
S
9.06 31.91
8.86
97.79
35
21
Grades III, II, I .
49
28
21
31.16
97.65
304
81
Summary for Converse School
67
38
29
40.97
40.02
97.68
339
102
RIPLEY.
Grades III, II, I .
46
23
23
28.34
26.56
93.72
636
140
West Side Kindergarten.
23
12
11
11.43
9.76
84.51
624
49
Summary for all schools
2,975
1,512
1,463
2,540.57
2,391.89
94.15
525.08
5,051
.
44
20
24
40.60 43.52 36.84 43.52
38.24 40.63 33.48
94.19 93.36
869 1,110
56
Grades III, II
38
Grade I
82
41
1,032
59
Kindergarten . .
86
38
41 48
36.58
84.05
1,263
115
.
.
SCHOOL REPORT.
45
.
SEWALL.
Grade IV, III .
43
20
23
.
.
.
.
..
40.86
92.54 94.82
832
41
Kindergarten .
64
36
28
Summary for Sewall School.
90.88
46
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE VII. COMPARATIVE STATISTICS ON ATTENDANCE.
1. AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP.
SCHOOLS.
1897
1898
1899
1900
Gain 1900
Lo88 1900
High .
241.18
220.49
229.19
250.26
21.07
Washington
285.56
356.46
332.89
305.52
27.37
Franklin
313.40
315.52
343.63
337.42
6.21
Lincoln
190.79
225.19
292.10
66.91
D. W. Gooch
365.83
327.17
297.49
271.05
26.44
Horace Mann.
328.11
300.79
280.26
298.20
17.94
4.53
Joseph Warren
138.39
110.64
126.43
142.01
15.58
14.80
Sewall .
170.45
152.32
160.36
164.48
4.12
Whittier
133.90
115 02
107.60
114.89
7.29
Converse
64.65
50.00
42.96
40.97
1.99
Ripley
37.00
36.42
36.16
28.34
7.82
West Side Kindergarten ...
15.84
20.82
11.43
9.39
For all schools
2,505.55
2,506.15 2,506.21
2,540.57
34 36
2. AVERAGE ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOLS.
1897
1898
1899
1900
Gain 1900
Loss 1900
High.
229.60
212.17
220.73
239.56
18.83
Washington
252.20
330.91
310.12
286.75
23.37
Franklin
292.05
296.78
322.89
314.36
8.53
Lincoln ..
178.41
206.91
270.72
63.81
23.68
Horace Mann
287.10
284.93
270.55
284 23
13.68
4.64
Joseph Warren
128.75
104.96
120.33
136.12
15.79
14.24
Sewall
144.50
134.79
144.58
148.93
4.35
Whittier
112.50
104.90
98.46
105.57
7.11
1.74
Ripley
30.60
31.16
31.54
26.56
4.98
West Side Kindergarten
13.59
17.76
9.76
8.00
For all schools.
2,260.70 2 343.91 2,357.50 2.391.89
34.39
3. PER CENT. OF ATTENDANCE.
SCHOOLS.
1897
1898
1899
1900
Gain 1900
Loss 1900
High
95.20
96.22
96.31
95.72
.59
Washington
91.32
92.83
93 16
93.86
.70
Franklin
93.19
94.06
93.96
93.23
.73
Lincoln
D. W. Gooch ...
90.78
93 94
94.94
95 47
.53
Horace Mann.
87.50
94.73
96.54
95.32
1.22
Mary A. Livermore.
93.19
93.17
96.54
96 39
.15
Joseph Warren
93.03
94.87
95.18
95.85
.87
Winthrop
86.74
92.74
93.95
93.67
.28
Sewall
84.78
88.46
90.16
90 55
.39
Whittier.
83.27
91.20
91.51
91.89
.38
Converse
86.62
95.74
97.21
97.68
.47
Ripley
82.70
85 51
87.22
93.72
6.50
West Side Kindergarten ...
....
94.48
85.31
84.51
.80
For all schools.
90.23
93.53
94.07
94.15
.08
..
Winthrop
150.56
135.34
128.64
113.84
..
...
D. W. Gooch.
332.10
307.33
282.44
258.76
Mary A. Livermore
164.70
170.59
168.56
163.92
Winthrop
130.60
125.52
120.87
106.63
. .
Converse
56.00
47.87
41.76
40.02
.80
93.45
91.88
92.68
Mary A. Livermore
176.52
179.35
174.59
170.06
. . ......
47
SCHOOL REPORT.
COMMENT ON TABLE VII.
I. While the above table reveals that the average mem- bership of the schools for 1900 is 34.36 more than in 1899, yet one considering the estimated expenditure for schools for 1901 should bear in mind that the registration in the schools in December 1900 was 97 greater than in December 1899, as shown by Table III, so that any safe estimate of the amount of money needed to run the schools for 1901 must take into consideration that the membership will probably be at least 100 greater than that of the past year.
2. Reference to that part of the above table which deals with percentages of attendance reveals that the rate of attendance for 1897, the year before the present administra- tion began, was nearly 2% below the average for the State. It appears also that, since that year, there has been a steady increase in the regularity of attendance in our schools, until, at present, the rate is a little more than 2% above that for the State. This showing is gratifying, for it is reasonable to believe that this increased regularity in the attendance of pupils is indicative of better results in the school work.
48
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE VIII.
ANNUAL FINANCIAL EXHIBIT FOR 1900. RECEIPTS.
Special loan to cover expenses for Janu-
ary, 1900
$6,647.01
Appropriation for 12 months from Feb-
ruary 1, 1900, to February 1, 1901 .... $77,000.00
Receipts from other sources (tuition, etc.,) 1,176.08
Amount available for 12 months from
February 1, 1900, to February 1,
1901
78,176.08
Amount available for 13 months from January 1, 1900, to February 1, 1901 $84,823.09
EXPENDITURES.
Expended during Jan., 1900:
Salaries
$ 5,721.85
Books and Supplies
848.21
Miscellaneous
11.48
Repairs .
45.46
Furniture 20.01
Total expenditures for January, 1900, $6,647.01
Expended during 12 months from Febru- ary, 1, 1900, to Feb. 1, 1901:
Salaries
$60,141.47
Advertising and Printing .
361.70
Fuel
7,060.08
Furniture.
1,036.07
Miscellaneous
1,771.87
Repairs.
2,681.89
Books and Supplies
5,123.00
Total expenditure for 12 months from
February 1, 1900, to February 1, 1901 Total expenditure for 13 months from January 1, 1900, to February 1, 1901 ..
$78,176.08
$84,823.09
49
SCHOOL REPORT.
COMMENT ON TABLE VIII.
The total receipts and expenditures in the foregoing table cover necessarily a period of thirteen months owing to the fact that although the new city government went into effect January 1, 1900, the city's financial year did not begin until February I, so that it became necessary to make special provision for the January expenses in addition to the appropriation for the twelve months of the regular financial year; but, in using the table for purposes of deduction or comparison, reference must be made to the re- ceipts and expenditures for the twelve months from February 1, 1900, to February 1, 1901.
50
SCHOOL REPORT. Y
TABLE IX. GENERAL STATISTICS.
1898
1899
1900
Increase in 1900
Decrease
in 1900
No. of persons between 5 and 15 years of age residing in town September 1. .
2,066
No. of persons between 7 and 14 years of age residing in town September 1. . . .. No. of different pupils enrolled in the schools during the year .
3,043
3,077
2,975
102
No. of pupils over fifteen years of age enrolled during the year.
316
335
339
4
No of pupils between five and fifteen years of age enrolled during the year.
2,482
2,504
2,454
50
No. of pupils between seven and fourteen years of age enrolled during the year.
1,492
1,468
1,495
27
. .
No. of pupils under five years of age enrolled during the year
245
238
182
. .
56
Average membership of schools
2,506.15 2,506.21 2,540.57 34.36
Average attendance of schools .
2,343.91 2,357.50 2,391.89 24.39
Average per cent. of attendance
93.53
94.07
94.15
.08
Cost per pupil for teaching.
$17.44
$19.10
$20.31 $1.21
Cost per pupil for supervision and clerk hire ..
.83
.94
.98
.04
Cost per pupil for books and supplies.
2.04
2.38
2.02
$.28
Cost per pupil for janitors
1.98
2.50
2.38
.12
Cost per pupil for fuel
2.39
1.52
2.78
1.26
Cost per pupil for printing
.07
.10
.14
.04
Cost per pupil for miscellaneous purposes (not including repairs, furniture, and new build- ings) ...
.71
.72
.70
.02
Total cost per pupil excluding repairs, furni- ture and new buildings
25.46
27.18
29.31
2.13
Cost per pupil for furniture
1.72
.62
.41
.21
Cost per pupil for repairs
1.36
1.15
1.06
.09
Total cost per pupil for all purposes .
28.54
28.96
30.77 1.81
. .
1,436
. .
N. B. The cost per pupil in the above is based on the average membership of the schools.
5I
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE X. EXHIBIT OF COMPARATIVE COST OF SCHOOLS FOR 1900.
TOTAL TAXATION COST OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
1. Average taxation cost for support of schools and buildings for each child in the average membership of the schools .. ..... $30.31 $33.92
Per cent.
Per cent.
2. Per cent. of total municipal tax expended for support of schools . .. .
31
23
3. Per cent. of total municipal tax expended for school build- ings . . . . ..
4. Per cent. of total municipal tax expended for schools and buildings combined
32₴
30
SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS.
5. Per cent. of total expenditure for school purposes that is devoted to support of schools.
95
77
6. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to teachers' wages. ..
69
74
7. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to fuel and care of school premises
173
12
8. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to text-books and supplies .
64
6
10. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to supervision of schools.
24
3
11. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to clerk hire, truant officers and committees
12. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to sundries ..
22
3
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
13. Per cent. of total expenditure for public schools that is devoted to school buildings .
14. Per cent. of expenditure for buildings that is devoted to ordin- ary repairs and permanent improvements.
15. Per cent. of expenditure for buildings that is devoted to new buildings
5
23
100
30
70
For Melrose
For the State
7
9. Per cent. of expenditure for support of schools that is devoted to conveyance of pupils .
1
1
52
SCHOOL REPORT.
COMMENT ON TABLE X.
The term "Support of Schools" in this table, as defined by the Legislature of 1900, embraces what is expended (1) for wages of teachers, (2) for fuel and care of school premises, (3) for text-books and supplies, (4) for convey- ance of pupils, (5) for superintendents, (6) for school com- mittees, truant-officers, and clerks, (7) for school sundries.
While the limits of this report forbid a complete analysis of the foregoing table, there are a few points that deserve to be noted, both because they are vital in forming a fair judgment in the matter of school expense in Melrose, and because without explanation the full significance of the figures is not apparent.
I. Reference to item I reveals that the entire amount raised by taxation and expended for the education of each child in the average membership of the schools in Melrose during the past year is $3.61 less than the taxation cost for a similar purpose throughout the Commonwealth. While this showing, at first thought, may afford the tax-payer of Melrose a sense of gratification, it is seriously to be ques- tioned whether a relatively low standing in the above men- tioned line is, on the whole, an unmixed blessing.
It is hardly within the scope of this report to demonstrate the degree to which the prosperity of a community depends upon the educational advantages offered by its schools ; and yet, the following facts are given for the benefit of any one who may wish to reach a conclusion for himself regarding this matter: (a) According to a recent report of Dr. Harris, the United States Commissioner of Education, each child in Massachusetts receives on an average seven years of school- ing, while each child in the nation at large receives only four and three-tenths, i. e., each child in Massachusetts receives
53
SCHOOL REPORT.
on an average 63% more schooling than each child in the nation at large.
Now, according to figures complied by Horace G. Wad- lin, Chief of the Massachusetts Labor Bureau of Statistics, the average daily wealth-producing power of each man, woman, and child in Massachusetts is sixty-six cents per working day, while for each man, woman, and child in the nation at large the average production is thirty- seven cents per working day, i. e., the average wealth-producing power for each man, woman, and child in Massachusetts is 78% greater than a similar average for each man, woman, and child in the nation at large. This approximate correspondence of the percentages representing the excess in Massachusetts both in length of the schooling period and in wealth-producing power is significant. It is a fair inference, I think, from such figures that the prosperity of a community depends largely upon a reasonably generous expenditure for its schools.
The truth of this conclusion is made more apparent by the following quotation from a paper prepared by Frank A. Hill, Secretary of the State Board of Education for Massa- chusetts, on "How Far the Public High School is a Just Charge upon the Public Treasury." Discussing the figures to which I have just referred, Mr. Hill says: "Consider for a moment what is involved in the showing that each person in Massachusetts has a daily wealth-producing power twen- ty-nine cents in excess of the average for the nation at large. It means that for each person in Massachusetts the average annual excess is $88.74. It means that for all the people of the state the annual excess is $198,686,802. That is to say, the productive energy of Massachusetts yields nearly $200,000,000, a year more than it would yield if the per capita productive capacity of the State were no greater
54
SCHOOL REPORT.
than the average throughout the country. This is twenty times the annual running expenses of the public schools. It is not necessary to attribute to the schools all this vast excess of production above the average for the country to prove that they pay enormous material dividends. If so humble a fraction as a fifth or even a tenth part of this excess, or of an aggregate much less than this excess, of $200,000,000 can be traced to the schools, they are yet securities that each year return to the state much more than their annual cost."
(b) A second point worth considering in this connec- tion 'is the opinion of experienced dealers in real estate re- garding any effect that first-class educational advantages may have to enhance valuations in a community. To se- cure such opinion, I recently addressed the following circu- lar letter to a number of the most reliable and conservative real estate men in the " Metropolitan District :"
MELROSE, MASS., February, 190I.
Dear Sir :
It will be of great assistance in an investigation that I am conduct- ing if you will kindly answer the following questions in the blank spaces left after the questions, and return this sheet to me at your earliest opportunity. Permit me to thank you in advance for the trouble this will occasion you.
Yours respectfully, F. H. NICKERSON, Superintendent of Schools.
I. Is it your opinion that first-class educational advantages have- any effect to increase the readiness with which property rents or sells in a community ?
II. If you think they do,
(1) Is it the better or the poorer class of property that is most. affected thereby ?
(2) Will the resultant increase in valuation compensate in material advantage to the community for the additional expen- diture needed to maintain a first-class school system over what is necessary to maintain an inefficient system ?
55
SCHOOL REPORT.
With one exception, answers were received to all the cir- culars sent and without an exception the opinion expressed was that the enhancement of realty values, selling prices, and rental rates by high grade school advantages in a com- munity fully compensates property holders for any addi- tional taxation necessary for the maintenance of such ad- vantages.
The following two replies, the first from Newton, the second from Malden, are typical of the set. The answers are numbered to correspond with the questions given above.
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.