USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1901 > Part 4
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SCHOOL REPORT.
monious relations between teachers and parents. It is evi- dent, therefore, that a principal who is supplied with an assistant is in a position to be much more efficient than one who has none and is confined to class room instruction dur- ing practically the entire time of the school session.
In addition to the duties usually put upon principals' as- sistants, the teachers who are holding those positions in our schools do more or less special work with pupils from the various grades in the buildings as they are found for any reason to need such special assistance. In this way many a child who would otherwise lose a grade is enabled to hold his place, while others whose capabilities would admit have been enabled to gain a year through special promotion.
The employment of principals' assistants has not only contributed to better educational results in our schools, but it has also improved the character of the discipline in them by enabling the influence of the principals to be felt more largely throughout the buildings.
It is my opinion, as intimated above, that to pay a princi- pal an extra salary of two or three hundred dollars to have charge of a building and then to confine him to the work of teaching in the class-room throughout the session as was formerly done is a wasteful expenditure of money. On the other hand, I am confident that the employment of assist- ants to the principals of our grammar buildings, even though it costs annually $1.15 extra per child for teaching, is wise economy, considering the purpose for which our schools are maintained.
(4) Another thing affecting the per capita cost in our schools is the policy adopted by the committee in 1899 whereby teachers who are temporarily absent on account of sickness suffer no loss of pay "provided such absence does not aggregate more than five days in any school month or
56
CITY OF MELROSE
fifteen days in a school year." Previous to this arrangement teachers absent for any cause were obliged to pay substi- tutes from their own salaries. During 1901 it cost the school department $323.25 to pay substitutes under the above rule. While this plan adds something to the per capita cost, it seems only just considering the small salaries that the average teacher receives.
(5) During the past four years the membership of the High School has increased to an extent that has compelled the addition of two teachers to the corps of that school. Necessarily, the average salary for the teachers in the High School work is higher than the average for the grades, therefore it is clear that herein lies another reason for a slight increase in the per capita cost for the education of our young people.
(6) Again, in 1898 the salary of Mr. Greene, the head of the Commercial Department in the High School, was $1000, the salary of Mr. Scott, the head of the English Department, was $1000, and the salary of Mr. Shaw, the head of the Science Department, was $900. That these salaries were inadequate to enable Melrose to retain the services of first- class instructors is evident from the fact that, although Mr. Shaw's salary was advanced to $1200, he was tempted to another school by a larger salary, and also from the fact that both Mr. Greene and Mr. Scott have received offers from other cities of larger amounts than they were receiving, so that, in order to retain their services, the committee has been compelled to raise the salary of each of these men to $1300. While these increases in salaries have made the cost per pupil in our schools slightly greater than formerly, the city has undoubtedly received an equivalent in the ser- vices rendered by these men.
(7) Another factor that should not be overlooked in
57
SCHOOL REPORT.
seeking causes for the increased cost per pupil for education in our schools during the past few years is the following: while the number of different pupils registered in the differ- ent grades in December, 1901, was only two greater than in December, 1899, the number registered in the High School and in the grammar grades in 1901 was 221 greater than in 1899. The fact that the enrollment of these upper grades has increased during the past two years so much more rapidly than the enrollment of the primary grades explains in part, at least, not only the larger total expenditure for books and supplies for our pupils, but also the increased average expense per pupil for the same, since it costs con- siderably more to supply material for a pupil in the High School or grammar grades than one in the primary grades.
(8) Reference to exhibit B in the foregoing table shows that the per capita cost of fuel has increased from $2.39 in 1898 to $2.87 in 1901. This increase is in part due to the fact that the new High School building which was com- pleted in 1898 was in use only two-fifths of the financial year; therefore, in general terms, the consumption of coal in that building for 1901 was about 165 tons more than in 1898. This represents an additional expenditure for coal for 1901 of $800 at least over that for 1898, or a per capita increase of 31 cents. The balance of the increase is due to the fact that in 1899 the town, unwisely it seems to me, cur- tailed the appropriation for fuel so that the amount of money at the command of the school committee was only sufficient to purchase coal enough in the summer to last the schools until about the first of January. This policy has not only forced the committee during the past two years to purchase more or less coal in the winter months when prices were relatively high, but also in order to get back to the practice of purchasing in the summer the bulk of the
58
CITY OF MELROSE
coal needed for the school year, it has made it necessary to expend annually an amount larger than would be required normally to supply the schools for the ten months of the school year. It should not be forgotten, also, in consider- ing the increased expenditure in this line that during the past year the ruling price of coal has been higher than in 1898, which, of course, would tend to increase the per capi- ta cost even if-the consumption were no larger.
(9) The foregoing table reveals also that the cost per pupil for supervision has risen from .83 in 1898 to $1.07 in 1901. The reasons, therefor, are as follows: For some time prior to 1898 it had been felt by the committee that there was need for clerical assistance in the office of the Superin- tendent of Schools; and at the opening of the fall term of that year Miss Helen L. Burr was employed at a salary of $5 per week. The value of this arrangement to the schools in increased efficiency in the department of supervision has led to its continuance and to a gradual rise in the amount paid for such assistance until at the present time the salary paid for this work is $450 per year. This fact, coupled with an increase in the Superintendent's salary in 1899 and in 1901, explains the increased expenditure in supervision during the past four years.
(10) Regarding the increase shown in the table in the per capita cost for janitors, it may be said that this result is due to a small increase in the salaries of several of the janitors of the larger buildings, and also to the fact that, when the new High School building was opened in Septem- ber, 1898, it became necessary to add to the corps another janitor and to employ an engineer to have charge of the heating and ventilating apparatus in that school, whose pay is drawn from the fund appropriated for janitors.
Since these additions to the force were employed only five
59
SCHOOL REPORT.
months of 1898, while they were on the pay roll for the full 12 months of 1901, it is easy to see therein a reason for a considerable portion of the increased amount paid for janitor service during the past year over what was paid for the same in 1898.
During 1900 the janitor of the Washington School was dis- charged and Mr. Weeks, who for several years previous had been employed as general repair agent and who had been paid for such service $780 per year from the janitor's fund, was assigned to this vacant janitorship. The saving thus effected has made the expenditure for janitors in 1901 sev- eral hundred dollars less than it otherwise would have been, although the total school expenditure has not been materi- ally changed thereby, since the amount that it has been necessary to pay carpenters, plumbers, and expressmen for work formerly done by Mr. Weeks does not differ much from the salary that he had received.
The slight increase in the salaries of several of the janitors that has been made during the past two years seemed a matter of justice in view of the additional demands put upon them by the new regulations adopted by the committee in 1899.
TABLE XII. CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE DURING 1901.
1. WITHDRAWALS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Date of Withdrawal.
Mary G. Ellis.
Kindergarten, Whittier .
March 1901
Barbara S. Fellows.
2nd and 3rd grades, Sewall.
. May 1901
H. H. Tucker.
Principal, Franklin .
June 1901
Elizabeth M. Collins
6th grade, Franklin
June 1901
Fanny L. Warren
Kindergarten, Washington
. June 1901
G. Alvin Grover
Principal, Lincoln .
· June 1901
Olie B. Burgess .
2nd grade, Horace Mann
. June 1901
Mary V. Perham ..
Supervisor Physical Culture. . .
. June 1901
Minnie R. Donaldson .
5th grade, Lincoln .. . July 1901 .
Herbert L. Rand.
Principal, Washington .
October 1901
Catherine E. Smith
3d grade, D. W. Gooch.
· October 1901
Grant Drake.
Supervisor of Music ..
. October 1901
Martha F. Smith .
2nd grade, Sewall !.
December 1901
Mae Goodwin . . .
8th grade, Washington .
December 1901
Marion G. Leslie.
Kindergarten, Sewall
December 1901
.
.
.
. .
.
. .
.
.
.
.
CITY OF MELROSE
60
2. TRANSFERS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Position to which transferred.
Date, 1901.
Alma J. Guptill ..
7th grade, Franklin
4th grade, Franklin June
Minnie F. C. Snow .
4th grade, Franklin
4th grade, Washington June
Ethel E. Thomas ...
6th grade, Washington . ..
7th grade, Lincoln June
Maud E. Brown.
Kindergarten, Washington
1st grade, Gooch .June
Annie M. C. Washburn. .
Principal's assistant, Lincoln.
Principal, M. A. Livermore. June
Cora S. Burleigh . .
7th grade, Lincoln .
Principal's assistant, Lincoln June
Frances B. Brown . .
1st grade, Lincoln
1st grade, Whittier. June
Augustus O. Burke .
Principal, D. W. Gooch
Principal, Lincoln, .
June
Lydia Mendum
Principal's assistant, D. W. Gooch.
Principal's assistant, Lincoln June . .
Mae Goodwin .
7th grade, D. W. Gooch ..
Sth grade, Washington June
Eva R. Crane .
Principal, M. A. Livermore.
. Principal, D. W. Gooch June
Louise G. White.
7th grade, M. A. Livermore.
7th grade, Franklin .. June . . ·
A. Arline Merrill .
1st grade, Sewall.
2nd grade, Horace Mann
. June
Jeannette A. Doane.
1st grade, Whittier.
1st grade, Lincoln.
June
Mabel Price .
Kindergarten, Whittier
1st grade, Warren .
. . . June
Geneva B. Davidson
1st grade, Winthrop ..
1st grade, Sewall.
June
Bertha W. Leighton .
Kindergarten, Sewall.
1st grade, Washington
. . . . June
Mabel Gilbride
Assistant, Converse
Ripley
June
Mary A. Chisholm
Ripley
1st grade, Winthrop.
June
A. Pauline Ham
2nd and 3rd grades, Sewall
6th grade. Franklin .
July
Lillian Tufts.
Kindergarten, Lincoln
1st grade, Horace Mann July
. Oct.
Katharine V. Rowe .
6th grade, M. A. Livermore
. Oct.
Flora M. Haley ..
5th grade, Horace Mann
. Dec.
Naomi E. Stevens .
7th grade, Horace Mann.
7th grade, M. A. Livermore . Dec.
5th grade, Horace Mann
7th grade, Horace Mann Dec.
A. Louise McCormick ... Mary A. Chisholm .
1st grade, Winthrop. .
2nd grade, Sewall. Dec.
.
. .
. .
. .
... .
.
.
.
Ethel E. Clark .
6th grade, Mary A. Livermore.
3rd grade, D. W. Gooch .
Principal's assist't, Warren & Livermore 7th grade. M. A. Livermore.
.
SCHOOL REPORT.
61
3. NEW TEACHERS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Position to which transferred
Began work 1901
Marion P. Goodwin
Not teaching .
Kindergarten, Whittier
· April
Lillian M. Tufts .. .
Kindergarten, Lincoln 66
A. Pauline Ham
Student, Miss Symond's Training School Student, Salem Normal
2nd and 3rd grades, Sewall May
Archer C. Bowen .
Principal Belknap School, Dover, N. H .. Student, Framingham Normal .
5th grade, Lincoln ..
Helena L. Wright.
3rd grade, Vinalhaven, Me.
Principal's assistant, D W. Gooch .
6.
Flora M. Haley
Grammar grade, Stonington, Me.
7th grade, M. A. Livermore
66
Helena M. Hocking. .
1st grade, Winthrop .
66
Martha F. Smith .. .. ·
2nd grade, Sewall .. . ..
66
Mattie C. Mirfield .
Assistant, Sewall and Lincoln
66
William A. Reed ..
66
Principal, Washington
Oct.
Florence E. Worthing . . .
Assistant, Warren and Livermore.
Alvin C. Saunders ...
Supervisor of Music, Watertown, Dan- vers and Whitinsville . . .
Supervisor of Music
. Nov.
Grace E. Chamberlain. ..
8th grade, Wilmington, Mass ..
8th grade, Washington
Dec.
Bessie Chase .
1st grade, Reading, Mass ...
1st grade, Winthrop
Leslie King ..
Not teaching . . .
1st grade, Sewall
.
.
.
.
CITY OF MELROSE
Principal, Franklin . Sept.
Mary S. Haley . . ·
·
Ina M. Lancaster .
Primary, Stonington, Me. .
7th grade, D. W. Gooch. .
Student, Miss Wheelock's Training Class Not teaching
66
66
62
63
SCHOOL REPORT.
COMMENT ON TABLE XII.
The first division of the foregoing table shows that 15 teachers or 17% of the number employed in December 1901, withdrew from the corps during the year. Of this number three left school work to be married, one because it seemed to the school authorities to be for the best interests of the schools, one because she considered the salary inade- quate, one on account of her physical condition, one on account of sickness in her family, one because, in the interest of economy the position that she had held was abolished, and seven because they were offered higher salaries elsewhere.
The fact that 47% of the teachers who have withdrawn from the corps during the past year have left for increased salaries coupled with the fact that in nearly every case these have been among our best teachers, naturally suggests the consideration of the possibility of increasing the sala- ries of our grade teachers sufficiently to minimize the chances of losing, every now and then, some of our best teachers.
I have heard citizens repeatedly remark that the commit- tee ought to pay teachers higher salaries in order to retain them. No one can regret more than the Superintendent of Schools to see a valuable teacher go from the corps; but I have no expectation that it is possible for Melrose to pro- tect itself entirely from loss in this respect, nor do I think it a good business proposition under present conditions to make a uniform maximum salary higher than is now paid in the grades. In my judgment, it would be wiser to leave the uniform maximum at the present figure, $550, and, as I suggested in my report for 1899, when, by specially meri- torious work and by professional zeal, a teacher has proved herself worthy of special recognition, to advance her salary
64
CITY OF MELROSE
beyond this uniform maximum to a figure which the com- mittee may consider fair both to the teacher and to the tax- payer. Obviously such a plan would not protect us com- pletely from the loss of our best teachers, but it would cer- tainly minimize the possibility of such loss.
Referring to the second division of the foregoing table it will be noted that 27 transfers of teachers have been made during the year. The primary object of these changes has been to secure increased efficiency in the schools as a whole; and, in the main, the results have justified the change, although in the case of a teacher transferred from the Mary A. Livermore to the Horace Mann School disas- trous results followed.
Regarding the 17 new teachers who have been employed during the year, I am pleased to report that the majority have proved desirable acquisitions to our corps and are ex- hibiting a commendable degree of success and professional zeal. A few, however, whom we were compelled to employ without the opportunity of inspecting their work have been unable to adjust themselves sufficiently to the conditions of our schools to make their work with us a success, and have felt compelled to resign.
In filling the vacancies occasioned by such resignations the utmost care has been exercised. Whenever possible only those whose work had been inspected and approved have been employed and it is believed that thoroughly compe- tent teachers have been secured.
65
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE XIII.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
Per Cent.
1. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of Normal Schools, .. 37
2. 66 Schools,
"' have had partial course at Normal
3. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of College, 13
4. 66 " have had partial course in College, 2
5. 66 66 are graduates of Kindergarten Train- ing Schools, 12
6. Proportion of teachers who have had course in City Training School,
5
7. .6 are without training in College, Nor-
mal School, Kindergarten School, or City Training Class, . ... 26
COMMENT ON TABLE XIII.
The foregoing table indicates that, as a whole, our teachers have had a fair degree of professional training; but, what- ever preparation a teacher may have had previous to entrance upon her work, she will soon find herself behind the times in these days of rapid changes, unless, through constant reading, study, and attendance upon educational meetings, she continues to grow professionally. In this connection I am glad to say that I know of no community in which the prevailing professional spirit among the teachers is more active than in Melrose at the present time, although there are a few teachers whose desire for profes- sional growth is hardly commensurate with their need. However, it may be said of these teachers that the spirit of the corps as a whole is not without its helpful effect upon them.
During the year it has been possible to provide, in addi- tion to two general talks by myself, the following lectures for the improvement of the teachers: - (1) "What the Pupils Taught the Teacher," by Wm. C. Bates, Superintend-
66
CITY OF MELROSE
ent of Schools, Fall River; (2) "Literature in Life," by. W. W. Stetson, State Superintendent of Schools in Maine ; (3) " Physical Defects of Children," by A. K. Whitcomb, Superintendent of Schools, Lowell; (4) "The Public School of the Twentieth Century," by G. I. Aldrich, Superintendent of Schools, Brookline. These lectures have been provided at the expense of the school department. Through the Melrose Education Society the teachers received the benefit of several other valuable lectures and conferences.
In addition to the above general meetings, the Supervisor of Drawing has conducted classes in drawing for such teachers as wished to improve themselves in this line; the Supervisor of Music has held several grade meetings and has just closed a series of class lessons in music with about fifty teachers, who voluntarily took up the work, and I have held various meetings with principals and grade teachers as I have had opportunity and conditions seemed to require.
The professional growth of the teachers has been further advanced by the following work which they have done during the year. Through reports recently submitted it is learned that eighty-one of the teachers have read regularly during the year from one to four educational periodicals. Not including the special teachers of Music and Drawing, there are eighty-six teachers in the corps, therefore it appears that five teachers have reported no educational periodicals read regularly. Nineteen teachers report further that they have read during the year one educational book, nineteen that they have read two, thirteen that they have read three and thirty-one that they have read more than three. It appears, therefore, that ten have not read a single book during the year that may be called properly an educational work.
While it may be fairly expected, as a rule, that no live
67
SCHOOL REPORT.
teacher would permit a year to go by either without reading regularly some good educational periodical or without read- ing some stimulating educational book, yet it must not be inferred, off hand, that all of the above teachers who report that they have read no educational paper regularly or all who report that they have read no educational work during the year, are lacking in proper professional spirit. Several have been working diligently to improve themselves along special lines calculated to give them greater efficiency in their chosen work and they have not read along the above lines because time and strength would not permit. On the other hand there are a few whom I cannot excuse on this ground for their lack of professional reading.
My reports show further that six teachers attended sum- mer schools, thirty-nine pursued systematic courses of home study in one or more subjects, and forty-five took courses of study in evening or Saturday classes in English, Science, Music, Art, etc.
When one considers that all of the foregoing work, excepting attendance upon local meetings, has been volun- tary, it will be conceded, I think, that with very few excep- tions, our teachers have shown a commendable professional spirit. It has been my purpose to assist, as far as possible, in developing such a spirit in the corps, for I conceive that a teacher who is deficient in this respect is a less helpful factor in the corps than she ought to be, I care not how well she may discipline her pupils or how correctly from the standpoint of method she may present her subjects of study. It is my belief that no teacher can long neglect to read and study educational literature without losing in power to enthuse pupils to the best of which they are capable.
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CITY OF MELROSE
TABLE XIV.
TIME LOST BY TEACHERS FOR SICKNESS, ETC., 1901.
SCHOOL.
No of Teachers.
No. of Teachers who have Lost Time.
Days Lost.
Average per Teacher for building.
High
12
11
24
2 days
Franklin
9
6
33
33
Washington
10
8
27
Lincoln
10
6
26%
220
Horace Mann
9
4
14
15
D. W. Gooch
9
5
19
23
Mary A. Livermore .
5
6
19}
3.9
Warren
4
4
9
21
. i
Winthrop
4
4
17
41
Whittier
5
2
24}
63
61
Converse
1
0
0
0
Ripley
·
1
1
2
2
.
TABLE XV.
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS REGARDING CORPORAL PUNISHMENT.
YEAR.
From January to No. Different Teachers Per cent. of Teachers
June Inclusive.
Reporting the Same.
Reporting no Cases.
1899
65
22
71
1961
23
12
86
Per cent. of decrease
65
45
COMMENT ON TABLE XV.
While corporal punishment is permitted by the regulations of the School Committee in extreme cases, the above table indicates that the privilege is not being abused in our schools. My service in connection with the schools of Mel- rose began August 1, 1898. Since January I, 1899, I have had kept a careful record of all cases of corporal punish- ment in the schools. Table XV shows the number of such - cases that occurred and the number of teachers reporting the same during the first six months of which a record was
.
213 .
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SCHOOL REPORT.
kept, also the corresponding record for a similar period of the school year ending June, 1901. These records show that from 1899 to 1901 for the corresponding periods of time the number of cases of corporal punishment in the schools has decreased 65%, while the number of different teachers reporting the cases has decreased 45%. These figures are significant, it seems to me, of an improvement in the spirit that dominates in the school room today over that which prevailed formerly. It is gratifying, also, to report that this decrease in the amount of corporal punishment has not in any way impaired the discipline of the schools. On the contrary there has been no time since my connection with the schools when, in the best. sense of the term, the spirit of obedience and co-operation on the part of pupils has been on the whole, readier or more hearty than it is today.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The following statements contain information that is val- uable to one who is interested to study this portion of our school system.
I. Regarding Attendance: (a) The following table shows the maximum number of pupils registered in the High School in September of each of the years during which I have been connected with the schools of Melrose.
YEAR.
Fourth Class.
Third Class.
Juniors.
Seniors.
Post Graduates.
Total.
1898
76
62
59
29
6
232
1899.
88
59
47
46
7
247
1900
116
61
50
40
9
276
1901
.
119
95
58
44
9
325
The above figures show that the registration at the open- ing of the present school year was 40% greater than at the
70
CITY OF MELROSE
corresponding period four years ago. It is interesting, also, to note the ratio of increase from year to year during this. period. In September, 1899, the registration was 61/2 % greater than in September, 1898; in 1900 it was practically 12% greater than in 1899, and in 1901 it was approximately 18% greater than in 1900.
This steadily increasing ratio of yearly increase in the registration of this school seems to me significant. Un- doubtedly various factors have contributed to this result and, in my judgment, it is a reasonable inference from the above facts that, as our High School is conducted today, it is increasingly meeting the needs of our young people as those needs are estimated by fathers and mothers.
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