USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1903 > Part 9
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
147
SCHOOL REPORT.
2. AVERAGE EXPENDITURE PER PUPIL.
(Based on average membership for the financial year.)
1900
1901
1902
1903
For teaching .
20.31
20.23
19.77
20.20
For supervision .
.98
1.07
.98
.93
For books and supplies
2.02
2.23
1.91
2.27
For janitors
2.38
2.31
2.21
1.80
For fuel.
2.78
2.87
2.41
2.41
For printing ..
.14
.10
09
.12
For transportation
.18
.18
.19
For high school and teachers' library ..
...
.04
.03
.03
For miscellaneous (not including repairs, furniture and new buildings) .
.70
.57
.69
.63
Total cost (excluding furniture, repairs and new buildings)
29.31
29.60
28.27
28.58
For furniture
.41
.23
.22
.29
For repairs.
1.06
1.42
1.41
1.40
Total cost for all purposes.
30.77
31.25
29.90
30.27
Similar average for the State at large
34.62
34.92
36.42
35.80
COMMENT ON TABLE X.
While the foregoing table indicates that our total expen- diture for schools in 1903 was $2,795.27 more than in 1902, it appears that the cost per pupil for the past year remains nearly the same as it has been for the three previous years, being a little larger than in 1902 but less than in 1901 or 1900.
It will be observed, also, that the per capita cost for edu- cation in Melrose is $5.53 less than the average for the State at large. While this showing indicates that the School Committee is reasonably careful with respect to school expenditures, yet, as suggested in a previous report, it is at least an open question whether or not our standing in this respect is altogether a matter for congratulation. In this connection it is interesting, possibly profitable, to review a recent utterance by President Eliot of Harvard University with respect to school expenditures. He says: "My object is to urge that the expenditure per pupil in the common schools of the United States is altogether insufficient. Let us now compare the amount expended on the public school
148
CITY OF MELROSE
child with what is spent by a well-to-do family on its child sent to an endowed or private school. The private school charges a tuition fee of from $100 to $500 a year for day pupils. In the endowed secondary schools, the total charge varies between $400 and $1,000. Now it is perfectly easy to provide lodging and food for any pupil between the ages of ten and eighteen at a cost of five dollars a week; so that the charge for tuition and general care and sometimes inter- est on the plant at these institutions must be from $200 to $600 a year of forty weeks. If you ask on what these large tuition fees are expended, the answer is chiefly on teaching. A public school which has a teacher for every forty pupils is fortunate. The private and endowed schools not infre- quently provide a teacher for every eight or ten pupils. Moreover, they employ a more expensive kind of teacher ; for they use a larger proportion of men, and a larger proportion of college graduates. Is it not plain that if the American people were all well-to-do, they would multiply by four or five the present average expenditure per child and per year? I wish to urge on you the proposition that the American people cannot afford to persist in the present low school expenditure per child and per year. We ought to spend more public money on schools."
.
TABLE XI. CHANGES IN TEACHING FORCE DURING 1903. 1. WITHDRAWALS. .
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Date of Withdrawal.
Maude E. Brown ..
1st grade, Gooch .. ..
. February 1903
Grace E. Chamberlain
8th grade, Washington.
April 1903
Persis M. Sibley . .
7th grade, Livermore.
. April 1903
Wm. A. Reed.
Principal, Washington .
June 1903
Hattie D. Field .
2d grade, Washington.
. June 1903
Mary E. Nye.
4th grade, Gooch.
June 1903
Ethel L. Clark . . .
3d grade, Gooch.
June 1903
Henrietta N. Cowen
5th grade, Horace Mann ..
June 1903
Jane E. Warfield.
Principal's Assistant, Livermore.
June 1903
Edith I. Brown.
Principal's Assistant, Lincoln .
June 1903
Hugh G. Greene.
Business Dept., High School.
July 1903
Sylvia Williams.
8th grade, Franklin . .
July 1903
Katherine V. Rowe.
5th grade, Livermore ..
·
Sept. 1903
Helena M. Hocking.
1st grade, Winthrop.
. Sept. 1903
Geneva B. Davidson.
1st grade, Sewall ...
October 1903
Annie C. Merritt. .
Modern Language Dept., High.
December 1903
Helen M. Armstrong .
English Dept., High School.
December 1903
.
.
.
SCHOOL REPORT.
149
2. TRANSFERS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Position to Which Transferre.l.
Date
Minnie F. C. Snow.
4th grade, Franklin.
4th grade, Lincoln.
Sept.
Annie P. Long ... .
1st grade, Gooch
2d grade, Washington .
Sept.
A. Arline Merrill.
2d grade, Mann
1st grade, Gooch.
Sept.
Mabel Price ..
1st grade, Warren.
1st grade, Gooch.
Sept.
Anastasia G. Riley .
Mixed, Converse .
2d grade, Mann ..
Sept.
Mabel G. Gilbride
Mixed, Ripley ..
2d grade, Winthrop .
Sept.
Frances B. Brown ..
1st grade, Whittier. ..
1st grade, Sewall
Oct.
Harriet H. Dowe.
9th grade, Washington.
5th grade, Lincoln.
. Dec.
150
CITY OF MELROSE
3. NEW TEACHERS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Position to Which Elected.
Began Work.
Bessie A. Conway.
Ungraded School, N . H .
7th grade, Livermore
· March
Amelia C. Ford .
Student at Radcliffe ..
English Dept., High
. Sept.
J. Thatcher Sears. .
Student at Harvard ...
English Dept., High
. Sept.
G. Walter Williams.
East Boston, Evening School
Business Dept., High . Sept.
Rose D. Lanphear ..
8th grade, Beverly ..
8th grade, Franklin. . Sept. .
Marguerite Pierce
Millis, Mass ..
6th grade, Franklin .
. Sept.
Blanche M. Brickett
Bridgewater Normal
6th grade, Franklin .
. Sept.
Genieve R. Barrows. .
Not teaching . .
4th & 5th grades, Washington.
. Sept.
Edith S. Blake.
Prin. Grammar School, Dartmouth, Mass
Principal's assistant, Livermore. . Sept.
G. Rose McConnell .
Not teaching . .
1st grade, Warren . . Sept.
. Sept.
Josephine Burleigh .. ..
Not teaching.
4th grade, Whittier.
. Sept.
Helen L. Patten .
Not teaching . .
Mixed, Converse . . Sept.
Dora F. Whittredge. .
Not teaching ..
Mixed, Ripley . .
. . Sept. Sept.
Grace M. Perkins.
3d & 4th grades, Natick, Mass
3d grade, Gooch ..
Ella J. Spooner .. .
Perkins Institute, Boston
General Substitute ...
. Sept.
Marion D. Dean .
Not teaching ..
6th grade, Livermore.
. Oct.
Annie M. Jenness.
1st grade, Rutland, Mass.
1st grade, Whittier ..
. Oct.
.
Principal's assistant, Lincoln · Sept.
Annie P. O'Hara ..
Not teaching
Jennie L. Prescott. ...
Not teaching . .
1st grade, Winthrop.
SCHOOL REPORT.
15I
152
CITY OF MELROSE
COMMENT ON TABLE XI.
The foregoing table shows that during the year seventeen teachers have withdrawn from the corps, that there have been eight transfers, and nineteen accessions to the force of teachers. Generally speaking, every change in the make-up of the corps represents at least a temporary educational loss. For, even if the Committee be fortunate enough to secure in the new teacher one who is admirably equipped both by nature and by training to carry on the work, it is impossible for a time for her to reach the maximum of her possible efficiency. A teacher must know her pupils and the new conditions and the pupils must understand her before the best results can be expected. Meanwhile there is loss educationally.
There is another phase of the matter which needs to be considered also. Owing to the demand that exists today for first-class teachers, it frequently takes days of the Superintendent's time, which can hardly be spared from supervisory work, to find suitable candidates to present to the Committee when a vacancy has occurred.
In view of the aggregate loss involved in frequent changes in the teaching force, it would seem proper for the Committee to consider whether it is not in line with true economy to adopt some adjustment of teachers' salaries that may tend to lessen the chances of having efficient teachers leave Melrose for higher salaried positions elsewhere.
In this connection it is a pleasure to report that the work of the new teachers whom we have employed during the year has, in the main, justified their selection.
153
SCHOOL REPORT.
TABLE XII.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
1. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of Normal Schools, 37%
2. mal Schools. 66 66 have had a partial course at Nor-
6%
3. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of Colleges. 18%
4. . . have had a partial course at Col- lege 6%
5. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of Kindergarten Training Schools. 8%
6. Proportion of teachers who have had a course in City Training Schools 11%
7. Proportion of teachers who are without training in College, Normal School, Kindergarten School or City Training Class. .. 14%
COMMENT ON TABLE XII.
Comparison of the above table with a similar one in the report for 1900, the first year in which I collected statistics in this line, shows (1) that the proportion of teachers in the corps today who have had either a partial or a full course in Normal School is 4% greater than in 1900 and (2) that the proportion who have had either a partial or a full course in College is 6% greater than in 1900.
This is as it should be. Other things being equal, the fuller the original training of a teacher, the better for those whom she is set to teach.
TABLE XIII. TIME LOST BY TEACHERS FOR SICKNESS, ETC., 1903.
SCHOOL.
No. of Teachers.
No. of Teachers Lost Time.
Days Lost.
Average per Teacher for Building.
High
15
6
18
1-
Franklin
9
5
21
21
Washington
12
8
· 25号
.21
Lincoln
10
8
18
1:
Horace Mann
10
7
19
D. W. Gooch.
10
8
16
Livermore
8
7
25
Warren
6
6
81
1.
Winthrop
7
6
22
31
Sewall
5
5
14
24
Whittier
6
6
28
42
Converse
1
1
20
20
Ripley
2
1
5号
23
111818
I54
CITY OF MELROSE
TABLE XIV.
COMPARATIVE STATISTICS REGARDING CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT.
YEAR.
No. of Cases.
No. Different Teachers Reporting the Same.
Per Cert. of Teachers Reporting no Cases.
1899
(Jan .- June)
66
22
71%
1899-1900
(Sept .- June)
20
10
88%
1900-1901
(Sept .- June)
32
16
80%
1901-1902
(Sept .- June)
48
18
79°
1902-1903
(Sept .- June)
29
14
86%
COMMENT ON TABLE XIV.
In the report for 1902 attention was called to the fact that during 1901 and 1902 the number of cases of corporal punishment had been gradually increasing in our schools. The above table shows twenty-nine cases in 1903, a decrease of 65% from the number in 1902. It appears, also, that the number of teachers who found it necessary to resort to this means of punishment in 1903 is 22% less than in 1902.
Eight of our schools have been conducted during the year without resort to the rod in government, viz., the High, the Lincoln, the Warren, the Winthrop, the Whittier, the Sewall, the Converse and the Ripley.
It is worth noting also that in one of our largest grammar schools, the Lincoln, there has not been a case of corporal punishment during the last two school years, and at no time since the building was opened has the general tone of the school been better than it is today.
It does not appear from the foregoing showing that the power to punish children by whipping is being abused in our schools at present.
Doubtless there are times in the management of pupils when resort to corporal punishment is wise; but such resort will always be rare, if the proper conception of school man- agement controls the teacher.
My work as Superintendent of Schools in Melrose began with August, 1898. Since January, 1899, there has been
155
SCHOOL REPORT.
kept a record of every case of corporal punishment in the schools throughout the city. During the first six months from January to June, 1899, there were sixty-six cases, a number 131% greater than that for the entire school year -ending in June, 1903. This decrease in corporal punish- ment has not been accompanied by any laxity in discipline. On the other hand, in my judgment, the discipline in our schools today is better than it was when corporal punish- ment was used more freely.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
This part of the school system has been so fully treated in previous reports that little need be said at this time. It is proper, however, to report that the High School contin- ues to do work that is highly satisfactory on the whole.
The following statistical tables, with the accompanying comment, present interesting information regarding the development of this school.
I. Regarding Attendance: The following table gives the maximum number of pupils registered in the High School in September of each of the years indicated.
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
1902.
. .
155
103
79
51
6
394
1903.
. ..
157
117
93
61
5
433
There is no better proof of the efficiency of our High School in the full sense of that term than the remarkable increase in its attendance that has taken place during the past five years. The above figures show an increase of 87% in the registration for September, 1903, over that for Sep- tember, 1898. This showing becomes more significant when one considers that the growth in the population of the city during that period has been about one-eleventh as rapid.
I56
CITY OF MELROSE
II. Regarding Graduates : Forty-nine pupils graduated from the High School in June, 1903. Four have returned to the school for post-graduate work ; three are students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ; two, at Harvard University ; two, at Boston University ; two, at Simmons Col- lege; one is attending Smith College; one, the University of New Brunswick; one, Dartmouth College; one, the State Normal Art School; one, the Fitchburg Normal School; one, the Salem Normal School; one, the Burnham School, Northampton, Mass .; one is studying music; one is in a Kindergarten Training School; seven are at home; and twenty are engaged in business occupations.
III. Regarding Choice of Studies: The following table has been compiled to give data bearing upon the effect of the system of elective studies in High School work.
CLASSES.
LINES OF STUDY.
Totals.
Fourth.
Third.
Junior.
Senior.
Post Graduate
English
150
112
90
59
3
414
History
144
53
15
42
2
256
Mathematics
148
61
26
14
2
251
Book-Keeping
.. .
. . .
88
2
8
.2 2
100
Chemistry
. . .
...
44
4
48
Latin
81
41
24
14
3
163
Greek
...
17
8
6
1
32
German
. ..
44
30
26
1
101
French
23
81
43
24
2
173
Stenography .
. ..
.. .
62
28
90
Typewriting
101
59
21
18
1
198
Drawing
95
44
18
18
.
175
Commercial Law.
. ..
47
3
. .
.
50
Commercial Geography .
47
3
. .
.
50
Commercial Arithmetic.
75
4
3
2
.
84
Grammar
44
4
3
5
56
.
.. .
. . .
62
28
.
90
Music
54
25
79
Physics
IV. Regarding Cost of the High School: The following table shows the total and the per capita cost for this school during the past four years.
157
SCHOOL REPORT.
EXPENDITURES FOR HIGH SCHOOL.
1. . GENERAL STATEMENT.
1900
1901
1902
1903
ITEMS.
Expenditures.
Per cent of
Epxenditure for all Schools.
Expenditures.
Per cent. of
Expenditure
Expenditures.
Per cent of
Expenditure
for all Schools.
Expenditures.
Expenditure for all Schools.
Salaries (teachers, janitor, engineer) .
$14,313.33
24
$14,202.50
23
$14,479.50
23
$14,762.00
Books and supplies .
2,105.98
41
1,716.44
30
1,565.49
30
1,206.74
20
Fuel
1,428.17
20
1,800.51
24
1,929.59
29
1,758.87 |
26
Sundries
340.93
19
409.33
27
705.01
22
850.14
32
High school library .
50.00
Total for support of sch'l
18,188.41
. .
18,208.39
18,747.16
..
· 18,627.75
. .
Repairs and permanent improvements .
320.66
12
591.20
16
359.45
9
328.16
8
Total for all purposes. . .
$18,509.07
24
$18,799.59|
23
$19,106.61
24
$18,955.91
23
2. PER CAPITA EXPENDITURE. (Based on average membership for financial year, 388.70)
1900
1901
1902
1903
Salaries (teachers, janitor, engineer ). ..
$57.19
$50.95
$42.68
$37.98
Books and supplies
8.42
6.16
4.61
3.11
Fuel.
5.71
6.46
5.68
4.53
Sundries
1.36
1.47
2.08
2.18
Repairs and permanent improvements.
1.28
2.12
1.06
.85
High school library
.28
.14
.12
Total for all purposes
$73.96 | $67.44
$56.25
$48.77
. .
79.61
. .
49.57
..
. .
A study of the above figures reveals that, while the ratio of expenditure for High School purposes to the total school expenditure during the past year remains nearly the same as for the three previous years, the per capita cost for 1903 is 34 per cent. less than for 1900.
The reduction during 1903 from the cost of the previous year is 13 per cent.
This noticeable reduction in the per capita cost of educa- tion in our High School is not to be construed to indicate that former school committees were extravagant in the management of this school; it is the natural result from the
for all Schools.
Por ceut. of
158
CITY OF MELROSE
rapid increase in the membership of the school during the past few years.
PROGRESS OF THE YEAR IN GENERAL.
Beyond the preliminary steps to the introduction of man- ual training to which reference is made elsewhere, the work of the year has been directed mainly toward the develop- ment of the system along lines previously laid down.
I. Changes in Text-Books: The Buehler Grammar, which had been placed upon the list of approved text-books for our schools and had been used in two seventh grades during the school year of 1902-1903 with a high degree of satisfac- tion, was placed in all the seventh grades and in several eighth grades at the opening of the school year in September, 1903.
The policy adopted in introducing the book has been to extend its use only as rapidly as there was a demand for new books to take the place of worn out ones. Such a plan prevents any large expenditure at one time in changing from one series of books to another.
A similar policy has prevailed with reference to the Woodley Language Book and the Tarr and McMurray Geography, both of which have been introduced into our schools within the past three years. During the school year ending with June, 1903, the Woodley Language Book was used in three fourth grades; at present it is being used in all fourth and fifth grades. The Tarr and McMurray Geography was used during the past school year in all fourth and fifth grades and in a few sixth grades; at present its use has been extended to the remainder of the sixth grades and also to the seventh and eighth grades.
Near the middle of the school year 1902-3, the Werner Arithmetic, which had been used experimentally in a few eighth grades during the previous year, was authorized by the Committee for use in all grades in which a text-book on this subject is needed. Grades IV and V were immediately equipped with the Werner book and at the opening of the school year in September, 1903, its use was extended to the
159
SCHOOL REPORT.
sixth and seventh grades and to the remainder of the eighth grades.
The new text-books that have been authorized for use in the High school during the past year are as follows: Hal- leck's "History of English Literature," Mathews' "Intro- duction to American Literature," George's "From Chaucer to Arnold," and D'Oge's "Select Orations of Cicero."
While it is true that the results obtained in any line of school work depend more upon the teacher than upon the particular text-book used, it is also true that a properly arranged book in the hands of pupils aids greatly in secur- ing the best results; and the foregoing changes in the text- books in our schools have been made with this thought in mind.
II. Professional Improvement of Teachers :- To improve steadily in the quality of her professional equipment is the duty of every teacher; and an important part of the work of a Superintendent of Schools is to provide opportunities for teachers to secure this growth in professional strength. Believing thus, I have devoted to this work such time and energy as conditions would permit. General meetings of the teachers of all grades have been held frequently. These meetings have been for the discussion of general plans of work and administration, for enlarging the educational view of the teachers, and for inspirational purposes, and have been addressed in part by prominent educators from other communities and in part by myself. I have held, also, various conferences with groups of teachers for the consideration of special subjects calculated to improve the character of the work done in our schools.
The supervisors of music, drawing and penmanship have also held meetings more or less frequently with groups of teachers for purposes of instruction in these special subjects.
Another aid to the professional growth of our teachers is the Teachers' Library that is gradually being collected in the Superintendent's office.
This library is made up of valuable works bearing upon education which may be taken out for reading whenever teachers desire. The list of works collected thus far is as follows:
160
CITY OF MELROSE
LIST OF BOOKS.
TITLE AUTHOR
Pedagogics of the Kindergarten Froebel
Education of Man. 66
Practical Pedagogy
Hopkins
Early Training of Children Adler
Malleson
Moral Instruction of Children
Principles of Education
Greenwood
Principles of Education
Mac Vicar
Education in the United States
Boone
Education Spencer
Education by Doing .
Johnson
Elements of Pedagogy
· White
Emile
Rosseau
School Management White
European Schools. Klemm
Practical Hints for Teachers Howland
Quiz on Theory and Practice of Teaching. Southwick
School Devices Shaw & Donnell
Object Lessons Rick
Talks on Teaching Parker
Outlines of Pedagogics . Rein
Pathfinder in American History
Gordy & Twitchell
Methods and Aids in Geography King Geography by Brace System . Boyer & Wicks
How to Study U. S. History Trainor
Day Dreams of a Schoolmaster. Thompson
Theory of Education . Seeley
School Management . Tomkins
Principle and Practice of Teaching .
Johonott
Methods of Teaching
Swett .
Education as a Science
Bain
Methods of Teaching History
Hall
Courses and Methods
Prince
System of Education
Gill
Rosmini's Method in Education Grey
Woodward
School Interests and Duties
King
The Teaching of English . Chubb Source Book of History and Education. Monroe The Teaching of Modern Foreign Language. Breul
Introduction to the Herbartian Principle of Teaching. . Brebner & Dodd Chapters on School Supervision. Payne
The Method of Teaching Modern Languages Brebner
How to Interpret Pictures. Sawvel
The Child and His Nurture Drummond
Manual Training School.
16I
SCHOOL REPORT.
TITLE.
AUTHOR.
The Point of Contact in Teaching . Du Bois
The Elementary Study of English. . Rolfe
Means and End of Education Spalding
History of Pedagogy Hailman
Methods of Teaching History Hall
School of Infancy Comenius
Mind and Hand. . Ham Kindergarten Culture Hailman An Experiment in Education Alling-Abner
The Art of Study. Hinsdale
How to Teach Reading in the Public Schools. Clark
Psychology for Teachers Morgan
The Art of Teaching White
Pestalozzi
Ruse
School Architecture .. Wheelwright
Social Phases of Education. Dutton
Thoughts and Theories of Life and Education Spalding
Educational Aims and Educational Values Hanus
Interest and Education . De Garmo
The Study of History in the Schools The Committee of Seven
The Nervous System of the Child
Warner
The Teaching of Elementary Mathematics Smith
The Education of the Central Nervous System! Halleck
Herbart's Outlines of Educational Doctrine .. Lang & De Garmo
The Study of Children and Their School Training Warner The Making of Character MacCunn
Report of Committee of 15 6 6 "10
Jukes-Edwards
Winship
Horace Mann Winship
School Decoration and Sanitation Burrage & Bailey
The Educational Ideal Monroe Educational Reform Eliot
Report on Geography Harrison The Study of Child Nature
The Theory of Education.
Lloyd
Power Through Repose
Call
Jean Mitchell's School. Wray Hints on Teaching Civics Martiu
Genetic Psychology for Teachers . Judd Education as Adjustment .. O'Shea
Teaching of Chemistry and Physics Smith & Hall Education and Life . Baker Teaching of Latin and Greek. Bennett & Bristol Introduction to Psychology Calkins Hygiene of the School Room Barry
162
CITY OF MELROSE
TITLE.
AUTHOR.
Making of our Middle Schools. Brown
Talks on the Study of Literature. Bates
Psychologic Foundations of Education Harris
Ten New England Blossoms. Weed
Manual for the Study of Insects
Comstock
Birds of Village and Field
Merriam
Bird Life.
Insects Injurious to Fruits.
Saunders
Every Day Birds
Torrey
Familiar Features of the Road Side Mathews
Every Day Butterflies
Scudder Psychology and Life Munsterberg
Teaching of English Carpenter, Baker & Scott
Teaching of History and Civics
Bourne
Paper and Cardboard Work . Chamberlain
Woodworking for Beginners. Wheeler
Education through Nature Study Munson
Since the opening of the present school year (a period of six months) 37% of the teachers have voluntarily made use of this library. Seventeen have read one work, seven others have read two works, seven more have read three works, and three have read four or more.
It may be said, further, as bearing upon the professional improvement of our teachers, that the majority have availed themselves of many opportunities for attendance upon educational meetings other than our local gatherings, also that many have pursued special lines of study under com- petent instructors to perfect themselves in their chosen work.
It may be fairly inferred, therefore, that our teachers, as a whole, are making commendable progress in keeping pace with the ever increasing demands in the field of educational effort.
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.