USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1904 > Part 2
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Government of the City of Melrose.
1904.
Mayor. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK,
President of the Board of Aldermen. AARON HILL, JR.
Aldermen at Large.
CHARLES J. BARTON
.Term expires January, 1906
ANDREW J. BURNETT
66
1906
OLIVER B. MUNROE
1906
EUGENE H. MOORE
1905
ALBERT A. DAY
1905
FRANK H. TORREY
66
66
1905
Il'ard Aldermen.
Ward 1. WILLIAM A. MORSE.
ALANSON M. PHILLIPS.
Ward 2. LESLIE F. KEENE. WARREN S. TOWNER.
Ward 3. JOEL C. PAGE. John C. F. SLAYTON.
Ward 4. WILLIAM ANDREWS DOLE.
JULIAN C. WOODMAN ..
Ward 5. WILLIAM D. GOWER.
LOWELL F. WENTWORTH.
Ward 6. AARON HILL, JR.
CHARLES C. SWETT.
Ward 7. LEVI ELMS.
EBEN M. TAYLOR.
66
1906
ARTHUR H. FOLGER
66
66
Clerk of the Board. W. DEHAVEN JONES, City Clerk.
Standing Committees of the Board of Aldermen.
Accounts and Surety Bonds. Aldermen MORSE, BARTON, WENTWORTH, PHILLIPS, PAGE.
Buildings. Aldermen TAYLOR, BURNETT, PHILLIPS, SWETT, KEENE.
City Clerk and Cemetery. Aldermen SLAYTON, TOWNER, TAYLOR, MORSE, DAY.
Claims. Aldermen WOODMAN, MUNROE, GOWER, ELMS, PAGE.
Elections and Returns, Printing and Supplies. Aldermen GOWER, WENTWORTH, WOODMAN, PHILLIPS, KEENE.
Finance. Aldermen BARTON, MORSE, TOWNER, SLAYTON, DOLE, SWETT, GOWER.
Fire Department, Electric and Telephone Wires. Aldermen MOORE, BURNETT, MUNROE, WENTWORTH, KEENE.
Highways, Sewers, Il'ater and Public Grounds. Aldermen TORREY, MOORE, FOLGER, GOWER, PAGE, ELMS, SWETT.
Nominations and Resolutions. Aldermen DOLE, TOWNER, BURNETT, ELMS, PHILLIPS.
Ordinances, Rules, Orders and Legislative Matters. Aldermen KEENE, WOODMAN, MUNROE, DAY, TORREY.
Police Department and Licenses. Aldermen TOWNER, SLAYTON, KEENE, ELMS, WOODMAN.
17
STANDING COMMITTEES.
Public Charities. Aldermen SWETT, DAY, TORREY.
Public Health. Aldermen WENTWORTH, TAYLOR, MORSE.
Public Schools and Public Library. Aldermen MUNROE, BARTON, PAGE, DAY, WOODMAN.
Solicitor and Collector. Aldermen FOLGER, WENTWORTH, BARTON, SLAYTON, GOWER
Special Committee on Settlement with Metropolitan Water Board. Aldermen PAGE, FOLGER, BARTON, MUNROE, MORSE.
Special Committee on Spot Pond Brook for conference with His Honor, the Mayor.
Aldermen MUNROE, PHILLIPS, SLAYTON, WOODMAN, WENTWORTH, SWETT, BARTON.
State Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief Aldermen DAY, BURNETT, SWETT.
Street Railways and Public Lighting. Aldermen BURNETT, MOORE, FOLGER, TOWNER, DOLE.
Treasury and Assessors. Aldermen ELMS, TORREY, DOLE, TAYLOR, PHILLIPS.
Clerk of Committees. VICTOR C. KIRMES.
CITY OFFICERS.
City Clerk. W. DEHAVEN JONES.
Assistant City Clerk and Clerk of Committees VICTOR C. KIRMES.
City Treasurer. WILLIAM R. LAVENDER.
City Collector JAMES W. MURRAY.
City Auditor. EDWIN C. GOULD.
Engineer and Superintendent of Public Works. W. DABNEY HUNTER.
Mayor's Clerk. EMMA L. LEIGHTON.
City Solicitor
FRANK I .. WASHBURN.
Chief of Fire Department. JOSEPH EDWARDS.
Chief of Police. FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN.
Inspector of Buildings. W. AUGUSTUS GOODNO.
Inspector of Plumbing. Inspector of Milk and Vinegar. WILLIAM S. BRIRY.
JOHN T. BARKER.
Inspector of Animals, Provisions and Food Products. FRANK P. STURGES.
Sealer of Weights and Measures. WILLIAM L. PIERCE
19
CITY OFFICERS.
Agent State and Military Aid and Soldiers' Reliet. CHARLES O. BOYD.
Burial Agent. ALBERT L. CARLTON.
Assessors. FRANK R. UPHAM, Chairman.
L. FRANK HINCKLEY. WILLIAM MORSS.
JOHN C. CROLLY, Clerk.
Assistant Assessors. MERTON G. WOODBURY.
ALDEN B. SMITH.
THOMAS SMALLWOOD.
Board of Health.
CLARENCE P. HOLDEN, Chairman. $ EDMUND L. GRUNDY.
ĮG. HOUSTON SMITH. *ARTHUR A. HAYDEN
GRACE A. COLBY, Clerk.
Overseers of the Poor. THOMAS M. GOGIN, Chairman.
MATILDA E. STANTIAL. WILLIAM S. SOULE.
GRACE A. COLBY, Clerk.
Matron Pratt Farm.
+MRS. CHRISTIE CHANDLER. *MRS. MABEL F. WORTH
School Committee.
GEORGE H. HILL.
.Term expires 1906
JOHN E. MARSHALL.
1906
MARY P. HOLDEN.
1906
E. CLIFFORD FISH.
1907
ISABELLE STANTIAL.
1907
OSCAR F. FROST.
1907
WILLIAM D. STEWART
66
1908
SARAH A. DAY.
1908
CHARLES A. CASTLE.
1908
WILLIAM D. STEWART, Chairman. ISABELLE STANTIAL, Secretary.
¿Resigned. +Deceased. *Appointed to fill vacancy.
1
20
CITY OF MELROSE.
Sinking Fund Commissioners.
DANIEL RUSSELL. Term expires 1907
CHARLES C. BARRY
1906
JOHN W. FARWELL.
1905
Trustees of the Public Library.
CHARLES C. BARRY. .
. Term expires 1906
EDWARD M. MUNYAN
1906
ELBRIDGE H. Goss.
1905
MARY L. CHARLES
1905
NEIL A. DIVVER.
1907
+MARIA L. CHAPIN
1907
*ANNA T. BUSH.
1907
Cemetery Committee. JOHN P. DEERING, Chairman.
WILLIS C. Goss. LEWIS HENRY KUNHARDT. EDWIN C. GOULD, Clerk. ROSCOE A. LEAVITT, Superintendent.
Registrars of Voters.
HERBERT A. MARSH, Chairman. Term expires 1906
VICTOR C. KIRMES
1905
EDWIN L. CRAGIN.
1907
W. DEHAVEN JONES, City Clerk, ex-officio.
Engineers of the Fire Department. JOSEPH EDWARDS, Chief.
THOMAS J. HAWKES
WILLIAM F. SIMPSON.
Measurers of Wood and Bark, Weighers of Hay and Coal.
FRED H. Goss. GEORGE GOODWIN. CHARLES B. Goss.
FRANK B. NEWELL. CHARLES L. WALKER. OTIS W. PIERCE.
WILLIAM L. PIERCE. GEORGE M. HALL.
Fence Viewer. CHARLES F. WOODWARD.
+Resigned.
*Appointed to fill vacancy.
21
CITY OFFICERS.
Field Driver.
+HERBERT W. CHANDLER.
*HARRY W. WORTH.
Pound Keeper.
+HERBERT W. CHANDLER.
*HARRY W. WORTH.
Police Officers.
PERMANENT FORCE.
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN, Chief.
OSBORNE E. DROWN.
WILLIAM A. CASWELL.
REDFORD M. RAND.
WILLIAM C. MCCARTHY.
LOUIS B. HEATON.
GEORGE. E. FULLER. HARRY BROWN.
ALLSTON H. PINEO.
WILLIAM H. DOHERTY.
CHRISTOPHER B. THOMPSON.
FRANK N. PIERCE.
SPECIAL OFFICERS.
ELVIN C. SLOCOMB.
JAMES H. MAINE.
OSCAR H. LOWE.
ISAAC GORMAN.
EDGAR. E. SHERBURNE.
JOHN H. THYNG.
CHARLES WARREN TOWNE.
WILLIAM THOMAS FAHY.
HARRY W. WORTH.
ATWATER B. HATHAWAY.
WILLIAM RILEY. A. A. MCBETH.
LOUIS F. KETTELL.
CONSTABLES.
GEORGE W. BURKE. WILLIAM L. PIERCE.
FRANK M. MCLAUGHLIN. OSBORNE E. DROWN.
Bail Commissioner. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK.
Civil Service Commissioners.
GEORGE H. DEARBORN. WILLIAM A. DOLE
W. DEHAVEN JONES, Clerk.
+Resigned. *Appointed.
ALBERT P. LITTLE.
M. JAMES HANLEY. A. WILBUR LYNDE. JOHN H. WING.
Election Officers for the Year 1904-5.
Ward 1.
PATRICK W. CURRY, Republican Warden.
JUSTIN E. DUTTON, Republican
. Deputy Warden
CORYDON W. HARLOW, Democrat. Clerk.
WM. H. GREENLEAF, Democrat.
Deputy Clerk.
FRED A. HOUDLETTE, Republican Inspector.
FRED'K A. ELLMS, Republican
Deputy Inspector
F. N. BEMIS, Democrat. Inspector.
SIMEON CRAGIN, JR., Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
GEORGE S. McNEIL, Republican. Inspector.
CHARLES A. PECK, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
MICHAEL REARDON, Democrat .
Inspector.
THOMAS F. TROY, Democrat. .
Deputy Inspector
Ward 2.
GEORGE W. BURKE, Republican. Warden.
CALVIN W. SAWYER, Republican
Deputy Warden.
AUBREY W. DUNTON, Democrat Clerk.
FRANKLIN R. CARR, Democrat.
Deputy Clerk.
FRANK E. MORTON, Republican
Inspector.
ALDEN B. SMITH, Republican
Deputy Inspector.
OTIS W. PIERCE, Democrat.
Inspector.
F. W. LEWIS, Democrat. Deputy Inspector.
JAMES F. FERNALD, Republican.
Inspector.
DAN'L K. COLLAMORE, Republican
Deputy Inspector.
FRANK L. TERWILLIGER, Democrat
Inspector.
G. W. STINSON, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
Ward 3.
FRANK TOWLE, Republican. Warden.
EVERETT E. TARBOX, Republican Deputy Warden.
F. W. HOFFMAN, Democrat Clerk.
STEPHEN HOPKINS, Democrat. . Deputy Clerk.
CHARLES R. ROCKWOOD, Republican Inspector.
C. A. PENDLETON, Republican .Inspector.
JOHN J. KEATING, Democrat. Inspector.
RALPH MURPHY, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
STEPHEN A. LOVEJOY, Republican Inspector.
CHASE C. WORTHEN, Republican
Deputy Inspector.
P. J. Curran, Democrat. Inspector.
CHARLES W. ELLISON, Democrat.
.Deputy Inspector
23
ELECTION OFFICERS.
Ward 4.
CHARLES H. BUTTRICK, Republican
Warden.
ED. J. KITCHING, Republican.
Deputy Warden.
DAVID G. MURPHY, Democrat. Clerk.
H. P. WATERHOUSE, Democrat.
Deputy Clerk.
H. R. SAWTELLE, Republican.
Inspector.
WM. P. LIBBY, Republican
Deputy Inspector
GEORGE E. HYDE, Democrat.
Inspector.
GEORGE A. DEAN, Democrat
Deputy Inspector.
CHARLES A. PAGE, Republican.
Inspector.
CHARLES S. ALLEN, Republican
Deputy Inspector.
CURTIS S. GORDON, Democrat.
Inspector.
EDWARD E. BABB, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
Ward 5.
MERTON G. WOODBURY, Republican Warden.
BENJ. F. STAFFORD, Republican Deputy Warden.
GEORGE H. DEARBORN, Democrat. Clerk.
SAMUEL DEARBORN, Democrat.
Deputy Clerk.
ALFRED H. FRENCH, Republican. Inspector.
JOSEPH E. GRUNDY, Republican. Deputy Inspector.
THOMAS J. HAWKES, Democrat Inspector.
MICHAEL CURRAN, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
FRANK E. NEWELL, Republican.
Inspector.
CHARLES E. COLBY, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
THOMAS P. CONNELLY, Democrat.
Inspector.
JOHN E. MCKINNON, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
Ward 6.
M. D. VAUGHN, Republican. Warden.
J. SIDNEY HITCHINS, Republican. Deputy Warden.
WM. J. DUFFY, Democrat. : Clerk ..
GEO. B. GROTTENDICK, Democrat. Deputy Clerk.
HARRY M. EASTMAN, Republican. Inspector.
FRANK B. DROWN, Republican. Deputy Inspector.
STEPHEN C. DEERING, Democrat. Inspector.
ALLEN E. LEACH, Democrat. Deputy Inspector
GEORGE H. TOWNE, Republican. Inspector.
FRANK H. GOODWIN, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
WALTER F. PICKETT, Democrat. Inspector.
JOHN A. LEISK, Democrat. Deputy Inspector.
24
ELECTION OFFICERS.
Ward 7.
GEORGE A. BAILEY, Republican
Warden.
ALBERT E. DADLEY, Republican
Deputy Warden.
J. J. MCCULLOUGH, Democrat. Clerk.
J. J. BUCKLEY, Democrat.
Deputy Clerk.
WALTER B. COPELAND, Republican.
Inspector.
WM. F. RUSSELL, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
C. F. DOHERTY, Democrat
Inspector.
HENRY E. JOHNSON, Democrat.
Deputy Inspector.
WM. L. KERSHAW, Republican.
Inspector.
JOHN C. FLATLEY, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
D. J. FOLEY, Democrat. Inspector.
EDWIN D. BAKER, Republican.
Deputy Inspector.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF MELROSE,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1905.
MELROSE : DUNTON PRINTING CO. 1905.
IN THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, MELROSE, April 11, 1905.
Voted,-That the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools be accepted and printed as the report of the School Committee.
F. H. NICKERSON, Recording Secretary.
CONTENTS OF SCHOOL REPORT.
Calendar Page
28
School Committee (Membership and Organization). 29
Report of Superintendent of Schools. 31
1. Statistical Tables:
I. School Census and Enrollment 31
II. Summary of Principals' Reports for the School Year, 1903-1904. 32
III. Number of Teachers in Different Departments. 34
IV. Number of Pupils in the Different Grades. . . .
35
V. Average Number of Pupils per Teacher in the Average Membership of the Schools. 36
VI. Professional Training of Teachers. 37
VII. Changes in the Teaching Force during 1904. 38
VIII. Annual Financial Exhibit for 1904. 41
IX. Comparative Financial Exhibit covering the Period since Melrose became a City 42
2. The High School:
I. Attendance 46
II. Graduates. 47
III. Choice of Studies 47
IV. Cost of High School. 48
3. Progress of the Year in General:
I. Elementary Science and Civics in Grade IX ... 49
II. Longer School Sessions. 51
III. Medical Inspection. 52
IV. Manual Training. 53
V. Additional School Accommodations. 55
VI. Music, Drawing, and Penmanship. 57
4. Vacation Schools. 57
5. Change in School Committee 58
6. Conclusion . 58
7. Appendix:
I. Program of High School Graduation 59
II. Honors and Prizes. 60
0
III. Pupils Promoted from the Ninth Grade to the High School. 62
IV. Organization of School Staff 64
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1905.
WINTER TERM.
Begins January 2 and closes March 31. Vacation, one week.
SPRING TERM.
Begins April 10 and closes June 30. Vacation, nine weeks.
FALL TERM.
Begins September 6 (Wednesday) and closes December 22. Vacation, one week.
HOLIDAYS DURING TERM TIME.
Every Saturday, Washington's Birthday, Patriots' Day, Memorial Day, June 17th, and Thanksgiving Day, with the half day preceding and the day following it.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1904.
MEMBERS.
George H. Hill, 16 Summer street. Term expires Jan. 1906
John E. Marshall, 76 Lynde street.
66
1906
Mary P. Holden, 32 Lake avenue.
6. 1906
E. Clifford Fish, 17 Wyoming avenue.
66
66 1907
Isabelle Stantial, 146 Florence street. 66
66 1907
Oscar F. Frost, 10 Vine street.
60 66
1907
William D. Stewart, 21 Woodland avenue.
1908
Sarah A. Day, 45 Ashland street.
1908
Charles A. Castle, 98 West Emerson street. 66
46
1908
ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE.
William D. Stewart, Chairman.
Isabelle Stantial, Secretary.
MEETINGS OF COMMITTEE.
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in the Committee Room, High School Building, on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month except July and August, at eight o'clock p. m.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Fred H. Nickerson, A. M., 77 Upham street.
Office: High School Building.
Office hours: 8 to 9 a. m. on school days, and 4 to 5 p. m. on Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.
Telephone 210-2.
SUPERINTENDENT'S CLERK.
Rosetta M. Pendleton, 179 Trenton street.
-
66
SUB-COMMITTEES. Accounts and Finance. Marshall. Castle.
Hill.
Courses of Study and Text-Books.
Stantial. Hill.
Frost.
Supplies and Printing. Day. Fish.
Day.
Teachers and Salaries. Fish. Stantial.
Special Studies.
Fish.
Castle.
Holuen.
High School.
Stantial.
Day. Castle
Rules and Regulations.
Castle.
Holden. Marshall.
School Houses and Janitors Hill. Frost.
Marshall.
Visiting Committees.
HIGHLANDS.
Stewart.
Day.
Castle.
Stantial.
Frost.
Day.
Maisnall.
Holden.
Hill.
EAST SIDE.
Fish.
Castle. Holden.
CENTRE.
WYOMING.
Holden.
REPORT OF THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Melrose:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :- In preparing the present report it has been my purpose to present and discuss briefly such facts with reference to the work and administration of the schools as may enable our citizens to judge intelligently whether or not the public school interests of the city are being managed effi- ciently and as economically as is consistent with good results.
TABLE I. SCHOOL CENSUS AND ENROLLMENT.
No. of persons between 5 and 15 years of age residing in the city September 1, 1904. 2855
No. of persons between 7 and 14 years of age residing in the city September 1, 1904. 2098
No. of different pupils enrolled during the school year, 1903-1904 ... 3099
No. of pupils over 15 years of age enrolled during the school year, 1903-1904. 472
No. of pupils between 5 and 15 years of age enrolled during the school year, 1903-1904. 2582 No. of pupils between 7 and 14 years of age enrolled during the school year, 1903-1904 1684
No. of pupils under 5 years of age enrolled during the school year, 1903-1904 45
32
TABLE II. SUMMARY OF PRINCIPALS' REPORTS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1903-1904.
1. BY SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS
No. of Different Pupils Enrolled
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
-
Average Member- ship
Average Attend- ance
% of Attend- ance
Half Days of Absence
Tardi- ness
Corporal Punish- ment
High.
447
187
260
409.60
392.57.
95.84
6,792.
469
Franklin.
325
157
168
309.17
294.78
95.34
5,604.
487
Washington
422
217
205
383.26
365.51
95.36
6,787
206
Lincoln.
334
171
163
291.24
281.95
96.81
3,721
307
1
Horace Mann.
334
157
177
312.00
298.00
95.50
4,613
739
3
D. W. Gooch
334
184
150
311.30
296.46
95.23
5,459
413
Livermore.
181
85
96
172.46
162.73
95.34
3,700
104
Warren. ..
137
76
61
123.81
114.27
92.29
3,095
174
Winthrop
157
76
81
126.97
118.61
93.41
3,284
356
1
Sewall.
165
90
75
162.11
153.78
94.86
2,917
190
Whittier.
201
112
89
175.53
161.35
91.92
5,683
295
Converse .
31
16
15
29.72
27.63
92.96
913
86
Ripley.
31
17
14
31.47
28.55
90.72
965
106
Total.
3,099
1,545
1,554
2,838.64
2,696.19
94.97
53,533
3,938
5
CITY OF MELROSE
2. BY GRADES.
GRADES
No. of Different Pupils Enrolled
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
-
Average Member- ship
Average Attend- ance
% of Attend- ance
Half Days of Absence
Tardi- ness
Corporal Punish- ment
High.
447
187
260
409.60
392.57
95.84
6,792
469
Grade 9
178
87
91
163.22
157.33
96.39
2,198
115
8.
222
106
116
210.18
201.83
96.02
3,063
180
7
278
128
150
256.98
245.98
95.72
4,131
438
334
177
157
314.39
300.51
95.58
5,346
347
6.
297
146
151
262.99
250.13
95.11
4,992
373
2
5.
303
160
143
270.87
258.62
95.48
5,044
473
3
4.
334
172
162
301.54
287.88
95.47
5,324
438
3.
312
171
141
297.19
280.77
94.47
6,068
380
2.
332
178
154
290.49
264.39
91.02
8,697
533
Combined 1-2-3.
62
33
29
61.19
56.18 ៛
91.81
1,878
192
Total.
3,099
1,545
1,554
2,838.64
2,696.19
94.97
53,533
3,938
5
SCHOOL REPORT.
1
33
34
CITY OF MELROSE
COMMENT ON TABLE II.
Comparison of the average membership of the schools as given in this table with similar statistics in the report for the previous year reveals an increase of 3 3-5% during the past year.
Similar comparison with respect to the per cent. of attend- ance shows that there has also been a slight increase during the year in the regularity of attendance.
The regularity with which pupils attend school in Melrose today is nearly 4% above the average for the State and 43 % above the rate in our own city for the year before I became connected with the schools.
These figures may be fairly assumed to indicate improvement in the character of our school work.
It is gratifying, also, in connection with this table to note that during the ten months of the school year ending with June, 1904, with an enrollment of 3099 different pupils there have been only five cases of corporal punishment.
Soon after I began work in Melrose, teachers were directed to report to the Superintendent of Schools upon appropriate blanks every case of corporal punishment with the reasons therefor, the method of punishment used, and the apparent results.
During the first six months in which such records were kept, although over 300 less pupils were enrolled than have been registered during the past year, there were sixty-six cases of corporal punishment reported by twenty-two different teachers. The five cases reported during the entire past school year were reported by four different teachers.
It may be said further in this connection that the discipline of our schools has suffered in no respect from this decrease in corporal punishment.
TABLE III.
NUMBER OF TEACHERS IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS DECEMBER 1904.
Males
Females
Total
High. Gr. X, XI, XII, XIII.
6
10
16
Grammar. Gr. V, VI, VII, VIII, IX.
2
32
34
Primary. Gr. I, II, III, IV.
0
42
42
Special Teachers, Music.
1
1
Drawing.
1
1
Manual Training
1
1
General Assistant .
1
1
Total
10
86
96
35
SCHOOL REPORT.
COMMENT ON TABLE III.
Comparison with previous records reveals an increase of two in the number of teachers employed December, 1904, over the number in service, December, 1903.
One of the additional teachers was required in the High School and the other by the introduction of sewing and wood- working.
During the period of my service in the city, i. e., since the fall of 1898, the number of teachers required by the schools has increased from 79 to 96, an increase of nearly 22%.
TABLE IV.
NUMBER OF PUPILS IN THE DIFFERENT GRADES, DECEM- BER, 1904.
Primary.
Grade I. 338
Grade II
315
Grade III 331
Grade IV 333
295
Grade VI.
267
Grade VII.
312
Grade VIII
235
High.
Grade X.
131
Grade XI.
112
Grade XII.
92
77
Post Graduate.
6
Total
3041
COMMENT ON TABLE IV.
By comparing this table with a similar one in the report for the previous year, it will be found that the total enrollment of the schools in December, 1904, was a little over 3% larger than in December, 1903.
Further comparison with a similar registration for December, 1899, reveals that the combined registration in the first six grades has increased during the past five years practically 9%, while the combined registration in the High School and the three upper grammar grades has increased approximately 47%. In other words the increase in the number of pupils in the seven highest grades of our system during the above mentioned period has been over five times as large as that in the six low- est grades.
This abnormally rapid increase in the membership of our upper grades means that many more of those who have reached the limit of the compulsory school age remain in the schools for a longer or shorter time today than formerly.
Grammar.
Grade
Grade IX. 198
Grade XIII
36
CITY OF MELROSE
While this result tends inevitably to raise the per capita cost for public education in the City, it is a fact that should afford a sense of satisfaction to everyone who has at heart the highest good of the community.
In this connection I desire to quote the following from a previous report to the Committee, -"It is practically impos- sible to determine with any degree of accuracy the increased value from an economical point of view that comes to a com- munity in any individual case through additional educational training, but careful study of data for the country at large has demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the productive power of an individual, so far as dollars and cents are con- cerned is, as a rule, distinctly enhanced by increased educational advantages; and, from the larger point of view, it goes with- out proof that in proportion as one's breadth of view and sym- pathy with higher interests are increased by education is he a more desirable element in civic life."
TABLE V.
AVERAGE NUMBER OF PUPILS PER TEACHER IN THE AVER- AGE MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCHOOLS, DECEMBER, 1904.
Grade I.
21
Grade II.
35
Grade III 37
Grade IV
41
Grade V.
42
Grade VI.
44
Grade VII.
44
Grade VIII.
47
Grade IX.
24
High School.
27
Summary for all Grades.
36
COMMENT ON TABLE V.
From the foregoing table it appears that we have an aver- age of 36 pupils per teacher in our schools. This is an increase of four over the number for the previous year. This number, however, is purely theoretical. It by no means represents actual conditions in many of our rooms, especially in grades VI, VII, and VIII. In these grades the theoretical number in no case falls below forty, while in grade VIII it reaches as high as forty-seven.
Even if it were possible through proper location of school buildings, etc., to distribute pupils evenly, the theoretical num- ber in these grades is too large for the best educational returns to be secured. As a matter of fact, from conditions beyond
37
SCHOOL REPORT.
reasonable control, several rooms in these upper grammar grades have had since the opening of the present school year fifty or more in them.
The best educational authority today sets twenty or twenty- five pupils as the proper number for one teacher. It would largely increase school expenditure to put this idea into prac- tice in public school work, but one who is familiar enough with school work to have noted the great waste in educational effort in overcrowded class-rooms is led at least to question whether it may not be true economy to increase school expen- diture to a point necessary to bring about a considerable reduc- tion in the number of pupils placed in charge of a single teacher.
For my own part, I have ceased to question upon this point. I am confident not only that the best interests of public educa- tion require such increased expenditure, but also that, if the American public understood the wasteful character of the present practice in public school work of placing from forty to fifty or more pupils in charge of one teacher, there would be little difficulty in securing appropriations large enough to bring about the desired reduction in pupils per teacher.
I believe, further, that the members of any school committee can hardly do more valuable service for public school interests than to stand shoulder to shoulder in the work of educating the public to an appreciation of the importance of having less pupils to a teacher in the public schools.
TABLE VI. 'PROFESSIONAL TRAINING OF TEACHERS.
1. Proportion of teachers who are graduates of Normal Schools, 38 %
2. Schools, 3 %
have had a partial course at Normal
3. Proportion of teachers who are college graduates, 26 %
4. have had a partial course at college, 4 %
5.
are graduates of Kindergarten Training schools, 10 %
6. Proportion of teachers who are without professional training, 13 %
COMMENT ON TABLE VI.
Comparison of this table with a similar one in the report for 1900 shows that the proportion of teachers in the corps today who have had a complete or partial college course is 12% higher than it was in 1900, and that the proportion who have had å complete or partial Normal training is 2% higher today than it was then.
These facts indicate a correct tendency in the selection of new teachers, for, other things being equal, increased academic and professional training is a guarantee of a higher order of teaching power.
38
TABLE VII. CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE DURING 1904.
1. WITHDRAWALS.
Name of Teacher.
Position Held.
Date of Withdrawal.
Grace M. Perkins.
3d grade, Gooch School.
January
Josephine Burleigh
4th grade, Whittier School.
April
Mary J George. .
9th grade, Franklin School.
Laura H. Horsman
8th grade, Washington School.
Ella J. Spooner.
General Assistant.
Marion D. Dean.
6th grade, Livermore School.
June
Alice C. Day .
7th grade, Franklin School.
Helen B. Stevens.
9th grade, Washington School
Ethel E. Thomas.
7th grade, Lincoln School.
Frances Brown.
1st grade, Sewall School
November
Bertha W. Leighton
[1st grade, Washington School.
December
2. TRANSFERS.
Name.
Position Held.
Position to which Transferred.
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