USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Melrose > City of Melrose annual report 1911 > Part 3
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The largest amount was $10.04 per thousand of valuation.
Comment on Statistics.
The figures which have been given show:
1. That our High School expense per pupil is less than two-thirds the average for the State, or less by $23.96.
2. That our expense per pupil for elementary schools is above the average for regular items ($2.58).
3. That our expense for all pupils in the public schools is somewhat above the average for regular items ($.85) but below the average for all purposes by $6.36.
4. That while Melrose is generous with her schools, yet, in comparison with other cities and towns of the Common- wealth, we are not expending an undue amount, either per pupil, or per thousand of our valuation.
Are We Doing Our Duty ?
While other cities have been undergoing a revolution that has re-shaped the very foundations of their school systems, at a large increase in cost, the school authorities of Melrose have frankly taken a conservative stand. This has not been be- cause we have not heartily approved of much that has been done in other communities, or because we have not felt the need of these advantages for our children, but because we
45
SCHOOL REPORT
have recognized the financial limitations of our city, especially during the period of re-organization which is now under way.
It is only fair, however, that we face the future, and ask ourselves, as a community, if we are justified in sending our boys and girls out into the world with a poorer preparation for life than children from other communities about us, whom they will have to meet as competitors in their struggle for a living.
In comparing the old system with the new, in the de- velopment of the Newton schools, Superintendent Frank E. Spaulding, in his last report, made the following statement:
"The old idea, unexpressed and unacknowledged, but none the less practically effective, that to become really edu- cated every child must adapt himself to the established and time-honored means and methods of education, made the school system one vast agency of selection and rejection; it selected, retained and educated those who were fitted by natural endowment and interest to profit by what the school thought fit to offer. others were eliminated all along the way, and with little concern for the precious material thus forced to waste. ** ******* «That idea is being displaced by an idea absolutely opposite in its effects, the idea that it is the function of the school to educate every boy and every girl, to eliminate none, to accept all .******* *In brief, we are transforming a system of education which set up a fixed and arbitrary standard of selection and rejection, a standard which few or no children can perfectly fit, which very many can fit scarcely at all, which did its utmost to make alike those children who survived the test, into a system that welcomes, seeks all children, fits work and method to individual needs, and strives to send children out of school just as individually diverse as Nature designed them to be and as the diversity of service which awaits them requires."
If our children are to meet competitors from such schools, on the same footing,-and other cities are rapidly developing similar systems,-we shall be obliged to consider a fuller development of "manual training and sewing in the grades, with the introduction of cooking; more skilled attention for backward children; special teachers for individual work;
46
CITY OF MELROSE
smaller classes to enable all teachers better to understand and to meet the needs of every individual child; plans of organiza- tion, grading and advancement subservient to the interests of the children, of every child; more efficient teachers at higher salaries based on efficiency; more expert supervision; play- grounds, physical education," ibid, closer medical inspection, and the introduction of practical courses in our High School which will give better preparation for commercial and in- dustrial pursuits, and for the management of a home. More- over, by these changes alone may we hope to hold the large number of children who, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, hav- ing acquired all that our present system offers for them, go out in their helpless immaturity to wrest a living for themselves and perhaps for others from a world that demands efficient preparation, and rapidly eliminates the unfit.
Although it is not possible for us to develop vocational or trade schools for these children in our own system, yet, as a part of the metropolitan district, we have easily accessible the schools supported by private enterprise, or by the City of Boston .. Under the statutes, Melrose is obliged to pay tuition for those children of our city who attend the schools approved by the State Board of Education, with the proviso that one-half of such tuition shall be reimbursed by the State.
Under this law, any resident of Melrose over fourteen years of age, may attend an approved day Industrial school, or any resident over seventeen, may attend any approved even- ing Industrial school. At the present time we have four pupils in attendance at such schools.
Retardation.
Each of my previous reports dwelt at some length upon the problem of the retarded child. This question is receiving more and more the serious consideration of educators through- out the country. During the past year, so far as our financial limitations would allow, we have taken steps to reduce the number of non-promoted children in our schools. The following table shows the results for the last three years in the elementary grades:
47
SCHOOL REPORT
This is a reduction of 36.5 per cent. from the figures of last year. It was made without extra expenditure of money, and is clear profit to the children and to the city. Moreover, the number of one hundred and forty-four who are repeating the work this year, is still further offset by the number of one hundred and fourteen who received double promotion and are successfully maintaining their advanced standin.g
NUMBER REPEATING WORK.
Grade
1909
1910
1911
I
42
17
24
II
37
29
15
III
41
37
16
IV
20
30
16
V
20
27
17
VI
11
32
22
VII .
27
30
12
VIII
24
25
22
Totals .
222
227
144
A Double Loss.
During the past year, we have suffered a double loss in the resignation of two teachers who have been for many years con- nected with our schools.
Miss Harriet C. Fairbanks has been a teacher of Latin and Algebra in our High School for thirty-one years. The stand- ards of exactness which she required from her pupils, her real ability as a teacher, her high ideals of rectitude, her love of young people, and her broad sympathies, have all had a lasting effect upon the many hundreds of young men and women who have been under her instruction.
Miss Eva R. Crane was first elected to our teaching force in 1889. Except for a short period, she has been identified with Melrose schools since that date, most of the time as prin- cipal of some one of our grammar schools, and for the past eight years has been at the head of the Washington school. Widely recognized for her executive ability, her broad outlook
48
CITY OF MELROSE
and her fearlessness, she has been a dominant factor in the school life of Melrose.
The departure of these two teachers is a distinct loss to the community.
Changes in the School Committee.
There has been but one change in the membership of the Committee during the year. Mr. Edwin S. Small, who has served faithfully, fearlessly and efficiently for six years, the last two as Chairman of the Committee, has retired, and the vacancy was filled by Mr. William Coggeshall, a recent member of the Board of Aldermen.
At the last meeting of the Committee for the year 1911 the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
Whereas: Our Chairman, Mr. Edwin S. Small, retires from the School Committee at the end of this year be it
Resolved: That we, the School Committee of Melrose, sincerely regret his retirement, not only because, in his six years of service, he has been earnest and fearless in the per- formance of his duties, but because, in the past two years, as Chairman, he has presided with fairness and thoughtfulness.
Resolved: That we extend to Mr. Small our deep appre- ciation of his good and faithful work, and we feel confident that the welfare of the Melrose Public Schools will ever be in his mind and heart.
Respectfully submitted, John C. Anthony, Superintendent of Schools.
Melrose, Mass., January 1, 1912.
Report of High School Principal.
Mr. John C. Anthony,
Superintendent of Schools, Melrose, Mass.
Dear Sir :- I herewith submit the following report of the High School for the year 1911.
Owing to the large increase in the size of the entering
49
SCHOOL REPORT
class, due to the change from nine to eight years in the grammar school, four teachers have been added to the High School faculty, Miss Ruth H. Barry, Miss Linnie M. DeMerritt, Miss Rose D. Lanphear, and Miss Mary G. Hickey. This brings the number of regular teachers up to twenty-five, including the principal.
No data is at hand from which to derive much information concerning the members of last year's senior class. A large number of them are doing work in college, but it is impossible to find out from the statistics at hand just how many. In the present senior class, there are forty-four students who have signified their intention of going to college, or a total of 42.31 per cent. The colleges that draw most of the pupils are Harvard University, Boston University, Institute of Technol- ogy, Brown University, Wellesley, Radcliffe, Mt. Holyoke, Dartmouth, Simmons, and Massachusetts Agricultural College. The reports which have been received from former students who are in college, are uniformly good.
Since the beginning of the present school year, a number of changes have been made in the methods of conducting the school. The Principal believes that the best results cannot be obtained unless the most cordial relations exist between the parents and the teachers, and that these relations are fostered by keeping the parents informed as to the work done by the pupils. At present, however, owing to the shortness of time, practically the only efforts along this line deal with those cases where the pupil is deficient in studies. The Principal has in mind a system whereby the parents will be kept in close touch with the school by being notified of the successes as well as the failures. Whatever tends to promote scholarship and strength of character should be the concern of the High School, and with such an aim the public cannot fail in its cordial support in the future as in the past.
Early in the year a statement was sent to the parents of each pupil in the three upper classes, informing them of his standing in the matter of points for graduation.
In addition to the regular bi-monthly marks, poor work reports are made out by the teachers every two weeks. When-
50
CITY OF MELROSE
ever advisable, a copy of these reports is sent home to the parent, but the pupil is invariably informed if he is deficient in any subject.
The Principal has been trying to reduce to a system the making up of work lost by absence. Instead of having each case followed up by the teachers, a method has been substi- tuted whereby the pupils take the initiative, thus encouraging the training of personal responsibility. The system will also discourage all unnecessary absence, for no pupil will be allowed to make up work unless he has been absent for good and sufficient reasons.
The course of study has been in existence for a number of years and needs revision. The chief objections to the present course are as follows:
1. Too many electives.
2. No carefully arranged course of training.
3. Need for a more extended training in science.
4. Lack of sufficient training in penmanship, music and drawing.
With regard to the electives, the Principal believes that pupils of High School age are mostly unfitted to choose the number and kind of subjects which they shall pursue.
In a majority of cases pupils in planning their courses under an elective system are influenced by motives that are unwise. A so-called "snap course" is often a special inducement to the junior or senior who needs points for graduation; or he is apt to be influenced by what his mates are taking and unless he happens to have at the time of choosing his course, some good advice, he is apt to choose wrongly. The result is that those who are planning to finish their course with the High School, are apt to select subjects which are not designed to give them the best training for their life work. Even those pupils who are preparing for college have been known to select subjects which are not designed for college entrance, and find it out only after it is too late. A wider range of definite courses, with a very limited choice in the number of electives, would be more advantageous, and the Principal is now working on a new course of study which he hopes to have ready for your con- sideration in a short time.
51
SCHOOL REPORT
The present course seems to be deficient in the number of science subjects taught. Thus far only Physics and Chem- istry have been emphasized. Physiology and Hygiene are re- quired in our Normal schools, and are subjects of such great importance in every community, that the Principal recom- mends that these subjects be offered during the first year. In addition, also, to the Physics and Chemistry, he would plan for courses in Physical Geography, Botany and Zoology. The present senior course in Geology and Astronomy might well be continued with some modifications. For this increase, special accommodations must be made with the ultimate aim of utilizing the entire north portion of the third floor for science, just as the south portion is used for commercial sub- jects.
The addition of a separate course in penmanship would be another decided improvement. Heretofore penmanship has been placed in with Commercial Arithmetic, thus taking one day from that, and making it less possible to cover the required ground. The result of this, furthermore, has been that pen- manship has not been sufficiently emphasized as an important subject. The pupils see no visible results of their work marked upon their cards. The Principal recommends, there- fore, that a special course in penmanship be provided and that it be put in charge of an expert teacher, who will also co- operate with the other teachers to promote penmanship in their subjects.
There should be, furthermore, a greater inducement for pupils to enter drawing and music. The drawing room should be moved to the north side of the building where the light is more suitable, and more equipment should be added. Draw- ing is especially important for those pupils who expect to enter normal schools, and more emphasis should be placed upon it for that reason, if for no other. The matter of music needs our careful consideration. At the present time most of the good singers of the school do not elect music. In many of our High Schools one period of music per week is required of each pupil. This is not in any way an arduous requirement, and usually becomes very popular because of the relaxation which it affords from the more serious studies of the day. The
52
CITY OF MELROSE
Principal, therefore, recommends that there be three choruses in place of the one at the present time; a Freshman chorus, a Sophomore chorus, and a Junior and Senior chorus.
The spirit of the school is most admirable. The students with few exceptions seem to be anxious to do the work re- quired of them, to the best of their ability, and to do all they can for the development of the school. The student organi- zations are well attended and are assisting in the all-round de- velopment of the students that is so necessary to a successful life. The Principal has the highest regard for those public school organizations to which any member of the student body is encouraged to belong. He believes that such organizations as the debating societies, the glee clubs, the orchestra, the aviation club, the athletic teams, and the separate class organ- izations, all combine to make a student's life one of variety and satisfaction and that active association in these organizations is a great benefit to the pupils. Without this activity in matters not strictly pertaining to school work, the spirit of the school would be lowered and thus the amount of work dimin- ished.
With the equipment of that part of the building designed for a gymnasium, another strong force for good will be begun. There is no outlay that is more needed and no effort that will put more life and enthusiasm in the student body than the equipment of this gymnasium. The students are now com- pelled to play their games of basket-ball in the Y. M. C. A. Gymnasium, which, of course, limits the number of players to a great degree. With the equipment of the gymnasium, should come regular courses in physical training for all the pupils, given by an athletic instructor, who could also be placed in charge of the coaching of the various athletic teams.
In conclusion, the Principal desires to thank you and the Committee for your cordial support; and also the teachers for their. loyalty and faithfulness to the best interests of the school.
Respectfully submitted,
Lorne B. Hulsman, Principal of the High School.
53
SCHOOL REPORT
ANNUAL FINANCIAL EXHIBIT FOR 191I. I. General Statement. Receipts.
Appropriations for regular items for 12 months from Jan. 1, 1911 to Jan. 1, 1912.
$100,061.48
Special for High School Equipment appropri- ated in 1910.
322.57
Special for High School Heating, appropriated in 1910.
3,990.01
$104,374.06
Expenditures.
General Expenses
$,4399.92
Teachers' Salaries
66,963.57
Text Books and Supplies
5,999.75
Tuition .
651.20
Transportation .
665.50
Support of Truants
70.00
Janitors' Services
7,178.74
Fuel and Light.
6,935.83
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
5,140.79
Furniture and Furnishings.
198.76
Other Expenses
599.30
Expenditures under regular appropriation
98,803.36
Unexpended balance
1,258.12
Expenditures under special appropriations of 1910.
2,245.54
Unexpended balance
2,067.04
$104,374.06
54
CITY OF MELROSE
2. Average Expenditure per Pupil (Appropriation of 1911.)
(Based on the average membership of all the schools for the fiscal year
2,654).
General Administration Salaries (Supt.) $.88
Other General Salaries (Clerk, Truant Officer)
.42
Other General Expenses
.37
Teachers' Salaries .
25.23
Text Books and Supplies
2.26
Tuition .
.24
Transportation
.25
Support of Truants
.03
Janitors' Salaries
2.70
Fuel and Light.
2.61
Other Expenses
.22
Cost per pupil, excluding repairs and furniture $35.21
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds. 1.94
Furniture and Furnishings. .07
Cost per pupil for all purposes $37.22
TABLE I. School Census and Enrollment.
1911
No. of persons between 5 and 15 years of age residing in the city, Sept. 1, 1911 2,601
Boys, 1,295; Girls, 1,306
No. of persons between 7 and 14 years of age residing in the City, Sept. 1, 1911 . 1,986
Boys, 986; Girls, 1,000
No. of different pupils enrolled during the school year, 1910-1911 2,890
No. of pupils between 5 and 15 years of age enrolled dur- ing the school year, 1910-1911. *2,378
No. of pupils over 15 years of age enrolled during the school year, 1910-1911. 527
No. of pupils between 7 and 14 years of age enrolled dur- ing the school year, 1910-1911 *1,757
*In addition, there were enrolled in private schools, Sept. 1911.
Between 5 and 15 years of age 371
Between 7 and 14 years of age 281
Table II. SUMMARY OF PRINCIPALS' REPORTS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1910-1911. I. By Schools.
Schools
No. of Dif- ferent Pupils Enrolled Exclusive of Re-Enroll- ment
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per Cent. of Attendance
High.
586
277
309
546.70
518.52
94.81
Ninth Grades
241
116
125
228.59
218.14
95.43
Washington .
382
198
184
337.50
321.48
95.11
Franklin .
321
167
154
292.69
276.45
94.38
Gooch .
314
161
153
271.75
262.37
94.78
Lincoln . ..
322
154
168
291.27
275.62
94.65
Livermore.
161
78
83
163.84
156.83
95.71
Whittier
155
91
64
144.07
131.83
91.28
Sewall .
136
66
70
114.52
108.68
94.71
Winthrop
116
62
54
118.22
106.54
90.44
Warren .
122
68
54
104.03
97.33
94.00
Ripley . ..
34
17
17
29.62
27.20
91.73
Total
2,890
1,455
1,435
2,642.80
2,500.99
93.92
SCHOOL REPORT
55
56
2. By Grades.
Grades
No. of Dif- ferent Pupils Enrolled Exclusive of Re-Enroll- ment
No. of Boys
No. of Girls
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Per Cent. of Attendance
High .
586
277
309
546.70
518.52
94.81
Grade 9
241
116
125
228.59
218.14
95.43
Grade 8.
294
163
131
269.47
259.22
96.15
Grade 7. .
261
111
150
239.48
228.77
93.87
Grade 6.
272
127
145
248.11
238.39
94.44
Grade 5.
239
120
119
221.55
209.14
94.11
Grade 4.
287
167
120
256.37
244.03
93.52
Grade 3.
259
133
126
239.38
224.37
93.58
Grade 2.
163
84
79
170.83
158.25
92.27
Grade 1.
288
157
131
222.32
202.16
91.01
Totals
2,890
1,455
1,435
2,642.80
2,500.99
93.92
CITY OF MELROSE
.
.
.
57
SCHOOL REPORT
Table III.
NUMBER OF TEACHERS IN THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS, DECEMBER 19II.
Male
Female
Total
High (Grades X, XI, XII, XIII).
5
20
25
Grammar (Grades V, VI, VII, VIII, IX).
2
32
34
Primary (Grades I, II, III, IV)
0
25
25
Supervisors, Music . ..
1
0
1
Drawing.
0
1
1
Manual Training.
0
1
1
Total
8
79
87
Table IV. NUMBER OF PUPILS IN THE DIFFERENT GRADES, DECEMBER, 1911.
Primary,
Grade I 260
Grade II
215
Grade III
185
Grade IV 237
Grammar, Grade V.
260
Grade VI.
239
Grade VII.
244
Grade VIII.
247
Grade IX 122
High,
Grade X . 306
Grade XI .
145
Grade XII . 126
Grade XIII 104
Post Graduate
12
Total 2,702
58
CITY OF MELROSE
Table V. AVERAGE AGE OF PUPILS IN THE DIFFERENT GRADES, SEPTEMBER, 1911.
Primary, Grade I.
6 yrs.
4 mos.
II
7
6
4 "
III
8
6
IV
9
66
4
Grammar, Grade V
10
66
3
VI
11
8
VII
12
66
1
66
VIII
13
2
66
IX
14
66
4
High,
Grade X
14
66
7
66
XI.
15
9
66
XII .
16
10
XIII .
17
66
1
APPENDIX
Melrose High School
GRADUATION EXERCISES. Class of 1911. City Hall, Evening of June Twenty-Seventh at Eight O'clock. PROGRAM.
Invocation
REV. HAROLD MARSHALL.
6
Beethoven 'Larghetto," Second Symphony
GLEE CLUBS.
Salutatory, with Essay, "Airy Flights in Literature."
HELEN HART GERRY.
Essay, "A Dream Realized."
MARGERY COX.
"The Fountain."
Manney
GLEE CLUBS.
Oration. "A Plea for Better Citizenship.".
RALPH EMERSON MCLAIN.
Award of Prizes given by the Franklin Fraternity.
HON. SIDNEY H. BUTTRICK.
''Sweet Genevieve,". Tucker
GLEE CLUBS.
Valedictory
RUTH ALDEN HOYT.
Presentation of Diplomas.
EDWIN S. SMALL. Chairman of the School Committee.
"The Merry Dance," Trace
GLEE CLUBS.
60
CITY OF MELROSE
HONOR LIST.
Class of 1911 Philip W. Codwise
M. Ethel Moore. Class of 1912
Marie L. Hersey Gladys L. Mower Elmer M. Wanamaker
Class of 1913 Frederic A. Stearns Lester N. Woodland
Gertrude M. Bond Merriam Segel
Adelaide S. Clark Dorothy D. Richards
Evelyn M. Ide
Class of 1914 Ruth M. Johnston Isabelle L. Lee Grace N. Sherburne Elsie M. Woodland.
Melrose Woman's Club Honors.
Mary Ethel Mooie Miriam Vaughn Swett
Franklin Fraternity Prizes. English (Senior Class) Ruth A. Hoyt English (Junior Class) Harold A. Larrabee Honorable Mention, (Edna D. Corse), (Hazel D. Shields) English (Sophomore Class) L. Leroy Etz English (Fourth Class) Grace N. Sherburne Algebra (Open to all) Ray L. Shepard Elmer M. Wanamaker Eunice M. Stantial Ruth A. Hoyt Algebra (Fourth Class) John S. Dole Honorable Mention, (Isabelle L. Lee) Geometry (Third Class) Clarence G. Holt Geometry (Open to all) Gladys L. Mower Honorable Mention (Ruth Hoyt)
Dorothy Atkinson
Frances B. Banks Evelyn Copeland Philip J. Dowd
61
SCHOOL REPORT
Alumni Scholarships. $50, Ralph E. McLain, Massachusetts Agricultural College $50, Howard G. Wheaton, Lowell Institute.
Class of 1911. "We can if we will."
Henry Stanley Ackerman
Mildred Elizabeth Kennard
Francis Ellwood Allen
A na Chatfield Knight
Dorothy Atkinson
Elmer Edson Laycock
Harold Francis Bacall
Osborn Everett Leisk
Douglas Brooks Baker
Halsey Lewis
Gertrude Mae Baldwin
Lester Nathan Littlefield
Ida Bernice Barnard
John Joseph Lloyd
Hazel Merriam Barnes
Gardiner Luce
Helen Seward Barnes
Agnes Mary Mccarthy
Lawrence Mulbry Beard
Norman Duncan Macdonald
Eugene Winslow Berry
Elizabeth Jenette McIlwraith
Dorothy Blake
Ralph Emerson McLain
Robert Thurston Boynton
John Winslow McLetchie
Edith Dorothy Brennan
Marion Dunn Merrill
Dorothy Houghton Burns
Mary Ethel Moore
John Willard Buttrick
George Julian Moulton
Mary Agnes Callahan
Arthur Tapley Munyan
Lillian Mildred Chase
Lillian Nowell
Philip Wittgenstein Codwise
Earl Dexter Page
Edwin Lawrence Cole
Mabel Estelle Paul
Arthur Eugene Collins
Muriel Cosette Pease
Harry Louis Cook
John David Pendleton
Hazel Gertrude Cowdrey
Florence Gertrude Perry
Margery Cox
Ruth Sargent Quimby Raymond Eaton Rendall
Ralph Waldo Cram
Alice Nathalie Rigby
Minot Joy Crowell
Evelyn Marie Ross
William Albert Cunningham
Louis Victor Rowe
Leon Blanchard Damon
Lincoln Bain Scott
Anna Regina Donaher
George Woodbury Simpson
Margaret Ellis
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