USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Inaugural address of the mayor, with the annual report of the officers of the city of Quincy for the year 1890 > Part 9
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Coming to the details of the circulation, it would appear that the increase in the aggregate of volumes circulated in 1890, as compared with 1880, was, as already stated, 29.4 per cent. Meanwhile, the circulation of works of fiction would seem, during the same period, to have absolutely decreased, inasmuch as 24,255 volumes thus classified, were borrowed in 1880, as compared with only 23,743 volumes in 1890, an absolute decrease of 512 volumes ; although, in the meantime, the number of names registered as borrowers from the library had increased from 5,170 to 9,799. With an increase in the population of the town of 37.6 per cent., there was a decrease in the number of works of fiction called for in 1890, as com- pared with 1880, of 2.2 per cent. As respects the demand for juvenile fiction, the number of volumes in 1890 was 12,888, as compared with 11,164 in 1880 ; being an increase of 1,724 volumes, or 1.5 per cent.
The largest increase would seem to have been in the demand for periodicals. This is undoubtedly due to the step recently taken by the Trustees, and referred to in the last annual report, by means of which the number of magazines and periodicals taken by the library was largely increased, with a view to more liberal circulation. The causes which induced the Trustees to take this step were then set forth. The result of the experiment has been marked, inasmuch as the circulation of periodicals during the year 1890 was 14,128, as compared with 5,457 in 1880, an increase of 159 per cent.
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Books classified under the three headings of Fiction, Juve- nile Fiction and Periodicals, included 81 per cent. of the entire circulation of the library in 1880. The proportion of the aggregate of those thus classified, to all the books lent in 1890, was only 77 per cent. The demand for works of fiction and periodicals, had in 1890 increased 9,883 over 1880, or 24 per cent., while that for works included under the remaining heads of the classification had increased 4,915, or 50 per cent.
Coming now to the last eight headings of circulation, which include works generally considered as of the higher order, if judged by a literary or educational standard, it would appear that the volumes classified as historical literature, circulated in 1880, amounted to 2,323, or 4.6 per cent. of the entire circu- lation for that year. In 1890 they amounted to 3,655, or 5.5 per cent. The increase in the latter year over the former year was 57 per cent.
Of works included under the heading of General Literature, the circulation amounted to 1,517 volumes, or 3 per cent. of the whole circulation in 1880 ; which number had increased to 2,341, or 3.5 per cent. of the circulation, in 1890, an increase of 54 per cent. in the ten years, of the books of this class of literature called for.
The volumes relating to travels, circulated in 1880, amounted to 1,446, or 2.8 per cent. of the whole. In 1890, they were 2,806, or 4.2 per cent. of the whole; being an increase in 1890, over 1880, of 94 per cent.
Of the literature relating to Arts and Sciences, 1,483 vol- umes were called for in 1880, or 2.9 per cent. of the entire circulation. In 1890, 2,277 volumes were called for, or 3.4
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per cent. of the circulation ; being an increase of 54 per cent.
Under the head of Poetry, 827 volumes were called for in 1880, or 1.6 per cent. of the entire circulation, while in 1890, 1,104 volumes were called for ; being 1.6 per cent., or exactly the same proportion in both years.
Of works relating to religious subjects, 280 volumes, or one-half of 1 per cent., were called for in 1880, and the propor- tion was exactly the same in 1890; the number of volumes called for in the latter year being 352.
Of works relating to educational subjects, 134 volumes, or .2 of 1 per cent., were called for in 1880, and 250 volumes, or .3 of 1 per cent., in 1890.
It would thus appear that, while during the year 1890, as compared with 1880, the demand for works of fiction had materially fallen off, that for works of history, general litera- ture, travels, and arts and sciences showed a healthy and encouraging increase. So far as it goes, this cannot be con- sidered otherwise than a satisfactory result. It indicates a higher standard of literary taste, though the improvement can- not be considered rapid; but the most encouraging feature about it is, that the increased demand for books of the better and more solid class, is found almost wholly in that portion of the circulation effected through the schools. In that portion the demand for fiction and periodicals is less than that for books of the other classes ; during the year 1890, the proportion of books of history and of travels, circulated through the schools, was 43 per cent. of the whole school circulation, while they con- stituted but 8 per cent. of the circulation from the library build- ing. These figures indicate clearly that under the arrange- ments for circulation now in use, the library is intelligently,
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as well as effectively, assisting in the educational work of the schools. This result is one which the Trustees have long sought to bring about.
During the year, the Trustees have received from the Execu- tor of the late Cotton Center Johnson, the bequest left to the library by him, amounting to $2,000. This sum will form the nucleus of a fund to be known as the Cotton Center Johnson fund, the income of which will be applied solely to the purchase of books. It is greatly to be hoped that the example of liber- ality to the library, thus set by Mr. Johnson, will be followed by others, until adequate funds are provided for the additions to its shelves.
The Trustees submit the following statement showing the cost of maintaining the library during the past year :-
Salaries and assistants
$1,991 22
Books . .
1,512 21
Fuel and lighting
312 39
Miscellaneous
590 84
$4,406 66
CHARLES F. ADAMS,
H. A. KEITH, F. A. CLAFLIN, WILLIAM H. PRICE,
EMERY L. CRANE, GEORGE I. ALDRICH.
REPORT OF THE MANAGERS OF ADAMS ACADEMY.
This Board submits the following report : -
The past year with Adams Academy has been more than usually eventful. The Master, at the opening of the year, was compelled by severe illness to leave his work. In the early spring, following the advice of physicians, he sailed for Europe in quest of health, and was absent from the country nearly six months. Mr. W. R. Tyler acted as Master in his absence, and with Messrs. Campbell, Warren and Damon -the last a for- mer teacher secured for the emergency - carried forward the work of the school to the following excellent results.
Of the five candidates for the trial examination at Harvard, says the Master's report, three passed clear and two with one condition, and of seven candidates for the preliminary exami- nation, all passed in at least seven subjects, and some in eight, nine, and even ten, a record not equalled since 1879. One member of the second class also passed examination for admis- sion to the College of New Jersey.
When the Master returned from Europe he found in the school, thirty-eight boys from Quincy, the largest number, with one exception, for some years.
The fund of the Academy, together with the fees . from parents who are willing to pay, affords no proper compensa-
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tion for the education of so many boys. This state of things, the Master says, calls loudly for a remedy, if it can be found. He also reports that countless improvements are possible, if funds were sufficient.
The Managers believe that a good work is done in the school. They recognize, and would make mention of the gen- erosity of the Master in carrying it with the help and advan- tages afforded, to the results secured.
At the close of the year, Mr. Warren of the teaching staff, resigned, to enter the Harvard Law School, and Mr. A. W. Hodgman, of Harvard College, was secured to take his place. Mr. Hodgman brings the best of testimonials from his instruct- ors, for good scholarship and high principle.
EDWARD NORTON, LUTHER S. ANDERSON, JOSIAH QUINCY, CHAS. H. PORTER, CHAS. A. HOWLAND, GEO. F. PINKHAM,
Managers of
Adams Academy.
REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF THE
CITY OF QUINCY,
FOR 1890.
BOSTON : WINSHIP, DANIELS & CO., PRINTERS, 1891.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE CITY OF QUINCY :
Following the custom that in such matters prevails, and endeavoring to meet the just expectations of our people, your Committee beg leave to submit this, their report of the condi- tion of the schools of Quincy, their needs and requirements.
The schools of our city to-day, as compared with others of the same rank in other parts of our Commonwealth, in the main, hold a good place and are properly enough, a just sub- ject of pride and gratulation. With a fund for their mainten- ance, large and burdensome in no inconsiderable degree upon the resources of our citizens, still inadequate for a fair com- petition with our more opulent neighbors in the preservation of our school talent, we are, notwithstanding these adverse facts, able to present to the interested observer, schools so well conducted as to excite the most favorable comment and to receive a large amount of attention.
The successful results attained are due in a large measure to the unity and continuity of purpose, that have prevailed between the Committee and Superintendent,- the Committee on the one hand, being highly sensitive to the demands of the times for improved methods of instruction, and the Superin- tendent, on the other, being alert in almost anticipating their
218
expectations and conscientiously carrying forward the detailed work.
Added to this has been the steady moral support the citizens have given, and the patience with which they have borne the delays and vexations incidental to the disturbed conditions that have at certain junctures during the past year hampered, for the moment, the Committee in the discharge of their duty.
THE WILLARD SCHOOL HOUSE.
The erection of the new school-house in West Quincy goes on slowly. To further complicate matters, Forester's Hall, which had been used as a temporary school-room, was recently destroyed by fire, rendering it necessary to discover and in one sense create, new quarters. After some difficulty a por- tion of Farnum's Block, formerly used as a shoe store, was secured and the school which had been driven out by fire was installed therein.
The sagacity of our Superintendent has triumphed over many obstacles, but the shameful fact remains that the children of this district are woful sufferers by reason of the delay encountered in the completion of the new building. A sin- gular, and what seems to us an unwise provision of the city charter, has placed under the control of the Commissioner of Public Works the erection of all school edifices - a task which under the town form of government usually entered into the regular duties of the School Board. Consequently, when at a meeting held on March 30, 1889, the School Committee sent to the City Council a communication embodying their views upon the character of the new building, they reached the legal limit of their functions, and since that date have been
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reduced to a state of passive observation, having neither war- rant nor power to hasten the completion of the new structure. In common with all citizens who have at heart the welfare of our children, we greatly deplore the existing state of things in West Quincy, but we wish the people of this city thoroughly to understand that no shadow of responsibility for it can fall upon the School Board. In view of recent experience we respectfully suggest to our citizens the consideration of the question, whether it would not be desirable to make at some future day such a change in the charter as would put matters of this sort under the supervision of the School Committtee, as being that branch of the city government most closely interested in school affairs, and therefore most competent to accomplish the object desired.
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The Committee call attention to the report of the Superin- tendent of Schools, in which he clearly indicates the pressing necessity for more school accommodations in the Third Ward.
A mere statement of the fact that the Adams and John Hancock school-buildings are to-day so full that the halls or entry ways are to someextent used to enable the scholars to make their recitations, would seem to be sufficient cause for an early application to the city authorities, for their attention and intervention.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The present Board, like their predecessors, have been for a long time of opinion that, in order to make of the Quincy High School an institution of which we might well feel proud,
220
and one which this city, from its prominence in the educa- tional field, was entitled to possess-a school, in fact, which would bear favorably a comparison with others of the same grade in this State - it would be necessary to make a radical change in its management. This question, although embar- rassing in some respects, was one with which the members of the Committee, as the delegates of the people, considered them- selves perfectly competent to deal, and after long deliberation, having given to all concerned the full measure of justice, they decided unanimously to dispense with the services of the former Principal. The vacancy thus created was filled by the appointment of Mr. H. W. Lull, a gentleman in every way qualified for the position, by education, habits and previous successful experience. Although Mr. Lull has been with us but a short time, a distinct improvement in the quality of the school is already visible to any unbiassed observer, and we feel confident that the sober judgment of our citizens will, in the end, confirm the wisdom of our action.
It may be well to state here that some endeavor has been made by your Committee, in conjunction with others inter- ested, to see if it be possible to effect an alliance with the management of the Adams Academy and the trustees of the Woodward Fund, by which a single school shall occupy the place otherwise soon to be held by three, namely : the present High, the Adams Academy and the contemplated school devised by the late Dr. Woodward.
At the present time no definite conclusion has been reached.
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ELEMENTARY SCIENCE.
Your Committee have recently introduced Elementary Sci- ence, or Nature Study, which, though not fully tested here, already gives evidence of proving a lasting benefit to the scholars, quickening their perceptive powers and greatly enlarging in them the domain of thought.
. In conclusion, your Committee call attention to the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools, which is printed here- with.
SYLVESTER BROWN, JOHN A. GORDON, JOSEPH M. SHEAHAN, THOMAS GURNEY, RUPERT F. CLAFLIN, JOHN F. COLE, H. EVAN COTTON, EMERY L. CRANE, WENDELL G. CORTHELL.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF QUINCY :
The report to which your attention is now asked, covers the operations of the School Department for the year 1890, and constitutes the sixteenth in the series submitted by the Super- intendent of Schools.
While these reports are addressed to the Board of School Committee, from whom the Superintendent derives whatever authority he possesses, and to whom he is responsible for all official acts, they may very properly be regarded as means of acquainting the public more fully with the school affairs of the city, than the brief report of the Board attempts to do. Writ- ing with this thought in mind, various topics will be discussed at some length, with which, I am well aware, the Board are quite familiar, but concerning which, the general public seeks information. It is also desirable that our school reports should contain an unbroken record of many matters which may not seem of great present importance. Wise administration in the future is often conditioned upon a clear perception of past ex- perience, and in future years it will prove of decided advantage to those in charge of the schools, if previous reports are found to contain detailed information on such subjects as are most liable to come up for consideration.
As a first step in the preparation of my last report, I stated
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briefly such changes in the School Department as resulted from our transition from the town to the city form of government. It is unnecessary to state again these changes in detail, but the general result of the transition, just referred to, may be worthy of mention. While it is true that other departments are affected in the same way as are the schools, it is proper that I should confine the observations about to be made to the single department with which I am officially concerned. So long as the town form of government existed, at least once in the year, viz. : at the annual town meeting, the School Committee were brought face to face with the entire body of their constituents. Before said meeting assembled, the yearly report of the Com- mittee had been distributed broadcast through the town. This report contained an account of what the Board had done dur- ing the year which had elapsed since the last meeting, and set forth its plans for the year to come. It is fair to assume that this report was quite generally read. Especially was this true when any matter of marked interest, such as the erection of a new school-building, the enlargement of an old one, or any- thing in the nature of a " new departure, " was to be brought before the town.
At the annual meeting, any citizen who had a grievance- any citizen who imagined he had - was allowed full oppor- tunity for presenting his case for the consideration of his fellow citizens. So many as had misgivings in regard to any act of the past, or project of the future, were able to voice these mis- givings. Those who desired further information upon any matter relating to the schools, had full opportunity of inter- rogating the School Committee. Now the general result of the change in our form of local government is to remove the
224
School Department from the direct oversight and inspection of the entire people. It is true that the members of the School Committee are elected directly by the people as before, and that the Board still addresses to the people its annual report, but everything else is changed. Of necessity the Board now applies to the City Council for such grants of money as it may need, and is cut off from all opportunity for such direct, face- to-face conference with its fellow-citizens as the town meeting formerly rendered possible. I am confident that school offi- cials have quite as much reason to regret this change as has the general public. They are now deprived of their best opportunity for removing misunderstandings, and for promo- ting intelligent, harmonious action through a general under- standing of their purposes and plans. The welfare of a system of schools is peculiarly dependent on the lively interest of the entire public who patronize them. A community is likely to secure as good schools as it demands. Unfortunately it is quite as likely to have as poor schools as it will tolerate. I am aware that this general change in the relation formerly existing between the people and their schools, inevitably follows the adoption of a city form of government. The evil can be some- what mitigated if citizens will generally make it a practice to come directly to school officials, for full information in regard to any matters which are not fully understood.
At the outset, I offer for your consideration several general matters of a statistical nature, together with such remarks as seem to me pertinent. At the close of the report will be found detailed information of the usual character.
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I. POPULATION.
Population of Quincy by State census of 1885
. 12,145
United States census of 1890, 16,711
Increase
. 4,566
Number of children between five and fifteen years of age, according to the enumeration made on the first day of May :
1885.
1886.
1887.
1888.
1889.
1890.
Adams
520
727
769
840
926
1,024
Coddington
409
461
461
480
481
485
Washington
308
376
380
368
353
325
Willard
693
939
964
1,008
1,108
1,161
Wollaston
229
242
251
278
313
332
Quincy
257
343
328
322
314
338
2,416
3,088
3,153
3,296
3,495
3,665
As compared with 1889, the return of the census-taker shows an increase of 170 children, each school district, except Washington, contributing to the increase. Having last year illustrated by reference to other places the unusually large school population of Quincy, as compared with her total popu- lation, bare reference to the matter may now suffice.
II. FINANCIAL.
Valuation of city, May 1, 1890
. $13,683,010.00
Rate of taxation . 13 60
For the ordinary school expenses of 1890, the City Council made the following appropriations : -
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For salaries, fuel, and pay of janitors . $47,645
transportation of pupils *
1,000
repairs
2,500
incidentals ;
5,000
books and stationery
2,300
evening drawing school
1,000
evening common schools
$60,645
To the above should be added the sum of $132.98, received from the State school fund and credited to the appropriation for repairs.
EXPENDITURES IN 1890.
For salaries, fuel and janitors .
$47,720 54
Unexpended balance, $74.46. .
$825 25
For transportation . Unexpended balance, $24.75. . $2,628 92
For repairs ยท
Unexpended balance, $4.06.
$4,999 76
For incidentals
Unexpended balance, $0.24.
For books and stationery $2,298 17
Unexpended balance, $1.83.
$986 91
For evening drawing school Unexpended balance, $13.09.
For evening common schools .
Unexpended balance, $0.10. $1,199 90
* Of this amount $150 was transferred by vote of the Council to the appropriation for salaries, fuel and pay of janitors.
+ Of this amount $1,500 was designed for payment of rent of buildings now occupied by Willard School.
1,200
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Inasmuch as the necessary cost of maintaining the schools requires a very large share of the whole amount which the city can raise by taxation, the financial operations of the School Department are keenly scrutinized. From utterances which one occasionally hears it might be supposed that the School Committee were in some way responsible for the heavy expenses of carrying on the schools. It seems to be forgotten that their interests in the matter are precisely the same as the interests of their fellow citizens. When, however, they accept office as members of the School Board, they assume certain responsibilities which cannot be escaped, and have imposed upon them sundry duties which must be performed.
The above financial statement shows the amounts appropri- ated by the City Council, such amounts being uniformly those asked for by the School Board. When the School Com- mittee made up its estimates for 1890, members will remem- ber that grave doubts were expressed as to the sufficiency of the amounts recommended. Before the close of the year it became evident that these doubts were well founded.
While the above statement of expenditures shows the actual payments during the year on account of each appropriation, it fails to show other liabilities contracted during the year, but of necessity carried over to the year 1891 for settlement. There have been certain expenses of an unusual character during the year 1890, and a brief explanation of them seems necessary : -
In case of the addition to the Wollaston School, the City Council appropriated money for the purchase of additional lands and for the cost of the addition, but made no provision for expenditures upon the old portion of the building or upon
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the grounds. It was the purpose of the School Department to meet these latter expenses out of its usual appropriation. The cost of them, however, has proven very much larger than was anticipated.
I find charged against the Wollaston premises, for the year 1890, expenditures of about $1,550, coming partially under the head of repairs and partially under incidentals. We can now see that the Council should have been asked to add this amount to the appropriation actually made for the enlarge- ment. Had this been done, the amount of charges contracted by the School Department in 1890, but carried over to 1891 for settlement, would have been diminished by such amount.
Of the appropriation of $5,000 for incidental expenses, $1,500 was designed for paying rent of buildings occupied by Willard School. Aside from all payments for rent, however, I find expenditures of about $700 made on account of the Willard School, which could not have been foreseen, and which would not have been made had the school been occupy- ing its own quarters.
The appropriation of $2,300 for books and stationery has not proved adequate. Many more books than anticipated became too poor for further use and were necessarily retired. While the sum of $2,300 seems large when considered by itself, we perceive it to be quite too small to meet the demands made upon it, if we fairly examine into the nature of these demands. This appropriation is made in compliance with a State law which requires that the Public Schools shall be made absolutely free schools through the provision at public expense of all books, materials and supplies needed by pupils in per- forming the work assigned them by teachers. If, now, I use
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