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 1892 > Part 11
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be a large entering class of those who have become five years old since last September. It is a self-evident fact now that the middle section of the building should have been carried up another story to allow the separation of the A and B Grammar classes.
Here, too, attention should be called to the future needs of that part of the city lying east of Hancock street and including Wollaston Park and Norfolk Downs. A school lot should be ob- tained in that section while there is an opportunity to choose land most suitable for a site and to buy it at moderate expense.
II. TEACHERS.
In these nine school buildings there are 3,724 pupils in charge of the following corps of teachers :
MEN
WOMEN
High School, Principal
1
0)
Other Teachers
0
4
Grammar Schools, Principals
1
Other Teachers
()
25
Primary Schools, Teachers
0
42
8 72
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Director of Drawing
1
66 " Music
1
" Nature Study
1
6: " Sewing
1
Lecturer in Cooking
1
8
77
* Assistants .
14
8 91
*When it has been necessary to place more than 50 children under one teacher, the most proficient members of the training class have been made assistants.
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This total will show the following increase over last year : 2 male principals, 1 new assistant teacher in the High, 2 Grammar assistant teachers, 2 Primary and 2 specials in sewing and cooking.
The organization of the Lincoln School called for a Principal and the reorganization of the John Hancock demanded another. The unexpected increase at the High caused an overflow and hence the need of extra teaching force.
Ill. PUPILS.
In the care of these five score teachers are the following children :
Whole number of different pupils registered 3,724
Average number belonging 3,392
Average number attending 3,228
Ratio of attendance to membership
94.9
Pro rata of tardiness to average membership .53
Cases of truancy
53
Number of visits
5,222
The zeal exhibited by the teachers in their efforts to secure a more perfect attendance is highly commendable. This zeal, combined with their exertions to make the school room attrac- tive and the class work interesting, accounts in a great measure for the results recorded above. In spite of their best and most conscientious efforts, however, there are cases that cannot be reached by going or by sending to the house, or by the interven- tion of a truant officer. The delinquents often are not so much in fault as are their parents. In cases of truancy, manifestly the sins of such parents are visited on their children.
If the teachers could have the assistance of one truant officer, instead of many, without doubt even the present high record of attendance could be raised. A competent man who felt the responsibilty of his position, could by his appearance on our streets, render the life of the would-be-truant less secure than at present. In my circuit riding I see many children in private yards and the adjoining streets who seem to be out of school without cause. One truant officer should have a regular
237
round, should examine into such cases as I have mentioned, should make regular calls to examine labor certificates, should take the school census in May, and should attend to minor repairs and supplies.
See tables in the appendix.
IV. CENSUS.
The 3,724 pupils recorded in the third section represent a population estimated by some at 20,000 ; by others more conser- vative at 19,000; by the State Board of Health at 18,669. By the census of 1890 the population was 16,723. The whole number of different pupils is 22 per cent. of 16,723; 19 per cent. 18,669 ; 18 per cent. of 20,000.
" The School Committee shall annually, in the month of May, ascertain or cause to be ascertained the names and ages of all persons between the ages of five and fifteen years belonging to their respective cities and towns on the first day of May, and shall make a record thereof."-Pub. Stat., Chap. 46, Sec. 3.
In accordance with this section E. Emery Fellows made a thorough canvass, and reported 4,377 children. This total rep- resents an increase of 332 over the census of 1891. This gain means a sufficient number to fill six large rooms and to require the services of the same number of teachers. In other words the growth is nearly equivalent to the capacity of a new school building of our regular size. To show that this increase is not a sudden inflation of our population, but a healthy expansion, con- sult these returns of the past decade :
1883
1884
1885
1886
1887
South
523
588
520
727
769
Centre
388
432
409
461
461
Point
337
356
308
376
380
West
706
802
693
939
964
Wollaston .
213
236
229
242
251
Atlantic
279
320
257
343
328
Total, .
2,446
2,734
2,416
3,088
3,153
238
1888
1889
1890
1891
1892
South, .
840
926
1,024
1,158
1,281
Centre, .
480
481
485
522
522
Point,
368
353
325
337
357
West,
1,008
1,108
1,161
1,281
1,407
Wollaston,
278
313
332
365
416
Atlantic,
322
314
338
382
394
Total,
3,296
3,495
3,665
4,045
4,377
-
V. MONEY.
Valuation of Quincy, May 1, 1892
$15,566,920 00
Average valuation for 1890-91-92
$14,406,695 00
Total tax levy
$260,745 82
To meet the expenses necessary to maintain such a school system as has been outlined, the City Council made the follow- ing appropriations for 1892 :
Salaries .
March. $48,000
Sept. $1,805
Year. $49,805
Fuel
3,500
210
3,710
Janitors .
4,000
172
4,172
Transportation
850
850
Micellaneous
3,700
3,700
Books and stationery
2,700
400
3,100
Evening Drawing Schools
1,000
1,000
Evening Common Schools
1,200
713
1,913
Sewing for Grammar
500
500
Cooking for High
100
100
Totals
$65,550
$3,300
$68,850
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By section 34, paragraph C. of the City Charter, the Com- missioner of Public Works has " cognizance, direction, and con- trol of the construction, alteration, repair and care of public buildings ; except that the care of all school buildings shall remain under the control of the school committee." Although the committee do not have "cognizance, direction and control of any appropriation for repairs," yet the money paid for the same is stated here, as it is in reality a part of the total cost of the schools for 1892.
Commissioner Ewell reports the following outlay :
High
$253 12
Adams
357 96
Coddington
102 88
John Hancock
193 34
Lincoln
180 30
Quincy
490 00
Washington
201 04
Willard
427 91
Wollaston .
64 12
$2,270 67
The Council has made the following transfers during the year :
From salaries, $200 to these departments :- Fuel, $15; jani- tors, $10; transportation $12; miscellaneous, $50; books and stationery, $113. Total, $200.
From Evening Common to the Evening Drawing School, $35. From sewing to books and stationery, $100.
After the accounts of 1891 were closed, bills contracted in that year to the amount of $678.88 were received. To meet this overlay the Council made a special appropriation. Other bills of 1891, to the amount of $263.29, were paid from the appropria- tion of 1892.
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The summary of the expenditures for 1892 are as follows :
UNEXPENDED
EXPENDITURES.
BALANCE.
Salaries
$49,496 89
$108 11
Fuel
3,720 84
4 16
Janitors
4,178 12
3 88
Transportation
860 75
1 25
Miscellaneous
3,749 86
14
Books and Stationery .
3,312 81
19
Evening Drawing School
1,033 04
1 96
Evening Common Schools
1,876 42
1 58
Sewing
399 93
7
Cooking
100 00
Total
$68,728 66
$121 34
For an itemized account of all the departments see the financial statement at the close of this report.
The unexpended balances do not compare favorably with the reports of previous years, but it is hoped that the fact that there will be no overlay from 1892 to 1893 will more than compensate for the smallness of the said balances.
It has been somewhat difficult to state at any given time the exact balance on hand, because so many have taken upon them- selves the responsibility of contracting bills in the name of the School Department. It would have been unjust to refuse pay- ment for services performed in good faith, but in every case the creditor was warned not to accept in the future unauthorized orders.
Total expenditure by the School Board . $68,728 66
66 Commissioner Public Works 2,270 67
Grand total $70,999 33
Cost per pupil based on total number of different pupils enrolled
$19 06
Based on average number belonging 20 93
Based on average daily attendance . .
.
21 99
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VI. ADDITIONAL STATISTICS,
By the Fifty-fifth Annual Report of the Board of Education, Quincy holds the following rank among the 351 towns and cities of the State and the 27 of the County :
Percentage of valuation appropriated to public schools-in the State, 171; in the County, 16.
Ratio of average attendance to the whole number of children between 5 and 15 years-in the State, 266; in the County, 23.
Comparative amount of money appropriated for each child between 5 and 15 years-in the State, 148; in the County, 21.
The second statement will probably cause the most surprise, because our school population seems large. Our total number of different pupils of all ages enrolled during the year is 3,724 ; the census of May gives 4,377 between 5 and 15 years ; a differ- ence of 653.
A part of the loss just referred to may be accounted for by the following table.
Number of pupils on Dec. 22, 1892, in the twelve grades from lowest Primary through to the High School :
Primary, I. 653, II. 450, III. 406, IV. 393. Grammar, V. 361, VI. 319, VII. 253, VII. 214.
High, IX. 86, X.
48, XI. 30, XII. 19
The loss in the middle of the Grammar course is quite marked and is doubtless due to the fact that many have just reached the age of fourteen, when by the laws of the State, they can seek work without being obliged to return to school for a part of the year.
At the dedication of the Cambridge English High School, Dr. A. P. Peabody said : "Most of the pupils leave the grammar school at too early an age for any employment in which they can have the opportunity of rising. They may, indeed, be put to some kind of handwork, and many of them must be so disposed of on account of the inability of parents to support them any
242
longer. But those who go to work so young are unlikely ever to attain even the position of skilled laborers. Worse still, children who leave school so young, and at once become hard workers, will scarcely retain enough of the school atmosphere to make them intelligent citizens. Their transient vision of things de- sirable to know will fade and vanish; and as regards anything beyond their working day sphere they will know less at twenty than at twelve, less at forty than at twenty. This is undoubtedly the destiny of a considerable proportion of the graduates of the grammar schools, who yet will be for their lives long better citi- zens and better men and women for the schooling that they have had."
The Secretary of the State Board of Education states that about 93 per cent. of the school population of Massachusetts at- tend no schools higher than the grammar.
It has been suggested by some of the School Board that a nine years' course would hold many in the Grammar schools who do not now begin a new course at the High, but who would be willing to continue another year for the sake of a full Grammar diploma and for the additional subjects-book-keeping, civics and English history-that could then be offered. The decided falling off from 214 in the highest Grammar to 86 of the lowest class in the High, would seem to warrant such a change. The average age of the 214 pupils of the highest Grammar is 14 years and } month. There are 19 who are 12 years old ; 70, 13 years ; 73, 14 years ; 38, 15 years ; 10, 16 years ; and 4, 17 years. These data, combined with the fact that the average age of those who entered the lowest Primary grade in September was 5 years and 3.9 months, would indicate that another year added to the course below the High school would not be an excessive demand. With a nine years' course promotions could be more easily made, and therefore the average age of the graduates would not be in- creased by a whole year.
The cities and large towns of New England report generally a nine years' course. The average age of 1,950 graduates of such a course, as returned last June, was 15 years, 2 months; and 28 per cent. of these pupils finished the course in less than nine years.
243
VII. SALARIES.
The teacher is expected to train and develop the mind of the child ; to teach him to think, to see, and to express himself ; to aid his physical development by proper exercise and position ; to help him to grow in moral strength by ever emphasizing right motives and right acts, and by judiciously repressing in him all evil tendencies, to lift the child to a level of greater refinement, a higher civilization and broader conception of what life is and its limitless possibilities. Incidentally a fair knowledge of the curriculum of our most advanced common schools may be men- tioned ; but over all and above all, is character building, a build- ing that many a home does not give, and a building that means the development of that citizen on whom rests the perpetuity of this government.
Since we demand all this, viz: a trained mind, a certain amount of knowledge, a good character, as well as a respectable appearance, neatness of dress and refinement of manners-in fine, everything that makes up such a personality as we would have children at their most susceptible age imitate-let us see what we pay for what we expect to' have.
The average salary per annum now paid to the 67 regular Grammar and Primary teachers, excluding Principals, is $449.62. This amount divided by 300 gives $1.50 per day. Some may object to the divisor. Unfortunately teachers cannot during vacations fall into a comatose state that requires neither food, shelter, nor clothing. The Commissioner of Public Works pays $1.75 and $2 per day. Of these 67 teachers just mentioned, 8 receive $400; 19, $425; 20, $450; 6, $475 : 14, $500.
It is evident that only the weakest teachers are really paid for their work: The great majority are giving the fresh- ness of young womanhood, the best of their mental strength, and of their nervous force, in fact, the best years of their life for a comparatively insignificant pecuniary reward.
These lamentations will be found in your school re- ports for decades, and you have been long accustomed to this minor key. I ought not to fail, however, to record the fact that the present Board has sought to prevent the excessive
244
drain upon our corps of teachers, due to the tempting salaries offered by our ambitious and wealthier neighbors. Many of our tried and successful teachers received this year an increase that their services well merited. Much remains to be done, as the statistics above have shown.
The appendix shows the years of service.
VIII, HIGH SCHOOL.
Because of its seclusion only a minority of our citizens have personal knowledge of the High School building or the needs of the school. Just forty years ago the house was opened. No doubt its proportions were ample for those days, but the build- ing has been out of date for twenty years. In fact, ever since the school has numbered one hundred members the accommoda- tions have been insufficient. The visitor will look in vain for physical or chemical laboratories, for drawing rooms, for store closets, for teachers' rooms or principal's office, for a basement, or even a common cloak-room for the young ladies-to say noth- ing of similar accommodations for the young men. As for ven- tilation, it is unknown.
In such a building 183 (Dec. 22) pupils would be pleased to find at least suitable places to sit. To relieve the pressure in a slight degree, a new teacher was engaged, and 33, the English portion of the class of '96, were transferred to the attic room of the Adams. This is the same room that was used as an argu- ment for the erection of the Lincoln, on the ground that the room was not fit for -a large class.
Every Thursday, rain or shine, nearly a hundred must go from the High School to Hardwick Hall for the drawing desson and at the end of ninety minutes, return to the school. This hall is used also by the Evening Drawing School. For this room the Board pays $180 per year, in addition to the cost of extra janitor's work and extra heating. This department also pays $224 for rent and care of the two rooms in Durgin & Merrill's block, and even then the Board holds its meetings in the City Hall. A new building for the High School should house the Evening Drawing School, the School Board, and the Superinten-
245
dent of Schools. The plan would cause a saving of $400 per year. Still further, the Adams and the Coddington must soon have relief in their Primary grades. The former now averages 44 in each room and the latter 47. The old High School building at a moderate cost for alteration will make four excellent Primary rooms.
In the average number belonging this year, there is an increase of 28 per cent. over that of last, and the growth will be as marked next year, if accommodations can be provided and the course of study enlarged as it should be, to compare favorably with the schools of the surrounding towns. Our present course is only a provisional one, but the response to increased advan- tages is quite pronounced. The course is fairly elective, but it should be more so. The value of a study does not depend on the difficulty or the repugnance overcome in pursuing it. "If the opposite were true, and such a theory were carried to its logical limit, we should select the color blind for an artistic education, and those with no ear for a musical one. The elective theory maintains that there is enough inevitable hardship." Therefore, I hold that the only required study should be English and this four hours per week during the whole course. As a people we are woefully ignorant of our own tongue and of our own litera- ture.
In addition to the usual mathematics, reviews, history and language, the High School should afford a better education for those who intend to seek employment in the business houses of Boston. I refer to the practical utility, convenience and econ- omy of time resulting from phonography and to the ability to use the omni-present type-writer, an invention that teaches neatness, care, accuracy, close observation, and accents all the laws of good composition. Five cities have already adopted these two subjects in their public schools. Double entry book- keeping should be studied with greater facilities for illustrating business methods.
A two years' business course containing such an addition, together with the broad principles of commercial law and of commercial arithmetic, would cause as great an increase in the coming year as we have witnessed in the past twelve months.
246
One-half (86) of the grammar graduates of last June are now in the High. If the same proportion holds good next year, there will be more than a hundred in the class of '97; but if this enrichment is granted, it will add a score to the hundred.
As last year the course was changed from three to four years, there was no public graduation in June. The twenty-two pupils who had completed the three years' course were given the usual diplomas and then urged to return. Eighteen did so (one entered from another place, making nineteen in all) and in June '93 we may feel that the four years' course is fairly established.
It may be of interest to know that the six Wards are repre- sented as follows :
[. 21, II. 28, III. 47, IV. 31, V. 24, VI. 32.
Ward VI., in proportion to its census of May, is the banner Ward and yet its children live farthest from the school."
During the last term three series of prizes have been offered the pupils of this school. First for declamation, prizes to the value of $75 may be selected from the catalogue of Houghton, Mifflin & Co .; second, prizes for essays to the amount of $21 from the same catalogue; third, prizes for translations from French and Latin, to the amount of $21, on the same conditions as before. It is pleasant to record the fact that we have two citizens who are so devoted to the interests of our schools, and who are so willing to give their time, experience and money as are the donors of these prizes.
See appendix for essay subjects and a list of the graduates of the school.
IX. JOHN HANCOCK SCHOOL.
Until July of the present year the John Hancock has been organized as a Primary school; although, on account of the crowded condition of the neighboring schools, a low grammar room was opened under the direction of the principal. The erection of the Lincoln made it possible to reorganize the John Hancock as a full grade (eight) school. The whole number be- longing to December 22 is 306.
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The natural bound on the south is the electric-car track, and the limit was so fixed in anticipation of this reorganization ; but the growth of the southern part of Ward Three has been so extreme that the bound must be pushed further to the south. This will increase the attendance, so that the enrollment will be about 350 until April.
X. LINCOLN SCHOOL.
On Saturday, September 24, at 3.30 o'clock P. M., this school was dedicated by the following exercises, under the direction of the Committee on Dedication,-Henry O. Fairbanks, Mayor ; Emery L. Crane, Chairman of School Board; H. W. Lull, Superintendent of Schools; William A. Reed, Principal Lincoln School :
Chorus High School Pupils
Invocation Rev. Edward Norton
Announcement of Completion of Building, The Contractor, James McNeil Delivery of the Building to the Mayor of the City .
By the Commissioner of Public Works, W. W. Ewell Response By His Honor the Mayor, Henry O. Fairbanks Acceptance, By Chairman of School Committee, Emery L. Crane Reception of Keys, By Principal of School, William A. Reed Presentation of the United States Flag By the Mayor Chorus By Audience Short Addresses, By Theophilus King and Edwin W. Marsh
Chorus High School Pupils
The dedication of this addition to Quincy school property as the Lincoln School reminds our citizens that they have reason to take pride in the names of their school buildings. Adams, Coddington, John Hancock, Quincy, Willard and Wollaston are local names and so well known that any explanation of their selection, or any defence would be ridiculous. As we had in the past dedicated a school to Washington the Father, surely we could not do better than name our newest structure for Lincoln
248
the Emancipator. Our High School lacks a distinctive appel- lation, but in the near future it is to be hoped that a new house will perpetuate the renown of some equally distinguished American.
The Lincoln has been organized as a full grade ( eight ) school under a male principal. The large attendance in the lowest grades more than fills the rooms allotted and therefore the A and B Grammar classes, numbering at present 45, are limited to one room. Next September these classes will number 60 to 70 and other accommodation must be provided.
XI. EVENING DRAWING SCHOOL.
The instructor reports that the arrangement of the course is now more practical for the citizens of Quincy, as he has visited the stone yards and has also interviewed those who have previ- ously attended the school. From this inspection and from the interviews, he has been able to adapt the course to the needs of this city. There are two classes in mechanical drawing and two in freehand. Average attendance was : mechanical-first year, 19.1; second year, 34. Freehand-first year, 9.6; second year, 2.4.
Last April 14 certificates were issued to the first-year class of the mechanical, and 4 diplomas to the second-year ; 8 certifi- cates to the first-year freehand, and 3 diplomas to the second year. The instructor complains of the irregularity of attend- ance, and recommends that the Committee adopt the plan of other places, viz. : require a deposit of one dollar and a written agreement to attend regularly unless prevented by sickness or removal from the city. More than five absences from the fifty regular lessons forfeit the dollar to the use of the school. Such a plan will keep away those who come from curiosity, or who have no settled purpose, will not exclude the deserving, and will give those who wish to improve their time better instruction.
I desire to call the attention of our regular teachers (women as well as men) who have any taste for this subject, to the fact that they are welcomed as students. Several are now enrolled.
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XII. EVENING COMMON SCHOOLS.
This year the Evening Schools have been held in the Adams and in the Willard buildings, with this attendance :
Adams : Largest attendance of men, 83; of women, 9; of both, 88. Smallest attendance of men, 19; of women, 1; of both, 23. Average attendance of men, 59.4; of women, 5; of both, 50.9.
Willard : Largest attendance of men, 130; of women, 23; of both, 140. Smallest attendance of men, 27; of women, 1; of both, 30. Average attendance of men, 87.7 ; of women, 10; of both, 97.7.
The Adams has had 41 sessions, and the Willard 57. The larger number at the Willard is due to the fact that the Willard did not open in the fall of '91 at the time the Adams began, but held its first session January 4, '92, and therefore continued until March 25. Both schools opened for the fall term October 31. Sessions are held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The teachers are the regular day-school teachers who request the privilege of extra work.
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