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 1898 > Part 17
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21
The Grammar masters hold a monthly meeting.in the office of the Superintendent. The officers and the work of the past year are as follows:
Officers for year, 1898 :
James M. Nowland, President. Charles E. Finch, Jr., Vice President.
Chester H. Wilbar, Secretary and Treasurer.
The officers constitute the executive committee.
Ten meetings have been held during the year.
Subjects considered :-
·
1. Increase of school year from eight years to nine years. Speaker, Richard S. Pearce, Jr.
2. In what particulars the Quincy Grammar schools succeed and in what particulars they fail in preparing pupils for the Quincy High school. Speaker, Frederic Allison Tupper.
3. The use of the textbook in history. Speaker, C. H. Wilbar.
4. Out-door class meetings. Speaker, Thomas B. Pollard.
5. A school newspaper. Speaker, Charles E. Finch, Jr.
6. Written language in grades V and VI. Speaker, Albert Candlin.
7. Written language in grades VII and VIII. Speaker, R. S. Atkins.
If anyone is surprised that so much space is given to the teacher, let him remember that trite expression: "as is the teacher, so is the school." Certainly better schools can result only from stronger teachers. Is it not the pupil who will finally receive the result of his teacher's growth ? Then let the teacher grow and broaden; let him feel the breadth of the world to the end that his expansion may result in the enrichment of his pupils.
Historical Quincy.
The data about Quincy, published last year, have proved so helpful that they are reprinted here after careful revision by one
34
of Quincy's best informed citizens, who has long been a student of the old town's history and who has, also, been very helpful to. the schools. The name of Edwin W. Marsh will naturally come to the mind of the reader.
This year for the first time one hundred and twenty-five reports, with a special imprint on the cover indicating the grade and school, were reserved for the desks of the teachers, so that tliese and other data might be at hand for constant reference. See appendix.
Music.
To meet the desire for retrenchment in school expenses, it seemed to the Board that the schools would suffer the least harm if the time devoted to the supervision of music were shortened. It was therefore voted that after June of this year that only three days, instead of four and one-half, should be given to this department. By this contraction, in a full year, $400 would be saved, provided that the music in the High could be taught by a member of its corps. As all the teachers in the High have their full allotment of subjects, it does not seem just to impose this burden on one of them without reduc- ing the work already assigned or increasing the salary. It is impossible to do the former, therefore the latter ought to be done at once. Even then with an increase of $100, there will be an apparent saving of $300, apparent, for it is difficult to say how the success of the music will be affected.
The special subjects of science, music and drawing, so far as supervision is concerned, now cost Quincy a surprisingly small amount. It has sometimes been suggested that this cost should be divided as an increase of salary among the grade teachers below the High School. As it would give each teacher only thirteen dollars, the valuable and necessary help of super- vision far outbalances this insignificant addition to the salary.
Sewing and Cooking.
These two departments have been very satisfactorily carried on during the year under the same supervision and with no radical change in method or subject matter; and therefore need no more than this word of commendation.
35
The sewing is confined to grades V, VI, VII and VIII.
The citizens had an opportunity to see tangible results of the work at the Memorial Day exercises of the different schools when Parents' Day was also celebrated, and also when it was displayed in the office window during the last two weeks of June. In that month the annual exhibit is made every year.
The twenty lessons in cooking to the girls of the senior class of the High School were attended by an average of 19 of the 21 who registered. In the appendix is a schedule of the work.
Nature Work.
This year the teachers have shown more appreciation of the work in animal and plant life and in the common minerals than ever before. Increased knowledge and experience have given them more confidence. In addition to their regular grade meet- ings at the beginning of each term when the work of the next three or four months, carefully scheduled and copied, is given them on paper and is also critically explained, the teachers have constantly sought at her regular office hour, the services of Miss Kennedy for extra help. It will do no harm to say here that Miss Kennedy during the last year has declined three calls at an advanced salary.
For those who do not visit the schools, but in other days studied botany as formerly taught, Miss Kennedy has prepared an exercise on the nasturtium to illustrate a radical change in treatment.
It should be understood that much of the information had been gathered during the study of other plant life and so this is, in a sense, a summing up of a long series of observations with many different plants and the result of the work of former years. The child is being taught how to see, and what to see and the " why" of everything.
Nasturtium.
Name.
Where does it grow? When does the plant begin to blos som ? How long do the plants blossom ?
36
How high does the plant grow ? What helps it in climb- ing?
Parts, underground : Many, fine thread-like roots, holding the plant in place and getting food from the soil.
Above ground : Stem, long, green ; smooth, to shed water, fleshy, holding much moisture; sharp taste; stouter where it sends out leaves : dies at the end of the season ; twists around sticks or threads for support.
Leaves, simple, round, green, on long petioles ; many, crowded, alternate; petiole starts from middle of under side of blade ; petiole holds blade in sunlight, and carries food to it ; blade does the work of breathing for the plant ; petiole is often twisted to help the plant in climbing.
Flowers, bright colored, begin to come in early summer and last until frost; one on a stem, nodding slightly to keep out rain.
Calyx, outer parts of flowers ; five parts united at end of flower stem ; three parts united into a long tube or spur at back to hold honey; parts paler than the rest of the flower, and protect the parts inside.
Corolla, of five petals, bright colors, orange, red or yellow ; their work to call the insects; two petals are marked with lines ( to show the bee the way to the nectar; i. e., they lead to the spur ) ; three petals have fine fringes on them, thus keeping ants and other crawling insects from "stealing" the honey ; petals with fringes are long and thus the petals form a platform for the bee as it leaves the flower.
Stamens, eight ; ripen one at a time ; turn toward the spur when ripe ; hold pollen.
Pistil, one in the middle of flower; ripens after stamens ; top three parted ; projects beyond the stamens.
Fruit, a round wrinkled body; three parted; green, but becomes light brown in ripening and dying ; seeds gathered in autumn, planted the next spring.
Work of the bee in the flower. When the pollen is ripe the blossom opens, throwing out its bright petals to attract the bee. As the bee goes into the flower in search for honey, ( which is the pay for its work ), it rubs against the pistil. In doing this, pollen from its body which it has taken from another
37
flower is rubbed on the pistil, thus aiding in seed formation. On leaving the flower the bee rubs against the stamens, gathering pollen upon its body to be left upon the pistil of another ?flower. As soon as the bee has visited the flower, and done its work, the seeds begin to ripen.
The petals and stamens drop because their work is finished.
N. B. These last steps are not told but developed from observations already known of this and other flowers.
Uses of this plant : flowers and leaves for salad; fruit for pickles and gravies.
Drawing.
The course in drawing should give the pupils some idea of what art is, as well as instruction and drill in mechanical and free hand work and in the elementary use of colors. To this end, each grade has been furnished with at least three copies of standard works of acknowledged merit. It will surprise the reader, unless he has kept in touch with the rapid growth in this business of reproducing satisfactory copies, to know that they can be bought for one cent each. These pictures average in size four by five inches. The whole cost to the city did not exceed four dollars. Of course the teachers found it necessary to in- crease their own knowledge, and it is safe to say that it has been a benefit to teachers and pupils. The direction to the teachers was: " Emphasize beauty and, if possible, show wherein the beauty lies, or what is the cause of it. Teach what the lesson is. What the historical association, or the mythology is. Who and what the artist is." Above all other considerations, however, was this, "Why is it a masterpiece ? "
Many children became so interested that they were not sat- isfied merely to see the pictures hanging before them in the schoolroom, but wished to own them, Could their cents be more profitably invested ? No doubt less candy and gum were consumed. Other children began, with the help of their teach- ers a more ambitious collection, and several thousand pictures were carefully fastened into blank-books together with more or less elaborate descriptions and explanations. The collections were home work.
38
The following list is already subject to some changes; be- cause, although it had been tried in other cities, some pictures failed to reach immature minds-that is, immature on the art side, and therefore other copies that will appeal to a larger number of pupils will be substituted. The underlying thought is, the love of the beautiful.
GRADE I.
The Sick Monkey, The Pet Bird, Holy Night,
Landseer. Meyer von Bremen. Correggio.
GRADE II.
A Fascinating Tale, The Helping Hand, Holy Family with Bird,
Henriette Ronner. Emile Renouf. Rubens.
GRADE III.
Can't You Talk ? Feeding Her Birds, Sistine Madonna,
G. A. Holmes. J. F. Millet. Raphael.
GRADE IV.
Kabyl, Penelope Boothby, Madonna,
Adolph Schreyer. Sir Joshua Reynolds. Dagnan-Bouveret.
GRADE V.
Shepherdess and Sheep, Diogenes in Search of an Honest Man, Holy Family,
J. F. Millet. Salvator Rosa. Murillo.
GRADE VI.
The Horse Fair, A Reading from Homer, Christ Disputing with the Doctors, GRADE VII.
The Old Temeraire, Aurora, Repose in Egypt,
Rosa Bonheur. Alma Tadema. H. Hofmann.
J. W. W. Turner. Guido Reni. Anthony Van Dyck.
39
GRADE VIII.
Gleaners, Daniel, Madonna of the Chair, The Mill,
J. F. Millet. Michael Angelo. Raphael. Rembrandt.
GRADE IX.
The Virgin, Infant Jesus, and St. John, Spring, The Golden Stair, Landscape,
Bouguereau. Corot. E. Burne-Jones. William Morris Hunt.
Training Class.
The report of 1897 gave ten reasons why the Training Class had outlived its original usefulness. These, by vote of the Board were referred to a special committee, Mr. Breed, Miss Adams, and Dr. Record, for their careful consideration. Before the matter was reported back and again discussed by the Board it was so late in the summer term, Tuesday, June 28, that the High School graduates who had intended to enter the class could not at that late date prepare for the normal examinations if the class were abolished. Therefore the following vote was passed : "That the Training Class be continued not longer than one year under the direction of the Superintendent and be con- ducted by rules formulated by him, subject to the approval of the Board."
The class has been so fortunate during the last term as to have the benefit of the practical experience and helpful advice of Miss Mabel E. Adams of this Board. Miss Adams is kindly giving the class a course of talks on the first steps in the ele- mentary reading of primary grades. These talks include a care- fully prepared phonetic table and an analysis of the sounds and their formation. Miss Adams has been obliged to study these subjects so closely in her work with the deaf and dumb in the Horace Mann school, Boston, that she is an authority on this work. .
See appendix.
40
Quincy Home Science Association.
This organization has a second time become Quincy's cred- itor. Encouraged by the success of the kindergarten experiment in the John Hancock district during the summer vacation of 1897, this Association continued that school and also opened a new room in the Gridley Bryant district. The term extended through eight weeks and forty children attended each school.
In Miss Elizabeth Johnson's report of the summer work is the following :
" The ages of children received have been from three to five years. (In future, however, only those of an age to enter the public schools in the autumn of the same year will be taken,- thus the number of applicants, now so many and difficult to choose from, will be limited; the teaching will be more effective when there are no very little ones to keep back the older children, and the eight weeks of training will be a direct preparation for the primary schools.)
Each school is in charge of a trained Kindergarten teacher, paid for her services, assisted by two or more young ladies, who give their services for the sake of experience gained in teaching and to help on the Free Kindergarten work. The value of the lessons learned by the children are such as even those persons most skeptical as to the value of kindergarten training in the full sense of the word, must recognize. No elaborate sys- tem of gradual mental development is undertaken,-it would be impossible in eight weeks. Ingenuity, memory, musical percep- tion, sense of color, form, and rhythm are developed through songs, games, and marching exercises ; hand work of various kinds, as attractive as it is simple and suggestive, disciplines eye and hand ; and lessons in obedience, courtesy, personal cleanli- ness, and consideration for others, are inculcated which, it has been evident in more than one case, have reacted upon the home.
This training, especially for shy, backward or spoiled chil- dren, is invaluable as a preparation for their regular school life, when it is impossible for the average busy teacher to study and make allowance for individual peculiarities of mind and tempera- ment, and it is training which few, even of the most devoted inothers have either the time or ability to bestow. Could such training be extended to the children in the various districts throughout this city, it would have a deep and far reaching influ- ence on the morals and intelligence of Quincy's future citizens."
The Rock Island Fund.
The income from this fund by vote of the Board has been
41
spent for reference books for the High School. The names of the books purchased this year may be found in the appendix.
In the whole city of Quincy this is the only fund ($1,000) that belongs to the School Department. If anyone desires to perpetuate his name forever, let him deposit in the Quincy Savings Bank one hundred or more dollars and he may have the pleasure, at least as long as he lives, of knowing that every year several new books, bought with the interest of his money and stamped with his name will be helpful to the pupils of any school he may designate. What better monument can he wish ? See appendix.
Clerical Assistance.
For at least five years the members of this Board have in- dividually expressed themselves in favor of clerical help in the office of Superintendent ; but no definite and conclusive action was taken before the meeting of February of this year, when it was voted "that the Superintendent be authorized to secure a clerk at once."
In accordance with this vote the Superintendent notified the Civil Service Commission, and Miss Lucy M. Hallowell, who had had a long and successful experience in bookkeeping, stenog- raphy and typewriting, was engaged as clerk.
The postage bill for the year ($56.68) will indicate the amount of correspondence that leaves this office. Besides the host of minor details relating to the executive department of the schools, there is also the careful accounting for money ; nearly a hundred thousand dollars,-so that the school account shall agree to a cent with the Auditor's and the Treasurer's. It was also decided that this office should be open daily during the usual business hours for the benefit and convenience of the citizens. These few sentences give some idea of the need of a clerk.
Miss Hallowell has in all respects shown herself a compe- tent, faithful and courteous assistant, helpful to Superintendent, teachers and citizens.
Conclusion.
In closing this report of 1898, your Superintendent recog nizes with thanks the many evidences of appreciation and co-
42
operation that have made possible whatever success has attended the work of the year. While to teachers, to committee, and to citizens his gratitude is due, he would also call attention to the fact that the local press has ever been loyal to the public schools. In a city of more than twenty-four thousand inhabitants, the greater part of whom are intelligent readers and thinkers ; of seven thousand parents who have children in school and who also have decided opinions of what they should do and know ; of forty-five hundred school pupils of all nationalities and of all mental, moral, physical and social conditions ; of one hundred and sixteen teachers of greater or less maturity, education, ex- perience, and natural gifts ; it is indeed wonderful that all can live together with so little friction.
What everyone wishes is the best possible administration of the Quincy schools, the best teaching in them, and the most economical use of the time of the pupils, and of the money of the city. All helpful advice in these particulars will be welcomed whether in the public press, private letters, or personal interview.
Yours respectfully, HERBERT WARREN LULL, Superintendent of Schools.
December 31, 1898.
Quincy High School.
To H. W. Lull, Superintendent,
DEAR SIR :- I beg leave to submit the following report of the High School for the year 1898.
STATISTICS OF THE CLASS OF '98.
Number of graduates, 34
Number of girls,
.
. 23
Number of boys,
11
STATISTICS OF THE GIRLS.
At Wellesley College,
1
At Boston University,
5
At the Boston Normal School,
1
At the Art School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1
At the Woodward Institute,
1
In the Quincy Training Class, .
6
At the Pernin School of Shorthand, .
2
Employed in business,
3
Otherwise occupied,
3
STATISTICS OF THE BOYS.
At Harvard College, 1
At the Lawrence Scientific School,
1
At Tufts College,
.
1
Taking Graduate Courses,
2
Engaged in Business,
6
These statistics show a constantly increasing interest in the higher education. One graduate student of the class of '97 went to Boston University in September, and another graduate student of the same class went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The High School, accordingly, sent thirteen pupils
44
to colleges, scientific, normal, and other higher schools. In fact, more than one hundred pupils at the High School are now preparing for higher institutions. The gratifying results ob- tained by Mr. George R. Lewis, '98, and Mr. Elijah Swift, '99, in taking the Harvard examinations are encouraging to tlie friends of the High School. Mr. Lewis was admitted without conditions, passed in one hour's extra work, and received " honors " in history, algebra, English, elementary Latin, and advanced Latin. Mr. Swift passed in nine hours of preliminary work and received "honors " in algebra, plane geometry, and ·solid geometry.
Of the 37 pupils who received certificates on completing the two years' Business Course nearly all are engaged in business. There is a marked tendency in the educational world to strengtlien and extend business courses by the liberal addition of less technical subjects. This tendency is to be commended, for with the increasing exigencies of modern life, the dangers of insufficient preparation become only too clearly apparent.
The High School Enrollment.
Although the enrollment this year has not shown the ex- pected increase, still the numbers are in excess of the building's capacity. Laboratories, halls, and offices, furnish no sufficient substitute for recitation rooms. It is highly probable, moreover, that within a short time the enrollment will increase to such an extent, that additional provision must be made.
The Teachers.
Very fortunately the changes in the corps of teachers have been few, so that the pupils have received the benefit of previous experience. It is a source of deep regret that Quincy does not feel able to pay salaries equal to those paid by other suburban towns. It is generally admitted that every dollar wisely in- vested in education, like every dollar wisely invested in public improvements, comes back to the community over and over again. Quincy, therefore, ought to be willing to retain well- equipped and efficient teachers. The results of the work done by the teachers of the High School tested not only by college
45
examinations, but by other means, are worthy of high praise. I wish publicly to thank these teachers for their highly successful efforts.
Changes in Courses, Text=books, etc.
The addition of a third year to the German course is to be noted. The changes made in the list of text-books are also matters of considerable interest. Such changes should be made just as frequently as the inferiority of any book in use has been clearly demonstrated. The text-book world moves rapidly. To keep pace with it we must be ready at all times to take advan- tage of every advance whether in typography, archæology, com- parative philology, or other departments.
Miss Kennedy has continued her science excursions with gratifying results. An outline of these excursions is given below :
Botany, May, 1898 :- West Quincy and East Milton woods. Study of plants peculiar to rocky regions.
Geology, Nantasket, September, 1898 :- Volcanic forma- tion. Beach formation. Drumlins. Erosive power of waves. Series of dykes. Deposits of calcite and quartz crystals.
Squantum, September, 1898 .- Fragmental rocks, showing veins, joint planes, tiltings. Quartz crystals in veins and geodes. Drusy quartz between layers of sandstone. Dendrite formation on slate. Erosive action of water shaping masses of rock. Drumlins in Boston harbor seen from Squantum showing results of erosion, and mud flats connecting main land with the hills. These mud flats are composed of the fine materials worn from the hills by water.
Cambridge, October, 1898 :- Agassiz Museum. (Glass flowers.) Mineralogical collections to show varieties of miner- als, masses of minerals and groups.
Boston, Natural History Rooms :- Mineral collections. New England rocks.
Mrs. Ilsley has taken pupils to several lectures and addresses delivered in French.
46
Drawing is elective throughout the course. The popularity of this subject is such, however, that the classes are all well filled. The semi-annual examinations, the terror of pupils both good and bad, have been abolished. In their place more fre- qent short written exercises are given, with practice in taking longer examinations for those who are fitting for higher insti- tutions.
I recommend that courses in mental and in moral science. political economy, elocution, military drill, gymnastics, and the science and art of teaching, be established. I further recon- mend that five periods per week instead of three, as at present, be devoted to the third year of Greek, and that English be given much more attention than can be given it with our present corps of teachers. These recommendations are made, not as a matter of form, but in the firm belief that Quincy children deserve, and Quincy citizens can afford to give, such advantages at our High School as will make it impossible for any one to compare it un- favorably with the best institutions of the same grade.
Our Reference library, thanks to the Rock Island fund, con- tinues to increase. Many valuable books have been added during the past year, and these books have given a new value to the instruction in all the departments.
Gifts.
The following gifts are gratefully acknowledged :
From the Class of '97, a portrait of John Adams.
From the Class of '98, a reproduction of Guido Reni's " Aurora."
From the managers of the People's Course, a reproduction of Millet's "Gleaners."
From the Foot-ball eleven of '97-'98, a photograph of the eleven.
From various friends of the school, reproductions of The Zeus of Otricoli, The Hermes of Praxiteles, The Laocoon, illus- trative of Greek art, and reproductions of Stuart's Martha Washington, and Marshall Johnson's Frigate Constitution, illustrative of American history.
" A History of the Labor Movement " has been presented to
47
the library by Mr. Wales. Many additional contributions have been made to the school museum.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.