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 1904 > Part 20
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Dictation. Easy conversation. Reading and translation of Fairy Tales.
II. Grammar : Conjugation of strong and irregular verbs and modal auxiliaries. Order of words.
Translation : Schiller's Der Neffe als Onkel. Benedix' Eigensinn. Gerstacker's Germelshausen. Lyrics and Folksongs. Sight reading from easy texts.
III. Prose Composition.
Exercises in idiomatic German, including letter writing, short dialogues and descriptive themes. Conversation. Translation : Lessings' Minna von Barnhelm. Schiller's Jungfrau von Orleans.
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DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS
Commercial Arithmetic I. Subjects : Common and decimal fractions, common measures, interest, percentage, dis- ·count, insurance, taxes, duties, exchange, partnership. After a review of fundamental processes pupils are drilled in business methods.
"Bookkeeping I. The principles of double and single entry bookkeeping are presented in a clear and practical man- ner. Neatness and accuracy are insisted upon.
Bookkeeping II. The work of the previous year is continued, giving, as far as possible in a school, business practice,
Stenography I. The principles of stenography are learned, and practice in reading and writing shorthand is begun.
Stenography II. Regular and systematic practice in reading and writing shorthand is continued in order to secure accuracy and speed.
Typewriting I. After the use of the typewriter has been learned, practice is given in writing from shorthand notes and from dictation.
Typewriting II. The practice of the preceding year is con- tinued and pupils are taught to use at least one standard duplicator.
DEPARTMENT OF ART
The study of art must necessarily be considered as a whole rather than the work of different classes ; therefore, the course of drawing is arranged to meet the needs of the individual student and is varied to suit any requirements.
Pupils are not only fitted for continuing their studies in advanced schools but also to appreciate the best in art.
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The general plan is as follows :
Free-hand drawing of objects in pencil, and pen and ink, and principles of perspective.
Study of form, light and shade. Study of design, applied decoration.
Study of color in water colors and in oil.
Modeling and casting.
Mechanical drawing.
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSEHOLD SCIENCE AND ARTS
The first year course includes :
I. A simple outline of the location and surroundings of a home and the proper conditions existing in that home. Special attention is given to the dining room and kitchen, together with the care and use of their fur- nishings and utensils. -
II. Study of air, fire, water and some of the most important- elements in relation to life, heat, cooking.
III. Study of food, its functions ; growth, waste and repair of the human body.
IV. Food principles : water, carbohydrates, protein, fats and oils, mineral matter. Under these subjects foods are prepared and cooked by the pupils. The composi- tion, food value, growth, market value and best method of serving are discussed.
V. Visits to the markets to see the cutting up of beef, lamb and veal, that the pupils may be able to buy economic- ally and understandingly the different cuts of ineat.
The second year course will be a continuation and enlarge- ment of the first year course with lessons on invalid cooking and serving.
The third year work will include the selecting of an imag- inary site and the building and furnishing of a home in detail, the care of the home and all its furnishings, also a short course on sanitation and laundry work. The pupils will make out inex- pensive menus, cooking and serving the same. Simple dietaries will also be worked out for families of four and six.
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founder's Day
Saturday evening, March 12, 1904.
-
Program
1. Music by the School.
Under the direction of Mr. John D. Buckingham
a. The Chorister, Arthur Sullivan
b. Cradle Song,
Franz Ries
c. Bridal Chorus, Cowen
2. Tennyson's Princess.
Dramatis Personæ :
Gama, Father of the Princess,
Arac,
Sons of Gama
Two Younger Brothers,
The King, Father of the Prince,
The Prince, Lover of the Princess,
Florian Friends of the Prince,
Cyril
Ida, the Princess and head of the College of Maidens,
Beulah C. Hatch
Blanche ) Ladies of the Court and Tutors Psyche in the College
Melissa, Daughter of Lady Blanche,
College Portress,
Woman Post,
Woman Guards,
Maids,
Attendants,
Arabelle W. Curtis
Elsie C. Phillips Helen L. Curtin Louise W. Hinkley Helen King Elsie M. Patterson
Gerna Saville Catherine Larkin
Mary E. Harris Alice L. Claflin Mary A. Geary Elizabeth Freeman Anna H. Monahan Ruth P. Gardner Georgiana C. Waldron Margaret A. Craig Esther W. Sidelinger Carlena Walker Helen L. Baker
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GIRL STUDENTS : Isabel G. Jilbert, Esther A. McDonnell, Cor- inne Babcock, Josephine G. Elcock, Avah R. Gilson, Alma M. LeClair, Jessie D. Gardner, Lucy L. Hennigar, Margaret Hill, Muriel A. Rogers, Helen M. Sprague, Helen M. Tir- rell, Rubina M. Bates, Mary E. Boyle, Grace I. Burch, Marguerite Davis, Eva A. Hubert, Miriam N. Marsh, Lela I. Smith, Grace F. Spear, Mary C. Beliveau, Mary F. Court- ney, Gladys R. Pinel, Maud E. Read.
ACT I.
Scene I .- A Presence-room in the King's Palace. Scene II .- Before Gama's Palace:
Scene III .- A College-hall in the Palace of the Princess. I. Interlude-"Sweet and Low."
ACT. II.
Scene I .- A Court of the Princess's Palace.
Scene II .- A Park adjoining the Palace.
Scene III .- On a Terrace before the Palace.
II. Interlude -- "The splendor falls on castle walls."
ACT III.
Scene I .- A Pavilion in the Park.
Scene II .- On a Terrace before the Palace.
Scene III .- A Council-chamber in the Palace.
ACT IV.
Scene I .- A Camp of the King's Army. Scene II .- Open Field between the Camps. III. Interlude -- "Home they brought her warrior dead.''
ACT' V.
Scene I .-- A Hall of State in the Princess's Palace. Finale-"Ask me no more." Soprano solo .-- Miss Beliveau.
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Graduation Exercises
Wednesday evening, June 22, 1904.
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Program.
1. Music by the School.
Under the direction of Mr. John D. Buckingham.
a. Nymphs and Shepherds Harry Purcell.
b. Berceuse Anton Strelezkı.
Violin Obligato by Dr. Robert Porter.
c. La Carita Giacoma Rossini.
Solo by Miss Mary Celina Beliveau.
2. Address.
Subject : Ideals and Industrialism. Mr. Frederick Manley.
3. Conferring Diplomas.
Rev. Ellery C. Butler.
4. Class Ode.
Miss Alice L. Claflin.
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CLASS OF 1904.
Ruth Prescott Gardner
Arabelle Willett Curtis Josephine Mary Grignon Isabelle Gertrude Jilbert
Mabelle Marion Macleod
Esther Deloge McDonnell Bertha May Newcomb
Elsie Cargill Phillips
Margaret Ellen Sweeney Mary Ellen Thompson
Georgiana Brooks Waldron
Gerna Saville
Elizabeth Freeman
Corinne Babcock Alice Lydia Claflin
Theo Johnson Crane Mary Alice Geary
Avah Rouena Gilson
Mary Edna Harris
Beulah Clark Hatch
Martha Eldridge Holton
Katherine Theodora Larkin Alma Maria Le Clair
Teresa Miriam McCormick Mary Theresa McGrath Anna Helena Monahan
Edith Wilhelmina Olson
Elsie Mabel Patterson Irma Caroline Tilton
Stella Andrews Wheble
As a result of the change from a five year course of study to a four year course, the class of 1904 consists of two sections,-the first com- prises those who have been in school five years ; the second, those who have been in school four years.
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CLASS ODE.
Written by Alice Lydia Claflin.
Life, like a tempest, stormily rise, Thrashing the sea! Fling out the spray to the lowering skies, Shriek in the crag where the wild eagle cries, Battle the clouds till their thundering dies; I fear not thee !
Pour out the wrath of thy terrible might, Storming the sea! Rise from the wave to thine uttermost height, Scatter the stars in thy furious flight, Rage o'er the deep in the blast of the night; I heed not thee!
Spirit of Truth at the helm of my bark, On, o'er the sea! Daring the wind and the wave and the dark, Free as an eagle and glad as a lark, Steadfastly guiding my glorious bark, I rest in thee!
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Calendar For 1905
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Winter term : Monday, Jan. 2,-Wednesday, April 12.
Founder's Day: Saturday, March 11.
Spring term: Monday April 24,-Friday, June 23.
Graduation : Wednesday, June 21.
Entrance examination : Friday, June 23 and Monday, Sep- tember 11, at nine o'clock A. M.
Fall term : Monday, September 11,-Wednesday, December 20. New Year : Tuesday, January 2, 1906.
Holidays : February 22, April 19, May 30, June 17, and the remainder of the week from Wednesday noon next pre- ceding Thanksgiving.
ANNUAL REPORT
-OF THE -
School Department
-OF THE- -
City of Quincy
Massachusetts
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1904
1640
MANET
2
QUINCY
1888
QUINCY ADVERTISER JOB PRINT 1905
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1904
At Large.
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING Term expires Dec. 31, 1904 1136 Hancock street, Quincy.
MR. JAMES H. CHURCHILL Billings street, Atlantic.
“ Dec. 31, 1905
DR. HENRY C. HALLOWELL 66 “ Dec. 31, 1906
1244 Hancock street, Quincy.
By Wards.
Ward 1. HON. CHARLES H. PORTER, Term expires Dec. 31, 1906 1 Adams street, Quincy.
Ward 2. MR. FREDERICK H. SMITH. Dec. 31, 1904 701 Washington street; Quincy Pt.
Ward 3. *MISS MABEL E. ADAMS, Term expires Dec. 31, 1904 108 Franklin street, South Quincy.
MR. JOHN L. MILLER, Term expires Dec. 31, 1904 211 Franklin street, South Quincy.
Ward 4. MR. JAMES F. BURKE, Term expires Dec. 31, 1905 11 Cross street, West Quincy.
Ward 5. DR. WELLINGTON RECORD, Term expires Dec. 31, 1906 357 Newport avenue, Wollaston.
Ward 6. DR. FREDERICK J. PEIRCE, Term expires Dec. 31, 1905 386 Hancock street, Atlantic.
Chairman of the School Board.
HON. CHARLES H. PORTER.
Secretary of the Board and Superintendent of Schools.
FRANK EDSON PARLIN.
Office, 8 Washington street, Quincy. Residence, 19 Winthrop avenue, Wollaston.
Office open : Every week day, except Saturday, from 8 to 12 A. M., 2 to 5 P. M. Saturday, 8 to 12 A. M.
Regular hours of Superintendent :- Monday, 7.30 to 8.30 p. M. Tuesday, 4 to 5 P. M. Thursday, 4 to 5 P. M. Friday, 8 to 9 A. M.
The regular meetings of the School Board are held at eight o'clock P. M., the last Tuesday in each month.
*Miss Mabel E. Adams resigned in June, and in September Mr. John L. Miller was elected to fill the vacancy.
4
Standing Sub-Committees for 1904
FOR THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS
HIGH
ADAMS
CODDINGTON
CRANCH .
GRIDLEY BRYANT
JOHN HANCOCK
LINCOLN .
MASSACHUSETTS FIELDS
QUINCY . WASHINGTON
WILLARD
WOLLASTON
Messrs. Porter, Hallowell, Hunting Messrs. Miller, Hunting, Burke Messrs. Hallowell, Porter, Smith . Messrs. Smith, Hunting, Burke . Messrs. Porter, Burke, Peirce Messrs. Hunting, Miller, Porter Messrs. Hunting, Porter, Miller Messrs. Peirce, Churchill, Record Messrs. Churchill, Peirce, Record Messrs. Smith, Record, Hallowell . Messrs. Burke, Hallowell, Porter Messrs. Record, Peirce, Churchill Books, Supplies and Sundries. Messrs. Hunting, Record, Miller.
Textbooks. Messrs. Hallowell, Churchill, Peirce.
Transportation. Messrs. Record, Smith, Peirce. Evening Schools. Messrs. Churchill, Burke, Smith. Special Subjects. Messrs. Peirce, Smith, Hunting. Rules and Regulations. Messrs. Hallowell, Churchill, Burke. Teachers. The Chairman, Messrs. Record, Hunting. Finance and Salaries. The Chairman, Messrs. Hallowell, Smith.
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5
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Quincy :
The School Committee has very little that is new to present in its annual report to the citizens of Quincy.
The schools have been maintained on as high a plane as possible under existing conditions-the corps of teachers was never more efficient than at present, and the supervision by the Superintendent has been most excellent. But there still con- tinues the old complaint of lack of funds and lack of accommo- dations necessary for bringing the schools to the highest point of usefulness.
The School Committee appreciates fully the fact that about. one-third of the total expenditures of the city goes for the sup- port of the schools and it appreciates fully the great responsi- bility incurred in the expenditure of this large amount of money. It has tried in every way possible without impairing. the efficiency of the schools to keep the cost as low as possible. That it has succeeded in doing so may be seen by a careful ex- amination of the report of the Superintendent. Only two other cities in the state pay less per capita for the instruction of its children. The salaries paid are so low that our best teachers- unless restrained by home ties or associations-soon leave us to receive higher pay elsewhere. During the last year we have lost fifteen teachers from this cause. This necessarily retards the progress of the schools.
Although the state law expressly states that each city shall maintain evening schools, yet it was the opinion of the city solicitor that evening schools could not be maintained unless the
6
appropriation were sufficient to pay for them. As our appro- priation was barely sufficient to pay the bills already contracted for and as the City Council refused to vote additional funds, the evening schools were of necessity abandoned. This is very much to be deplored as it is in the evening schools that large numbers of our foreign population learn the English language and laws and thus become better citizens, and better able to obtain employment, and grammar school graduates continue their studies and become better able to fight the battles of life.
In the matter of school accommodations, the need of more room for the High School continues to be most urgent. In the old high school building, long ago condemned, inadequately heated and ventilated and never meant to accommodate more than ninety pupils, we have had during the last year over one hundred thirty pupils. In the newer building, designed for three hundred fifty pupils, there have been packed In about four hundred eighty pupils by placing seats in draughty hall ways and unlighted rooms. Even then there has been no room for seventy pupils who have been compelled to attend a short afternoon session. This has been an evident injustice to these pupils, for few children of that age have sufficient powers of application to do all their studying at home, especially in homes where there is little or no chance for quiet or privacy.
The School Committee has considered carefully the differ- ent plans suggested for providing more room for the High School and decided almost unanimously in favor of one school which could become a first class modern high school-housed either in one enlarged building or in two adjacent buildings on the same lot of land.
The plan of having two high schools located in different parts of the city, while appealing perhaps to local pride, did not commend itself to the School Committee for several reasons. In the first place, it was found after careful calculation that the annual cost of maintaining two schools would be at least $5,000 more than of maintaining one school of an equal number of pupils.
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Careful investigation was also made in regard to the cost. of a suitable high school building and it was found to be at least $150,000 and probably much more. Asit would be necessary to complete the building the entire cost would have to be pro- vided for at once. Plans for the enlargement of the present high school building contemplated an expenditure of from $120,000 to $150,000, but only a part of it was to be built at present, costing about $75,000-the remainder to be finished when needed, possibly in four or five years.
No suggestion has been made as to the kinds of schools these two should be. If one were a boys' and the other a girls' school, or if one were a classical and the other a business school, there would evidently be no very great saving in distance for a large part of the pupils, whereas if both schools contained both sexes and both classes it would probably result in petty rival- ries between two medium schools. The present high school building is inadequate to the needs of a modern high school and and should be remodeled to contain manual training and cook- ing rooms and a gymnasium.
It is the hope of a not very distant future that after our High School shall reach the limit of one thousand pupils, it may be possible to have a manual training or mechanic arts high school which might very appropriately be placed near the in - dustrial center of the city. But a manual training high school is expensive to build, to equip and to maintain, -a luxury not to be thought of at present. It is sincerely to be hoped that next year we may report some progress toward a relief of the criminal congestion of the High School. After that, it is to be hoped that the Quincy school at Atlantic and the Coddington school may receive some of the attention which has long been their due.
Within a few months the Metropolitan Park Commission has taken, without recompense, a large part of the yard of the Willard school, so that the nine hundred children of that school have practically no playground. This is radically wrong and should soon be remedied by the purchase of land in the immedi- ate neighborhood.
8
Another subject under consideration during the past year is the care and training of children whose mental disability is such that they are unable to profit by the ordinary teaching in the public schools. There are at present in the schools ten of these unfortunate children, who gain nothing whatever from the instruction and whose presence is a sore trial to the teachers, as well as a hindrance to the discipline and progress of the rest of the class. In addition to these in the schools there are in the city, as shown by the school census, about thirty other children who by reason of mental or physical ail- ments, are growing up in ignorance. A great many of these children can be taught in special schools so that they may lead useful lives. It seems that the city should take some steps to remedy this defect either by establishing a special school for the training of backward children or by making some arrange- ment for their care at some school already established.
The above report was presented by a special committee consisting of Dr. Hunting, Mr. Smith and Mr. Burke and was adopted as the annual report of the School Committee Tuesday, December 27, 1904.
FRANK E. PARLIN, Secretary.
9
Report of the Superintendent
To the School Committee of Quincy :
Herewith I submit my fifth annual report which is the thirtieth in the series of annual reports by the superintendent of public schools and the fifty-fifth of the printed reports of the Quincy School Board.
The Growth and Cost of our Schools
It is the custom of land surveyors, especially in case of local attraction, to test the accuracy of their course and to guard against mistakes by taking "back-sights." In imitation of their wisdom and caution it seems appropriate at the end of the third decade since the office of superintendent of schools was established in Quincy to take a brief backward view not only to see whence we have come and what has been accom- plished, but to consider the changed conditions and to discover the course of our present tendencies.
The year 1875 marks the beginning of a new era in the history of the public schools of Quincy. In that year the schools were for the first time placed under expert supervision, Col. Francis W. Parker being employed as the executive agent of the School Committee. Then there were in use seven school buildings, all wooden structures without fire protection and without any modern means of heating, ventilation or sanitation. The average number of pupils in all the schools was 1,363, dis- tributed as follows : High, 60; Adams, 327; Coddington, 192; Quincy, 139; Washington, 202; Willard, 355; Wollaston, 88.
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There were 36 teachers, 6 men and 30 women, a ratio of 1 to 5 ; and the average number of pupils to a teacher was 38. There were no special teachers of music, drawing, sewing, nature study or cooking. The High School course was only three years in length and there were no evening schools ; and yet the average cost per pupil based upon the average membership was higher than for any year during the last decade, being $23.46, and the average cost per pupil for books, supplies and sundries was $1.39 notwithstanding the fact that the free text- book law was not passed until 1884.
To-day there are 13 school buildings in use besides two rooms leased in the Quincy district. Of these eight are substan- tial brick structures, 10 are equipped with modern means of heat- ing, ventilation and sanitation, 1 is without means of ventilation, and the other 2 are entirely unfit for school use. The average number of pupils last November was 5,619 of which 643 were in the High School. There are 137 regular teachers ; 4 special teachers, of music, drawing, sewing and cooking; and 9 assist- ants, or 150 in all, of whom 15 are men and 135 women, a ratio of 1 to 9, showing that relatively the number of men in the teaching corps has greatly decreased. At the ratio of 1875 there would now be 25 men. The average number of pupils assigned to a teacher is 41, an increase of three. This seems an insignifi- cant number but, if the average number of 1875 were re- established, it would require 11 more teachers and over $5,000 in salaries, items not so insignificant. The High School has a membership more than ten fold that of 1875, its course of study is a third longer, offering three times as many subjects together with laboratory advantages, and yet the per capita cost in this school is over $15 less than it was thirty years ago.
The average annual cost per pupil for the decade beginning 1875 was $21.95, and the average cost for books, supplies and sundries was $1.76 per pupil, although the period included but one year of free textbooks and supplies. It was during this decade that Quincy acquired a national reputation for the ex- cellence of her schools. In 1879 there were only 18 cities and towns in the commonwealth and only 3 in Norfolk county
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which spent more per pupil for education than she did. In 1903 there were 164 cities and towns in the commonwealth and 21 in Norfolk county which spent more for that purpose, thus clearly showing that in school expenses, at least, Quincy has fallen behind and that her appropriations have not kept pace with her increase in school population, nor with the im- provement in educational advantages.
TABLE I
The following table grouped for convenience in making comparisons into periods of five years each shows: 1, the year; 2, the running expenses of the day schools including ordinary repairs ; 3, the average membership of the schools; 4, the average cost per pupil, and 5, the average cost per pupil for books, supplies and sundries.
Whenever deficits or unpaid bills appear at the end of a year they have been added to the expenses of the years in which the obligations were incurred and substracted from the expenses of the years in which they were paid.
1
2
3
4
5
1875
$31,986
1,363
$23.46
$1.39
1876
30,606
1,398
21.90
1.02
1877
31,926
1,436
22.23
1.56
1878
51,628
1,484
21.31
1.94
1879
33,798
1,551
21.79
1.80
Average,
$22.14
$1.54
1880
33,401
1,643
20.32
1.40
1881
36,361
1,650
22.03
1.83
1882
39,197
1,779
22.03
1.90
1883
40,482
1,809
22.37
2.12
*1884
42,940
1,939
22.14
2.66
Average, $21.78
$1.98
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12
1885
$43,909
2,122
$20.69
$2.42
1886
46,932
2,208
21.26
2.65
1887
48,077
2,294
20.96
2.73
+1888
49,086
2,485
19.75
2.96
1889
53,872
2,619
20.56
2.39
Average,
$20.64
$2.63
1890
63,016
2,698
23.36
2.70
1891
62,771
2,865
21.91
2.62
1892
68,090
3,035
22.43
2.33
1893
77,614
3,211
24.17
2.37
1894
77,128
3,418
22.57
2.28
Average
$22.89
$2.46
1895
80,809
3,635
22.23
2.26
1896
85,242
3,788
22.50
2.18
1897
94,571
4,033
23.45
2.30
1898
96,411
4,328
22.28
1.74
1899
98,983
4,405
22.47
1.71
Average, $22.59
$2.04
1900
104,520
4,705
22.21
1.65
1901
110,021
4,848
22.69
2.33
1902
108,732
4,948
21.98
1.84
1903
114,795
5,112
22.45
1.79
1904
114,045
5,283
21.59
1.84
Average, $22.18
$1.89
*Free textbook law passed.
tExpenses of only eleven months on account of change from town to city government.
As the data for 1888 cover only eleven months, including only nine of the ten school months, it is evident that the total expenses and the per capita cost at least are too small. These items for the year would have been about $51,000 and $20.76 respec- tively.
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An examination of the above table shows that the average number of pupils in the public schools in 1904 was 3.88 times as many as in 1875 while the expenditures were only 3.48 times as large, or that the increase in expenditures fell 40 per cent. behind the increase in pupils. Had the expenditures in 1904 been at the same rate per pupil as they were in 1875 they would have amounted to $123,939 or $9,894 more than they were.
A comparison of the average cost per pupil in 1904 with that of thirty years ago shows a decrease of $1.87. In fact the per capita cost in 1875 was greater than for any year since 1893. As the cost in 1875 was unusually large and the cost in 1904 unusually small, we shall get nearer the truth by taking the av- erage annual cost per pupil for the first five years and for the last five years. Such a comparison shows an increase of four cents per pupil. During the same period the increase in the average per capita cost in the state has been $8.28 and in Nor- folk county $11.42. This certainly does not show extravagance on the part of Quincy according to the standard of the common- wealth.
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