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 1908 > Part 22
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THE SCHOOL CENSUS
Number of children in Quincy between five and fifteen years of age September 1, 1908, 7,362
Net gain over census of 1907, 104
Distributed as follows :-
5 yrs.
6 yrs.
7 yrs.
8 yrs.
9 yrs.
10 yrs.
11 yrs.
12 yrs.
13 yrs.
14 yrs.
Totals
Ward 1
103
103
119
120
104
110
107
114
99
112
1091
Ward 2
104
118
113
121
106
98
110
98
81
103
1052
Ward 3
186
208
176
188
181
161
155
175
138
162
1730
Ward 4
159
152
175
188
144
150
157
170
143
192
1630
Ward 5
80
70
81
83
92
93
89
95
91
93
867
Ward 6
77
105
94
117
106
100
106
107
91
89
992
Totals,
70
756
758
817
733
712
724
759
643
751
7362
Distribution of Pupils by Schools and Grades in September, 1908.
Schools
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Totals
Adams
85
100
59
53
67
51
50
52
517
Coddington
97
74
74
70
72
52
60
46
545
Cranch
65
52
54
56
47
50
47
44
415
Gridley Bryant
45
35
39
38
30
45
29
35
296
John Hancock
77
65
52
56
46
49
40
25
410
Lincoln
110
72
67
48
51
50
43
30
471
Mass. Fields
71
44
44
42
59
54
52
44
410
Quincy
105
69
80
74
80
71
66
53
598
Washington
93
102
77
81
79
58
46
28
564
Willard
146
120
119
101
105
109
92
59
851
Wollaston
59
35
39
46
53
45
53
38
368
Totals
953
768
704
665
689
634
578
454
5445
85
Distribution of Pupils by Ages and Grades in September, 1908.
Ages.
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Totals
Under 5 years
5
5
5
414
21
7
442
6
332
211
167
710
164
259
264
687
8
28
187
168
8
8
399
9
6
60
65
195
170
10
506
10
2
21
19
194
197
133
1
567
11
2
7
6
131
171
212
8 .
6
543
12
1
4
77
73
164
138
133
590
13
3
50
51
81
196
151
532
14
6
17
24
139
110
296
15
1
3
1
9
68
35
117
16
1
1
21
15
38
17
2
2
18
1
1
8
1
11
Totals
953
768
704
665
689
634
578
454
5445
86
87
AVERAGE AGE IN EACH GRADE IN SEPTEMBER, 1908.
Schools
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Adams
5-9
7-0
8-1
9-1
10-2
10-9
12-4
13-4
Coddington
6-2
7-9
8-8
9-7
11-2
12-1
12-4
13-9
Cranch
5-10
6-10
8-3
9-1
10-2
11-6
12-3
13-3
Gridley Bryant
5-8
7-1
8-1
9-7
10-6
11-7
12-2
13-3
John Hancock
6-3
7-7
8-10
10-0
11-0
11-8
12-8
13-3
Lincoln
6-0
7-4
8-4
9-8
10-6
11-5
12-0
13-4
Mass. Fields
5-10
7-5
8-4
9-5
10-4
11-7
13-1
13-9
Quincy
5-11
7-0
8-7
8-6
10-6
11-7
12-7
13-4
Washington
5-11
7-8
8-8
9-4
11-1
11-9
12-8
13-3
Willard
5-10
7-2
8-7
9-4
10-8
11-9
12-3
13-2
Wollaston
5-11
7-3
8-0
9-7
10-4
11-5
12-9
13-8
Average
5-11
7-5
8-5
9-5
10-7
11-7
12-6
13-5
88
HIGH SCHOOL
Distribution of Pupils by Ages and Classes, September, 1908
Class
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
Class
Total
Post Graduate
Boys Girls
5
2
7
Senior
Boys Girls
5
20
15
6
1
47
102
3
27
19
4
2
55
Junior
Boys Girls
1
4
23
23
9
2
62
Sophomore
Boys Girls
6
33
31
23
3
2
98
Freshman
Boys Girls
12
59
55
35
11
3
175
339
11
46
63
33
6
5
164
Totals
Boys Girls
13
65 53
90 100
97 90
79
46 41
12 10
2
391 386
777
AVERAGE AGES, SEPTEMBER, 1908
Average Age
Oldest
Young- est
Av. Ageof Class
Post Graduate
Boys Girls
17-10 17-9
19-6 18-1
17-0 17-4
17-9
Senior
Boys Girls
16-11 17-1
19-0 19-6
15-4 15-2
17-0
Junior
Boys Girls
16-4 16-1
19-8 18-2
14-4 14-3
16-3
Sophomore
Boys Girls
15-4 15-0
18-0 18-3
13-2 13-5
15-2
Freshman
Boys Girls
14-4 14-5
17-1 17-11
12-1 12-0
14-5
4
19
22
12
4
1
62
124
.
1
6
31
38
12
9
97
195
7
2
1
10
17
Total
65
3
11
89
HIGH SCHOOL
Distribution of Pupils by Classes and Courses, September, 1908
Class
General Course
College Prepara- tory
Commer- cial
Total
Class Total
Post Graduate Boys Girls
10
10 7
17
Senior
Boys Girls
18
26
3 17
47 55
102
Junior
Boys Girls
22
22
18
62
124
36
10
16
62
Sophomore Boys Girls
36 37
25
25
36 36
97 98
195
Freshman
Boys Girls
23 26
44
27
108 111
175 164
339
Totals
Boys Girls
99
127
165 180
391 386
777
136
70
7
30
8
90
Corps of Teachers
January, 1909. High School, Hancock Street, corner Butler Road.
Leslie L. Cleveland, Head Master, §
June, 1907
Melvin T. Holbrook, Sub-Master, §
Sept., 1905
Herbert B. Cole,
Sept., 1907
Charles H. Stone, §
April, 1906
John F. Roache, §
Sept., 1906
Ralph P. Currier, §
Sept., 1908
Isaac Goddard,*
March, 1908
Walter L. Graves, §
Dec., 1908
Bessie D. Cooper, §
Sept., 1908
Clara E. Thompson,*
Oct., 1892
H. Anna Kennedy, * ¿
Sept., 1896
L. Francis Tucker, §
Sept., 1900
Norma C. Lowe,
Aug., 1903
Grace A. Howe, §
Sept., 1904
Ethelwyn A. Rea, §
Sept., 1904
Annie M. Cheever, §
Sept., 1905
Alice A. Todd, §
Sept., 1905
Marie C. Bass, §
Sept., 1906
Lilla R. Birge, §
Sept., 1907
Flora M. Shackley, *
S. Marion Chadbourne, §
Sept., 1904-June, 1906 June, 1907 March, 1908
Sarah C. Ames, ¿
Evalin A. Salsman, §
Sept., 1908
Mary G. Brown, §
Sept., 1908
Katharine F. Garrity, §
Sept., 1908
Date of Election.
91
ADAMS SCHOOL. Phipps Street, near School.
||Harry Brooks, Master, *
March, 1907
Marie E. McCue, *
VIII
Sept., 1907, Sept., 1908
Eliza C. Sheahan, VII
Sept., 1865
Lucy B. Page, VI
Nov., 1904
Jennie F. Griffin, V
Sept., 1897
Annie L. Blacklock,* V-III
Sept., 1908
Elizabeth W. Ross, * IV
Sept., 1907
Eliza F. Dolan, III
Sept., 1884
Annie W. Miller, II-III
Nov., 1889
Beatrice H. Rothwell, II
Nov., 1899
Charlotte F. Donovon, I
Sept., 1902
Euphrasia Hernan,
I
April, 1878
||Master also of Cranch School.
CODDINGTON SCHOOL.
Coddington Street, near Washington.
Walter HI. Bentley, Master, *
Sept., 1905
Jennie N. Whitcher, *
VIII
Sept., 1899, Sept., 1902
Alice E. Webb, * VII
Nov., 1908
Gladys Flieger, * VII-VI Sept., 1908
Elizabeth A. Garrity, VI Oct., 1889
Bella HI. Murray, V-IV
Sept., 1908
Bertha F. Estes, * V
Sept., 1907
Mary L. Hunt, *
IV
April, 1906
Mary E. Costello, t III
Jan., 1900
Julia E. Underwood, II
April, 1855
Katherine T. Larkin, * II
Sept., 1907
Christina McPherson, T I-II
June, 1902
Mary A. Geary, * I
Jan., 1907
92
CRANCH SCHOOL. Whitwell Street.
||Harry Brooks, Master, *
March, 1907
Carrie A. Crane,
VIII
April, 1894 -- Sept., 1901
Nellie E. March, * VII
Sept., 1907
Elsie E. Turner, * VI
Sept., 1902
Mary L. Egan, V
Nov., 1905
Annie C. Healy, IV
Sept., 1905
Isabel W. Joy, * III
Sept., 1908
Mary L. Rodgers, II
Sept., 1904
Marie Fegan,
II
Sept., 1906
Elsie B. Martin, I
Sept., 1902
||Master also of Adams School.
GRIDLEY BRYANT SCHOOL. Willard, corner Robertson Street. ..
Austin W. Greene, Master, * VIII
Jan., 1897
Kathryn Carter, * VII
Nov., 1907
Emma G. Carleton, * VI
March, 1906
Annie E. Burns, t V
Jan., 1897
Gertrude A. Boyd, IV
Jan., 1897
M. Frances Talbot, III Jan., 1897
Augusta E. Dell, II
Jan., 1897
Catherine C. McGovern, I
April, 1895
JOHN HANCOCK SCHOOL.
Gordon Street.
llArcher M. Nickerson, Master, * Oct., 1905
Daisy F. Burnell, * VIII
Sept., 1907, Nov., 1908
Lucy H. Atwood, * VII
Mary C. Parker, VI
Nov., 1907 Sept., 1886 Jan., 1890
Helen M. West, V
May Kapples, * IV
Sept., 1907, May, 1908
Isabelle Moir, III
Jan., 1897
Ellen McNealy, II
June, 1905
Mary P. Underwood, I
Mary E. Burns, T
I
Jan., 1882 -- Sept., 1891 June, 1904
||Master also of Lincoln School.
93
LINCOLN SCHOOL. Brooks Avenue, near Centre Street.
!! Archer M. Nickerson, Master, * Oct., 1905
Alice T. Clark, *
VIII Sept., 1906, Sept., 1908
Mabel S. Wilson, * VII
May, 1908
Edith M. Holmes, VI
Nov., 1907
Frances J. Elcock, **
V
Sept., 1902
Minnie E. Donovan, IV
Sept., 1892
Elizabeth Sullivan, III
Sept., 1892
Anna G. Reardon, II
Sept., 1907
Emma F. Hayden, t II
Sept., 1907
Clara Merrill, T
I
Sept., 1905
Helen R. Buxton, IT
I
Sept., 1907
||Master also of John Hancock School.
MASSACHUSETTS FIELDS SCHOOL. Beach Street, corner Rawson Road.
||C. Ralph Taylor, Master, * § Sept., 1905
Ruth A. Taylor, *
VIII Sept., 1902 -- Sept., 1905
Blanche A. Leonard, * VII Sept., 1908
Margaret I. Shirley, § VI
Sept., 1907
Elizabeth G. Anderson, * VI-V
Sept., 1908
Cassandana Thayer, V
Oct., 1896
Lillian Waterhouse, IV
April, 1897
Grace M. Spinney, ¿ III
Dec., 1900
Florence C. Gammons, II
April, 1901
Martha E. Jenkins, T I
Sept., 1908
Annie M. Bennett, I
Jan., 1897
||Master also of Wollaston School.
QUINCY SCHOOL. Newbury Avenue.
Charles Sampson, Master, * Nov. 1896
Laura B. Tolman, *
VIII
Sept., 1905
Florence S. Cummings, * VII
Sept., 1906
Fannie Blair, * VII-VI
Sept., 1904
Julia A. Simmons, * VI
Nov., 1903
Leonora E. Winward, § V
Sept., 1908
Mary A. Keefe,
V-IV
June, 1906
Margarida M. DeAvellar, *
IV
April, 1907
Josephine Kelley,
III
Sept., 1900
Florence M. Howe, T
III-II
Sept., 1905
Ellen D. Granahan, t
II.
Jan., 1897
Clare L. Jones, *
I
Sept., 1907
Delia E. Burke, I
Sept., 1901
94
WASHINGTON SCHOOL. Washington Street.
Thomas B. Pollard, Master, * *
Feb., 1887
Marguerite L. Mckeever, * VIII
Jan., 1907
Mary Marden, VII
April, 1874
Alice S. Hatch, VI
Jan., 1893
Anna J. Lang, V
April, 1907
Bessie E. Roberts,
V-IV-III
Sept., 1908
Mary F. Sampson, *
IV
Sept., 1900
H. Frances Cannon, III
Sept., 1892
Ida F. Humphrey, II
Sept., 1897
Mary G. Murray, *
II
Sept., 1908
Olive V. Bicknell,
I Oct., 1901 -- Sept., 1908
Sarah A. Malone, I
Sept., 1883
WILLARD SCHOOL. Copeland Street.
William R. Kramer, Master, * ¿
Sept., 1906
Lula E. Payson, * VIII
April, 1905
Margaret E. Sweeney, * VII
Sept., 1908
Clara M. Shaw, * VII
Sept., 1906
Lucy L. Hennigar, VII
Sept., 1908
Alice M. Parker, VI
Jan., 1906
Mary A. White, *
VI
Jan., 1896
Ellen B. Fegan,
June, 1875
Elizabeth J. McNeil,
Sept., 1883
Alicia Elcock, *
V
Feb., 1902
Emeline A. Newcomb, IV
April, 1857
Frances C. Sullivan, IV
Sept., 1894
Annie Z. White, IV-III
Oct., 1909
Teresa McDonnell,
III
Sept., 1889
Ellen A. Desmond,
III
Sept., 1889
Grace E. Drumm, II
Jan., 1897
Anne M. Cahill, * II II
Feb., 1891
Ellen G. Haley,
May, 1907
Mary B. Keating,
T
June, 1901
Margaret F. Burns,
Sept., 1881
Annie F. Burns,
I I
April, 1884
V V
95
WOLLASTON SCHOOL. Beale Street.
HIC. Ralph Taylor, § * Master, Sept., 1905
Agnes A. Fisher, *
VIII
Sept., 1905 -- Nov., 1907
Lucy H. Chapman, * VII Sept., 1907
Ada L. Wood, * VII-V
Sept., 1908
Edith M. Rodman, * VI
Sept., 1908
Mary L. Clark, V
Dec., 1903
Lora M. Hunt, * IV
Sept., 1904
Gertrude H. Glavin, III Sept., 1903
Dora M. Start, *
II
March, 1907
Clara E. G. Thayer, I
Sept., 1889
||Master also of Mass. Fields School.
DIRECTOR OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION.
Ernst Hermann, * ¿
Sept., 1908
MUSIC.
E. Landis Snyder,
Sept., 1901
DRAWING.
Lillian Newman,
Feb., 1909
SEWING.
Fannie F. French, Sept., 1892
§College graduate ¿Attended college but did not graduate *Graduate of normal school +Attended but not a graduate of normal school TGraduate of kindergarten training school.
96
Janitors of School Buildings
High-William C. Hart, 99 Independence Avenue. Adams-George Linton, 57 Gay Street. Coddington-William C. Caldwell, 590 Washington Street. Cranch-Edward P. Tingley, 68 Granite Street. Gridley Bryant-John Hinnegan, 215 Willard Street. John Hancock-Samuel D. DeForest, 23 Goddard Street. Lincoln-George O. Shirley, 139 Quincy Street. Massachusetts Fields-George Craig, Jr., 106 Intervale Street. Quincy-Thomas J. Smith, 64 Old Colony Street. Washington-Alexander Shirley, 6 Filbert Street. Willard-Francis Walsh, 81 Willard Street. Wollaston-Marcena R. Sparrow, 27 Prospect Avenue.
97
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1909
At Large.
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING, 1136 Hancock Street, Quincy.
TERM EXPIRES.
Dec., 31, 1910
DR. EDWARD H. BUSHNELL, Dec., 31, 1909 566 Washington Street, Quincy Point.
MR. ARTHUR W. NEWCOMB, Dec., 31, 1911
98 East Howard Street, Quincy Neck.
By Wards.
Ward 1. MR. DEXTER E. WADSWORTH, Dec., 31, 1909
157 Goffe Street, Quincy.
Ward 2. JOHN J. O'HARA, Dec., 31, 1910
39 Newcomb Place, Quincy.
Ward 3. MR. JOHN L. MILLER, Dec., 31, 1910
211 Franklin Street, South Quincy.
Ward 4. MR. JAMES F. BURKE, Dec., 31, 1911
11 Cross Street, West Quincy.
Ward 5. DR. WILLIAM G. CURTIS, Dec., 31, 1909
10 Grand View Avenue, Wollaston.
Ward 6. HERBERT S. BARKER, Dec., 31, 1911
365 Hancock Street, Atlantic.
Chairman of the School Board, DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING.
Secretary of Board and Superintendent of Schools, MR. FRANK EDSON PARLIN.
98
Standing Sub-Committees for 1909
FOR THE DIFFERENT SCHOOLS.
High
Adams Coddington
Cranch
Gridley Bryant
John Hancock
Lincoln
Massachusetts Fields
Quincy
Washington -
Messrs. Hunting, Curtis, Newcomb- Messrs. Miller, Newcomb, Burke Messrs. Bushnell, Miller, O'Hara. Messrs. Miller, Burke, Bushnell Messrs. O'Hara, Miller, Burke Messrs. Wadsworth, Bushnell, Burke Messrs. Wadsworth, Burke, Barker Messrs. Curtis, Barker, Bushnell Messrs. Barker, Curtis, Newcomb Messrs. Newcomb, O'Hara, Bushnell
Willard Messrs. Burke, Hunting, Miller Wollaston Messrs. Curtis, Wadsworth, Barker·
BOOKS, SUPPLIES AND SUNDRIES. Messrs. Wadsworth, Newcomb, O'Hara.
TEXTBOOKS Messrs. Curtis, Barker, O'Hara TRANSPORTATION Messrs. O'Hara, Barker, Curtis EVENING SCHOOLS Messrs. Bushnell, Burke, Hunting SPECIAL SUBJECTS Messrs. Newcomb, Bushnell, Miller
RULES AND REGULATIONS Messrs. Barker, Newcomb, Curtis
TEACHERS The Chairman, Messrs. Wadsworth, O'Hara FINANCE AND SALARIES The Chairman, Messrs, Miller, Wadsworth
99
THE CALENDAR FOR 1909
First term: Monday, January 4-Friday, April 2. Second term : Monday, April 12-Friday, June 25. The elementary schools close Thursday, June 17. Grammar Schools graduation : Friday, June 18. High School graduation : Wednesday, June 23. Third term : Tuesday, September 7-Wednesday, Dec. 22. The New Year: Monday, January 3, 1910.
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
Board of Directors and Superintendent OF THE
Woodward Institute
City of Quincy
Massachusetts
1908
GEORGE. W. PRESCOTT PUBLISHING COMPANY
1909
3
Woodward Institute
ORGANIZATION OF THE Board of Directors for 1909
Chairman REV. ELLERY C. BUTLER
Vice Chairman REV. HENRY G. MEGATHLIN
Secretary REV. REUBEN J. DAVIS
Finance Committee REV. ELLERY C. BUTLER, ex officio
REV. ALBERT M. THOMPSON REV. CHARLES B. AMES REV. ALBERT E. CLATTENBURG
Textbooks and Supplies
REV. ELLERY C. BUTLER, ex officio
REV. CARL G. HORST REV. JOSEPH WALTHERS
REV. H. A. DAVIDSON
Superintendent FRANK E. PARLIN
4
The Faculty
Principal
Frederic W. Plummer
Latin and History
Teachers
Charlotte J. Burgess Abbie O. Stoddard
Grace S. Burke
Mary W. Dinegan
Addie E. Towne
Anna W. Pinkham
Stenography and Typewriting Natural Sciences Greek and Mathematics English and Latin French and German
Martha E. Maccarty
Georgiana C. Lane
John D. Buckingham
Susie T. Sprout
English Physical Training Art Vocal Music Household Science
Abraham L. Buzzell, Engineer and Janitor
5
Woodward Institute
To the Mayor and City Council :
GENTLEMEN :- The Directors of Woodward Institute herewith submit their report for the year 1908. During the year the Board has held regular meetings and has endeavored to discharge faithfully the duties devolving upon it. The meetings have been open to all entitled to attend them and all questions relating to the condition or needs of the school have been openly and frankly discussed. The Superinten- dent has met with the Board and presented a complete finan- cial statement at each meeting. His report in detail follows this summary.
In harmony with a policy adopted eight years ago, the Directors confine themselves to legislative functions, delegat- ing all supervisory and executive duties to the Superinten- dent under their direction and control. The growth and prosperity of the school under this policy has fully demon- strated its wisdom.
The school is in good condition and is doing excellent work. The membership is large and the attendance remark- ably regular. There is perfect confidence and harmony be- tween teachers, principal and superintendent. There is but a single purpose with all, that is, to carry out the wishes of · the Founder in making it one of the best schools for girls in the state. The Directors do not claim perfection for the Institute (nothing is quite perfect in this world) but they believe all who visit the school will find it like a happy, in- dustrious and well-ordered family, working intelligently for appropriate ends.
Respectully submitted, ELLERY C. BUTLER, For the Board of Directors.
December 31, 1908.
7
Report of Superintendent
To the Board of Directors of Woodward Institute :
GENTLEMEN :- The report herewith submitted is, in the series of annual reports of Woodward Institute, the fifteenth, and of the Superintendent the eighth.
By his will Dr. Woodward gave and bequeathed to the town of Quincy certain specified pieces of property for the purpose of establishing and maintaining "for the town of Quincy forever, a female institute, for the education of fe- males between the ages of ten and twenty years, who are native born," which institute he wished "to be as perfect and as well conducted as any other in the state." Woodward Institute, therefore, belongs to the citizens of Quincy and is to all intents and purposes a public school. By the terms of the founder's will certain citizens, by virtue of their of- fice in the community, are directors of the school while others, by virtue of their office in the municipal government, are trustees of the fund, but both the school and the fund be- long to the people. Each board has committed to its charge a sacred trust which it is bound to administer faithfully and intelligently for the public good. The Board of Directors has no more right to adopt in the management of the school unsound methods of education or of administration than have the Trustees of the fund to disregard safe principles of finance in the investment and handling of those funds. The obligations to carry out effectively the intent of the generous founder are as binding in one case as in the other, and the citizens would be as well justified in a protest against any abuse of trust or any selfish use of power in one case as in
8
the other. If the history of Woodward Institute proves any- thing, it proves that the school cannot be successfully run under the immediate direction of this Board. No important enterprise, certainly no school, can long continue to prosper and to maintain its highest efficiency under the direction of divided authority or under a fickle and indefinite policy. Many masters discourage and demoralize the workers and a constantly changing policy confuses and thwarts their ef- forts. There must be a single responsible executive who clearly sees the ends to be reached, understands the appro- priate methods to be used, the agencies to be employed and the conditions under which the work is to be done. This does not mean that any particular person must occupy that position, but it does mean that there must be one person at the head who knows what needs to be done, how to do it and has the power to do it. There must be such a distribu- tion of functions that there shall be no overlapping of duties and that each from janitor to principal shall know what is required of him and to whom he is responsible. There must be mutual respect and confidence so that time and energy may not be wasted and that all may work intelligently and harmoniously for the best interests of the students and the school.
As Woodward Institute was given to Quincy for the purpose of providing a first class secondary education for Quincy-born girls, it is incumbent upon those in charge of the school not only to offer such an education but to make it available to as large a number as possible. During the last eight years the institute has been closely associated with the other schools of the city and has served a definite pur- pose in the system of public education, being practically a girls high school with standards similar and in every respect equal to those of the Quincy High or any other first class secondary school. There has been a steady policy in its management and a definite plan in its development. All the facts prove that the school has prospered under this arrange- ment and that it has met the needs of the city and the wishes
9
of its founder more fully than ever before. The credit for these results belongs to those directors who established and have maintained a sane policy in the management and work of the school. During these eight years, they have confined themselves to purely legislative duties, handing over to their duly authorized agent all executive and supervisory functions and holding him responsible for the proper discharge of the same. This is the plan adopted not only in all the best pub- lic school systems of the country but in all successful busi- ness enterprises as well. The fundamentally important ques- tion for us at all times is how to make Woodward Institute of the greatest possible value to this community and, having answered it according to our best knowledge and belief, all are bound to act in harmony with that answer without re- ference to personal interests or ambition. It is doubtless true, as has been suggested, that the school would be as well conducted were it placed in charge of the School Committee but, since it cannot be so placed without endangering the fund and without court proceedings, the proposition seems in- admissible at present.
At the close of the spring term, Miss Helen H. Claflin who had been in charge of the department of modern lan- guages since September, 1903, retired from the teaching force of the school. During the five years Miss Claflin was with us, she worked cheerfully and faithfully for the improvement of her department and left it in much better condition than she found it. Miss Addie E. Towne, a graduate of Wellesley and a teacher of very successful experience, was selected to fill the vacancy. Her work thus far fully justifies her excel- lent reputation.
Formerly, the study of music was required of all pupils during their entire course. Under the present course of study, it is a required subject during the first two years only. At the begining of the third year when the pupils take up the study of harmony, it is elective. The change seems to to have been a wise one as it released pupils of little or no
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musical ability from a long continued study of a subject of which they have small appreciation and from which they re- ceive no adequate benefits. Those who elect music during the last two years like it and are doing better work in it than pre- vious classes. The entering class is also doing unusually good work in music. The results secured in this department, which have always been of very high order, continue to improve and are entirely satisfactory. It is hoped that time and appro- priate means for the study of the "Appreciation of Music" may soon be available. There should be lectures upon the leading composers and a pianola to reproduce some of their best work.
The Department of Physical Training suffers from lacl: of locker room. There are only seventy-eight lockers for one hundred sixty girls. The lockers are not of a satisfactory type and the room is small and very poorly ventilated. Addi- tional room can be secured by changing the partitions so as to enclose part of the adjoining corridor and, by rearrange- ment of lockers, space can be provided for a considerable in- crease in number. If the windows of the gymnasium and of the chemical laboratory were properly protected, the little green south of the building would provide an ideal place for many out-of-door games. The best directors of physical training are introducing a large number of games into their work, believing they provide the best kind of exercise and maintain a much greater interest. Besides the physical train- ing, the instruction in hygiene and " first aid to the injured " are the most important work of this department.
Last year the commercial course was extended and im- proved. The work in this department was never better but more room is needed in order to make the conditions satis- factory. By allowing the Business and Art departments to exchange rooms both would be better accommodated. . The Art department would thus secure the desired northern light and the Business department the needed room. More- over, the typewriters which are in the upper corridor, where
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they seriously interfere with other classes, could be placed out of hearing of those classes and under the constant obser- vation of the teacher. These changes can be made at little trouble and expense and should be made before the opening of the new term.
Without specific mention it is sufficient to say that all the teachers are working faithfully, harmoniously and effi- ciently. The teaching corps was never stronger nor the school in a more satisfactory condition. It has not reached perfection at any point nor does it expect to in the immedi- ate future, for improvement always shows where further im- provement is possible. The development of the school is normal, its influence is wholesome, its aims are right and its prospects are promising.
The attendance for the year was 95.4 per cent., which is 3.3 per cent. higher than last year and the highest in the history of the school. There was also a decrease of.over 43 per cent. in the number of tardinesses.
The following table shows the class and total enrollment of pupils each year since the school was opened, also the number of regular and special teachers employed.
SEVENTH CLASS
SIXTH CLASS
FIFTH CLASS
FOURTH CLASS
THIRD CLASS
JUNIOR CLASS
SENIOR CLASS
POST GRADUATES
TOTAL
REGULAR
SPECIAL
TOTAL
Spring of 1894
28
15
17
13
7
1894-1895.
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