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 1920 > Part 19
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This fall beside the classes that were in operation in the spring, classes were opened every afternoon in the week in the building of the Fore River Shipbuilding Corporation under the supervision and instruction of the public school authorities.
Several new classes have also been opened in the rooms of the Y. M. C. A. and the continuing classes have increased in numbers and interest.
It is worth while co record that at the request of the State Board of Education two classes were continued during the months of July and August in order to try out a new State Course of Study and at the same time give opportunity for observation of methods to students in the Harvard University Summer School who were interested in the Americanization problem.
The resignation of Miss Shanahan in the early fall to accept a similar position in a larger city is a severe loss to the community.
EVENING PRACTICAL ARTS
The rapid development of evening practical arts classes has paralleled the growth of Americanization work.
15
This fall more millinery and dressmaking classes have been opened than ever before. They are held in a number of the school buildings, in club houses and in churches on every day of the week and at all hours of the day.
The best proof of their success is their ever increasing numbers and the regular attendance maintained.
Only one class has been organized in cooking and none in home nursing.
The classes maintained for men reflect the dullness now existing in the shipbuilding industry. Because of fewer men employed, fewer men have registered for the classes offered and consequently only two evenings a week have been necessary to take care of them. The attendance at these classes as well as the number and variety of classes will always be dependent on the condition of business in the industrial establishments of the city.
VOCATIONAL DAY SCHOOLS
Both the Industrial and the Home Making Schools have pursued the same paths as in previous years. There has been no change in enrolment or content of course of study. There has been the usual large number of changes in teachers but we have been fortunate in maintaining efficient service.
The construction of the new high school which will house both these units will, I predict, cause a very rapid growth in their attendance. Neither school is at present housed in a building adequate to its needs or worthy of the purpose for which it is used. There ought to be a far larger attendance at these schools than is at present the case.
During the present school year, Miss Elizabeth Douglas who has had charge of the Home Making School since its organization has been forced by illness to take a year's leave of absence. Miss Douglas has been a most efficient teacher and executive and we all wish for her a speedy and sure recovery.
HIGH SCHOOL
Reference has already been made to the plans in view for the future High School. For the past year, it has been necessary
16
because of increased numbers to hold a two session plan and this must continue until a new building provides relief.
Notwithstanding these handicaps, the inward conduct and activi- ties of the school have been most excellent.
There has never been a time when the record of the High School in preparing pupils for colleges or technical schools has been better than it is right now; never a time when more efficient work was done in its commercial, its manual arts and its household arts departments. In a word, the school shows the effect of wise management by its principal and capable instruction by its teachers.
The report of Mr. Collins, the Head Master of the School, is appended for your consideration.
MR. A. L. BARBOUR,
Superintendent of Schools.
I have the honor to present for your consideration a report from the High School for the past year. The first inquiry is always regarding the number of pupils in the school and comparative statis- tics for the last three years follow.
1920
1919
1918
Whole number enrolled
1224
1112
1100
Whole number at date
1190
1023
1018
It will be seen from above figures that the enrollment this year is much larger than in preceding years and that the number of pupils who have left is very much smaller than in any preceding year. At the end of the half year in January, over two hundred more pupils will be added to the above numbers. I wish to call attention at the beginning of this report, to the fact that these numbers are being housed in a building which can accommodate 900 as a maximum at any one time. How this is being done was described briefly in my last annual report.
During the past year it has been possible to watch carefully the working of the double session plan and to judge rather accu- rately of its defects. Most parents are opposed to it and so are the pupils. In fact, not a few parents have refused to send their children to the High School under the present arrangement. It is
17
inconvenient for everyone concerned and presents real difficulties to all except those living within easy reach of the school building. The administration of the school, however, suffers most from this arrangement. It is necessary to have pupils coming and going throughout the day instead of at regular hours. This prevents us from keeping as careful watch of the pupils as is really required and gives them ample opportunity to be irregular in their attendance and in their conduct. It would be impossible for a corps of teachers of the size of our present force to maintain an administration any- where near as efficient as it would be under a one-session plan.
Again, the constant use of rooms prevents the teachers from giving extra help to pupils as has been our custom and even seri- ously hampers the work of preparing pupils for college entrance examinations. There is no room for afternoon pupils until the morning pupils are out of the building and promptly at the close of the morning session the pupils must be driven out of the build- ing in order that the afternoon pupils may have room for classes. The Continuation School had to be housed in our building and this makes more pupils in the building and requires two of our rooms in the afternoon. There is so little available room that it is necessary to arrange several days ahead for so simple a thing as a business meeting of a class.
Another problem arising from the conditions is that of repairs and keeping the building clean. Double use makes double wear and double dirt and at the same time very little opportunity is afforded for repairs or cleaning. The building is fast running down and it cannot be helped. More or less of the cleaning is being done in the evening but repairs cannot be made at that time and the few hours in the Saturday mornings are not enough to meet require- ments. More extended use of the building is going to aggravate this situation and leave the building in much worse condition than it is at present.
The facts are that the building is not adequate for our present numbers and no plan can be devised which will make it so. The building has been outgrown in every way. Laboratories have had to be altered so that other classes may share the rooms, a class in stenography gathers around the gas stoves in the cooking room and a class in history meets in the sewing room. Worst of all, the
18
coat rooms located in a dark basement are not sufficient to take care of the pupils in either session and the toilet facilities are unspeakably bad. Indeed, we are at the limit of facilities beyond which it is impossible to go. Within a year if there is only a normal increase in numbers we shall be obliged to refuse admission to the school to some pupils, unless added accommodations are secured outside the school. This alarming condition is bound to come, anyway, because if a new building were started immediately nearly two years would elapse before it could be occupied. This state of affairs cannot be too strongly impressed on those whose duty it is to remedy the situation.
As a conclusion of the matter, I desire to say that it would be impossible to conduct the school under present conditions if it were not for the splendid spirit of the boys and girls, the efficiency and loyalty of the teachers and the extreme patience of the parents. These are all being pretty severely strained and I believe the pupils and teachers, particularly, have a right to enter a vigorous com- plaint against the conditions under which they are now having to perform their work.
This report has usually been for the purpose of noting progress in the school but now the opportunity for much progress is gone, until we can work with some degree of comfort and convenience. I make no apology for a report of this sort for I speak from a full heart.
For the friendliness and support we have had from the School Committee we are grateful and it is a source of deepest regret to us that we are not still to have your interest and help. Our best wishes go with you. To your successor, we shall show the same loyalty and cooperation that we have tried to give to you.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST L. COLLINS.
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CONCLUSION
In submitting this report, I conclude my service with the public school system of Quincy. After a service of nearly 12 years it is not an easy matter to part with tried and valued friends.
What the net result of my efforts have been in behalf of the schools it is not mine to say.
My service has, however, been unhampered in any way by politi- cal influence or personal selfishness on the part of citizens or Com- mittee. There has been a manifest desire on the part of the com- munity to support the Superintendent and his fellow workers in giving the children of the city the best educational facilities possible.
In doing the actual work of the schools, I have had the backing, cooperation and sympathy of most efficient supervisors, thor- oughly competent and companionable masters and a teaching force of which any city should be proud.
All my school relations have been most congenial and the sup- port which I have received on every hand, it is a duty and a pleasure to acknowledge.
Respectfully submitted,
ALBERT L. BARBOUR.
20
QUINCY INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR,
Superintendent of Schools:
It gives me pleasure to submit the ninth annual report of the Quincy Industrial School.
We have had enrolled during the year one hundred and seventeen pupils, distributed as follows:
Machine Department 38
Woodworking Department 30
Electrical Department 16
Sheet Metal Department
14
Plumbing Department
19
Total 117
Our average enrollment has been 81.03
and average attendance 71.33
By taking advantage of the provisions of the "Caldwell Bill" we have added to the equipment of the Machine Department:
1
14" Pratt & Whitney Lathe
1
Rockford No. 12 Plain Miller
1 Gavin No. 12 Duplex Miller
1 LeBlonde No. 1 Plain Grinder
at an expense to the city of $546.07 including delivery. The Government value placed on these machines was $3,166.
We have converted the LeBlonde Plain Grinder into a Universal Grinder at the expense of $231.90. We also made for our own use a two wheel emery grinder.
We were fortunate in securing from the Boston Gear Works quite a little work of the type desired for our Machine Shop which worked to our advantage in three ways, giving us work, no outlay for stock, and with a money return to the school.
During the school year we have completed jobs for the various schools of the city to the value of $3,997.11 and have received cash for our products to the amount of $950.49.
21
On April 19th a fire broke out in the Woodworking Department probably caused by defective wiring. The fire department suc- ceeded in confining it to the side in which it started and we wish to express our thanks to them at this time as we feel sure that only their prompt and energetic efforts prevented the total destruction of the building. The pupils of the school made the larger part of the repairs and money received from insurance replaced the tools destroyed.
The work of the school was but little delayed and at the present time things are in better shape than before the fire.
Respectfully submitted,
E. P. BARROWS,
Director. .
HOME MAKING SCHOOL
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR,
Superintendent of Schools:
I submit with pleasure the report of the Day Home Making School for the year 1920.
The year opened with twenty-five pupils enrolled. The entrance of the February class from the grades made this number thirty-one.
The work went forward very successfully, teachers and pupils working together toward a common end - the advancement of each individual pupil and the welfare of the school in general.
In June our graduating class numbered seven - each girl one we shall be proud to have representing our school in the years to come.
Miss Alice Keane, instructor in millinery, left our teaching force at the close of the school year in June. Miss Ellen Walls resigned early in the summer to take a position in the Brockton High School. Later, Miss Miriam Chapman resigned and when school was about to begin in September, Miss Elizabeth Douglas became so ill as to necessitate her asking for a year's leave of absence. In the resigna- tion of the instructors the school suffered a loss. The temporary
22
absence of the Director is greatly felt by all interested in the school. We sincerely hope for her recovery and restoration to the position where her work meant so much to all with whom she came in con- tact.
Mrs. Louise Beckwith of Saugus, Mass., was appointed instructor in sewing. Miss Harriet McLucas, who was in charge of the Non- Vocational work for a part of the year 1917-1918, came back to us in the capacity of instructor in the cooking department. Miss Anna Maguire is instructor in millinery. Mrs. Jennie Peterson taught the non-vocational work until Thanksgiving when Miss Verna Clarke was appointed to fill the position permanently. It is owing to the efficiency of these teachers that the work of the school has not been hurt by the great change in the corps.
The school this fall has numbered twenty-eight. The girls enrolled are splendid material for ideal home-makers. They are showing repeatedly their interest in their work and their desire to advance.
This report would not be complete without a word to express our regret at the loss of our Superintendent who has always shown his strong interest in the school by his hearty support at all times.
We hope that his successor will accord his aid in carrying on this line of work which more and more is coming to the front in educa- tional circles.
Respectfully submitted,
ADA M. WINCHENBAUGH, Acting Director.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR,
Superintendent of Schools:
Herewith I submit the first annual report of the Quincy Continu- ation School.
Up to January 1st, 1921, we have enrolled one hundred and four boys, of whom twenty-seven have been discharged, and thirty-
23
seven girls, five of whom have been discharged. Of the boys who have left, fifteen became sixteen years of age, ten secured work in other towns or cities, one moved away, one left whom we could not follow up and one returned to the regular day school. Three of the five girls discharged were sixteen years old, one moved away and one returned to the regular school.
Owing to the fact that the school is located in the High School building where the congestion will not allow the installation of proper equipment, the work in the boys' department has been confined to the study of academic subjects only. This work has been quite successful in its aim - that is, to give the pupil general improvement - but the type of pupil demands a certain amount of manual work. One-half of the pupil's time in Continuation School is not too much to give to this kind of work in my opinion. The institution of some practical arts training would result in much greater success in the boys' work.
For the girls, we have been exceedingly fortunate in securing the use of the High School cooking laboratory and the services of Miss Julia Leamy of the High School faculty on Wednesday afternoons. We are thus able to combine two hours academic work with two hours sewing or cooking, an arrangement greatly desired by the State authorities. This work has been particularly successful, thanks to the efforts of Miss Leamy and Mrs. Palmer who has charge of the academic work.
The recent business depression has resulted in the unemploy- ment of many Quincy children who have been working in nearby cities and towns and who are thus returned to our jurisdiction and required to attend this school twenty hours per week. By the first of December, the number of boys had increased sufficiently to necessitate securing a teacher for them. Mr. Arthur L. Russell took up this work on December 6th and thus far has been making the best of a very difficult situation. The only room available for this work is not suitable from the standpoint of size, seating arrangement or opportunity for giving the sort of work which is necessary for the successful teaching of this type of boy.
On account of the follow-up work which brings the teacher into close connection with the home and the pupil's place of employ- ment, we feel that we are establishing a fairly good feeling between
24
1
the home and the school, and a reasonable amount of cooperation between the industries of the city and the school.
For next year, I should recommend the securing of more room and the installation of some practical arts equipment for the boys' work, matters which I feel are of vital importance to the success of the school.
Respectfully submitted, HARLAN L. HARRINGTON, Director.
AMERICANIZATION CLASSES
MR. ALBERT L. BARBOUR,
Superintendent of Schools:
Since I have had charge of the Americanization work in Quincy only since November last, my report will be largely a statement of purposes rather than a review of accomplishments.
Thirty-two classes, with a total enrollment of 893, including beginners, intermediate and citizenship classes, held in factory, homes and evening schools, are being conducted by the department.
All the teachers of the classes are selected from those employed in the day schools with the exception of one and she is an ex-teacher.
Our aims are as follows :- to have every teacher employed in this particular work hold a State certificate in Americanization; to establish classes in all the industries where non-English speaking people are employed; to provide more home classes for mothers; to cooperate with all agencies in the city in giving our foreign-born friends a chance to learn to speak, read, and write the English language; to interpret America to them in all its phases, empha- sizing the opportunities and obligations of American citizenship and arousing in them a desire to participate in and contribute to the benefits of our democratic institution.
Respectfully submitted,
NELLIE A. PERRY,
Supervisor.
25
STATISTICS
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1920
Balance from 1919.
$1,681.88 494,923.12
Appropriated by City Council
Miscellaneous Receipts .
2,357.66
Total
$498,962.66
Expended .
498,046.37
Balance to 1921
$916.29
Expenditures Itemized
Administration
$16,981.25
Instruction
350,192.05
Text Books .
11,317.39
Stationery & Supplies
20,452.46
Operation .
71,035.24
Maintenance
12,048.11
Miscellaneous .
7,504.04
Evening Schools
814.19
Americanization .
6,205.20
Continuation School
1,496.44
$498,046.37
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE DAY INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Balance from 1919.
$12.01
Appropriated by City Council .
21,987.99
Receipts .
2,061.20
Total .
$24,061.20
Expended .
22,308.76
Balance to 1921
$1,752.44
29
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE EVENING INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
Balance from 1919.
$.90
Appropriated by City Council
2,899.10
Total .
$2,900.00
Expended
3,316.85
Overdraft
$416.85
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE HOME MAKING SCHOOL
Balance from 1919.
$390.99
Appropriated by City Council .
6,109.01
Receipts .
1,134.28
Total
$7,634.28
Expended
6,906.11
Balance to 1921
$728.17
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE SMITH-HUGHES FUND
Balance from 1919
$1,532.32
Received 1920.
2,122.65
Total.
$3,654.97
Expended .
3,340.72
Balance to 1921
$314.25
30
TABLE GIVING A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOL PROPERTY, ALSO THE VALUE OF SCHOOLHOUSES AND LOTS, ETC., JANUARY 1, 1921
BUILDINGS
Wood or Brick
No. of Stories
No. of School Rooms
No. of Desks and Seats
Con- dition
Date of Occu- pation
Heating Appara- tus
Value of Land
Value of Building
Value of Furniture
TOTAL
Square Feet in Lot
High .
B
3
36
920
Fair
1907
Steam
$25,500.00 13,500.00
$175,000
$20,000
$220,500.00 169,950.00
85,348
New Adams.
B
2
12
500
New
1913
Steam
150,000
6,450
137,300
Adams (Industrial)
W
3
10
100
Fair
1855
Hot Air
5,000.00
20,000
2,000
27,000.00
20,290
Atherton Hough .
B
2
8
Good
1911
Hot Air
11,550.00
60,000
2,000
73,550.00
80,000
Coddington . .
B
3
12
340 600
Fair
1909
Steam
15,100.00
115,000
5,500
135,600.00
30,220
Cranch . .
B
2
9
426
Good
1900
Steam
6,500.00
40,000
2,000
48,500.00
62,628
Daniel Webster.
B
2
16
676
New
1917
Steam
7,650.00
6,900
214,550.00
99,117
Francis W. Parker.
B
16
676
New
1917
Steam
5,585.00
200,000 200,000
6,900
212,485.00
78,497
*Government ....
B
1
18
616
New
1920
Steam
8,945
8,945.00
Gridley Bryant.
B
2
9
126
Good
1896
Steam
4,700.00
70,000
1,500
76,200.00
52,272
Home-Making.
=
2
7
35
Fair
1916
Hot Air
3,700.00
4,000
1,000
8,700.00
8,065
John Hancock
B
3
10
508
Good
1886
Steam
8,875.00
70,000
2,000
80,875.00
110,915
Lincoln. .
B
2
12
520
Good
1892
Steam
4,000.00
80,000
1,800
85,800.00
39,349
Massachusetts Fields. .
B
2
0
426
Good
1896
Steam
9,075.00
70,000
1,800
80,875.00
83,688
Montclair
B
2
8
352
New
1912
12,700.00
80,000
3,400
96,100.00
21,380
Quincy . . .
B
3
12
600
New
1907
Steam
10,500.00
100,000
3,000
113,500.00
58,286
Squantum.
B
1
6
250
New
1919
Steam
6,000.00
48,000
4,500
58,500.00
77,623
Washington
B
2
10
525
New
1903
Steam
7,950.00
60,000
2,500
70,450.00
72,563
Willard . .
B
2
20
958
Good
1891
Steam
9,500.00
95,000
3,500
108,000.00
50,240
Wollaston .
B
2
12
484
New
1912
Steam
13,400.00 500.00
150,000
6,450
169,850.00
94,671
Land, Quincy Neck .. . .
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
...
500.00
9,200
Land, East Squantum St., Old School- house Lot.
.
. .
.
ยท
6,775.00
6,775.00
67,759
Totals. .
. .
252
9,938
$188,060.00
$1,787,000
$92,145
$2,067,205.00
. ... .
* Not yet taken over by City.
Steam
RATES OF SCHOOL APPROPRIATION TO TAX LEVY
Year
Valuation
Taxes Levied
School Appropriation
Percentage of Taxes Appropriated for School Maintenance
1906
$26,229,930
$498,598
$122,296
24.5
1907
27,187,755
535,051
131,065
24.5
1908
28,648,890
585,429
135,840
23.2
1909
31,538,390
606,822
143,960
23.7
1910
32,491,505
674,833
153,474
22.7
1911
34,300,615
689,905
160,190
23.4
1912
35,219,786
804,937
172,225
21.4
1913
36,610,560
867,684
182,625
21.4
1914
40,668,240
935,584
190,885
20.4
1915
43,411,115
990,335
204,451
20.6
1916
62,789,130
1,102,235
221,055
20.1
1917
49,775,025
1,274,240
266,900
20.9
1918
48,484,225
1,173,218
295,321
25.1
1919
52,252,200
1,499,147
347,295
23.2
1920
56,493,150
1,819.079
487,423
26.7
32
GENERAL STATISTICS - DECEMBER 31, 1920
Population of the city, 1920 47,876
Number of school buildings 18
Number of occupied class rooms . 232
Teachers in High School; men, 14; women, 37; total.
51
Teachers in elementary schools; men, 10; women, 205 . 0- 215
Supervisors: drawing, 1; music, 2; Americanization, 1; physical training, 1; manual training, 1; primary work,
1; grammar grade work, 1; total.
8
Special teachers of sewing.
2
Total number of day school teachers
276
Evening School teachers, December 17, 1920, men, 2; women, 3; total .
5
Total number of teachers, day and evening
281
Attendance for Year Ending in June 1920
1919
Increase
Total enrollment.
8758
8266
492
Average membership
7866
7624
242
Average attendance .
7190
6922
268
Per cent of attendance .
90.1
90.8
-. 7
High School graduates
155
127
+28
33
REPORT OF EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES ISSUED FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1920
Educational Certificates
Boys
Girls
Total
1612
912
2524
Employment Certificates
Boys
Girls
483
239 722
Illiterates 65
Home Permits .
62
Re-issues for the year 1384
Total number issued 1920 4757
Total number issued 1919 5216
Decrease from 1919 in total number issued . 459
Total number new certificates issued 1920 3373
Total number new certificates issued 1919. 3609
Decrease from 1919 in total number new certificates issued . . 236
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Number cases investigated as per blanks 2295
Number found to be truants . 172
Number committed for truancy to training school 5
Number parents and children before court.
10
Number convicted 10
Number given probation 9
34
35
ATTENDANCE AND PUPILS PER TEACHER FOR A SERIES OF YEARS
SCHOOL YEAR
1912
1913
1914
1915
1916
1917
1918
1919
1920
Average number belonging, Day Schools.
5,725
5,900
6,136
6,486
6,791
6,950 6,463
7,253
7,635
8,085
Average attendance, Day Schools.
5,376
5,509
5,673
6,067
6,355
6,659
6,923
7,513
Average number belonging, High School.
757
778
845
922
964
1,002
968
944
1,136
Average attendance, High School. .
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