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 1925 > Part 19
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6%
$2,500 00
John T. Conway.
Nov.
3, 1909
6%
2,400 00
Mary Tolchinsky.
March
4, 1925
6%
4,500 00
Wilbur F. Lakin.
April 2, 1925
6%
3,000 00
Henry N. Worthington ..
March
22, 1926
6%
5,000 00
Barnard Schwartz.
Nov.
18, 1926
6%
6,000 00
Gerardo Gallo
May
26, 1927
6%
6,500 00
$29,900 00
Less $2,000 not yet paid "Gallo"
2,000 00
$27,900 00
$840 85
December 31, 1925
Description
Matur- ity
Int. rate %
Par Value
Book Value
Value Dec. 31. 1925
306
Stocks
Great Northern Railway Co ..
1936
7
$6,000 00
$5,790 00
Rock Island & Frisco Term. Ry. Co
1927
5
1,000 00
1,050 00
Norfolk & Western Railway Co ..
1944
4
1,000 00
930 00
Chicago, Indiana & Southern R. R.
1956
4
2,000 00
1,855 00
Illinois Central Railroad Co
1952
31/2
5,000 00
4,718 75
New York, New Haven & Hartford R. R.
1955
4
6,000 00
6,022 50
American Telephone & Telegraph Co.
1929
4
5,000 00
4,537 50
Boston & Albany Railroad Co.
1938
5
9,000 00
9,161 10
Pacific Light & Power Co.
1951
5
4,000
00
3,680 00
Long Island Railroad Co.
1949
4
2,000
00
1,940 00
Fitchburg Railroad Co ..
1925
4
3,000
2,905 00
New York Telephone Co
1939
41/2
4,000
00
3,890 00
Massachusetts Gas Companies
1931
41/2
2,000 00
2,000 00
American Telephone & Telegraph Co
1946
5
1,000 00
981 67
Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co
1948
41/2
1,000 00
875 00
U. S. Liberty Loan
1947
3 1/2
400 00
400 50
U. S. Liberty Loan
(2nd)
1942
41/4
2,000 00
1,642 00
U. S. Liberty Loan
(2nd)
1942
4 1/4
2,000 00
1,691 60
U. S. Liberty Loan 2nd
1942
41/4
1,800
00
1,562 40
U. S. Liberty Loan
4th)
1938
41/4
100
00
100 00
U. S. Liberty Loan
(4th)
1938
41/4
5,000 00
4,580 00
Dayton Light & Power Co
1941
5
5,000 00
4,662 50
New York Central Equipment Trust ..
1937
5,000 00
5,000 00
New England Tel. & Tel. Co
1952
5
5,000 00
4,937 50
Total Bonds
$78,350 00
$74,913 02
Bonds
13 shares Pennsylvania Railroad Co
$650 00
$783 93
Total Bonds and Stocks.
$79,000 00
$75,696 95
Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Co.
1925
6
50 00
00
CITY OF QUINCY
307
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF QUINCY, MASS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1925
Chairman HON. PERLEY E. BARBOUR, Mayor
Vice-Chairman DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING
HON. PERLEY E. BARBOUR. .Term expires Dec. 31, 1926 176 Adams Street, Quincy
DR. NATHANIEL S. HUNTING. .Term expires Dec. 31, 1925 1136 Hancock Street, Quincy
MR. ROBERT E. FOY. Term expires Dec. 31, 1925
13 Eliot Street, South Quincy
DR. DANIEL B. REARDON Term expires Dec. 31, 1926 1186 Hancock Street, Quincy
COL. WARREN E. SWEETSER. Term expires Dec. 31, 1926 56 Elm Avenue, Wollaston
MRS. BEATRICE W. NICHOLS .Term expires Dec. 31, 1927 45 Elm Street, Quincy
MR. GEORGE W. ABELE. .Term expires Dec. 31, 1927 64 Presidents Lane, Quincy
Secretary of Board and Superintendent of Schools FRED H. NICKERSON, A.M. 25 Edgemere Road, Quincy
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8 o'clock P. M. on the last Tuesday in each month excepting July.
308
CITY OF QUINCY
ADVISORY COMMITTEES ON INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION
For Men
SAMUEL W. WAKEMAN, HERBERT S. BARKER, CHARLES L. GILLIATT HARRY E. D. GOULD, EDWARD D. MARNOCK
For Women
MRS. WALTER S. PINKHAM, MRS. ROBERT E. FOY MRS. GEORGE W. ABELE
Superintendent's Clerks
Stenographer MARION NILSEN 33 Nilsen Avenue, Quincy
Bookkeeper HELEN M. CANTY
5 Pierce Street, Atlantic
Clerk
ANNIE M. OHMAN 71 Bennington Street, Quincy
Office: School Committee Rooms, High School Building, Coddington Street.
Office Hours: 8 A. M. to 12 M. and 2 to 5 P. M .; Saturday, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
Attendance Officer CHARLES H. JOHNSON 24 Upland Road, Quincy Office: School Committee Rooms
Office Hours: 8 to 9:30 A. M., 1:30 to 2 P. M., and 4:30 to 5 P. M .; Saturdays, 8 A. M. to 12 M.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Quincy:
The School Committee presents, herewith, its report for the year 1925.
The outstanding event of the year has been the celebration of the 300th anniversary of the settling of Quincy-including patri- otic addresses, an imposing parade, and a magnificent pageant.
In each of these activities the schools-both pupils and teachers -took a large and important part. About 700 pupils of grammar grades formed an effective living flag. Pupils of the High School acted as ticket takers and ushers at the pageant, which was viewed by all pupils at very much reduced rates. The sale of commemora- ¿ive medals was entrusted entirely to the children of the schools.
In the parade, about 1,500 boys marched, led by the High School
309
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
band. Each school, in addition to its marching pupils, was repre- sented by a float which most appropriately portrayed some event in the history of the locality in which the school is located, or in the life of the man for whom the school was named.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon the principals, teach- ers and pupils for the time, thought and energy devoted to the planning and preparation of these floats.
This celebration was of great historic interest and of educational value to all concerned.
In the matter of housing of the pupils we have had a year of comparative comfort and satisfaction, but in our rapidly growing community it seems impossible to keep pace with the increasing school population.
The new High School has completed its first year of usefulness and has been all that could be desired.
The old High School building has been used for Junior High pur- poses and has relieved the pressure in three of the grammar school buildings.
Early in the year the Frank Irving Cooper Corporation was en- gaged to prepare plans for a new Junior High building to be placed on the lot of land recently acquired at the junction of Hancock and Squantum streets. These plans were carefully considered and studied and finally accepted. The foundation for this building has been completed this fall and the finished building should be ready for occupancy next year.
This building will be admirably adapted to its uses and should relieve, for some time, the crowded conditions of the schools of the northern part of the city. It is urgently hoped that the com- ing year may see a start made on another Junior High building on the "Nightingale" lot at South Quincy.
An interesting occasion has been the dedication of a statue of a "Doughboy" on the Coddington School grounds. This statue was designed by a former Coddington School boy-Bruce Wilder Sa- ville-and is an accurate representation of the accoutrements of a soldier of the Great War and by its force and virility is a constant inspiration to the youth of Quincy.
We have lost from our teaching force during the past year per- haps not as many as usual, but it has been a loss we could ill afford.
Mr. Leroy L. Woods, who had been for many years a principal of our schools and of late years assistant superintendent in charge of special activities, resigned to accept a more remunerative posi- tion. He has proven himself to be a capable and hard working executive and we are sorry to lose his services, but wish him suc- cess in his new field.
Mr. Thomas B. Pollard passed away last June after a long illness. Mr. Pollard had been connected with the schools of Quincy for 38 years and the Committee wishes here to re-affirm its appreciation of him as a most upright citizen, an excellent educator, and an inspiration to the boys and girls with whom he came in contact.
Miss Annie E. Sandison, who had taught for six years in the Willard School, died in August last. Her death was a distinct loss to the teaching force.
Miss Ellen B. Fegan, who had taught in the Willard School since 1875, has passed away after a short illness. She was the best ex- ample of a real teacher-beloved alike by pupils and parents.
Miss Hatch, Mrs. Humphrey and Miss Malone, who had taught
310
CITY OF QUINCY
for many years with Mr. Pollard at the Washington and later at the Daniel Webster School, have been retired at their own request. It is our earnest hope that they may long enjoy their well-earned lest after the many years of faithful work.
Mr. George O. Shirley, janitor of the John Hancock School, has resigned after a long and faithful service in the interest of the city. The Committee records its appreciation of his good work.
The subject of the proper use of school halls has been given exhaustive study by a committee appointed for that purpose and their report is now under consideration. While it is thought de- sirable that this public property should be used in every way com- patible with public or educational interests, yet the Committee does not in any way wish to enter into competition with any privately owned halls for private entertainments.
The matter of a Dean for Girls in the High School has also been considered, and at a meeting of the School Committee in December, it was voted, "to create such a position and to fill the same as soon after the new year as a proper person for the position could be secured."
The Committee has before it various requests for salary in- creases which are being given careful and intensive study prepara- tory to a report on the requests made.
These and other matters of public interest will be found in the more extended report of the Superintendent, and the Committee urges on all the citizens the careful study of that report which it deserves. It will be found to be interesting and instructive, even to the last table of statistics.
It would seem to be the duty of the citizens to acquaint them- selves with the work of the schools of their city and with the way in which a large proportion of their tax levy is spent.
The foregoing report, prepared by a special committee consist- ing of Nathaniel S. Hunting and Robert E. Foy, was adopted and ordered printed as the annual report of the School Committee for 1925.
FRED H. NICKERSON,
Secretary of School Committee.
311
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
IN MEMORIAM
THOMAS B. POLLARD Thirty-eight years a Principal in the Quincy Schools Born August 21, 1859 Died June 25, 1925
ANNIE E. SANDISON
Six years a teacher in the Willard School
Born October 26, 1889
Died August 21, 1925
ELLEN B. FEGAN Fifty years a teacher in the Willard School Born April 29, 1856 Died October 22, 1925
312
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Quincy:
The following report aims to present such facts and discussion thereon as are necessary for an intelligent judgment regarding the efficiency with which the school interests of the city have been managed during the past year.
Enrollment and Attendance
During the school year ending with June, 1925, there were 11,779 different pupils enrolled in the regular public day schools of Quincy. This is an increase of 7.2 per cent. over the enrollment for the pre- vious year.
The regularity of the daily attendance of the pupils during the past year was 93.9 per cent. This is slightly higher than the aver- age for the state at large.
In view of the already overcrowded condition of the school build- ings throughout the city, the increase of 7.2 per cent. in the num- ber of pupils in our regular day schools, as noted above, suggests the necessity of the earliest possible action by the city to enlarge its school plant. We are near the time when some of our children must be placed on part-time attendance unless early provision be made for additional school accommodations.
Some Important Changes in the Teaching Corps of the Elementary Schools
Near the end of the school year, Mr. Thomas B. Pollard, who had served the city as a principal since 1887, passed into the Great Unknown. Mr. Pollard was a man of unusually fine character, a teacher of rare ability, thoroughly respected by his professional associates and admired by citizens in general for his sterling worth to community well-being, and his loss was a severe blow not only to the educational system but also to the civic interests of the city.
The voluntary and regretted retirement of Sarah A. Malone, Alice S. Hatch and Ida F. Humphrey from the teaching corps of the Daniel Webster School at the end of the school year, under the provisions of the State Retirement Act, was another heavy loss to the school system.
These women had served the schools of the city long, faithfully and efficiently and left behind them a record of which they may be justly proud. Fortunate were children who enjoyed the instruction of these devoted women.
The death of Annie E. Sandison, a teacher in the Willard School, during the latter part of the summer vacation, was another serious loss to the schools and to the community. Miss Sandison had served the city continuously since the fall of 1919. She was a woman of noble purpose who always gave her best thought and energy to the interests of the children whom she taught.
In October, 1925, Miss Ellen B. Fegan, also a teacher in the Willard School, passed to her eternal rest after a brief illness. Miss Fegan had served as a teacher in the Quincy schools continuously for a period of 50 years approximately. She was devoted to the interests entrusted to her and her work was of a superior grade to the last. She was universally respected and beloved by all. The
313
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
loss of so rare a character from our teaching corps is keenly felt by the School Department.
Another regretted loss to the system was the resignation in Oc- tober of Mr. Leroy L. Woods, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, to accept a more lucrative position in a private school in Canaan, New York.
Mr. Woods had served the city for several years as a principal, first in charge of the Willard and Gridley Bryant Schools, later in charge of the Government and Washington Schools, and the char- acter of his service in both positions led to his appointment as As- sistant Superintendent upon the creation of that office in 1923. In the latter position he had charge of the activities of the Home Mak- ing and Industrial Schools, the Academic Evening and Summer Schools, and of the Practical Arts Classes. Under his guidance these activities were noticeably improved, and his resignation was accepted with keen regret.
Mr. Albert H. Cochrane, Principal of the Government and Wash- ington Schools, was selected as Mr. Woods' successor, and his sane judgment in the discharge of his duties thus far promises well for the future.
Another important change during the year was the resignation of Elizabeth M. Douglas, Director of the Home Making School, to accept a position in the Boston schools. Miss Douglas had served the city in the above capacity since 1916, with the exception of one year when she was granted a leave of absence on account of ill- ness, and her resignation faced the Committee with a serious prob- lem to find one who should maintain the standard set by Miss Doug- las in her administration of this school.
Miss Caroline H. Wilson, a graduate of Simmons College, with wide experience in the lines of work characteristic of a home-mak- ing school, was chosen to fill this vacancy, and her administration of the school thus far fully justifies the selection.
At the close of the school year in June, the Supervisor of Physi- cal Education in the schools, Mr. Fridtjof N. Nissen, resigned to associate himself with the Posse-Nissen School of Physical Edu- cation in Boston for the training of teachers in that line, and his assistant, Miss Lena A. Walmsley, also resigned to study at Co- lumbia University.
These resignations were a staggering blow to the interests of this important division of our school work, since both Mr. Nissen and Miss Walmsley were instructors of worth in their special field.
Mr. William H. Whiting, Director of Physical Education in the Huntington School for Boys in Boston, was selected to fill Mr. Nis- sen's place, and Miss Marguerite Slawson was chosen to fill Miss Walmsley's place. Both Mr. Whiting and Miss Slawson came to us with broad training and large experience and are directing the work of their department with intelligence and enthusiasm.
To further strengthen the work in this field, Miss Eleanor Bru- ton, a graduate of our local schools and of the Posse-Nissen School of Gymnastics, was added to the corps.
The addition of another instructor to this department has made possible certain needed changes in the organization of our physical training instruction which are proving distinctly beneficial.
School Costs
In common with school costs the country over, expenditure for public education in Quincy has increased rapidly in recent years.
314
CITY OF QUINCY
As a result taxpayers are sometimes led to wonder whether school authorities are sufficiently regardful of economy in the administra- tion of school interests.
In view of that fact, the following statements may be interesting
Three factors are mainly responsible for the rising school costs everywhere, viz .: (1) the steadily increasing membership of the schools; (2) the steady decrease in the purchasing power of the dol- lar during recent years, and (3) the greater efficiency of the schools in meeting community social needs.
Computation, based upon (a) the expenditure for public school support in Quincy for the 20 years from 1900 to 1920, (b) the in- creased membership of our schools during that period, and (c) the depreciation in the purchasing power of the dollar during the same time, shows the following facts with respect to the increase for school support in 1920 over that for 1900, which amounts to $429,335.12.
1. Approximately 19 per cent. of this increase is due to the in- creased membership of the schools.
2. Approximately 80 per cent. of the increased cost is due to the decreased purchasing power of the dollar.
3. The remainder, approximately 1 per cent., is due to increased efficiency, i. e., to larger social service rendered.
Since neither the increased membership of the schools, nor the depreciation in the purchasing power of the dollar are matters con- trolled by school authorities, and since these two factors together contribute to cause practically 99 per cent. of the increase noted in our school expenditure for the period under discussion, it is ob- vious that those who administer the schools cannot be fairly held responsible for the fact that our school expenditure today is consid- crably larger than it was two decades ago.
Another interesting fact in this connection appears in the follow- ing tabulation showing the itemized per capita costs for school support in Quincy for the school year ending June, 1925, as com- pared with similar costs for the State at large and for the thirty- cight other cities of the Commonwealth.
Itemized Cost Per Pupil for Support of Public Schools (Day, Eve- ning, Summer) for the School Year Ending with June, 1925
[ Based on the Average Membership of the Sehoo13]
Items
Average per Capita Ex- penditure for Quincy
Average per Capita Ex- penditure for 38 Other Cities
Average per Capita Ex- penditure for the State
Instruction
$53 46
$64 38
$60 34
Administration
1 68
3 09
3 21
Textbooks and
Supplies for
Instruction
4 37
4 55
4 49
Operation of School Plant.
7 48
9 88
92
Maintenance of School Plant
1 95
68
4 92
Miscellaneous
2 45
2 21
4 75
Totals
$71 39
$89 79
$87 63
315
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
From this tabulation it appears that, while the per capita cost for Quincy was $71.39, that for the State at large was $87.63, and that for the thirty-eight other cities was $89.79.
These figures mean (1) that, if Quincy had expended for school support during the past school year as much per pupil in the aver- age membership of her schools as the similar average for the State at large, our school budget would have been larger than it was by $172,206.40; (2) that, if Quincy had expended as much per pupil as the similar average for the 38 other cities, our school budget would have been increased by $195,224.00.
While the foregoing facts indicate that those charged with the management of the schools have guarded carefully the expenditure for school support, they also suggest the question whether the best interests of the city may not justify a larger expenditure than we are now making for the education of our young people, upon whom the future welfare of the community depends to a large degree.
Senior High School
Two important tests of the efficiency of a high school are (1) the standing of its graduates (a) in higher schools and (b) in lines of business activity where success is conditioned to a consid- erable degree upon the technical training given by the school in such subjects as typewriting, stenography, accounting, etc., and (2) percentage of the school population seeking its advantages.
1. Standing of Graduates
Regarding graduates of our school in higher institutions, records indicate that they stand well,-some ranking unusually high, as is the case in particular of one now in Dartmouth and of another now in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. First-class natural ability is largely responsible for the splendid record of these two young men. First-class native ability, however, must have ade- quate training in order to produce superior results in higher edu- cational institutions. Therefore, our high school, in which these young men received their preparation for collegiate work, must have done well for them.
Regarding those graduates who go directly into lines of business activity requiring the application of technical training in type- writing, stenography, accounting, etc., such evidence as I have se- cured demonstrates that our high school along these lines does correspondingly well.
2. Percentages of School Population in High School
In September, 1920, 14.4 per cent. of our school population were registered in the high school. In September, 1925, 18.4 per cent. were in the corresponding grades.
In other words, 4 per cent. more of our school population today are in the high school grades than was the case five years ago.
Again, during the past five years, while the membership of the elementary schools has increased 25.8 per cent., that of the high school has increased 69.3 per cent. In other words, the attendance in the high school grades has increased during the past five years over 21/2 times as rapidly as that in the elementary schools.
The foregoing facts indicate that our High School is increasingly serving the educational interests of the city and is also performing that service with commendable efficiency.
316
CITY OF QUINCY
Several important changes have taken place in the personnel of the teaching corps of this school during the past year.
The former head of the Commercial Department, Mr. Fred C. Ball, was obliged to retire near the close of the school year owing to ill-health, and the former efficient head of the Department of Latin, Mr. John P. Jewell, resigned in June to accept an appoint- ment in another community. Ordinarily, changes in such important positions are disastrous, for a time at least.
We were fortunate, however, in securing as successors to these men, persons whose wide experience and efficiency have kept both departments fully up to the standard of excellence set at any pre- vious period. In filling such other vacancies as have resulted from resignations in this school, we have been equally fortunate without exception, so that I am able to report that our High School has never been, so far as my knowledge of its operation is concerned, in a more satisfactory condition than it is at present. Further in- formation regarding the work of this school is contained in the report of Headmaster Collins, which follows:
REPORT OF HEAD MASTER OF HIGH SCHOOL
MR. FRED H. NICKERSON, Superintendent of Schools.
Another twelvemonth has passed and again I hand you my re- port for the Senior High School. The comparative report of en- rollment and membership during recent years is as follows:
1923
1924
1925
Number enrolled
1,182
1,389
1,395
Membership at date
1,138
1,318
1,349
At first thought it would appear that there has been very little increase in the school during the year, but this will be seen not to be the case when explanation is made that the figures given for 1923 and 1924 include groups from the ninth grade which are no longer included in the school. The membership given above for 1925 includes only the tenth, eleventh and twelfth grades. It may be of interest to note, also, that this has been a year when the high schools of many large cities have barely held their own in numbers or have shown a decrease for the year.
Since the opening of a new year in September the work of the school has been marked by a more serious effort on the part of the pupils and an apparent desire to get down to hard work. It has been very evident that we were losing the effects of the disastrous conditions under which the school was conducted in the limited quarters of the former building and that the boys and girls are now settling down to a normal state of study and real endeavor.
During the year, through the kindness of Miss Hattie L. Burrell, the school became the possessor of a fine ink drawing done by her father of the first high school building in the city. Because of this gift I was led to make a study of the history of the high school, and a few facts in this connection may not be out of place and may be of real interest.
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