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 1928 > Part 25
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In the elimination of the mid-year promotion, naturally, some classes were left on the way which necessitated establishing teacher-
373
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
. coach groups in several centers. Five of these were established during the year,-one each at the Thomas B. Pollard, John Han- cock, Massachusetts Fields, Willard, and Wollaston schools. In addition to organizing the elementary schools on the yearly pro- motion basis, eleven teachers have been employed to take care of children needing special attention in some way. There is still a great need for teachers of the special class or mentally defective group in order to relieve the regular class room teacher.
We have succeeded in intensifying the physical education pro- gram proposed a year ago. A teacher was employed to take care of the boys in the Senior High School, and another teacher for the girls. Physical education, at least one period a week, has been made compulsory for all pupils attending the High School.
The activities of both Junior and Senior High Schools have been organized and a unification of inter-class as well as inter-scholastic athletics has been conducted. The physical education program is looking up. It needs further direction and stimulation to the point of encouraging a greater number of children to enter the various sports under proper supervision which is offered them after school hours.
An additional nurse was appointed and took up her work in September. This gave us the much needed assistance in the health department. It means better health service at a time when it is greatly needed.
The dedication of the Quincy Point Junior High School on Mon- day evening, October 8, 1928, was the culmination of a splendid piece of work well done both by the School Committee and the City authorities. It was the third Junior High School to have been dedi- cated in the City of Quincy within an interval of twenty months, which speaks well for the educational growth of the city. These buildings helped greatly to relieve the congestion of the city schools. Present at the dedication on October 8 were members of the pres- ent School Committee, several former Committee members who had served in past years, members of the present City Council, the Commissioner of Public Works, His Honor, Mayor McGrath, and other distinguished guests. A splendid dedicatory program was given after which the Quincy Point Junior High School building was thrown open for public inspection. Two new schools, one lo- cated at the corner of Agawam and Assabet Roads, Merrymount, and another at Pelican Road, Adams Shore, are under construc- tion. The buildings will have ten class rooms each, principal's office, library, and other modern features belonging to the elemen- tary school, and so planned that either may be converted into a junior high school. These two building contracts were awarded on September 13, 1928 and work was begun at once. The two buildings are now under roof and will be ready for occupancy in September, 1929.
These two buildings will relieve the situation which has been, indeed, a very difficult problem for the school officials as well as the parents of this district for the past five or six years. It will not only relieve the Coddington School but in turn will give partial relief to the over-crowded Senior High School by permitting the use of some of the rooms in the Coddington School for High School classes. They are the first two buildings which were included in the five-year building program submitted by the School Committee to the City Council on December 27, 1927.
Preliminary plans are now drawn for a new nine-room build- ing with auditorium at the Atherton Hough and the Montclair Schools, which were included in the 1928 program.
374
CITY OF QUINCY
. The School Committee has requested the Mayor to bring in de- tailed working plans for an addition to the North Junior High School and preliminary plans for a new Senior High School, both of which were a part of the five-year building program. All this shows the desirability of carefully planning new construction of schools which must come to all growing cities year after year.
Experience proves that every time the school building program lags or is side-tracked for other improvements, the city suffers. Schools become congested and sometimes finances are cramped in an effort to catch up with the demand for new schools. The schools are usually in the most wholesome condition when the school build- ing program keeps pace with each year's increase in the school population.
On Monday, October 8, 1928, at 3:00 P. M. members of the School Committee, Supervisory staff, Superintendent, and relatives of the immediate family, assembled at the Adams School to unveil a tab- let in honor of Miss Eliza C. Sheahan, who for more than 46 years was a faithful teacher in the Adams School.
Simple exercises were held in her honor and a beautiful bronze tablet was unveiled bearing the following inscription :
ELIZA C. SHEAHAN A FAITHFUL TEACHER FOR MORE THAN 46 YEARS IN THE ADAMS SCHOOL SEPTEMBER 1865-JANUARY 1912
Henry Beston Sheahan, author and lecturer, and his brother, Dr. George M. Sheahan, nephews, spoke a few minutes in appreciation of the splendid tribute that the School Committee had paid their beloved aunt.
From the Adams School, this party proceeded to the Washington School where a delightful program was given by the children in that building and a tablet dedicated to the memory of Thomas B. Pollard who for many years was master of the Washington School and the Daniel Webster School. This bronze tablet bears the fol- lowing inscription :
THOMAS B. POLLARD A FAITHFUL MASTER WASHINGTON 1887-1919 DANIEL WEBSTER 1917-1925
To those assembled, the following tribute to the memory of Mr. Thomas B. Pollard was read:
"Greetings to Those Gathered to Honor Mr. Pollard:
"There is a sincere desire in my heart to send a message to you upon this occasion. The two years I worked as Mr. Pollard's assistant at the Washington School were very happy ones. Besides being an able schoolmaster, Mr. Pol- lard was a noble, kind-hearted gentleman.
"I wish you girls and boys might have known Mr. Pol- lard as many of your mothers and fathers knew him. He loved children. So, always respect his name and your school, his school which he held very dear.
"And, I cannot pay tribute to Mr. Pollard without think- ing of his three devoted friends and helpers, Miss Malone,
375
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Miss Hatch, and Mrs. Humphrey. May their days be rich in blessings. Quincy, indeed, has been honored by four such lives.
'Four things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true:
To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow-men sincerely;
To act from honest motives purely ; To trust in God and Heaven securely.'
"These things our friend Mr. Pollard did faithfully.
SUE A. BISHOP, Thomas B. Pollard School, October 8, 1928."
The Thomas B. Pollard School was named in his honor.
IT IS HIGH PRAISE INDEED TO BE HELD IN SUCH ESTEEM.
Miss Teresa McDonnell, a faithful teacher in the public schools for more than forty years, retired in June, 1928. The Master and the teachers of the Willard School gave her a splendid reception before she left the building in which she gave so much of her life for those under her care. Many beautiful tributes were paid to her worth that evening. Miss McDonnell passed into the great beyond in September at a time when those who knew her wished that she might live a few years to enjoy the fruits of her hard- earned labors. But the ways of the Lord are beyond the compre- hension of the finite mind, and so she passed with our hearts full of gratitude toward her and all that she meant to the children who had come under her wise guidance.
The schools sustained a great loss in the sudden and untimely death of Miss Elsa Schoshusen. It was my good fortune to be more closely associated in work with Miss Schoshusen than with the other teachers. It was my priviledge to call the Principals, Supervisors and teachers together on April 23, 1928 at the Central Junior High School to make final arrangements to attend her funeral. At the close of the meeting I read this short tribute to her memory. I think it fitting that it should be incorporated in this report:
"Miss Elsa Schoshusen was unusually worthy of the posi- tion she held in Quincy,-Supervisor of Primary grades. Her work was always well planned, well directed and well done which was due to her personal equipment, her power to do and her insatiable desire to do the right thing.
"Her splendid character, her open-mindedness, her cheer- fulness and her loyalty to those in authority is now a liv- ing memory to me.
"She was ever capable of inculcating into the minds of teachers who came under her supervision their real re- sponsibility to the little ones,-the children. All this made for able leadership and devout courage which she so justly possessed.
"That happy disposition, under trying circumstances; that smile in the face of obstacles; that willingness to carry
376
CITY OF QUINCY
on for the benefit of all the children under her guidance will ever linger with me.
"I feel grateful that it has been my good fortune to be_ associated so closely with such a noble Christian character, and trust her influence will go on and on and let me quote:
'Life's race well run Life's work well done Life's victory won Now cometh rest.'
"May these few words bring a consoling thought to her many devoted friends."
The School Committee closed the elementary schools that all who desired might attend the funeral. The School Committee, Super- intendent, Supervisory staff, Principals, and teachers attended the funeral at Somerville.
Resolutions by the School Committee and the Quincy Teachers' Association were sent to the families of the deceased in each case. Many letters of appreciation from individuals and from the staff and others gave unstinted praise of their faithful services.
THUS REAL SERVICE IS REWARDED BY HUMAN SYM- PATHY AND HEART BEATS-THE APPRECIATION OF TRUE WORTH. SUCH TRIBUTES ARE RARE.
The Assistant Superintendent has reported for the State-aided, Academic Evening, Academic Summer Schools, and special classes. Because of the importance attached to these reports, they are given in full. Under separate headings will be found a short report of the Senior High School Principal, Supervisors and School Physi- cian ..
The Day Industrial School
The expenses of the Day Industrial School increased from $46,- 096.65 for the school year 1926-1927 to $50,782.70 for the school year 1927-1928. The increased cost was due to increases in sal- aries granted to the teachers, increase in the school enrollment and the purchase of new equipment. This cost, however, was reduced by the following amounts received by the city treasurer:
Tuition for pupils living outside of Quincy $4,890 00
Cash for products made by the school 1,532 84
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 19,366 77
Aid from the Federal Government 3,476 22
Miscellaneous Receipts 100 05
Total Receipts $29,365 88
Net Cost to the City of Quincy $21,416 82
It actually cost $266.02 to educate each boy in the school but the cost to the city for each pupil was $112.21.
The city further benefits from this school through products made for which no cash is received. The market value of the products made by the boys was approximately $26,263.11, the value of the labor envolved was estimated at $12,906.62.
The courses offered, the number of boys enrolled and the growth of the school is shown by the following table:
377
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
YEAR
1923- '24
1924- '25*
1925- '26
1926- '27
1927- '28
Auto Mechanics
17
30
42
41
Electrical
39
40
36
36
38
Machine
33
42
37
34
40
Plumbing
18
42
37
38
36
Sheet Metal
20
16
18
19
21
Woodworking
75
70
70
65
80
Special
. .
. .
.
. .
1
Total
185
227
228
234
257
* Entered New Building.
There is a very definite need of expansion in this school as the waiting list is steadily growing larger. Many Quincy boys are obliged to wait a year or longer before they can be enrolled in the school and very few boys are now enrolled from outside the city.
The state authorities advocate expansion through the addition of new departments rather than the enlargement of existing de- partments. That policy is sound for each year finds it more diffi- cult to place the graduates from some of our departments, whereas there is a demand for new workers in trades which we do not teach. Quincy should increase the variety of trade instruction offered. For a relatively small outlay a Printing Department could be cared for in the basement of the Coddington School which would not only offer valuable trade training but would be of dis- tinct advantage to the School Department in printing forms, re- ports, etc. To further increase facilities for trade teaching an addition to the present building would be necessary which would need very careful study in order that the shops be adapted to teaching the desired trade. The following are some trades not taught in Quincy at present but which are successfully taught elsewhere: Automobile Painting, Carpentry, Concrete Work, Forg- ing, Painting and Paper Hanging, Printing, Upholstering, Ma- sonry, and Plastering. Some one or more of these trades might well be taught to advantage in Quincy.
The Home Making School
This school suffered a great loss when Miss Caroline H. Wilson resigned early in the school year to accept a position with the State Department of Education. Miss Verna L. Clarke was made acting director of the school for the balance of the school year which gave adequate time to select a successor for Miss Wilson. After careful consideration, Miss Ruth C. Cowles, a graduate of Middlebury College and head of the Catering Department of the Fanning Trade School for Girls, Worcester, Mass., was elected director of the school. Miss Cowles assumed active direction of the school in September. Her enthusiasm and good judgment in handling the situation thus far indicates continued success of the school.
This school is growing and has practically reached the capacity of the present building. The average membership for 1927-28 was 47.87, an increase of 11%. The fall enrollment advanced to 61 with an average membership for the last four months of the
378
CITY OF QUINCY
year of 56.16. The present building cannot adequately house more than 60.
The increased enrollment caused the total cost to advance from $13,327.27 in 1926-27 to $13,863.67 for 1927-28. However, the city treasurer received the following amounts because of this school:
Tuition for non-Quincy pupils $475 00
Cash received for work done 1,280 08
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 5,448 05
Aid from the Federal government. 883 10
Miscellaneous receipts 8 97
Total Receipts
$8,095 20
Net Cost to the City of Quincy $5,768 47
Although the total cost of running the school increased, the net per pupil cost was reduced by $5.97 to $120.50.
The success of "The Tiny Tot Shop" in the clothing department has led to the formation of a "Specialty Cake Shop" in the foods department. This shop is organized on a real shop basis and spe- cializes in filling orders for "Bridge Party" small cakes and cup cakes. Over 20 dozen cakes were sold the first week the shop came into existence. Indications are that the girls will have all the or- ders they can fill.
The State Department requested that revised courses of study be sent in before November 1, 1928. As our teachers had been working on courses for the past year this school was one of the first to respond to the State Department's request. The teachers under the able direction of Miss Cowles are now organizing all courses on a "Unit" basis which will facilitate the individual prog- ress of the pupils.
Three girls who graduated last year are attending the Boston Trade School for Girls and three are enrolled in the Senior High School. Never before have so many graduates decided to continue their education.
The Continuation School
The cost of running the Continuation School has been reduced to $3,341.48 as compared with $4,951.22 in 1926-27 and $6,016.62 in 1925-26. The total cost has further been reduced by the follow- ing amounts received by the city treasurer:
Tuition fees $42 16
Cash for work done 32 94
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 1,422 36
Aid from the Federal government 471 01
Total Receipts $1,968 47
Net Cost to Quincy $1,373 01
This reduction, as that of last year, is due to the reduction of the teaching force with the director, Mr. Dana Clark, handling all the work for the boys as compared with two full time men in 1925-26.
In spite of a reduction in the teaching force the school is larger than many years in the past as is shown by the table below:
379
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CONTINUATION SCHOOL ENROLLMENT 1920-1928, inclusive
1919- 20
1920- '21
1921- '22
1922- '23
1923- '24
1924- '25
1925- '26
1926- '27
1927- 28
Boys Girls
104 35
136 53
62
77
71 28
127 50
67
84
9.5
36
27
26
56
62
Total
139
189
98
104
99
177
93
140
157
In 1927 the school register showed 8,988 hours of service, in 1928 -11,860 hours, an increase of 2,872 hours or 31%.
In addition to the class and shop teaching the instructor is re- quired to visit the pupils in their homes and while at work. The director emphasizes this phase of the work in his report as fol- lows: "These boys and girls as potential citizens are already taking their places in the industrial work of the city. In many instances we have been able to place boys and girls in positions where their opportunities for service and personal advancement have been greatly increased. This has been accomplished largely through the personal contact of the instructor with the parents or em- ployers.
"Great importance is put upon the proper placing and adjustment of the minor in and to his new environment-the working world. Employed in a wide variety of trades and occupations it becomes our duty to give these boys and girls practical instruction and guidance. We strive to help them help themselves become indus- trious, cheerful citizens. Our aim is to see that every minor, be- fore he leaves, shall have found an occupation worthy of his ability, and that he has the proper attitude toward his home, his com- munity and his employment."
The Evening Industrial School for Men
The Evening Industrial School for men had the smallest enroll- ment in 1927-1928 of any year since 1923-1924. The tabulation below shows the courses offered with the enrollment for the past five years:
380
CITY OF QUINCY
DATA ON EVENING INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL REGISTRATION
Class
1923-'24
1924-'25
1925-'26
1926-'27
1927-'28
Shop Mathematics for Electricians
No class
No class
No class
13
Automobile Me-
chanics
No class 16
No class 33
24 45
26 31
No class 20 No class
Electrical wiring
Drawing for Gran- ite Cutters
11
No class
No class
No class
No class
Machine Shop Prac- tice
27
25
21
19
12
Machine Drawing and Shop Mathe- matics
No class No class 47
No class 39 26
52
46
35
Roof Framing
36
10
No class
Sheet Metal Draft- ing
45
25
29
33
20
Ship
Blue Print
No class
No class
No class
63
32
Totals
146
148
23
282
14
By state law only men engaged in the trade during the day which they wish to study at night may be admitted to state-aided evening industrial courses. The enrollment for 1927-1928 and this fall, which was again small, seems to indicate that the majority of men employed in the trades taught have received the benefit of the courses which we can offer. The fact that no one was enrolled in classes conducted in previous years does not mean no men ap- plied for such instruction but that not enough applied to warrant starting a course. If no courses are established in Quincy, men qualified are entitled to attend the class they desire in the nearest community offering such work and Quincy must pay the tuition. The state will reimburse Quincy for one-half the amount. At the present time seven Quincy men are attending classes in the Boston Evening Trade School where the tuition is 15c per hour. It cost Quincy 20c per hour for every man registered in classes during the year so it is cheaper to pay the tuition of men to go to Boston than to maintain small classes in Quincy.
During the school year 1927-1928, $1,621.63 was spent for Even- ing Industrial Education for Men. The following amounts were received by the city because of this form of education:
Tuition fees for men living outside of Quincy . $224 60
Registration fees 78 00
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 570 66
Aid from the Federal Government 208 82
Total Receipts $1,082 08
Net Cost to City of Quincy $539 55
Reduction in Net Cost of 1926-27 $446 59
27
41
27
Plumbing
Reading
381
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Evening Home Making School for Women
The total cost in conducting these classes was reduced from $9,538.53 spent in the previous school year to $8,648.77 and this sum was further reduced as follows :
Tuition fees for non-resident pupils $405 11
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 3,445 04
Aid from the Federal Government 803 85
Registration fees 429 00
Total Receipts
$5,083 00
Net Cost to Quincy $3,565 77
The money was used to conduct forty-nine classes for women un- der the supervision of Miss Nellie A. Perry.
The tabulation below shows the distribution according to sub- ject and a comparison with the past five years:
ENROLLMENT DATA
1923-'24
1924-'25
1925-'26
1926-'27
1927-'28
Millinery
220
277
122
112
48
Foods
34
42
85
105
120
Dressmaking
591
619
730
726
751
Home Nursing
12
17
16
17
857
955
937
959
936
The outstanding features in this work are the decline in the num- ber of women attending millinery classes and the rise in the num- ber taking lessons in foods.
For material with which to work the women spent $13,016.88 and converted it into finished products worth $33,837.84, increasing the wealth of the Community $20,820.96. The actual economic gain which attendance in these classes brings is not their greatest value. However, in the words of the Supervisor, Miss Perry, "These classes tend to create a more satisfied household and a more attrac- tive home. The teachers are doing a constructive piece of work and are conscientiously trying to instruct their pupils that good materials, good health, and good food are essentials to the well- being of every man, woman, and child."
The work for the school year was shown at our exhibition in the State Armory which was visited by many people from Quincy and surrounding towns. This one large exhibition with the work of all classes gathered under one roof made a much greater impres- sion on the public than five small exhibitions.
Americanization Work
For several years the Supervisor of Americanization Work, Miss Nellie A. Perry, and her corps of teachers have been interpreting America and American ideals to our alien friends. The table below shows the number of classes with the enrollment in each type for the past five years :
382
CITY OF QUINCY
1923-'24
1924-'25
1925-'26
1926-'27
1927-'28
Type of Class
No. of Classes
Enrol- ment
No. of Classes
Enrol- ment
No. of Classes
Enrol- ment
No. of Classes
Enrol- ment
No. of Classes
Enrol- ment
Evening Classes
15
287
13
297
14
326
13
304
12
305
Factory
Classes
4
98
5
144
G
109
4
66
7
150
Home
Classes Club
7
68
6
45
7
41
S
55
7
38
Classes
S
150
3
48
3
37
1
15
2
31
Totals
34
603
27
534
30
513
26
440
28
524
In the first years of the work it was often necessary to organize classes in the club rooms of foreign groups in order to get the at- tendance of some people. Today the club classes have nearly dis- appeared which is a forward step. When the foreigners of one land mingle with those of other lands, under trained teachers in a real American environment, their understanding of each other and American institutions is more rapid.
In the school year 1927-1928 $4,967.06 was spent in American- ization work but the State reimbursed the Quincy treasury $2,254.53 making the net cost $2,712.53.
Twenty different nationalities were represented in the classes. When the work was new a large group could not read or write in any language. During the past year there were only eighteen who were illiterate at the time of enrollment in classes.
Many organizations and agencies have assisted in the work-the co-operation of the Quincy Federation of Women's Organizations and the Public Library are worthy of special' mention.
An unusual part of the year's work is described thus by Miss Perry: "The outstanding event of the year was the Pilgrimage to Washington. Quincy had forty-five of the twelve hundred who made the never-to-be-forgotten trip. One of the greatest tributes to all nations was paid when we stood at the grave of the Unknown Soldier and saw the beautiful wreath placed thereon by four of our number. Nationalities were forgotten. All were friends bound together in one common brotherhood. Those of us who were citi- zens were inspired to better citizenship and those who were not were inspired to become true and upright citizens in this, our Country, the United States of America."
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