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 1929 > Part 26
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Tuition for pupils living outside of Quincy
$5,460.00
Cash for products made in the school
1,581.66
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 20,192.73
Aid from the Federal Government (Smith-Hughes) 3,277.68
Miscellaneous receipts
67.92
Total receipts
$30,579.99
Net cost to the City of Quincy $21,555.33
The actual per capita cost of educating each boy increased $3.85 to $269.87, but the net per capita cost to the city was lowered very slightly from $112.21 to $111.58. The city further benefited by se- curing goods made by the boys or repair work done by them to the value of $16,482.12.
The Home Making School
Last fall, for the first time in its history, all applicants could not be accommodated in this school, which made it possible to choose
390
CITY OF QUINCY
girls who had the better educational background and showed the most interest in the work of the school.
For several months in the fall of 1928 the school had all the children the building could comfortably accommodate. The aver- age membership for the school year 1928-29 was 51.06, an increase of 6.6 per cent over the membership of last year, and more than 100 per cent increase since the establishment of the school in 1916.
The total cost of running the school advanced to $14,070.95, an increase of $207.28. The city received the following amounts be- cause such a school was maintained:
Tuition for pupils living outside of Quincy. $205.00
Cash received for work done 1,212.70
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 5,718.89
Aid from the Federal Government (Smith-Hughes) 1,184.22
Miscellaneous receipts
21.52
Total receipts $8,342.33
Net cost to the City of Quincy $5,728.62
The net per pupil cost was reduced by $8.31 to $112.19. The school actually cared for more pupils than the previous year with less cost to the city.
Inspired by the success of "The Tiny Tot Shop" and "The Spe- cialty Shop," a "Millinery Shop" was opened in the fall of 1929 which gives the student practical experience. Its success was immediate. The director of the school, Miss Cowles, reports as follows: "During the first ten weeks of the Millinery Shop, four- teen outside customers were served and twenty hats were moulded especially for the customer. Besides this, seventy-two hats were made for girls in the school. The Tiny Tot Shop continues with the success it has always had. The shop cannot promise dresses in less time than a month, due to the large amount of business. In December alone twenty-two dresses were delivered. The Cake Shop has been busy, having had some especially large orders for pies for church suppers."
The school has had the most successful year since its organiza- tion twelve years ago. It has now reached the point where careful consideration must be given to its future if it is to serve the best interests of the community. We are interested in serving those girls who wish to specialize in Home Economics training for their own home or for vocational purposes. The director wisely calls attention to the fact that "Graduates from this school may hold positions as waitresses, junior caterers, caterers' assistants, tea room and cafeteria assistants, dressmakers, alteration girls, tailors' assistants, or milliners' assistants. After graduation many girls go on to complete their high school course and enter a hospi- tal for nurse's training or a normal school to train to be a teacher of Home Economics. Others enter the Boston Trade School for Girls in order to become more efficient in the trade end of Home Economics."
The Continuation School
The following table shows the enrolment in the Continuation School for the last five years:
391
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
1924-'25
1925-'26 1926-'27
1927-'28
1928-'29
Boys Girls
127 50
67 26
84 56
95
82
62
65
Total
177
93
140
157
147
Hours of Service
....
....
8,988
1.1,860
7,996
The school was a little smaller than the previous year, with al- most a third less hours of service. A reduction in hours of service indicates that fewer pupils are leaving school to go to work at fourteen years of age and are nearer sixteen years of age than previously. An outstanding change is the increase in girls who go to work as compared with a decrease in the number of boys be- tween the ages of fourteen and sixteen. The majority of girls are working in homes, either in their own homes or as mother's helper away from home. Apparently the manufacturer is gradually ceas- ing to hire people under sixteen years of age.
Of the boys enrolled, only 32 were left in the school when it closed in June; 37 became sixteen years of age and were dis- charged; 6 moved; 3 transferred, and 4 returned to the regular public day school.
Of the 65 girls enrolled, only 21 remained in June; 37 became sixteen and 7 moved.
To educate the Continuation School pupils it cost $3,451.28- about $100 more than last year, due to the increase in salary given the director. The total cost was reduced as follows:
Tuition fees
$58.56
Cash for work done 22.06
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 1,529.92
Aid from the Federal Government (Smith-Hughes) 270.08
Total receipts
$1,880.62
Net cost to the City of Quincy $1,570.66
For this expenditure Quincy has the full-time services of one man who directs the activities of the school and teaches all the boys and the part-time services of five women teachers who teach related academic, cooking, sewing, millinery and commercial sub- jects.
392
CITY OF QUINCY
Evening Industrial School for Men
Class
1924- '25
1925- '26
1926- '27
1927- '28
1928- '29
Shop Mathematics for Electricians
....
....
13
....
....
Automobile Mechanics
...
24
26
20
20
Electrical Wiring
33
45
31
....
....
Machine Shop Practice
25
21
19
12
26
Machine Drawing and Shop Mathematics ....
...
27
41
27
43
Plumbing
39
52
46
35
33
Roof Framing
26
36
10
....
22
Sheet Metal Drafting
25
29
33
20
23
Ship Blue Print Read-
ing
....
....
63
32
44
Totals
148
234
282
146
211
In certain trades Quincy has reached the point where not enough men enter the trade to warrant maintaining a class every year. A class is formed and maintained for twenty weeks in any trade de- sired by fifteen or more men engaged during the day in the trade to be taught. If enrolment drops too low and shows no signs of increasing, the class is closed before the end of the twenty weeks. The classes in Automobile Mechanics, Machine Drawing, Roof Framing and Sheet Metal Drafting were closed before twenty weeks' work had been completed. Whenever an evening trade class is not formed or is closed before the usual time, the School Depart- ment allows any men so desiring to attend similar schools in Bos- ton and pays their tuition, which is cheaper than maintaining small classes in Quincy.
The total cost of the Evening Industrial School for Men was $1,935.53, which was reduced as follows:
Tuition fees for men living outside of Quincy
$195.60
Registration fees
164.00
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 737.39
Aid from the Federal Government (Smith-Hughes)
101.16
Total receipts
$1,198.15
Net cost to the City of Quincy
$737.38
Increase in net cost to Quincy over 1927-28
$197.83
This increase results from maintaining more classes a longer period of time than the previous year.
Evening Home Making School for Women
These classes were formerly known as Evening Practical Arts Classes, but since a few classes are held in the morning and many in the afternoon, the word "evening" no longer applies to this im- portant field of work.
393
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
This type of instruction was started twenty years ago with a class in cooking for which 22 women enrolled. The following year a class in dressmaking was added with a total registration in the two classes of 53. In 1928-29 there were 951 women in 48 classes. The table below affords a comparison with the present and the past:
1908- '09
1909- '10
1918- '19
1923- '24
1924- '25
1925- '26
1926- '27
1927- '28
1928- '29
Millinery Foods
.... 23
.... 20
17
220 34
277 42
122 85
112
48 120
153
Dressmak- ing
....
33
17
591
619
730
726
751
719
Home
Nursing Home Dec- oration
....
....
19
12
17
....
16
17
37
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
....
42
Totals
23
53
53
857
955
937
959
936
951
For the last five years the enrolment has remained about the same, but the distribution has varied. Cooking now takes the place of millinery and the women are beginning to be interested in Home Decoration.
An analysis of the ages of the women enrolled showed that over two-thirds of them were over twenty-five and that 407, or nearly half of the total enrolment, were over thirty-five. Classes that will hold women of this age year after year are of inestimable value.
The total cost of maintaining these classes was $9,125.16, an increase of $476.39. The total cost was reduced in the following manner:
Tuition fees for non-resident pupils $440.00
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 3,679.49
Aid from the Federal Government (Smith-Hughes) 793.43
Registration fees
461.00
Total Receipts
$5,373.92
Net cost to the City of Quincy $3,751.24
In these classes the women used material to the value of $11,- 100.92, of which the city furnished but $69.48. Under the direction of skilled teachers this material was converted into finished prod- ucts worth $28,188.56.
The increased value of the finished products over the raw mate- rial more than justifies the expenditure made by the city, but the value of the work does not stop there. "Many of the women learn to sew, fit a pattern, cut and fit a garment, renovate a garment, learn about texture and durability of fabrics, how to care for the sick, how to cook, etc. ... What the women learn benefits the entire family for they become more efficient home makers, which results in better homes."
An exhibition of the work of this department was again held in the State Armory, attracting more people than on the previous year.
105
....
394
CITY OF QUINCY
The continued success of the department is the result of the effi- cient supervision of Miss Nellie A. Perry.
Americanization Work
During the school year 1928-29 the department spent $4,890.60 in Americanization work. The state reimbursed the city $2,326.69, making the net cost to the city $2,563.91. This money pays for the services of the Supervisor, Miss Nellie A. Perry, and teachers for twenty-five different classes which meet in two-hour sessions twice a week for twenty weeks.
In these classes there were 536 people representing twenty na- tionalities distributed as follows:
5 American
2 Argentine
145 Italian
2 Austrian
14 French-Canadian
2 Chinese
2 Danish
153 English Speaking Countries
2 Esthonian
91 Finnish
50 Swedish
30 Syrian
Only twenty-five of the students enrolled could not read and write in some language.
A new law went into effect on July 1, 1929, which makes natural- ization much more expensive and exacting. This has not appar- ently decreased the number applying for preliminary papers, but has increased the number of men and women who come to the office of the School Committee for the help and information which Miss Perry knows so well how to give. A very important part of her work is advising and helping the foreign born who desire to become citizens.
The usual co-operating agencies have assisted the classes as in the past, and for this help we are very grateful. Miss Perry well says, "As we all co-operate, and I include all citizens of Quincy in this co-operation, in educating the aliens who are in Quincy and in meeting them with friendly and interested spirit, so shall we wipe out illiteracy in English, and the work of assimilation will be a definite reality."
In January, 1929, Mr. L. R. Alderman, Specialist in Adult Edu- cation of the National Bureau of Education, visited Massachusetts and was sent to Quincy as one of the places where he would see representative work in adult education.
The Evening Academic School
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1929, $3,273.23 was ex- pended for evening school instruction and evening gymnasium classes, which is $771.59 more than was spent the previous year. Part of the increase was used in the purchase of text-books adapted to the use of evening school students in Business English and Business Arithmetic. From now on it should be possible for the student to gain more from the class work because of more ade- quate material for study and reference.
17 Jewish
1 Latvian
7 Lithuanian
5 Norwegian
1 Polish
1 Russian
1 Greek
5 German
395
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Furthermore, 486 adults enrolled in this department in the fall. This is 139 more than in the corresponding period last year and necessitated more classes and teachers. The following table shows the enrolment by subjects with a comparison with other years.
FALL ENROLMENT
Subjects
1925
1926
1927
1928
1929
Advanced Bookkeeping
...
..
....
20
17
Bookkeeping
82
83
79
47
65
Business Arithmetic
100
92
119
69
102
Business English
178
128
191
109
146
Penmanship
96
55
89
44
80
Elementary Stenography
166
165
142
103
174
Intermediate Stenography
....
...
....
18
17
Advanced Stenography
24
32
36
39
Elementary Typewriting
235
215
194
142
226
Intermediate Typewriting
....
....
..
....
..
..
36
37
41
Mechanical Drawing
87
92
69
42
76
Grammar School Subjects
11
23
...
21
8
Algebra
13
49
35
....
50
Cultural English
....
48
....
....
...
A study of the above table will show that the bulk of the stu- dents are interested in subjects related to the commercial field and that these subjects are being sub-divided to meet the needs of the student. It is strongly felt by all connected with this work that too many adults enroll for elementary stenography.
17
Advanced Typewriting
A glance at the table shows that few of those who enroll in the elementary stenography classes return to study the subject another year, and if stenography is not studied for more than one evening school term, the student does not learn enough about the subject to make it of any value. The situation has been carefully ex- plained to those beginning stenography for the first time in eve- ning school, with the recommendation that other subjects offered would be of more value for the majority of students. So far we have been unable to find a satisfactory means of discovering in ad- vance those by whom stenography might be studied with profit. It is a matter that needs careful consideration by everyone connected with this department.
For the past few years the Evening Academic session from 7.15 to 9.15 has been divided into three periods with the requirement that two periods must be directed to Advanced Bookkeeping, Ad- vanced Stenography and Mechanical Drawing. Many students carry three subjects, such as Business English, Typewriting and Business Arithmetic. It may be wise to have but two hour periods in the evening, which would limit all students to two subjects with the requirement that students of Advanced Bookkeeping, Ad- vanced Stenography and Mechanical Drawing spend the entire eve- ning on one subject.
The evening gymnasium classes have continued popular with the women with waiting lists for classes in the North and South Junior High Schools. The gymnasium class for men was discon-
396
CITY OF QUINCY
tinued at the South Junior High School, but was offset by the or- ganization of a new class for men at the North end.
Many favorable reports of the benefits derived from these classes have been received. More adults should avail themselves of the opportunity for well planned exercise and recreation in the evening.
The Academic Summer School
The table below shows some of the important facts in regard to the school for the last five years.
DATA ON ACADEMIC SUMMER SCHOOL
Grades
Year
Total Enrol- ment
No. Teach- ers & Prin- cipals
Aver. Mem- bership
Per cent Daily Attend- ance
Total Cost
Cost per Pupil
- 1925
375
18
334.40
97.90
$2,153.99
$6.44
VB-VIIIA
1926
465
20
406.59
96.97
$2,141.55
$5.27
1927*
423
20
394.46
98.48
$2,336.71
$5.92
IV-VII
1928
552
21
504.89
96.88
$2,860.26
$5.67
IV-VI
1929
348
16
311.01
96.53
$2,256.09
$7.25
*Summer School maintained for but 5 weeks.
The number enrolled was the lowest for many years, which re- duced the number per teacher and raised the per pupil cost. The smaller classes, however, made it possible to do some excellent in- dividual work. Of the pupils enrolled, 127 were to gain lost promo- tion, of which 109 or 85.8 per cent were successful; 9 or 7.1 per cent left before the close of the school, and the same number failed. One hundred ninety-eight registered to remove conditions of which 154 or 77.7 per cent were successful; 32 or 16.2 per cent left, and 12 or 6.1 per cent failed. Twenty-three registered to re- ceive extra help, acceleration, or to strengthen their work, of which 17 or 73.9 per cent were successful, 5 or 21.7 per cent left, and 1 or 4.4 per cent failed.
As in past years, the pupils were tested during the first week with standardized tests and again at the close of the session. Only those pupils were recommended for promotion where the results of the last test showed the pupils to be up to grade and the teachers thought they were qualified.
Of the 186 pupils who attended summer school and were suc- cessful or left before school closed, 173 registered in the fall. Of these, 102 or 58.9 per cent are passing in all subjects; 40 or 23.1 per cent are failing in one subject, and 31 or 17.9 per cent are fail- ing in two or more subjects. Of the pupils who are failing, just half of them are failing in subjects which they did not study in the summer school.
Of the 109 non-promoted pupils who gained promotion in sum- mer school, 105 registered in the fall; 57 or 54.3 per cent are pass- ing in all subjects; 22 or 20.9 per cent are failing in one subject and 26 or 24.8 per cent are failing in two or more subjects.
397
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The standard tests in arithmetic and reading were given to all summer school pupils, regardless of whether they had been pro- moted in those subjects or not. It was discovered that not infre- quently pupils, who, in the judgment of the teacher, had failed in arithmetic obtained scores far higher than those who had been pro- moted and that several children promoted in arithmetic obtained scores that indicated inability to do the work of the next grade. The same facts were true in reading. In view of those facts, arith- metic and reading were taught to all pupils whose test scores indi- cated the need of such instruction. The lack of correlation be- tween test scores and report card marks seems to indicate the wis- dom of testing in June all pupils throughout the elementary school with uniform standard tests or tests sent out from the central office.
Special Classes
Through the aid of the traveling Clinic from the Wrentham State School and the Habit Clinic, meeting at Woodward Institute every Thursday, it has been possible to have examined by experts almost every school child suspected of being three or more years mentally retarded.
During the last four years, over 336 children have been exam- ined. Of this number 215 are three years mentally retarded or will be by the time they are fourteen years of age; 113 are dull but not feeble-minded.
Of the children three years mentally retarded 90 are in "Oppor- tunity" classes in the elementary schools, 32 are in "Over- age" classes in the Junior High Schools, and 7 have been with- drawn from school because they were too low mentally to be taught in a public school.
One new Opportunity class was established in the Francis W. Parker School, which is able to care for practically all the children requiring such instruction in the northern section of the city.
A double portable school building has been moved from Adams Shore to the yard of the Central Junior High School, and two classes for children thirteen to sixteen years old and three or more years mentally retarded will be established just as soon as teachers qualified to teach such children can be obtained.
Special classes for feeble-minded children in the public schools are relatively new, and it is very difficult to obtain teachers prop- erly qualified for the work. Special class teachers to be successful must not only have all the qualifications necessary for successful elementary school teaching but also special training in psychology of mentally defective children, technique of teaching retarded chil- dren, and a wide variety of handwork for children. Most impor- tant of all, these teachers must have unlimited patience, coupled with compassion for the unfortunate and a strong desire to serve.
Under-Age Children
Of the sixteen under-age children admitted to the first grade in September, 1928, as a result of intelligence examinations, fifteen are still in Quincy. Thirteen were promoted to Grade II, and of that number three are doing work of a very high quality, four are doing work of good quality, and six are doing work of average quality. Of the two not promoted, one was absent nearly one-half of the year because of sickness. The other failed through lack of
398
CITY OF QUINCY
proper effort last year but is now doing very good work and may go on into Grade II before the school year is over.
Profiting by the experience of 1928, only those under-age chil- dren were allowed to be tested who became five during April and May preceding the opening of school. One hundred seventeen children were tested individually by teachers trained in such work. Sixty did not show evidence of being able to do first-grade work and admittance to school was refused. Fifty-seven obtained a mental rating which justified a trial in the first grade, of which number fifty-six availed themselves of the opportunity. Two chil- dren were withdrawn from school in the fall because of illness.
Reports from the teachers of the under-age children show the following facts-six are doing work of a very high quality, twenty- two are doing work of good quality, twenty-one are doing average work for the grade, four are doing work a little below average, and one is doing unsatisfactory work.
This practice of admitting to school children chronologically one to two months too young, if a mental test indicates they are able to do the work, seems to be justified by the school work of the children so far admitted.
On November 19, 1929, all first-grade children were given a group intelligence test and two facts of great importance stood out: (1) the intelligence of Quincy's first-grade children is above the average; (2) there were 112 children with mental ages below 5 years, 3 months and 22 with mental ages below 4 years, 9 months. Similar tests given in other years have disclosed the same facts. Now it is practically impossible for a child below 5 years mentally to do first-grade work. The twenty-two children with mental ages below 4 years, 9 months are trying to accom- plish the impossible. If the School Committee is to continue to allow in the first grade children chronologically too young but mentally old enough to do the work, I believe they should take a similar step and exclude children under seven years of age in the first grade who, in the judgment of the teacher, and through group and individual intelligence tests are known to be mentally too young to do the work.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
MR. JAMES N. MUIR, Superintendent of Schools, Quincy, Mass. Dear Mr. Muir:
I have the honor to submit to you the annual report for the Senior High School. The past year has been no different from many others in the respect that there is constantly present the problem of finding sufficient room in which to conduct the work of the school. In September we were so fortunate as to secure the use of several rooms in the Coddington School which allowed us to shorten the afternoon session required last year to one period of afternoon classes. A full afternoon session threatens for next year, however, unless more room can be found than is available at present. One statement regarding numbers will show the growth of the school. In October, 1928, there were enrolled 1662 pupils, while in October, 1929, there were enrolled 1799. In January, 1930, because the abolishing of mid-year classes does not yet affect the
399
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Senior High School, there will be a net increase over the above numbers of at least 100 pupils.
The reorganized program of studies adopted last year seems to be working well. The general curriculum, particularly, is affording such freedom of choice in subjects that greater satisfaction and more interest are evident among a large number of pupils who previously felt themselves bound to a limited curriculum which did not wholly please or interest them. I may say in passing, also, that the increased number of points necessary for graduation and the higher passing grade have seemed to arouse greater endeavor on the part of the pupils and to be leading to better scholarship.
Since September we have been making a thorough study of our commercial department with the purpose of discovering how pupils in this department can be trained to an even higher degree of effi- ciency than at present. In this study we have been assisted by Mr. E. A. Zelliot, a graduate student at Harvard University. Detailed report of this study will have to be left for some later date. The program of commercial work has been considerably reorganized already and the increased room provided in the Coddington School has allowed us to broaden the work in a marked way. Space is afforded for a variety of office appliances such as the Ediphone, calculating machines, bookkeeping machines, and filing equipment. We now have the facilities for training our pupils for all types of office work.
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