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 1931 > Part 28
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By this means some members of the graduating class have been placed in good positions, but in this year of unemployment the response has not been as good as we hope it will be later.
The schools have lost through death during the past year Miss
423
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Mary A. Coyle, who died October 1, 1931. For twenty-two years she had served the schools most loyally and efficiently. As a me- morial to her the children in her school placed a picture in the classroom in the South Junior High School where she last taught.
The School Committee is conscious of its duties to the schools and also of its responsibilities to the citizens and tax payers. Quincy expended during the year 1931 for the support of public schools (day, evening and vacation), $1,130,538.61. This budget, although large, is only about 25% of the tax levy, a very favor- able showing when compared to 35% or 50%, which is the usual proportion in many cities. Quincy is eleventh in population in the Commonwealth, with an average cost per pupil of $80.36 based on the average membership. Of the thirty-nine cities in the Com- monwealth only two have a lower average cost per pupil.
There was expended for this same period for State-aided schools and Americanization work, $87,354.31. Of this amount $5,254.97 represents' Federal aid through the Smith-Hughes and George Reed Funds.
There was returned to the city treasury through the operation of the regular and State-aided schools $146,872.47 from tuition, State and Federal reimbursements, and miscellaneous receipts.
The School Committee wishes to acknowledge the hard work and efficiency of the Superintendent in many trying times during the past year. Also we wish to thank the City Council for its sym- pathetic cooperation in supplying the ways and means which have made our work possible.
The foregoing report was prepared by a special committee of Vice-Chairman Dr. Nathaniel S. Hunting and Mr. Robert E. Foy, and was adopted as the annual report of the School Committee for the year 1931.
424
CITY OF QUINCY
In Memoriam
MARY A. COYLE Died October 1, 1931 Teacher 1909-1931
425
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Quincy :
The annual report of the Quincy Public Schools for the year 1931 is herewith submitted.
The work of the different departments is given in full as sub- mitted by the department heads. The Assistant Superintendent has reported for the State-aided, Academic Evening, Academic Summer Schools and special classes. These reports are given in full. The principals and teachers have worked long and ear- nestly to maintain the high standard and to discharge their im- portant duties.
The Senior High School reached a new high mark in attendance in September, 1931, the enrollment being 2,258. The principal and the teachers were obliged to face difficult situations, particularly during the fall semester. They met these difficult situations and trying circumstances exceedingly well.
Quincy was particularly fortunate this year in electing to its staff a fine group of well-trained and well-educated teachers. It is reflected in the classroom and in all the schools. For the most part principals have been enthusiastic in their praise for the new entrants that have been placed under their charge.
Early in the year 1931, the School Committee voted that we endeavor to encourage a Placement Service Bureau in the Senior High School. During the month of July, two of our regular teach- ers, Mr. Leslie C. Millard and Miss Margaret L. Burns, of the Commercial Department, were placed in charge and much pre- liminary work was necessary to get the department underway. During the year they have been able to place several pupils in positions, some permanent and some temporary. The department has continued the work, making contacts with all the employers in the city and with many firms outside the city. Naturally, the business conditions and depression caused business men to re- trench. We are unable to place as many pupils as we could in normal times. While the primary purpose is that of immediate placement, those in charge of the Service Bureau were especially concerned with establishing permanent contacts for future needs as well as for the present. The workers in this department were received by the business and professional men with courtesy. They felt that it was a step in the right direction to aid the girls and boys finishing the high school course.
The Visual Education Department in Quincy has received wide recognition. We have always had visual aids in one form or an- other in the classroom. The principle on which we are operating is that these visual aids are not to supplant but to aid the teacher; that through our Director of Visual Education we are offering teacher-training in the essentials of visual aids. The Director of Visual Education meets with groups of teachers for the purpose of giving the necessary instruction in the proper use of the ma- chinery and the material. It is believed that the type of work that the teacher is placing before the pupil will arouse the learner where he will want to know more about the subject presented; that is, it will help him to think more clearly, sense more keenly, know more definitely and will to know more about his subject. Every-
426
CITY OF QUINCY
thing that is being done in the City of Quincy is done with the high hope to serve the teacher and to help the pupil. We shall ever keep in mind that the controlling factor is, and must of necessity be, the teacher. The pupil shall continue to look to his teacher for guidance and inspiration. We are endeavoring to sift out those things that will be most helpful to the teacher to further aid him in his work.
One of the outstanding administrative plans of the year was to arrange a series of addresses and lectures by prominent men in the field of education, with the endeavor to stimulate and ener- gize the work of the classroom by having these high-grade meet- ings from which we may glean a bit of inspiration to leave with the children. The meetings were arranged to take the place of the Norfolk County Convention at Boston. William McAndrew was our first guest speaker. He gave two addresses, one at 4 P. M. on Wednesday, September 23rd, at the Central Junior High School Assembly Hall, and the second on the same evening at 8 P. M. at the Senior High School auditorium. The second speaker in the series was Alden G. Alley on November 9th. He was sched- uled to lecture on World Court and International Peace. Six hun- dred people sat down to dinner at the North Quincy High School in one of the most enjoyable festivities that the teachers of Quincy have enjoyed. After the dinner they sojourned to the auditorium and listened to a very inspiring, educational address on "What Is Happening in the Old World."
Another phase of the work worthy of our consideration is that a greater unity of purpose was needed in our school work. We have felt for some time that there should be a revision of the course of study from the 7th to the 12th grade inclusive in order to eliminate waste and overlapping. The time is ripe to place in the hands of each teacher a well-defined syllabus of the work that the teacher is expected to do. I advocated the integration of the subject matter of the various subjects to be taken up and, to this end, appointed four committees: a committee on English, a committee on Mathematics, a committee on Social Sciences and a committee on Modern Languages. These committees have been at work constantly on this work, and while a great deal of work has been done, much remains to be done. This work will not be finished until perhaps the close of the school year in 1932.
It was felt that we had outgrown our rating system for teachers and that this, too, much be revised. The principals and the super- visors, together with the superintendent, acted as a committee of the whole on the revision of this particular phase of work. This committee met every two weeks up to the Christmas season and is continuing its work. Great good has come out of all these meet- ings. We are quite positive that when the course shall have been completed and the revised teachers' rating accepted, increased interest will be manifested by teachers and pupils alike.
An assistant to the Supervisor of Attendance was employed September 28, 1931, Mr. Harry G. Burnham. His work is greatly felt by the teachers and principals. Additional help has long been needed in this department. It has lightened the burden of the Supervisor of Attendance, Mr. Charles H. Johnson, and given encouragement and help to the principals.
Another outstanding feature of the year's work is the survey on the health education, recommended by the Superintendent of Schools and authorized by the School Committee. The work was begun during the fall of 1931. This survey is conducted by Fred- erick Rand Rogers, Dean of Student Health and Physical Education
427
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
in Boston University, the purpose of which is to make careful investigation into every important phase of the program, collect objective evidence of conditions, and prepare detailed plans for a model health and physical education service adapted to Quincy's needs and purse. A preliminary report has been made and points the direction for an extraordinary health program. This survey will not be completed before the end of the school year. In his preliminary report, Dr. Rogers expresses his appreciation of the splendid professional character of the principals and their unfail- ing courtesy and helpfulness, stating that it is always a pleasure to visit the Quincy Schools. If it is at all possible to put the pro- gram suggested by Dr. Rogers into operation in Quincy, it will have a far-reaching effect to put Quincy in the foreground of health education.
High praise should be given to every member of the School Com- mittee for their devotion to the general educational program for the welfare of the future citizens of Quincy. If evidence were needed, I should submit the following as sufficient: that there were held during the year thirteen regular and adjourned regular meetings; nine special meetings; one organization meeting; and three conference meetings with the Council, one in the committee rooms and two in the council chambers at city hall. If I recall correctly every member has been present at every meeting. I do not recall of a member being absent at a single meeting. This, I consider, devotion to the educational uplift of the city. It has been a great satisfaction to serve the city with members of a School Committee as has been mentioned above.
The press has been generous in time and space to chronicle the news from week to week. The Mayor and City Council have been very considerate of the needs of the schools. This type of co-op- eration has made it possible for the employees of the school sys- tem and the teaching staff to jot down another year of school progress for the City of Quincy. To all I extend my sincere ap- preciation for the kind and cordial co-operation in an earnest endeavor to carry on in a great work.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES N. MUIR, Superintendent of Schools.
428
CITY OF QUINCY
The Day Trade School
The long continued depression has affected the enrollment in the Trade School. Instead of looking ahead to the future and realizing that the better trained workers will get the jobs, the boys look at the immediate present, see the large number of unem- ployed tradesmen and decide against education in certain trades.
The effect of this is very noticeable in the Machine, Plumbing and Woodworking departments. Last June, applications for Ma- chine Shop Practice were so few that it was possible to transfer Mr. Tordoff from the Machine to the Auto Mechanics department to take the place of Mr. Atwood, who had resigned as teacher of related work. The applications for Auto Repair department had increased to such an extent that it was feasible to employ a third man in the shop, and Mr. Louis Gaetani, proprietor of the Wey- mouth Auto Body Repair Shop, a man very well qualified to teach all forms of Auto Body Repair work, was added to the Trade School staff. Thus, what is really a new trade was added to the school, and the school better fits the needs of this community.
.rollment for the past five years is shown in the following table:
1926-27
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
Enrol.
Av.
Mem.
Enrol.
Av.
Mem.
Enrol.
Av.
Mem.
Enrol.
Av.
Mem.
Enrol.
Mem.
Av.
Auto Mechanics ..
42
41
43
48
29.3
37
30.85
Electrical
36
38
35
38
32.5
37
32.64
Machine
34
40
40
31
25.7
38
24.95
Machine (Co-op-
erative)
4
2.
5
1.
Plumbing
38
36
36
39
29.1
29
23.76
Sheet Metal
19
21
20
18
16.3
18
16.67
Woodworking
65
80
76
68
47.1
56
40.99
Special
1
....
....
....
....
....
Total Enrollment
234
257
250
246
220
Total Average Membership ...
182.4
190.6
192.6
182.0
170.86
Although the total cost of running the school for the year ending August, 1931, increased by $39.98 to $53,255.74 due to automatic salary increases, the net cost was reduced as shown by the table below:
Tuition for pupils living outside of Quincy
$6,795 00
Cash for products made in the school.
2,037 45
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
20,039 92
Aid from the Federal Government
2,594 87
Miscellaneous receipts
57 08
Total receipts
$31,524 32
Net cost to City of Quincy. 21,731 42
429
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The Home Making School
The average membership of the Home Making School increased 14.3% from 50.2 for the school year 1929-30 to 57.4 for the school year 1930-31. In February, 1931, there were sixty-three girls enrolled in the school, which is all it will comfortably hold.
In spite of the increased enrollment the total cost of maintaining the school was but $14,840.30, a decrease of $227.85 over the cost of the previous year. The total cost was decreased by the fol- lowing amounts received by the city treasurer:
Tuition for non-residents
$805 00
Cash for work done
1,131 66
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
5,642 55
Aid from the Federal Government.
1,270 75
Miscellaneous receipts
25 90
Total receipts
$8,875 86
Net cost to City of Quincy.
5,964 44
Net cost per pupil to City of Quincy 103 91
The net cost per pupil shows a decrease of $17.96 from that for 1929-30.
The decrease in the cost of running the school was due to a decrease in the amount paid for salaries because two new teachers took the place of older teachers, one of whom was at maximum salary, and also the fact that a smaller amount was expended for new equipment. The net cost was further reduced by an increase in tuition, the school having seven non-resident pupils during the year.
There was but one change in the faculty-Miss Alice Atkins succeeding Mrs. Bethel B. Ross, who was transferred to the North Quincy High School.
The steady increase in the enrollment of the school indicates that the adolescent girl and her parents are gradually appreciating what the school has to offer and that the school and its teachers are fulfilling a need. For the last two years the school has been at capacity enrollment most of the time. Without increased facili- ties the school cannot continue to grow.
The Continuation School
As was predicted in the school report for last year, the Contin- uation School showed a further loss. The facts are given below:
Enrollment
1926- '27
1927- '28
1928- '29
1929- '30
1930- '31
Boys
84
95
82
72
15
Girls.
56
62
65
54
47
Totals
140
157
147
126
92
Hours of Service
8,988
11,860
7,996
7,148
6,132
The decrease in the number of boys is particularly great, which makes difficult an economical administration of the school. It is possible to obtain capable part-time women teachers for the girls
430
CITY OF QUINCY
and to relate the school work to the day employment. It is prac- tically impossible to obtain a satisfactory part-time man teacher and impossible to relate the school work to the day employment, as the boys are engaged in almost as many different branches of industry as there are boys.
Mr. Clark, the Director, has done some very valuable follow-up work with the boys. but there are not enough boys now enrolled to warrant his full-time employment in the Continuation School.
Although it cost $3,584.17 to maintain the Continuation School, this was greatly reduced as follows:
Tuition fees for non-residents
$72 60
Cash for work done
23 10
Aid from the State of Massachusetts.
1,593 89
Aid from the Federal Government
281 74
Total receipts
$1,971 33
Net cost to City of Quincy
1,612 84
Evening Industrial School for Men
Although the total number of men served by the Evening Trade Extension Classes increased in 1930-31, the number of different classes reached the lowest point in years, as shown by the table below:
1926- '27
1927- '28
1928- '29
1929- '30
1930- '31
Shop
Mathematics for
Electricians
13
....
...
....
....
Automobile Mechanics.
26
20
20
....
....
Electrical Wiring
31
....
....
....
....
Machine Shop Practice.
19
12
26
18
15
Shop Mathematics
41
27
43
..
....
Plumbing
46
35
33
20
....
Roof Framing
10
..
22
....
....
Sheet Metal Drafting
33
20
23
19
27
Ship Blue Print Reading ...
63
32
44
53
156
Totals
282
146
211
110
198
The Ship Blue Print Reading class was the only one to complete the twenty weeks' work-the other two were closed before that time because of poor attendance.
The enrollment in the fall of 1931 showed an increase and classes were open in Auto Mechanics, Electrical Wiring, Machine Shop Practice, Plumbing, Sheet Metal Drafting, and Ship Blue Print Reading. The class in Auto Mechanics proved unsuccessful, but all the others were in operation when evening school closed for the Christmas holidays.
For the school year ending in August, 1931, $1,284.09 were ex- pended for the Evening Industrial School for Men, a decrease of $98.05, due to fewer classes. The total cost was reduced as fol- lows:
Machine
Drawing and
431
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Tuition fees for non-residents
$48 00
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
588 41
Aid from the Federal Government
59 27
Total receipts
$695 68
Net cost to City of Quincy
588 41
Evening Home Making School for Women
The number of women reached, the type of work done, with a comparison for the past five years, is shown in the table below:
1926- '27
1927- '28
1928- '29
1929- '30
1930- '31
Millinery
112
48
....
....
....
Foods
105
120
153
150
87
Clothing
726
751
719
522
538
Home Nursing
16
17
37
30
94
Home Decoration
....
....
42
100
126
Totals
959
936
951
802
845
Wherever possible the teachers have stressed thrift in the classes. Renovation was again emphasized in the Clothing classes -out-of-style or outgrown garments were remodeled or made over. In the Foods classes the "Left Overs" unit proved very valuable. Miss Perry reports the following interesting remark, "Now that I know how to use 'left overs,' I will not throw them away."
The enrollment in Home Nursing showed a gratifying increase.
To carry on the above work the city expended $7,890.88, a de- crease of $320.05 over the previous year in spite of a greater enrollment. The total cost to the city was reduced as follows:
Tuition fees for non-resident pupils.
$97 95
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 3,493 43
Aid from the Federal Government.
759 96
Total receipts
$4,351 34
Net cost to City of Quincy 3,539 54
As a result of the expenditures above, most of which were to pay salaries of teachers and custodians, the pupils converted raw ma- terial worth $5,722.97 into finished products worth $17,957.19, be- sides acquiring additional skills and increased knowledge which will be of great value in the economical management of the home.
Americanization Work
During the school year 1930-31 the city expended $5,236.46 for Americanization classes. The State reimbursed the city to the extent of $2,421.50, bringing the net cost to $2,814.96, an increase of $68.29 over the cost for 1929-30. For the money spent the city educated 605 people, of which number 37 were illiterate minors. The department, consisting of nineteen teachers and the Director, Miss Perry, cared for 130 more pupils than the previous year.
432
CITY OF QUINCY
Twenty-two different nationalities were found among the six hundred and five pupils. It is an interesting fact that two hundred and sixty-nine pupils were over thirty-five years of age, which speaks well for the ambitions of the pupils and the teaching skill of the teachers. Every teacher of the above classes is a trained teacher holding a State certificate in Americanization. In the words of Miss Perry, "They have done a fine piece of work."
The co-operation of various organizations has been continued; the spirit of friendliness and helpfulness is much appreciated.
The citizens of Quincy had an opportunity to see some phases of Americanization work at the Americanization Night of the Quincy Federation of Women's Organizations. . At that time a Beginner, an Intermediate and a Citizenship Class were taught lessons by their teachers in a typical schoolroom set up on the stage.
The Evening Academic School
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1931, $4,168.84 were expended for Evening Academic classes, Evening Gymnasium classes and supervision of evening basketball games, which was an increase of $452.60 over the expenditure for 1930. The in- creased cost again represents increased service.
With the closing of the Evening Academic school in March, 1930, there were in active membership 125 pupils with eight teachers. School closed in March, 1931, with 146 pupils in active membership and eleven teachers. In the fall of 1931. 744 enrolled for academic work contrasted with 593 in 1930. The students were so distrib- uted, however, that it was only necessary to have one more teacher than in the fall of 1930.
The table below shows the fall enrollment for the past five years:
Subjects
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
Office Practice
....
....
....
12
24
Advanced Bookkeeping
...
....
20
17
18
35
Elementary Bookkeeping.
79
47
65
50
44
Business Arithmetic
119
69
102
112
95
Business English
191
109
146
187
209
Penmanship
89
44
80
....
....
Elementary Stenography.
142
103
174
70
67
Intermediate Stenography
...
18
17
35
20
Advanced Stenography
32
36
39
48
61
Elementary Typewriting ...
194
142
226
139
189
Advanced Typewriting
36
37
41
48
56
Mechanical Drawing
69
42
76
128
98
Grammar School Subjects
21
8
36
31
Algebra
35
....
50
63
72
..
17
35
27
Intermediate Typewriting
In 1930 the requirements for studying Elementary Stenography were increased with the definite idea of decreasing the number enrolling but increasing the quality of the pupils. The enrollment figures seem to justify the change, for in spite of a greatly de- creased enrollment in Elementary Stenography in 1930, there was no decrease in the number enrolled in the Advanced Stenography class in the fall of 1931.
433
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The Evening Academic classes for several years have been held three nights per week for two hours each night. The following table shows some interesting figures for the past four school years:
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
Total Enrollment
435
347
486
593
Average Membership
208.9
180.8
229.3
281.3
Average Attendance ..
163.5
134.8
170.2
205
Per Cent of Attend-
ance
78.2
74.5
74.2
72.8
It is evident from the figures that over half of those enrolled lose interest or find three nights per week of evening school at- tendance too strenuous. A study of the attendance figures for seven years shows in all years a very good attendance on Monday evenings, falling off on Tuesday, with a very poor attendance on Thursday. In the fall the evening school students were asked to express their preference, and a large majority expressed prefer- . ence for but two nights per week-two-thirds of those preferring two nights per week desired the session be extended to two and one-half hours.
In view of the above facts it would seem wise to conduct the Evening Academic classes next fall on two nights per week, start- ing with the longer session and changing back to a two-hour ses- sion if the students find the longer session too fatiguing.
The evening gynasium classes are still popular. In the fall, 316 women were enrolled in six classes, one more than last year, and 121 men in three classes.
The Academic Summer School
The following table gives the important facts for the past ive years:
Grades
Number
Principals
Total
Enrollment
Average
Membership
Per Cent of
Attendance
Total
Cost
Cost per Pupil
VB-VIII A
1927*
29
423
394.46
98.48
$2.336 71
$5 92
IV-VII
1928
21
552
504.89
96.88
2,860 26
5 67
IV-VI
1929
16
348
311.01
86.53
2.256 09
7 25
IV-VI
1930
16
380
345.69
96.81
2,221 82
6 42
IV-VI
1931
16
356
342.05
97.74
2.244 00
6 56
*Summer School maintained for but 5 weeks.
In many ways the work for the past summer was very success- ful. Although it was a hot summer the average membership and the per cent of attendance were high, which made it possible to do good constructive work.
Sixty-nine pupils enrolled to try and gain lost promotions: 56, or 81.2%, were successful, 5, or 7.2%, left before the end of sum- mer school, and 8, or 11.6% failed. Two hundred eighty-seven
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