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 1932 > Part 25
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The Home Making School
Even with the largest enrollment in the history of the school the total cost of maintaining the school was reduced from $14,840.30 to $14,283.87, a decrease of $556.43. This total cost was further reduced as follows:
Tuition for non-residents $680 00
Cash for work done
1,003 59
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
5,725 16
Aid from the Federal Government 1,084 93
Miscellaneous receipts
2 79
Total receipts $8,496 47
Net cost to City of Quincy 5,787 40
The average membership for the school year 1931-1932 increased 10 per cent to 63.1. This increase in membership with a decrease in costs reduced the net per capita cost $12.19 to $91.72.
There was one change in the faculty-Miss E. Louise Woods succeeding Miss Eunice Eldridge, who resigned to marry. Miss Woods, a graduate of the Normal Art School, was head of the alteration department at Conrad's in Boston and should be a great help in getting girls ready to take positions in the trade.
The individual needs of the girls have been more carefully studied with needed changes being made in the courses of study. In several cases girls have been placed on a special schedule con- sisting almost wholly of laboratory work in Food and Clothing. Such a schedule does not lead to a diploma, but does fit the girl to better take her place in the home and community.
Several girls have returned for a third year to the Home Making School to specialize in either Food or Clothing, preferring the training received here to that which might have been obtained at the Boston Trade School for Girls. If some of these girls had gone to the Boston Trade School, Quincy would have been obliged to pay for their tuition.
The Continuation School
The Continuation School is now maintained only as a part-time affair with the Director, Mr. Dana B. Clark, devoting but one day per week to it. The remainder of Mr. Clark's time is spent with the Senior High School. The services of different women for an average of one-half day per week completes the personnel staff of the school.
The comparative enrollment facts are given below:
Enrollment
1927- 28
1928- 29
1929- 30
1930- 31
1931- 32
Boys
95
82
72
45
29
Girls
62
65
54
47
42
Totals
157
147
126
92
71
Hours of Service
11,860
7,996
7.148
6,132
4,056
366
CITY OF QUINCY
Placing the school wholly on a part-time basis and using the shops of the Senior High School or Home Making School in the lat- ter part of the afternoon after the day pupils are through, released a room for use by the Senior High School pupils last February at a time when it was greatly needed.
Going on to a part-time schedule in January reduced the Con- tinuation School cost from $3,584.17 to $2,409.54. This cost was also reduced as follows:
Tuition for non-residents
$22 40
Cash for work done
23 38
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
1,053 68
Aid from the Federal Government
256 41
Total receipts
$1,355 87
Net cost to City of Quincy
1,053 67
The cost during the latter part of the year was $21 per week with more than half of that being refunded by the State and Fed- eral government. The net cost for a year would be about $400. For such an investment the school department can keep in touch with the working boy and girl between 14 and 16 years of age and give much-needed educational and vocational guidance. The Con- tinuation School helps the pupils with problems growing out of the work, gives valuable lessons in citizenship and health and keeps the young workers in touch with education so that if they lose their jobs it is much easier to replace them in the regular school.
Evening Industrial School for Men
Peculiar as it may seem, the Evening Industrial Classes are poorly attended during periods of economic depression and much better attended when industrial plants are busy.
The Evening Industrial Classes are only open to men who have been actively at work in the trade taught. Apparently the man out of work loses faith in the trade he knows and seeks to improve himself in other ways. The attendance record of the Evening Academic Classes showed a great increase this fall while the Eve- ning Industrial Classes showed a very great decrease.
The following table shows the classes opened and the enrollment for the past five years:
1927- 28
1928- 29
1929- 30
1930- 31
1931- 32
Automobile Mechanics
20
20
....
....
18
Electrical Wiring
....
....
....
....
18
Machine Drawing and Shop Mathematics
27
43
....
....
Machine Shop Practice
12
26
18
15
18
Plumbing
35
33
20
15
Roof Framing
....
...
....
....
Sheet Metal Drafting
20
23
19
27
52
Ship Blue Print Reading
32
44
53
156
113
Totals
146
211
110
198
234
....
22
367
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Although six classes were opened, the class in automobile me- chanics was closed after eight meetings for lack of sufficient num- bers. The plumbing class was maintained for twelve weeks, the electrical and machine shop classes for sixteen weeks, while the sheet metal and ship blue print reading classes ran for the full term of twenty weeks. Many of the men in the classes are em- ployees of the Fore River Ship Yard. The class in ship blue print reading has been held at the Fore River Ship Yard from 4 to 6 P. M. This fall, because of the relatively small number employed at Fore River, the ship blue print reading class was not opened and only two classes, sheet metal and auto mechanics, had suffi- cient number to warrant holding classes at the school. The sheet metal class was closed before Christmas.
For the year ending August, 1932, $1,496.44 was expended for Evening Industrial Classes for Men. The total cost was reduced by the following:
Tuition for non-residents
$78 00
Aid from the State of Massachusetts
681 96
Aid from the Federal Government
55 02
Total receipts
$814 98
Net cost to City of Quincy
681 46
Evening Home Making School for Women
The following table gives the scope of the work done with a com- parison with other years:
1927- 28
1928- 29
1929- 30
1930- 31
1931- 32
Clothing
751
719
522
538
544
Foods
120
153
150
87
150
Home Decoration
42
100
126
166
Home Nursing
17
37
30
94
61
Millinery
48
....
....
....
....
Totals
936
951
802
845
921
In spite of an increased enrollment, the total cost was decreased $101.69 to $7,789.19. The total cost to Quincy was reduced as fol- lows:
Tuition for non-residents
$351 50
Aid from State of Massachusetts
3,390 75
Aid from Federal Government
635 27
Total receipts
$4,377 52
Net cost to City of Quincy 3,411 67
Not only was economy practised in maintaining classes but it was the keynote in all class work:
in Clothing the teacher stressed the renovating of outgrown and old-fashioned garments;
in Foods classes the pupils were taught how to use "left-overs" and the cheaper cuts of meat;
368
CITY OF QUINCY
in Home Decoration classes discarded boxes and furniture were made useful and ornamental with a little paint and varnish and old silk stockings and slips were made into lamp shades and beau- tiful rugs.
The purpose of the classes is well expressed in the words of the Director, Miss Perry:
"Our aim was to help the homemaker to be more practical and efficient, thereby reducing the family budget-which tends to make a happier and more satisfied family."
That the above aim was largely fulfilled may be shown by the following figures: The pupils in the classes furnished raw material consisting of cloth, thread, cooking materials of all kinds, paint, varnish, etc., to the value of $5,959.18 (the School Department furnishes absolutely no material of any kind for these classes) and by work and skill changed the raw materials into finished products worth $19,168.85, a gain in wealth of $13,209.67. The gain is even greater than the figures indicate because the great underlying purpose of the classes is to lead the women to acquire permanently new knowledge and new skills so that they may continue to carry on in the home similar activities to those practised in class.
Americanization Work
For the school year 1931-1932, the city expended $4,683.02 edu- cating the adult alien in the use of the English language, customs, history and government of the United States and Quincy. The State of Massachusetts reimbursed the city $2,191.32, bringing the net cost to Quincy to $2,491.70, a decrease of $323.26 from the net cost of the previous year. A decrease in cost was made possible by a decrease in enrollment which was 60 less than the previous year. A total of 545 enrolled in the classes representing the fol- lowing nationalities:
Argentine 4 Italian 208
Armenian
1 Jewish 12
Austrian
3
Mexican
1
Canadian French 19
Norwegian 7
Danish
1
Polish (not Jewish)
1
English speaking countries 143
Finnish
60
Portuguese
6
French
1 Swedish
34
German
7
Syrian
17
Greek
3 Born in U. S. but lived for
many years abroad. 8
Of this number, 48 were unable to read or write in any language at the time of enrollment.
The diversity of nationalities and the size of some of the groups should cause food for much thought. If Quincy has such a diversity of foreign adults, what must it be in the larger manufacturing cities ? In some way these adult aliens will be assimilated. The state and towns can continue to help do it by providing expert teachers and classes in good environments or it may be left to the individual to seek his own source of information. It is well known that the communist element is ever present and ready to present its theories to whomever will listen. The state and city may relax its efforts but one may rest assured that the organized "Red" minority never will.
Quincy is very fortunate in the attitude of its citizens and organizations toward the adult alien. The cooperation and friend-
Russian (not Jewish) 9
369
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
liness of various organizations, particularly the club women, has been much appreciated by the department of Americanization.
The Evening Academic School
There has been a steady increase in the attendance at the Eve- ning Academic Classes as shown by the following table:
1927-28
1928-29
1929-30
1930-31
1931-32
Total Enrollment
435
347
486
593
650
Average Membership
208.9
180.8
229.3
281.3
368.59
Average Attendance ..
163.5
134.8
170.2
205
271.81
Per cent
of Attend-
ance
78.2
74.5
74.2
72.8
73.74
The above figures are for the evening school year October 1, 1931, to February 18, 1932. That the interest still continues is shown by the table below, which covers the enrollment this fall through the fiscal school year.
Subjects
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
Office Practice
....
12
24
28
Advanced Bookkeeping ....
20
17
18
35
43
Elementary Bookkeeping
47
65
50
44
68
Business Arithmetic
69
102
112
95
152
Business English
109
146
187
209
288
Penmanship
44
80
Elementary Stenography
103
174
70
67
89
Intermediate Stenography
18
17
35
20
32
Advanced Stenography ....
36
39
48
61
92
Elementary Typewriting
142
226
139
189
294
Intermediate Typewriting
17
35
27
Advanced Typewriting
37
41
48
56
116
Mechanical Drawing
42
76
128
98
69
Grammar School Subjects
21
8
36
31
55
Algebra
....
50
63
72
98
...
There was, this fall, an increased registration in every subject except Intermediate Typewriting and Mechanical Drawing, with a total registration of 854 as compared with 744 in the fall of 1931. Some did register for Intermediate Typewriting, but there were not typewriters enough to accommodate all who enrolled for Ele- mentary and Advanced Typewriting and they took other subjects rather than wait for a machine.
A study of the registration cards indicates that a large number of those enrolled are unemployed during the day. They are using some of their leisure time to make themselves more worthy of a job. The evening school teachers are unanimous in commending the interest and attention of the evening school student. Dis- order in evening school classrooms is almost unknown.
Although the membership in the Evening Academic Classes has increased, the cost decreased from $4,168.84 spent during the fiscal year 1931 to $3,232.11 expended during the fiscal year 1932, a de-
370
CITY OF QUINCY
crease of $936.73. This decrease in cost was brought about in two ways-by closing in February and not reopening in March after the day school February vacation, and this fall by reducing the number of evenings from three to two. In the past the Evening Academic Class met on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights. Beginning in October, 1932, the classes have been meeting on Tues- day and Thursday nights. This change was made as the result of much study and the facts gained by a questionnaire to students last year and it fitted in nicely with the need to economize.
Mentally Retarded Pupils
The availability of group mental test results in the first grade over a period of four years is making it possible to discover the mentally retarded pupil earlier in his school life. During the school year 1931-32, 119 children were referred to the State Clinics for expert diagnoses; 100 were examined by Dr. Patterson of the Wrentham Clinic, and the others either by the Quincy Child Guid- ance Clinic or the Quincy Habit Clinic.
The number of children three or more years mentally retarded was the same on October 1, 1932, as the previous school year-159. On that date, 147 mentally retarded children were being cared for in special classes; 9 were in adjustment classes in the junior high schools; 34 were in the "Opportunity Class" for older boys, housed in the portable building in the Central Junior High School yard; 16 were in the "Opportunity Class" for older girls, housed in the portable building in the Coddington School yard; and 88 were in six ungraded "Opportunity Classes." There is an "Opportunity Class" at each of the following buildings: Adams, Daniel Webster, Francis W. Parker, Lincoln, Thomas B. Pollard, and Willard.
In a few cases, children who are not yet three years mentally retarded, but who will be in a few years, are placed in "Oppor- tunity Classes" on the recommendation of one of the clinics, and children three years retarded are frequently left in the regular grade where the mental age of the child is correct for the grade and the child is not out of place socially. Great care is used in selecting children for "Opportunity Classes," placement being made only after the most careful diagnosis.
There are a few mentally retarded children in the Merrymount, Adams Shore, and Houghs Neck districts who cannot be placed in a class because the numbers do not justify forming a new class for those sections and there is no other class near enough to serve them.
371
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
MR. JAMES N. MUIR, Superintendent of Schools, Quincy, Mass. My dear Mr. Muir:
Herewith I submit to you my annual report as principal of the Senior High School. This year we have been confronted with the problem of larger numbers than last year, the enrollment being 2,283 pupils as compared with 2,258 last year. However, the expe- rience of the previous year seems to have taught us how to meet the situation at the start, and many of the former difficulties have not presented themselves this year. Of course, the school is badly overcrowded and there is great lack of comfort and convenience in carrying on the work, but a spirit of cheerfulness and cooperation on the part of both teachers and pupils has helped us to make light of conditions and apparently the school has suffered very little from the handicap.
Economic conditions brought a new problem to us this year. Formerly only a few graduates have asked to continue in the school, but lack of employment led many to think of postgraduate work either along lines they had already studied or new ones. This year there have been 64 graduates enrolled in the school. They are taking a variety of subjects and have been fitted into ex- isting classes so that they do not create any extra burden for the school. All the post graduates are doing creditable work, offer no discipline problem, and are really to be commended that they prefer to occupy their time profitably even under the exaction of school discipline rather than remain idle.
The Placement Department, established last year, has, of course, had little opportunity to function along its intended lines because of obvious conditions. We have continued to interview all gradu- ates and file information regarding them which is at hand for reference whenever needed. Employment for a few pupils has been obtained and those in charge of the department have con- tinued to keep the fact before prospective employers that we are ready and able to furnish young people well trained for service in office or factory.
At the opening of school in September, in connection with the new program in health education discussed in other reports, there was inaugurated an extensive program of intra-mural sports. During the fall large numbers of boys and girls were engaged in outdoor sports of all sorts under the guidance of capable instruc- tors. With the coming of cold weather, activities were trans- ferred to the gymnasium with an apparent increase of interest. Girls are present in crowds on the days when the gymnasium is assigned to them, but on boys' days there are literally hundreds of boys busy with chosen sports. The building resembles a beehive with the floor of the gymnasium covered with basketball games, the corners with wrestling matches, the corridors with track teams, and boxing groups using any available corner in the building. This is real sport under excellent conditions so far as instruction and guidance are concerned. The ultimate purpose of this program is not to have strong teams with which to compete with other schools, but to get the largest number possible of boys and girls into sports and games for the health and fun they will derive from them.
372
CITY OF QUINCY
Nevertheless, we might mention the fact that all of our competi- tive teams have given good account of themselves and that the standing of the school has suffered no loss in their hands.
Before the close of the last school year, careful study was made in the Junior High Schools of the pupils who were to enter the Senior High School and full reports were sent to the latter school, special attention being given to those pupils who might prove to be problems in any way. With this information at hand we were able to adjust these pupils to the new environment more quickly and more effectively and greatly lessen the likelihood of failing in their work. Teachers were assigned to the groups which seemed most likely to have difficulty in adjusting themselves and these teachers were to keep themselves informed constantly of the progress of the pupils in the various groups and to help and advise wherever possible. I am convinced that the preliminary study in the Junior High School and the use in this school of the information obtained has resulted in a lower rate of failure and a more complete adjust- ment to the life of this school. While the pupils were being studied in the Junior High School a considerable number was found who seemed to give promise of high intellectual purpose and ar- rangements were made to group these pupils together so that they might be stimulated to even greater effort than might be under ordinary conditions. It was our hope that among these pupils might be found some real scholars, and I am glad to state that apparently we have a group of convenient size who will be likely to remain together through the remainder of their school course and who will furnish a constant challenge to us all because of their intellectual interest and attainment.
At the graduation exercises in June the following awards were made:
Wollaston Woman's Club scholarships to Althea P. Sawyer and Janet E. Thompson.
Quincy Women's Club Scholarships to Ruth M. Davis, Helen E. Russell and Mary Jane Watson.
L'Eco Club Scholarship to Frank J. Chiminiello.
Jewish Scholarship Club of Quincy Scholarship to Isabelle Marentz.
The Quincy Women's Club prizes for the boy and girl, who in the opinion of the faculty and their class had contributed most to the school, to Richard N. Paulson and Althea P. Sawyer.
Mr. Wilson, our assistant principal, has made his usual study of loss of pupils for causes other than graduation and a brief sum -. mary of his study may give interesting information. During the last school year 238 pupils left the school without graduating and all but seven pupils have been definitely accounted for. The causes are as follows:
55 moved from city of whom 40 are probably still in school.
32 went to work.
31 personal illness.
30 needed at home.
37 failure in school work.
23 transferred to other schools.
7 withdrawn by parents.
16 miscellaneous reasons.
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Of these, 24 returned to school in September. This leaves a total of 151 pupils, or approximately 61/2 per cent of the enrollment who are apparently not continuing their education.
May I take this opportunity in closing of expressing to you and to the School Committee the appreciation of us all for your loyal support and helpful cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST L. COLLINS, Principal of the Senior High School.
374
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE DEAN OF GIRLS OF THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
MR. JAMES N. MUIR, Superintendent of Schools, Quincy, Mass. My dear Mr. Muir:
Following is my annual report for 1932:
The social program has been planned and supervised as hitherto. Members of the faculty have been asked to assist at the various affairs. These have included the February Senior reception, a Valentine party, an all-school Spring dance, the June Senior re- ception held at the Armory, a Hallowe'en party, and several mati- nee dances. The students have been cooperative and have con- ducted themselves in a very satisfactory manner.
The Girls' Club is fast becoming an important factor in school life. In addition to their regular programs, they have sponsored a number of projects for the benefit of the school and community. For example-early in the fall term they entertained all the girls who were new to the school system. At Thanksgiving they solicited contributions for the Family Welfare baskets. As a service to all the girls of the school, they obtained the Director of Placement of the Women's Educational and Industrial Union to speak in regard to vocational opportunities, and again engaged Miss Margaret Slat- tery for an assembly program. At the time of this writing they are cooperating with the Hi-Y boys in the collecting and repairing of toys to be distributed throughout the city at Christmas.
The Student Council has also been particularly active during the past year. The school Handbook was revised and a copy given to every incoming Sophomore. One of the recent projects was the introduction of "Parents' Nights." The purpose was to provide an opportunity for the parents to become better acquainted with the school and its offerings. A program was arranged for the Sopho- mores and later, one for the upperclassmen. Considerable interest was shown.
Vocational guidance is inseparable from educational guidance and is constantly being given in conferences with individual pupils.
As a means of providing specific vocational information, a series of programs was given last spring. Each week for several weeks, some one vocational field was featured-by bulletins, posters, library exhibits, discussions by outside speakers, and trips to vari- ous schools. There was considerable interest shown and unques- tionably the programs were worthwhile. However, the subject matter cannot be presented adequately in this way.
The curriculum guidance in the Senior High School was handled last spring by a number of teachers who were appointed to advise certain pupils in their choice of program. Special cases were re- ferred to the Principal and Dean.
In the Junior schools the Dean met all of the ninth grade girls for a discussion of their Senior High courses. Conferences were held with the ninth grade advisers in groups, and with individual pupils and advisers. Several additional days were spent at the North Quincy High School helping with the program.
A very definite attempt was made to interest the girls in the Home Economics curriculum. Recommendations were made whereby we might offer a training that would have vocational as well as cultural and practical value. There were enough incoming Sopho-
375
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
mores and upperclass failures to start two divisions last fall. A detailed report of the progress of these incoming girls has recently been submitted to you. It is hoped that another year a larger pro- portion of the girls will choose the Home Economics work.
Another recommendation relative to the Home Economics depart- ment which was carried out was the provision of a course in Home Management as an elective for Senior girls. The following outline gives some idea of the scope of the subject as treated: Introduc- tion: This Business of Homemaking; Unit 1. Getting Along with other people; 2. The Management of the Housekeeping Problem; 3. The Management of Finances in the Family; 4. The Child in the Home; 5. Our Health Problem; 6. Our Leisure Time; 7. The House We Live in. At present 117 girls are taking the course with Miss Lewis. Their enthusiasm is most gratifying.
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