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 1935 > Part 29
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The demand for trade training is still increasing. The average mem- bership of the school for the school year was 222.20 an increase of 6% and would have been larger had there been room to accommodate all who desired to come. Every department in the school was filled to capacity by October 1, 1935 and over sixty boys were on the waiting list.
The average membership was about 230 during most of the school year but dropped much below that figure in May and June because prospective graduates were obtaining jobs and were allowed to leave school whenever they entered the trade for which they had trained. The ten boys from the automotive department who received diplomas June 21 were all working at the trade before the close of the school. The table below shows the enrollment and growth for the past five years.
1930-31
1931-32
1932-33
1933-34
1934-35
Enr. Av. Enr. Av. Mem. Mem.
Enr. Av. Enr. Av. Enr. Av. Mem. Mem.
Mem.
Auto Mechanics
37
30.85
54 42.79
55
47.73 75
53.43
85
58.88
Electrical
37
32.64
37
31.12
34
31.30
41
32.92
47
35.42
Machine
38
24.95
16
12.96
22
16.49
22
15.56
21
18.40
Machine (Co-op- erative)
5
1
2
1
2
1.
2
1
.10
Plumbing
29
23.76
31
24.28
38
25.79
43
1, 34.69
52
34.14
Sheet Metal
18
16.67
21
15.38
19
14.32
23
16.78
25
18.42
Woodworking
56
40.99
53
36.57
60
48.03
68
54.62
68
56.84
Total Enrollment
220
214
230
274
299
Total Average Membership
170.86
164.10
184.66
209.00
222.20
There is room to expand the machine department and the sheet metal department - within a few years this will probably be done. Information from many sources shows that there is a shortage now of good mechanics. As industry approaches normal conditions the short- age will be acute; trade trained young men will be in greater demand than ever which will greatly increase the number of boys applying for training at the Quincy Trade School. By next fall we may have enough applicants to justify placing another teacher in the machine depart- ment.
437
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The Boston Gear Works has for many years recognized the value of the training given at the Trade School. At their request a co-operative machine department was organized in 1929 in which related machine work was taught to Boston Gear Works apprentices. Due to the de- pression the cooperative department was always small and was discon- tinued in December 1934. At that time the Boston Gear Works agreed to employ as apprentices only those young nien who had demonstrated that they had mechanical ability as shown by their work at the Quincy Trade School or some similar school which offered trade training. In the spring of 1935, the Boston Gear Works hired several of our grad- uates as apprentices which resulted in an unusually large application list for machine training in the fall of 1935.
In spite of an increased membership the total cost of running the school was reduced by $3,797.15 to $42,638.14. Most of the saving was made by having the Assistant Superintendent of Schools act as Director of the Trade School, thus saving the salary of Mr. Barrows who retired on a pension in June, 1934. Further savings were made in the purchase of supplies and equipment. The savings in the latter way are only apparent, not real, because eventually repairs must be made, worn out equipment replaced and new equipment purchased to meet modern changes. The total cost was also reduced as follows:
Tuition for non-residents $13,460.74
Cash for products made in the school 822.54
Aid from the Federal Government 3,045.20
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 12,219.52
Miscellaneous receipts 67.89
Total Receipts Net Cost to the City of Quincy 13,022.25
$29,615.89
It actually cost the city, therefore, less than one third of the $42,638 .- 14 expended and reduced the net per capita cost to $58.60. The Trade School students also save the School Department considerable money by the repairs which they do in the school buildings as part of their training. The cost of running the Trade School has been reduced about $10,000 since 1929; of this $4,300 has been saved through salary re- ductions or eliminations, over $5,000 has been taken away from the amounts allowed for supplies, maintenance and new equipment. I feel that I must repeat the words I used last year, "The reduction in cost cannot continue without great loss to the Trade School student."
438
CITY OF QUINCY
The Continuation School
The girls attending the Continuation classes received the same train- ing as in past years and conditions were so nearly identical with those of 1933-34 that last year's report is also the report for 1934-35. The total enrollment for the past ten years is shown below:
1925 1926 1926 1927
1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935
Boys
67
84
95
82
72
45
29
13
Girls
26
56
62
65
54
47
42
32
24
25
Total
93
140
157
147
126
92
71
45
24
25
Hours of Service
11860 7996 7148 6132 4056 2208 1524 1560
If we were not living in such rapidly changing times we would be inclined to question the further maintenance of this school. The N.R. A. codes practically removed the 14-16 year boy from industry but now that the N.R.A. codes have been declared unconstitutional no one can foretell what 1935-36 will bring forth. Already a few working certificates have been issued to 14-16 year old boys but not in suffi- cient number to warrant opening a Continuation class for boys.
At the present writing there is also a bill before the Legislature to raise the age which boys and girls may leave school and go to work and raising compulsory Continuation School attendance from four hours per week to a full day of attendance.
Faced with a variety of changing conditions of employment it seems wise to continue the organization which we now have which costs the city relatively little as the figures below indicate.
Total cost of Continuation School
$933.67
Aid from the Federal Government $ 77.10
Aid from the State of Massachusetts 427.72
Miscellaneous receipts
1,14
Total receipts
505.96
Net Cost to the City of Quincy $427.71
Evening Classes
After an interval of two years, evening classes for adults were re- sumed in February, 1935.
In 1932, $16,950 was appropriated by the School Committtee and City Council for Evening School Classes and Americanization Work, but in 1935, only $4,700 was appropriated for similar purposes.
Classes were opened in February on a reduced scale and continued for ten weeks, two evenings per week. To conserve heat, light, and janitor service, classes were opened only in the Quincy High School. No attempt was made to reopen gymnasium classes, trade classes for men, or practical arts classes for women because of the expense in- volved.
439
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
During the ten weeks the enrollment was as follows:
Mechanical Drawing
112
Elementary Typewriting 306
Intermediate Typewriting 87
Advanced Typewriting
106
Elementary Stenography
185
Advanced Stenography
138
Business English 342
Business Arithmetic
233
Grammar School English and Arithmetic 53
Americanization Classes 138
Owing to the large enrollment it was necessary to have a waiting list, particularly in the typewriting classes as there were not sufficient typewriters to accommodate all who desired to take the subject.
In all, 1101 different pupils enrolled, the average membership was 641.5 and the per cent of attendance for the ten weeks was 79.12-a very good figure for evening school attendance.
Comparing the average membership with the total enrollment it be- comes clear that a large number of pupils dropped out within a short time. It was very evident that many young people between sixteen and twenty-one years of age were simply making evening school at- tendance an excuse to get out of the house in the evening. To offset the difficulty, postal cards were sent to the parents of all pupils under twenty-one years of age who had been absent two consecutive evenings and within a few weeks the attendance became much better stabilized.
Evening classes were reopened for a ten week period beginning Octo- ber 7, 1935, covering the same subjects as were taught the previous . spring.
The total fall enrollment was 878 and the average membership until the Christmas vacation was 613.8. The Americanization classes varied very little from the spring enrollment. The shrinkage between the fall and spring enrollment came in the regular business courses. Compar- ing the fall enrollment in the business classes with that of other years indicates that the fall enrollment is more comparable with that of other years which indicates that last spring's enrollment was made up of many who came out of curiosity. Next fall I believe we will be able to add some new courses and still keep within the budget.
The Americanization classes have enrolled only about one quarter of the number that used to be enrolled when the classes were held at the South and Quincy Point Junior High Schools. Great effort is be- ing made to interest the adult alien in the evening classes and to in- crease attendance but it is difficult to get many of them, particularly women, to venture very far away from their homes.
It is most important that the adult alien be educated along proper lines and by those with right motives. If educated in schools under public control we know what is being taught. Apparently a large num- ber of aliens are obtaining their education in American ways from sources outside the school. Next fall, if it is financially possible to hold the Americanization classes in centers nearer the homes of the pupils. is should be done.
440
CITY OF QUINCY
Mentally Retarded Pupils and Special Classes
During the school year one hundred and ninety-eight new pupils were referred to various clinics for examination and nineteen children pre- viously tested in clinics were re-examined. Thirty-two pupils were found to be normal mentally, sixty-eight were reported as dull normal, eighty-five children were diagnosed as definitely mentally retarded and in twenty-one cases the study has not been completed. Most of the incompleted cases were from the Habit or Guidance Clinics where the parent was unable or refused to bring the child back to the Clinic. Eight children were recommended by the clinics for institutional care and in three cases the children have been enrolled in an institution.
There are some teachers and parents who still object to sending children to a clinic for study as they feel that it somehow places a stigma on the child. These people should note that the clinics found less than half of the children mentally retarded and nearly one third of them as normal. In other words the clinics really protect many chil- dren against wrong judgments of teachers and others.
Quincy is very fortunate in having the services of several excellent clinics that study the mentality of children. The Wrentham Travelling Clinic from the Wrentham State School for Feebleminded gives Quincy four days per week from eight to twelve weeks in May, June and Sep- tember of each year. This clinic examines most of the children sus- pected of being definitely retarded but not behavior problems.
The Habit Clinic from the State Department of Mental Hygiene which comes to Quincy every Thursday afternoon meets in Woodward Institute and devotes itself to children under eleven years of age who do not seem to be adjusting to living conditions as they should. This clinic has been obliged to have an additional psychiatrist in order to meet the many demands made upon it.
The Guidance Clinic from the Medfield State Hospital meets Thurs- day afternoons in the Coddington School and devotes itself to poorly adjusted children over eleven years of age. The same personnel handles all juvenile court cases referred to it by the juvenile court but handles such cases on Tuesday afternoons at the Court House.
All the above clinics give great aid to the school department in diag- nosing cases and recommending treatment. In addition to the services of the clinics mentioned above, use is made of the Out-Patient Dept. of the Wrentham State School, Out-Patient Dept. of the Walter E. Fernald State School, Out-Patient Dept. of the Boston Psychopathic Hospital and the Nerve Clinic of the Mass. General Hospital.
Quincy is also unusually fortunate in the character of its Juvenile Court which is really a clinic rather than a court, seeking to solve cases of juvenile maladjustment.
With so many aids at its service the teachers and principals of Quin- cy have become more and more adept in identifying poorly adjusted children and selecting with wisdom those children who should be taught in special classes.
On December 20, 1935 there were two hundred and fifty-eight chil- dren in the public schools, known by individual examinations to be de- finitely mentally retarded. This number represents 1.7% of the total school membership, which is a large increase over the number definitely identified in previous years. Due to the depression, many of those pupils who in the past would have left school as soon as they became sixteen, are now remaining longer in school. Because their difficulties have been recognized early the work has been adapted to their ability so that many more retarded pupils remain in school longer without dis- couragement.
4
441
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
On December 20, 1935, one hundred and sixty-nine pupils mentally retarded were being taught in special classes as follows:
Adjustment classes in junior high schools 17
Opportunity class for older boys 33
Opportunity class for older girls 17
Ungraded opportunity classes (six in number) 102
Many children three or more years mentally retarded are able to re- main in the grades and go on into the junior and sometimes the senior high school, provided they go along at a slower pace. This means that they will be one, two or more years older than the average age for the grade in which they find themselves. Many times these children de- velop excellent work habits, fine attitudes and high ideals which fit them for a successful, happy, adult life.
Respectfully submitted, ALBERT H. COCHRANE,
Assistant Superintendent of Schools.
442
CITY OF QUINCY
Appendix A
STATISTICAL DATA 1. Financial Statement for the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1935
I. Regular and State-Aided Schools
Appropriated by City Council $1,214,606.50
Special appropriation for deficit bills for 1934 466.09
Less transfer to Health Department, December 30, 1935 $1,215,072.59
4,300.00
Total available (exclusive of Federal Funds)
$1,210,772.59
Expended, Regular and State-Aided Schools (exclusive of Federal Funds) 1,208,863.70
Balance unexpended
$ 1,908.89
Itemized Expenditures
Instruction
$977,874.59
Instruction Deficit bills of 1934
349.32
General Control
19,822.67
Coordinate and Auxiliary Agencies
24,541.30
Travel Outside State
69.59
Operation of Plant
112,190.47
Maintenance
18,386.92
Maintenance Deficit bills of 1934
104.62
Maintenance-New Equipment
3,772.17
Miscellaneous
1,597.69
Miscellaneous Deficit bills of 1934
12.15
Evening School
2,730.55
Total for regular schools
$1,161,452.04
Trade School
$ 43,850.41
Smith-Hughes Fund
1,699.46
Co-operative School
Smith-Hughes Fund (included in Trade School)
Continuation School
856.57
Smith-Hughes Fund
77.10
Out of City Industrial
976.77
Americanization
1,727.91
Total for State-Aided Schools
$ 49,188.22
Less Smith-Hughes Fund
1,776.56
47,411.66
Total expenditure (exclusive of Federal
Funds)
$1,208,863.70
443
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
II. Statement of Federal Government Funds
Smith-Hughes Fund
Balance from 1934-Trade School
$1,699.46
Continuation 77.10
$1,776.56
Received, 1935 - Trade School
$2,065.76
Continuation 179.15
2,244.91
Total available
$4,021.47
Expended
1,776.56
Balance unexpended
$2,244.91
George-Ellzey Fund
Received, 1935-Trade School $ 979.44
2. Money Received Into The City Treasury as Result of School Department Operation
Tuition :
City of Boston Wards $ 194.60
State Wards
2,894.54
Girls' Parole Branch (State Wards)
89.68
Non-resident pupils :
Quincy High School
89.00
North Quincy High School
261.04
Wollaston School
7.00
Evening School
4.50
Trade School
13,208.26
$16,748.62
State Reimbursements:
Trade School
$15,502.34
Co-operative School
31.27
Continuation School (Home School Expendi- ture)
517.41
Continuation, Trade School and Household Arts (Cities and Towns)
791.04
Smith-Hughes Fund (Federal Government) 2,244.91
George-Ellzey Fund (Federal Government) 979.44
General School Fund Statement 97,777.83
Americanization 580.77
118,425.01
Miscellaneous Receipts :
Hall and Gymnasium rentals $ 1,521.50
Miscellaneous (lost books, sale of material, telephone, etc.) 433.07
Trade School (sale of material, etc.) 907.43
Continuation School (sale of material, etc.) 1.14
2,863.14
Total Receipts
$138,036.77
444
CITY OF QUINCY
3. Itemized Cost Per Pupil for Support of Public Schools (Day, Evening. Summer) for the School Year Ending With June, 1935
(Based on the Average Membership of the Schools)
Items
Aver. per Capita Ex- penditure for Quincy
Aver. per Capita Ex- penditure for 38 Other Cities
Aver. per Capita Ex- penditure for the State
Instruction (Salaries)
$63.05
$68.70
$63.99
General Control
1.65
3.25
3.32
Text-books
.88
1.14
ยท 1.25
Other Expenses of Instruction
2.12
2.49
2.45
Operation
7.42
10.06
10.04
Repairs, etc.
1.29
4.05
3.45
Libraries
.88
.08
11
Health
.68
1.48
1.45
Transportation
.59
.56
2.51
Tuition
.06
.13
.99
Miscellaneous
.15
.62
.67
Total for Support including or- dinary renairs
$78.77
$92.56
$90.23
Outlay, New Buildings, etc.
.43
3.63
3.50
Total for Support and Outlay.
$79.20
$96.19
$93.73
445
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
4. General Statistics, December, 1935
Population of the City (U.S. Census of 1930)
72,000
Number of school buildings: Quincy High1, 1; North Quincy
High2, 1; Junior High, 3; Elementary, 19; Home Mak- ing3, 1; total
251.2,3
Teachers in Quincy High School: men. 21; women, 47; total
68
Teachers in North Quincy High School: men, 22; women, 53; total Teachers in Junior High Schools: men, 21; women, 73; total
94
215
Teachers in Elementary Schools: men, 1; women 214; total Principals: Quincy High School, men, 1; (asst. principal), 1; North Quincy High School. men, 1; (asst. principal), 1; Junior High Schools, men, 3; Elementary Schools, men, 94; women, 2; total
184
Supervisors: grammar grade work. 1; music, 3; drawing, 2; physical training, 1; Americanization, 1; total
8
Special teachers: librarians, 5; instrumental music, 1 (part time); special class teachers, 9; teacher of physically handicapped children, 1; total
16
Continuation School teachers: men (director), 1; women, 2 part time) ; total
3
Trade School teachers: men, director, 1; teachers, 13; total Evening School teachers: men, 55; women. 12; total
14 175 46
Americanization teachers: women, 46; total
Total number of different teachers
529
General Control:
Superintendent, 1; Asst. Superintendent, 17; Director of Guidance and Research, 18; Secretary to Superintendent, 1; Bookkeeper, 1; Clerks, 2; total
77.8
Clerks: Quincy High School, 2; North Quincy High School, 2; Junior High Schools, 3; Trade School, 1; total 8 Coordinate and Auxiliary Agencies:
Supervisor of Attendance, 1; Physician, 1; Nurses, 3; Home Visitors (part time), 29; total 79
Custodians and Janitorial Service :
Chief Custodian. 1; Engineer. 1; Custodians, 22; Asst. Janitors, 7; Cleaners, 10; total 41
Total number of different persons employed by the School Department 589
1Continuation and Trade Schools located in Quincy High School Build- ing.
2Six-Year High School.
3Offices of Supervisors now located in Home Making Building.
4One also included in Junior High Schools.
5One teaches also in Quincy High School.
6One teaches also in Junior High School.
7 Asst. Superintendent is also Director of Trade School.
8Leave of absence for one year.
9One is Director of Continuation School; one is Supervisor of Ameri- canization.
75
5. Brief Description of School Property, Also the Value of Schoolhouses and Lots, etc., January 1, 1936
BUILDINGS
Date of
Occupation
Wood or Brick
No. of Stories
Condition
Heating Apparatus
Assembly Halls
Number of
Schoolrooms
Assessed Value
Assessed Value
of Building
Value of
Furniture
Total
Sq. Ft. in Lot
Quincy High (Academic) 1,2 (Trade) 1,3
1924
B
3
Good
Steam
1 41
$122,000 $875,000 $108,897 $1,105,897 $146,279
(Continuation) 3
1907
B
3
Fair
Steam Hot Air
1 25
45,500
230,500
20,198
296,198
85,348
North Quincy High1,2,4
1927
B
3
Good
Steam
1 39
45,700
665,000
47,985
758,685
188,062
South Junior High1
1927
B
3
Good
Steam
1
26
22,000
535,000
43,706
600,706
193,917
Quincy Pnt. Junior High1,5
1928
B
2
Good
Steam
18
Adams6
1913
B
2
Good
Steam
1
16
14,000
180,000
6,450
200,450
137.300
Adams Shore
1929
B
2
Good
Steam
10
6,500
145,000
7,980
159,480
50,373
Atherton Hough?
1911
B
2
Good
Steam
1
17
15,000
210,000
14,809
239,809
77,040
Coddington8 Portable
1909
B
3
Good
Steam
1
13
108,000
115,000
5,500
228,500
56,785
Cranch
1900
B
2
Good
Steam
9
15,000
61,000
2,000
78,000
62,628
Daniel Webster
1917
B
2
Good
Steam
1
16
18,300
374,000
7,098
399,398
126,388
Francis W. Parker
1917
B
2
Good
Steam
1
16
25,000
260,000
6,900
291,900
80,893
Gridley Bryant9
1896
B
2
Good
Steam
13
5,500
118,000
5,113
128,613
53,475
Home Making10
1922
W
21/2 Good
Steam
10
John Hancock
1886
B
3 Good
Steam
10
12,000
53,000
2,000
67,000
106,255
Lincoln
1892
B
2 Good
Steam
12
6,500
58,000
1,800
66,300
69,841
. .
1
231
231
1923
W
1
Fair
Hot Air
6
Central Junior High1,2 Portable
W
1
Fair
2
700
700
24,851
24,851
CITY OF QUINCY
446
of Land
. .
Massachusetts Fields11
1896
B
2 Good
Steam
1 18
21,300
269,500
11,647 7,980
302,447 172,980
101,987 243,470
Montclair12
1912
B
2 Good
Steam
1
17
14,000
205,000
7,519
226,519
84,314
Quincy13
1907
B
3
Good
Steam
2
20
13,400
205,000
3,000
221,400
58,286
Squantum
1919
B
1
Good
Steam
1
6
8,500
52,500
4,500
65,500
123,831
Thomas B. Pollard1
1920
B
1 Good
Steam
1 17
12,500
207,500
8,945
228,945
76,842
Washington
1903
B
2 Good
Steam
10
16,000
80,000
2,500
98,500
78,626
Willard1
1891
B
21%, Good
Steam
1
20
10,000
80,000
3,500
93,500
50,240
Wollaston2
1912
B
2
Good
Steam
1
12
24,000
136,000
6,450
166,450
94,672
School Pl'ygr'nd (Hollis Av)
17,000
17,000
184,346
Total
17 430
$615,700 $5,262,000 $362,259
$6,239,959
1Cafeterias, gymnasiums, special rooms and shops: Quincy High, 15; Trade, 6; North Quincy High, 18; Junior Highs, 27; Thomas B. Pollard, 1; Willard, 1.
2Assembly hall used for classroom purposes.
3Valuation of Continuation and Trade Schools' furniture included in Quincy High school valuation.
4East wing addition occupied September, 1931.
5Quincy Point Junior High School valuation of land and building and the square feet in lot included in Daniel Webster School figures.
6Addition of four rooms occupied September, 1931.
7 Addition of nine rooms and assembly hall occupied January, 1930.
8Auditorium and four classrooms used for Quincy High School Commercial classes.
9Addition of four rooms occupied September, 1930.
10Located on Quincy High School lot. Valuation of land and building included in Quincy High School figures. Offices of Supervisors located in Home Making School.
11 Addition of ten rooms occupied September, 1924.
12 Addition of nine rooms and assembly hall occupied March, 1930.
13 Addition of eight rooms and assembly hall occupied September, 1932.
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
447
2
Good
Steam
10
18,000
147,000
Merrymount
1929
B
448
CITY OF QUINCY
6. Report of Attendance Department
Number of cases investigated for year ending December 31, 1935 2026 Number found to be truants 234
Attendance Work by Months
1935
Number of Cases Investigated
Actual Truants
January
81
10
February
195
31
March
282
43
April
204
24
Mav
369
57
June
136
18
September
207
19
October
248
18
November
142
5
December
162
9
Totals
2026
234
Employment Certificates Issued for the Year Ending December 31. 1935
Boys
Girls
Total
Educational Certificates. Form I:
16 to 18 years of age.
229
122
351
18 to 21 years of age
489
253
742
Employment Certificates (14 to 16 years of age) :
Form C (regular)
11
11
Form E (temporary)
22
2
21
Form F (limited)
13
13
Special Certificates:
Domestic
2
2
Home Permit
2
7
9
Totals
766
386
1152
Total number issued in 1935
1152
Total number issued in 1934 1084
Increase for year 68
HARRY G. BURNHAM, Supervisor of Attendance
449
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
7. Report of Work of the School Nurses January 1 to December 31, 1935
Children examined for various causes
41,871
Home calls made
1,245
Children referred to school and private physicians
2
Children referred to dental clinics and private dentists.
779
Children referred to eye and ear clinics
765
Cases of corrected vision
275
Children referred to various other clinics
172
Arrangements made for tonsil and adenoid operations.
180
Contagion found and reported
332
8. Report of Sight and Hearing Tests, October, 1935
School
Number Defective Defective Parents Examined in eyesight in hearing Notified
Quincy High
2,086
249
17
266
Central Junior High
869
47
12
34
North Quincy High
1,926
124
19
140
*No. Quincy High 7th grade
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