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 1938 > Part 27
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33,400
Total 109,843
Number of volumes added during year .. Total
4,498
2,428
6,926
80,941
35,828
116,769
Number of volumes withdrawn from record during year
2,869
1,433
4,302
Total No. of Volumes at end of year .. 78,072
34,395
112,467
Number of newspapers currently received excluding duplicates
12
Number of periodicals currently received excluding duplicates 201 Fines, non-resident fees and miscellaneous receipts
paid to City Treasurer
$2,927.32
423
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF PUBLIC LIBRARY
Library Expenditures 1938
City
Endowment
Books
Appropriation $11,861 88
$64 12
Periodicals
1,137 18
Binding
1,118 10
Library Service
34,651 26
Janitor Service
7,328 75
Police Service
370 00
Rent
3,540 00
Gas and electricity
1,059 24
Heat
1,810 76
Maintenance supplies, telephone, printing, etc.
1,912 97
6 85
Repairs, replacements, equipment
789 27
80 00
Miscellaneous
6 52
249 10
Automobile expense
257 42
Insurance
562 20
$66,405 55
$400 07
Books in Library January 1, 1939
Adult
Juvenile
Total
General
1,275
467
1,742
Periodicals
3,869
24
3,893
Philosophy
1,475
38
1,513
Religion
1,549
308
1,857
Sociology
6,269
2,184
8,453
Language
521
35
556
Science
1,926
1,235
3,161
Useful Arts
4,479
1,474
5,953
Fine Arts
4,194
1,273
5,467
Literature
7,066
3,045
10,111
History
8,247
4,208
12,455
Biography
5,615
1,668
7,283
Fiction
31,587
18,436
50,023
Total
78,072
34,395
112,467
Funds
CIRCULATION BY CLASSES 1938
BRANCHES
CENTRAL LIBRARY
Parkway
Atlantic
Temple
Wollaston
Baxter
Norfolk
Squantum
Manet
General
Palmer
Hospital
Montclair
Lakin Sq.
Merrymount
Boys' and
Girls' House
Camps
TOTAL
General
12,355
3,165
2,649
1,940
6,162
1,615
4,449
1,190
4,389
2,221
3,734
2,538
2,754
2,905
740
52,806
Philosophy
2,418
203
197
37
663
45
451
56
173
41
73
56
135
63
8
9
4,628
Religion
994
139
120
66
520
85
189
58
236
23
37
28
76
43
320
.....
2,934
Sociology
6,967
1,316
1,126
1,234
2,629
883
1,580
623
1,131
777
209
575
753
381
1,942
6
22,132
Language
527
105
46
55
106
7
92
15
65
1
8
7
8
8
17
....
1,067
Science
3,487
434
341
253
1,042
156
570
164
311
ยท 149
55
158
165
132
607
27
8,051
Useful Arts
9,574
1,227
910
657
1,777
392
1,259
317
983
541
186
286
461
340
812
14
19,736
Fine Arts
8,633
554
713
249
1,309
191
984
310
559
227
79
211
437
197
674
17
15,344
Literature
7,310
3,806
1,942
2,098
4,910
2,453
2,182
1,188
3,002
2,221
425
1,542
1,264
1,608
3,972
5
39,928
History
4,346
466
669
491
1,575
279
867
165
445
229
55
185
479
187
1,047
1
11,486
Travel
5,679
1,582
1,360
861
3,418
949
1,987
547
1,320
840
245
490
935
562
825
1
21,601
Biography
6,376
918
847
734
2,535
566
1,086
314
695
326
273
235
682
323
454
15
16,379
Fiction
82,613
30,979 31,528 31,466
90,958 25,299 36,903 16,492 31,428 16,906 10,346 19,840 21,299 13,428 25,380
210
485,075
Total
151,279 44,894 42,448 40,141 117,604 32,920 52,599 21,439 44,737 24,502 15,725 26,151 29,448 20,177 36,798
305
701,167
......
Downs
425
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
IN MEMORIAM
Louise H. Baker Died November 8, 1938 Teacher 1928-1938
Lillian H. Barnes Died October 14, 1938 Teacher 1925-1938
426
CITY OF QUINCY
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF QUINCY, MASS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1938
Chairman HON. THOMAS S. BURGIN, Mayor
Vice-Chairman MRS. BEATRICE W. NICHOLS
HON. THOMAS S. BURGIN Term expires Dec. 31, 1938 131 Monroe Road, Quincy
MRS. ESTHER V. PURCELL Term expires Dec. 31, 1938 33 Dorchester Street, Squantum
MR. JOSEPH J. KENDRICK Term expires Dec. 31, 1938
110 Harvard Street, Wollaston
MRS. BEATRICE W. NICHOLS Term expires Dec. 31, 1939
45 Elm Street, Quincy
MR. HESLIP E. SUTHERLAND .Term expires Dec. 31, 1939
50 Spear Street, Quincy
MR. L. PAUL MARINI. Term expires Dec. 31, 1940 223 Presidents Lane, Quincy
MR. ROY PROUT Term expires Dec. 31, 1940 44 Highfield Road, Quincy
Secretary to School Committee and Superintendent of Schools
JAMES N. MUIR, B.S. 132 Winthrop Avenue, Wollaston
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 7:30 o'clock P.M. on the last Tuesday in each month.
427
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION WILLIAM A. BRADFORD, Chairman
ALBERT C. BLACKMAN
FERDINAND J. COMI
FRANK FOSTER
CONRAD HALLGREN
ALBERT W. Koss
GEORGE A. OSTER
ARCHIBALD WESTHAVER
OFFICE STAFF
Secretary MARION NILSEN 33 Nilsen Avenue, Quincy
Bookkeeper HELEN M. CANTY 65 Safford Street, Wollaston
Clerks ANNIE M. OHMAN 71 Bennington Street, Quincy THERESA V. KROESSER 18 Thornton Street, Wollaston
Office: School Committee Rooms, Quincy High School Building, Coddington Street.
Office Hours: 8 A.M. to 5 P.M .; Saturday, 8 A.M. to 12 M.
Supervisor of Attendance HARRY G. BURNHAM 226 Everett Street, Wollaston Office: School Committee Rooms. Office Hours: 8 A.M. to 12 M., 1:30 to 5 P.M. Saturday, 8 A.M. to 12 M.
428
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Quincy:
Your School Committee submits the following report for the year 1938.
The first business that engaged the Committee was the prepara- tion of its budget for 1938, and in this connection, the Committee, taking cognizance of the probable effect of the business recession on City Finances, resolved that no increases be made in salaries except regular automatic increases. The budget submitted to the Mayor amounted to $1,274,772.
Several important improvements were made in the school plant during the year:
The locker rooms and shower facilities in the North Quincy High School were extensively altered, the work being done under the direct charge of the School Committee with most satisfactory results.
The general shops in the Central Junior High School were completely renovated and much new equipment installed.
New portable bleachers were installed in the gymnasium at the Quincy Point Junior High School.
The yards at the Squantum and Montclair Schools were completely resurfaced with ameisite.
A complete check-up was made of safety and fire prevention devices in all of the schools, and substantial improvements were made to the fire alarm systems with the result that these are now thoroughly modern.
Various items of new equipment were installed for the Home Economics courses in the various schools.
Other customary repairs necessary for the upkeep of the school buildings were made.
As there was an overcrowded situation in the Trade School, and the Administration quarters were also inadequate, with a need for more satisfactory office facilities for the supervisory staff, the Mayor was requested to obtain preliminary plans for both these projects and to obtain from the City Council authorization to make application for a P. W. A. grant.
The Rules and Regulations of the School Committee were amended to the effect that the "No School" signal should apply to teachers in the schools affected by the "No School" signal.
The Committee adopted a plan for Cumulative Sick Leave Al- lowance for the custodians similar to that already allowed for the teachers.
The School Committee also voted that under the supervision of Miss Howes emblems be awarded to the members of the High School bands and orchestras.
429
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
On February 18 appropriate and impressive exercises were held dedicating the Nathaniel S. Hunting School in honor of the late Dr. Nathaniel S. Hunting, for thirty-six years a member of the School Committee.
Plaques were unveiled at the Quincy School in memory of Miss Ellen D. Granahan, and at the John Hancock School in memory of Miss Mary Parker, both of whom served loyally as teachers in their respective buildings.
The construction of the Municipal Stadium at Merrymount Park has provided increased facilities for the more largely attended athletic contests. The splendid facilities of the stadium will per- mit, and we hope encourage, a larger interest on the part of the community in the athletic activities of the schools.
Pursuant to an act of the Legislature, plans have been adopted which will permit teaching the Italian language in the Quincy Schools upon a suitable request and the enrollment of not less than twenty-five properly qualified pupils.
An additional instructor in Sheet Metal Work was added to the teaching staff of the Trade School.
We wish to thank Mr. Muir, Miss Nilsen, and the school staff for their assistance to the Committee. The splendid results ob- tained are due to their efficient co-operation. We wish, also, to com- mend the Mayor and the Vice-Chairman for their courtesy and tact in presiding at the meetings of the School Committee.
We cannot conclude without a word of appreciation to the loyal teachers and principals, not forgetting the custodians, who have made our system one of which we are duly proud.
The foregoing report was prepared by a special committee con- sisting of Mr. Joseph J. Kendrick and Mrs. Esther V. Purcell and was adopted as the report of the School Committee for the Year 1938.
430
CITY OF QUINCY
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Quincy:
In keeping with our usual custom, the Superintendent has en- deavored over a period of twelve years to bring to the School Com- mittee and citizens of Quincy the broadest possible understanding of the present day practices and problems of the school system. The annual report is one of the mediums serving this purpose. In doing this it should serve the interest of all.
At the outset permit me to quote the first two paragraphs from my annual report for the year 1937:
"It has been my personal desire to organize, coordinate and harmonize every unit of the Quincy school system into a united whole. Eleven years ago sectionalism in the Quincy school sys- tem was strong. I did not hesitate to emphasize that I knew no section; I knew no Wollaston or Adams Shore or Quincy Point or West Quincy, or South Quincy, as such. It was all Quincy to me. At the general teachers' meetings as well as principals' meetings, I stated that we must look at the school system in its entirety, and toward that end the school system has been set up and directed. The policies and procedures, the program of studies, the special provisions and services have all been estab- lished on a school system basis. This makes for fairness in the community and for efficiency in the educational administration. Individual school units and individual members of the school system are encouraged by the Superintendent of Schools to make the greatest possible contribution.
"There are those on the staff who want to work, to create, to do, to inspire, to initiate constructive school work. There is abundant iniative and energy ready to assume any intelligent step forward which contributes to the progress of the entire school system. Men and women of unusual ability are willing to assume the risk to continue to blaze the trail if their in- itiative, energy, vision and industry, which have resulted in the progress of the entire school system, are given recognition. We should take care to reward the faithful, conscientious, energetic workers rather than those who strive for popularity."
The building of a real school system is the result of positive thinking and constructive action. It requires positive thinking, con- structive planning, genuine initiative and personal energy, with a will to act and to do something positive. The Superintendent has given freely of these qualities. It has been done without fear or favor during the past twelve years. In no case did he consider what was the popular thing to do providing he was convinced it was the right thing to do.
When we speak of art, music, visual aids, guidance and research, health education, college preparatory courses, commercial courses, we say that they are outstanding. They are so recognized by edu- cators who visit the school system and are in a position to know, ' All of these have received their impetus and backing from the same source.
431
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The departments of music, art, home economics and physical education were terribly handicapped twelve years ago because they were not sufficiently staffed and organized on a school system basis. The health department, so-called, was a disorganized unit. There was no tie-up between medical service and physical education. There was no health education as it is now known in its modern sense. There were no visual aids, no guidance and research. Now we have all of these comparable with the best in America.
The value of the above is rendered evident by the character and type of young man and young woman that we are attempting to produce, which is the only antidote for this troubled world.
Were it not for the children, we would need no school janitors, no teachers, no principals, no supervisors, no superintendent, no school committee. Every activity carries its own virtue and its own value. There may be relative values. Basketball is no more a character- building sport than is track or hockey or soccer or tennis and other activities I could mention, and for any group to single out any activity for popular acclaim from a great school system is un- ethical, and demoralizing to the esprit de corps of the whole school system. Let us not forget that the Superintendent represents all the children of all the people, but no more so than you do. You are the chosen representatives of the people, the friends of education. If you are friends of education-and you have told the voters that you are-you will permit those that are trained in their several fields to administer these fields in education. If their policies are sound, they should be upheld by this committee for the general welfare of the entire school system; if they are unsound, we should have a chance to know why. What I am trying to do is to ask the School Committee to permit the outstanding features of public school education to go forward rather than to be hampered.
Net Enrollment
I am submitting to you the net enrollment as part of my report. I consider this information of great value to the Committee and to the school officials. It shows the exact enrollment for the past twelve years on the first Monday after the opening of school, or a week after Labor Day. If you scrutinize it closely, it will answer many questions for you. It shows you the shift in school population. It will permit you to compare the school population for the past twelve years for any school in the system, and should offer data to you to answer a great many questions that are asked by parents and others interested in our schools. You will also note that the Quincy High School reached its peak in 1931, that North Quincy reached its peak in 1934, and that the junior schools remained fairly constant after their organization. There is a marked decrease in the elementary schools. This will in a few years' time show up in the junior and high schools, all other factors being equal. That is, as these grades move to higher levels, the enrollment will be less.
Meetings
It may be of information to you to know that there were thirty- two School Committee meetings held during the year 1938-eleven regular meetings, sixteen special meetings, four conferences and one organization meeting, and a great many sub-committee meetings. These meetings entail a great deal of detail work for the Superin- tendent of Schools because, as you will see from a resume of your
432
CITY OF QUINCY
minutes, most of the meetings were taken up with practically every- thing but education, that thing for which the schools really exist. I realize that some time must be given to the various business items, but some of the time should be given over to education.
In addition to the meetings of the School Committee, the Super- intendent has held a great many meetings with the principals, teachers, various groups of committees of teachers, dietitions, librarians, the supervisory force, many individual conferences, and has appeared at parent-teacher and other meetings. These are some of the extra activities that take up the Superintendent's time and attention, and rightly so.
Let me give you a few excerpts from the notes of one of the meetings of the principals at which we took up the achievement tests and the use of test results:
"All principals should see that maximum use is made of test results; that is, teachers of arithmetic not only should know the ratings of all their pupils in arithmetic reasoning and fundamentals and see these against a background of their total grade placement, but the teacher should study the arithmetic section of the test in detail and determine wherein the specific arithmetic difficulties lie in the individual cases.
"All teachers should familiarize themselves with the mental ratings in order to determine the extent to which pupils ill their classroom performances are measuring up to their several abilities.
"If our teaching is to be economical and effective, the teacher must make use of all available information relative to the present status of the pupils in the subject which she is to teach them.
"If we are to develop proper work habits, we must begin in the primary grades."
The subject of test results was also emphasized at the fifth and sixth grade meetings to which the principals were invited.
The emphasis at the present time is largely out correcting the weaknesses of certain children, but the results of the tests are also an exceptionally fine thermometer to show principals and teachers that we are not sufficiently challenging the ingenuity and building up the work habits of the brighter children; that is, we believe that every child should be trained to work to the maximum of his sev- eral abilities, and these test results are a means of getting at the facts.
These tests show invariably where we are weak and where we are strong. They also help us to know what we should do. The tests have helped us to increase our efficiency in the fundamentals, so much so that there is a gradual increase in the norm of the city as a whole.
Here are a few facts taken from Mr. Cochrane's report to me after the achievement tests were given this fall that must of necessity be of interest to you. These tests have been given to the pupils for the past decade and have been the means of the school system securing some pertinent facts.
"It is now possible for us to compare the relative rank of the schools as they were in grade 1 in 1933 and as they are in grade
433
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
5 in 1938. One of the astonishing facts for the city as a whole is that only 47.2% of the present pupils in the fifth grade were members of the group in the same school when it was the first grade in 1933. For most of the schools the per cent of pupils in the fifth grade who started in the same school in grade 1 is in the vicinity of fifty per cent. The highest percentage of pupils who started with the grade in its first year of school life was in the Quincy School which has retained 66.2% of its 1933 first graders. In the Coddington School only 30% of the present fifth grade pupils were members of the class as first graders in 1933. Such a shifting of the school population great- ly handicaps the best educational handling of the children, par- ticularly in the field of educational guidance."
Speaking of the extra-curricular activities at a principals' meet- ing, the Superintendent made the following statements:
"The fundamental principle underlying all school activities is that they must definitely contribute to the educational pro- gram and that there must be obtained from each activity max- imum educational values, otherwise we are not justified in maintaining them.
"Our total expenses represent the cost of the entire school program. It is essential that one part of the program be as economical and as effective and as carefully supervised as the other."
We are now studying this phase of our school program.
During the month of October, we held grade meetings in all of the elementary grades. At these meetings we discussed the daily preparation of all subjects and emphasized the fundamentals - reading, penmanship and arithmetic. We laid particular stress on the use of the dictionary as the guide to pronunciation and meaning of words in the fourth, fifth and sixth grades. In the sixth grade we emphasized that the teachers should use the test results, other- wise the tests would be of little or no value.
At these meetings I emphasized the importance of getting a standard of good habits of work into the minds of the children from the very beginning.
Permit me to bring to your attention a special conference held at the North Quincy High School, at which were present the prin- cipal, the head counselor, dietitian, and several heads of depart- ments. I emphasized that the school is not a college prepartory school, a commercial school, or a home economics school, as such; that it is a cosmopolitan high school in which various courses are offered, and that any child who lives in that district, of the proper age, who has passed through the sixth grade, is entitled to enter that school. It is the business of the school officials to employ teachers to teach children. I definitely stated that we must adapt our work to the ability of the children. We should see that the pupil with ten talents works to the maximum of his several abilities and that we are just as much obliged to see that the child with six talents works to the maximum of his abilities. We cannot exclude the child with six talents and select the child with ten talents. This is a public school system. The only remnant of democratic society that is left is the public school.
434
CITY OF QUINCY
American Education Week
The program this year centered around the general theme- Education for Tomorrow's America. The twentieth anniversary of the signing of the Armistice and the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the City of Quincy gave an unusual setting for patri- otic and historical programs. There were some very unusual and outstanding programs during the week. The parents, the teachers and the pupils joined in consideration of their schools. Approxi- mately 8,000 people visited the schools during that week; that is, the parents and their friends responded exceedingly well to the call of the principals to visit the schools. Commander Powers of the American Legion together with the vice-commander met with the Superintendent of Schools and outlined a method of procedure whereby a few speakers would go to the junior and high schools. This was a great improvement over last year's program. They sent us good speakers. Each speaker had something to say and knew how to say it. They had a good message for the pupils.
Combined Commencement
On the evening of Tuesday, April 24, 1934, the matter of high school commencement was discussed by the School Committee. It was the sense of the Committee at that time that there should be a change in the type of commencement. The Committee favored a combined open-air commencement of the graduates of the two high schools. On motion by Mrs. Nichols, seconded by Mr. Robert Foy, it was voted unanimously that two members of the Committee be appointed by the Chair to confer with the Superintendent and the principals of the North Quincy and the Quincy High schools. The Chair appointed Mr. Kendrick and Mrs. Nichols from the School Committee.
On Tuesday evening, May 29, 1934, Mrs. Nichols reported for the sub-committee regarding the commencement plans and stated that the schools felt, after consulting the pupils, that they would prefer separate commencement exercises. The special committee recommended that two commencement exercises be held as is the custom up to the present time.
I have been asked several times concerning an open-air and joint commencement of the two high schools. I proposed then and I am proposing now that the School Committee consider a joint com- mencement. If you wish me to set the stage for a new, modern commencement to take the place of the traditional, I am perfectly willing to accept that responsibility. I am offering this to you in plenty of time that you may discuss the pros and cons before finally voting.
Home Economics
Improved processes and swiftly changing public tastes impose new problems upon the public schools. The Superintendent is the responsible person to whom the public looks to keep awake and alive to the public demands. His only salvation is an open mind. The closed mind is a tomb in which hope and progress are both buried. He who would keep alive must keep the windows of his mind open. There is nothing more hopeless than a method that has ceased to get results. We are constantly widening our services by adapting our offerings to individual needs. We as individuals must yield to progress if we are to survive.
435
REPORT OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The work in home economics in the Quincy public schools com- pares most favorably with that of other school systems. We have done many fine things in this department and much remains to be done. In the newer buildings we have splendid equipment. Central Junior High School, being the first to take up home economics, the equipment is old and much of it is worn out and needs replenishing. The home economics department in the Quincy High School needs additional equipment if we are to serve the needs of the young women who are now taking that work and many others who should and would take the courses under better working conditions. Some of the equipment is old and some obsolete and should be replaced with new and up-to-date equipment. We must see the situation as it is and meet the growing needs of the pupils.
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