USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1868-1871 > Part 14
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Many of those exercises in vocal drill, that serve to cultivate the voice, to secure distinctness of articulation, and energy of expression, might be introduced to advan- tage.
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Arithmetic, Spelling, Geography, History, and Penman- ship are satisfactorily taught, and the order is generally good.
We hope to see a system of individual promotions re- stored. We believe this system will promote a healthy enthusiasm in study, secure the best efforts of the pupil, make him ambitious to learn, and remove the constant friction attendant upon the class system ; that through this agency, lessons can be assigned to a class, adapted to the mental and physical capacity of each pupil, and that the studies in our Grammar schools are not so varied that pup- ils need be deprived of its advantages. Under the class system of promotions, a pupil's advancement is a question of time, while under the individual system, it becomes a question of industry, of talent, of punctual attendance, and of general attention to the business of the school ; under the class system, some pupils have little or noth- ing to do to get the lessons assigned, while others work hard, become discouraged and disheartened because they are unable to do the work of the class. The individual system meets the wants of each pupil, does not ruin one with over work, nor make another indolent for lack of work.
S. A. CARLTON, CHAIRMAN.
HIGH SCHOOL.
This school continues to maintain the high character which it has had for many years past. It is fortunate in being under the charge of a principal, who, to excellent scholarship, adds thorough devotion to the interests of the school.
Occasional visits to the school, and a recent careful ex- amination of the several classes, enable us to speak more
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confidently at the present time, than we felt warranted in doing, in the report of last year.
Of the character of the instruction given in the vari- ous branches of study, there is with the Committee but one opinion. It is thorough in all departments. The principal and his assistants have evidently labored most assiduously to promote the best interests of their pupils, who in turn have been faithful to their several studies.
The school is at present very large, numbering 137 scholars. We believe no other town in the State has so large a number of scholars in its High School, in propor- tion to the population. These scholars have all under- gone a rigid examination, before their admission, and consequently the standard of scholarship is high. But the school is too large for the room it now occupies. The government of so large a number of pupils in one room, will of necessity require careful supervision on the part of the principal, which added to the labor of teaching, must make his work peculiarly arduous. We ask the gen- erous co-operation of parents and pupils, in efforts to lighten as much as possible his labors, by giving him that encouragement which he has so richly merited.
For the Committee,
JOHN P. MARSHALL.
In closing we would urge upon the attention of parents, teachers, and Committee, the vast importance of the cultivation of kindly relations and a mutual good under- standing. Here should exist the most cordial co-oper- ation. Our interests are identical. Our aims are one. We are all laboring for the attainment of the same object - the highest good of those for whose proper
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training we are mutually responsible. But our relations are peculiar.
Parents are the divinely appointed teachers of their children. Hence the relation of the parent to his child is the only natural relation existing in our present sys- tems of secular instruction. But He who in wisdom established this relation and imposed its responsibilities, implanted also those ardent parental affections whose strength none can measure.
The relation of the teacher to his pupils is temporary and artificial. Parents in transferring their duties cannot transfer their affections also. Civil law regards the teacher as occupying the place of the parent; but no legislation can impart to him who assumes this artificial relation, that tender parental love, which " suffereth long and is kind ;" which " seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; " but " beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."
To harmonize these different relations, and to over- come these natural deficiencies should be our constant endeavor. Teachers should labor assiduously to come into sympathy with parents, and to cultivate affection for their pupils. And parents should earnestly strive to inspire their children with confidence in their school, and with affection for their teachers.
We all labor more cheerfully and effectively in accor- dance with our inclinations, and especially in the direc- tion of our affections. Duties are pleasures when the heart is in them. A great point is gained, therefore, when the school and the teacher secure the confidence and love of the pupil.
He is the wise teacher who labors earnestly to render himself worthy of the confidence and love of those whom he instructs and controls.
He is the judicious parent who cheerfully co-operates
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with the teacher to render the school pleasant and profitable to the child.
For the Committee,
J. H. DAVIS, Superintendent of Schools.
OREN S. KNAPP, SAMUEL A. CARLTON,
ENOCH R. MORSE,
LEONARD ARNOLD,
JOHN A. HUGHES,
School
HENRY F. SPENCER,
Committee.
GEORGE W. DURELL,
JOHN P. MARSHALL,
JOSHUA H. DAVIS,
Somerville, Feb. 10, 1869.
RULES
OF THE
SCHOOL . COMMITTEE.
ARTICLE I.
ORGANIZATION.
THE first meeting of the School Committee shall be held on the Monday next succeeding the Annual Town Meeting, at which time the Board shall be organized by the choice of a Chairman and a Secretary, by ballot, and by the appointment by the Chair- man of the following named Sub-Committees. 1. On examina- tion of Teachers ; 2. On Books ; 3. On Fuel ; 4. On Finance ; 5. On Insurance ; 6. On the several Schools.
ARTICLE II.
Whenever so authorized by the town, a Superintendent shall be chosen by ballot at the next regular meeting of the Board for one year from the fifteenth day of April.
ARTICLE III.
If the office of Secretary and Superintendent is held by one person, he shall receive only the salary of the Superintendent ; otherwise, the salary of the Secretary shall be fixed by the Board.
ARTICLE IV ..
DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
1. To notify the Committee of all regular and special meet- ings, and adjournments of regular meetings of the Board.
2. To attend the meetings of the School Committee, and all Sub-Committees, and record all the votes; orders and proceedings of the same in a permanent record-book.
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3. To be present at the examination of teachers, and give certificates of their election, and, in duplicate, of their qualifica- ion as required by law. See Gen. Stat., ch. 38, § 24.
4. To keep a list of applicants for situations in schools, who Have passed examinations satisfactory to the Examining Com- mittee, together with their address.
5. To notify teachers of their re-election, and of any changes n the management of the schools.
6. To make and audit bills for the quarterly payments of eachers and janitors, and to audit all bills of expenditure au- horized by the Board.
7. To keep accounts of all the expenditures of the Board ill uitable books, which shall always be open to the inspection of he members.
8. To perform all other duties required by law of the Secre- ary of the School Committee.
ARTICLE V.
DUTIES OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
1. To visit all the schools as often as once a month ; see that hey are supplied with all needful articles, furnished by the Com- mittee for their comfort and convenience ; carefully observe the methods of instruction, and the discipline of all the teachers ; uggest improvements, and remedy defects in their management ; advise on the best methods of instruction and discipline ; pay special attention to the classification of the pupils in the several chools, and to the apportionment among the classes of the pre- scribed studies.
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2. To prepare at the end of the winter term a written state- ment of the comparative and actual condition of the various schools by grades.
3. To prepare for each meeting of the Committee a list of natters to be passed upon.
4. To prepare immediately after the organization of the Board, cards containing the names of the various schools, teach- ers, and sub-committees.
5. To prepare cards indicating the order and time for the annual examinations and exhibitions of all the schools.
6. To attend to the preparations of Diplomas to be awarded
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to graduates of the High School, and Certificates to be given by the Principals of the Grammar Schools to applicants for admis- sion to the High School, indicating that they have completed the course of study prescribed for the Grammar School.
7. To be present at all meetings of sub-committees, of which he is, ex-officio, a member.
8. To assist sub-committees in filling vacancies caused by the resignation of teachers.
9. To assist in the examination of candidates for admission to the High School.
10. To perform all other duties required by law, of a Super- intendent of Schools.
ARTICLE VI.
The regular meetings of the Board shall be held on the second Monday of each month. Special meetings may be appointed by the chairman, or, in his absence, by the secretary.
A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Every member of the Board, when present, shall vote on all motions, unless especially excused by the Board ; and all votes, except for the election of officers and teachers, shall be by hand ballot ; or by yeas and nays, if called for.
ARTICLE VII.
ORDER OF BUSINESS.
The business of the Board, at the regular meeting, shall be taken up in the following order : -
1. Reading of the Records.
2. Action upon bills.
3. Unfinished business.
4. Reports of Committees.
5. New business.
ARTICLE VIII.
EXAMINATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS.
SECTION 1. Private Examinations of all the schools shall take place in January and February, conducted by Sub-Committees appointed by the Chairman, for each grade of schools.
SECT. 2. Blanks shall be furnished each Sub-Committee, by the Superintendent, and these when filled shall be immediately
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eturned to the Superintendent, who shall at the next meeting f the Board, present a tabular statement of the comparative ank of the schools in each grade, as indicated by the reports of he several Sub-Committees.
SECT. 3. Public Exhibitions, or Examinations of all the schools hall take place in July, under the sanction of their respective Sub-Committees.
ARTICLE IX.
TEACHERS.
SECTION 1. At the next meeting of the Board, after the close of the Summer term, teachers shall be elected by ballot for all the schools ; and these appointments shall take effect with the Winter term, and hold for one year, unless sooner annulled.
SECT. 2. No person shall be declared elected as a teacher, without having received the votes of a majority of the Board ; out if a vacancy shall occur in any school, between the meet- ngs of the Board, the Sub-Committee of the School shall employ a substitute, until the next meeting of the Board.
SECT. 3. The salary of each teacher shall be established at the time of the appointment, and shall be payable on the Friday next preceding the Annual Thanksgiving, and the vacations in February, May, and July ; teachers being paid one forty-second of their annual salary for each week of actual service.
ARTICLE X.
BILLS.
The bills for teachers' salaries, janitors' services, and insurance premiums, may be approved by the Secretary. All other bills must be presented for approval at a regular meeting of the Board.
A Sub-Committee may incur an expense, not exceeding twenty dollars, for repairs or improvements.
ARTICLE XI.
SUSPENSION OR AMENDMENT OF RULES, ETC.
Any of these Rules, or the Regulations of the Schools, may be suspended or amended by a vote of two-thirds of the Board ; provided, that every proposition for permanent modification shall be presented in writing one week at least before action.
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GENERAL REGULATIONS
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
RULE 1.
The school-year shall be divided into two terms, corresponding with the returns required by the State, a Winter Term, com- mencing on the first Monday in September, and a Summer Term commencing on the first Monday in March.
RULE 2.
From May first to the close of the Summer term, the morning session of all the schools will commence at 8 o'clock, and during the remainder of the year at 9 o'clock.
RULE 3.
In the High School, a session of five hours will be held each school-day except Saturday. In the Grammar, Sub-Grammar and Primary Schools, a morning session of three hours will be held each school-day ; and an afternoon session, each school-day except Wednesday and Saturday, commencing at 2 o'clock, and continuing two and one-half hours.
RULE 4.
SECTION 1. There shall be two recesses in each session of the High School, and one in each session of all the other schools, not exceeding fifteen minutes, including the time occupied in going out and coming in.
SECT. 2. No pupil shall be deprived of his recess : though for punishment, he may not be allowed to take it at the regular time with the school.
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SECT. 3. No pupil shall be detained more than twenty min- utes after the time for closing the school.
RULE 5.
SECTION 1. No pupil will be admitted to any puplic school without a permit from the Sub-Committee or Superintendent, who will require satisfactory evidence that the child is five years of age and has been secured against the small pox.
SECT. 2. In case of absence, tardiness, or dismissal before the close of the session, a written excuse from the parent or other suitable person shall be required.
SECT. 3. Any pupil entering school without proper attention to cleanliness or dress, may be sent home to be suitably pre- pared.
SECT. 4. For flagrant misconduct of any kind, any teacher may discharge a pupil from the school ; provided, that such case of discharge shall be reported in writing to the parent or guardian of the pupil, and also to the Sub-Committee, within twenty-four hours after its occurrence. If such discharge is rati- fied by the Sub-Committee, no pupil so dismissed shall be ad- mitted into any school in Somerville, without a vote of the School Committee.
SECT. 5. If any pupil of the High School is absent two days in one month, or any pupil of the Grammar Department is ab- sent three days in one month except on account of sickness, such pupil shall cease to be a member of the School until re- stored by a written permit from the Sub-Committee or Superin- tendent.
SECT. 6. No pupil affected with any contagious disease shall be allowed to remain in any of the Public Schools.
RULE 6.
SECTION 1. All the teachers are desired to make themselves familiar with these Regulations, especially with those which re- ate to their duties, and to see that they are faithfully observed.
SECT. 2. All the school-rooms shall be opened and the teachers present both morning and afternoon FIFTEEN MINUTES at least, before the time for the session to begin ; and they shall require the scholars to be in their
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seats, punctually at the hour for commencing school: Sub-Committees are required to report to the Board, any violation of this Rule, that may come to their know- ledge.
SECT. 3. When a teacher is absent from school on account of sickness or other cause during the whole or part of a school session, he or she is requested to notify the Sub-Committee at once, who shall employ a substitute, if necessary.
SECT. 4. Teachers shall punctually observe the hours ap- pointed for opening and dismissing the schools ; and during school hours, shall faithfully apply themselves to their duties. In all their intercourse with their scholars they shall strive to impress on their minds, both by precept and example, the great importance of earnest efforts for improvement in morals, in man- ners, and deportment, as well as in useful learning.
SECT. 5. Pupils shall be carefully instructed to avoid idle- ness and profanity, falsehood and deceit, and every wicked and disgraceful practice, and to conduct themselves in an orderly and proper manner ; and it shall be the duty of the teachers, so far as practicable, to exercise a general inspection over them in these regards, both in and out of school, and also while going to the same and returning home.
SECT. 6. Teachers should aim at such discipline in their schools as would be exercised by a kind, judicious parent in his family, avoiding corporal punishment in all cases where good order can be preserved by milder measures ; and in no case re- sorting to confinement in closets or wardrobe, or to other cruel or unnatural punishment.
RULE 7.
There shall be kept in eachı school, a Register of the name, age, dates of admission and discharge, absences, and tardinesses of each scholar. The Principal of each school shall be solely re- sponsible for the correctness of said Register, and for the proper returns from it to the Secretary of the School Committee.
RULE 8.
SECTION 1. It shall be the duty of the Principal in each school building to see that no injury shall come to the premises ;
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that neatness and order are maintained in every department ; and if necessary, to make daily examination of the school-house, out-buildings and yards.
SECT. 2. Without diminishing the responsibility of the sev- eral teachers, the Grammar Masters will be held responsible for the general discipline of the schools in their several buildings, and are invested with authority to make such rules, not incon- sistent with these regulations, and require such co-operation of the other teachers as may, in their opinion, be necessary to se- cure good order.
RULE 9.
The morning exercises of all the schools shall commence with the reading, by the teacher, of a portion of the Scriptures, as required by the laws of the Commonwealth. The afternoon session shall close with appropriate singing.
RULE 10.
No advertisement shall be read to the pupils of any school, or posted upon the walls or fences of any school building, nor shall any agent or other person be permitted to enter any school for the purpose of exhibiting either to teacher or pupils any new book or map or article of apparatus, without the approbation of the School Committee.
RULE 11.
Continued neglect by pupils to procure suitable books, or ma- terials for school use, shall be met as the law directs. (See General Statutes, Chap. 38, Sections 30 and 31.)
RULE 12.
HOLIDAYS AND VACATIONS.
The following shall be the holidays and vacations granted to all the schools. Every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon, Thanksgiving day and the Friday and Saturday next succeeding ; Christmas week ; the twenty-second of February ; the week im- mediately preceding the first Monday in March ; Fast day ; one week commencing on the Monday preceding the last Wednesday in May ; the Seventeenth of June ; the Fourth of July ; the seven weeks preceding the first Monday in September.
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Whenever any one of the single days above named shall occur on Sunday, the day following shall be a holiday.
In addition to these holidays, the Chairman of the School Committee, through the Sub-Committees, may dismiss all the schools on extraordinary occasions of general interest ; and each school may be dismissed by its Sub-Committee on two of the half days of the annual public exhibitions, and during the sessions of the Middlesex County Teachers' Association, upon the request of the teacher or teachers who will attend the same ; and Sub- Committees are not allowed to dismiss their schools on any other occasions except by vote of the Board.
RULE 13.
SECTION 1. A class shall be admitted to the High School at the commencement of the Winter term. The candidates for ad- mission shall be examined by the Principal of the school and the Superintendent, on the presentation of certificates from the Principals of the Grammar Schools, indicating that they have completed the course of study prescribed for the Grammar Schools.
SECT. 2. It shall be the duty of the Master to see that indi- vidual and class promotions are made in all the schools in their several districts as often as the good of the pupils may require.
SECT. 3. All the teachers except those of the High School are requested to be ready to report at the expiration of each month to the Superintendent the number of individual promo- tions made in his or her school during the month.
RULE 14.
The following named book and studies are prescribed for the schools :
PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
Alphabet ; Sargent's Standard Primer ; Sargent's Standard First Reader ; Sargent's Standard Second Reader ; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Walton's Primary Arithmetic.
SUB-GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
SECOND CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Second Reader; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Walton's Intellectual Arithmetic.
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FIRST CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Third Reader ; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Walton's Intellectual Arithmetic ; Warren's Primary Geography.
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
FOURTH CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Third Reader ; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book; Walton's Written Arithmetic ; Warren's Pri- mary Geography ; Greene's Grammar.
THIRD CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Fourth Reader; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Walton's Written Arithmetic ; Walton's Intel- lectual Arithmetic ; Warren's Grammar-School Geography ; Greene's Grammar.
SECOND CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Fourth Reader ; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Walton's Written Arithmetic ; Warren's Gram- mar-School Geography ; Greene's Grammar ; Seavey's Good rich's History of the United States.
FIRST CLASS.
Sargent's Standard Fourth Reader ; Sargent's Pronouncing Spelling Book ; Warren's Grammar-School Geography ; Wal- ton's Written Arithmetic ; Greene's Grammar ; Seavey's Good- rich's History of the United States ; Quackenbos' First Lessons in English Composition.
There shall be a spelling exercise from every reading lesson in the Primary, Sub-Grammar, and Grammar Departments, and each pupil in the Grammar Department shall procure a Wor- cester's or a Webster's School Dictionary.
There shall be four writing exercises each week in the Gram- mar and Sub-Grammar Department ; one exercisc in written spelling daily, for every pupil ; an exercise in written composi- tion, and an exercise in map-drawing once in each fortnight for every pupil ; and an exercise in declamation once in each month for each male pupil in the first and second classes.
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Vocal music shall form a part of the daily exercises in all the schools, when practicable.
Teachers specially employed for the purpose, will give instruc- tion in Vocal Music, every week, to the pupils in the High School and the several Grammar Schools.
HIGH SCHOOL.
FOURTH CLASS.
WINTER TERM.
Algebra ; Book-keeping; Grammar of Composition ; History ; Latin.
SUMMER TERM.
Algebra ; Natural Philosophy ; English Literature ; History ; Latin.
THIRD CLASS.
WINTER TERM.
Geometry ; Natural Philosophy ; Rhetoric ; Latin.
SUMMER TERM.
Geometry ; Chemistry ; Rhetoric ; Latin.
SECOND CLASS. WINTER TERM.
Chemistry ; Cleaveland's English Literature ; Latin ; French.
SUMMER TERM.
Geology ; English Classics ; Latin ; French.
FIRST CLASS.
WINTER TERM.
Astronomy ; Physical Geography ; English Classics ; French ; Latin extra, if desired.
SUMMER TERM.
Botany ; Mental Philosophy ; History ; French ; Latin. Arithmetic extra, if desired.
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CLASSICAL COURSE.
The Classical Course differs from the Regular Course in sub- stituting Greek for Rhetoric, the second year ; Greek for French, English Literature and English Classics the third year.
The last year, Latin, Greek, Latin Composition, Greek Compo- sition, and History are taken up, and Geometry, Algebra and Arithmetic are reviewed.
GENERAL EXERCISES.
Written Compositions are required every fortnight. Decla- mations are required at least once a month. Instruction in Vo- cal Music is given once a week throughout the course.
The studies are so arranged that each scholar has three reci- tations every day, besides the extra studies the last year.
QUALIFICATIONS FOR ADMISSION TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
1. An ability to read, write, spell and define well.
2. A good knowledge of English Grammar.
3. A general knowledge of the History of the United States.
4. A thorough acquaintance with Warren's Modern School Geography, or its equivalent.
5. A thorough acquaintance with Walton's Written Arith- metic as far as Mensuration.
In case of pupils from other towns, an equivalent to either of the specified books will be received.
Candidates for admission must produce a certificate from their last teacher that they have completed the course of study pre- scribed for the Grammar School.
The regular examination for admission to the school shall be in the month of July, annually, at such time as the Committee shall direct, and there shall be no promotions from the Gram- mar Schools at any other time. Pupils may be admitted to ad- vanced standing at other times if they are qualified to join exist- ing classes.
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