USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1879 > Part 5
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City Loan $60,000 00, must be extinguished in 1885.
City Loan 1,155,000 00, must be extinguished in 1895.
Sewer Loan 35,000 00, must be extinguished in 1896.
Water Loan 315,000 00, must be extinguished in 1905.
Water Loan 10,000 00, must be extinguished in 1906.
Water Loan 10,000 00, must be extinguished in 1907.
$1,585,000 00
The sinking funds at this date for the redemption of the debt are : -
For City Loan, maturity of 1885, $21,001 00
City Loan, maturity of 1895, 152,373 60
Sewer Loan, maturity of 1896,
3,695 00
Water Loan, maturity of 1905,
20,177 00
Water Loan, maturity of 1906,
472 00
Water Loan, maturity of 1907, 307 00
Total sinking funds,
$198,025 60
96
Invested as follows : -
In bonds of the City of Somerville, Deposits in banks drawing interest,
$196,000 00
2,025 60
Respectfully submitted,
NATHAN TUFTS, HENRY F. WOODS, Commissioners. JOHN A. HUGHES,
ANNUAL REPORT
OF TIIE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF SOMERVILLE,
FOR THE
YEAR 1879.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN SCHOOL COMMITTEE, Dec. 27, 1879.
The Superintendent submitted his Annual Report, which was read and unanimously accepted.
It was voted that the committee adopt the report now submitted by the Superintendent of the Public Schools, and present it to their fellow- citizens as the Report of the School Committee for the year 1879.
J. H. DAVIS, Secretary.
IN BOARD OF MAYOR AND ALDERMEN, Jan. 20, 1880.
Received and referred to the Committee on Printing with instructions to print the same in the Annual Report of 1879. Sent down for concur- rence.
CHARLES E. GILMAN, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, Jan. 20, 1880.
Concurred.
DOUGLAS FRAZAR, Clerk.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1879.
HON. GEORGE A. BRUCE, Mayor, ex officio. EDWARD GLINES, President of Common Council, ex officio.
WARD ONE.
HENRY M. MOORE
Term expires Dec. 31, 1879.
SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D.
1880.
JOHN H. BUTLER
66
1881.
WARD TWO.
ALPHONZO H. CARVILL, M. D.
Term expires Dec. 31, 1879.
CHAS. S. LINCOLN
1880.
OREN S. KNAPP
66
66
1881.
WARD THREE.
JOSEPH P. WILLIAMS
Term expires Dec. 31, 1879. 66 66 1880,
HON. SELWYN Z. BOWMAN
HENRY F. WOODS
66
1881.
WARD FOUR.
PROF. BENJ. G. BROWN
Term expires Dec. 31, 1879.
REV. CHAS. M SMITH, D. D.
66
.. 1880.
HENRY C. BUCK .
66
66 1881.
Chairman. Secretary and Superintendent. JOSHUA H. DAVIS.
HON. GEORGE A. BRUCE.
SUBCOMMITTEES.
On the High School Messrs. LINCOLN, BUTLER, BOWMAN, SMITH, BROWN.
On Schools in E. Somerville Dist. .
MOORE, HANSCOM, BUTLER.
On Schools in Prospect Hill Dist.
66
KNAPP, LINCOLN, CARVILL.
On Schools in Winter Hill Dist. 66 WOODS, WILLIAMS, BOWMAN, GLINES.
On Schools in Spring Hill Dist. .
SMITH, BROWN, BUCK.
On Schools in West Somerville Dist. .
BROWN, BUCK, SMITH.
On Evening Schools . WILLIAMS, CARVILL, BUCK.
On Examination of Teachers BUTLER, KNAPP, LINCOLN. 66
On Text-Books .
On Repairs, Furniture, Heating Ap-
paratus .
On School Supplies
On Fuel
On Music
On Finance
BUTLER, WOODS.
BOWMAN, WOODS, SMITH,
CARVILL.
On Salaries
.
On Examination of First Class .
HANSCOM, WOODS.
On Examination of Second Class 66 SMITH, KNAPP.
On Examination of Third Class LINCOLN, BUTLER.
On Examination of Fourth Class 66 BROWN, MOORE.
On Examination of Fifth Class .
BOWMAN, CARVILL.
On Examination of Sixth Class . 66 WILLIAMS, GLINES, BUCK.
KNAPP, HANSCOM, WOODS, LINCOLN.
SMITH,
On Drawing and Penmanship
66
66 HANSCOM, LINCOLN, BOWMAN. MOORE, GLINES, WILLIAMS, BUCK, CARVILL. 66 WOODS, HANSCOM. WILLIAMS, BUCK. 66 HANSCOM, LILCOLN, BOWMAN. SMITH,
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1880.
HON. GEORGE A. BRUCE, Mayor, ex officio. JAMES W. BAILEY, President of Common Council, ex officio.
WARD ONE.
SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D.
Term expires Dec. 31, 1880.
66
JOHN H. BUTLER
66
1882.
WARD TWO.
CHARLES S. LINCOLN
Term expires Dec 31. 1880.
OREN S. KNAPP
.. 66 1881.
ALPHONZO H. CARVILL, M. D.
66
66 1882.
WARD THREE.
QUINCY E DICKERMAN
Term expires Dec. 31, 1880.
HENRY F. WOODS ·
.. 1881.
NORMAN W. BINGHAM .
66 1882.
WARD FOUR.
REV. CHARLES M. SMITH, D. D. .
Term expires Dec. 31, 1880.
HENRY C. BUCK
66
66 1881.
PROF. BENJAMIN G. BROWN
66 1882.
Chairman. Superintendent and Secretary. JOSHUA H. DAVIS.
HON. GEORGE A. BRUCE.
SUBCOMMITTEES.
On the High School Messrs. LINCOLN, BUTLER, WOODS, SMITH, BROWN, BINGHAM.
On Schools in East Somerville Dist. . 66
MOORE, HANSCOM, BUTLER.
On Schools in Prospect Hill Dist. 66 KNAPP, LINCOLN, CARVILL.
On Schools in Winter Hill Dist.
WOODS, BINGHAM, DICKER- MAN. SMITH, BROWN, BUCK.
On Schools in Spring Hill Dist.
On Schools in West Somerville Dist. .
BROWN, BUCK, BAILEY.
On Evening Schools CARVILL, BUCK, BAILEY.
On Examination of Teachers
LINCOLN, KNAPP, BUTLER.
On Text-Books .
66 HANSCOM, LINCOLN, BROWN, DICKERMAN. MOORE, CARVILL, 66 BAILEY,
BINGHAM.
On School Supplies
66
WOODS, HANSCOM.
On Fuel
BUCK, BINGHAM.
On Music
HANSCOM, .LINCOLN, SMITH, BINGIIAM.
KNAPP, MOORE.
On Drawing and Penmanship
66
DICKERMAN, WOODS, KNAPP, CARVILL.
On Salaries
On Examination of First Class .
On Examination of Second Class
On Examination of Third Class . 66
On Examination of Fourth Class
On Examination of Fifth Class . 66 CARVILL, BINGHAM.
On Examination of Sixth Class .
KNAPP, HANSCOM, SMITH, WOODS, LINCOLN, BUCK.
KNAPP, WOODS.
SMITH, HANSCOM.
LINCOLN, BUTLER.
BROWN, MOORE.
66 BUCK, BAILEY, DICKERMAN.
On Repairs, Furniture, Heating Ap- paratus .
60
On Finance
66
. 1881.
HENRY M. MOORE
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Somerville :
GENTLEMEN, - In compliance with the requirements of your rules, the following report of the public schools of the city for the year 1879 is respectfully submitted.
CHANGE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD .- The resignation of Hon. Selwyn Z. Bowman, a member of the School Committee for Ward Three, was received and accepted April 26th. The vacancy thus .occasioned was filled May 12th, in convention of the City Council and the School Board, by the election of Walter S. Barnes, Esq. Subsequently, Mr. Barnes was appointed to fill the vacancies in the several standing committees caused by the resignation of Mr. Bowman.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS. - All needful repairs and improve- ments of the school buildings have received the careful attention of the Committee on Public Property. During the summer vaca- tion, the Franklin School-house was raised sufficiently to admit of a basement story, and its fences and outbuildings, which were in a dilapidated condition, were thoroughly repaired. Defects in the ceiling of several rooms in the Foster School-house rendered important and unexpected repairs in that building necessary. The walls and ceilings in many of the school buildings in various parts of the city have been renovated, shade trees have been planted, and many other improvements have been effected.
Number of school-houses .
18
school-rooms owned by the city
80
66 rooms hired for school purposes
6
vacant school-rooms
1
school-halls not occupied by schools .
2
66 school-rooms in the High School-house
2
66 recitation-rooms
5
66 school buildings heated by steam
3
66 66 furnaces
5
school-rooms heated by stoves .
32
102
ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS. - Measures are in contemplation for the removal of the Lincoln School-house to Clarendon Hill, and for the erection of a Grammar School building of eight rooms, in the centre of West Somerville district.
If all needful arrangements can be perfected during the present winter, so that the work of constructing the new building can be entered upon at the first opening of spring, and the basement for the Lincoln School-house can be in readiness to receive that build- ing at the beginning of the summer vacation, both buildings may be completed and ready for use at the commencement of the school year in September, and the schools will experience no interruption.
All the schools are well filled, and several Primary Schools, in different parts of the city, are crowded. One school room only sis vacant. The favorable location of our city, and its numerous means of easy and rapid communication with Boston, render it a desirable place of residence. We may, therefore, reasonably anticipate a gradual increase of population and a demand for a corresponding increase of school accommodations.
Next to West Somerville, the section of the city in greatest need of convenient school accommodations is that situated south of the Fitchburg Railroad and between Prospect and Park Streets. That section of the city contains a population of about 1,900, including 380 scholars in the public schools. There are only two school- rooms south of the railroad, and those furnish insufficient accom- modations for the children of the second and third classes of the Primary Schools. Scholars belonging to the Grammar Schools and the first class of the Primary Schools are assigned to various buildings in Prospect Hill and Spring Hill districts. Those build- ings are situated far from the homes of many of the scholars, and some of them can be approached only by crossing the track of tlie Fitchburg Railroad.
A suitable building located near the centre of that section of the city, for the use of scholars belonging to classes below the third class of the Grammar Schools, and for such scholars of the Primary Schools as are not already provided for, would add greatly to the convenience of those scholars, and would relieve the crowded rooms in the Luther V. Bell and Prospect Hill school buildings.
103
TEACHERS. - The following-named teachers have been elected within the year : -
Frank M. Hawes, Esq., submaster of the High School.
Frederick Farnsworth, Esq., assistant in the High School.
Robert Bickford, Esq., principal of the Luther'V. Bell school. Miss Anna C. Damon, teacher in the Prospect Hill School.
Miss Harriet H. Weld, teacher in the Morse School. Miss Leila V. Colby, teacher in the Foster School.
Miss Carrie M. Sibley, teacher in the Spring Hill School.
Miss Maud M. Hobson, teacher in the Jackson School.
Miss Annie F. Hills, teacher in the Lincoln School.
Miss Mary A. Paul, teacher in the Holland Street School.
Whole number of teachers 92
Male teachers, 9 ; female teachers, 83.
Number of teachers in the High School .
6
Male teachers, 3 ; female teachers, 3.
Number of teachers in the Grammar Schools 51
Male teachers, 5 ; female teachers, 46.
Number of teachers in the Primary Schools · 35
One teacher of Vocal Music.
MISS LIZZIE C. HOWE, a teacher in the Franklin School, died on the twenty-eighth day of November, after a brief but severe sickness.
Miss Howe graduated at our High School in 1868, and was elected teacher of the Webster School in the autumn of the same year. In 1870, she was transferred to the Franklin School, and retained her connection with that school until the time of her death. She was a faithful, conscientious, and competent teacher, was highly esteemed by the School Committee, and greatly beloved by her pupils and associate teachers.
104
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
SALARIES.
FIRST ELECTED.
High
George L. Baxter
$2,200
1867
Frank M. Hawes .
1,400
1879
66
Frederick Farnsworth
1,050
1879
Sarah W. Fox .
1,050
1868
Sarah L. Graves
850
1865
Annette E. Long
850
1864
Forster
John S. Hayes
1,650
1878
66
Stella M. King
625
1877
66
Mary E. Northup
600
1878
Frances M. Guptill
600
1869
Alice A. Batchelor
575
1877
Nellie M. Whitney
575
1878
66
Martha H. Pennock
550
1873
Leila V. Colby .
300
1879
Lizzie G. Perry
550
1878
Prescott
Gordon A. Southworth
1,900
1873
Anna M. Bates
675
1874
V. E. Hapgood
600
1876
Adelaide Reed
650
1864
Frank P. Hudson
600
1877
Abbie A. Anderson
600
1878
Amelia I. Sears
600
1873
Nancy W. Proctor
575
1869
Catharine T. Brown
575
1868
Clara Taylor
575
1871
Sarah E. Pratt
575
1877
Elgina M. Plummer
550
1877
66
M. Annie Rice .
575
1873
Edgerly
Augusta A. Cowles
625
1865
Harriet N. Sands
575
1864
Anna L. Prescott
550
1873
Clara M. Bagley
550
1873
Tufts Street
H. V. Hathaway
575
1875
Ada Cowles
550
1875
Luther V. Bell .
Robert Bickford .
1,700
1879
Minnie H. Marden
625
1876
Clara A. Battles .
600
1874
Lydia L. Gordon .
600
1869
Ellen M. Gooding
600
1868
Caroline S. Plimpton
600
1859
Abbie C. Hunt .
600
1873
Fannie A. Wilder
600
1874
Anna M. Snow .
575
1866
66
Lydia J. Page
575
1869
Lizzie F. Appleton
550
1874
Augusta M. Houghton
550
1877
66
May E. Berry
300
105.
SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS. - Continued.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
SALARIES.
FIRST ELECTED.
Prospect Hill
Augusta A. Roberts
$650
1861
66
Maria Miller .
575
1870
66
Anna C. Damon
500
1879
66
Ellen Ledyard .
575
1874
Ida A. Howe .
550
1875
Lillian F. Howe
550
1876
Brastow
66
Lizzie D. Harding
425
1877
Bennett
Helen Tincker .
625
1872
66
Adeline Sanderson .
550
1871
·
66
Mary B. Currier
550
1873
66
Emma F. Schuh
550
1874
Jackson
Lizzie W Shelton
625
1860
66
Rebecca F. Woodberry
550
1863
60
Mary L. Sanderson
550
1875
Webster
Ada L. Sanborn
625
1869
66
Nora O'Leary
550
1874
Union
Isabella M. Prince
550
1876
Morse
Charles C. Hunkins
1,600
1877
Nellie P. Nichols .
600
1871
66
Pauline S. Downes
600
1872
66
Harriet H. Weld
600
1871
66
Anna E. Sawyer
575
1873
Beech Street
Mary A. Haley .
575
1868
66
Helen W. Chapin
550
1873
Spring Hill
Carrie M. Sibley
350
1879
Franklin
Jane E. Clark
650
1873
66
Emeline C. Ruggles
550
1876
66
Hattie A. Hill
550
1874
60
Catharine M. Shannon
300
Harvard .
Annie E. Robinson
550
1876
Lincoln
George E. Nichols
1,500
1877
66
Jennie Colburn
600
1875
66
Georgiana Cutter
600
1873
66
Lizzie J. Conwell
575
1873
66
Annie F. Hills
575
1877
Wallace Street
Carrie L. Lacount
550
1875
66
Sarah E. Pray
425
1878
Holland Street .
Mary A Paul
550
1879
Cedar Street .
Alice Simpson
575
1872
66
Alice M. Porter
300
Teacher of Music .
S. H. O. Hadley
1,000
1868
Charlotte I. Houghton
550
1875
Sarah E. Pennock
575
1871
Louise A. Brine
500
1876
Annie L. Savage
550
1873
Louisa M. Wilde
550
1873
106
PRIMARY SCHOOLS. - There has been no increase in the number of schools of this grade during the year, but the average attendance of pupils has been 89 more than last year.
Whole number of Primary Schools 35
Average whole number of pupils for the year 1.785.7
Average attendance . 1,636.7
Per cent of attendance 91.6
Number in attendance at the present time .
2,026 0
In September, Appleton's First and Second Readers were added to the reading books previously in use. The use of spelling books was discontinued. For practice in writing, ruled slates and paper were substituted for copy books.
Prominent among the various methods employed in teaching children to read, are the phonic method, the word method, and the sentence method ; each of which has zealous advocates, and is very generally adopted. All methods soon converge to the same point, and all teachers who follow them pursue, in their subse- quent practice, substantially the same course. If, therefore, any one of the systems specified is to be followed exclusively, prefer- ence would be given to that one which the teacher, who is to use it,
regards with the most favor and would pursue with the greatest earnestness and enthusiasm. Our teachers, in their practice. com- bine the three methods, and secure gratifying results. They follow, substantially, the course indicated by Monroe's Charts and Apple- ton's First Reader, with which they are furnished. The course pursued is essentially as follows : Objects or their pictures are presented to the pupils, in the first lessons in reading, in con- nection with their printed names, that the two may be associated in their minds. When a sufficient number of words have been learned in this manner, they are arranged to form sentences which are read at sight. As soon as practicable, the words already learned are resolved into their elementary sounds. Children very soon acquire facility in the analysis of familiar words, for they readily perceive that the phonic analysis of a word is simply a pro- longed pronunciation of it. This analytic process is soon followed by the synthetic or word-building process, and practice is given in the formation of words from their elementary sounds. In due time, familiar words are spelled by using the names of their letters.
Thus, under skilful management, apt scholars, in a few weeks, acquire the ability to read at sight all the sentences upon the
107
charts, to analyze phonetically the words composing them, and to spell the words in the usual way, naming their letters ; and are pre- pared, with little aid from their teacher, to read the easy lessons in the First Reader. The exercises in reading, by means of which this ability is secured, are so conducted that they become pleasant pastimes to the children.
The Primary Schools are well supplied with standard reading books ; but the scholars soon become familiar with all the lessons they contain, and their interest in them declines. A great ad- vantage would be secured if the first and second classes could be furnished frequently with fresh reading, by the introduction of some serial like the Nursery. The expense that would accrue would be comparatively small, since by exchanges the same series of publications could be used by several schools.
The discontinuance of the use of spelling books in these schools is not on account of any hostility to this class of text-books, but rather in consequence of the lack of adaptation to schools of this grade of the books now in use. To acquire the ability to spell correctly all the 'words of our language which we have occasion to use, is an arduous task. Hence we need to avail ourselves of all means at our disposal to aid in the accomplishment of our purpose. At present our pupils spell the words contained in their reading books, and lists of words prepared by their teachers. They are required also to copy paragraphs from their readers, to write sentences from dictation and sentences of their, own composing. A spelling book which would contain some four or five hundred words that are within the scope of the understanding of scholars of the Primary Schools, for drill exercises in spelling, would be a valuable addition to the agencies now employed.
As soon as the children are familiar with the Roman letters, small and large, script letters are introduced, and in a very brief period they learn to read written words and printed words with equal facility. To aid beginners in gaining an idea of numbers and their combinations, blocks and other expedients are employed. Teachers are furnished with blank cards, upon which they place pictures and brief reading lessons that suggest thoughts to their pupils, which they are encouraged to express in suitable language. Various other means are employed to awaken thought and to encourage expression.
Of many of these schools we can speak in decided terms of approval. Their teachers are in full sympathy with their work,
103
are vigilant in seeking the best methods of teaching, and earnest and judicious in their application of them.
EXHIBIT OF ALL THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Average
whole number.
Average
attendance.
Per cent of
attendance.
Number of
tardinesses.
Number of dismissals.
Forster
M. H. Pennock
49.8
46.8
93.9
8
14
Leila V. Colby .
54.8
51.6
94.1
8
8
Prescott
S. E. Pratt
52.0
49 8
95.7
7
30
E. M. Plummer
62.9
58.1
92 5
9
46
66
M. A. Rice
66.1
60.1
90.9
17
32
Edgerly
A. L. Prescott
52.8
50.3
95.2
78
15
C. M Bagley
57.7
53.2
92 2
94
31
Tufts Street
H. V. Hathaway
48.5
45 1
94 2
74
57
Ada Cowles
52.4
45.7
87.2
85
7
L. V. Bell
L. F. Appleton
54.9
50.1
91.2
47
40
A. M. Houghton
62.6
54.9
87.7
54
25
Prospect Hill
I A. Howe
50.2
47.1
93 8
32
40
66
L. F. Howe .
46.9
43.4
92.5
24
31
Brastow
L. D. Harding
47.3
43.9
92 8
29
8
Bennett
A. Sanderson
40.8
37.8
92.6
34
7
66
M. B. Currier .
43 6
40.6
93.1
30
3
Jackson
R. F. Woodbury .
44.8
42.4
94 6
81
32
M L. Sanderson .
54 8
49.7
90.9
57
1
Webster
N. O'Leary
45.6
43.2
94.7
108
18
66
A. L. Savage
52.4
48 8
93.1
88
10
Morse
L. M. Wilde .
54.2
49.7
91.7
21
24
Beech Street .
H. W. Chapin
50.3
46.3
92.1
69
71
Spring Hill
C. M. Sibley .
53.2
46.3
87 0
166
143
Franklin
E. C. Ruggles
45.0
43.3
95 1
53
4
Harvard
A E. Robinson
55.4
49.9
91.9
84
26
Wallace Street .
C. L. Lacount .
53.2
51.2
96.2
53
43
S. E Pray
40.6
36.4
89.6
37
38
Holland Street .
M. A. Paul
36.0
32 4
90.0
93
30
Cedar Street ..
A. M. Porter
44.0
35.5
80.7
370
102
1785.7
1636.7
91.6
2,138
1,005
E. F. Schuh
54.5
49.9
91.5
36
16
L. A. Brine
47 8
43.4
90.8
61
2
Union
I. M. Prince
57.8
508
88 0
33
13
46.6
43.5
93 3
34
1
H. A. Hills
53.8
48.3
89.6
51
23
C. I. Houghton
52.4
47.2
90.1
13
14
L. G. Perry .
109
GRAMMAR SCHOOLS. - Two Grammar Schools have been organized within the year ; one in Prospect Hill district and one in West Somerville district. For the accommodation of the new school in Prospect Hill district, and the school which was organ- ized in that district in 1878, the hall in the Luther V. Bell School- house was converted into two school-rooms. In West Somerville district, the first floor and basement of the building located on the corner of Holland and Wallace Streets, were hired, and prepared for the accommodation of the two Primary Schools that had occu- pied rooms in Clarendon Block previous to the summer vacation. The new school which was organized in September occupies a room in Clarendon Block, vacated by one of the Primary Schools.
At the beginning of the school year, Barnes's Brief History of the United States was introduced as a text-book, and Anderson's Pop- ular History of the United States for reference and supplementary reading. In the first, fourth, and sixth classes, Appleton's Readers were substituted for the reading books formerly used by those classes.
At the close of the summer term one hundred and thirty-three pupils graduated from the Grammar Schools as follows : -
From the Luther V. Bell School 39
66 Prescott School 38
66 Morse School 24
Forster School 16
Lincoln School 16
Of the graduates, one hundred and two applied for admission to the High School, ninety-eight passed the required examination, and eighty-five entered the school in September.
Whole number of Grammar Schools 48
Average whole number of pupils for the year
.
2,155.5
Average attendance for the year . 2,045.8
Per cent of attendance for the year 94.8
Whole number in attendance at the present time . 2,250
No material changes have been effected during the year in the course of study pursued in the Grammar Schools ; but special and increased efforts have been made to encourage practice in the use of language, spoken and written. Exercises in sentence-making and easy composition, commenced in the Primary Schools, are continued in the lower classes of the Grammar Schools. In the
110
upper classes, letter-writing, the writing of business forms, abstracts of daily lessons, and brief essays form a part of the work of each week. In these exercises special attention is given to the proper arrangement and appropriate expression of ideas. the correct use of capitals and punctuation marks, to the penmanship and general style in the mechanical execution of what is written.
For a series of years the Grammar Schools have been under good management, and have accomplished thorough and substan- tial work. It is high commendation of them to say that they are not only maintaining their former high relative standing, but are making important advances. Less time than formerly is devoted to mere memorizing and text-book recital. Unimportant details are omitted or but incidentally considered, and increased attention is given to the more important points of the studies pursued, espe- cially those which are the bases of subsequent studies. Our aim is more thorough and earnest teaching, more intelligent study by the pupils, and a clearer comprehension of the subjects pursued.
Only a few changes have occurred in the teaching force in this department during the year. All the teachers are performing their work faithfully and well.
Each succeeding year exhibits marked improvement in all the important elements of good schools. A higher standard of schol- arship is secured ; pleasant relations are maintained between teachers and pupils in each department ; better order is preserved, and with fewer cases of punishment. Five Grammar Schools and two Primary Schools report no case of punishment during the year ; one school reports one case only ; one, two cases; one, three cases ; eighteen Grammar Schools and nine Primary Schools, less than ten cases each. Scholars are much more regular and punctual in attendance than formerly. In one school with an average attend- ance of forty-seven pupils, there has been only one case of tardi- ness during the year; two schools report two cases each ; three schools, three cases each.
111
EXHIBIT OF ALL THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Average
whole number.
Average
attendance.
Per cent
of attendance.
Number of
tardinesses.
Number of
dismissals.
Forster
J S. Hayes
49.7
48.5
97.6
2
10
.6
M. E. Northup
43 5
41.5
95.4
3
27
66
F. M. Guptill
54.0
51.1
94.6
4
19
A. A. Batchelor
50.1
47.5
94.8
8
20
N. M. Whitney
54.4
51 4
94.5
6
10
Prescott
G. A. Southworth
37.9
37.3
98.4
2
1
66
Adelaide Reed .
35.4
34.2
96.6
4
25
66
F. P. Hudson
33.0
31.8
96.4
4
20
A. A. Anderson
46.6
45.0
96.6
7
15
60
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