Report of the city of Somerville 1887, Part 7

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1887
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 350


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1887 > Part 7


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POPULATION.


Population of the city, United States census, 1880, 24,985


66 66 " State census, 1885 29,992


Number of persons in the city between five and fifteen years of age in May last, as ascer- tained by the truant officer .


In East Somerville District 1,232


5,722


Prospect Hill 66


2,228


Winter Hill 66


789


Spring Hill 66 776


West Somerville


697


Number between eight and fourteen years of age 4,059


VALUATION.


Valuation of the city, May 1, 1887


Real estate


Personal estate ·


2,249,400


. Rate of taxation .0148


Estimated value of school property


$428,554


DWELLINGS.


Number of dwellings in the city, May 1, 1887


$25,219,900 . $27,469,300


5,494 Number of dwellings constructed during the year,


or in process of construction 287


134


ANNUAL REPORTS.


For a series of years, the number of dwellings in the city has not differed materially from the number of persons between five and fifteen years of age. Hence, a school is required for each fifty occupied dwellings.


EXPENDITURES FROM JAN. 1, 1887, TO JAN. 1, 1888. BY THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Salaries of teachers


$84,029 61


" " janitors


5,083 74


" truant officers


683 00


Salary of superintendent


2,000 00


Water .


634 35


Gas


134 93


Text-books


2,935 00


Writing books


260 00


Drawing books


551 00


Printing


309 40


Stationery and other supplies


1,850 00


Miscellaneous


1,616 97


Total expenditures


$100,088 00


RECEIPTS.


Tuition of non-resident pupils


197 58


Net expenditures


$99,890 42


SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


The Bingham Schoolhouse on Lowell Street, and the Burns Schoolhouse on Cherry Street, which were in process of construc- tion at the beginning of the year, were completed early in the sum- mer, but were not occupied by schools until the beginning of the fall term in September.


These buildings are constructed of brick, and are similar in all respects. They are comely in appearance and pleasantly located. Each contains four schoolrooms which are light, spacious, and attractive. They are heated by steam, are furnished with the most modern appliances for ventilation, and are supplied with every thing essential to the comfort and convenience of pupils, and the successful prosecution of school work.


135


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Cost of the Burns Schoolhouse, including furniture


and heating apparatus


$13,320 40


Cost of the land, 16,080 feet


1,929 60


Total cost .


$15,250 00


Cost of the Bingham Schoolhouse, including furni- ture and heating apparatus .


$13,224 36


Cost of the land, 20,806 feet


1,880 64


Total cost .


$15,105 00


Extensive, important, and satisfactory repairs and improvements have been made at the Prescott, Luther V. Bell, and Prospect Hill Schoolhouses during the year.


ADDITIONAL ACCOMMODATIONS.


West Somerville District. - Rooms located on Elm Street and north of the Arlington branch of the Lowell Railroad, have been hired for the accommodation of primary schools. Permanent accommodations will soon be required in that section of the city.


Prospect Hill District. - For the accommodation of pupils resid- ing south of the Fitchburg Railroad, and also for the relief of the over-crowded schools in Prospect Hill District, the School Board, at their meeting in February last, passed an order requesting the City Council to construct in Ward Two, and south of the Fitchburg Railroad, a school building that will contain eight schoolrooms ; and to construct it in such manner that four schoolrooms may be added whenever the necessities of the neighborhood where it will be located may require them.


In accordance with instructions of the City Council, the Com- mittee on Public Property have selected a lot of land, located on Concord Square, on which to erect a building of the capacity specified by the School Board.


High-School House. - The high school has outgrown its accom- modations. All of the schoolrooms are crowded, and about sixty pupils are occupying the school hall. When the school first occu- pied the present high-school building sixteen years ago, it con- tained one hundred and fifty pupils. The whole number of pupils belonging to the school at the present time is three hundred and


136


ANNUAL REPORTS.


seventy-five. Increase in sixteen years, two hundred and twenty- five. Average annual increase, fourteen. In all probability this rate of increase will continue for many years in the future. Hence the necessity for the immediate adoption of measures for the enlargement of the high-school building.


At the meeting of the School Board in September, the com- mittee on additional school accommodations were instructed to consider and recommend some plan for enlarging the high-school house. That committee have reported, and their recommendation will be presented to the next city government as soon as it is organized.


TABLE SHOWING THE NAME, LOCATION, DATE OF ERECTION, ESTIMATED VALUE, AND CAPACITY OF THE SEVERAL SCHOOL BUILDINGS.


NAME.


LOCATION.


When Built.


No. Feet in Lot.


Estimated Value.


No. of


Rooms.


Union .


Prospect Street (before)


1842


9,360


$2,600


1


Cedar Street


Cedar Street .


1843


800


2


Franklin .


Somerville Avenue


1846


33,017


14,300


4


Prospect Hill


Washington Street.


1848


25,313


20,600


6


Spring Hill


Beech Street .


1850


4,991


1,700


1


Harvard .


Beacon Street


1851


9,810


2,600


1


Brastow


Medford Street


1861


10,019


6,250


2


Jackson


Poplar Street


1861


11,212


8,300


4


Forster


Sycamore Street


1866


32,693


39,422


12


Prescott


Pearl Street .


1867


21,444


42,000


12


Webster


Webster Avenue


1868


11,050


S,300


4


Bennett


Joy Street.


1868


20,560


8,300


4


Morse .


Summer Street .


1869


29,109


26,000


6


High


Highland Avenue


1971


-


44,000


9


Edgerly


Cross Street


1871


26,428


43,100


8


Beech Street


Beech Street (purchased)


1872


6,000


4,750


2


Luther V. Bell .


Vinal Avenue


1874


22,262


43,000


12


Highland


Highland Avenue


1880


23,260


33,000


S


Cummings


School Street


1884


11,300


15,357


4


Davis .


Tufts Street .


1884


29,584


18,333


4


Lincoln


Broadway .


1885


17,662


15,487


4


Burns .


Cherry Street


1886


16,080


15,250


4


Bingham .


Lowell Street


1886


20,896


15,105


4


-


$428,554


118


137


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


SCHEDULE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY IN MARCH, 1843.


Upper Winter Hill Schoolhouse and Land


$500 00


Lower Winter Hill


66


600 00


Prospect Hill


1,400 00


Milk Row


650 00


Total value


. $3,150 00


A history of these buildings is contained in the Annual Report of 1868-69.


SCHOOL DISTRICTS.


The necessity for a division of Prospect Hill District and the construction of a large school building for another grammar school centre, is becoming more urgent each succeeding year.


No addition has been made to the number of school districts or grammar masters for twenty years ; but during those years our school population has increased threefold. The number of schools and of persons between five and fifteen years of age in Prospect Hill District at the present time, exceeds the number in the entire city twenty years ago. Thirty-four schools containing eighteen hundred and seventy-five pupils are tributary to the first class, which, necessarily, occupies two schoolrooms.


I will reiterate what was said under the head of " additional school districts " in the report of 1884: "The best arrangement yet devised for convenience and efficiency, is a district containing twelve grammar schools, under the supervision of a grammar master, and accommodated in one building centrally located, and nine primary schools situated near the homes of the pupils. That number of schools will furnish, ordinarily, a first class of about fifty pupils for the principal and his assistant, - a number that can be well accommodated in one schoolroom. Any increase of that number detracts seriously from the advantages which pupils should receive during the year in which they are members of the first class, - the most important year, doubtless, of their entire public-school course."


138


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS, THE NUMBER OF PUPILS IN ATTENDANCE IN DECEMBER, THE NUMBER IN THE FIRST CLASS, AND THE AVERAGE NUMBER TO A SCHOOL.


DISTRICTS.


No. of Schools.


No. of Teachers.


No. of Pupils.


No. in First Class.


Average No. to a School.


Prospect Hill


36


37


1,889


72


52.5


East Somerville


23


24


1,178


62


51.2


Winter Hill .


17


18


816


40


48.0


Spring Hill


16


17


732


44


45.7


West Somerville


15


16


702


57


46.8


Total


107


112


5,317


275


49.9


The following items give the time of the establishment of the several grammar school centres, the number of persons of school age at the time, and the average number to a grammar master :-


Prospect Hill Grammar School. - April, 1842, the Prospect Hill Grammar School was organized. William E. Graves was elected principal. Salary, $600. Number of pupils in the town at that time, 293.


Lower Winter Hill Grammar School. - In 1843 the Lower Winter Hill Grammar Schoolhouse, containing one schoolroom, was built. April, 1844, the Lower Winter Hill Grammar School was organized. George Swan, was elected principal. Salary, $30 per month. Number of persons of school age at that time, 308. Average number to a grammar master, 154. The name " Lower Winter Hill School " was changed to " Prescott School," Jan. 8, 1847.


Franklin Grammar School. - In 1846 the Franklin School- house, containing two schoolrooms, was built. In November of that year the Franklin Grammar School was organized. William E. Graves of the Prospect Hill School was appointed principal. Number of persons of school age at that time, 524. Average number to a grammar master, 175.


The Franklin Schoolhouse was enlarged to its present size in 1862.


Forster Grammar School. - In 1854 the first Forster School- house, containing four schoolrooms, was built. In February, 1855, the Forster Grammar School was organized. John Jameson was


139


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


elected principal. Salary, $700. Number of persons of school age at that time, 1,043. Average number to a grammar master, 260.


Lincoln Grammar School. - In 1866 the first Lincoln School- house, containing four schoolrooms, was built. January, 1867, the Lincoln Grammar School was organized. Horace P. Makechnie was elected principal. Salary, $1,000. Number of persons of school age at that time, 2,123. Average number to a grammar master, 425.


SUMMARY.


DISTRICTS.


SCHOOL.


Date of Organization.


No. of Pupils.


Average No. to a Grammar Master.


Prospect Hill


Prospect Hill


April, 1842


293


293


East Somerville


Prescott


April, 1844


308


154


Spring Hill


Franklin


Nov. 1846


524


175


Winter Hill .


Forster


Feb. 1855


1,043


261


West Somerville


Lincoln


Jan. 1867


2,123


425


Average number of pupils to a grammar master at the present time is 1,138.


SCHOOLS.


The schools which were occupying rooms in Clarendon Block and the basements of the Morse and the Forster School buildings, at the close of the school year, and one of the Cedar Street schools, were transferred to the new buildings. In September an additional grammar school was formed in each of those build- ings, and in October a primary school, in a room hired for the purpose, on Elm Street, West Somerville.


Whole number of schools


108


High school .


1


Grammar schools .


59


Primary schools


48


Increase for the year


· 3


140


ANNUAL REPORTS.


EXHIBIT OF THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS IN THE SEVERAL DISTRICTS.


DISTRICTS.


SCHOOLS.


No. of


Occupied.


No. of


Grammar


Schools.


No. of


Primary


Schools.


Total No. of Schools.


East Somerville .


Prescott


12


8


11


66


Davis


4


1


3


4


Prospect Hill .


L. V. Bell .


12


11


1


12


Prospect Hill


6


3


3


6


66


Cummings


4


1


3


4


Brastow


2


1


1


2


66


Webster


3


1


2


3


Union


1


1


1


Winter Hill


Forster


12


8


4


12


Bingham .


4


1


3


4


Spring Hill


Morse


6


2


2


2


Spring Hill


1


1


1


66


Franklin


4


2


4


Harvard .


1


1


1


West Somerville .


Highland .


S


2


8


Elm Street


1


1


1


66


*Burns


4


2


4


66


Lincoln


4


2


4


116


59


48


108


* Tributary to the Morse and the Highland Schools.


TEACHERS.


Thirteen teachers have resigned within the year, sixteen have been elected, and one - Mrs. Isabella M. Prince - has died.


Mrs. Prince was educated in our public schools, and was gradu- ated at the high school with the class of 1865. For ten years, and until within a few weeks of the time of death, she was teacher of the Union primary school. She was tender and watchful of her pupils, earnest in her efforts for their improvement, and faith- ful in the performance of every duty.


ELECTED.


Mr. Charles T. Murray, junior sub-master in the high school. Miss Josephine H. Short, teacher in the high school.


-


1


Edgerly


8


4


4


8


Bennett


4


1


3


4


Jackson


4


1


3


4


Cedar Street


1


6 - 2 6 2 2 22 19 1 21 1911


1


1


-


6


Beech Street


Schoolrooms


High


9


141


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Miss Bessie R. White, teacher in the high school. Miss Marietta S. Murch, teacher in the Foster School. Mrs. Alice W. Emerson, principal of the Bingham School. Miss Cora Foster, teacher in the Bingham School. Miss Lilla J. Pike, teacher in the Edgerly School. Miss Nellie A. Knowlton, teacher in the L. V. Bell School. Miss Annie E. Searles, teacher in the Bennett School. Miss Carrie E. Cobb, teacher in the Webster School. Miss Florence B. Ashley, teacher in the Harvard School. Miss Mary E. Emerson, teacher in the Highland School. Miss Harriet B. Sargent, teacher in the Highland School. Miss Jennie C. Frazier, teacher in the Highland School. Miss H. A. P. Roth, principal of the Lincoln School. Miss Pauline A. Osgood, teacher in the Lincoln School.


RESIGNED.


Mr. Fred B. Hall, teacher in the high school. Miss Minnie C. Clark, teacher in the high school. Miss Agnes L. Adams, teacher in the Foster School. Miss Harriette H. Winslow, teacher in the Edgerly School. Miss Anna L. Prescott, teacher in the Edgerly School. Miss Lilla A. Haywood, teacher in the Highland School.


Miss Alice E. Gage, teacher in the Highland School. Miss Evelyn E. Getchell, teacher in the Highland School. Miss Emeline S. Curtis, teacher in the Highland School. Miss Jennie Colburn, teacher in the Lincoln School. Miss Elvira Morrill, teacher in the L. V. Bell School. Miss Ellen M. Farnsworth, teacher in the L. V. Bell School. Miss Estelle E. Patrick, teacher in the Webster School.


The teachers who have resigned were highly esteemed, and were doing good work in their respective places. Many of them were classed with the best in the city.


So many changes have been rung upon the correspondence, in character, between teachers and their schools, the subject has become trite and apparently void of interest; but it is none the less important on that account. The character of the schools in any community always indicates the quality of the teachers em- ployed by that community. Hence no consideration should ever induce us to deviate from our settled policy and practice, to fill


142


ANNUAL REPORTS.


all vacancies and supply all new schools with the best teachers that our inducements will secure, - teachers eminent in all essential qualifications.


The very generally admitted excellence of our schools in the several departments, is due, in large measure, to the intelligence, the ability, the fidelity, and the untiring devotion of the teachers. We cordially commend them to the confidence of our citizens, and would solicit for them a continuance of the sympathy and co- operation which have been so generously bestowed hitherto.


Number of teachers


. 123


Male teachers, 9 ; female teachers, 114.


Number of teachers in the high school


10


Male teachers, 3; female teachers, 7.


Number of teachers in the grammar schools Male teachers, 5 ; female teachers, 59.


64


Number of teachers in the primary schools .


48


One teacher of vocal music.


Number of teachers who are graduates of our high school


53


Number of teachers who are graduates of normal schools . 30


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


Salaries.


When Elected.


High


George L. Baxter


$2,400


1867


66


Frank M. Hawes


1,800


1879


66


Charles T. Murray .


1,200


1SS7


66


Sarah F. Litchfield .


S50


1880


66


Fannie W. Kaan


850


1882


Eudora Morey


800


1882


66


Laura E. Giddings


S00


1882


66


Bessie R. White .


700


1887


66


Josephine H. Short


600


1887


Prescott


G. A. Southworth


1,900


1873


6 6


Anna M. Bates


700


1874


66


Adelaide Reed


650


1877


66


Amy C. Hudson .


600


1SS5


66


Abbie A. Anderson


600


1878


66


Emma M. Cate


600


1882


Amelia I. Sears .


600


1873


66


Catharine T. Brown


575


186S


66


Clara Taylor


575


1871


Sarah E. Pratt


600


1877


Elgina M. Plummer


550


1877


66


Florence M. Morton


550


1882


Sarah W. Fox


1,200


1868


143


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS - Continued. "


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


Salaries.


When Elected.


Edgerly


Frank P. Hudson


800


1877


Lilla J. Pike .


600


1887


66


Hattie M. Pierce


575


1882


Fannie F. Fuller


575


1884


66


Lillian Nealley .


550


1882


66


Ada Cowles


550


1875


Davis .


Lucretia A. Burns


625


1882


Florence A. Robinson .


550


1883


66


Priscilla A. Merritt


525


1885


Luther V. Bell .


Herbert L. Morse


1,700


1885


66


Abbie C. Hunt .


675


1873


66


May E. Berry .


675


1880


66


Hattie E. Adams


600


1885


66


Lillian M. Walton


600


1886


66


Emina F. Schuh .


600


1874


66


66


Alice M. Wight .


600


1886


66


Fannie A. Wilder


600


1874


66


66


Nellie A. Knowlton


575


1887


Prospect Hill


Helen Tincker


700


1872


66


66


Ellen Ledyard


575


1874


60


66


Lucy E. Clark


400


1884


66


66


Charlotte I. Houghton


550


1875


Cummings


Lydia J. Page


625


1869


66


Augusta M. Houghton


550


1877


66


Annie Coffin .


400


1884


Brastow


Maria Miller


575


1875


66


Helen M. Dodge .


450


1884


Bennett


Mary B. Smith


625


1885


Annie E. Searles


550


1887


Annie Sheridan .


350


1886


Jackson


Annie E. McCarty


625


1880


Fannie L. Gwynn


350


1886


66


Annie E. Crimmings


450


1884


Webster


Carrie E. Cobb


625


1887


66


Ida F. Fillebrown


300


1887


66


Annie L. Savage


550


1873


Union.


Annie E. Robinson .


550


1876


Forster


John S. Hayes


1,800


1878


66


Mary E. Northup


675


1878


Mary E. Stiles


600


1883


66


Nellie A. Hamblin .


600


1882


Alice I. Norcross


575


1885


Eliza L. Schuh


550


1882


6


Sarah A. Tuttle .


350


1886


Lizzie W. Parkhurst


550


1885


Addie M. Brown


350


1886


Isadore E. Taylor


550


1883


Lena G. Allen


450


1884


66


Ellen M. Gooding


600


1868


Gertrude A. Earle .


450


1884


Mary B. Currier


550


1873


Clara M. Bagley .


550


1873


144


ANNUAL REPORTS.


SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS - Concluded.


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


Salaries.


When Elected.


Forster


Marietta S. Murch .


600


1887


66


Minna L. Wentworth .


600


1885


Frances M. Guptill .


600


1869


66


Lizzie F. Clement


575


1884


66


Alice A. Batchelor .


575


1877


Addie S. Winnek


575


1883


Mary A. Osborne


550


1885


66


Leila V. Colby


550


1879


66


Annie S. Gage


550


1883


Lizzie G. Perry


550


1878


Bingham .


Alice W. Emerson


625


1887


66


Alice Simpson


550


1872


66


Nora F. Byard


450


1884


Cedar Street


Alice M. Porter .


550


1880


Morse .


Horatio D. Newton


1,600


1886


66


Stella Hall .


600


1884


66


Ella F. Gould


600


1882


66


Mary A. Haley


575


1868


Beech Street


Mary E. Bosworth


600


1882


Spring Hill


Bertha L. Emerson


550


18Số


Franklin .


Hattie A. Hills


650


1874


Emeline C. Summerhayes


575


1876


66


Caroline S. Plimpton


550


1859


Harvard


Florence B. Ashley .


350


1887


Burns .


Laura J. Brooks


625


1883


Minnie S. Turner


450


1885


Hallie M. Hood .


550


1884


Highland


George E. Nichols


1,700


1877


M. Alice Paul


675


1879


66


Harriet B. Sargent .


600


1SS7


66


Florence N. Robbins


600


1885


66


S. Adelaide Blood


.


600


1882


Annie R. Cox


575


1883


66


Sarah E. Pray


550


1878


66


Mary E. Emerson


550


1887


Elm Street


Mary Winslow


300


Lincoln


H. A. P. Roth


625


1SS7


Pauline A. Osgood .


400


1887


66


Charlotte F. Mott


550


1886


66


Annie C. Thayer


400


1SS5


Teacher of Music.


S. Henry Hadley


1,333


186S


Cora Foster


500


1887


Mina J. Wendell


675


1882


Pauline S. Downes .


600


1872


Anna E. Sawyer.


600


1873


Nelly W. French


550


1886


Anna C. Damon


550


1879


Annie L. Browne


450


1885


Jennie C. Frazier


475


1887


145


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. ,


PUPILS.


Number of pupils in attendance in January


5,267


Number of persons in the city between five and fifteen years


of age, on the first day of May . 5,722 .


Number between eight and fourteen years of age


. 4,059


Number in attendance in December . 5,692


In the high school . 375


In the grammar schools, . 2.809


In the primary schools .2,508


Number over fifteen years of age in December


536


In the high school


340


In the grammar schools


196


Whole number registered during the year .


6,605


In the high school


. 518


In the grammar schools


. 2,956


In the primary schools


. 3,131


Average number to a teacher in the high school in December . 37


Average number to .a room in the grammar schools in December


. 47


Average number to a room in the primary schools in


December .


52


TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF PUPILS IN EACH OF THE THIRTEEN CLASSES IN DECEMBER, AND THE AVERAGE AGE OF PUPILS IN EACH CLASS.


Grade.


Class.


Boys.


Girls.


Total.


Average Age.


High


First


23


35


58


18 yrs. 6 mos.


Second


22


50


72


17


.6


4


2 6


Fourth


56


S5


141


15


..


Grammar


First


123


152


275


14


66 7


66


Second


168


164


332


14


0


66


66


Third .


240


208


448


13


0


6 .


66


Fifth


314


243


557


11


4


66


66


Sixth


395


296


691


10


.6


3


Primary


First


341


293


634


9


..


5


:


66


Second


396


334


730


S


66


2


Third


660


484


1,144


6


5


3,079


2,613


5,692


Third


42


62


104


16


Fourth


299


207


506


12


66


146


ANNUAL REPORTS.


PRIMARY SCHOOLS.


The work required of the primary schools is definitely outlined in our course of study, and is ample. We would not extend our instruction beyond the prescribed limits, but would aim to secure great thoroughness within them.


Advancement in the primary grades, especially, should be by short stages and an easy gradation. The danger is, that too much, rather than too little, will be expected and demanded of children in the primary schools. Forced growth is unhealthy growth, and should be avoided. Precocity is usually prophetic of premature decay. The temptation and the tendency to foster it should be firmly and persistently resisted. In our instruction and training, the natural development of the child's mental faculties should be studiously observed, and scrupulously followed.


We should labor earnestly to encourage promptness, close atten- tion, and careful observation. Correct habits in the performance of whatever may be required should be carefully cultivated. All exercises should be brisk and spirited ; but recitations and instruc- tion should never be prolonged to the point of weariness. In arithmetic, small numbers, such as are within the comprehension of pupils, should be employed. By incessant repetition, great facil- ity and accuracy in all possible combinations of abstract numbers, to the extent indicated in the course of study, should be secured. The application of numbers in the solution of concrete problems is mainly the work of later years.


Obtaining correct pronunciation, distinct articulation, and famil- iarity with words is the prime, the paramount work of primary schools. Hence reading and spelling claim, and should receive, a large share of time and attention. Children should read much. Exercises in reading should be frequent, but not prolonged. A good degree of mechanical skill must precede rhetorical reading, and its attainment is the special work of the primary schools and the lower grades of the grammar schools. If pupils are unable to read with fluency, their minds will be occupied with the words and diverted from the thoughts expressed ; consequently, they cannot apply correctly the proper emphasis, stress, and inflections, and produce good reading. When, however, the words employed are familiar, and the thoughts expressed are understood, children of the lowest grade of the primary schools even, if well in-


147


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


structed, can read with proper expression and good rhetorical effect.


The special need of our primary schools at the present time is a systematic course of instruction in vocal music. For many years, music has been. taught in the high school and the several grades of the grammar schools, with marked success. Pupils in the lower and middle classes of the grammar schools read ordinary music, at sight, with facility ; and pupils of the high school and the upper classes of the grammar schools, music of high order. But from want of special and systematic instruction, music in our pri- mary schools bears unfavorable comparison with that in schools of similar grade in neighboring cities.


It is the universal testimony of those who have had long experi- ence in teaching music in primary schools, that it can be taught successfully to pupils of the lowest grade, that children at an early age learn to sing and learn to read with equal facility.


Systematic instruction will prevent those habits of singing which children are prone to contract, to the injury of their voices, when left to themselves or to unskilled guidance, and will furnish new and interesting songs for recreation, and such as are suited to form part of the devotional exercises of the schools.


Number of primary schools .


48


Number of pupils in attendance in January .


2,257


Number admitted during the year .


874


Number promoted to the grammar schools


549


Number in attendance in December


2,508


Boys, 1,397 ; girls, 1,111.


Number registered during the year


3,131


148


ANNUAL REPORTS.


EXHIBIT OF THE PRIMARY SCHOOLS.


SCHOOLS.


TEACHERS.


Average


Whole No.


Average


Attendance.


Per cent of


Attendance.


Tardinesses.


Dismissals.


Prescott .


S. E. Pratt


45.9


43.0


93.7


4


9


66




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