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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