USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1889 > Part 7
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On Schools in Spring Hilll District .- MR. CARR, MRS. UPHAM, DR. BRYANT. On Schools in West Somerville District .- DR. BRYANT, MRS. UPHAM, MR. CARR. On Rules and Regulations - MESSRS. SHEPARD, CUTLER, HILL.
On Examination of Teachers- MRS. UPHAM, MESSRS. WHITE, DICKERMAN. On Text-Books - MESSRS. BEARD, DICKERMAN, HEMENWAY, CARR, BINGHAM, WHITE, SHEPARD.
On Music- MESSRS. BEARD, CUTLER, BINGHAM, BRYANT.
On Evening Schools - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, CARR, CUTLER, SHEPARD.
On Drawing and Penmanship - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, CUTLER, SHEPARD, BEARD. On Industrial Education -MESSRS. CUTLER, SHEPARD, CARVILL, MRS. UPHAM, MESSRS. HILL, CARR.
On Approval of Private Schools - MESSRS. OSGOOD, BEARD, MRS. UPHAM. On School Supplies - MESSRS. CARR, HEMENWAY, CARVILL, WHITE. On Finance - MESSRS. WHITE, BEARD, OSGOOD.
On Salaries - MESSRS. BINGHAM, SHEPARD, BRYANT, CUTLER.
On Repairs and Heating Apparatus - MESSRS. HEMENWAY, CARR, CARVILL, CUTLER.
On Additional School Accommodations - MAYOR POPE, MESSRS. CARR, BRYANT, CARVILL, OSGOOD.
On Fuel - MESSRS. HILL, CARVILL, OSGOOD.
On Examination of Ninth Class-MRS. UPHAM, MESSRS BINGHAM, SHEPARD, HEMENWAY.
On Examination of Eighth Class -MESSRS. CARVILL, BRYANT. On Examination of the Seventh Class- MESSRS. BEARD, OSGOOD.
On Examination of sixth Class - MESSRS. WHITE, CARR.
On Examination of Fifth Class - MESSRS. CUTLER, HILL.
On Examination of Fourth Class - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, SHEPARD.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of the City of Somerville :-
GENTLEMEN AND LADIES,-In conformity with established customs, and in compliance with your request, I have the honor to submit my second annual report upon the condition of the public schools for the year 1889, together with some educational problems, which it may be within your province to consider.
In presenting the report of the progress of education in our city during the past year, I am moved at the outset to express my appre- ciation of the spirit manifested in our schools ; the cordial relations existing between the teachers and pupils, as I have had the oppor- tunity of seeing it from day to day in my visits : the lively interest in the various departments of study, and the readiness with which the work has been taken up by all. I feel gratified for much that has been done ; and yet I am not unmindful of the fact that I have fallen far short of what I hoped to do. I am more and more im- pressed with the limitations of human possibilities, and realize that without the encouragement, co-operation and support of my fellow- workers my usefulness would have been of little consequence.
The usual statistics, in detail, will be found in the appendix. a summary of which is as follows :-
Population of the city, United States census, 1885, 1889 (approximately)
29.992
Number of persons in the city between five and fifteen years of age in May last, as ascertained by the truant officer . 6,135
In East Somerville District 1,173
" Prospect Hill
2,402
" Winter Hill 948
" Spring Hill 6: 930
". West Somerville 682
Number between eight and fourteen years of age . 3,746
136
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Grammar
High School. and Primary Schools.
Total.
Whole number registered during the year . 420
7,337
7,757
Average whole number belonging
. 388
5,568
6,956
Average attendance .
371
5,214
5,585
VALUATION.
Valuation of the city, May 1, 1889
$30,004,600
Real estate
$27,830,700 ·
Personal estate .
2,173,900
Rate of taxation
.014
Estimated value of school property
·
448,721
DWELLINGS.
Number of dwellings in the city, May 1, 1889 .
6,366
Number of dwellings constructed during the year, or
in process of construction 425
I had hoped that the Board would appoint a committee to prepare a report for the year, as it did in 1888, and leave the Superintendent to present the educational work from the teacher's side, with such comments as might seem necessary. By such a plan, which is fol- lowed in most cities, both would be free to present to the citizens the work and administration of the schools from all standpoints. The Superintendent is necessarily constrained in trying to present his own views, and, at the same time, fittingly represent the senti- ments of the Board.
I have arranged this report so that the difficulty may be, in a measure, avoided by dividing it into three sections : 1. A Review of the Proceedings ; 2. Our School System ; 3. Educational Progress. The appendix contains statistics.
SECTION I.
REVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
The year 1889 opened with three changes in the School Board. The two ex-officio members, Mayor Burns and President Proctor, gave way to Mayor Pope and President Edwards, and Professor Brown, one of the oldest members of the Board, retired in favor of Mrs. Upham, of West Somerville. The resolutions passed by the School Committee of 1×88, fittingly testify to the valuable services rendered the city and the schools by these retiring members.
1
137
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
BUILDINGS.
School Accommodations .- Jan. 14, it was voted that all requests for additional school accommodations should be referred to the standing committee on that subject. One of the first matters of consideration by the School Board, was the condition of our school buildings, and the need of increased accommodations and better sanitary conditions.
Feb. 5, a very important special meeting was called for the pur- pose of formulating recommendations to be sent to the city govern- ment, and accordingly it was voted to ask the City Council to build a twelve-room building on or near the present Prospect Hill School lot for a new grammar school ; an eight-room building at Concord square to further relieve Ward 2, and a twelve-room building on the high land of Spring Hill. At the same time, it was recommended that improved systems of heating and ventilating be adopted for all new buildings and for old ones as soon as possible. The Edgerly school building was especially mentioned in this request. In the meantime, it was found necessary to have temporary rooms for the relief of the Prospect Hill District.
Oct. 5, the Committee on High School recommended that a new building be erected on Central Hill for the English High School, which should be furnished with all the appliances, laboratories, etc., for science and manual training. This was referred to the Com- mittee on Additional School Accommodations.
At the April meeting, the superintendent presented a report of his visit to Worcester, Springfield, Newark, Brooklyn, and Washing- ton, which contained his observations and suggestions about school- house construction, ventilation, and sanitation. He described the Smead system and others, giving illustrations and reporting tests made. The following paragraphs of the report are here reproduced, as follows : -
"' I have been investigating the subject of ventilation for a good many years, and have long been convinced that the proper heating and ventilating of our school-houses is one of the first considerations, proper physical and hygienic conditions being absolutely essential to education.
" The following facts are agreed upon by all authorities on sani- tation : -
138
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Ventilation implies the constant supply of fresh air sufficient to promptly remove the impure air resulting from exhalation.
Exhaled air is composed chiefly of watery vapor, carbonic acid, and organic matter.
The lungs produce an extremely active poison, which is thrown off by the exhaled breath. This renders confined air dangerous. Dr. Parker says, "It may be assumed that the quantity of air supplied to every inhabited room, should be great enough to remove all sen- sible impurities."
The organic matter which contributes towards vitiating the air, may be determined by the amount of carbonic acid present in a room, as they increase in the same proportion. According to Dr. Parke, a person weighing 160 lbs. gives off .7 cubic ft. of carbonic acid gas per hour ; one of 120 lbs. gives off .6 cubic ft. ; a child of 80 lbs. . 4 cubic ft., which amounts may easily be increased by activity.
If a child exhales .4 cubic ft. of carbonic acid gas per hour, the supply of pure air necessary would be 2000 cubic ft., because that pois- onous element becomes perceptible when one part is present in 5000 cubic ft., or .1 part in 500 cubic ft., and .4 part would require at least 2000 cubic feet. That would be 33g cubic ft. per minute for each child.
Some authorities maintain a higher rate of fresh air, regarding this as a point when the impure air is perceptible. Others sav that 20 cu. ft. is the danger point, and ventilation under these conditions is only "tolerable ' and ""' less than desirable." The authorities agree that new buildings should provide for from 25 to 35 cu. ft.
The grade of school or age of children does not enterin to con- sideration, for the reason that young, active children consume air faster than larger ones, and have at the same time less physical strength to fight off the evil effects of bad air. Consequently they should be provided with as much pure air as the older ones.
The report concluded with the recommendation that a commission be organized to examine and report upon our school buildings. Dr. White, Dr. Carvill, Mr. Dickerman, and Mr. Carr were appointed a committee with power to organize such a commission.
MANUAL TRAINING.
This subject has received considerable attention from the Board during the year. At the first regular meeting, Jan. 14th, the super- intendent indicated briefly some of the matters which should engage the attention of the School Committee as early as possible, one sec- tion of the report being as follows :-
" It was quite generally understood when my election to this office took place that being an advocate of manual training, and
139
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
having had some practical experience in establishing certain of its features in the schools over which I had charge, I would endeavor to inaugurate a system here. I was encouraged by finding a strong sentiment in the Board in favor of some such modification of our Somerville course, and I have been very much gratified by the con- sideration of what I have already presented to the Board and by the support given to the beginnings that have already been made in the direction of drawing, modeling, sewing, and the kindergarten."
"I think it has passed beyond question that the school system should furnish some form of manual training for every boy and girl." I quote this from Dr. Samuel Eliot, ex-superintendent of schools, Bos- ton, who has the reputation of being a conservative, and one who makes his decisions only after careful investigation and thought.
I. Such a system begins with the kindergarten. The kindergar- ten is being incorporated into the school system of many cities and towns in the country, and our own State is making good progress in this direction. This year Boston has made a large appropriation for this work. We should open kindergartens in every school district in the city and admit children four years of age. If you will per- mit me, I would like to quote from the last report of Superintendent Seaver, of Boston, which embraces in a few words all that I could say in support of my suggestion.
"1. On the intellectual side. The effect of kindergarten training as shown in highly quickened powers of observation ; in the posses- sion of clear ideas, derived chiefly from systematically guided obser- vation ; in the power to express these ideas well in conversation ; in the great readiness with which the art of reading is learned ; in the very considerable knowledge of numbers and their relations object- ively acquired ; in some knowledge of forms and colors ; in a consid- erable development and discipline of the active powers. as displayed in the comparative ease with which the manual arts of drawing, writ- ing, and slate work are acquired.
" 2. On the moral side. The effects of good kindergarten training are traceable in the first manifestations of a sense of justice, one child learning to recognize the rights of other children as limitations on his own rights ; in habitual acts of kindness and generosity. evin- cing a disposition to yield to others what may gratify them but can- not be demanded by them as a matter of right ; in polite manners ; in truthfulness, its opposite never being fostered by harsh discipline ; in an eager desire to please the teacher ; and finally, to refer to a characteristic which may certainly be ranked as a virtue, in personal cleanliness and neatness."
II. It is important that the primary schools should also afford training of the same character. To do this, every teacher should
140
ANNUAL REPORTS.
understand the work of the kindergarten, because the occupations and gifts, as well as the exercises for physical training, constitute. what is necessary for such a course. This can be accomplished by a series of lessons given to the primary teachers by someone who. has had the training and the experience. This is now being done in Boston, and has been done elsewhere.
III. For the grammar classes in addition to the sewing, we should introduce drawing with instruments in the higher classes and construction in suitable material for all classes. The material may be clay, paper, cardboard, box-wood, white-wood, pine, cherry, etc. The tools should be scissors, knives, scroll saws, carving tools, and, possibly, carpenters' tools. I should like to see a room in each dis- trict for such work, but think that if one room in the city could be fitted up, we might for the present have classes from all the districts by turn use it, as in New Haven, Springfield, Pater- son and many other places. The expense would not be very great.
IV. For the High School. I see no way of introducing any new subjects in the High School as it is now constituted and in the present building, but I firmly believe that there should be a manual training course for High School students. Sach a course would re- quire another building. We should in September introduce drawing, freehand and mechanical. We should have laboratories for Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and Photography. We should have a labor- atory for wood work, including carpentry, carving, turning, pattern- making. Appliances for metal working should be added later. For the girls, lessons in domestic economy, including cookery, should be provided. This would require another room, which should be fitted up with gas-stoves, etc. The present course could be modified to admit this. I have the testimony of the High School teachers that many of the students need such training as this would give them.
Jan. 28. The Committee on Industrial Education reported as follows :
That they have been making inquiries, and are continuing their investigations, to ascertain the expense of introducing some features of manual training. The estimated cost of furnishing a kinder- garten, with necessary apparatus and material, is about $70. We have the equipment for five kindergartens. The salary of the teachers is the same as that of primary teachers. The cost of sew-
141
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
ing is practically nothing beyond the salaries of the teachers, now $1000. The cost of fitting up a room for wood work would be about $500, a room for cooking, from $300 to $400.
To ascertain the sentiments of the High School students, the follow- ing circular letter was sent to them in January :
After stating that replies would be optional, that the inquiry was designed to inform the school authorities as to the sentiments, pref- erences, and needs of the students educationally, and, as far as possible, the wishes and opinions of the parents; it asked them to state name, residence, class, course, studies now pursued, which studies are least enjoyable, which department of scholastic work is preferred. Also the following :
" Do you intend to enter a higher institution, or to take a course of studies after graduation ? If so, what?
" What profession or occupation do you think your abilities or talents qualify you to pursue ?
" Have you any taste for drawing? Are you interested in art, architecture, machinery, or other constructive work ?
" Do you possess a ready faculty for construction or handiwork?
" Have you ever used drawing instruments or tools of any kind ? If so, what, and with what success?"
The five following questions were intended for the girls only :
" What instruction have you had in needle-work? What is your candid judgment of your skill in such work ?
" Do you make any of your own garments ?
" What instruction have you had in preparing food for family use, in the value or cost of the various articles of food?
" What articles of food can you prepare for table use ? "
The following were designed for all :
" Would you like to receive, or do you feel the need of instruction as a part of the High School course. in any of the branches above suggested? If so, what?
" So far as you know, would it meet the approval of your parents ? "
A summary of the replies to the questions showed in the case of the girls :
Number replying
216
" in Regular and Classical Courses 6 143
142
ANNUAL REPORTS.
No. in English Courses .
73
" intending to go to college
12
" teach 24
" who can do some needle-work
172
.. .. " " cooking
129
" " would like to have manual training in High School · · 187
Number whose parents approve its instruction, - practically all.
As to the boys :
Number replying 132
" in Regular and Classical Courses 100
" " English Courses 32
" intending to go to college 36
66 " " " Institute of Technology
17
66 " teach
1
" who have chosen their profession or business " want military drill introduced
36
80
102
" " "manual training
"' whose parents approve, - so far as they know, - all.
Very few had had any instruction in the use of instruments or tools.
Feb. 25. The Board voted to adopt the report of the Committee on Industrial Education, which recommended that sewing be continued in the grammar schools, on the plan pursued during the past year, that a room be fitted up for wood-work for the boys of the High School and some of the grammar grades, and that the Finance Com- mittee include in the estimates for the fiscal year the sum of $2000, to be expended for manual training.
April 29. The superintendent read a report of visits to several cities. a part of which was devoted to the subject of manual training. Descriptions were given of the work in drawing in the Worcester and Springfield schools ; of the manual training school in Spring- field, and of the construction and sewing in the grammar schools ; of the Pratt Institute, Brooklyn ; of the form study and drawing in Newark ; and the kindergartens, drawing, sewing, and manual train- ing work in Washington, D. C. In Washington, the kindergartens are a part of the primary schools, and no separate appropriation is made for their support. Drawing is progressing under the same system as used here, and at the other places visited. Sewing is
143
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
taught to all the girls of the grammar schools by six sewing teachers. There are eight cooking schools for grammar and high school girls. There are nine shops for wood and metal work for grammar and high school boys. Manual training in Washington has passed beyond the experimental stage.
SALARIES.
Mar. 25. The truant officer's salary was fixed at $900 per annum.
May 27. The Committee on Salaries reported a new schedule of teachers' salaries which was adopted. The schedule will be found under the subject of " Rules."
Oct. 28. The Board adopted a new schedule of salaries for jani- tors, in consideration of the extra work that has been required of them by the change of rules, viz. :
Joseph Young. High School, $600 and rent and fuel.
W. H. Kelly. Prescott School, 660
W. H. Denton, Edgerly
290
N. L. Pennock, Davis ..
220
66
Brastow . .
110
J. L. Whitaker,
Forster . .
660 and annex $60.
P. T. O'Brien,
Bingham ..
250
A. M. Porter,
Cedar St.
60
D. H. Rinn.
L. V. Bell “
715
E. T. Peterson,
Prospect Hill School, 330
A. Shiner,
Bennett
220 less rent & fuel, $140.
John Battles,
Jackson
220
Webster . .
220
66 66
B. F. Sheridan,
Union 66
60
James Deacon.
Cumming's
220
W. H. Laskey, . 6
Morse
400 for the present.
M. E. Bosworth,
Beech St.
$110
Spring Hill
60
H. A. Hills,
Franklin
220
F. A. Hersey,
Burns
250
F. B. Ashley,
Harvard
60
W. H. Dennis. Stephen A. Howe, O. F. Page.
Highland
440
Elm St.
100 ten months.
Lincoln 66 250
when completed $55 per room.
..
144
ANNUAL REPORTS.
E. F. Reed, Eberle Hall 66 50 ten months.
J. R. Gott, Indep'ent Hall " 50
Margt. F. Sullivan, Som. Ave. Bg. " 50 66
A. O. Taylor,
Bow St. 66 80 66
TEXT BOOKS, ETC.
April 29th. It was. voted to buy reference books for the High School as follows :-
Brewer's Hand-Book of Biography and Literature.
Gow's Companion to the Classics.
Great Cities of the Ancient World.
Richardson's American Literature.
Lippincott's Biographical Dictionary.
Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World.
Chamber's Encyclopedia of English Literature.
White's Herodotus.
Stories of the Nations.
Chamber's Science Manuals.
Also reference books for grammar teachers, Frye's Child and Nature.
Parker's How to Study Geography,
King's Methods and Aids in Geography.
May 27th. It was voted to buy copies of the following text-books for reference, and to supply them to the classes of the eighth grade, viz : Barnes', Butler's, Swinton's and Warren's Geographies ; also for the high school, one set of the International Encyclopedia.
Oct. 5th. The following list of "Speakers " was recommended, and adopted at the next meeting, Oct. 28th.
The Franklin Speaker. Columbia Speaker. Young American Speaker.
Forbes' Five Minute Declamations,
Forbes' Five Minute Readings. Carrington's Patriotic Speaker. Hoitt's Excellent Quotations.
It was also voted to supply each primary teacher with a copy of Wentworth's Primary Arithmetic.
145
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
The appointment of teachers during the year was as follows by schools :-
Forster School : Annie L. Bennett, Clara A. Jordan.
Bingham School : Laura C. Duddy.
Edgerly School : Charles E. Brainard, principal, Gertrude L. Gardner.
Davis School : Annie J. Richardson.
Prospect Hill School : Lillian B. Wellington, Clara M. Smith. Lucia Alger, Nellie S. Dickey.
Eberle Hall : Mary S. Rinn.
Webster School : Clara B. Parkhurst, principal.
Burns School : Florence M. Hamlin.
Lincoln School : Carrie E. Fay.
RESIGNATIONS.
Laura E. Giddings, High School.
Leila V. Colby, Forster School.
Cora Foster, Bingham School.
Edgar L. Raub, principal Edgerly School.
Florence A. Robinson, Davis School. Nellie A. Hamblin, L. V. Bell School.
Augutas M. Houghton, Morse School.
Nelly W. French, Beach Street School.
Pauline A. Osgood, Lincoln School.
Hattie A. P. Roth, principal Lincoln School.
GRANTED LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Horatio D. Newton, principal Morse School.
Annie C. Thayer. Lincoln School.
Mary A. Osborn, Bingham School. Josephine H. Short, High School.
TRANSFERS.
Lizzie W. Parkhurst, Prospect Hill School to Brastow School. Maria Miller, Brastow School to Prospect Hill School. Charlotte I. Houghton, Prospect Hill School to Morse School. Carrie E. Cobb, Webster School to L. V. Bell School. Lucia Alger, Jackson School to Prospect Hill School. Nellie S. Dickey, L. V. Bell School to Prospect Hill School.
146
ANNUAL REPORTS.
PHYSICAL TRAINING.
Jan. 14. At the first meeting of the Board, in an outline of the. coming year's work, the Superintendent treated this subject as fol- lows : " Physical training should constitute a part of the High and Grammar School curriculum. We are fortunate in having as mem- bers of the Board several medical men. who are the proper persons to organize a complete system of physical culture on scientific prin- ciples. I consider this as important as the intellectual training in our schools, because it is the body upon which the mind depends for all its acquisition and powers of expression. The development of physical education under the inspiration of Dr. Sargent, of Harvard, shows how important it is to conduct such a training from the physician's standpoint, or rather the physiologist's standpoint. The system should be graded to meet the wants of the growing child, just as our mental training has to be graded to correspond with mental growth. Other cities have advanced in this department of education, and I hope we may soon follow their example.
"I may be pardoned for just a word in support of my demands for more training, though much has already been said. Our work has been too largely instruction and too little training. When we consider that the chief business of the school is to fit young people for the activities, trials and duties of life, we see how important is training that develops power and endurance, as well as skill. It is . not only a well-furnished mind, but a steady brain and a rugged body that a person needs to cope with the world. The training should develop the nervous system and the muscular system. A boy or girl should go out of our schools so strong that the change of duties, hours, and countless details of every work, the worry, the anxieties, the adversities, etc., could not break down the health or . the spirits. The longer pupils stay in school, the greater the need of such training. A young lad gets his training in the rough and tumble of life : the youth never gets this experience, because he is . above it when he goes out. Physical training and manual training will furnish the requisite experience, and our school system should embrace them both."
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