USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1892 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28
State of Massachusetts, Burial of
Indigent Soldiers and Sailors, 175 00
State of Massachusetts, State Aid
6,669 50
Taxes
179,403 80
Water Service Assessments
.
1,722 00
Funded Debt
$1,194,500 00
Highways, paving Union square and parts of Somerville and Webster avenues
4,102 09
Nathan Tufts Park
3,408 55
Overlay and Abatement
2,402 74
Overplus on Tax Sales
102 13
Property and Debt Balance
557,851 58
Reduction of Funded Debt
40,081 71
Schoolhouse in Ward Two,
Prospect Hill District .
890 00
Schoolhouse, Edgerly Addition,
8,782 50
Semi-Centennial Celebration
164 89
Sewers
3,106 25
Sundry Persons
450 10
Temporary Loans
228,000 00
Water Maintenance .
1,083 93
Water-works Extension
560 24
$2,045,486 71
$2,045,486 71
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
IN BOARD OF ALDERMEN, March 22, 1893.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports. Sent down for concurrence.
GEORGE I. VINCENT, Clerk.
IN COMMON COUNCIL, March 15, 1893.
Referred to the committee on printing, to be printed in the annual reports, in concurrence.
CHARLES S. ROBERTSON, Clerk.
HIGH SCHOOL.
٠٠٠
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1892.
HON. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. ISAIAH H. WILEY, President of the Common Council, ex officio.
MEMBERS.
WARD ONE.
HORACE C. WHITE, M. D., 149 Perkins Street SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D., 1 Webster Street ·
Term expires 1892.
1893.
S. NEWTON CUTLER, 28 Flint Street o
66
66 1894.
WARD TWO.
JAMES F. BEARD, 17 Prospect Hill Avenue
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D., 23 Bow Street
ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D., 34 Bow Street .
66
66 1894.
WARD THREE.
Q. E. DICKERMAN, 85 Central Street
HELEN J. SANBORN, 383 Broadway
NORMAN W. BINGHAM, 235 School Street
Term expires 1892.
66 1893.
1894.
WARD FOUR.
GILES W. BRYANT, M. D., 396 Highland Avenue . MARTIN W. CARR, 74 Craigie Street
Term expires 1892.
66 66 1893.
PROF. BENJAMIN G. BROWN, 38 Professors' Row .
Term expires 1892.
1893.
1894.
C. E. MELENEY, Superintendent and Secretary, 40 Greenville Street. Office, 4 Walnut Street. Office hours from 4 to 5 P. M., each day that the schools are in session.
*
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1892.
High School. - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, BEARD, DURELL, WHITE, CUTLER, CARR, BROWN, BINGHAM.
Schools in East Somerville District. - MESSRS. HANSCOM, WHITE, WILEY, CUTLER. Schools in Prospect Hill District. - MESSRS. DURELL, BEARD, DEARBORN.
Schools in Winter Hill District. - Miss SANBORN, MR. BINGHAM, MAYOR HODGKINS, MR. DICKERMAN.
Schools in Spring Hill District. - MESSRS. CARR, BRYANT, BROWN. Schools in West Somerville District. - MESSRS. BRYANT, BROWN, CARR.
Rules and Regulations. - MESSRS. BRYANT, DICKERMAN, CUTLER.
Finance. - MESSRS. CARR, HANSCOM, WILEY, BEARD.
Additional School Accommodations. - MAYOR HODGKINS, MESSRS. HANSCOM, DURELL, MISS SANBORN, MR. CARR.
Repairs. - MESSRS. WHITE, BRYANT, BINGHAM, BEARD.
Supplies. - MESSRS. BINGHAM, CARR, DURELL, WHITE.
Text-Books. - MESSRS. HANSCOM, CARR, MISS SANBORN, MESSRS. WHITE, DURELL, BEARD, DICKERMAN.
Industrial Education. -- MR. BEARD, MISS SANBORN, MESSRS. CARR, CUTLER, DICKERMAN
Music. - MISS SANBORN, MESSRS. HANSCOM, CARR, DEARBORN. Examination of Teachers. - MESSRS. BROWN, DICKERMAN, HANSCOM. Salaries. - MESSRS. CUTLER, BINGHAM, DEARBORN, BROWN. Evening Schools. - MESSRS. DURELL, DICKERMAN, HANSCOM, CARR. Examination of Ninth Class. - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, BEARD.
Examination of Eighth Class. - MESSRS. WHITE, CARR. Examination of Seventh Class. - MR. CUTLER, MISS SANBORN. Examination of Sixth Class. - MESSRS. DURELL, DICKERMAN. Examination of Fifth Class. - MESSRS. BINGHAM, BROWN. Examination of Fourth Class. - MESSRS. DEARBORN, HANSCOM, BRYANT. Private Schools. - MESSRS. DEARBORN, BRYANT, WILEY.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1893.
HON. WILLIAM H. HODGKINS, Mayor, Chairman, ex officio. FRED W. GILBERT, President of the Common Council, ex officio.
MEMBERS.
WARD ONE.
SANFORD HANSCOM, M. D., 1 Webster Street
S. NEWTON CUTLER, 28 Flint Street
GEORGE S. POOLE, 46 Mt. Vernon Street
66 1896.
WARD TWO.
THOMAS M. DURELL, M. D., 23 Bow Street ALVAH B. DEARBORN, M. D., 34 Bow Street HERBERT A. CHAPIN, 10 Putnam Street
Term expires 1894.
1895.
66
66 1896.
WARD THREE.
HELEN J. SANBORN, 383 Broadway
NORMAN W. BINGHAM, 235 School Street
Q. E. DICKERMAN, 85 Central Street
Term expires 1894.
66 1895.
66 1896.
WARD FOUR.
MARTIN' W. CARR, 74 Craigie Street .
Term expires 1894.
1895.
PROF. BENJAMIN G. BROWN, 38 Professors' Row . GILES W. BRYANT, M. D., 396 Highland Avenue .
66 1896.
CLARENCE E. MELENEY, Superintendent and Secretary, 40 Greenville Street. Ofice, 4 Walnut Street. Office hours from 4 to 5 P. M., each day that the schools are in session.
January. Term expires 1894.
1895.
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1893.
High School. - MESSRS. CUTLER, BROWN, CARR, DURELL, BINGHAM, DEARBORN, HANSCOM, DICKERMAN.
Schools in East Somerville District. - MESSRS. CUTLER, POOLE, HANSCOM. Schools in Prospect Hill District. - MESSRS. DEARBORN, CHAPIN, DURELL, GILBERT. Schools in Winter Hill District. - MESSRS. BINGHAM, DICKERMAN, MAYOR HODGKINS, MISS SANBORN.
Schools in Spring Hill District. - MESSRS. CARR, BRYANT, BROWN. Schools in West Somerville District. - MESSRS. BROWN, BRYANT, CARR.
Rules and Regulations. - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, CUTLER, "BRYANT. Finance. - MESSRS. CARR, POOLE, GILBERT, CHAPIN. Additional School Accommodations. - MAYOR HODGKINS, MESSRS. CUTLER, DEARBORN, BINGHAM, CARR.
Repairs. - MESSRS. BRYANT, BINGHAM, POOLE, CHAPIN. Supplies. - MESSRS. DURELL, POOLE, BRYANT, BINGHAM.
Text-Books. - PROFESSOR BROWN, MISS SANBORN, MESSRS. DURELL, CUTLER, DEAR- BORN, DICKERMAN, HANSCOM.
Industrial Education. - MISS SANBORN, MESSRS. CARR, CUTLER, CHAPIN. DICKERMAN,
Music. - MESSRS. HANSCOM, BRYANT, DEARBORN, MISS SANBORN.
Examination of Teachers. -- MESSRS. DEARBORN, DICKERMAN, BROWN.
Salaries. - MESSRS. BINGHAM, DURELL, BROWN, CUTLER.
Evening Schools. - MESSRS. HANSCOM, DICKERMAN, BRYANT, DURELL. . Examination of Ninth Class. - MESSRS. POOLE, BROWN. Examination of Eighth Class. - Miss SANBORN, MR. CUTLER. Examination of Seventh Class. - MESSRS. DICKERMAN, DURELL.
Examination of Sixth Class. - MESSRS. BROWN, BINGHAM. Examination of Fifth Class. - MESSRS. DEARBORN, BRYANT. Examination of Fourth Class. - MESSRS. CHAPIN, DICKERMAN.
Private Schools. - MESSRS. CHAPIN, BRYANT, GILBERT.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of the City of Somerville : -
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,-A report of the public schools for the year 1892 is herewith respectfully submitted, it being the twenty- first annual report of the superintendent of schools of this city.
Summary of statistics :-
Population of the city, United States census, 1890 40,117
Number of persons in the city between five and fif- teen years of age in May last 7,191
Increase
within year.
East Somerville District 1,358
100
Prospect Hill District .
2,665
62
Winter Hill District
1,127
111
Spring Hill District
1,083
47
West Somerville District
958
71
Total
7,191
391
Number between eight and fourteen years of age Whole number of different pupils registered in the schools
4,446
9,120
Average whole number belonging
7,035
Average attendance
6,608
Valuation of the city May 1, 1891
$38,093,100 00
Real estate $34,950,800 00
Personal estate
. Rate of taxation .
3,142,300 00 .015
Estimated value of school property
.
$636,725 68
.
·
·
168
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Expenditures by the school board .
$121,255 62
Teachers' salaries
$108,058 81 .
Salaries of officers
3,750 00
Books, supplies, water, and light
9,446 81
Expenditures by the city government
46,155 16.
Janitors' salaries
9,794 92
Fuel
7,147 68
Buildings and improvements
11,478 38
Repairs, etc. ( Schoolhouse Inci- dentals account )
17,734 18
Total expenditures
·
·
$167,410 78
REVIEW OF THE MINUTES.
The new board organized with a new mayor in the chair, William H. Hodgkins, who had been a member twelve years ago by virtue of being the president of the Common Council. He greeted here sev- eral who had been his former associates on the School Board, either having been in continuous membership or former members. His words of hearty sympathy with the work of education and his ear- nest determination to exert all possible effort for the good of the schools were an inspiration. Mr. Cutler was returned by Ward One ; Mr. Bingham, by Ward Three. President Wiley, of the Council, and Dr. Dearborn, of Ward Two, were the only new members, as Ward Four returned, after an absence of three years, our old friend, Pro- fessor Brown, who was warmly welcomed by all.
At the first meeting the superintendent, as usual, named the subjects likely to come up for consideration during the year.
The subject of school accommodations was early considered by the board and the appropriate committee. At the January meeting it was voted to request this committee to consider and report at the next meeting upon the needs of the East Somerville District, also to consider the advisability of adding four rooms to the Bingham School.
169
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In February the following report was presented and adopted : -
1. That we renew and reinforce the report of the committee of 1891, as follows : "That the City Government be requested to erect immediately a schoolhouse, suitably arranged and furnished, for an English High School, provided also with accommodations for the department of industrial education, together with a hall sufficiently large for graduating exercises, etc."
2. In view of the rapid growth of the East Somerville District in the neighborhood of the Edgerly and Davis schools, it is recom- mended that the board request the City Council to build an addition of four rooms to the Edgerly building as soon as possible. There are twenty-four legitimate schoolrooms in the district, which will accommodate 1,200 children, fifty to a room. There were in Decem- ber 1,319 pupils in attendance, or 119 more than can be properly accommodated. This has necessitated the employment of seven assistants to teach in the over-crowded rooms. It is probable that four rooms would be filled by January, 1893. The increase from 1889 to 1890 was fifty; from 1890 to 1891, eighty-six.
3. In 1891 a petition, signed by residents of Ward Four living south of the Fitchburg railroad, was received by the School Board, asking for a school in that neighborhood. In view of the growth of the Spring Hill District, which has necessitated the re-opening of the Beech-street School for the overflow of the Franklin School, your committee recommend additional accommodations as soon as possible for Ward Four. The increase in the Spring Hill District from 1889 to 1890 was ninety-five; from 1890 to 1891, seventy-three.
At this meeting the question of the establishment of a two- session plan for the High School was brought to the consideration of the board. This subject became the foremost topic for three succes- sive meetings. In April a majority report was made to the effect that " the two-session plan would be detrimental to the interests of, and a lasting injury to, the school," and a minority report was pre- sented by Mr. Bingham in opposition, when a substitute resolution was offered, which received the unanimous vote of the board, as follows : "That, in the opinion of the School Board, the adoption of the two-session plan is not desirable, except as a possible temporary measure." The High School Committee continued to consider the subject, and in May the following scheme was unanimously adopted,
170
ANNUAL REPORTS.
which has now been in operation since September, it being expected that the membership of the school would be about 550 : -
1. All the pupils who have work four periods each day, namely, the first and second classes and the college division of the third class, to come at eight and remain till twelve. This will probably number 250 pupils.
2. The remaining 300, consisting of three sections of the third class and all of the fourth class, to be divided into relays of 150 each ; the first to come at eight and go at eleven; the second to come at eleven and stay till two o'clock.
This will provide for 400 pupils for four hours and 150 the last two hours; with only 300 on half time.
It is proposed that during April, May, June, September, and October the school keep from eight until two; and the remaining months, November, December, January, February, and March, from half-past eight till two, the periods to be fifty minutes. Recess in the middle of the day (twenty minutes ), to allow the first relay to go, and the second to enter.
In March the Winter Hill District committee reported that by the opening of the Glines School it would be possible to vacate the Cedar-street School building, and they had arranged to make the transfer of teachers, pupils, and supplies on April 1. The board approved the plan, and the Spring Hill committee reported that in- asmuch as half of the pupils now in the Cedar-street School belonged to their district, and as the Burns School was greatly over-crowded, it would be necessary to keep the building open. The board accord- ingly gave power to the Spring Hill committee to take the building and make the required transfers. To enable the Spring Hill com- mittee to do this on April 1, the Winter Hill committee transferred Miss Alice Porter to the Glines School, and released Miss Boardman to the Spring Hill committee. Miss Boardman remained in charge of the building, taking second and third grades. Miss Lacy was then transferred from the Harvard to the vacant room in the Cedar-street, and took first grade. The school building is now full, Miss Lacy having first and second grades, and Miss Boardman third and fourth. The yard and the building, inside and out, have been put in better condition and renovated. The school has greatly improved, and to- day it appears and is one of our pleasantest schools.
171
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
In June the City Government decided to enlarge and improve the Edgerly School, and the classes were dismissed for the year on June 16. The committee on public property sent a communication to this board asking for a definite plan to relieve the crowded condition of schools in Ward Four, and at the June meeting the Spring Hill com- mittee presented the following scheme, which the board approved and sent to the City Government, viz .: That the Franklin School building be moved to a lot near the corner of Park street and Beacon street, renovated, rearranged, and provided with a good heating and ventilating system ; and that a new building be erected on the Beech. street lot after the purchase of a strip adjoining.
At the September meeting, when it had become known that the City Government had done nothing to improve the ventilation of the High School, the board voted to send a request to the committee on public property that immediate steps be taken to introduce an effect- ive system of ventilation into the building. It is to be greatly regretted, however, that still nothing has been done in this important matter.
The committee on repairs, knowing that, in consequence of the cramped condition of the finances of the department of public prop- erty, it would be useless to recommend the necessary repairs in the school buildings, confined their report to the request that the build- ings be properly cleaned and the walls and ceilings whitened and painted, a very reasonable and seasonable request, which in some cases has been complied with.
The next subject in time and in importance was the finances. Early in February the several committees who are responsible for school expenditures made careful investigation of the needs of their respective departments for the year and returned to the finance com- mittee their demands. The finance committee at the February meet- ing reported the following recommendation, which was adopted by the board : that the City Government be requested to make the following appropriation for the current year, viz. : -
For School Teachers' Salaries . $125,000 00 For School Contingent ( salaries of officers and jani- tors, $12,900; supplies, $15,500) 28,400 00 ·
$153,400 00
172
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In March the superintendent reported the appropriation made by the City Government, and explained what would have to be done in order to meet the situation, and showed that it would be impossible to get through with the funds appropriated. In reply, the whole situation was explained by his honor the mayor in a simple and straightforward manner, to the entire satisfaction of the board. In October the mayor sent a communication to the effect that the school contingent appropriation had been exhausted, and that no more bills could be approved by him till additional appropriations had been made; and the superintendent presented a financial statement, which the board referred to the finance committee, with directions to forward to the City Government a statement of the present condition and needs, and request that transfers be made from other accounts to the credit of the teachers' salary account and the school contingent. The following is the statement made by them : -
Amount estimated by School Board as necessary for -
Supplies
$15,500 00
Salaries, including janitors' salaries
12,900 00
Appropriation by City Government for salaries, not including jani- tors'
$3,750 00
Appropriation by City Government for supplies 9,250 00
'Total school contingent at dis- posal of School Board . ·
$13,000 00
Expended to date and paid by city for supplies Balance for supplies 118 16
9,131 84
Bills approved by School Board yet unpaid $1,404 03
Bills approved at October meeting, 162 19
Bills payable not yet approved 2,486 85
$4,053 07
·
This shows a deficiency of over $3,934.00, which, however, is less than the board estimated by over $2,300.00. This amount shows
173
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
not an over-estimate, but the extent to which the committee on sup- plies has curtailed the expenses of the schools by restricting supplies.
School teachers' salaries account : -
Estimate of the School Board $125,000 00
Appropriation by City Government Balance at date
$24,942 74
108,000 00
October pay-roll
12,628 50
The balance after paying the October salaries will scarcely pay the salaries for one month, which will leave a deficiency of over $12,000.00 on this account.
SCHOOL EXHIBITS.
In the February meeting the superintendent reported that the committee on the observation of the city's semi-centennial had appointed the superintendent, Mr. Carr, and Mr. Dickerman a com- mittee to prepare a school exhibit as a feature of the celebration ; that several meetings had been held; and that the committee recom- mended that such an exhibit be held. He also presented the subject of the Massachusetts exhibit at the World's Fair, and requested that a committee be appointed, explaining that whatever might be pre- pared for one might do to use for both occasions. The matter was referred to the committee on industrial education. . Subsequently this committee reported, and the school exhibit was held June 17 and 18 in the High School building.
RULES AND REGULATIONS.
There have been some minor changes of the rules, as follows : -
April 25. 1. Section 3, Chapter IV. of the Rules (describing the duties of the finance committee ) was amended by adding after the word "supplies" in the sixth line the sentence, "They shall examine and approve the pay-rolls of all bills passed by the board."
2. The following sentence was added to Section 2 of the same chapter : "They [i. e., the committee on salaries ] shall examine the pay rolls of salaries of all persons in the service of the school com- mittee and approve such as are found correct."
November 28. Section 6 was added to Chapter VI. of the Rules, as follows : The district committees may at their discretion appoint assistant teachers in the primary and grammar schools having an
174
ANNUAL REPORTS.
average of over fifty-six pupils on the following schedule of salaries :-- Per annum.
First year for a teacher without experience or normal train-
ing, as an observer or assistant $ 00
Second year for such teacher 200
Third year for such teacher 275
Fourth year for such teacher 350
Fifth and subsequent years 425
First year for a Normal School graduate
275
Second year for a Normal School graduate .
350
Third and subsequent years
425
An experience of at least thirty weeks shall be required to constitute a year's work.
MUSIC.
One of the most important acts of the School Board was the vote to appoint a director of music for the first four grades. Mrs. Gar- wood was elected at the May meeting to serve the city two days each week, visiting the schools and holding teachers' meetings. At the August meeting, on the request of Mr. Hadley, the work in the fifth grades was transferred from him to Mrs. Garwood.
By vote of the board May 31, the Second Normal Music Reader was adopted for use in the fourth and fifth grades, to follow the First Reader in the second and third.
TEACHERS.
There have been twenty-one resignations of teachers, and thirty- seven appointments of new teachers. Five have been granted leave of absence.
RESIGNATIONS, 1892.
High School, Sarah F. Litchfield, June 27. Annie E. French, June 27. Josephine H. Short, Sept. 26. Prescott School, Emma F. Porter, April 25.
Florence M. Morton, June 27.
Edgerly School, Mrs. Addie L. Smith, June 27. Annie M. Elder, Dec. 27.
L. V. Bell School, Gertrude E. Robbins, March 28. Grace P. Thomas, Oct. 31.
PRESCOTT SCHOOL.
175
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
O. S. Knapp School,
Nellie A. Hamblin, May 31.
Charles G. Pope School, Emily G. Arnold, June 27.
Prospect Hill School, Forster School,
Bingham School,
Morse School,
Franklin School, Highland School,
Florence O. Bean, Oct. 31. Blanche E. Heard, Sept. 26. Minna L. Wentworth, Oct. 31. Hattie L. Devereux, May 31. Laura C. Duddy, Oct. 31. Anna Pushee, June 27. Ella G. Worden, Nov. 28. Emmeline C. Summerhayes, April 25. Harriet B. Sargent, June 27. Mary H. Knight, Nov. 28.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Edgerly School, Cummings School, Morse School,
Lilla J. Pike, Oct. 31. Addie M. Brown, Sept. 26. Amy C. Hudson, June 27. Ella F. Gould, Oct. 31.
Teacher of Music, S. Henry Hadley, Dec. 27.
DIED June 17, 1892, ADA COWLES. For many years a faithful and beloved teacher of the East Somerville District.
NEW TEACHERS APPOINTED.
High School, Mary M. Kingsley, Jan. 25. Bertha L. Brown, Jan. 25. Mrs. Lena Gilbert, Nov. 28. Isabel G. Goldthwaite, Nov. 28. East Somerville District.
Prescott School, Grace L. Shaw, May 31. Edgerly School, Annie E. Elder, Sept. 26. Clara B. Cutler, Sept. 26. Helen P. Bennett, Sept. 26. Etta Colburn, Oct. 31.
-
176
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Prospect Hill District.
L. V. Bell School, Vyra L. Tozier, Feb. 29. Ines M. Dernier, Feb. 29. Eula M. Byrns, Feb. 29. Grace P. Thomas, March 28. Webster School, Mary C. Friend, June 27.
Charles G. Pope School, Florence A. Chaney, Feb. 29.
Prospect Hill School,
Bennett School, Jackson School,
Helen M. Freeman, Feb. 29. Ellen P. Longfellow, Feb. 29. Lydia E. Morrill, June 27. Jane Parker, Oct. 31. Grace Emerson, Sept. 26. - Blanche Seabury, Sept. 26. Minnie Wiggins, June 27. Jeannette M. Billings, Sept. 26. !
Winter Hill District.
Forster School,
Jennie L. Thompson, Sept. 26. Lucy K. Hatch, Sept. 26. Grace Shorey, Oct. 31.
Bingham School,
Ruby A. Johnson, March 28. Belle J. Tifft, Oct. 31.
Spring Hill District.
Morse School, Mrs. Maria F. Hill, June 27. Annabel M. Perry, June 27.
Franklin School,
Ella M. Coops, May 31.
Harvard School, Carrie A. Fowle, June 27.
West Somerville District.
Highland School, Mabel A. Jepson, Feb. 29. Jennie S. Wescott, September 26. Agnes M. Ward, Dec. 27.
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Drawing, Augusta L. Balch, Jan 11. Music, Mrs. Gish Garwood, May 31.
177
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
In a growing city like Somerville, after taking care of existing schools, the most urgent need is a wise provision for the expansion and development of the system to meet the demands of increased population, and broader and higher ideas of practical education. Considerations of economy, and possibly other complications, have prevented the City Government from making the year 1892 memorable for schoolhouse construction, however memorable it may be in the history of America and the history of Somerville. The work of enlarging the Edgerly building was begun in June, and has not yet reached that stage in its progress that will enable me to describe its adaptability to the needs of the school. A recent report of the com- mittee on public property states that the ventilation of all the school buildings has been considered by the committee, and everything has been done that seemed feasible. I am sorry I have not the facts in my possession to enable me to concisely describe here just what school buildings have been investigated, or which have been improved in the matter of ventilation. It does not fall to the province of the School Board to have the responsibility of placing the school build- ings in a proper sanitary condition, and the committee on repairs does not usually make a report at this time.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.