Report of the city of Somerville 1898, Part 19

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1898
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 870


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1898 > Part 19


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365


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


Where there is reasonable doubt of a student's fitness, he may be promoted on a trial of three months. In such cases the parent is notified and kept informed of his child's progress. At the end of this probationary period he may be returned to his former grade, provided it seems for his interests. In 1898, ten per cent. of those promoted on trial, fell back.


Children capable of more rapid advancement may be pro- moted one or more grades at any time. Two hundred were thus promoted in 1898.


Fitness for graduation or for admission to the high schools is determined in precisely the same way. Diplomas are given in grammar and high schools to those who have satisfactorily completed full courses.


LATIN HIGH SCHOOL. - In September, 1895, in the forty- third year of its existence, the Somerville High School was divided, the classical or college preparatory departments remaining in the old building, erected in 1872, and the English departments occupying a new building erected in 1894-95.


Some facts concerning the Latin School are presented in the following table :


School Year.


Average Number Belonging.


Number Entering.


Gradu- ates.


Cost of Instruction.


Per Capita Cost.


Teachers.


Pupils to a Teacher.


1895-6


257


69


50


$11,702


$45.57


9


28.6


1896-7


262


81


51


11,840


45.19


9


29.1


1897-8


273


86


55


11,921


43.67


9


30.3


The course of study in this school is determined chiefly by the requirements of Harvard University. Its graduates find ready admission to any college. The Head Master's certificate of qualification is honored wherever examinations are not required.


366


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Special courses are marked out to meet the wants of those pupils who desire special preparation for special courses for college or for professional schools.


The regular time for completing the course is four years. Pupils, at the request of their parents, can make the work of each year easier by taking five years for the course. Those who are capable and have good reason for shortening the time of preparation, are allowed to complete the course in as short a time as their ability will permit.


Graduates of grammar schools are admitted to either high school on presenting a certificate of qualification signed by a master. All other pupils are admitted by an examination in grammar school studies, given usually on the Saturday preced- ing the opening of the schools in September.


The tuition for non-residents is the per capita cost for the year, payable in advance. The sessions of the school are from 8.30 to 1.30. The salaries paid high school teachers are given on later pages of this report.


ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL. - This school was organized in September, 1895. Information concerning it is found in the following table :


School Year.


Average Number Belonging.


Number Entering.


Gradu- ates.


Cost of Instruction.


Per Capita Cost.


Teachers.


Pupils to a Teacher.


1895-6


456


213


67


$20,102


$44.13


21


21.7


1896-7


531


235


70


23,010


43.33


21


25.3


1897-8


535


224


75


24,843


46.44


22


24.3


The course of study covers four years. Graduates are admitted to special courses when the conditions are favorable. Candidates for technical and normal schools take specific pre- paratory work.


367


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


Each student is required to take at least fifteen periods of prepared and five periods of work that requires no previous preparation. Unprepared work consists of drawing,-optional after the first year,- elocution, ethics, and music,-required throughout the four years,-manual training and typewrit- ing,- optional. English language and literature, and compo- sition, together with history, are compulsory studies throughout the course. Algebra and geometry are required during the first and second years.


The wide range of elective studies is a distinctive feature of the school. The choice of the first year may be one of the following : Latin, French, German, biology (botany and zoölogy), manual training, and mechanical drawing. To these physics is added for the second year, and chemistry, geology, and astronomy for the third and fourth. After the second year two or more electives may be taken.


During the third and fourth years the student may elect in a business course, bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, com- mercial law, penmanship, stenography, typewriting ; in mathe- matics, advanced algebra, solid geometry, analytical geometry, and trigonometry ; in advanced science, work in botany, zoology, physics, chemistry, and drawing.


Of the fifteen periods of prepared work the course pre- scribes ten periods the first year, eleven periods the second year, seven periods the third year, and seven periods the fourth year. The pupil has the privilege of selecting from the list of elective studies, subjects whose recitation periods each week, or their equivalents, when added to the required prepared work, shall equal the necessary fifteen periods.


Concerning admissions, sessions, etc., see Latin School.


A simple, healthful, inexpensive lunch is served at the recess midway of each session to pupils desiring it.


368


ANNUAL REPORTS.


MANUAL TRAINING .- Three rooms are fitted and equipped in the basement of the English High School for its manual training department. The course includes carpentry, wood- turning and carving, clay modelling, pattern making, moulding, and casting. A fourth room is devoted to mechanical drawing with a full course. Manual training has not been extended to include grammar schools.


The sub-master in charge of the manual training department is paid $1,700, and his assistant, $1,100.


SEWING. - Sewing is taught to the girls in the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grammar grades in weekly lessons of one hour each.


Two special teachers are employed at a salary of $600 each, and an assistant employed for a portion of the time is paid $300.


MUSIC. - Weekly instruction in music is given exclusively in the high schools and in part in the three upper grammar grades by a specialist, who is paid $1,500 for four days' service. This sum also provides the orchestral music needed at gradua- tion exercises. The books used are "The Euterpean " and "The Cecilian Series of Music and Song," Nos. three and four.


In the six lower grades, musical instruction is given by the regular grade teacher, under the supervision of a specialist who visits each class once every twelve days. She is paid $900. The Normal System of Music, with its books and charts, is used.


GYMNASTICS. - In the English High School, twelve minutes are taken daily for free gymnastics, under the general direction of the teacher of elocution. In elementary grades, the Ling system of Swedish gymnastics is practised daily. No special teacher is employed.


RECESSES. - The Latin School has two brief recesses, breaking the daily session into thirds. The English School has a single recess at the end of the third period.


369


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


The four lower elementary grades have a five-minute recess midway of each session. The five upper grammar grades have no recess, though no unreasonable physical restraint is placed upon any pupil.


No detention of pupils is allowed at noon, and but a half- hour's detention at the close of the afternoon session, "for wilful neglect of duty only."


CORPORAL PUNISHMENT. - Corporal punishment, "which includes any infliction of physical pain or application of physical force," is not prohibited. It must, however, not be adminis- tered until twenty-four hours after the offence, the approval of the principal being first obtained. Each case must be reported in detail to the Superintendent. There were 204 cases in 1897 and 256 in 1898.


DRAWING. - A special teacher of drawing is employed in the English High School, at a salary of $900. In that school freehand drawing is compulsory for first-year pupils, and elee- tive for all others. Drawing is not taught in the Latin. School.


In the primary grades daily lessons, and in the grammar grades semi-weekly lessons are given by the regular teacher, under the direction of a supervisor, who visits each class once a month and is paid $1,000.


The course includes pictorial drawing from nature, models, and objects ; structural drawing from type solids ; decorative drawing, designing and color-work, historic ornament and picture-study. No drawing books are used. Colored pencils are provided in primary grades, and water colors and brush in grammar grades.


PENMANSHIP .- Vertical writing was introduced into the six lower grades of the elementary schools in September, 1898, the Natural and the Duntonian systems being used. The Wells Natural Movement method of slant writing is taught in the three upper grades. No copy-books are used. The supervisor visits each class once in three weeks and receives $1,200.


370


ANNUAL REPORTS.


TRAINING SCHOOL .- The training school occupies three rooms in the Beech Street building and is under the charge of the Standing Committee of the Spring Hill district. At present it includes two first-grade classes and one of the second grade, under the direction of a critic teacher who is aided by six assist- ants. Assistants, who must be normal-school graduates, are paid $200, the required term of service being one year. Those who show inaptitude for teaching may be dropped at any time. The city incurs no obligation to give training students employ- ment. The per capita cost of instruction is not to exceed that in other large schools. The school has graduated eight young ladies during the two years of its existence, four of whom are now teaching in Somerville and one in New Bedford.


STUDENT TEACHERS .- At the present time nine student teachers are employed in the English High School, three in the drawing departments, one in the typewriting room, one in the science laboratories, one in the department of elocution, and three in the general work of the school. They are all graduates of college or technical schools and serve without pay under the direction of the head-master.


THE PUBLIC LIBRARY .- The English School has a working library of 750 volumes, but it draws constantly on the public library located in an adjoining building.


For three years there has been a constant use of the library by school children. Fourteen circulating libraries of fresh books are in use in the smaller buildings. Books are delivered and .collected each week at the large grammar schools. As far as they can, teachers aid in the selection of books by children, and the Librarian and his assistants cheerfully render all the help in their power.


. EVENING SCHOOLS .- An evening drawing school for freehand and mechanical work is open in the Latin schoolhouse from October to April, on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from


371


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


7.30 to 9.30. Full information regarding courses is given on subsequent pages. The principal is paid $6 and assistants $3 and $4 an evening.


Elementary evening schools are open in the Prescott, Bell, and Highland buildings from October 1st on four evenings a week, from 7.30 to 9.30. The length of the term is dependent on the interest and attendance. The course of study followed is that prescribed by the statute. Principals receive $3 and assistants $1.50 and $1.00 each evening.


TRUANTS .- The city employs one active truant officer who is paid $1,000. His duties are prescribed in the rules found elsewhere. Truants are sent to the county truant school at North Chelmsford. There are now eight truants from Somer- ville in the school.


JANITORS .- These important officers are appointed by the City Council Committee on Public Property and are under the direction of the Superintendent of Public Buildings,-who is also superintendent of janitors, -and the school principal. The rules governing janitors and their salaries will be found elsewhere in this report.


SUPERVISION .- The Superintendent of Schools is the executive officer of the Board and upon him devolves the gen- eral management of the schools under its direction. He serves as the Secretary of the Board and Supply Agent. His salary is $3,000, and he is allowed a clerk who receives $650. His office is in the City Hall Annex and his hours are from 4.00 to 5.00 each school day, and from 8.00 to 10.00 on Saturday. His office is open from 8.00 to 12.00 and from 1.30 to 5.00 on school days and from 8.00 to 11.00 on Saturday.


The meetings of the School Board are held on the last Mon- day evening of each month except July, at eight o'clock.


372


ANNUAL REPORTS.


EVENING DRAWING SCHOOL REGULATIONS.


The following regulations, supplementary to those of the Board, have been adopted by the Committee on Evening Schools.


I. The school shall begin on the first Tuesday of October and shall continue fifty evenings.


II. No English High School pupil will be admitted to either department. No grammar school pupil will be admitted to the freehand department or to the mechanical department if he is under fourteen years of age.


III. No person not previously a member of the school will be admitted without a permit from the Superintendent of Schools, application for which in case of persons under eighteen years of age must be made by the parent or guardian.


IV. Every person entering the school must give evidence of intention to take the full course prescribed for the year. He must agree to be prompt and regular in his attendance and cor- rect in deportment. Any student may be dropped after two consecutive unexcused absences.


V. No examination shall be required for admission to first year classes. Admission to higher classes will be either by examination or by certificate, showing the work of the previous class to have been done.


VI. The course in freehand drawing shall cover two years, and shall be as follows : -


FIRST YEAR -GENERAL.


1. Plane geometry.


Sheet A in plane geometry.


2. Historic ornament, Egyptian, Greek, Byzantine.


Sheet B in historic ornament.


3. Decorative and constructive design, geometric sur- face, designs, borders, panels, crestings, vase forms. Conven- tionalization of plant forms.


373


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


Sheet C : Geometric designs.


Sheet D : Elementary design from a plant finished in half-tint.


4. Model and object drawing. Practical perspective. Light and shade and shading.


Sheet E : Model drawing in outline from models.


Sheet F : Model drawing in outline from models.


Sheet G : Model drawing in light and shade.


Sheet H : Model drawing in light and shade.


SECOND YEAR - GENERAL AND ELECTIVE.


1. Applied design.


Sheet A : Applied design for decoration of flat surface, ornament in relief, or an object and its decoration.


Sheet B: Applied design for any subject the student may elect.


2. Model and object drawing.


Sheet C: Drawing shaded with charcoal point from a group of geometric models and a vase or some common object.


Sheet D: Drawing shaded with charcoal point from a cast of historic ornament.


3. Details of human figure.


Sheet E : Drawing in outline from the cast of a mask, bust, or some detail of the human figure.


Sheet F: Drawing as in sheet E, but shaded with charcoal point.


Sheets G, H, and I: Students may elect from the following list of subjects : - Applied design, models, and objects, casts of historic ornament, casts of the human figure.


N. B .- Students may elect any seven of the nine sheets required.


374


ANNUAL REPORTS.


Diplomas. Students who have taken the full course of two years and who have satisfactorily completed the following sheets, each in a single evening, will be entitled to a diploma.


Sheet 1. Drawing in light and shade from a group of models.


Sheet 2. Drawing from memory of an original applied design.


VII. The course of study for mechanical classes shall cover three years, and shall be as follows : -


FIRST YEAR.


First half of year .- For all pupils, geometry, projection, and developments sufficient to make a common working drawing intelligible and easy for construction.


Second half of year .- Elective.


Machine class. Six working drawings of machinery.


Architecture class. Six working drawings of houses and house detail, including simple plans and elevations.


SECOND YEAR.


First half of year .- For all pupils, geometry, projections, intersections, and developments advanced from first year, sufficient to make the most difficult drawings easily.


Second half of year .- Elective.


Machine class. Cams, gears, belts, etc.


Architecture class. Difficult plans and elevations, together with building details.


THIRD YEAR .- ENTIRELY ELECTIVE.


During this year the room is considered a draughting office, the instructor being the chief draughtsman and the students his assistants. Here entire machines and their various parts are designed, and working drawings made for the same. Houses are designed, and details for all parts accurately


37.5


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


made. The student is carefully watched and directed that his work may be correct in design and accurate in execution. . At the end of this year, diligent and faithful students are qualified for all forms of the draughtsman's work.


Diplomas. Students who complete the three years' course satisfactorily will receive a diploma.


SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.


For several years the teachers of Somerville have maintained an organization whose purposes are set forth in the constitution which follows.


During the year the Association has held five meetings. Addresses have been given as follows :-


Feb. 9. " What the Pupils Taught the Teacher." Supt. W. C. Bates, Fall River.


Mar. 31. " Child Study Applied."


Col. Francis W. Parker, Chicago.


Oct. 19. " The Personal Factor in Instruction." Rev. C. G. Ames, D. D., Boston.


Dec. 14. " Old and New Ways of Treating History." John Fiske, LL. D., Cambridge. Feb. 24. A Social Meeting was held at Unitarian Hall.


Besides these meetings, fifty grade meetings of teachers have been called by the Superintendent during the year for the planning of music and drawing work, and to consider other matters connected with school methods.


The officers of the Association for 1899 are :-


George M. Wadsworth, President. Charles G. Ham, Vice-President. Frances W. Meldrum, Secretary-Treasurer.


376


ANNUAL REPORTS.


EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. .


Winfred C. Akers. Mary E. Northup.


... R. Adelaide Witham.


Nora F. Byard.


Fred C. Baldwin. Mina J. Wendell.


John S. Emerson. Ella H. Bucknam.


Charles E. Brainard. Gertrude Friend.


Amelia I. Sears. Blanche Seabury.


Grace M. Clark. Harry F. Hathaway.


G. A. Southworth, ex officio.


1


CONSTITUTION OF THE SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.


I. NAME.


This Association shall be known as the SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION.


II. OBJECTS.


The objects of this Association shall be to unite all teachers of Somerville into one organized body of professional workers for the welfare and progress of the public schools, to consider the aspects of education, to study its principles, to improve its methods, and to advance teaching as a profession.


III. PRINCIPLES.


This Association holds :


1. That the highest end of education is the formation of character.


2. 'That this end is to be attained through the complete and harmonious development of the human being in his three-fold nature, - physical, intellectual, and moral.


3. That intellectual development depends upon the conscious self-activity of the individual in the exercise of all the faculties of perception, thought, and expression.


4. That a system of education should furnish such instruction and training as shall stimulate all the energies of the child in their


377


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


natural order and at the proper time, by means of appliances, mate- rial, and subjects of instruction adapted to his varying powers.


5. That the child is of more importance than the school; that the natural growth of the child in his three-fold character should never be subordinated to the maintenance of an organization or machine.


6. That we all, being members of one body, and realizing the importance of each and every one to the whole system, hold it to be our duty to give to one another all the sympathy, aid, and co-opera- tion in our power, and so far as the opportunities may permit, to familiarize ourselves with the aims, principles, and methods of the several departments of our school system, in so far as such knowl- edge may contribute to the general welfare and progress, and render our individual work more effective.


IV. OFFICERS.


1. The officers of the Association shall be a President, two Vice-Presidents, and a Secretary-Treasurer, who, with fifteen other members, shall constitute the Executive Committee. Each high school, each grammar school, and one of the smaller schools in each district shall be represented on this committee. The Superin- tendent of Schools is a member, ex officio, of this committee.


ELECTION.


2. The officers shall be elected annually, at the last regular meeting of the year.


DUTIES.


3. The duties of the President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary- Treasurer shall be such as usually devolve upon these officers.


4. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to arrange the programmes of the meetings of the Association, and to change the date of any meeting, if necessary.


QUORUM.


Seven shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee for the transaction of business.


378


ANNUAL REPORTS.


BY-LAWS.


MEETINGS.


1. The meetings of the Association shall be held in the English High School building, and shall take place on the second Wednesday in February, April, October and December. There may also be a fifth meeting of a social character at a time and place to be arranged by the Executive Committee.


2. The hour of the stated meetings shall be 3.30 P. M.


DUES.


3. The annual dues shall be fifty cents, payable at the first meeting of the year. Assessments may be called by vote of the Association.


AMENDMENTS.


4. Amendments may be made by a two-thirds vote of the Association.


SOMERVILLE KINDERGARTEN ASSOCIATION.


The teachers in Somerville Kindergartens are united in an association, the object of which is to promote interest in the kinder- garten on the part of parents and others, and to extend a knowledge of its principles. Several general public meetings have been held during the year. Mothers' meetings are held frequently at the local kindergarten rooms.


The officers of the association are : Gertrude Friend, President; Caroline Boardman, Vice-President ; Maude Cushing, Secretary ; Josephine Kimball, Treasurer.


APPENDIX II.


CONTENTS OF APPENDIX II.


CONCERNING FINANCE.


NO. OF TABLE.


1. Schedule of school property.


2. Cost of maintaining schools, 1898.


3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, 1898.


4. Cost of maintaining schools for a series of years.


5. Cost per capita of maintaining schools for a series of years.


6. Amount spent annually for new school buildings, and for repairs for a series of years.


CONCERNING PUPILS.


7. Population of Somerville for a series of years.


8. School census for a series of years, and by districts for 1898.


9. Attendance, etc., of the schools for 1898.


10. Statistics of the High Schools, for school year 1897-'98.


11. Separate statistics for grammar and primary schools, 1898.


12. Number of schools and pupils by districts, 1898.


13. Pupils by grades, December, 1898.


14. Admissions to first grade in April and September.


15. Number of grammar school graduates, 1898.


16. Truant statistics, 1898.


17. Evening school statistics, 1898.


18. Grammar school graduates for a series of years.


19. Attendance statistics of all schools for a series of years.


20. Statistics of the High School for a series of years.


21. Promotions, 1898.


382


ANNUAL REPORTS.


CONCERNING TEACHERS.


22. Resignations of teachers, 1898.


23. Teachers elected in 1898.


24 Transfers of teachers, as to schools.


25. Leave of absence of teachers.


26. Time lost by teachers, 1898.


27. Number of teachers employed for a series of years.


MISCELLANEOUS.


28. Changes in text-books, 1898.


29. High school graduation exercises, 1898.


30. Grammar school graduation exercises, 1898.


31. Teachers in service in December, 1898.


32. School janitors.


383


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


TABLE 1. - SCHOOLHOUSES.


NAME.


No. of Classrooms.


Rooms not occupied.


Size


of


Valuation.


When built.


No. of years used.


Enlargements.


1 Latin High .


a4


2


English High


b15


3


3 Prescott .


12


·


21,444


47,000


1867


31


4


Edgerly


12


26,428


47,000


1871


27


66


1892


5


Bell


12


23,393


47,000


1874


24


6


Knapp


13


24,517


50,257


1889


9


4 rooms added 1894


7


Pope


12


·


27,236


62,000


1891


7


9


Glines


14


28,800


73,661


1891


7


5 rooms added 1896 6 rooms added 1890


11


Carr


15


·


21,400


64,000


1898


·


4 rooms added 1891


13


Hodgkins


12


35,034


60,789


1896


2


14


Bingham


S


21,017


37,907


1886


12


4 rooms added 1894 4 1865 66


15


Prospect Hill


6


25,313


21,000


1848


50


16


Bennett


4


20,560


10,600


1868


30


17


Jackson


4


11,212


8,600


1861


37


18


Davis


4


38,152


25,700


1884


14


19


Cummings


4


11,300


15,700


1884


14


20


Durell .


4


13,883


16,879


1894


4


21


Harvard


1


9,810


3,600


1851


47


22


Burns . . .


4


16,080


15,700


1886


12


23


Cedar-Street


2


800


1843


55


5 Moved from Broadway, 1868


24


Lincoln


4


.


17,662


14,700


1885


13


25


Hanscom .


6


12,756


44.532


1897


1


26


Frankli


4


4


33,017


15,600


1846


52


2 rooms added 1862




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