USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1906 > Part 10
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3,948 16
134
ANNUAL REPORTS.
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid as follows:
City Note No. 595
$100,000 00
City Note No. 596
100,000 00
City Note No. 597
100,000 00
City Note No. 598
50,000 00
City Note No. 602
50,000 00
City Note No. 604
50,000 00
City Note No. 607
25,000 00
City Note No. 605
100,000 00
City Note No. 599
50,000 00
City Note No. 600
25,000 00
City Note No. 601
50,000 00
City Note No. 606
25,000 00
City Note No. 617
15,000 00
$740,000 00
Balance to credit of account, 1907
350,000 00
$1,090,000 00
Water Loan Interest.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$3,935 00
DEPIT.
Coupons maturing April 1, 1906 :- $67,000, six months, 4 per cent.
$1,340 00
Coupons maturing July 1, 1906 :-
$25,000, six months, 4 per cent.
500 00
$10,000, six months, 51/2 per cent.
275 00
Coupons maturing October 1, 1906 :-
$67,000, six months, 4 per cent.
1,340 00
Coupons maturing January 1, 1907:
$24,000, six months, 4 per cent. .
480 00
$3,935 00
Water Maintenance.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$25,000 00
Water Works Extension, amount transferred . 4,733 94
$20,733 94
Excess and Deficiency account, balance transferred .
1,787 18
$27,946 76
Receipts :-
Cash, received of sundry persons, costs $45 00
Sundry persons, pipe, fittings, etc. . .
2,860 36
2,905 36
Stock and labor billed other departments :- Public Buildings Maintenance, City Build- ings account, labor . $11 14
Amounts carried forward . $11 14
$30,852 12
135
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amounts brought forward
$11 14
$30,852 12
Highways, Watering Streets account, labor, 178 06
Highways, Paving Broadway,. Bow and Summer Streets account, labor .
10 00
Highways Maintenance account, pipe .
15 45
Water Works Extension account, stock
14,104 84
Highways Construction account, labor
30 00
.
14,349 49
$45,201 61
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid laborers . .
$15,131 87
Frank E. Merrill, salary as water com- missioner .
2,300 00
disbursements
32 34
Edward M. Shedd, inspector
212 50
Charles E. Childs, inspector
774 00
Lillian F. Leavitt, assistant
780 00
Laura E. Peavey, assistant
600 00
Marcella F. Kendall, clerical services
133 33
Florence H. Plimpton, clerical services .
110 67
Agnes F. Kennard, clerical services
64 00
American Express Co., expressing .
11 34
Philip Aberle, stamps
305 00
The Albert Griffiths Saw Co., sharpen- ing tools .
70
Frank F. Armstrong, barrels .
3 00
Town of Arlington, pipe
240 85
Boston & Maine Railroad. freight
47 03
Branan, Dow & Co., fittings
550 42
Boston Elevated Railway Co., car tickets,
25 00
Charles Booth, wood .
12 25
H. E. Bowman, services
·
4 75
D. J. Bennett, harness repairs .
132 10
W. S. Burbank & Co., sawdust
1 50
Harold L. Bond & Co., packing
14 05
William B. Brown, sharpening tools
2 00
Builders' Iron Foundry, castings
63 50
Barber Asphalt Paving Co., paving .
12 01
Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., hose
11 00
Boston Gear Works, tool .
5 00
Louis A. Bacon, felt
16 25
Chadwick-Boston Lead Co., pipe
2,473 84
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., valves
160 44
S. H. Couch Co., telephones
8 00
Coffin Valve Co., glands
8 40
A. B. Comins, express
5 00
William R. Conrad, pipe inspection
41 96
Carter's Ink Co., ink .
1 13
City of Cambridge, casting
18 75
Chandler & Farquhar Co., tools
32 27
Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co., charts,
4 00
James Doran, sharpening tools
5 00
Derby Desk Co., chair
8 00
Davenport-Brown Co., lumber
2 94
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., water post top
8 12
Amount carried forward .
$24,374 31
.
.
·
.
·
-
136
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$24,374 31
Julian D'Este Co., fittings . 18 18
Edison Electric Illuminating Co., power service 1 00
The Elliott Co., stencil fittings and re- pairs 52 35
F. W. Farrar, repairing water gage 2 00
J. H. Fannon, repairing concrete 7 00
The Fairbanks Co., valves
46 29
Fire & Water Engineering, subscription,
3 00
Fresh Pond Ice Co., ice .
85 06
Gilman Express Co., expressing
8 62
Thomas Groom & Co., stationery
116 20
George W. Gale Lumber Co., lumber
22 78
Glines & Co., expressing
4 65
F. W. Gilbert, rubber boots
9 75
W. A. Greenough & Co., directory
4 00
Globe Gas Light Co., gasolene
17 25
Gifford Wood Co., steel
4 30
George E. Gilchrist Co., fittings
20 80
George A. Hibbard, stamps
40 00
Hersey Mfg. Co., meters, etc.
166 28
The Hale & Mayhew Co., repairing wagons
57 20
Henry C. Hunt Co., strips
1 80
Thomas Hollis Co., anodyne
2 00
Irland Pipe Wrench Co., wrench
1 50
Ideal Supply Co., soil pipe, etc.
6 53
Patrick Keating, overtime
19 13
Lord & Webster, hay
191 79
G. W. Ladd, horseshoeing
38 65
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co., fittings
744 21
Cyril J. Larravee, lumber .
171 23
T. E. Littlefield, lumber
11 34
C. W. Lerned & Co., disinfectant
10 00
T. G. Marston & Co., valves
32 10
W. G. Martin, sharpening tools
4 00
H. Mueller Mfg. Co., fittings
498 86
Thomas McNeill, expenses
15 00
Wesley A. Maynard, printing
16 50
Neptune Meter Co., meters
705 38
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., service
224 01
New England Oil Co., oil .
11 00
Norwood Engineering Co., hydrant, etc.,
300 79
National Paint & Varnish Co., paint
26 04
National Meter Co., meters
80 50
Osgood & Witherly, castings
199 32
Edward O'Brien, horseshoeing
104 25
Fulton O'Brion, hay, etc.
199 42
Outlook Envelope Co., envelopes
27 60
W. E. Plumer & Co., hardware
117 25
Proctor Brothers, oats
395 45
C. H. Paine, powders
5 00
Rensselaer Mfg. Co., valves
317 20
J. B. Rufer, horseshocing .
27 25
J. E. Richardson, services .
14 00
Richards & Co., lead .
455 04
Somerville Journal Co., printing
374 75
Amount carried forward
$30,409 91
.
137
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Amount brought forward
$30,409 91
Somerville Iron Foundry, castings .
384 55
Shepard & Harding, hay
17 54
E. S. Sparrow & Co., spade
75
Sprague & Hathaway Co., frame
4 30
Smith-Premier Typewriter Co., repairs
1 00
Sumner & Gerald, fittings
28 80
Standard Oil Co., oil .
9 45
Star Brass Mfg. Co., repairing gage
2 75
Standard Cordage Co., packing
1 70
Sanborn Map Co., correcting map .
10 00
S. H. Lewis, loam and sod
32 85
Thomson Meter Co., meters
2,591 12
Tufts & Sons, oats
128 63
Thorpe's Express, expressing
50
Union Water Meter Co., meters
2,609 50
Underhill Hardware Co., hardware .
132 10
C. L. Underhill, repairs
201 20
United Copper Foundry Co.,
234 07
Henry R. Worthington, meters
1,593 70
Waldo Brothers, cement
77 58
Walworth Mfg. Co., fittings
217 27
R. Woodman Mfg. & Supply Co., wire .
19 25
S. Ward Co., stationery
32 76
R. D. Wood & Co., hydrants
335 17
A. J. Wilkinson & Co .. tools
19 18
Warren Foundry & Machine Co., pipe and castings
4,718 67
William J. Wiley, paint
1 30
Frederick B. Witherly, tools
6 80
H. A. Winship, bag
2 00
Willie C. Young, repairing lathe
16 78
$43,845 28
Sewers Construction account, pipe, etc.
170 60
Sewers Maintenance account, constructing chambers
180 26
Highways Maintenance account, construct- ing driveway .
1,005 47
$45,201 61
Water Service Assessments.
CREDIT.
Receipts :-
Cash, received of sundry persons, cost of services laid
$3,929 80
Transferred to Water Works Extension account
3,929 80
Water Works, Abatements on Water Charges.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$1,000 00
Water Works Income, amount transferred .
443 00
Water Works Income, appropriation returned .
$1,443 00
1,000 00
$443 00
Union Glass Co., lantern globes
4 10
1.38
ANNUAL REPORTS.
DEBIT.
Cash, paid sundry persons, money refunded
$443 0C
Water Works Extension.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$20,000 00 Water Service Assessments account, amount transferred, 3,929 80
$23,929 80
Water Maintenance account, balance transferred
4,733 94
$19,195 86
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid laborers .
$4,193 23
Bartholomew Burke, contract labor
273 40
Boston Elevated Railway Co.,
labor
$115 00
(Cash)
115 00
Richard Falvey, contract lahor 200 46
H. G. Lamburn, contract labor
423 93
$5,091 02
Water Maintenance account:
pipe stock
5,467 95
meter stock .
5,704 17
service stock .
2,932 72
$19,195 86
Water Works Income.
CREDIT.
Metered Water Charges, last quarter 1906 uncollected . $26,272 58
Receipts :-
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, proportion of water re- ceipts, 1906 · Water Works, Abatements on Water Charges, amount transferred
800 30
Cash, received of sundry water takers . $200,590 76
448 10
Total income, sales of water .
200,142 66
$228,215 54
DEBIT.
Water Maintenance account, amount ap- propriated
$25,000 00
Fire Department, amount appr . propriated
24,500 00
Reduction of Funded Debt, Sewer Loan Bonds, amount appropriated · Reduction of Funded Debt, Water Loan Bonds, amount appropriated 6,000 00
18,000 00
Water Loan Interest, amount appropriated, Sewer Loan Interest, amount appropriated,
3,935 00
8,827 50
Amount carried forward .
$86,262 50
1,000 00
Less abatements
·
139
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
$86,262 50
Amount brought forward . Water Works Extension account, amount appropriated 20,000 00 · · Sewers Maintenance account, amount ap- propriated 12,000 00
Abatements on . Water Water Works,
1,000 00
Charges, amount appropriated . Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Metro- politan Water Assessment 97,160 08
Reduction of Funded Debt account, balance transferred
10,792 96
Moths, amount transferred
1,000 00
$228,215 54
Table D. - Balances December 31, 1906.
Cash
$92,876 74
Assessors
171 31
City Messenger
8 49
City Solicitor
114 67
City Treasurer .
343 47
Contagious Disease Hospital, Department Accounts
2,329 24
Election Expenses, Pay of Election Offi- cers
19 00
Fire Department
651 77
Health Department
3,175 42
Health Department, Collection of Ashes and Offal
4,641 06
Highway Betterment Assessments
2,990 95
Moths
913 35
Highways, Watering Streets
5 33
Metered Water Charges
26,272 58
Police
5,262 08
Public Buildings Maintenance :-
City Buildings
1,996 70
Janitors' Salaries .
1,149 57
Schoolhouses
4,639 54
Public Library Isaac Pitman Fund, Invest- ment
5,314 58
Public Property
5,144,662 92
Real Estate Liens
2,340 61
School Contingent
2,540 91
School Teachers' Salaries
741 21
Sealer of Weights and Measures
38 65
Sewer Assessments
3,958 46
Sidewalk Assessments
5,543 82
Soldiers' Relief
279 00
State of Massachusetts
19,760 96
Support of Poor, City Home
398 47
Taxes
250,038 94
City Auditor
.
$19 63
City Clerk
42
City Engineer
.
886 87
Contingent Fund
Amounts carried forward ,
$5,583,179 80
$1,385 52
.
Suppression of Gypsy
and Brown-tail
·
.
478 60
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown-tail
140
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward .
$5,583,179 80 $1,385 52
Coupons Unpaid
22,175 00
Election Expenses :-
City Clerk
306 63
Commissioner of Public Buildings
16 05
Registrars of Voters
253 67
Electrical Department
1,241 63
Executive Department
99 29
Funded Debt
1,464,500 00
Grade Crossings
373 51
Health Department :-
Contagious Disease Hospital
5,392 55
Medical Inspection in Public Schools
8 31
Highways Construction
2,879 89
Highways Maintenance .
1,926 60
Highways, Paving Broadway, Bow and Summer Streets .
688 04
Inspection of Buildings
6 53
Interest
6,628 21
Military Aid
111 50
Overplus on Tax Sales
118 13
Overlay and Abatement
9,008 11
Printing and Stationery .
393 91
Property and Debt Balance .
3,680,162 92
Public Buildings Construction, Luther V. Bell School Fire Escapes
59 30
Public Buildings Maintenance, Fire Department
1,070 14
Public Grounds
37
Public Library
16 98
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Art
4,251 66
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Poetry
1,062 92
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Art
158 36
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Poetry
79 83
Reduction of Funded Debt
18,593 35
Sewers Construction
3,454 11
Sewers Maintenance
75 68
Street Lights
2,444 79
Sundry Persons
524 21
Support of Poor, Miscellaneous
1,685 12
Temporary Loans
350,000 00
Water Maintenance
1,787 18
$5,583,179 80
$5,583,179 80
Electrical Department,
Underground Construction . 239 80
141
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT.
In Committee on Finance, February 23, 1907. To the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :-
Gentlemen,-The committee on finance, to which was referred the report of the treasurer and collector of taxes for the year 1906, reports that the examination has been made as called for by section 7 of chapter 4 of the Revised Ordinances of 1900.
The cash account has been verified by actual count of the cash on hand, and the balances shown to be in the banks of deposit have been confirmed by the officers of the banks.
The report of the expert accountant, Edwin L. Pride, who made the examination of the books to January 1, 1907, verifies the accounts of the treasurer and collector, and the committee recommends that the report be accepted and printed in the annual reports of 1906.
(Signed)
LEONARD W. COLE, J. FRANK MIXER, DAVID C. THEALL, THOS. W. SUTHERLAND. C. S. MCFARLAND, DAVID BERGLIND,
Committee
on
Finance.
In Board of Aldermen, February 28, 1907. Accepted.
HOWARD E. WEMYSS, Assistant City Clerk.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Committee Rooms, January 3, 1907.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommendations made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers; and that 1,000 copies be printed separately.
G. A. SOUTHWORTHI,
Secretary of School Board.
-
LATIN SCHOOL.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1906.
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE, GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
Members.
EX-OFFICIIS
Term expires January.
CHARLES A. GRIMMONS, Mayor, 72 Thurston street.
1907
SIDNEY B. KEENE, Pres. Board of Aldermen, 56 Fellsway West. 1907
WARD ONE.
WILLIAM W. KENNARD,
15 Hathorn street. 1907
DR. HENRY F. CURTIS,
145 Perkins street. 1908
WARD TWO.
JOHN H. O'NEIL,
44 Oak street. 1907
DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
19 Concord avenue. 1908
WARD THREE.
WILBUR S. CLARKE,
40 Vinal avenue. 1907
GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
75 Walnut street. 1908
WARD FOUR.
WILLIAM P. JONES, 13-A Maple avenue. 1907
CHARLES A. KIRKPATRICK, JR.,
27 Sewall street. 1908
WARD FIVE.
J. WALTER SANBORN,
183 Central street. 1907
HENRY H. FOLSOM,
103 Central street. 1908
WARD SIX.
CHARLES H. HOOD,
2 Benton road. 1907
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE,
44 Cherry street. 1908
WARD SEVEN.
MRS. HENRIETTA B. H. ATTWOOD, 12 Park avenue. 1907
DR. GEORGE C. MAHONEY, 97 College avenue. 1908
Superintendent of Schools.
GORDON A. SOUTHWORTH.
Office: City Hall Annex, Highland avenue. Residence: 40 Greenville street.
The Superintendent's office will be open on school days from 8 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hours are from 4 to 5 on school days, and 8 to 9 on Saturdays.
Office telephone, 314; house telephone, 12.
Cora S. Fitch, Superintendent's clerk, 75 Benton road.
Mary A. Clark, Superintendent's clerk, 42 Highland avenue.
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1906.
High Schools .- Sanborn, Mahoney, Curtis, O'Neil, Clarke, Kirkpatrick, Fiske.
District I .- Kennard, Curtis, Jones.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, DAVIS, BENNETT.
District II .- O'Neil, Bradley, Clarke.
KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III .- Clarke, Whitaker, Bradley.
POPE, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District IV .- Jones, Kirkpatrick, Grimmons.
EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V .- Sanborn, Folsom, Keene.
FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District VI .- Hood, Fiske, Folsom.
CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII .- Mrs. Attwood, Mahoney, Hood.
HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, LINCOLN, LOWE.
Additional School Accommodations .- Hood, Sanborn, Curtis, Bradley, Whitaker, Jones, Mahoney, Grimmons, Keene. Evening Schools .- Whitaker, Fiske, Folsom.
Finance .- Bradley, Kennard, Jones, Grimmons, Keene.
Industrial Education .- Curtis, Mrs. Attwood, Clarke.
Music .- Mrs. Attwood, Hood, O'Neil.
Private Schools .- Kirkpatrick, O'Neil, Mahoney.
Repairs of School Buildings .- Mahoney, Kennard, Folsom.
Rules and Regulations .- O'Neil, Hood, Fiske.'
Salaries .- Fiske, Sanborn, Whitaker. Supplies .- Clarke, Bradley, Sanborn.
Text-Books and Courses of Study .- Jones, Whitaker, Kennard, Bradley, Folsom, Hood, Mrs. Attwood.
Vacation Schools .- Kennard, Jones, Kirkpatrick ..
Note .- The member first named is chairman.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Somerville :-
I have the honor to submit the thirty-fifth annual report of the superintendent of schools, being the fourteenth that the present incumbent of the office has made. While according to custom this report may be adopted as the report which the statute requires the committee to make annually to their fellow- citizens, it should be understood that no one is responsible for what it contains except the superintendent himself. In its gen- eral arrangement the usual order of topics will be followed, and there is first presented a
Summary of Statistics.
United States census, 1890,
40,117
State census, 1895
52,200
United States census, 1900.
61,643
State census, 1905
69,272
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October,
1905, by school census ..
11,969
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October,
1906, by school census
12,068
Increase
99
2 .- SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
Number of school buildings
26
26
0
Number of classrooms ....
269
279
10
Valuation of school property
$1,395,000
3 .- TEACHERS.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
In high schools.
48
54
6
In grammar schools.
153
158
5
In primary schools.
99
99
0
In kindergartens.
8
8
0
Total in elementary
schools.
260
265
5
Special
7
7
0
Total
315
326
11
4 .- ATTENDANCE FOR. YEAR.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
Entire enrollment for the year.
14,296
14.551
255
Average number belonging.
11,543
11,762
219
Average number attending.
10,897
11,070
173
Per cent. of daily attendance.
94.4
04.1
-0.3
High school graduates ..
211
208
-3
Grammar school graduates
606
640
36
146
ANNUAL REPORTS.
5 .- ATTENDANCE IN DECEMBER.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
Whole number attending.
13,882
14,096
214
In private schools
1,764
1,748
-16
In public schools.
12,118
12,348
230
In high schools ..
1,361
1,480
119
In elementary schools.
10,562
10,664
102
In kindergarten.
195
204
9
In first grade.
1,581
1,526
-55
In second grade
1,456
1,473
17
In third grade.
1,336
1,352
16
In fourth grade.
1,274
1.292
18
In fifth grade.
1.189
1.240
51
In sixth grade.
1,152
1,109
43
In seventh grade
967
1,003
36
In eighth grade.
917
872
-45
In ninth grade.
690
797
107
6 .- COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
Salaries of teachers
$254,697.12
$260,796.46
$6,099.34
Salaries of officers.
4.900.00
5,400.00
500.00
Cost of books and supplies
20,136.82
22,589.08
2,452.26
Cost of light.
4,344.95
2,874.75
-- 1,470.20
Cost of janitors' services.
21.949.25
23,143.32
1,194.07
Cost of fuel.
15,166.43
14,161.92
-1,004.51
Telephones
482.26
380.24
-- 102.02
Total cost of day and evening schools
321,676.83
329,345.77
7,668.94°
Per capita cost.
27.87
28.00
0.13
Cost of high school instruc-
tion
57,011.15
59,729.50
2,718.35
Per capita cost ..
45.79
43.82
-1.97
7 .- MISCELLANEOUS.
1905.
1906.
Increase.
Paid for new school
buildings
$51,987.40
$38,457.32
-$13,530.08
Repairs and permanent improvements
8,305.48
11,950.85
3,645.37
Total school expendi-
tures
381,969.71
379,753.94
-2,215.77
Valuation of city. ...... 59,146,600.00 Number of dollars spent
60,371,500.00
1,224,900.00
to maintain schools
out of every $1,000 of valuation ...
5.44
5.46
0.02
Number of dollars spent
for all school pur-
poses out of every
$1,000 of valuation ..
6.46
6.29
-0.17
The School Year. The schools have been in session 895 hours on 179 days of the year, ten and one-fifth per cent. of the entire time. The theoretical year of forty weeks has been short- ened by the loss of six sessions for stormy weather and thirty- six sessions for holidays and other causes, a total of twenty-one
147
SCHOOL. DEPARTMENT.
clays. Aside from these, and the customary prevalence of chil- dren's diseases in primary grades, there have been no serious interruptions of any sort in the work of the schools. There has been the general hearty co-operation of teachers, parents, and pupils, without which the best results are impossible. Of course there has been here and there a little friction, but much less than the difficulty of keeping 12,000 children constantly occupied and headed in the right direction would lead us to expect.
School Population. The increase in the school population of the city is approximately shown by the comparatively useless annual school census which the statutes require. The greatest pains have been taken to secure exact returns, but comparisons with the more reliable reports from the schools show unmistak- able inaccuracies.
The following table shows the results of the census takers' canvass.
1906.
1905.
Change.
Ward 1
1,974
1.929
+-45
66
2,569
2,536
-133
3
1,148
1,100
+48
4
986
1,012
-- 56
66
1,908
1,911
-3
6
1,979
1,972
+7
7
1,504
1,479
+25
Total
12,068
11,969
+99
There appears to have been a gain of ninety-nine children between five and fifteen, the ages covered by the census, as com- pared with last year. The more accurate basis of comparison, the school registration December 15, shows 12,348 children of all ages in the schools, in contrast with 12,118 at the same date in 1905, an increase of 230.
We estimate the general population of the city.in three ways,-(1) on the basis of poll-tax payers, (2) on school census returns, and (3) on school registration December 15,-as fol- lows :-
1. On basis of poll-tax payers 72,189
2. On basis of census returns .. 69,849
3. On basis of school registration. 70,588
Average of the three 70,875
It is probable that this average indicates the present popu- lation of the city fairly well.
During 1906 a general effort has been made throughout the Commonwealth by state and municipal authorities to secure a rigid enforcement of the school attendance laws, to suppress illegal child labor, and ensure the presence in school of every minor until he had passed his fourteenth birthday. Even with the utmost vigilance some will escape official attention. The
148
ANNUAL REPORTS.
seemingly superfluous requirement of exacting a reading and writing certificate from every minor employee, even when his literacy is conspicuous, does not accomplish the object.
Our city receives its constantly-increasing share of the immigrants that flock to our hospitable shores. Unless edu- cated they are a menace to our institutions, and no pains should be spared to secure for both young and old among them such education and training as shall fit them for intelligent and loyal citizenship. Until illiterates have passed the age of sixteen, they must attend day schools, and evening schools till they have reached the age of twenty-one. The most of them welcome their opportunities, but not a few indifferent ones elude the vigi- lance of the authorities.
Age and schooling certificates are required by employees from all minors under sixteen, attested by oath and signature of parent and signature of the superintendent of schools.
We have issued these certificates as follows :--
In 1905. 329 In 1906 387
These children left the grammar school for work, from
Grade VI ..... 56 Grade VII. .. 62 Grade VIII ... 61
This number is somewhat larger than usual, owing probably to prosperous business conditions. It is indirectly a public mis- fortune that these 400 boys and girls cannot be retained in school long enough at least to complete the grammar school course. Another year added to the compulsory school age would mean much to these children.
School Attendance. There have been enrolled in the schools in 1906 14,551 different pupils of all ages. A portion of these have attended only a part of the year.
One thousand two hundred and forty entered Grade I. in September.
Three hundred and twenty-three dropped out during the year to go to work.
Three hundred and seventy-four left school after graduation.
One thousand two hundred and fifty-nine have moved into the city and entered the schools during the year.
A certain number have been quarantined for a portion of the time on account of contagious diseases.
The average membership of the schools for the year has been 11,762, an increase of 219 for the year.
Five and nine-tenths per cent. of this number have been absent all the time mainly on account of illness, but too fre- quently for unsatisfactory reasons. Including all pupils who are dropped out from the average number belonging, on account of quarantine rules, it is probable that there is a continual absence of about eight per cent. of the membership of the schools. This is, of course, a loss of eight per cent. in the cost of school main-
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
tenance, a matter of $25,000 a year. Not all this loss is prevent- able. It is probable that the installation of a system of medical inspection will materially reduce absences from sickness in the long run, and in this way will doubtless save to the city practi- cally the cost of its maintenance.
Next in value to the man that can carry a "message to Garcia" is the one that invariably meets all his business engage- ments promptly without the loss of time. Among the virtues that teachers seek to make habitual is this one of unvarying punctuality. Hence the constant struggle to keep the tardi- nesses of pupils down to a minimum. Teachers have been rather less successful this year in doing this than heretofore, the number of tardinesses having increased from 3,746 in 1905 to 4,046 in 1906. This shows that out of every 946 opportunities, each child has been tardy once. More than one-half of these delinquencies are chargeable to little children in the lowest four grades, and generally result from the indifference of parents or untoward home conditions.
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