USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1907 > Part 10
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Balance to credit of account, 1908
380,000 00
$1,255,000 00
Water Loan Interest.
CREDIT. Water Works Income, amount appropriated
$3,200 00
DEBIT.
Coupons maturing April 1, 1907 :-
$31,000, six months, 4 per cent
$620 00
Coupons maturing July 1, 1907 :-
$24,000, six months, 4 per cent
480 00
Coupons maturing October 1, 1907 :-
$31,000, six months, 4 per cent
620 00
Coupons maturing January 1, 1908 :-
$12,000, six months, 4 per cent
240 00
$1,960 00
Registered Bonds :-
Interest due April 1, 1907 .
$620 00
Interest due October 1,
1907
620 00
1,240 00
$3,200 00
Water Maintenance.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income, amount appropriated $25,000 00
Water Works Extension account, balance transferred 5,721 75
$30,721 75
Receipts : ---
Cash, received of sundry persons, costs $50 00
Sundry persons, pipe, fittings, etc. .
5,157 58
5,207 58
Stock and labor billed other departments :- Highways, Maintenance account, couplings Public Buildings Construction, Incinerator account, repairing leak, etc.
5 99
Public Grounds account, labor
62 74
Support of Poor, City Home account, repairs ·
58 07
Public Buildings Maintenance, City Build- ings account, shut-off
2 65
Public Buildings Maintenance, School- houses, shut-off Water Works Extension account, stock . Highways, Watering Streets account, maintaining post Sewers, Construction account, water pipe .
2 68
12,812 05
186 07
14 00
13,146 34
$49,075 67
.
.
$2 09
136
ANNUAL REPORTS.
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid laborers
.
.
$17,571 77
Frank E. Merrill, salary as water
2,300 00
commissioner disbursements
41 92
Charles E. Childs, inspector disbursements
2 50
Lillian E. Leavitt, assistant
900 00
Laura E. Peavey, assistant
700 00
Marcella F. Kendall, clerical services
120 00
Marion L. Morrison, clerical services
.
80 00
Eva V. Tukey, clerical services
40 00
Philip Allen, stamps
429 00
American Express Co., expressing 14 24
39 52
Charles Booth, wood
42 00
Boston & Maine Railroad Co., freight, D. J. Bennett, harness repairs
231 15
Boston Elevated Railw'y Co., car tickets,
35 00
F. S. Blanchard & Co., year book .
2 00
Braman, Dow, & Co., pipe, etc.
872 61
Harold L. Bond Co., tools
48 96
Boston Woven Hose & Rubber Co., hose
6 37
Gorham W. Burnham, claim
7 25
W. B. Brown & Co., repairs
10 50
Boston Decorative Plant Co., decora- tions
2 50
Boston & Albany Railroad Co., labor,
1 76
Barber Asphalt Paving Co., renewing pavement
3 26
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., valves
114 51
Chandler & Farquhar Co., tools
10 88
Chadwick, Boston Lead Co., pipe
670 73
Coffin Valve Co., valves
122 50
Hannah W. Crowley, claim
5 00
Nathan Condon, claim
88 40
City of Cambridge, pipe
39 02
George W. Clark, claim
136 55
Isaac Coffin Co., packing
2 60
J. A. Durell, labor
1 20
Julian D'Este Co., castings
164 29
G. M. Davis & Son, mason work
130 95
Harry F. R. Dolan, claim
100 00
Davis & Farnum Mfg. Co., water posts,
75 52
Davenport-Brown Co., lumber
1 00
Eastern Salt Co., salt
6 80
Electric Goods Mfg. Co., wiring, etc.,
16 28
Edson Mfg. Co., tools
22 54
The Elliott Co., stencil supplies
14 40
Eastern Anto Exchange, tire
10 00
Fred W. Farrar, repairing clock
5 00
William E. Foss, professional services,
25 00
The Fairbanks Co., discs
38 02
William H. Field, machinery
30 70
Fresh Pond Ice Co., ice
89 40
Fisk Rubber Co., vulcanizing
2 50
Amount carried forward
$27,009 17
.
.
·
647 07
J. M. Andrews & Son, stock and labor,
936 00
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 132
Amount brought forward
$27,009 17
Fire & Water Engineering Co., sub- scription
3 00
O. T. Gould, repairing clock
5 00
Glines & Co., expressing
45
Globe Gas Light Co., gasolene
20 30
Gilman Express Co., expressing
7 55
F. W. Gilbert, boots
18 00
W. A. Greenough & Co., directory
4 00
Thomas Groom & Co., office supplies
130 00
Leona Goron, claim
15 00
George E. Grover, claim
75 00
Garlock Packing Co., packing
94
Hersey Mfg. Co., meters
110 45
Hill, Clarke, & Co., tool
18 00
Hale & Mayhew Co., repairing wagon,
7 80
William S. Howe, cups
. 58
Charles R. Hildred, expressing
3 80
Henry C. Hunt Co., leather
1 00
Fred M. Hutchinson, expenses
10 90
Hill & Holt, tire, etc.
24 92
Jim Hodder & Bros., decorations
1 70
Ideal Supply Co., pipe
64
Jordan Marsh Co., decorations
8 55
Cyril J. Larivee, lumber
50 65
Library Bureau, cabinet and cards
93 06
George W. Ladd, horseshoeing, etc.,
69 30
Elias Lathrop, hoof ointment
4 00
Edwin Leavitt, services
21 00
Lord & Webster, hay and straw
391 62
Lead Lined Iron Pipe Co., pipe
1,113 90
T. E. Littlefield, lumber
19 85
Ludlow Valve Co., valves
75 60
Mead, Morrison Mfg. Co., tank
50 00
Walter Macleod & Co., burner
19 60
William G. Martin, sharpening tools
1 20
Duncan McDonald, claim
100 00
Thomas McNeill, expenses
7 82
A. E. Morrison Co., fittings
83 40
H. Mueller Mfg. Co., fittings
352 55
Martin & Wood, sharpening tools
1 70
New England Telephone & Telegraph Co., service
223 97
Neptune Meter Co., meters
450 00
New England Oil Co., oil
57 52
National Mfg. Co., moisteners
1 00
National Meter Co., meter parts
41 02
New England Towel Supply Co., use of towels
3 60
Edward O'Brien, horseshoeing
100 13
Fulton O'Brion, oats
131 69
Outlook Envelope Co., envelopes
33 41
Proctor Bros., hay and oats
267 63
William E. Plumer & Co., hardware, George G. Page Box Co., boxes
35 00
W. E. Plummer, claim
3 50
C. H. Paine, powders
5 00
Perrins, Seamans Co., lanterns
23 00
James H. Roberts & Co., shaft and pulley .
7 99
Amount carried forward .
? $31,374 44
56 93
-
138
1 ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward
$31,374 44
Russell & Co., lemons
7 16
J. E. Richardson, veterinary services 5 00
Rensselaer Mfg. Co., valves
428 61
A. G. Renner, expressing
4 50
Richards & Co., lead
534 33
Richardson & Clement, tools
33 99
John B. Rufer, horseshoeing
24 00
Somerville Journal Co., printing
322 35
Smith-Premier Typewriter Co., repairs,
1 10
Somerville Iron Foundry, castings
457 42
E. S. Sparrow & Co., hardware
38 05
Standard Brazing Co., labor
5 50
Simpson Bros. Corporation, paving
520 80
Thomson Meter Co., meters
3,278 94
Nathan Tufts & Sons, oats
156 00
John A. Taylor, carriage
100 00
L. H. Truesdell & Co., cards
2 00
Thorpe's Express, expressing
1 50
Charles L. Underhill, repairing tools,
268 00
Underhill Hardware Co., hardware
117 67
Union Water Meter Co., meters
1,704 66
W. H. Vinton, washers
5 00
Winter-hill Ice Co., ice
65 94
Samuel Ward Co., office supplies
31 33
Walworth Mfg. Co., fittings
69 36
Henry R. Worthington, meters
1,433 46
A. J. Wilkinson & Co., tools, etc.
201 14
Frank B. Witherley, tools
11 72
R. D. Wood & Co., pipe, etc.
7,242 81
R. Woodman Mfg. & Supply Co., wire, etc.
10 50
William J. Wiley, paint
90
Waldo Bros., pipe, etc.
156 66
Frederick B. Witherley, castings
83 78
Yawman, Erbe Mfg. Co., cards
2 25
$48,700 87
Sewers, Maintenance account, labor and stock ·
115 04
Highways, Maintenance account, labor and materials 252 76
Highways, Paved Gutters and Crossings account, blocks ·
7 00
$49,075 67
Water Service Assessments,
CREDIT.
Receipts :-
Cash, received of sundry persons, cost of services laid Support of Poor, City Home account, assessment .
$3,144 78
45 83
Public Buildings Construction, Incinerator account, as- sessment
64 27
$3,254 88
Transferred to Water Works Extension account
3,254 88
139
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT.
Water Works, Abatements on Water Charges.
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid sundry persons, money refunded $552 46 343 96
Metered Water Charges, abatements
$896 42
Transferred to debit of Water Works Income account
896 42
Water Works Extension.
CREDIT.
Water Works Income account, amount appropriated
$20,000 00
Water Service Assessments account, amount transferred,
3,254 88
$23,254 88
Amounts transferred and unused :- Water Maintenance account, amount
transferred
$5,721 75
Water Works Income account, balance transferred
494 13
6,215 88
-
$17,039 00
Receipts :-
Highways, Watering Streets account, water posts
337 84
$17,376 84
DEBIT. (Expenditures.)
Cash, paid laborers
$2,968 34
Bartholomew Burke, contract labor
455 55
Timothy F. Crimmings, contract labor,
219 87
Daniel A. Dorey, contract labor
845 91
Richard Falvey, contract labor
75 12
$4,564 79
Water Maintenance account, stock
12,812 05
$17,376 84
Water Works Income.
CREDIT.
Metered Water Charges, last quarter 1907 uncollected, Receipts :-
Cash, received of sundry water takers Less amount credited in 1908
$202,725 19
1 90
Less abatements
896 42
201,826 87
Total income, sales of water Water Works Extension account, balance transferred
$226,001 63
494 13
$226,495 76
$24,174 76
$202,723 29
140
ANNUAL REPORTS.
1
DEBIT.
Water Maintenance account, amount ap-
propriated
$25,000 00 30,000 00
Reduction of Funded Debt, Water Loan Bonds, amount appropriated
7,000 00
Water Loan Interest, amount appropriated, Sewer Loan Interest, amount appropriated, Water Works Extension account, amount appropriated .
9,137 50
Sewers Maintenance account, amount ap- propriated ·
12,000 00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Metro- politan Water Assessment
106,334 61
Reduction of Funded Debt account, balance transferred
13,823 65
$226,495 76
Table D .- Balances December 31, 1907.
Cash
$92,109 26
Assessors
463 49
City Cerk
127 32
City Messenger
73 55
Clerk of Committees and Departments
301 85
Election Expenses, Pay of Election Officers,
98 00
Electrical Department
686 32
Fire Department
409 58
Grade Crossings
169 80
Health :-
Health Department
78 69
Collection of Ashes and Offal
8,042 75
Medical Inspection in Public Schools
5 82
Highway Betterment Assessments
1,363 81
Highways :-
Construction
1,922 51
Maintenance
618 83
Watering Streets
418 04
Metered Water Charges
24,174 76
Police
475 91
Public Buildings Construction :--- Heating Plant in Charles School
G. Pope
948 69
Incinerator
622 02
Public Buildings Maintenance :-
278 99
Fire Department
209 08
Janitors' Salaries
414 60
Schoolhouses
3,811 47
Public Grounds
23 44
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund,
In-
vestment Account
5,314 58
School Contingent
2,335 32
Sealer of Weights and Measures
22 25
Sewer Assessments
2,376 59
Sewers, Construction
369 01
Sewers, Maintenance
81 39
Amount carried forward
$150,306 92
.
.
.
·
.
City Buildings
Real Estate Liens
1,959 20
Fire Department, amount appropriated
3,200 00
20,000 00
APPENDIX TO TREASURER AND COLLECTOR'S REPORT. 141
Amount brought forward
$150,306 92
Sidewalk Assessments
6,948 77
Sidewalks, Construction
1,036 83 47 71
Soldiers' Relief
181 69
State of Massachusetts
20,281 13
Support of Poor, City Home
709 11
Suppression of Gypsy and Brown-tail Moths,
71
Taxes
308,826 36
City Auditor
$20 58
City Engineer
1 12
City Solicitor
8 41
City Treasurer
501 36
Contingent Fund
247 17
Coupons
19,927 50
Election Expenses :---- City Clerk
109 37
Commissioner of Public Buildings Registrars of Voters
13 90
Electrical Department, Underground Construction Executive Department
89 98
Fire Department, Additional Apparatus
84 55
Health Department, Contagious Disease Hospital Highways :-
1,935 00
Paved Gutters and Crossings
573 71
Shade Trees
13 19
Inspection of Buildings
52 12
Interest
684 30
Military Aid
171 50
Overlay and Abatement
4,505 81
Overplus on Tax Sales
118 13
Printing and Stationery
129 78
Public Buildings Construction :-
Addition to Benjamin G. Brown School
8,333 88
Addition to Sanford Hanscom School
5,510 47
Bath House
3,000 00
Luther V. Bell School Fire Escapes
31 62
Vault, City Hall
432 19
Public Library
06
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
89 51
Public Library, Isaac Pitman Fund, Income, Poetry Reduction of Funded Debt
24,823 65
Soldiers' Monument
19,950 00
Street Lights
9,000 00
Sundry Persons
530 71
Support of Poor, Miscellaneous
774 29
Temporary Loans
380,000 00
:
$488,339 23
$188,339 23
3 70
1,292 17
.
Sidewalks, Maintenance
64 92
142
ANNUAL REPORTS.
APPROVAL OF TREASURER'S REPORT.
In Committee on Finance, February 26, 1908. To the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :- The committee on finance presents the report of Edwin L. Pride, expert accountant, as its report as an audit of the books and accounts of the City Treasurer, and recommends that the report of the treasurer be printed in the annual reports of 1907.
Respectfully submitted,
LEONARD W. COLE, CHARLES A. BURNS, DAVID BERGLIND, EDWARD H. KINGMAN, GEORGE A. LORD, GEORGE W. HARVEY, CHARLES W. ELDRIDGE,
Committee
on
Finance.
In Board of Aldermen, February 27, 1908. Accepted.
FREDERIC W. COOK, Clerk.
1
-
BENJAMIN G. BROWN SCHOOL.
1
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Committee Rooms, January 3, 1908.
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. SOUTHWORTH, Secretary of School Board.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1907.
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE,
Chairman
J. WALTER SANBORN,
Vice-Chairman
Members.
EX-OFFICIIS. Term expires January.
CHARLES A. GRIMMONS, Mayor, 72 Thurston street.
1908
LEONARD W. COLE, Pres. Board of Aldermen, 5 Homer Square. 1908
WARD ONE.
DR. HENRY F. CURTIS,
145 Perkins street. 1908
ELMER H. SPAULDING,
44 Tufts street. 1909
WARD TWO.
DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
19 Concord avenue. 1908
THOMAS M. CLANCY,
52 Springfield street. 1909
WARD THREE.
GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
75 Walnut street. 1908
WILBUR S. CLARKE,
40 Vinal avenue. 1909
WARD FOUR.
CHARLES A. KIRKPATRICK, JR., 27 Sewall street. 1908
GEORGE W. FOSTER,
7 Evergreen avenue. 1909
WARD FIVE.
HENRY H. FOLSOM,
103 Central street. 1908
J. WALTER SANBORN,
183 Central street. 1909
WARD SIX.
FREDERICK A. P. FISKE,
44 Cherry street. 1908
LEON M. CONWELL,
1 Harvard place. 1909
WARD SEVEN.
DR. GEORGE C. MAHONEY,
97 College avenue. 1908
MRS. HENRIETTA B. H. ATTWOOD, 12 Park avenue. 1909
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; honse telephone, 12.
Cora S. Fitch, Superintendent's clerk, 15 Pleasant avenue.
Mary A. Clark, clerk, 42 Highland avenue.
4
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1907.
High Schools .- Sanborn, Mahoney, Curtis, Clancy, Clarke, Foster. Conwell.
District I .- Curtis, Spaulding, Foster.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, DAVIS, BENNETT.
District II .- Bradley, Clancy, Clarke. KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III .- Whitaker, Clarke, Curtis,
POPE, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District IV .- Kirkpatrick, Foster, Cole.
EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V .- Folsom, Sanborn, Kirkpatrick. FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District VI .- Fiske, Conwell, Folsom.
CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII .- Mahoney, Mrs. Attwood, Conwell.
HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, LINCOLN, LOWE.
Additional School Accommodations .- Mahoney, Sanborn, Curtis, Clancy, Clarke, Kirkpatrick, Conwell, Grimmons, Cole. Evening Schools .- Folsom, Whitaker, Fiske.
Finance .- Kirkpatrick, Spaulding, Conwell, Grimmons, Cole. Industrial Education .-- Foster, Clarke, Mrs. Attwood.
Medical Inspection .- Curtis, Clancy, Mahoney. Music .- Mrs. Attwood, Curtis, Bradley.
Private Schools .- Clancy, Spaulding, Kirkpatrick.
Repairs of School Buildings .- Spaulding, Foster, Folsom,
Rules and Regulations .- Bradley, Folsom, Fiske. Salaries .- Fiske, Whitaker, Sanborn. Supplies .- Clarke, Bradley, Sanborn.
Text-Books and Courses of Study .- Whitaker, Spaulding, Bradley, Kirkpatrick, Folsom, Fiske, Mrs. Attwood. Vacation Schools .- Conwell, Foster, Mahoney.
Note .- The member first named is chairman,
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Somerville :-
The thirty-sixth annual report of the Superintendent of Schools, the fifteenth prepared by the present incumbent, is re- spectfully submitted. Assuming that the usual custom will be followed and this report be made the report of the School Com- mittee which the law requires them to make to their fellow- citizens, some matters are presented that would be omitted and others more fully treated than would be the case if the School Board alone were interested. The order of the last few years has been maintained, the first thing presented being a
Summary of Statistics.
Population, United States census, 1890
40,117
Population, State census, 1895.
52,200
Population, United States census. 1900 61,643
Population, State census, 1905.
69,272
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October,
1906, by school census.
12,068
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October, 1907, by school census
12.298
Increase
230
2 .- SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
Number of school buildings
26
26
0
Number of classrooms ..
270
279
0
Valuation of school property.
$1,425,009
3 .- TEACHERS.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
In high schools
54
57
3
In grammar schools.
158
161
3
In primary schools.
8
8
0
Total in elementary schools
265
268
3
Cadet teachers
0
3
3
Special
326
337
11
Total
4. - ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
y
Entire enrollment for the year.
14,551
14,802
251
Average number belonging.
11,762
11.909
147
Average number attending.
11,070
11,166
96
Per cent. of daily attendance.
94.1
93.8
-0.3
High school graduates ..
208
223
15
Grammar school graduates
640
725
85
7
9
2
09
In kindergartens.
14ª
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
5,-ATTENDANCE IN DECEMBER.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
Whole number attending.
14,096
14,223
127
In private schools.
1,748
1,735
-13
In public schools.
12,348
12,488
140
In high schools.
1,480
1,584
104
In elementary schools
10,664
10,710
46
In kindergarten
204
194
-10
In first grade.
1,526
1,532
6
In second grade.
1,473
1,384
-89
In third grade.
1,352
1,375
23
In fourth grade.
1,292
1,337
45
In fifth grade.
1,240
1,239
-1
In sixth grade.
1,109
1,201
92
In seventh- grade.
1,003
1,022
19
In eighth grade.
872
831
-41
In ninth grade.
797
789
-8
6 .- COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
Salaries of teachers
.$260,796.46
$267,607.11
$6,810.65
Salaries of officers.
5,400.00
5,500.00
100.00
Cost of books and supplies.
22,589.08
24,317.33
1,728.25
Cost of light ..
2,874.75
3,760.08
885.33
Cost of janitors' services.
23,143.32
23,999.00
855.68
Cost of fuel.
14,161.92
15,235.48
1,073.56
Telephones
380.24
433.07
52.83
Total cost of day and evening schools
329,345.77
340,852.07
11,506.30
Per capita cost.
28.00
28.62
0.62
Cost of high school instruc- tion
59,729.50
64,731.50
5,002.00
Per capita cost.
43.82
44.07
0.25
7 .- MISCELLANEOUS.
1906.
1907.
Increase.
Paid
for new school
buildings
$38,457.32
$31,804.34
-$6,652.98
Repairs and permanent improvements
11,950.85
18,007.85
6,057.00
Total school expendi-
tures
379,753.94
390,664.26
10,910.32
Valuation of city
...
.60,371,500.00
61,527,750.00
1,156,250.00
Number of dollars spent
to. maintain schools out of every $1,000 of valuation ..
5.46
5.54
0.08
Number of dollars spent
for all school pur- poses out of every $1,000 of valuation ..
6.29
6.35
0.06
Length of the School Year. Theoretically all our schools are in session for forty weeks, or 200 days, one two-hundredth of a teacher's pay being deducted for a lost day. This year our schools have been in session thirty-five and three-tenths weeks. The average length of our school year for the last decade is
148
ANNUAL REPORTS.
thirty-six weeks, three days. The work of 1907 has been inter- rupted by five and one-half holidays, twelve sessions lost through excessive cold, extreme heat, or severe storms, four and one-half days by the extension of vacations here and there, and one day by a teachers' convention. If we reduce this loss still further by six per cent. of absences by pupils, we find that more than one-sixth of the forty-week year has been subtracted, that is, we realize dividends on only eighty-three per cent. of our stock. This is a serious loss, and of course reduces the efficiency of the schools by so much. The summer vacation is constantly en- croaching on the September end of the year. The vacationists, however, constitute only a small minority of school attendants. A week would be gained by beginning the school year on the Wednesday following Labor Day. Three days and often four would be added to the school year by changing the Rules so that those weeks should be vacation weeks in which Christmas, Washington's Birthday, and Patriots' Day occur. No more reason exists for making New Year's Day a school holiday than for making it a legal holiday. Moreover, more than a day is really lost by a holiday that comes in term time. It affects the work of the day before and of the following day.
It is a question whether the application of the no-school signal may not be limited in general to the four lower grades of pupils. Most grammar and high school students can reach school without suffering save in a very exceptional storm. There is much in habit when it comes to facing ordinary weather conditions. If the changes in the Rules suggested should be made, the schools would actually be in session thirty-eight and one-half weeks in 1908 and 1909, as against the yearly average of thirty-six and one-half weeks, a gain of two weeks of school work each year. The chief objection to the plan is connected with the restriction of the application of the no-school signal. Nevertheless, as a longer year with fewer interruptions is desir- able, I recommend the plan to your consideration.
School Population. It is impossible to make an errorless registration of all children in the city between five and fifteen years of age. A special effort, however, has been made this year to do this, the enumerators sparing no pains in their work. The result is as follows :-
1907.
1906.
Change.
Ward 1
2,008
1,974
+34
2
2,607
2,569
+38
66
3
-53
66
4
1,001
986
+15
66
5
1,910
1,908
+2
"
6
2,054
1,979
+75
7
1,623
1.504
+119
Total
12,298
12,068
+230
1,095
1,148
149
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
The census shows 12,298 children between five and fifteen years of age in the city, a gain of 230 since last year, one-half of which has been made in Ward Seven. At the same time, the registration in public and private schools was 12,615, a gain of 336 as compared with last year. The school registration is cor- rect and reliable.
In October there were 313 children five or six years of age who were not attending school. kept at home by the choice of parents. Thirty children of the compulsory school age, be- tween seven and fourteen, were permanently at home on account of ill-health. One hundred and three children fourteen years of age, that is, just above the compulsory requirement, were found to be at work. These children should be in school, but are set at work by parents, under stress of poverty in most cases.
On December 15 there were 12,488 children in the public schools and 1,735 in private schools, a total of 14,223.
Based on the number of children in the city as compared with the number in 1905, the present population of Somerville appears to be very nearly 72,000, one-fifth of whom are at the present time members of public or private schools.
School Attendance. The attendance at the public schools during the year is as follows :-
Whole number enrolled in 1907, 14,802. Of these there have attended only a part of the year, 2,893.
Entered Grade I. in September, 1,210. Graduated, 948.
Dropped out during the year to go to work, 321.
The remainder, 414, are transient pupils who have been in the schools only a part of the year, entering from other cities or towns, or removing from the city during the year.
The average membership of the schools has been 11,909, an increase of 147 for the year.
Six and one-fifth per cent. of these have been absent from the schools all the time, chiefly on account of sickness and the enforcement of quarantine rules, leaving an average daily at- tendance of 11,166, an increase of ninety-seven.
While the general effect of medical inspection in the schools will be to increase regularity of attendance, during this first year it is probable that the strict enforcement of the rules has in- creased absence. We look for improvement in this direction during the coming year.
There have been 4,162 cases of tardiness and 2,541 instances of dismissal in 1907. This sounds like a large number, but when we reflect that it means that every child has come late to school once out of 907 chances, or once in two and one-half years, or that he leaves his work before he ought to once in 1,486 times, or once in four years, the numbers take on new proportions.
Teachers are anxious, sometimes unwisely anxious, to se- cure punctuality and regularity of attendance, not only on ac-
150
ANNUAL REPORTS.
count of the loss of time involved, but because they have to do with certain important elements of character. Parents often mistake their motives, and sometimes fail to co-operate as they might.
There have been 314 cases of the use of the rod during the year. This means that every twentieth schoolboy in Somerville has been punished once in 1907. There are some of our citizens who have suffered from juvenile depredations of one. sort or another, who feel that an occasional chastisement of some of the remaining nineteen would not be wholly a miscarriage of justice. There is a constant effort on the part of teachers to govern by moral power alone. The number that succeed is growing larger year by year, but while human nature continues perverse and parental control constantly grows weaker, there must of ne- cessity be an occasional resort to force, the sentimentalists to the contrary notwithstanding. With hardly an exception, punishment is calmly and judicially administered. Hardly any complaints have been received during the year of undue harsh- ness on the part of teachers, but repeated instances of parental abuse of children have come to our notice. Teachers are to be congratulated on their methods of government and on the suc- cess that attends them.
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