USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1907 > Part 12
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Kindergartens. The kindergartens in the Hanscom, Bennett, Baxter, and Glines Schools are still in operation, although the attendance has fallen off in two of them. The entire cost of these kindergartens for the year was $3,956.03, or $21.62 for every child that attended.
The details are as follows :-
Hanscom.
Bennett.
Baxter.
Glines.
Total.
Enrollment
106
109
101
94
410
Average membership
46
52
42
43
183
Average attendance
41
43
35
39
158
Per cent. attendance
87.9
82.7
83.5
89.3
86.3
Age
4-7
4-8
4-5
4-7
4-7
Evening High School. The evening high school opened its third year in October, 1906, under the principalship of George W. Earle, of the English School. The experience of previous years was in the main repeated. Six hundred and thirty-one dif- ferent students were in attendance. The average attendance dwindled from 240 in October to 139 at the time of closing. The instructors, in point of ability and experience, were the equal of those employed in our day high schools, and the advantages for the brief time were equal to those enjoyed by regular high school pupils. If some way can be discovered of excluding those whose interest is shallow and transient and whose membership is brief, there will be a decided gain to the school. The cost of the school was $0.352 per pupil for each evening. The aggregate cost of instruction was $3,787.25. The cost of supplies, janitor's ser- vices, and light was $1,014.56. Total, $4,801.81.
The school closed the first of March and re-opened on the second Monday of October, 1907, with the same principal and practically the same corps of instructors.
Instead of running the school in two sections for four even- ings a week, giving to each section two evenings only of work, at the present time the school holds its sessions three evenings a week, and every student is expected to be present each evening. Thus far this change has proved decidedly advantageous, the at- tendance being more regular and the work accomplished being
161
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
1
increased by one-half. Besides, the expense has been materially lessened.
The great majority of the young men and women in attend- ance are fitting themselves better to perform the duties of the positions they now hold or to secure advancement. They are ambitious, interested, and apply themselves diligently to the busi- ness in hand. The work done by this school justifies its exist- ence.
The cost of instruction per pupil per evening thus far this year has been $0.191, as against $0.254 last year.
Elementary Evening Schools. In these schools, as in the high school, the term of 1906-1907 was shortened by closing at the end of February, in order to make expenditures and appropriations harmonize more nearly. The amount thus saved was about $1,600. The enrollment in the four schools was 917, with an average attendance of 328, or 35.8 per cent. The total expendi- ture was $5,312.99, or $0.213 per pupil per evening.
The attendance at these schools at the present time is larger than ever before, and the interest is better maintained. The num- ber of non-English-speaking students is constantly increasing, and at present constitutes about one-half of the whole number. All must recognize the importance of teaching these uneducated foreigners to use the language of their adopted country and of training them in some of the primary duties of citizenship. Cer- tainly whatever can be done to safeguard the community against the perils that naturally inhere in the addition of a heterogeneous people to our population should be done. Our evening school work might easily be broadened in its scope, and its term should certainly be lengthened rather than shortened.
Vacation Schools. It is unfortunate that the stringency in the city's finances has rendered it inexpedient to open vacation schools for the last three years. It is coming to be more and more recognized that the responsibility of the city for the re- straint, control, and education of its children is not limited to the forty weeks of the school year. In Somerville, as in most large cities, there are thousands of children that spend the ten weeks of the summer vacation at home. Much of their waking time is spent, as it ought to be, out of doors. In the absence of useful occupation and the direction of their sports, and without play- grounds to which they may resort, they roam the streets in aim- less idleness. It is not strange that they get into mischief, that they trespass on the rights of property holders, that vicious habits are formed, and that their moral status falls far below what it might otherwise be. For these reasons school authori- ties and all others interested in social betterment are everywhere doing what they can to control the activities of children during vacation periods, and to give useful direction thereto. What- ever concerns children either in school, at work, or at play is a
162
ANNUAL REPORTS.
subject of public interest and activity. Just now playgrounds for children are receiving special attention. Play is the normal occupation of childhood. It is recognized that play, properly supervised and directed, has an educational and an ethical, as well as a hygienic value. Hence there has arisen a widespread movement to provide playgrounds near schools and homes, suit- ably equipped with gymnastic and play apparatus, and placed under the direction and control of competent supervisors. Under special authority from the Legislature, Boston has this year spent $60,000 for these purposes, and the good work has only been begun. General enactments have given municipalities in other states authority to make similar expenditures. While we may not have the legal right to spend money for these pur- poses, the subject should receive attention, public interest in it should be aroused, and ways and means found to provide play facilities for the hundreds of Somerville children that will be vastly benefited thereby.
Through the generosity of one of our leading corporations, an example has been given of what may be done. The old Pros- pect Hill School lot has been utilized, an inexpensive equipment furnished, and a director supplied during the months of July and August. In other sections of the city schoolyards might be pro- vided with swings, see-saws, parallel bars, sand-heaps, and other similar means of amusement and training at small expense. Young women could be found to act as directors. The school buildings might be opened for reading, music, story-telling, and simple hand work. Somerville has generous citizens, who would doubtless gladly give financial aid. In this work some of our women's clubs would find ample opportunity for their activities.
It is easy to retrench by eliminating vacation schools and shortening the term of evening schools. The loss may not be immediately apparent, but it is no less real. Through these agencies we reach a class greatly in need of influences that make for good citizenship. Neglected, they become a menace. Prop- erly cared for, they make more or less helpful elements of our population.
Cost of the Schools. The total amount spent for the main- tenance of the schools of Somerville in 1904 is $340,852.04. This does not include the sums spent on schoolhouse repairs and for new buildings. It does cover the amount paid for the care of school buildings, for janitors"services, fuel, light, and school tele- phones. This expenditure is wholly in charge of the city gov- ernment.
The amount paid for janitors is $23,999.00
The cost of fuel is .. 15.235.48
The cost of light is. 3,760.08
The cost of the school telephones is. 433.07
A total of. $13,427.63
The cost per capita. 3.65
163
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
The second important expenditure is wholly under the con- trol of the Board, and is covered by what is known as the "School Contingent" appropriation. The following is the item- ized account :-
Officers' salaries
$5,500.00
Books
$6,743.44
Stationery
4,931.63
Laboratory and manual training supplies,
3,396.60
Printing
1,479.10
Graduation exercises
1,159.59
Drawing supplies
853.28
Bookbinding
2,175.70
Writing books
535.65
Stereoscope pictures.
625.41
Typewriters and typewriter supplies.
357.21
Truant officer's horse.
240.00
Express and postage.
222.01
Board of truants
597.44
School census.
246.20
Office telephones.
182.32
Kindergarten supplies.
89.53
Miscellaneous supplies
482.22
Total for school supplies, etc.
24,317.33
Total outlay on school contingent account.
$29,817.33
Appropriation 27,000.00
Deficiency
$2,817.33
Received for damage to school property, tuition
of state wards and non-residents, etc.
482.01
Net deficiency
$2,335.32
The estimate of the committee for school contingent ex- penses was $29,000. This sum was exceeded by $335.32.
The third, and by far the largest, element of the cost of schools is the sum spent for the salaries of teachers. The follow- ing shows the monthly payments :-
January
$27,183.93
February
27,323.13
March
25,645.75
April
25,613.56
May
25,648.32
June
25,576.26
September
26,388.42
October
27,506.12
November
28,393.50
December
28,328.12
Total
$267,607.11
Amount of appropriation.
265,000.00
Deficiency
$2,607.11
Credit
6.00
Net deficiency
$2,601.11
164
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The estimate of the School Board for teachers' salaries amounted to $272,522.50. The expenditure was $1,915.39 less. This amount was saved by the early closing of the evening schools, the omission of vacation schools, the employment of teachers at salaries below the maximum, the employment of a smaller number of cadet teachers than was expected, and by the non-employment of teachers for backward pupils.
The total outlay for all school purposes in 1907 was as fol- lows :-
Teachers' salaries.
$267,607.11
Administration
5,500.00
Care of schoolhouses
43.427.63
School supplies
24,317.33
Total for school maintenance
$340,852.07
Paid for repairs.
18,007.85
Paid for new buildings.
31,804.34
Total for all school purposes
$390,664.26
Each dollar of the sum spent for the support of schools has been divided in the following proportion :-
1902.
1903.
1904. $0.793
1905. $0.792
1906. $0.792
1907. $0.785
Administration
0.017
0.013
0.016
0.013
0.016
0.016
Janitors' salaries ..
.. 0.073
0.070
0.070
0.070
0,070
0.070
Heat and light.
0.042
0.067
0.053
0.061
0.052
0.057
School supplies
0.068
0.069
0.068
0.064
0.070
0.072
Total
$1.000
$1.000
$1.000
$1.000
$1.000
$1.000
Per Capita Cost. The proper method of comparison of the cost of schools year by year is to consider the sum spent for each pupil in the average membership. In this computation we ex- clude the cost of evening schools, the sum being so large as pos- sibly to mislead. The following shows
THE PER CAPITA COST OF DAY SCHOOLS FOR 1906 AND 1907.
High Schools.
Grammar and Primary Schools.
All Day Schools.
1906.
1907.
In- crease.
1906.
1907.
In- crease.
1906.
1907.
In- crease.
Instruction .
$43 82
$44 07
$0 25
$18 94
$19 24
$0 30
$21 82
$22 30
$0 48
Suppli
4 73
5 44
0 71
1 50
1 52
0 02
1 88
2 01
0 13
Care
3 75
4 21
0 46
3 22
3 35
0 13
3 28
3 46
0 18
Total
$52 30
$53 72
$1 42
$23 66
$24 11
$0 45
$26 98
$27 77
$0 79
Teachers' salaries .. . $0.800
$0.781
Including the cost of maintenance of evening schools, the per capita cost will be as follows :-
165
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
1904.
1905.
1906.
1907.
Cost of instruction.
$23.03
$22.50
$22.63
$22.93
Cost of supplies
1.93
1.74
1.92
2.04
Cost of care
3.52
3.63
3.45
3.65
Total
$28.48
$27.87
$28.00
$28.62
The examination of these tables shows that we have paid twenty-five cents more for the instruction of each pupil in the high school than in 1906, and seventy-one cents more per pupil for supplies. This increase is due to the employment of three additional teachers in the English School and to supplies neces- sary to meet an increase of 106 in the membership of the high schools.
The grammar and primary schools have cost thirty cents per pupil more for instruction, and two cents for supplies. Eight cents of this increased cost of instruction is chargeable to manual training, and the remainder to the employment of assist- ant teachers in large classes and one extra teacher. The in- creased cost of supplies is due to the unusually large bookbinding bill.
Considering all day schools together, the increase of cost has been seventy-nine cents, forty-eight cents of which is for instruc- tion, thirteen for supplies, and eighteen for the increased cost of the care of school buildings. Adding the cost of evening schools to that of day schools, we increase the cost of instruction by sixty-three cents, the cost of supplies three cents, and the cost of the care of school buildings nineteen cents. This makes the total cost for 1907 $28.62 per capita, as against $28 for 1906. In 1906 there were seventy-six cities and towns in the Common- wealth in which the per capita cost was larger than it was in Som- erville. The cost of maintaining our schools in 1906 was $5.46 for every thousand dollars of the city's valuation, but there were 145 cities and towns in the state that paid a higher rate. This year the maintenance of the schools in Somerville has taken $5.54 of the $12 allowed for the maintenance of all departments in the city.
The salaries paid to teachers in January, 1908, are as fol- lows :-
1 man $3,000
24 women
$900
man
2,600
2 women
850
1 man
2,000
2 women
825
10 men, 2 women 1,900
3 women 800
1 man
1,850
16 women
775
1 man
1,800
9 women
725
6 men
1,700
194 women
700
2 men
1,600
11 women
650
3 men
1,500
12 women
600
2 men
1,400
2 women
525
1 man
1,300
1 woman
500
3 women
1,200
5 women
425
3 men
1,100
3 women
350
1 man, 12 women
1,000
3 women
.
200
166
ANNUAL REPORTS.
A careful estimate shows that for 1908 the school expendi- tures will be :-
For teachers' salaries.
$291,424.38
For contingent expenses.
28,500.00
Total $319,924.38
Schoolhouses. There have been no recent public criticisms upon the sanitary conditions of school buildings. With hardly an exception, they are in excellent condition, well cared for, and perfectly healthful. During the year the ordinary repairs have been made, and in several buildings the walls have been tinted. The heating and ventilating apparatus of the Pope School has been entirely changed by the substitution of steam heat and a ventilating fan, in place of furnaces and the gravity system which had for years yielded such unsatisfactory results.
There are two respects in which some of our school build- ings should be improved. Attention has been frequently called to them, but they are mentioned once more that they may not be forgotten.
1. The lighting of the Prescott, Bell, Forster, and Morse Schools should be improved by the addition of extra windows in most of the rooms. A visit to any of these buildings on a dark day would convince any one that an attempt at sight-work would be perilous. I certainly hope that the work of improve- ment in this respect may at least be begun this year.
2. The old-fashioned furniture still remaining in many of the rooms should be replaced by that which is adjustable to the size of pupils. This is in the interest of the health and comfort of children. The desirability of this change is so obvious that I am sure the new furniture will be substituted as rapidly as finan- cial conditions will warrant.
The fire escape on the Bell Schoolhouse has at last been completed, although no attempt has been made to use it in con- nection with the fire drill. The practice of the fire drill, in ac- cordance with an amendment to the Rules, recently adopted, absolutely removes all danger of panic in emergency, and secures the safety of the children in any case of danger that is likely to arise. Any building in the city may be emptied of pupils within two minutes without disorder or excitement.
The Training of Teachers. Twenty-five years ago it was thought that graduation at a high school sufficiently equipped a young woman for teaching. Now the demand everywhere is for teachers that have supplemented this academic education by two years of professional training at normal schools. The standard of qualifications for teaching has been greatly raised. There must be added to the requisite amount of academic knowledge the study of the mind and character of children, of the history and theory of education, and of the best methods of instruc-
167
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
tion. Theories must be tested by experience. The self-confi- dence of the fresh normal school graduate must be tempered by facing the realities of a schoolroom.
In Somerville we have for years employed only trained teachers who have had sufficient experience in teaching to place their ability and success beyond question. Most teachers who have come to us have been paid our maximum salary at the out- set. This principle of selection underlies whatever of excellence our schools may possess. The rare exceptions to the rule have only emphasized its wisdom. There has always been a strong feeling in the community that Somerville women should be em- ployed in Somerville schools. This feeling has been chiefly con- fined to those who have friends or relatives needing employment. It has not been shared by the more intelligent portion of the community, who consider the demands of the schools as para- mount to personal considerations. Nevertheless preference has been given, when other things have been equal, to the graduates of our own schools. This is evidenced by the fact that-during the last fifteen years nearly a hundred of our own residents have been given positions as teachers. The state has established ten normal schools, in which young men and women who desire to qualify for teaching can receive gratuitous instruction and train- ing. These schools are rarely crowded. Occasionally a city whose residents cannot easily reach one of these schools has es- tablished a training school, which serves as an indifferent sub- stitute. Some of our own graduates hesitate to leave home to secure experience in other towns or cities whose financial status compels the employment of cheap teachers. This has given rise to a call for some sort of training school that shall give experi- ence that will enable a normal school graduate to work success- fully in our city schools. This matter has been fully discussed at one time or another, and a year ago this discussion material- ized in a plan for the employment of what are called cadet teach- ers. (See Appendix I. for details of the plan.) These young women are to be employed in different schools for a year at a small salary, under the direction of experienced principals and teachers. The number is limited by the Rules to twelve. Only three candidates presented themselves at the beginning of the year. They are now at work in the schools.
It is too early to pronounce upon the success of the plan. Its great weakness is that the cadet has no opportunity for the independent management and discipline of a class. It is in these respects that young teachers are generally weak. Nevertheless the plan should receive a fair trial before it is abandoned.
Truancy . The following shows the record for the year :-
1906.
1907.
Number of visits to schools.
511
474
Number of cases investigated.
502
499
Decrease. 37 3
168
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Number found to be truants. 151
94
57
Number sent to truant school. 6
Paid for board of truants. $417
$597 9
+3 +$180
It does not appear that this vice is growing in the city. Constant vigilance is required for its restraint. What is de- manded is not the punishment of the offender, but his reforma- tion. Truancy, while not a venial offence, tends towards immo- rality and crime. For many a boy it is the start down hill. It has its origin in unfortunate home environment, or failure on the part of the schools to furnish that which meets the truant's needs and interests. Like other juvenile offenders, he must have sym- pathetic treatment so positive in character as not to be mistaken for leniency or weakness. There is now and then an inveterate case, curable only by harsh methods, but in the main truants are amenable to the patient and persistent efforts of those who can secure their confidence and friendship.
For many years we have been fortunate in having the ser- vice of a single faithful and efficient officer who has done for Somerville what four such officers are just able to do for our sister city, Cambridge. If we are to attempt the reformation of truants by modern methods, our force must be increased. Promptness in dealing with offenders is needed, and it often hap- pens that while the officer is scouring West Somerville for a boy in hiding, in the east end or in some other distant locality two or three are reveling in conscious immunity. But it is not enough to return the boy to school or hale him to court. The home must be visited, parental co-operation secured, or its education attempted. The boy himself must be studied and every case diagnosed that the proper remedy may be applied. Early morn- ing or late evening visits are often needed. All this requires more time and effort than one man can find available. Hence another truant officer is imperative, a man fitted by nature and experience for the delicate and responsible service he is to ren- der. I therefore recommend the employment of another active truant officer.
Stamp Savings. . In June last the stamp savings system concluded five years of activity in Somerville. The results of these five years are shown in the figures below :-
YEARLY TOTALS.
Year.
Collections.
Dividends.
Total.
1902-3
$15,135.59
$15,135.59
1903-4
9,069.80
$187.75
9,257.55
1904-5
8,056.80
129.90
8,186.70
1905-6
7,503.01
62.58
7,565.59
1906-7
8,043.48
138.78
8,182.26
Total for five years. $17,808.68
$519.01
$48,327.69
.
169
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
REDEMPTIONS.
Banked.
Cashed.
Total. Dividends.
Total.
1st year. .
$8,069.85
$3,152.46
$11,222.31
$11,222 31
2nd year
6,060.91
2,927.90
8,988.81
$71.74
9,060.55
3rd year.
4,754.46
3,116.47
7,870.93
48.00
7,918.93
4th year.
4,465.95
2,922.19
7,388.14
61.65
7,449.79
5th year.
4,070.13
3,060.41
7,130.54
85.00
7,215.54
Total
$27,421.30 $15,179.43
$42,600.73 $266.39
$12,867.12
Balance May 1, 1907.
5,460.57
$48,327.69
Adding to the total collections $2,971.54, the amount thus far collected since September, 1907, the grand total of collections is found to be $50,780.22. These results imply much gratuitous labor and sacrifice on the part of the officer of the Associated Charities having the matter in charge, and her assistants. It also means a great deal of effort, time, and perplexing work on the part of principals and teachers. Its most important mean- ing, however, is to be found in habits of thrift that have been formed, in lessons on the value of money and the importance of saving by littles, and in the positive financial advantages accru- ing to the thousands of children who have shared its benefits. Teachers naturally feel that every obligation imposed upon them by duties that really lie outside of their legitimate work makes a serious addition to a burden that threatens to become too heavy to be carried. Not only their desire, however, to be loyal to re- quirements, but their wish to promote the interests of the children placed under their charge leads them cheerfully to bear it. The following quotation from an article by one of our own English High School teachers in the current number of Education is so timely and pertinent in this connection that I think it worthy a place in this report :-
"No less unfortunate seems the growing tendency to make the public school teacher the medium for all sorts of investiga- tions and reforms, excellent in themselves, but hard to reconcile with the other demands on her time and strength. Statistics, medical inspection, free text-books, red-tape of all kinds, a thou- sand interruptions, often seem to a teacher with any conscience as to her work like the veritable fiend that troubled Launcelot Gobbo, 'Well, my conscience says, "Launcelot, budge not"; "budge," says the fiend; "budge not," says my conscience.' It is not the work of teaching, but such conflicting claims that sap the strength of the public school teacher, sending her home at night too weary to make adequate preparation for the morrow. She does not beg for sympathy ; she does not ask an easier life, but she does desire, yes, longs ardently and passionately for means to make more fruitful the service to which she is dedicated. In the name of all true scholarship, as you love your children, see
-
170
ANNUAL REPORTS.
to it that the well-meaning efforts in her behalf be guided by wis- dom and understanding."
The Public Library and the Schools. The contrast between old methods and new is nowhere more striking than in the use of the public library now made by the public schools as compared with a dozen years ago. Then the library was inadequately supplied with children's books, and comparatively few children patronized it. Now books are provided in abundance, a room has been set apart for the use of children, and every facility has been granted to teachers and pupils for the use of library books in connection with the work of the schools. At the present time there are 165 libraries scattered over the city in schoolrooms, under the care of teachers. These contain 6,649 volumes, and are interchanged whenever necessary. These books are selected with discretion by teachers or by the school librarian. Besides the use of books in the schools, thousands of children deal directly with the li- brary. All these advantages are provided at the expense of the library trustees, the school department contributing nothing thereto. We desire to extend thanks to the librarian and his as- sistants, as well as to the Board of Trustees, on behalf of both teachers and children, for the privileges thus generously fur- nished.
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