Report of the city of Somerville 1907, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 548

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1907 > Part 16

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Mechanical Drawing (2) }

Manual Training 1 Mechanical Drawing S

Freehand Drawing (2)

THIRD YEAR.

FOURTH YEAR.

REQUIRED STUDIES

POINTS.

REQUIRED STUDIES.

POINTS.

English (3) English and Modern } European History Elocution (3) Physiology

English (4)

United States History and Civics Elocution (4)

Ethics (4) Music (4)

ELECTIVE STUDIES.

French (4)

German (4) Latin (4)

Chemistry

5 Botany } (2) Zoology § (2)

Physics (2)

Chemistry (2)

Astronomy

Geology Physical Geography

Mechanical Drawing (3) Freehand Drawing (3) Algebra (2) Plane Geometry (2)

11/2

Mechanical Drawing (4)

Freehand Drawing (4)

3 Algebra (3)

3 Analytic Geometry Solid Geometry Trigonometry

Penmanship (2) Bookkeeping Stenography Typewriting

1 Commercial Law

5 Bookkeeping (2)

5 Stenography (2)

11% Typewriting (2)

English (2) Mediaeval History Plane Geometry Elocution (2)

5 1.

Physics

Zoology ,

Commercial Arithmetic Penmanship Commercial Geography

5555 5 1312 1 2

Ethics (3) Music (3)

French (3) German (3) Latin (3)

5 555 555 6 2112222 2552 5 5 5 5 5 2 1 2 2

11%

The Arabic numeral in parenthesis represents the year in course of the subject.

202

ANNUAL REPORTS.

Suggestive Outline of Courses.

NORMAL PRE- PARATORY COURSE.

SCIENTIFIC PREPARATORY COURSE.

COMPLETE COM- MERCIAL COURSE.

PARTIAL COM- MERCIAL COURSE.

GENERAL COURSE IN SCIENCE.

FIRST YEAR

English Algebra History, Ancient Latin Elocution Drawing

English Algebra Latin Manual Training Mech. Drawing Elocution

English History, Ancient Algebra French or German Elocution Science Drawing

English History, Ancient Algebra Biology Elocution Science Drawing

SECOND YEAR

English (2) Geometry Latin (2) Biology Elocution (2) Drawing (2)

English (2) Geomety Latin (2) French History, Ancient Elocution (2)

English (2) Geometry Com. Arithmetic Com. Geography Penmanship French (2) or German (2) Elocution (2)

English (2) Geometry History. Medi'v'l Physics Elocution (2)

THIRD YEAR

English (3) History, English Algebra (2) Geometry (2) Latin (3) Drawing (3) Elocution (3)

English (3) French (2) German Algebra (2) Geometry (2) Chemistry Elocution (3)

English (3) History, English Physiology Stenography Bookkeeping Typewriting Penmanship (2) Elocution (3)

English (3) History, English Physiology Stenography and Typewriting or Bookkeeping and Penmanship (2) Chemistry Elocution (3)

English (3) History, English Physiology Chemistry Frenchı or

Germalı Elocution (3)

FOURTH YEAR

English (4) History, U. S. Chemistry Latin (4) Physical Geog. Elocution (4)

English (4) History, Review Algebra (3) Solid Geometry Trigonometry German (2) Physics Elocution (4)

English (4) History, U. S. Stenography (2) Bookkeeping (2) Typewriting (2) Commercial Law Elocution (4)

English (4) History, U. S. Sten. (2) and Typewriting (2) or Bookkeeping (2) Commercial Law Elocution (4) Physics or Biology

English (4) History, U. S. . Geology and Astronomy Physical Geog. Frenchı (2) or

German (2) Elocution (4)

1. A pupil in course for a diploma is required to take studies representing at least eighteen points each year, consisting of the required studies with additional electives to make the necessary number of points. Pupils who do not take the re- quired amount or kind of work are classed as partial students. The number of periods each week of a subject is in general the same as the number of points which it represents. Exceptions to this will be found in subjects of a laboratory nature, as manual training, drawing, typewriting, penmanship, the sciences, etc. In these subjects extra school periods are assigned because of the unprepared nature of the work.

2. Elective studies for any year may be selected from the list for that year and from the list for any preceding year. Only one foreign language and only one science may be begun the

203

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

same year. A language should be continued two years, at least ; a longer time is strongly urged.

3. Pupils who are unable to take the full course, i. e., eighteen points a year for four years, may arrange for a five- years' course by consulting the Superintendent and head master.

4. No pupil will be permitted to take subjects represent- ing more than eighteen points each year, unless his scholarship and health warrant the increase. The above regulation refers to the addition of an extra study after eighteen points have been selected, but does not forbid the choice of studies unavoidably exceeding the required number of points.

5. Regular courses are required in preparation for nor- mal schools and for scientific schools.

6. Pupils electing manual training must also elect me- chanical drawing, although mechanical drawing may be elected without manual training.

7. Pupils electing a commercial course will be allowed to substitute commercial arithmetic for mediaeval history during the second year.

8. In the election of commercial subjects, commercial arithmetic and penmanship must precede bookkeeping. Book- keeping (1) must be accompanied by penmanship (2), and stenography by typewriting. The selection of typewriting with- out stenography is strongly opposed.

9. There must be a sufficient number of pupils desiring a certain elective to warrant a class being formed in that subject.

10. A condition or failure of any year (excepting that of a required subject) may be removed in three ways: (1) by passing a satisfactory examination on the subject, (2) by repeating the subject in course, and (3) by taking as an extra subject during any following year an elective of an equivalent number of points.

11. In the spring of each year pupils will be asked to choose electives for the following year. No change of course will be allowed during the year, except for urgent reasons, and then only by permission of Superintendent and head master.

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

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

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 modeling, pattern making, moulding, and casting. A fourth room is devoted to mechanical drawing, with a full course. Manual training has been extended to include the eighth grade in the grammar schools, two centres having been established with twenty-five sloyd benches each.

The men in charge of the manual training department are paid $1,700, $1,500, $1,100, and $1,000.

204

ANNUAL REPORTS.

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

Three special teachers are employed at salaries of $700.

Music. 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 $1,700. The books used are "The Euter- pean," "The Cecilian Series of Music and Song," Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and "The Laurel Song Book."

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 fifteen days. She is paid $900. The Normal System of Music, with its books and charts, is used.

Gymnastics In elementary grades the Ling system of Swedish gymnastics is practiced daily. No special teacher is employed.

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

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 in- cludes any infliction of physical pain or application of physical force," is not prohibited. It must, however, not be administered 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 339 cases in 1905, 326 in 1906, and 314 in 1907.

Drawing. Two teachers of drawing are employed in the English High School at salaries of $1,000 and $800. In that school freehand drawing is compulsory for first-year pupils, and elective for all others. Drawing is not taught in the Latin School. A few Latin School pupils take drawing in the English 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

205

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

picture-study. No drawing books are used. Colored crayons are provided in primary grades, and water-colors and brush in grammar grades.

Penmanship. Intermedial slant writing is taught in the ele- mentary schools, the Whitehouse system being used. The supervisor visits each class once in four weeks, and receives $1,500.

Cadet Teachers. Provision has been made for the employ- ment in the elementary schools of not exceeding twelve "Cadet teachers," at a salary of $200 each. Three such teachers are at work at the present time.

The Public Library. The English School has a working library of 1,700 volumes, but it draws constantly on the public library, located in an adjoining building.

For many years there has been a constant use of the library by school children. One hundred and sixty-five circulating libra- ries of fresh books are in use in the smaller buildings. As far as they can, the teachers guide in the selection of books by the chil- dren, and the librarian and his assistants cheerfully render all the help in their power.

Evening Schools. An evening high school is maintained in the English High School building on three evenings a week, from 7.30 to 9.30. The principal is paid $6, and his assistants $4, $3, $2, and $1.50. Any high school study, and freehand and me- chanical drawing, may be pursued.

Elementary evening schools are open in the Prescott, Bell, and Highland buildings from October 1 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 Statutes. Principals receive $3 or $4, and as- sistants, $2, $1.50, or $1 each evening.

Truants. The city employs one active truant officer, who is paid $1,100 and the board of his horse. Truants are sent to the county truant school at North Chelmsford. There are now eighteen truants from Somerville in the school.

Janitors. These important officers are appointed by the Commissioner of Public Buildings, and are under his direction and that of the school principal.

Supervision. The Superintendent of Schools is the execu- tive officer of the Board, and upon him devolves the general management of the schools under its direction. He serves as the secretary of the Board and as supply agent. His salary is $3,000, and he is allowed two clerks, who receive $750 and $600. His office is in the City Hall Annex, and his hours are from 4

206

ANNUAL REPORTS.

to 5 each school day, and from 8 to 9 on Saturday. His office is open from 8 to 5 on school days, and from 8 to 10 on Saturdays.

The meetings of the School Board are held on the last Mon- day evening of each month, except July, August, and December, at 8.15 o'clock.

OLD SCHOOLHOUSES.

As a matter of record and reference, the following facts are given concerning old buildings that have given way to modern structures :-

In 1842, when Somerville started on an independent career as a town, its entire educational establishment comprised five small school buildings, accommodating 247 pupils, with an as- sessed valuation of $3,150. The only man who taught in the town received an annual salary of $450, and each of four women was paid $157.50 for a year's work.

These schoolhouses were located as follows :-

The "Pound Primary" on Broadway, corner of Franklin street.

The "Winter Hill Primary," west side of Central street, near Broadway.

The "Milk Row Primary" on Somerville avenue, next to the cemetery.

The "Prospect Hill Primary" in what is now Central square.

The "Prospect Hill Grammar" adjoining the primary in Cen- tral square.

Since that day the municipality has erected forty-four school buildings, eighteen of which have been destroyed or abandoned. The remaining twenty-six are in use to-day. As a matter of record it will be interesting to note what and where these build- ings were and what has become of them.

In 1843 what was known as the Walnut Hill School- house was built on Broadway, near Irving street, to accommodate a small school in what was known as the Russell district, which up to this time had been kept in a private house. In 1868 this building was moved to Cedar street, doubled in size in 1873, and abandoned on the completion of the Burns enlargement in 1899.

In 1843 the Pound Primary was replaced by what was known as the Lower Winter Hill Schoolhouse and used until 1848, when it was moved to Beacon street and became the Harvard Primary School. In 1861 it was enlarged, burned in 1871, and replaced by what was originally the Bell Primary, moved first from Cherry street to Kent and Somerville avenue, in 1867, and thence to Beacon street in 1871. This building was abandoned for school purposes in 1899 and made into a dwelling house.

In 1846 the Franklin Schoolhouse was built on Somerville avenue and Kent street. Its two rooms were duplicated in 1862,

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

and the building was abandoned and destroyed on the completion of the Carr School in 1898.

The Milk Row Primary was burned in 1849, and its pupils sent to the Franklin.

In 1848 a four-room schoolhouse, built on Washington street and Bonner avenue, replaced the Prospect Hill Schools, and two rooms were added thereto in 1865. The building was abandoned for school purposes in 1902. It is still standing, and furnishes accommodations for the Somerville Boys' Club.

In 1850 a one-room building to accommodate the Spring Hill Primary School was built on Beech street, near Harvard. It was closed in 1892, and destroyed in 1898 to make way for the Carr building.

In 1861 the Brastow Schoolhouse was built on the present site of the Central Fire Station. Its two rooms were occupied until 1891. The building was afterwards removed to Hamlet street and converted into a dwelling house.

In 1861 the Jackson Schoolhouse, with four rooms, was built at the corner of Poplar and Maple streets. This building was duplicated in a nearby location on Joy street in 1868 by the Bennett Schoolhouse. These buildings were abandoned and destroyed in 1902, being replaced by the present Clark Bennett School.

In 1868 the Webster Schoolhouse, with four rooms, was built on Webster avenue, and used until 1893, when it was destroyed by fire.

. In 1872 a Baptist chapel on Beech street was bought for school purposes, and its two rooms were occupied by the Beech Street Primary until 1898, when the building was destroyed and replaced by the Carr School.

The Upper Winter Hill Schoolhouse was moved in 1855 from Central street to the present site of the Prescott School, and thence in 1856 to Prospect street, and occupied by the Union School until 1890.

The building occupied by the Prospect Hill Primary was re- moved to the corner of Washington and Prospects streets, where it is now occupied by the Veteran Firemen's Association.

BRIEF HISTORY OF PRESENT SCHOOLS.

[NOTE-Biographical sketches of gentlemen after whom schools have been named will be found on page 102 of the school report for 1894 and in subsequent reports.]

As a matter of present interest, but chiefly for future refer- ence, the following brief historical statements are made with reference to existing schools.

The Somerville High School was first opened May 3, 1852, in a building constructed for the purpose and now constituting the principal portion of the City Hall. Sixty-one pupils attended the

208

ANNUAL REPORTS.

first term. This building was occupied by the school until March 4, 1872, when the present Latin building was occupied by its 150 pupils. The school having outgrown its quarters, the English High School building was constructed in 1895. The school was divided, the college-preparatory section continuing to occupy what has since been known as the Latin School, while 508 pupils were transferred and constituted what has since been known as the English High School. The unprecedented growth of the high schools led to the erection in 1906 of an addition called the Latin School Annex, which is used conjointly by the English and the Latin Schools. The following gentlemen have served as masters of the Latin School :-

Robert Bickford, May, 1852, to March, 1854.

Leonard Walker, March, 1854, to September, 1856.

Samuel J. Pike, September, 1856, to August, 1858. Isaac N. Beals, August, 1858, to August, 1859.

H. H. Babcock, August, 1859, to August, 1867.

George L. Baxter, August, 1867, to

The masters of the English High School have been :-

Charles T. C. Whitcomb, June, 1895, to June, 1906. John A. Avery, June, 1906, to -

The first (William H.) Prescott Schoolhouse was erected on the corner of Franklin street and Broadway in 1846, to replace what was known as the Pound Primary. This building was burned in 1856. The Prescott School building No. 2 contained seven rooms, and stood on the site of the present structure. It was burned in 1866. The present building, containing ten rooms and a hall, which has since been converted into classrooms, was built in 1867. Previous to 1852 only women teachers were em- ployed. The following men have served as masters of the school :-

Robert Bickford, September, 1851, to March, 1852. McLaurin F. Cook, April, 1852, to November, 1853.

H. O. Whittemore, November, 1853, to August, 1854.

Daniel B. Wheeler, September, 1854, to August, 1859. John Wilson, August, 1859, to February, 1872. Augustus Linfield, March, 1872, to May, 1872. Luther B. Pillsbury, June, 1872, to June, 1873. Gordon A. Southworth, October, 1873, to June, 1893. Samuel A. Johnson, September, 1893, to

The (Charles) Forster Schoolhouse No. 1 was built in 1854 near the site of the present building on Sycamore street, and con- tained four schoolrooms. It was burned in February, 1866. It was replaced by the present building in 1867. The hall which oc- cupied the third floor was converted into classrooms in 1883. The annex to the school, containing six rooms, was built in 1899. The following gentlemen have been masters of the school :-

John Jameson, February, 1855, to January, 1860.

Edward W. Howe, January, 1860, to August, 1864.

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

209

Charles G. Pope, August, 1864, to September, 1870. George R. Bradford, September, 1870, to July, 1878. John S. Hayes, September, 1878, to June, 1893. Fred C. Baldwin, September, 1893, to

The (Enoch R.) Morse Schoolhouse was built in 1869 on Summer street, and contained four rooms and a hall. In 1880 the hall was divided into classrooms. In 1889 an addition of six rooms was made. The following have been masters of the school :-

William B. Allen, November, 1869, to 1877.

William M. Stevens, 1882 to 1883.

C. C. Hunkins, 1877 to 1882.

Frank F. Murdock, 1883 to 1884. Henry C. Parker, 1884 to 1886.

Horatio D. Newton, 1886 to 1890.

Mina J. Wendell, 1890 to 1

The (John G.) Edgerly School was built on Cross street in 1871, and contained four rooms. Four rooms were added in 1882, and four more in 1892. The principals have been :-

Augusta M. Cowles, 1871 to 1881.

Frank P. Hudson, 1881 to 1888. Edgar R. Raub, 1888 to 1889.

Charles E. Brainard, 1889 to

The Luther V. Bell School on Vinal avenue, containing twelve rooms, was built in 1874. It received its pupils from the Prospect Hill School, of which it is virtually the successor. The Prospect Hill School was the oldest grammar school in the city, having been opened in 1842. Its principals were :-

William E. Graves, April, 1842, to October, 1846.

Martin Draper, Jr., October, 1846, to May, 1847.

Charles S. Lincoln, April, 1847, to April, 1853. Oren S. Knapp, May, 1853, to February, 1864. George R. Bradford, March, 1864, to May, 1866. - Samuel C. Hunt, May, 1866, to September, 1874.

The masters of the Bell School have been :-

Samuel C. Hunt, September, 1874, to July, 1876.

Simeon C. Higgins, 1876 to 1879.

Robert Bickford, 1879 to 1885. Herbert L. Morse, 1885 to 1890.

Fred W. Shattuck, 1890 to 1897.

Harlan P. Knight, 1897 to

The (Charles S.) Lincoln Schoolhouse No. 1 was built on Col- lege avenue in 1866, and contained four rooms. In 1881 it was moved to the present site in Teele square, and was burned in Oc- tober, 1884. It was rebuilt in 1885. The principals have been :-

Horace P. Makechnie, 1867 to 1876.

Edward E. Bradbury, 1876 to 1877. George E. Nichols, 1877 to 1880. 1 Mary A. Paul, 1880 to 1887,

210

ANNUAL REPORTS.

Hattie A. P. Roth, 1887 to 1889.

Harry F. Hathaway, 1889 to 1894.

Grace Emerson, 1894 to 1895. Elizabeth Hodgdon, 1895 to 1896.

J. Louise Smith, 1896 to 1900.

May E. Small, 1900 to 1903.

Eliza H. Lunt, 1903 to

The Highland Schoolhouse on Highland avenue was built in 1880. It contained eight rooms, to which four rooms were added in 1891. Its principals have been :-

George E. Nichols, September, 1880, to October, 1902; Septem- ber, 1903, to June, 1905.

J. Sherman Richardson, October, 1902, to January, 1903. Ernest W. Robinson, January, 1903, to June, 1903.

Aaron B. Palmer, September, 1905, to

The (Joshua H.) Davis Schoolhouse was built in 1884, to re- place a one-room building which stood near the present site on Tufts street. Its principals have been :-

Lucretia A. Burns, 1884 to 1896.

Frances Meldrum, 1896 to 1900.

Harriet C. Roxbury, 1900 to 1901.

Mary A. Holt, 1901 to

The John A. Cummings Schoolhouse on School street was built in 1884. The building contains four rooms. Its principals have been :-

Lydia J. Page, 1884 to 1902. Fannie L. Gwynne, 1902 to

The (Norman W.) Bingham Schoolhouse was built in 1886. In 1894 four rooms were added, and in 1904 the capacity of the building was doubled. The principals have been :-

Nora F. Byard, 1886 to 1894.

Harry F. Hathaway, 1894 to

The (Mark F.) Burns Schoolhouse was built in 1886. It contained four rooms, to which four more rooms were added in 1899. The principal has been :-

Laura J. Brooks, 1886 to

The Oren S. Knapp Schoolhouse on Concord avenue, con- taining eight rooms, was built in 1889. Four rooms were added in the rear in 1894. Its masters have been :-

Harry N. Andrews, 1890 to 1894.

John Sherburne Emerson, 1894 to

The Jacob T. Glines Schoolhouse on Jaques street was built in 1891. It contained eight rooms, and was enlarged by the ad- dition of five rooms in 1896. Its principals have been :-

Mrs. Cora E. Dimpsey, 1891 to 1893. Mary E. Northup, 1893 to

211

SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

The George W. Durell Schoolhouse on Kent street was built in 1894, its principals having been :-

Nora F. Byard, 1894 to 1905.

Abigail P. Hazelton, 1905 to

The William H. Hodgkins Schoolhouse on Holland street was built in 1896. Its only master has been :-

Arthur L. Doe, 1896 to

The Sanford Hanscom Schoolhouse on Webster street was erected in 1897. It contained six rooms, to which four rooms were added in 1907. Its principals have been :-

Lina F. Bates, 1897 to 1905.

Elizabeth M. Collins, 1905 to

The Martin W. Carr Schoolhouse on Beech street, contain- ing seventeen rooms, was erected in 1898. It superseded the Franklin and Beech Street Schools. Its only master has been :- Charles G. Ham, 1898 to

The Albion A. Perry Schoolhouse on Washington street was constructed in 1899. It contained six rooms. Its principals have been :---

Laura B. Underhill, 1899 to 1901.

Mary B. McKusick, 1901 to 1905.

Catherine E. Sweeney, 1905 to

The George L. Baxter Schoolhouse on Bolton street, contain- ing six rooms, was built in 1901. Its only principal has been :- Helen Tincker, 1901 to

The Benjamin G. Brown Schoolhouse on Willow avenue was erected in 1901. It contained six rooms, and was enlarged by the addition of four rooms in 1907. Its principals have been :- Harriette C. Baker, 1901.

Annie G. Smith, 1901 to 1908.

In 1907 it was made a full-grade grammar school centre, under the mastership of

George I. Bowden, January, 1908, to

The Clark Bennett Schoolhouse was built on Joy street in 1868. Together with the Jackson School, it was superseded by the present Clark Bennett School erected on Poplar street in 1902. It contains twelve rooms, under the principalship of

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Report of the city of Somerville 1907, Part 16

Author: Somerville (Mass.) Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Somerville, Mass. Number of Pages: 548

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 548