USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1908 > Part 12
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The instructors of the ninth grade classes speak in terms of satisfaction concerning the new work in that grade. The exercises provided are such as to employ the skill and experi- ence gained in the preceding year and to make advance in the use of tools and materials and their application. Useful articles such as the following have been made: Penholders, hammer handles, bread boards, knife boxes, towel rollers, pressing boards, and tool racks. The ninth-grade boys attending the manual training school in the Glines building made a cupboard for storing work containing sixty boxes each 12x14x24 inches, a creditable performance for pupils having had but one year's training in the use of tools.
The number of boys attending the manual training classes from the elementary schools has more than doubled, but the work is done in the same centres and with the same instructors as were employed with the smaller number. This result has been brought about by lengthening the school day at the manual training centres from four hours to six, two periods of one and a half hours being given in the morning and two in the after- noon session. While this arrangement makes the period of in- struction for each class a half-hour shorter than before, it is a change which is probably not of great detriment to the pupils. Two interesting circumstances attend this solution of the prob- lem of furnishing bench work instruction to the grammar school boys. The first is that while the number taught is more than doubled, the cost of instruction is increased only twenty-seven and three-elevenths per cent. The second is that one-fourth of the work is performed outside the time limits of the elementary school day. Three of the four periods have one half-hour in extension of the school hours. Pupils attending during these periods give one-third the time needed for their lessons. The spirit of the boys is shown by this quotation from a statement of one of the manual training teachers : "The boys are very in- terested in their work, and I receive numerous requests for per- mission to work overtime, requests having been made to work on Saturdays and during vacations."
In view of the crowding of school curricula with new
16+
ANNUAL REPORTS.
subjects demanding time and attention, the willingness of boys to give of their time to lengthen the school day in order to get the benefit of instruction in manual training is not without in- terest and significance.
Teachers' Salaries. November 25, 1907, the Committee unanimously adopted recommendations of the Committee on Salaries whereby the salaries of teachers were increased in sums ranging from $25 to $50 annually, to take effect January 1, 1908. According to this schedule, the lowest salary to be paid to a regular teacher of the elementary schools is $300, while the maximum for elementary teachers is $775. By this action the maximum to be paid to a teacher in elementary schools is higher than ever before in our schools, and is somewhat higher than that paid by many neighboring towns and cities. A pro- vision for an annual increase within certain limits gives teachers who enter the service of the schools at a salary less than the maximum the opportunity to advance through a series of years before reaching the limit. This has proven to be a wise measure, both because it gives teachers a recognition of the jus- tice of their plea for living wages, and also because it has made more probable the holding of the services of our teachers and the securing of a better grade of new teachers. With this in- crease the maximum salary is still too low either to give a suffi- cient outlook for the ambitious teacher or to make the busi- ness of teaching attractive to young women about to choose for themselves a career. While the minimum salary is often de- plored because of its being so small, the real evil is not to be found there, but rather in the insufficient returns which the teaching business gives as its maximum salary. None of our teachers are working for the minimum salary of their grade. It has been the practice in selecting a new teacher to require teaching experience as part of her qualifications. Consequently most of those who come to us begin at a salary nearer the maximum than the minimum. In this connection it is interest- ing to note the average amount paid to teachers in each of the several classes of service, as follows :-
High school teachers-Men, $1,606. Women-$938.
Teachers in elementary grades (including kindergarten teachers and assistants)-$690.
The salaries paid to teachers in January, 1909, are as fol- lows :-
1 man. $3,000
4 men.
1,400 .
1 man. 2,700
1 man, 3 women. 1,200
man 2,000
1 woman.
1,100
11 men, 2 women 1,900
1 man. 1,050
1 man. 1,850
12 women. 1,000
7 men 1,700
1 woman. 950
1 man.
1,650
23 women 900
2 men.
1,600
3 women. 850
2 men
1,500
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
2 women.
825
6 women (assistants) .. 425
1 woman.
800
4 women (assistants) .. 350
17 women.
775
1 man (laboratory 300
7 women.
725 helper)
203 women.
700 1 woman (kinder-
9 women.
650
garten assistant). 275
2 women.
525
3 women.
500
Course of Study. The instruction in the elementary schools has been conducted with more or less conformity to a Course of Study published in 1897. The edition has long since been exhausted, and a copy can now with difficulty be obtained. From time to time modifications of the course have been made and issued in circular instruction to the teachers. For this reason it is not easy at the present time for a new teacher either to secure a printed copy of the course or to find the amendments made since it was published. Other reasons exist for preparing a new Course of Study. Methods of treatment and time allow- ances may properly be changed.
It is therefore desirable in the near future to prepare out- lines in the various subjects which will give help and guidance to all teachers in the elementary schools.
The high school Courses of Study have been recently printed, and are satisfactorily meeting the needs of the high school teachers at the present time.
Closing Schools. The normal function of schools is to be open. It is not necessary to defend the discharge of normal duties, but any proposition to close the schools is one to divert the activities of a large organization from their normal course. The burden of sufficiency then rests upon the demand made to close schools for any particular purpose. It is the duty and de- sire of the school administration to carry on the school work as planned, with as few interruptions as possible. This purpose is strong when a request is made to close schools on a school day. The natural attitude towards such a request is one of scrutiny and reluctance. If the reasons for closing, however, are sufficient to overcome the considerations which make for the regular order, then the schools may properly be closed. In the matter of closing schools on account of storm or severe cold, it is difficult usually to determine whether the stronger reasons are for or against closing. This difficulty arises from the vary- ing conditions, habits, and ages of the pupils who attend the schools. Some can safely endure going to school in weather which is too severe for others. The parents of the former chil- dren may be accommodated better by having the school open than bv having it closed. If parents who desire to keep their children at home on a stormy day could do so, and parents who want their children to go to school could have that privilege, each parent exercising his prerogative without interfering with any other, there would be few occasions when the schools would
.
10 women.
600
1 woman (cadet) . 200
166
ANNUAL REPORTS.
need to be closed because of inclement weather. One other consideration, however, affects the proper determination of this issue. On the way to school in a heavy rain or a severe snow- storm, the clothing of a child may become wet, shoes may be soaked through, and the feet greatly chilled. If there were facilities in the school buildings for drying the clothing and for warming the chilled feet, then many children would be enabled to stay in school with safety who because of lack of such facili- ties are now sent home, even after they have braved the ele- ments to attend school on a stormy day. This consideration is the one which operates most powerfully with those familiar with school conditions in disposing them to the view that it is better for the children to have no session of the schools when the weather is so severe as to expose them to the risk just stated. No one will contend that it is desirable or safe to permit children to remain inactive in school three hours or more in wet. clothing. The inadequate provision for drying clothing makes it necessary to do so, however, when the children come to school wet through, and for one reason or another are not sent home. Recently when the schools were in session on a rainy morning, from several of the school buildings it was necessary to send home a large number of the children immediately after arriving. To the child well clothed, provided with suitable outer gar- ments, with rubbers and an umbrella, the trip to school on a stormy day is often in the nature of a more or less adventurous contest with the elements, but to the child with no overcoat, with thin clothing and worn shoes, with no rubbers and with no umbrella, the situation is entirely different. That child must be provided for; if the school cannot receive him and keep him with safety to himself, it must either close its doors to prevent his coming to school or it must send him home after he arrives in a wet and chilled condition. The difficulty of satisfac- torily determining this issue springs largely from a lack of knowledge on the part of the public of the conditions which de- cide the action of the school administration under circumstances like these. No school teacher or principal desires to close school on these days for the sake of having a holiday, but they do know that, owing to the inability of the school to properly care for the children who come through the storm, it is some- times better that schools be closed. Certain conclusions from these conflicting statements may properly be reached :-
1. It is desirable to have in every building adequate pro- vision for drying feet and clothing of children who come to school wet and chilled.
2. It is desirable to keep the schools open whenever weather conditions are such as to permit the majority of chil- dren to attend in safety.
3. It is desirable to omit sessions of the schools whenever
167
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
it can be foreseen that a storm of such severity is impending as to imperil the health of children if they go out to attend school.
4. It is desirable that children whose parents decide to keep them at home on a stormy day for prudential reasons should be permitted by the school to be absent without incur- ring reproach, or condemnation, or loss of standing in their classes.
Personal. I am unwilling to close this report without making sincere acknowledgment of my obligation to the School Committee and to all of my associates in the school service, to the Mayor, to the city officials, and to the many citizens who in one way or another have given the encouragement of cordial greetings and hearty good will.
Without exception, you have rendered me the utmost con- sideration and assistance. You have given freely of your time and interest to the welfare of the schools. For such an attitude good works alone fittingly respond.
The teachers and officers of the schools have shown unmis- takably a spirit of co-operation and support. Loyal to the Board, they have extended a similar loyalty to the Superintend -. ent. They deserve and have his grateful appreciation.
· Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. CLARK.
.
168
ANNUAL REPORTS.
By vote of the Board at the meeting held May 25, 1908, the following was adopted and a copy sent to the family of Mr. Snow :-
The Somerville School Board desires to place on record its appreciation of the character and service of
LEMUEL HARLOW SNOW,
truant officer for twenty-two years, from September, 1886, to May, 1908.
With zeal and efficiency in his work he mingled a geniality and kind-heartedness, a tact and sympathy that led the boys with whom he dealt to feel that, after all, he was their friend, devoted to their highest interests, seeking reformation rather than punishment.
In his death the schools lose a wise and capable officer, the city a worthy and upright citizen, and hosts of friends a warm- hearted and loyal companion.
His life and service will long be held in grateful remem- brance.
169
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
By vote of the Board at the meeting held January 1, 1909, the following was adopted and a copy sent to the widow of Mr. Spaulding :-
The members of the Somerville School Board, being moved with deep regret at the sudden and untimely death of their for- mer associate,
ELMER H. SPAULDING,
desire to place upon record their appreciation of his public service.
Elected a member of the Board of Aldermen for the three years, 1904 to 1906, inclusive, he devoted his energies to public interests with an intelligence and whole-heartedness which char- acterized all of his activities. As a private citizen he was ever ready to render help in movements which sought to advance the public welfare, being ready to lead or to follow as occasion might require.
Elected a member of the School Committee from Ward One, he had served from January, 1907, to the day when he passed beyond our sight, a period of nearly two years. Always genial and cordial, his presence was an inspiration to generous feeling. Unsparing of his strength and time, he gave freely to his duties on the Board whatever of thought, and care, and labor they might demand. Although engrossed in the work of a busy life, no school interest made an appeal to him in vain. A kind and affectionate husband, a devoted father, a loyal friend, an active and public-spirited citizen, contributing of his time and ability to the public weal, his life may fittingly be regarded as an example for our youth and as a career worthy of the admiration and approval of his associates.
170
ANNUAL REPORTS.
AMENDMENTS TO THE RULES OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MADE SINCE THE PRINTING OF THE LAST EDITION OF THE RULES.
Regulations for Licensing Minors Under Fourteen Years of Age.
SECTION 167. No minor under the age of fourteen years shall, in any street or public place of the city of Somerville, work as a bootblack, or sell or expose for sale any books, newspapers, pamphlets, fuel, fruits, provisions, ice, live animals, brooms, agricultural implements, hand tools used in making boots and shoes, agricultural products of the United States, or the products of their own labor or the labor of their families, unless he has a minor's license issued to him by the superintendent of schools of said city, for so working or for so selling said articles, nor unless he complies with the terms of said license.
SECT. 168. The principal of the school in which a minor under the age of fourteen years is a pupil shall receive the ap- plication, in duplicate, of the parent or guardian of such minor, or next of kin, for a license for such minor to work as a boot- black, or to sell any or all the articles enumerated in the preced- ing section, and shall forward the same to the Superintendent of Schools, accompanied by the certificate of the teacher in whose class said minor may be, and of the said principal, that such minor is an attendant at such school and that they approve of the granting of a license to said minor. When the Superin- tendent authorizes the issue of a license, he shall return to said principal one of said duplicate applications, for filing, retaining the other, and shall issue said license to such minor authorizing said minor to go about from place to place in the city of Somer- ville and on the sidewalks in said city to sell newspapers, or to work as a bootblack, or in the streets and other public places in said city to sell any or all of the other articles enumerated in the preceding section, and shall provide such minor with a suitable badge, for which a charge of twenty cents shall be made. Every such license shall be issued and accepted on the condition that the minor shall comply with the conditions of his license as con- tained in the following section, and said section shall be printed in the license.
SECT. 169. The minor shall conform to the statutes and the Regulations of the School Committee of Somerville ; shall, so long as he continues under the age of fourteen years, attend, during every session thereof, one of the public schools, or some regularly established school in the city of Somerville ; shall sur- render his license and badge when notified that his license has been revoked, to the principal aforesaid, who shall return the same immediately to the Superintendent; shall not transfer or lend his license or badge, nor furnish any unlicensed minor with
171
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
newspapers or other articles to sell; shall not sell newspapers in or on any part of the street other than the sidewalk; shall not sell newspapers in or on a street car, nor, except on the days of national, state, or city elections, after 8 o'clock in the even- ing ; shall not work as a bootblack, or sell newspapers, unless he is over eleven years of age; shall not sell any other article than newspapers, unless he is over twelve years of age; shall not at any time, while engaged in working as a bootblack, or selling articles in public places, congregate with other persons, nor make any unnecessary noise, nor in way disturb or annoy persons as they pass, nor cry their papers on Sunday, nor oc- cupy any stand with any other person, nor allow any unlicensed minor to assist or accompany him, nor allow idle persons to as- semble or congregate around him, or around any stand occu- pied by him, nor so work or sell in any place other than that specified in his license, when a place is so specified, nor at any time, while so working or selling, fail to wear conspicuously in sight the badge furnished to him by said Superintendent, nor fail to exhibit his license to any police or other officer of said city if requested by him to do so. The Superintendent may suspend or revoke said license upon the violation of any of the condi- tions thereof, and the minor shall surrender his badge and will be subject to a fine.
AMENDMENTS CONCERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF CADET TEACHERS ADOPTED DECEMBER, 1906.
SECTION 170. Before the opening of the schools in Sep- tember of each year, the Committee on Text-Books and Courses of Study shall nominate for election by the Board not more than twelve women who shall be designated as cadet teachers, to serve for one year following their appointment, at a salary not to exceed $200 per year each.
To be eligible for the position of cadet teacher, the candi- date must be a graduate of one of the Somerville high schools, and also a graduate either of some state normal school or of some college having pedagogical courses, one or more of which courses the candidate must have taken.
SECT. 171. The cadet teachers shall be assigned by the Superintendent to an equal number of elementary schools, and the assignments shall be changed at the end of each term of thir- teen weeks, so that by the close of the school year each cadet teacher will have practiced under the direction and observation of three different principals in three different school buildings.
Cadet teachers shall receive guidance, instruction, and criti- cism from the principals of the schools in which they serve, ren- der assistance to class teachers or to individual pupils, and when-
172
ANNUAL REPORTS.
ever possible act as substitutes in the absence of regular teach- ers. They shall receive no increase of pay when acting as sub- stitutes.
SECT. 172. Such of these cadet teachers as secure the rec- ommendation of three out of four of the following officials : the three principals under whom they have served during their cadet year and the Superintendent of Schools, shall be eligible as grade teachers.
MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS.
The following amendments to the Rules were adopted De- cember, 1906 :-
On page 6, insert as the twenty-first standing committee "(21) On Medical Inspection."
On page 12, add as Section 32b the following :-
SECTION 32b. The Committee on Medical Inspection of the schools shall advise and co-operate with the Board of Health in all matters pertaining to the medical inspection of the schools. They shall see that all orders and requests of said Board are properly executed by teachers. The annual test of the sight and hearing of pupils required by Statute shall be made by teachers under direction of this committee.
The following sentence was added to Section 80 of the Rules :-
They shall see that fire drills are practiced in their respec- tive buildings at least once in every two weeks, provided that the weather conditions are suitable.
Section 44 of the Rules was amended by making the first sentence of the second paragraph to read as follows. Adopted April, 1907 :-
He shall annually publish and send to each member of the Board a complete list of all books, charts, maps, and globes with the number of each kind belonging to the city.
Section 2 of the Rules was amended by changing "nomi- nated" in the second line to "appointed," and striking out the second sentence, so that the section reads as follows :-
SECTION 2. The Standing Committees of the Board shall be appointed by a committee consisting of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, and a third member of the Board to be selected by them.
Adopted March, 1908.
173
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
AMENDMENTS CONCERNING SALARIES OF TEACHERS ADOPTED SEPTEMBER, 1908.
Salaries of Teachers.
SECTION 56. The salaries paid to teachers and other em- ployees of the Board shall be as follows :-
High Schools: Teachers in the high schools are designated as head masters, masters, sub-masters, junior sub-masters, and first, second, third, and fourth assistants, who shall be paid in accordance with the following schedule :-
1st. yr.
2nd yr.
3rd yr. 4th yr. 5th yr. 6th yr. 7th yr. 8th yr.
Head Master
$2,300
$2,400
$2,500
$2,600
$2,700
$2,800
$2,900
$3,000
Master
1,800
1,850
1,900
1,950
2,000
Sub-Masters. .
1,000
1,100
1,200
1,300
1.400
1,500
1,600
1,700
Junior Sub-Masters.
1,000
1,050
1,100
1,150
1,200
1,250
1,300
.. . .
First Assistants.
1,000
1,050
1,100
1,150
1,200
. .
...
Third Assistants.
650
700
750
800
850
900
....
....
Fourth Assistants
As may be determined by vote.
..
...
....
Fourth assistants in the high schools may be appointed by the Board at such salary as it may determine, on recommen- dation of the standing committee of the high schools.
SECTION 57. Grammar and Primary Schools. Teachers in grammar and primary schools shall be paid annual salaries ac- cording to the following schedule :-
1st year
2nd year
3rd year
4th year
5th year
6th year
7th year
8th year
9th
year
Masters
$1,500 $1,550
$1,600 $1,650
$1,700 $1,750
$1,800 $1,850 $1,900
Masters' Assistants First Eight Grades.
375
450
525
600
650
700
..
....
Ninth Grade
625
650
675
700
725
Head Kindergartners.
300
375
450
525
600
Assistants not in charge of room.
200
275
350
425
Principals, 12-room buildings.
800
850
900
950
1,000
Principals, 10-room buildings
750
800
850
900
950
Principals, 8-room buildings.
750
800
850
900
...
Principals, 6-room buildings
725
775
825
. .
. .
. .
Principals, 4-room buildings
675
725
775,
...
...
...
....
..
. .
. .
..
. .
SECTION 58. Supervisors and Special Instructors, and other
.. . .
Second Assistants.
900
950
1,000
.
·
700
725
750
775
. .
. .
174
ANNUAL REPORTS.
employees shall be paid annual salaries according to the follow- ing schedule :-
1 st year
2nd year
3rd year
4th year
5th year
6th year
7th year
8th year
9th year
Teachers of Music in high school and
upper grammar grades.
$1,200
$1,300
$1,400
$1,500 $1,600 $1,700
Supervisor of Music in lower grades.
700
800
900
1,000
..
Supervisor of Drawing.
700
800
900
1,000
Supervisor of Penmanship
800
900
1,000 600
1,100 650
1,200 700
1,300 $1,400 $1,500
Manual Training Teachers, for five hours daily*
1,100
....
. .
..
Permanent Substitutes in grades be- low the ninth
375
450
525
600
650
700
Temporary Substitutes in grades be- low the ninth.
1.50
to
2.50
per
day.
Temporary Substitutes in high schools, ninth grades, or for prin- cipals. .
...
3.00
per
day.
Substitutes for Masters or Sub- Masters. .
5.00
First Truant Officert
1,000
1,100
1,200
per 1,300
.. .
...
..
....
Second Truant Officer.
50
Superintendent of Schools
2,500
2,600
2,700 700
2,800 750
2,900
3,000
....
....
....
Superintendent's Clerk.
600
650
...
....
....
....
* $1,400 for six hours daily.
¡ He to furnish and maintain his own team.
SECTION 61. The salary of any teacher or other employee of the School Committee shall be fixed by the Committee at the time of election. It may be fixed at the minimum, at the maximum, or at any intermediate sum provided for in the fore- going schedules, except that no teacher shall receive the maxi- mum salary who has not had at least five years of teaching ex- perience. Graduation at a normal school shall be considered equivalent to a year of teaching experience.
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