USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1910 > Part 13
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February 8-Illustrated lecture, "Ceylon," Miss Mabel Cummings. Soloist, Mrs. Alice Clement Fruitt.
March 8-Chafing-dish supper.
March 22-Haydn string quintette.
April 12-Lecture, "Whistler," Ross Turner. Soloist, Mrs. Edna S. Nickerson. ?
May 31-Annual business meeting.
October 10-Musicale. Reception to officers.
November 8-Lecture, "Our Energies," Dr. Edward Cole. Piccolo soloist, Dr. Bowditch. Miss Irene Osborne, accompanist.
December 13-A Christmas and White Elephant party. Games, or- chestra, dancing.
168
1
ANNUAL REPORTS.
HISTORY OF THE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, SOMERVILLE, MASS.
At the meeting of the School Board held December 31, 1909, the following was adopted :-
After careful consideration of the subject in its various relations, we are convinced that provision should be made for industrial education as a part of the public school system of Somerville.
We therefore recommend that there be included in the estimate for the schools in 1910 a sum sufficient to make possible a beginning in in- dustrial training.
. No sum of money was appropriated at the beginning of the fiscal year by the Board of Aldermen specifically for the purpose of establishing industrial education, but the School Committee continued its investigation of the subject until June, when, at the meeting held on June 27, it adopted a recom- mendation as follows :-
To establish a school for vocational training at the Davis School building, with three teachers, one of whom shall act as principal; and to extend the supervision of Frederick O. Smith over this school, with an increase of salary for next year of $100.
To establish industrial classes for girls, not to exceed four in- structors.
It also voted to distribute the pupils attending school in the Davis Schoolhouse and to use that building as the place for an industrial school for boys. To carry into effect the pur- pose expressed in this action of the School Committee, it was decided to open an industrial school for boys in the Davis Schoolhouse in September with instruction in two basic indus- tries, wood working and iron working. The Davis School- house was selected because of its adaptability for this use, its accessibility from all parts of the city, and the possibility of its extension because of the large lot of land surrounding the building. . This is a wooden schoolhouse of two stories and a basement, containing four large rooms, with wide hallways, and having an abundance of light. The building is strongly constructed, and is suitable to carry an equipment of machinery sufficient for an attendance of forty to sixty pupils.
An equipment has been installed, consisting of the fol- lowing :-
In the metal shop :- 6 lathes about 14" x 6'.
1 planer 22" x 22" x 5'. 1 shaper. 1
1 universal milling machine.
1 drill press 25" swing.
Adequate tool equipment and provision for eight pupils in bench work,
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, WOOD-WORKING BENCH ROOM.
-
-
169
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
In the wood shop :-
Three machines equipped with the usual devices, as follows :-
1 universal saw table.
1 band saw.
1 surfacer.
Adequate provision for twenty pupils in bench work.
Three instructors have been secured expressly for this school: One, a principal, who will have direct charge of the shop work in metal, a teacher who will have direct charge of the shop work in wood, and a teacher who is competent to give elementary instruction in either branch. These teachers have all been selected because they are thoroughly versed in their trades, and have sufficient academic preparation to enable them to teach related studies.
A school day of six and a half hours has been adopted. A course of study has been put into operation which, while embodying the main principles upon which the school is to be conducted, is nevertheless tentative in nature and subject to revision as a result of conferences with the state board.
An advisory committee, composed of men representing both trades, has been appointed, and has been in conference and has approved the plans and course of study herein re- ferred to.
At the meeting of the School Board on November 28, 1910, the following was passed by unanimous vote :-
Ordered: That the Massachusetts State Board of Education be, and hereby is, requested to establish in the city of Somerville, beginning with September 1, 1910, an independent day school for industrial train- ing of boys over fourteen years of age, said school to be conducted by the Massachusetts State Board of Education through the School Com- mittee acting as its agent, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 505 of the Acts of 1906, or any amendments thereto; the proposed school to be located in the Davis Schoolhouse, Tufts street; the course of study to be of two years' duration, with the possibility of extension to four years, to include training in metal work and wood work, shop and business English, mathematics, drawing, spelling, industrial his- tory, current events, and civics; and the methods and order of instruc- tion to be as close an approximation to actual shop conditions as pos- sible and desirable.
On December 8, 1910, the Board of Aldermen of the city of Somerville passed the following resolution, which was ap- proved by the Mayor on December 9, 1910 :-
Resolved: The Board of Aldermen of the city of Somerville hereby authorizes and approves the establishment and maintenance of an inde- pendent industrial schoof for boys and of an independent industrial school for girls by the School Committee of the city of Somerville.
In reply to the petition of the School Committee, the fol- lowing letter was received from the Commissioner of Educa- tion :-
170
1
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Board of Education,
1
Ford Building, Boston, December 13, 1910.
Mr. Charles S. Clark,
Superintendent of Schools, Somerville, Mass .:-
My dear Mr. Clark: At the regular monthly meeting of the State Board of Education, held December 9, the following vote was passed :-
Voted: That the State Board of Education approve, under the authority vested in it by the laws of the commonwealth, the proposed independent industrial school in wood working and metal working as organized by the School Committee of Somerville, in accordance with memoranda submitted in the month of November, 1910, that the Board instruct the commissioner to said School Committee that the location, courses of study, and methods of instruction, if carried out as sub- mitted, will be approved by the Board for the first year, without preju- dice on the part of the Board to a subsequent revision of its views as to the proper courses and methods of instruction; and that the Board appoint the members from time to time of the Somerville School Com- mittee its legal representatives for the maintenance of said school.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) 1 : 1
DAVID SNEDDEN.
REPORT OF ATYPICAL CLASS.
December 15, 1910. Mr. Charles S. Clark, Superintendent of Schools, Somerville, Mass. :-
Dear Sir: On the 26th of September a class for atypical children was opened in the Bell School. This class was de- signed to meet the needs of such children as could gain but little, if anything, under the regular instruction in a class of the usual size. Twenty-one pupils, have been enrolled in the class, but as several proved to be merely backward, not atypical, they were taken back into their respective grades, and their places were given to others more markedly atypical. The class now numbers sixteen.
As most of the pupils have a long distance to come, the class holds but one session daily, from nine to one. This time is divided among mental work, motor activity (gymnastics, plays, and games), and manual work. As mental effort is more fatiguing to these children than to the normal child, the periods must be short and alternate with muscular activity and rec- reation.
Mental progress is in most cases slow, but by patient effort to discover at just what point the child's growth has been ar- rested, and by the giving of work suited to the. child's ability, some progress can be made by each one, and in a few cases the improvement is most gratifying.
The very first thing to be done is to waken in the child the dormant consciousness of power. He has in most cases
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS, WOOD-WORKING MACHINE ROOM.
171
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
been so long in competition with others more generously en- dowed than himself, who did, as a matter of course, work which he could not by any possibility do, that he has naturally lost all faith in his own ability. To work under such conditions would surely benumb the energies of adults. But under changed con- ditions, given work which he finds he is able to do, the child's interest is aroused, and his pride and pleasure when he finds that he, too, can get 100 per cent. in his arithmetic and his spelling are worth seeing.
The progress in hand work is more readily apparent, and as the future success and happiness of these children depend so largely upon their ability in this direction, its importance is also apparent. The work includes the braiding and sewing of raphia into simple articles, weaving, spool knitting, sewing, crocheting, paper and cardboard construction, etc. At present the class is taking up reed basketry, and is doing really credit- able work. Later it is proposed to add raphia basketry, chair caning for the older boys, and some bench work.
These children are capable of being trained to become at least partially, and in some cases wholly, self-supporting, and so lead useful and contented lives, instead of becoming public charges. Therefore, even from a purely economic standpoint, this work is worth while.
Respectfully submitted, MARY A. HOLT, Teacher of Atypical Class, Bell School.
Examples Showing the Individual Nature of the Work.
J. L., a boy of nine, did not talk when he first entered the class; would shake or nod his head, or make signs, instead of speaking. He did not know the alphabet, and could neither read nor spell. He could not combine numbers to five. He has learned about fifteen words by sight, and is reading in the primer. He has learned combinations of numbers to five, and the first four letters of the alphabet. He is beginning to talk, and while he does not yet speak plainly, he pronounces words very well when I show him how to make the sounds.
A. Y., a boy of thirteen from the fourth grade, could read only the easiest second-grade matter. Spelling seemed beyond him, and he appeared to feel that it was of little use for him to try. Given only five words, with oral drill upon them, he now usually writes the five correctly. The phonic drill is having a good effect upon his reading. He has developed considerable manual skill, and has made two baskets with woven bases that are very creditable.
F. B., a girl of ten from the fourth grade, was extremely deficient in number. She had no manual skill; everything she tried to make was a failure, and her sewing was like that of
172
ANNUAL REPORTS.
a child of four. She could not weave a simple over-one-and- under-one pattern with splints. She now adds correctly ex- amples of four columns, and is doing a little work in subtrac- tion. She can not only weave correctly with splints, but has - lately woven, very neatly, a little bag of raphia on a cardboard loom, and has made a cloth lining for it with quite passable stitches. It is to be a Christmas present for her little sister, and she is very happy over her achievement.
L. V., a boy of fifteen from the fourth grade, knew a few short words at sight, but could not spell at all, could not com- bine numbers to five, and could not write his own name legibly. He liked to try to put picture puzzles together, but could not do the simplest ones correctly, and after trying a few minutes, would pettishly throw the pieces back into the box. He sel- dom spoke, preferring to make signs. He sometimes made uncouth, guttural noises, with no apparent reason. The eye test showed his eyesight to be very defective, and when, upon urgent request, he was fitted to glasses, his improvement com- menced. The difficulties of the picture puzzles he has over- come, one by one. Instead of aimlessly laying the pieces about, he now compares each piece, as he takes it up, with the others before he tries to fit it in, showing an increased perception of form, and ability to compare. He is now weaving a basket on a wooden base, and doing it very well. I hope soon to see an improvement in number. He is reading the story of "Jack the Giant Killer," in simple words, and enjoys it. He talks much more of late.
L. A., a boy of thirteen from the fourth grade, has not done any work in reading or spelling for three years, and but little in number. He is extremely irritable and obstinate, his fits of sullenness sometimes lasting a couple of hours or more. If he is not noticed he comes out of them gradually and is rather docile and good-tempered, but any attempt at coercion would make him very ugly. He is learning subtraction, and appears gratified at his progress. In spelling he is given three words as his lesson. Oftener than not he misses one or more, but that he is willing to try at all to spell marks a new era for him. He sometimes succeeds in spelling the three correctly, and is proud of the stars that stand for perfect lessons after his name on the blackboard,
173
REPORT OF THE TRUANCY DEPARTMENT. Comparative Statistics.
1909.
1910.
Change.
Number of cases investigated
1,185
1,600
+315
Number of cases found to be truancy or absenteeism · . . Number of different pupils who were tru- ants or habitual absentees
265
296
+31
201
219
+18
Number who were truants for the first time Number who were truants for the second time .
..
. ..
.
.
35
... .
Number who were truants for three or more times . .
. . . .
118
....
Number of girls who were truants or absen- tees
14
19
+5
Number of truants from the high school · Number of truants or absentees from the public schools .
148
115
-33
Number of truants or absentees from the parochial schools · .
53
104
+51
Number of complaints to the court for tru- ancy . ·
6
11
+5
Number placed on probation by the court . Number committed to the County Training school
2
3
+1
Number of complaints made to the court for illegally keeping children out of school Number of convictions secured for illegally keeping children out of school
...
1
+1
Number of visits to the schools
787
617
-170
Number of visits to the homes
953
1,561
+608
Number of cases of parental neglect of children found and reported to chari- table institutions
15
... .
Number of cases of removal of children from the custody of parents by order of the court
·
....
....
Number of visits to mercantile or manufac- turing establishments .
.
...
....
. . .
. .. .
179
277
+98
Number of age and schooling certificates is- sued to girls
178
204
+26
Number of transfer cards investigated .
892
975
+83
Number of truants in the training school at the close of the year
14
-1
Amount paid for board of truants
$791.56
13 $618.28 1,250.00 50.00
$173.28
Salaries of the Truant § Benjamin R. Jones .
Officers Jairus Mann .
... .
....
·
.
. .
1
+1
Number of minors found to be working with- out age and schooling certificates . . Number of age and schooling certificates is- sued to boys · .
28
. . Number of certificates of literacy issued to minors over 16 years of age
4
9
+5
5
5
....
. .
5
26
124
7
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
142
174
ANNUAL REPORTS.
TABLE OF TRUANCY BY AGES AND GRADES.
BY AGES.
GRADE.
Totals.
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 or Over
I.
3
2
. .
.
· .
. .
II.
1
10
8
8
3
.
. .
. .
. .
.
31
III.
.
. .
8
9
9
4
2
.
. .
1
50
V.
54
VI.
. .
.
. .
2
10
16
12
4
. .
44
VIII.
. .
. .
. .
2
4
8
6
4
24
IX.
2
1
4
X.
1
3
4
XI.
. .
. .
. .
1
1
XII.
. .
.
. .
. .
. .
2
5
.
7
Ungraded .
4
12
18
31
25
40
58
51
30
18
9
296
Number of Truancies by Schools.
School.
No. of Truants.
1. Latin
1
2.
English
4
3. Prescott
15
4. Hanscom
8
5. Bennett
21
6. Baxter
2
7. Knapp
29
8.
Perry
19
9:
Pope
13
10.
Bell
3
11.
Cummings
1
12.
Edgerly
1 3
14.
Foster
10
15.
Bingham
12
16.
Carr
13
17.
Morse
6
18.
Proctor
3
20.
Burns
0
21. Brown
2
22. Highland
6
23. Hodgkins
3
24.
Lincoln
0
25 ..
Lowe
3
Industrial
7
Parochial
104
Total
. .
2
10
8
15
7
7
. .
2
. .
4
. .
.
38
VII.
. .
.
5
12
22
9
. .
4
7
15
12
1
. .
. .
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
·
. . .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
·
·
.
.
.
·
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·
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.
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.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
7
.. . .
19. Durell
. . .
...
.
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. . .
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
. . .
.
. .
. .. .
13.
Glines
. .
. .
. .
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
. .
. .
1
1
. .
.
.
. .
296
1
6
1
IV ..
32
. .
.
175
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF THE STAMP SAVINGS SYSTEM.
For the past eight years the Associated Charities, with the co-operation of the teachers in the lower-grade schools of Som- erville, has conducted a system of practical instruction in the use of money that has met with gratifying results. The prin- cipals are supplied with stamp cards at one cent apiece, and with stamps resembling postage stamps in denominations of 25, 10, 5, 3, and 1 cent each. Cards and stamps are sold by teach- ers, and all receipts are turned over to collectors once a week, or when called for. When a child has accumulated at least a dollar's worth of stamps, he may transfer his card to the Som- erville Savings Bank, and become a regular depositor therein. When needed, money in the bank or in possession of the asso- ciation will be returned on presentation of the book or card. The effort to save on the part of the children, as will be seen by the financial report, is represented by a total of nearly
$73,000. This means that a large number of boys and girls have repeatedly conquered the natural temptation to squander. their small coins, and have resolutely laid them by for a pur- pose, thus gradually developing moral force and forming a habit that is essential to their present and future well-being.
The effort has been carried further by those who have transferred their savings to their own bank accounts, which total over $40,000 placed at interest in sums of $1 and upwards ; $27,000 has been withdrawn in cash, considerable of which has been known to have been converted into boots, clothing, and other necessaries of life.
The effect on the character of the child who responds to this influence must include an increase of self-respect and self- reliance.
The spirit of generosity so manifest at Christmas, for a good deal is withdrawn at this time, has been carefully directed in at least one or two schools, and the children themselves made happier by each contributing a coin to the work of the Hospital and to that of the Associated Charities.
The annual contribution of from $9 to $10 from one school to our work among the poor is a most enheartening gift, and always suggests the ideal method of support of such work, when each individual, instead of the exceptional few, shall feel public-spirited enough to contribute at least a little yearly. That the citizen of to-morrow may be taught this in our public schools of to-day, if not at home, is a part of the hope of the Stamp Savings Committee.
176
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Stamp Savings Totals.
Collections.
Dividends.
Totals.
First year
$15,135.59
$15,135.59
Second year
9,069.80
$187.75
9,257.55
Third year
8,056.80
129.90
8,186.70
Fourth year
7,503.01
62.58
7,565.59
Fifth year
8,043.48
138.78
8,182.26
Sixth year
7,244.01
161.69
7,405.70
Seventh year
7,452.67
162.71
7,615.38
Eighth year
7,814.82
155.85
7,970.67
October and November, 1910.
2,383.47
90.93
2,474.40
$72,703.65
$1,090.19
$73,793.84
Redemptions. .
Banked.
Cashed.
Total. $11,222.31
Dividends.
Totals.
First year
$8,069.85
$3,152.46
$11,222.31
Second year
6,060.91
2,927.90
8,988.81
$71.74
9,060.55
Third year
4,754.46
3,116.47
7,870.93
48,00
7,918.93
Fourth year
4,465.95
2,922.19
7,388.14
61.65
7,449.79
Fifth year
4,070.13
3,060,41
7,130.54
85.00
7,215.54
Sixth year.
4,025.41
3,466.52
7,491.93
50.00
7,541.93
Seventh year .. 3,764.77
3,413.46
7,178.23
175.00
7,353.23
Eighth year .... 3,715.70
3,774.57
7,490.27
190.00
7,680.27
November
and
December,. 1910 1,200.01
1,213.16
2,413.17
135.00
2,548.17
$40,127.19
$27,047.14
$67,174.33
$816.39
$67,990.72
Balance December 1, 1910.
5,803.12
Total losses, $265.77. Cost for eight years, $994.99.
$73,793.84
..
177
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
4
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION. Treasurer's Report, 1910.
Balance on hand January 1, 1910.
$3,004.31
Basket ball, net receipts.
41.04
Baseball, net receipts
94.38
Football, net receipts.
3,226.61
Interest accrued
34.43
Membership
24.00
Score card
...
$6,437.27
Basket ball expenses.
$336.32
Hockey expenses .
20.25
Baseball expenses :-
Supplies
$762.37
Coaching
273.00
Telephone
62.45
Manager's expenses
14.25
Traveling expenses
46.60
Guarantees and visiting teams.
112.55
Postage
4.52
Express
2.75
League dues
5.00
Miscellaneous
.40
Printing
40.50
Field
96.80
Treasurer's expenses
57.70
Football banquet
Football expenses :-
Supplies
$835.99
Coaching
350.00
Telephone
41.46
Manager's expenses
16.25
Traveling expenses
94.62
Guarantees and visiting teams.
24.10
Postage
33.83
Express
7.20
League dues
10.00
Miscellaneous
13.75
Printing
118.88
Field
324.25
Treasurer's salary
100.00
Medical attendance and supplies.
102.89
Advertising
8.15
Treasurer's expenses
84.71
2,166.08
$4,049.16
2,388.11
$6,437.27
HARRY L. JONES, Treasurer.
1,478.89 47.62
Balance in Somerville Trust Company January 1, 1911
. .
12.50
178
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Football Statistics.
1910.
Attendance
22,809
Gross receipts
24,497 $11,346.10
$7,943.70
Gross receipts distributed as follows :-
Police
$443.00
$400.00
Field
245.00
199.50
Officials
410.00
334.90
Printing
151.50
76.50
Supplies
128.75
44.90
Miscellaneous expenses
(visiting teams, ex-
penses, labor, etc.) .
364.27
170.66
Visiting teams, receipts ..
4,802.35
3,490.63
Somerville's net receipts
4,801.23
3,226.61
$11,346.10
$7,943.70
HARRY L. JONES,
1
Treasurer.
January 1, 1911.
1909.
179
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
CONTENTS OF APPENDIX.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
Population and school census
School buildings
Teachers
Attendance for year
Attendance in December
Cost of school maintenance
Teachers' salaries
Results of eye and ear tests
Latin school
English school
Elementary schools
Kindergartens
MISCELLANEOUS TABLES CONCERNING FINANCE
No. of Table
1. Schedule of school property
2. Cost of maintaining schools, 1910
3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, 1910
4. Cost of maintaining schools for a series of years
5. Cost per capita for maintaining schools for a series of years
6. Amount spent annually for new school buildings and for re- pairs for a series of years
CONCERNING PUPILS
7. Population and school census
8. Attendance, etc., of the schools for 1910
9. Statistics of the high schools, for school year 1909-1910
10. Pupils by grades, December, 1910
11. Separate statistics for grammar and primary schools, 1910
12. Admissions to first grade in September
13. Number of grammar school graduates, 1910
14. Truant statistics for a series of years
15. Evening school statistics, 1909-1910
16. Grammar school graduates for a series of years
17. Attendance statistics of all schools for a series of years
18. Statistics of the high school for a series of years
19. Promotions, 1910
CONCERNING TEACHERS
20. Resignations of teachers, 1910
21. Teachers elected in 1910
22. Leave of absence of teachers :
23. Transfers of teachers
24. Number of teachers employed for a series of years
STATISTICAL AND GENERAL TABLES
25. Changes in text-books, 1910
26. High school graduation exercises, 1910
27. Grammar school graduation exercises, 1910
1
28. Organization of school board for 1911
29. Teachers in service January, 1911
30. Officers in service January, 1911 1
31. School janitors
Table A .- Distribution of pupils by ages, October 1, 1910 Table B .- Distribution of pupils, 14 but not 15, October 1, 1910 Table C .- Number of books in use in the city, December, 1910 Table D .- Amendments to the rules of the School Committee
180
ANNUAL REPORTS.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
1 .- POPULATION AND SCHOOL CENSUS.
Population, state census, 1895.
52,200
Population, United States census, 1900 61,643
Population, state census, 1905.
69,272
Population, United States census, 1910.
77,236
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October, 1909, by school census. 12,419
Children between five and fifteen years of age, October, 1910, by school census 12,112
Decrease 307
2 .- SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
1909.
1910.
Change.
Number of school buildings
26
26
0
Number of classrooms in use in
December
286
281
-5
Valuation of school property ..... $1,443,280 $1,463,381 +$20,101
3 .- TEACHERS.
1909.
1910.
Change.
In high schools
59
63
+4
In grammar schools
166
168
+2
In primary schools
105
86
-19
In kindergartens
8
8
+0
Total in elementary schools.
279
262
-17
Industrial school.
0
3
+3
Atypical class
0
1
+1
Cadet teachers
3
1
-2
Special
10
9
-1
Total
351
339
-12
4 .- ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR.
1909.
1910.
Change.
Entire enrollment for the year
15,363
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