USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1914 > Part 14
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187
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
For the Domestic Science department: Ten gas stoves, three ovens, ten sets of kitchen ware and dishes.
We have not yet given any name to this undertaking. Corresponding efforts elsewhere go under various names, more or less descriptive. For the present it is well to regard this as an intermediate stage in the life of the child having some of the characteristics of the years he is leaving and taking on some of those of the period towards which he is moving. It is an interesting, vital, formative time. This experiment may show how best to make use of this transition stage.
Work Certificates. In September, 1913, there be- came effective a law passed earlier in the year by the state legislature regulating child labor and providing new forms for use in connection therewith. Under the pro- visions of this statute children fourteen to sixteen years of age who had attainments equivalent to the fourth grade could go to work after getting an employment cer- tificate from the superintendent of schools. Minors from sixteen to twenty-one years of age could go to work upon securing an educational certificate of literacy. If the minor did not possess educational attainments equivalent to a fourth grade he could go to work, but he was re- quired to attend night school. By means of these pro- visions every child leaving school to go to work is re- quired to get a certificate from the superintendent of schools, and the duplicate certificate on file in the superintendent's office constitutes a record of the number who leave school to go to work. These records for the year begun September 1, 1913, and ended August 31, 1914, have been examined and certain interesting facts brought together. It appears that certificates were given different persons as follows :-
Fourteen-year-old children, male
154
female
94
total
248
Fifteen-year-old children, male
254
female
175
total
429
Educational certificates, literate, male.
1,314
female
1,411
total
2,725
Educational certificates, illiterate, male
170
female
72
total
242
A total of 3,644.
188
ANNUAL REPORTS.
It is interesting to note that the number of fourteen- year-old pupils who left school to go to work is only a little more than half of the number of pupils fifteen years old. The number of fourteen-year-old pupils in the schools on October 1, 1913, was 977; on October 1, 1914, it was 1094. By comparison of 248, the number of fourteen- year-olds who went to work, with the fourteen-year-old group of either year it is seen that the proportion who left to go to work at the earliest possible age was approxi- mately one-fourth of that age group. The last grade at- tended by these pupils is shown below :-
Grade 4
5
14
6 46
7 56
66
8
48
9
59
10
12
Boys' Vocational
1
248
It will be noted that only twenty-six had failed to reach the sixth grade; forty-six more stopped before entering the seventh grade. Adding these two numbers we see that seventy-two of the 248 fourteen-year-old pupils who went to work were below the seventh grade. Comparing this with the mean number belonging in the fourteen-year-old group that year we find about seven per cent. of the pupils in the fourteen-year-old group went to work last year without having attained the seventh grade. In the absence of statistics of other years or other places with which to make a comparison, this record may stand as an index of a good condition in this respect. Corresponding figures for the fifteen-year-old group are shown below :-
Grade 4
Children 11
5 25
6 60
7
89
8 58
9 134
10
38
11
6
Girls' Vocational
4
Boys' Vocational
1
Bell Atypical
.....
3
429
The law requires a minor to get a new certificate when
Children 12
189
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
he changes his job. Some idea of the stability of these workers is shown in the number of re-issues. The num- ber in the various classes is shown in the tables given below :-
Fourteen-year-old children. received
1
certificate, 66
198
2
40
3
66
9
4
1
248
Fifteen-year-old children, received
1
certificate,
210
2
126
3
51
4
28
5
3
6
5
7
2
8
66
2
10
1
12
..
1
Educational certificates issued, literate 1
certificate
2,199
2
343
3
120
4
43
5
16
6
3
7
1
2,735
Educational certificates issued, illiterate 1
certificate
198
2
34
3
9
4
66
1
242
The divisions of these applicants into classes of native and foreign born presents some interesting phases. They are noted below :-
Fourteen-year-old children, foreign born.
26
native born 222
248
Fifteen-year-old children, foreign born
43
native born. 386
429
Literates receiving educational certificates, foreign born 288 native born 2,437
2,725
Illiterates receiving educational certificates, for. born .. .239
native born .... 3
242
66
429
‹‹
66
190
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In every class native born applicants predominate, ex- cept in the class of illiterates, where 239 of the 242 were foreign born.
The issuing of these certificates takes a tenth of the entire office time. It is an important work which ac- cumulates data of a kind valuable to the schoolman and to the sociologist. With our present office facilities we are not able to make the best use of this data. I hope during the present year to find means of improvement without adding to the labor of the office force.
Night Schools. From the statements in the pre- ceding paragraph it can be inferred that we have enforced claimants for evening school instruction, inasmuch as il- literate minors at work must attend the evening schools. Such is the case and our evening schools bear witness of the fact. The cosmopolitan character of these schools may be seen from the following classification by nationalities :
United States 234
Newfoundland 5
Italy
263
Norway
4
Greece
75
Scotland
3
Russia
45
Spain
3
Portugal
26
France
3
Ireland
23
Armenia 3
Sweden
13
England
2
Germany
11
Poland
2
Canada
9
Brazil
2
Turkey
8
Finland
2
Austria
6
India
1
743
.
No more interesting work is to be found in our educa- tional activities than that of the night schools. The for- eign born members of the elementary schools win the respect and affection of their teachers by their earnest- ness and simplicity of conduct. Their progress is encour- aging and their gratitude for help is touching. Some of them have superior attainments in everything but English. The elementary niglit schools have a larger enrolment this fall than ever before. They are well conducted and efficient. The evening High School had the largest en- rollment this fall that it has ever recorded. This school serves a constituency ranging from a graduate of the grammar schools to a graduate of the highest university. In occupations the range is from office boy to professional man and from shop girl to school teacher. This school is well organized, well equipped, well taught, and thoroughly efficient. The provisions made by the city for night schools are ample and wholly creditable to the city.
Play. During the summer vacation playgrounds were
191
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
conducted under supervision provided in part and wholly controlled by the School Committee. The work follow- ing on lines laid down in other years and helped by the experience of those years was the most efficient attained since the beginning of this movement. As programme de- tails have been explained in other reports I do not need to repeat them here. Financial facts are given in a table shown elsewhere in this report. But here I want to make some comments suggested by my observations upon the matter of play in this city. Adults can be taught the value of play in either of two ways, if they need to be taught. First they can recall, and draw conclusions from, the play habits of their own childhood. Second, they can draw instruction upon this subject from the works of writers who expound the value of play as a means of promoting mental, moral, and physical growth. Not stop- ping to prove this contention but assuming that it is conceded I go on to comment upon the conditions here which make it difficult for children to get a sufficient amount of play. This is known to be one of the most densely settled cities in the country. There are few un- occupied lots upon which children are allowed to play. The public parks are remote from the homes of the ma- jority of children. The streets are dangerous, being crowded with fast moving automobiles. Backyards do not exist any more as play spaces. For one reason or another the school yards are not used after school by pupils. As a consequence play languishes and with it those sterling qualities which play alone fosters in youth. Should not something be done about such a matter? Cannot something be done about it?
And if both of these questions are answered in the affirmative, is not the School Committee the public agency in this city to take note of this condition and propose measures to help it? By way of a beginning I suggest that play leaders might be employed several afternoons each week to or- ganize and direct play in school yards. We have in our summer playground corps young men and women well- trained for this work who could be secured for this service at a small cost.
I am glad to be able to report that play is recognized by our teachers as a valuable auxiliary to their work. As a means of physical exercise in a school and as a means of recreation at recess, play is assuming important pro- portions. I believe this movement should be stimulated in the schools and further provision made for its accom- modation and equipment. Now we are in a good position to advance safely. Through your action whereby Ernst
192
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Hermann was made supervisor of physical instruction in our schools we have the aid of a man of boundless en- thusiasm for the physical betterment of children, a man at the very top of his profession. Under his leadership I hope we shall develop a plan which will embrace all the needs of our schools, both secondary and elementary. While this is being done play spaces should be secured for some schools; play yards should be made fit to use all the year around at others; play material should be bought for schoolroom use, and school hygiene, including temperature and ventilation of schoolrooms, should re- ceive attention. In these ways society can give back to the children of today the privileges which their parents had of free play and which have been taken from them by the encroachments of buildings upon the unoccupied spaces of former days.
Conclusion. Particulars of various phases of the work of the schools are given elsewhere as a part of this report by the heads of the High and vocational schools. and of other special branches. I commend them to your attention as carefully considered statements of what is being undertaken and accomplished in these enterprises.
During this year the School Committee has accom- plished such of the undertakings recommended in the last Annual Report as. were in the scope of their authority. No new accommodations have been provided in response to those recommendations. Therefore in bringing together, as a summary, the needs discussed in this report, I give leading place to accommodations. I recommend that the School Committee seek to accomplish the following during this year :
To secure additional accommodations for secondary education to meet the needs of the High School, the Boys' Vocational School, and the Girls' Vocational School.
To secure additional accommodations for elementary schools by means of either or both of these measures :-
(1) A new schoolhouse in East Somerville.
(2) Alterations of certain schoolhouses in various parts of the city.
To start a policy of buying each year land to increase the yards at several schools, with a view of providing a more adequate opportunity there for play of school chil- dren and to make a beginning this year at one of the fol- lowing schools: Forster, Knapp, Carr, Pope, or Baxter.
To begin a policy of grading and surfacing one school yard each year, to be continued until the yards of the fol- lowing schools are in proper condition for play throughout
193
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
all the year: Carr, Perry, Bingham, and Glines.
To extend the summer playground enterprise con- ducted by the School Committee so as to provide play supervisors for after-school work at school sites where a favorable opportunity exists.
I thank the members of the School Committee for their cordial and kindly attitude towards me during the year. It has made my work a pleasure and has been a constant inspiration. I want also to give hearty recogni- tion in this closing paragraph to the loyalty and good feeling of the whole teaching corps. This condition, dis- played alike through quiet attention to routine duties and through instant response to special calls, is one of utmost importance to the successful conduct of the work of the schools. Its continuance is most essential and I trust that all of us, teachers, superintendent and School Committee, may have the wisdom, sympathy and courage which shall make its continuance certain.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES S. CLARK. Superintendent of Schools.
December 28, 1914.
HIGH SCHOOL REPORT FOR YEAR 1914.
Mr. Charles S. Clark, Superintendent of Schools,
Somerville, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir: I have the honor to submit my annual re- port of the High School for the year 1914.
The school has weathered during the last few years the double session plan, the combining of the two schools into one, and the many disturbances experienced during the building of a large addition. At last, in January, 1914, the carpenters, painters, and contractors of all kinds took their leave, and the school entered on a period of com- parative quiet and comfortable quarters. It is indeed a marvel that the school has been able to survive the dis- comfort and inconveniences of the past few years; that it has been able to do its work and withal to show some evidences of progress is extremely creditable, and is in- deed an evidence of the indomitable spirit of teachers and pupils.
In my report of 1913, I spoke of the drawbacks of the double session. The advantage to the first year class of uniting it with the upper classes in the morning session is shown in the following table :-
Girls 1917-B
Girls 1918-B
Boys 1917-B
Boys 1918-B
Totals 1917-B
Total 1918-B
Number entering
236
245
225
221
461
466
Left before November
7
25
13
9
20
34
Number with records
229
220
212
212
441
432
Number of credit pupils
41
44
20
61
66
Per cent. of credit pupils
18%
20%
9.4%
22 10.4%
13.8%
15%
Number of failures
29
16
56
43
85
50
Per cent. of failures
13%
7%
21%
16%
19%
12%
The striking facts in this summary are (1) the de- crease in failures from nineteen per cent. to twelve per cent., and an increase in honor pupils from 13.8 per cent. to 15 per cent.
Course of Study. The Board of Supervision with the headmaster have given considerable attention to a revision of the course of study, and have suggested some changes which should prove advantageous and progressive. The most important changes are :-
(1) In the College Course for Harvard and Radcliffe, French has been added to the work of the first two years. To prepare for these colleges in four years is a very diffi- cult task and it is hoped that by increasing the work of the earlier years, the strain will be more evenly distributed.
(2) In the four year Commercial course, stenography will be begun in the second year and bookkeeping in the
195
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
first year, thus giving pupils three years of stenography or four of bookkeeping before graduation.
(3) In the two year commercial course, several sub- jects have been added, thus increasing the amount and scope of the work and giving to pupils who can stay in school only two years as thorough and practical a training as possible in the limited time. Pupils taking this course are required to return in the afternoon for typewriting.
(4) By the addition of Community Civics for all first year pupils. This subject has already proved very popular and valuable. Pupils are thus given an carly training in the duties of citizenship and gain a vital interest in the government and welfare of their community.
All of these changes are along the lines of serious pur- pose and a spirit of work.
College Course. Pupils were sent from this school in Sep- tember, 1914, to the following higher institutions :-
Boston College 5
Boston University
2
Dartmouth
2
Harvard
9
Holy Cross
1
Jackson
3
Massachusetts Agricultural College.
3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
10
Radcliffe
6
Simmons
4
Smith
2
Tufts
16
University of Maine
1
Wellesley
1
Wesleyan
1
Wheaton
1
Total
81
The present Senior classes are preparing for the fol- lowing institutions :- -
Boston College
1
Boston University
3
Cornell
1
College of Osteopathy
1
Dartmouth
5
Harvard
3
Holy Cross
1
Jackson
4
Lasell
1
Mass. Institute of Technology.
20
Mass. Agricultural College
7
Mt. Holyoke
4
Normal Schools
21
Pratt Institute 1
Normal Schools 14
196
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Radcliffe
4
Simmons 12
Smith 2
Syracuse 1
Tufts 14
1
Wellesley
Total 107
Pupils entering any of the above institutions except- ing Harvard, Radcliffe, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, are received without examination on the certi- ficate of the school. This certificate may be obtained by any pupil who has done "B" or good work. Harvard, Rad- cliffe, and the Institute admit pupils on the examination plan only. Examinations for these colleges are often taken by pupils whose work in High School was not of high enough grade to warrant a certificate for any other insti- tution. Failure on the part of such pupils to pass their ex- aminations should not be counted against the school. Pu- pils recommended by the school as worthy to take college entrance examinations succeed almost without ex- ception. The following table speaks for itself :-
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
Preliminary examinations. 1
Number of pupils taking examinations 17
Number of pupils accepted 14
Number of pupils passing in all subjects 10 Final examinations.
Number of pupils taking examinations 10
Number of pupils admitted 10
Number of pupils admitted without conditions. 4
HARVARD AND RADCLIFFE.
Preliminary examinations.
Number of pupils taking examinations 8
Number of pupils accepted 7
Final examinations.
Number taking examinations and recommended by the school 16
Number admitted 15
Commercial Course. While graduates from our pre- paratory course are doing commendable work at higher schools, graduates from our commercial course have been upholding the reputation of the school in the business world. Our pupils invariably secure good positions, and many words of commendation have been received from business houses regarding the fitness of our graduates.
School Bank. One distinct achievement of the com- mercial department during the past year has been the es- tablishment of a school bank. At the end of the corridor
197
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
in the East Building, commodious banking quarters have been constructed. Banking hours are established before and after school. The bookkeeping and practical running of this bank is carried on by pupils. The money is de- posited in a savings bank of the city at the regular rate of interest.
School Library. An innovation during the past year has been the assignment of a trained librarian from the pub- lic library to take charge of the school libraries. Her du- ties are to superintend the library-study of the pupils, to acquaint them with the use of books and of cataloguing methods, to confer with teachers and to assist them in bringing to pupils' attention special topics and the best ways to look them up, to help pupils at the public library to investigate topics assigned at school, and in general to bring the school and the library into close relations. The public library has been very helpful in devoting special shelves to the use of high school pupils and in sending to the school many books on timely school subjects.
DISTRIBUTION OF WORK BY SUBJECTS, DECEMBER, 1914.
Subject
No. of Teachers.
No. of Pupils.
Number Last Year.
Increase.
English
14
1902
1850
52
History and
Civics
13
1422
1152
270
Mathematics
13
1058
1174
-
116
Elocution
1
563
649
- 86
Chemistry
2
188
121
67
Physics
2
102
150
- 48
General
Science
76
97
21
Biology
1
47
54
7
Physical Geography
1
19
Physiology
1
86
204
-118
Latin
7
498
550
58
Greek
2
33
66
- 33
French
7
593
594
1
German
7
450
365
85
Spanish
3
260
189
71
Manual Training
3
207
204
3
Mechanical Drawing
2
253
290
37
Freehand Drawing
2
279
236
43
Cooking
2
77
99
:22
Dressmaking
1
177
95
82
Bookkeeping
7
378
123
255
Arithmetic
7
534
394
140
Penmanship
10
650
515
135
Commercial
Geography
2
112
79
33
Commercial Law
1
84
47
37
Stenography
5
473
428
45
Typewriting
2
546
490
56
A large factor in the striking decrease or increase in certain subjects is the new course of study, which has re-
198
1.
1 1
ANNUAL REPORTS.
cently been put into effect. The change from the required to the elective list easily accounts for the decreased num- ber of pupils taking mathematics (Algebra being no longer required in the Commercial Course), General Science and Physiology.
Gifts to the School. The school gratefully acknowl- edges the following gifts received during the past year :-
Twenty-four pieces from the Parthenon frieze, cleansed and placed on the walls of the school hall, and two bas- reliefs entitled "The Water Nymphs," purchased from the Art Fund.
A pianola, donated by the Girls' Dramatic Society.
A Victrola cabinet and records, donated by the Girls' Dramatic Society.
A large silk flag, presented by the Massachusetts Woman's Relief Corps.
Stage scenery for the hall, donated by the Girls' Dra- matic Society.
A picture, entitled, "Lafayette Laying His Commission at the Feet of Columbia," by Blashfield, presented by the Class of 1914.
School Lunch. Beginning in November last, the school undertook the care and management of a lunch counter. This counter is under the direct charge of Miss Brown of the Girls' Vocational School. Luncheons are prepared and served by girls from the Girls' Vocational School and from the Household Arts Course of the High School. Lunch- eons are served practically at cost, no article costing over five cents. The following menu for a week will give an idea of the variety and excellence of the food served :-
Monday
Pea soup Scalloped tomato
Creamed potato and egg
Baked apple with cream
Sardine sandwich
Egg Bananas
Cocoa, milk
Tuesday
Tomato bisque
Scalloped celery
Sausage and potato
Coffee jelly
Oranges and bananas
Rolls and butter
Cocoa Milk
Wednesday
Cream of pea soup Rice and tomato
Roast beef sandwich
Fruit jelly
1 Chocolate blanc mange
Cocoa
Milk
Thursday
Lima bean soup
Scalloped corn
Scalloped oysters
Newton tapioca
Orange pudding
Ham sandwich
Cocoa
Milk
Friday
Tomato soup
Salmon loaf
Vegetable hash
Stewed apricots
Bananas Entire wheat sandwich
Cocoa Milk :
199
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
An average of almost 500 pupils has been served daily at this counter. Luncheons are also served to teachers at the close of school.
Practical Work by Pupils. Two illustrations will serve to show the trend of the school along practical lines.
1. By the girls in the Household Arts Course in the preparation of food and assistance at the lunch counter and teachers' lunch room.
2. By the boys in the preparation of a teachers' lunch room. An unfurnished basement room was placed at their disposal for this purpose. The walls of this room are finished with beaver board, and convenient doors and serv- ing facilities connect this room with the kitchen, all done from carefully drawn plans in a workmanlike manner. The panelling, color scheme of the walls, curtains, furniture, and furnishings have been problems worked out in the shop, drawing rooms, and class rooms. The recent addi- tions and changes in the building have also furnished many opportunities for practical work.
Students' Council. Although I have not yet been led to believe in "student government" or the management of the school by the pupils, yet I place great value on "student help" or a helpful co-operation between pupils and teach- ers. "School spirit,"-that subtle influence which we are all trying to get and which so often evades our efforts,- must spring from the pupils, and to be effective, must come from good impulses. In our school, an organization called the "Students' Council" has been very helpful along these lines. This council is composed of the officers of the vari- ous classes, four from each class, the Senior president act- ing as chairman. This council undertakes first to weld the student body together socially. To accomplish this, it or- ganizes and carries out a series of entertainments given at the close of school at stated intervals. The talent at these entertainments is selected from the pupils, the disci- pline is entirely under the charge of the council, and the teachers are present as invited guests. Our experience has been that these entertainments have been of high order, the discipline excellent, and the effect upon the school admirable. Mass meetings for the development of athletic interest or for the consideration of larger ques- tions of school life have been called by this council with very gratifying results. The assembling of 2,000 pupils in a large hall under student control, and excellent control at that, is an inspiring sight and one well worth encouraging The first time that we allowed a meeting of this kind, I at- tended with inward fear and trembling. Since that time Į
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