USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1915 > Part 5
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156,048 64
Metropolitan and Other Assessments.
Metropolitan park assessment . $37,981 64 Metropolitan sewer assessment 70,682 61 Wellington bridge assessment .
2,456 70 Charles River Basin assessment 6,217 31 Grade crossing assessment . 15,664 93
1,283 87
Abatement of smoke nuisance assessment
285 51
Fire prevention assessment
608 59
Auditing municipal accounts as- sessment
1,486 58
136,667 74
County of Middlesex.
County tax, 1915
. $79,840 71 79,840 71
Carried forward
.
.
$3,277,089 48
$218,642 21
Alewife Brook assessment
80
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Brought forward
$3,277,089 48 $218,642 21
Cash Refunds.
Taxes
$476 50
Special assessments
34 00
National bank tax refunded
4 03
Water rates
188 83
703 36
Private Trust.
Redemption of Tax Titles.
Sundry persons, redemption of
tax titles .
. $1,423 21
1,423 21
Total expenditures
$3,279,216 05
$218,642 21
REPORT OF THE CITY TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Somerville, Mass., January 28, 1916.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :---
Gentlemen: The undersigned presents herewith a report of the cash receipts and disbursements of the city for the year 1915 together with a statement of the balances, and of the tax and assessment accounts, temporary loans and treas- ury department.
I have made the report in this form in order to avoid as far as possible any duplication of the figures which will ap- pear in the auditor's report.
Receipts.
Balance from 1914
$109,020 40
Taxes, 1912 .
$12 00
Taxes, 1912, credited overlay and abatement 2 25
$14 25
Taxes, 1913 $522 54
Taxes, 1913, credited overlay and
abatement 5 72
528 26
Taxes, 1914 $335,799 51
Taxes, 1914, credited overlay and abatement 38 03
335,837 54
Taxes, 1915
1,399,927 48
Moth assessments, 1915
2,622 40
Street sprinkling assessments, 1915
27,569 25
Highway betterment assessments, 1914
10,449 85
Highway betterment assessments, 1915
3,399 21
Sidewalk assessments, 1913
1,384 37
Sidewalk assessments, 1914
14,064 76
Sewer assessments, 1913
95 95
Sewer assessments, 1914
2,095 43
Sewer assessments, 1915
619 63
Metered water charges, 1914
20,859 44
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
(Sol-
diers' benefits, 1914)
15,212 00
Grade crossings, Auditor's and adjustment
3,436 74
Estimated revenue account
384,485 59
Temporary loans .
1,156,000 00
Bonds :
Issue January 1
102,000 00
Issue April 1
100,000 00
Issue July 1
38,000 00
Premium on bonds :
Issue January 1 293 76
Issue April 1 163 00
Issue July 1 448 02
Interest on bonds: Issue January 1
963 33
Amounts carried forward .
$3,620,470 26
$109.020 40
11th Report
82
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amounts brought forward .
$3,620,470 26
$109,020 40
Issue April 1 555 56
Issue July 1 291 33
General appropriations (refunds)
1,402 69
Loan appropriations
4,800 50
Trust Funds (Public) :-
School, S. Newton Cutler
230 00
Library, S. Newton Cutler.
45 98
Library, Martha R. Hunt, art
114 01
Library, Martha R. Hunt, books
494 51
Library, Isaac Pitman, art
180 70
Library, Isaac Pitman, poetry
45 18
Library, Frances A. Wilder, children's de- partment
8 24
Trust Funds (Private) :-
1.423 21
Service transfers, January and February :
1,388 10
$3,631.450 27
$3,740,470 67
Payments.
Taxes 1913, refunds
$158 40
Taxes 1914. refunds
92 95
Taxes 1914, refunds (Overlay and Abatement account)
94 95
Taxes 1915, refunds
130 20
Suppression of inoths, 1915, refunds
34 00
Refunds water charges
13 78
Estimated revenue, refunds
179 08
Grade crossings .
2,672 45
Real estate liens
33 35
Court judgments
59 75
Temporary loans
1,121,000 00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (including Metro- politan water assessment)
403,497 72
County of Middlesex
79,840 71
General expenses
1.385,148 75
Reduction of funded debt
205,500 00
Interest
92,629 49
Loan appropriations
204,958 34
Trust Funds (Public) :-
School, S. Newton Cutler .
60 00
Library, Martha R. Hunt, art
55 40
Library. Martha R. Hunt, books
362 32
Library, Isaac Pitman, art
68 61
Library, Isaac Pitman, poetry
26 09
Trust Funds (Private) :-
Redemption of tax liens
1,423 21
Cash advances to C. C. Folsom, agent
1,200 00
$3,499,239 55
Cash in office .
$2,357 69
Deposits in banks
.
.
238,873 43
241,231 12
$3,740,470 67
.
.
Redemption of tax liens
83
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Balances-Debit.
Cash on hand and in banks
$241,231 12
Cash advances, C. C. Folsom, agent
1,200 00
Taxes 1912
2 00
Taxes 1913
233 64
Taxes 1914
2,361 14
Taxes 1915
323,680 97
Street sprinkling assessments, 1915
8,212 30
Moth assessments, 1915
838 75
Highway betterment assessments, 1914
383 75
Highway betterment assessments, 1915
18,837 15
Sidewalk. assessments, 1914
1,555 28
Sidewalk assessments, 1915
14,687 44
Sewer assessments, 1914
683 60
Sewer assessments, 1915
766 80
Metered water charges
20,468 87
Commonwealth of Massachusetts (advances)
15,348 50
Grade crossings (advances)
3,428 42
Real estate liens
33 35
Trust Funds, Investment :-
School
5,000 00
Library
20,414 58
Net funded debt
1,650,500 00
$2,329,867 66
Balances-Credit.
Overlay and Abatement, 1912 and prior years
$56 39
Overlay and Abatement, 1913 and prior years
6,081 66
Overlay and Abatement, 1914 and prior years
5,524 65
Overlay and Abatement, 1915 and prior years
10,168 05
Reserve Supplementary Warrants, 1915 .
5,009 61
Temporary loans
500,000 00
Loan appropriations .
95,899 50
Trust Funds, Income :--
489 50
Library, S. Newton Cutler
75 88
Library, Martha R. Hunt (part of principal)
702 77
Library, Martha R. Hunt, art .
103 50
Library, Martha R. Hunt, books
181 35
Library, Isaac Pitman, art
147 67
Library, Isaac Fitman, poetry
37 39
Library, Frances A. Wilder, children's fund
11 92
Premium on bonds
904 78
Accrued interest on bonds
291 33
Sundry persons .
127 11
Excess and deficiency
28,140 02
Trust Funds, School (principal)
5,000 CO
Trust Funds, Library (principal)
20,414 58
Funded debt
1,650,500 00
$2.329,867 66
Taxes, 1912.
Balance from 1914, uncollected .
$56 00
Cash received
$12 00
Abatements .
42 00
Forward to 1916 account
2 00
$56 00
$56 00
.
.
.
.
School, S. Newton Cutler
84
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Taxes, 1913.
Balance from 1914, uncollected .
$1,029 52
Cash refunds
158 40
Charges ·
5 96
Cash received
$522 54
Abatements .
437 70
Forward to 1916 account
233 64
$1,193 88
$1,193 88
Taxes, 1914.
Balance from 1914, uncollected .
$342,983 21
Cash refunds
92 95
Cash received
$335,799 51
Abatements .
4,915 51
Forward to 1916 account
2,361 14
$343,076 16
$343,076 16
Taxes, 1915.
Tax levy, as per assessors' warrant
$1,727,135 85
Supplementary warrants
5,089 90
Cash refunds
130 20
Cash received
$1,399,927 48
Abatements .
8,747 50
Forward to 1916 account
323,680 97
$1,732,355 95
$1,732,355 95
Street Sprinkling Assessments, 1915.
Amount of assessors" warrant .
$35,806 10
Cash received
$27,569 25
Abatements .
24 55
Forward to 1916 account
8,212 30
$35,806 10
$35,806 10
Moth Assessments, 1915.
Amount of assessors' warrant .
$3,527 15
Cash refunds
34 00
Cash received
$2,622 40
Abatements .
.
100 00
Forward to 1916 account
838 75
$3,561 15
$3,561 15
Overlay and Abatement, 1912 and prior years.
Balance from 1914
$96 14
Cash received
2 25
Abatements .
$42 00
Forward to 1916 account
56 39
$98 39
$98 39
85
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Overlay and Abatement, 1913.
Balance from 1914
$6,507 68
Cash received
5 72
By charges to Taxes of 1913
5 96
Abatements .
$437 70
Forward to 1916 account
6,081 66
$6,519 36
$6,519 36
Overlay and Abatement, 1914.
Balance from 1914
$10,497 08
Cash received
05
Cash refund
37 98
Abatements
$4,915 51
Cash refunds
94 95
Forward to 1916 account
5,524 65
$10,535 11
$10,535 11
Overlay and Abatement, 1915.
Amount appropriated in taxes .
$18,835 26
Abatements .
$8,667 21
Forward to 1916 account
10,168 05
$18,835 26
$18,835 26
Reserve, Supplementary Assessments, 1915.
Supplementary assessment No. 1
$164 00
Supplementary assessment No. 2
4,925 90
Abatements" .
$80 29
Forward to 1916 account
5,009 61
$5,089 90
$5,089 90
Highway Betterment Assessments, 1914.
Balance from 1914
$10,833 60
Cash received
$10,449 85
Forward to 1916 account
383 75
$10,833 60
$10,833 60
Highway Betterment Assessments, 1915.
Assessments levied
$22,236 36
Cash received .
$3,399 21
Forward to 1916 account
18,837 15
$22,236 36
$22,236 36
Sidewalk Assessments, 1912.
Balance from 1914
$6 81
$6 81
Abatement .
.
.
$6 81
$6 81
.
.
86
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Sidewalk Assessments, 1913.
Balance from 1914
$1,384 37
Cash received
·
$1,384 37
$1,384 37
$1,384 37
Sidewalk Assessments, 1914.
Balance from 1914
$15,620 04
Cash received
$14,064 76
Forward to 1916 account
1,555 28
$15,620 04
$15,620 04
Sidewalk Assessments, 1915.
Assessments levied
$14,687 44
Forward to 1916 account
$14,687 44
$14,687 44
$14,687 44
Sewer Assessments, 1913.
Balance from 1914
$95 95
Cash received ·
$95 95
$95 95
$95 95
Sewer Assessments, 1914.
Balance from 1914
$2,779 03
$2,095 43
Forward to 1916 account
683 60
$2,779 03
$2,779 03
Sewer Assessments, 1915.
Assessments levied
$1,386 43
Cash received
.
.
$619 63
Forward to 1916 account
766 80
$1,386 43
$1,386 43
WATER RECEIPTS. On Account of Commitments, 1915.
Metered rates
$145,311 99
Annual rates
59,289 85
Additional rates
2,128 53
Maintenance
3,551 98
Service assessments
4,111 23
Extension
1,540 01
$215,933 59
Cash received
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
87
TEMPORARY LOANS. In Anticipation of Taxes.
$465,000 00
Borrowed by authority of the Board of Aldermen on notes of the city as follows :-
City Notes Nos. 280-283, 261 days, 3.10%
$100,000 00
City Notes Nos. 284-298, 252 days, 3.10%
100,000 00
City Notes Nos. 299-310, 254 days, 3.10%
100,000 00
City Notes Nos. 311-334, 240 days,
3.10% 200,000 00
City Notes Nos. 335-336, 233 days,
3.00%
16,000 00
City Note No. 337 203 days,
3.00%
25,000 00
City Notes Nos. 338-345, 231 days,
3.00%
115,000 00
City Notes Nos. 346-365, 302 days,
3.52%
150,000 00
City Notes Nos. 366-373, 285 days,
3.393%
100,000 00
City Notes Nos. 374-375, 321 days,
3.438%
100,000 00
City Note No. 376
1 year,
3.25%
75,000 00
City Notes Nos. 377-379, 144 days,
2.15%
75,000 00
1,156,000 00
Paid notes maturing 1915
1,121,000 00
Maturing in 1916
$500,000 00
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Appropriations and Expenditures.
$14,000 00
By transfer from City Home account
160 00
Expenditures.
Joseph S. Pike, salary as city treasurer .
$3,000 00
Postage and disbursements
12 60
Charles L. Ellis, salary as deputy collector Car fares
19 90
Beulah M. Peirce, first assistant
1,000 00
Louise B. McLaughlin, second assistant .
780 00
Florence M. Grow, third assistant .
700 00
Marion C. Kendall, fourth assistant Winnifred P. Briggs, fifth assistant
57 30
Lilla A. Johnson, clerical services
519 33
May G. Canfield, clerical services
484 00
Lillian C. Scriven, clerical services .
402 50
Alice M. Coleman, clerical services .
348 92
Edna M. Coolidge, clerical services . Ruth A. Cambridge, clerical services Marion W. Parker, clerical services Pauline B. Ray, clerical services
214 67
26 67
40 00
Reta E. Myers, clerical services
6 67
Beulah C. Church, clerical services .
19 33
Elizabeth P. Larabee, clerical services
15 99
Edith F. Moore, clerical services
10 66
Theodore H. Locke, services
8 00
American Surety Company of N. Y., bonds of treasurer and deputy collector .
230 00
Amount carried forward
.
. $10,014 61
.
1,500 00
Appropriation
$1,621,000 00
$14,160 00
606 07
12 00
Balance from 1914
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Amount brought forward .
$10,014 61
Somerville Post Office, postage
1,849 67
Louise B. Mclaughlin, postage
20 00
Fred E. Hanley, revenue stamps
10 00
John F. Biggs & Co., printing .
9 45
J. L. Fairbanks & Co., printing
113 50
A. L. Haskell, printing
121 19
Perry Print Shop, printing
18 00
Somerville Journal Co., printing
676 60
Somerville Publishing Co., printing
62 00
Turner & Co., envelopes
168 64
Thomas Groom & Co., stationery
229 33
Hobbs & Warren, stationery
43
Carter's Ink Co., supplies .
13 16
Sampson & Murdock Co., directory
6 50
W. A. Greenough & Co., directories
9 00
Burroughs Adding Machine Co., repairing
11 35
B. F. Cummins Co., repairing receipting machine
9 63
Martin & Wood, repairing
50
Morris-Ireland Safe Co., repairing locks
7 00
Munson Supply Co., speed keys
7 00
Remington Typewriter Co., supplies
85 40
Yale & Towne Mfg. Co., cleaning time lock
15 00
Thomas Leighton, Jr., recording
127 81
N. E. Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone
131 52
Boston News Bureau, subscription .
12 00
American Express Co., expressage
87
Somerville National Bank, clearing house charges
7 96
Old Colony Trust Co., insurance and registering . Clearing house charge
12
John F. Scannell, committing prisoner
4 95
Herbert C. Jackson, ideal moistener
1 50
Howard Lowell & Son, carriage hire
26 00
Hill-Michie Co., auto hire
9 00
Walter H. Snow & Son, lunch
2 40
H. F. Maynard, lunch
3 07
Gridley Lunch Co., lunch
9 10
Total expenditures
$13,949 71
Balance unexpended to Excess and Deficiency
account
210 29
$14,160 00
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH S. PIKE, City Treasurer.
10 20
Globe Stamp Works, stamps and repairing
5 25
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Committee Rooms, December 27, 1915.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Com- mittee, it being understood that such adoption does not com- mit the Board to the opinions or recommendations made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers; and that 1,000 copies be printed separately.
CHARLES S. CLARK, Secretary of School Board.
1
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1915.
GEORGE E. WHITAKER
Chairman
CLARENCE W. WILLIAMS
Vice-Chairman
Members.
EX-OFFICIIS. Term expires January.
ZEBEDEE E. CLIFF, Mayor, 29 Powder House terrace 1916
WILLIAM P. FRENCH, President Board of Aldermen,
13 Thorndike street 1916
WARD ONE.
MRS. MARY G. WHITING,
Hotel Wadsworth 1916
THOMAS A. KELLEY,
39 Pennsylvania avenue 1917
WARD TWO.
DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
19 Concord avenue 1916
CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON, JR.
88 Concord avenue 1917
WARD THREE.
GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
75 Walnut street 1916
ALBERT C. ASHTON,
33 Columbus avenue 1917
WARD FOUR.
HARRY A. STONE,
FRANK H. HOLMES,
HARRY M. STOODLEY,
283 Highland avenue 1916
MRS. JULIA R. ALDRICH,
262 School street 1917
WARD SIX.
34 Benton road 1916
170 Summer street 1917
WARD SEVEN.
205 Morrison avenue 1916
94 College avenue 1917
Superintendent of Schools. CHARLES S. CLARK.
Office: City Hall Annex, Highland avenue. Residence: 75 Munroe street.
The Superintendent's office will be open on school days from 8 to 5; Saturdays, 8 to 10. His office hours are from 4 to 5 on school days, and 8 to 9 on Saturdays.
Office telephone, 314; house telephone, 12. Superintendent's office force :- Justin W. Lovett, 29 Cambria street. Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland avenue. Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria street.
1
HERBERT CHOLERTON,
254 Broadway 1916
22 Walter street 1917
WARD FIVE.
GUY E. HEALEY,
MRS. MARY R. BREWER,
CLARENCE W. WILLIAMS,
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1915.
Note .- The member first named is chairman.
High School-Bradley, Cholerton, Kelley, Ashton, Holmes, Stood- ley, Mrs. Brewer.
District I .- Mrs. Whiting, Kelley, Muldoon. PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT.
District II .- Bradley, Muldoon, Kelley. KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III .- Whitaker, Ashton, Mrs. Whiting. POPE, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District IV .- Stone, Holmes, Mrs. Aldrich. EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V .- Stoodley, Mrs. Aldrich, Stone. FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District VI .- Healey, Mrs. Brewer, Stoodley. CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII .- Williams, Cholerton, Healey.
HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, CUTLER, LOWE.
Finance .- Ashton, Bradley, Kelley, Stone, Stoodley, Healey, Wil- liams, Cliff, French.
Text-books and Courses of Study .- Healey, Cholerton, Mrs. Whit- ing, Muldoon, Whitaker, Stone, Mrs. Aldrich.
Industrial Education .- Williams, Ashton, Mrs. Whiting, Bradley, Holmes, Stoodley, Healey.
School Accommodations .- Stone, Williams, Mrs. Whiting, Mul- doon, Ashton, Mrs. Aldrich, Mrs. Brewer, Cliff, French.
Teachers .- Cholerton, Bradley, Whitaker, Stone, Mrs. Brewer. Playgrounds and School Hygiene .- Mrs. Whiting, Mrs. Brewer, Muldoon, Holmes, Mrs. Aldrich.
Rules and Regulations .- Kelley, Healey, Whitaker.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Somerville :-
I have the honor to submit to you the report of the con- dition of the schools which your rules require the Superin- tendent to prepare and present annually in the month of December. This will be the forty-fourth annual report of the School Committee, if, following the usual custom, you adopt it as the annual report which is required by statute. I have prepared a table of statistics to show facts of attend- ance and promotion of pupils and the cost of school main- tenance. As these involve many details, they are placed to- gether in an appendix to this report in connection with cor- responding data from other years. These tables cover a wide range of information concerning the schools of the present day and afford an excellent basis for comparison with the condition in the schools in former days. As it is too much to expect that newspapers will print these sta- tistical details they can be shown to the public only in the copies which are printed for distribution. These are given to any who apply for them at the office of the Superintend- ent of Schools, since it is desirable that the information about the schools should be as abundant as possible. As a means to this end these reports will be a great help to citi- zens who will take the pains to get and read them. I also submit a report descriptive of the work and conditions of the schools. For the main part this is based on the facts of the school year ended June 30, as the school year is the natural unit in school affairs. As, however, the School Com- mittee is organized anew each year and has for its term the municipal year it is necessary to make reference also to matters which, though belonging to the school year to be ended June 30, 1916, are nevertheless a part of the work of the present School Committee. In this way only can the facts of your term be stated.
93
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Organization Facts.
At the beginning it may be well to state some facts con- cerning the organization of the schools during the last school year. The total number of pupils enrolled was 14,505, a gain of 573. The per cent. of attendance for all schools was 94.5, a gain of three-tenths per cent. The length of the school year was 36 weeks 3 days, a loss of two days. The number of teachers employed June, 1915, was 395, an increase of 21. The amount paid for salaries of teachers was $349,981.08, an increase of $19,026.10; for salaries of officers $7,600, a decrease of $32.05. The cost of books and sup- plies was $29,388.73, an increase of $2,545.92. The total cost of schools, including expenditures under control of the Board of Aldermen, was $443,977.69, an increase of $18,812.51.
Grammar school graduates for 1915 were 784, an in- crease of 43. Of these 619 entered the High School, an in- crease of 32. The number of High School graduates for 1915 was 311, the largest in the history of the school. This was an increase of 15 over last year. Of this number 56 en- tered higher institutions, 35 going to colleges and 21 to the Institute of f. Technology, in all & less than last year. Twenty-four entered Normal Schools, an increase of 8. Of the High School graduates for 1915, 139 were graduated from the Commercial Course. Thus the High School course had a direct aim for 219 of the 311 graduates. The number of classrooms in use in June, 1915, was 308, two more than last year. There were in June, 1915, part-time classes as follows: One first-year class at the Prescott; two first-year and two second-year classes at the Hanscom; and two first- year classes at the Glines.
These figures show a normal condition in the several parts of the school undertaking. The enrollment is the largest since the dropping out of school of five-year-old children as a result of raising the age for admission of be- ginners to six years. The increase in enrollment is the larg- est which has been shown for a dozen years and nearly equal to any recorded since 1886. Since that date, with few ex- ceptions, the annual enrollment has grown steadily by in- crements varying from one to six hundred. Thus, growth, steady rather than spasmodic, has characterized the schools . during all these years. No signs of a check in that growth are now visible. On the contrary, it is probable that growth may be expected for some time to come.
Although the increased enrollment last year was about equal to the annual enrollment of the Knapp or Cutler Schools for the preceding year, no new accommodations were provided for it. Two more rooms were opened in the
94
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Lincoln School in September, 1914, and have been occupied ever since. As a consequence of the failure to provide more accommodations, part-time classes were made necessary in several schools. These persist to the present time. How- ever, two additions to school buildings have been provided for during the present municipal year and one of them, fin- ished last September, added six rooms to the Cutler School Building.
The cost of maintenance of the schools increased $18,812, which is a ratio of increase closely corresponding to the ratio of increase in enrollment. The increase in the amount spent for salaries of teachers was due in part to the employing of twenty-one additional teachers to meet the growth in en- rollment of pupils, and in part to increases in the salaries of teachers who had not reached the maximum of their schedules.
The twenty-one additional teachers were distributed last June as follows: High School, 3; grade schools, including + cadets and 1 special teacher, 15; Boys' Vocational School, 2; and Girls' Vocational School, 1.
There were graduated from the grammar schools more pupils last year than in any other year except one. The num- ber entering the High School was the largest of the enter- ing classes in the history of the school. Of the 311 graduated from the High School, 80 went to higher institutions, 139 were trained for clerical work, and the rest went to work, probably, but we have no definite records on that matter. These 311 graduates of the High School have received the best educational advantages the city has had to give. Eighty have been trained to go to higher institutions. So far as ac- commodations are concerned, all the graduates could have been trained to go to higher institutions. Two hundred thirty-one of them preferred to do something else. Thus we know definitely about the eighty graduates who went to higher institutions and something, not much, of the other two hundred thirty-one.
If we are asked the question: "Who are the 311 who were graduated from the Somerville High School in 1915?" the answer is that they are the survivors of the class which began its educational course thirteen years ago. In Septem- ber, 1902, there were enrolled in the first grades of the city 1,585 pupils. The course then provided for all pupils led logi- cally to the doors of colleges or other higher institutions. Of a certainty, not all pupils were expected to go to college but the educational way was made plain for all to do so, and no other was then plainly in sight. This provision was made in the sincere belief that it was in the interest of higher edu- cation, and consequently in the interest of all pupils. What
95
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
happened to the 1902 beginners? We see that eighty went to higher institutions; 231 others were graduated from the High School; 298 more entered the High School in 1911 but were not graduated; 196 more were graduated from the grammar schools that year but did not enter the High School, and 780 disappeared from school before reaching grammar school graduation. From these citations it will be seen that the majority of those who started upon the course jumped the track along the line and that only a small minority reached the college destination. In respect to the persever- ance of pupils along the course the record of our schools is exceptionally good. Our pupils stay in school longer than the average time, a fact which is complimentary to the homes, to the pupils, and to the schools, but after that is duly and fully admitted, the fact remains that the majority of the pupils go out into the world without specific training for use- fulness and many of them are lost to the view of the schools as soon as they are discharged from its doors. Such being in the main the facts about the class which entered our schools thirteen years ago, the question is pertinent whether this program of educational opportunities will suffice for the children who will enter them as beginners this year.
The schools were in session 1833 days, a little more than one-half of 365 days. The school day in the elementary schools is 43 hours ; in the High School 54 hours. Stated in another way children are in school less than one-fourth of a day, one-half of the days of the year. It is safe to say that this time is insufficient to enable the schools to give the serv- ice to society which they ought to yield in order to meet the needs of the present day. Like most other elements of school control the length of the school day and the length of the school year were determined in reference to conditions which have largely disappeared and with the purpose of . reaching ends which now form only a fraction of the results which the schools are urged to reach. While the other ele- ments persist in their former provision, such as schoolhouses with limited facilities for varied activities, inadequate play facilities, and the rigid discipline of book subjects, it is not desirable to lengthen materially the school term or day. It may even be desirable to cut off a few days in September on account of the heat of the early part of that month. But it should be frankly recognized that such conditions are due to a necessity which ought not to be allowed to persist, if the schools are to be expected to render their maximum social service.
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