USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1916 > Part 6
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Municipal. Highway.
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1,000
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12,000
43,000
1,000
12,000
38,000
1,000
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1,000
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12,000
47,000
11,000
34,000
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95
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
The funded debt December 31, 1916, was $1,729,000.00, classified as follows :-
City Loan Bonds at 312 per cent. $123,000 00
City Loan Bonds at 4 per cent.
519,000 00
City Loan Bonds at 414 per cent.
72,000 00
Sewer Loan Bonds at 312 per cent.
86,000 00
Sewer Loan Bonds at 4 per cent.
207,000 00
Sewer Loan Bonds at 414 per cent.
27,000 00
Water Loan Bonds at 4 per cent.
16,000 00
Metropolitan Park Assessment Loan Bonds at 31/2 per cent. 13,000 00
Lowell Street Bridge Loan Bonds at 31/2 per cent. 33,000 00
Municipal Loan Bonds at 41% per cent. 57,000 00
Highway Loan Bonds at 312 per cent.
125,000 00
Highway Loan Bonds at 4 per cent. .
196,000 00
Public Building Loan Bonds at 4 per cent. . 255,000 00 .
$1,729,000 00
Funded debt within the limit fixed by law :-
City Loan
$714,000 00
Municipal Loan
57,000 00
Highway Loan
321,000 00
Public Building Loan
255,000 00
Sewer Loan
293,000 00
Lowell Street Bridge Loan
33,000 00
$1,673,000 00
Funded debt beyond the limit fixed by law :--
Sewer Loan (Chapter 357, Acts 1895)
$27,000 00
Metropolitan Park Assessment Loan (Chap-
ter 325, Acts 1902)
13,000 00
$40,000 00
Water Loan
16,000 00
56,000 00
$1,729,000 00
.
96
ANNUAL REPORTS.
BORROWING CAPACITY.
Valuation, 1914
. $74,946,894 00 179,300 00
Supplementary
$75,126,194 00
Valuation, 1915
$77,217,399 00
Supplementary
227,000 00
77,444,399 00
Valuation, 1916
79,304,329 00
Supplementary
141,400 00
79,445,729 00
$232,016,322 00
Abatements, 1914
$521,700 00
Abatements, 1915
526,907 00
Abatements, 1916
437,827 00
1,486,434 00
$230,529,888 00
Average three years (1-3) .
. $76,843,296 00
21/2 per cent.
1,921,082 40
Debt within the limit
1,673,000 00
Borrowing capacity December 31, 1916
$248,082 40
Maturities January 1, 1917
$38,000 00
April 1, 1917
116,000 00
July 1, 1917
. $72,500 00
Less outside limit
5,000 00
67,500 00
October 1, 1917 $6,000 00
Less outside limit · 4,000 00
2,000 00
Maturities in 1917 within the limit .
$223,500 00
Maturities within the limit .
$223,500 00
Maturities outside the limit .
9,000 00
Total maturities .
$232,500 00
.
·
$471,582 40
BONDS DUE IN 1917.
January.
April.
July. $1,000 00 1,000 00
October. $4,000 00
Total. $5,000 00
Park
1,000 00
Bridge
$1,000 00
1,000 00
Sewer
$3,000 00
9,000 00
10,000 00
22,000 00
City
10,000 00
67,000 00
39,500 00
2,000 00
118,500 00
Municipal
10,000 00
10,000 00
Highway
19,000 00
34,000 00
3,000 00
56,000 00
Public buildings
6,000 00
5,000 00
8,000 00
19,000 00
$38,000 00
$116,000 00
$72,500 00
$6,000 00
$232,500 00
BOND INTEREST DUE IN 1917.
Water
January. $40 00 227 50
April. $280 00
July. $40 00
October. $280 00
Total. $640 00
Park
.
577 50
560 00
1,137 50
Sewer
2,490 00
3,728 75
2,435 00
3,552 50
12,206 25
City
6,407 50
7,655 00
6,207 50
6,336 25
26,606 25
Municipal
. 1,282 50
1,282 50
2,565 00
Highway
2,687 50
3,420 00
2,355 00
2,740 00
11,202 50
Public buildings
3,340 00
1,760 00
3,220 00
1,660 00
9,980 00
$16,475 00
$17,421 25
$15,767 50
$15,128 75
$64,792 50
·
....
...
·
455 00
Bridge
·
.
97
TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES.
Water
.
227 50
98
ANNUAL REPORTS.
MEMORANDUM OF PAYMENTS ON ACCOUNT OF DEBT, 1916.
Principal.
Interest.
Bonds, General City Debt . $207,500 00
Bonds, water
5,000 00
$66,142 50 840 00 24,006 72 18 20
Total. $273,642 50 5,840 00
Temporary loan .
Hunt art fund
On account of Metropolitan District debt :-
Metropolitan sewers
16,050 53
28,947 67
44,998 20
Metropolitan parks
2,044 98
9,449 47
11,494 45
Wellington bridge
1,301 15
494 02
1,795 17
Charles river basin
248 68
367 43
616 11
Alewife brook .
818 39
436 84
1,255 23
Metropolitan water assessment
14,765 33
74,058 98
88,824 31
Grade crossings
11,418 71
2,442 85
13,861 56
$259,147 77
$207,204 68
$466,352 45
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 1916.
Appropriation budget
$14,150 00
Transferred from maintenance polling places .
282 50
Salaries :-
Treasurer and collector
$3,000 00
Deputy collector
1,500 00
Cashier
1,000 00
Clerks
4,626 76
Stationery and postage
2,151 17
Books and printing
739 19
Car fares, auto-hire
68 30
Telephone
158 12
Bonds (surety)
.
265 00
Sundries
203 95
Advertising and recording tax sales
720 01
$14,432 50
.
·
$14,432 50
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH S. PIKE, City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes.
·
24,006 72 18 20
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Committee Rooms, December 29, 1916.
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.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1916.
GEORGE E. WHITAKER
HERBERT CHOLERTON
·
· Chairman
· Vice-Chairman
Members.
EX-OFFICIIS.
Term expires January.
ZEBEDEE E. CLIFF, Mayor, 29 Powder House terrace 1917
WILLIAM FLEMING, President Board of Aldermen,
73 Florence street 1917
WARD ONE.
THOMAS A. KELLEY, JAMES J. RUDD,
39 Pennsylvania avenue 1917
46-A Franklin street 1918
WARD TWO.
CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON, DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
ALBERT C. ASHTON,
GEORGE E. WHITAKER,
FRANK H. HOLMES,
HARRY A. STONE,
254 Broadway 1918
WARD FIVE.
262 School street 1917
283 Highland avenue 1918
WARD SIX.
170 Summer street 1917
38 Cambria street 1918
WARD SEVEN.
94 College avenue 1917
43 Ossipee road 1918
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.
19 Concord avenue 1918
WARD THREE.
33 Columbus avenue 1917
75 Walnut street 1918
WARD FOUR.
22 Walter street 1917
MRS. JULIA R. ALDRICH,
HARRY M. STOODLEY,
MRS. MARY R. BREWER,
GUY E. HEALEY,
HERBERT CHOLERTON,
FRANK E. PORTER,
88 Concord avenue 1917
..
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1916.
Note .- The member first named is chairman; the one second named is vice-chairman.
District I .- Kelley, Rudd, Muldoon.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT.
District II .- Muldoon, Bradley, Kelley.
KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III .- Ashton, Whitaker, Mrs. Brewer.
POPE, BELL, CUMMINGS.
District IV .- Holmes, Stone, Mrs. Aldrich. EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V .- Mrs. Aldrich, Stoodley, Stone. FORSTER, BINGHAM.
· District VI .- Mrs. Brewer, Healey, Stoodley.
CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII .- Cholerton, Porter, Healey.
HIGHLAND, HODGKINS, CUTLER, LINCOLN, LOWE.
High School .- Bradley, Cholerton, Kelley, Ashton, Stoodley, Healey, Mrs. Brewer.
Finance .- Stone, Bradley, Kelley, Ashton, Holmes, Porter, Stoodley, Cliff, Fleming.
Text-books and Courses of Study .- Healey, Muldoon, Rudd, Whitaker, Stone, Cholerton, Mrs. Aldrich.
Industrial Education .- Ashton, Stoodley, Rudd, Bradley, Holmes, Porter, Mrs. Aldrich.
School Accommodations .- Holmes, Muldoon, Rudd, Ashton, Porter, Mrs. Aldrich, Mrs. Brewer, Cliff, Fleming.
Teachers .- Cholerton, Bradley, Whitaker, Stone, Mrs. Brewer.
Playgrounds and School Hygiene .- Mrs. Aldrich, Mrs. Brewer, Rudd, Muldoon, Holmes.
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 a report of the condition of the schools for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1916. This will be the forty-fifth annual report of the School Com- mittee and the ninth which I have prepared.
In general, the work of the year has been along the lines of former years. There has been a slight increase in the en- rollment of the pupils, the number for the year ending June 30 being 14,647, a gain of 142. There were graduated from the elementary schools 781 pupils and from the high school 348, thirty-seven more than last year, which was up to that time the largest number in the history of the school.
The appropriation for school expenses for the year 1916 was for teachers' salaries $364,890, an increase of $14,890; for contingent expenses $36,000, an increase of $1,000. Four hundred and ten teachers are now employed, sixteen more than were employed last year at this time. A new school- house on the Prescott School site was occupied for the first time in September. This addition brings the total number of buildings occupied for school purposes up to thirty, counting the High School as comprising two buildings. Provision has been made for a new schoolhouse in West Somerville and for an addition to the Boys' Vocational School.
Certain statements were made in the report of last year to show the relations of expenditures for school purposes in Somerville to those of other cities in the state. The figures then were taken from the Report of the Board of Education for the year 1914-1915. The corresponding facts for the year 1915-1916 are given below. Where the rank for this year varies from last year the latter is shown in a parenthesis.
Somerville is the tenth city in population and the eleventh in valuation in the state, but four of the cities larger than Somerville taxed themselves at a higher rate. Somerville ranks eighth (ninth) in the number of teachers employed in the public day schools, ninth (seventh) in number of different
103
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
pupils of all ages in the public schools during the school year, eighth (seventh) in the average membership in all schools, fifth in number of pupils enrolled in the High School, and fifth in the number of teachers employed in the High School.
Somerville ranks 151 among the cities and towns of Massachusetts for the amount spent for support of each pupil in the average menibership. Last year the rank was 116. On the other hand, in the amount of expenditure per $1,000 valuation for school support from local taxation in the city fiscal year next preceding June 30, 1916, Somerville spent $5.82 and has a rank of 155. This is an increase of seven cents and a change of rank from 158.
While the general problem has not changed materially during the year, policies have been adopted by the School Committee which are fundamental in nature and which will have a great influence on the future organization and conduct of the work of the schools. These policies relate to the pro- viding of accommodations for the relief from present over- crowding and for the future growth of the schools, to the re-organizing of the school system upon the 6-3-3 plan, to the introduction of physical training in the High School and to the assumption by the School Committee of control over High School athletics. These subjects will be discussed in order.
Accommodations.
Again at the close of another school year emphatic de- mand must be made for more school accommodations. The High School is overcrowded and elementary schools in the central and western part of the city are full; some are over- flowing. This condition continues to restrict the work of the schools and to prevent them from giving the service to the pupils which the schools of a large city ought to render. Fifty additional classrooms placed at appropriate centres would be put to advantageous use if they could be provided by the time for beginning a new school year. As that desir- able consummation is apparently impossible, a statement show- ing the facts of the case may make plain why the additional accommodations needed should in the interest of economy and good school work be furnished at the earliest practicable time. In a word, plans for the future development of the schools which have been adopted during the present year can not be successfully executed without this increase of school room being supplied in the near future. Nor can the general situation be met as economically and well by any other plan. It is most important, therefore, that the beginning already made should be followed by vigorous action which shall in- 1 sure the success of the plan and give to all parts of the city a satisfactory provision of school accommodations.
104
ANNUAL REPORTS.
In January of this year His Honor, the Mayor, in a writ- ten communication to the School Committee asked to be told whether increased accommodations were needed, and, if so, of what capacity and in what location. He stated his desire to do what would be for the best interest of the entire city in regard to the schools and his belief that the School Committee should take the initiative in the matter. This letter was re- ferred to the Standing Committee on School Accommodations for consideration and report. In February the School Com- mittee held a special mecting for the purpose of considering a proposition to build a High School in West Somerville and gave a public hearing to citizens who wished to speak upon the question. No decision was reached at that meeting. There followed several weeks of discussion in the Committee on School Accommodations and in organizations of citizens, in which the needs of high, vocational and elementary schools were reviewed. At a special meeting held on April 3 the Committee on School Accommodations submitted the follow- ing report which was adopted by unanimous vote :-
"The Committee on School Accommodations has given careful consideration to the matter of providing accommoda- tions for the needs of the schools. In its survey it has taken account of the fact that vocational and elementary schools as well as the High School are in need of more accommoda- tions. It recognizes the necessity for moving in this matter in such a way as will conserve the educational interests of the whole city and all parts of the educational system and at the same time be consistent with a regard for true economy.
"The committee therefore have agreed without a dis- senting vote upon the two following recommendations :-
"1. That there be adopted a plan for establishing four or five Junior High School centres in different parts of the city whereby relief shall be given to both High and Grammar Schools.
"2. That a petition be sent to His Honor, the Mayor, for immediate building in West Somerville on the ledge lot a schoolhouse suitable for a Junior High School, in conformity with plans submitted by Building Commissioner Littlefield and approved by this standing committee."
The following resolution submitted by the committee was also adopted :-
"Resolved: It is the judgment of the School Committee that a system of junior high schools for Somerville should be established to consist eventually of four units; one in the western part of the city on Holland Street; one at the Fors- ter School in the northern section of the city; one at the Prescott School in the eastern section of the city; and a unit
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105
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
to be erected in the southern part of the city preferably adja- cent to the Bell Schoolhouse.
"It is the sense of the committee that provision be made not only for the construction of the proposed building in the western section, but also for the acquisition at the present time of the vacant land adjacent to the present Bell School lot on Vinal avenue; it being understood that the School Board is committed in its opinion to the future development of this whole project."
As a further step in the direction of supplying accommo- dations the board adopted the following report made by the Committee on Industrial Education :-
"This committee, realizing that the work of the voca- tional schools is unduly restricted by the limitations of their present quarters, believes it to be desirable at this time to make an enlargement of the accommodations for the Boys' Vocational School. That this may be done in the most eco- nomical way possible, with a due regard to the present needs and future contingencies, the committee recommends the fol- lowing measures :-
"That an extension be made to the northerly side of the Davis School building, extending ninety feet parallel to Tufts street, with a width of forty feet, to be one story high with a basement, the basement and first floor to be of first-class fire- proof construction.
"That this structure be erected as far as possible by the labor of the boys of the Vocational School.
"That it be adapted to use as a machine shop on the main floor and as an automobile repair shop on the basement floor.
"That it be provided with the necessary equipment for fifteen students in the machine shop and fifteen students in the automobile repair shop."
Copies of these recommendations were sent to His Honor, the Mayor, and to the Board of Aldermen with the follow- ing results :-
$94,500 were appropriated for a Junior High School build- ing to be erected on the ledge lot on Holland street, West Somerville.
A lot of land 65 by 1177 on Vinal avenue adjacent to the Bell Schoolhouse was bought as a site for a Junior High School; and $10,000 were appropriated for an addition to the Boys' Vocational School. These decisions meant that ade- quate relief from overcrowding of the High School and of the elementary schools throughout the city could best be made by additional accommodations provided at several centres dis- tributed so as to serve the whole city, which could draw from the High School in time the whole freshman class and from the grammar schools several upper grade classes; that for
106
ANNUAL REPORTS.
the present at least vocational education for boys should be accommodated by additions to the present plant; and that a new educational organization, the Junior High School, should be made a part of the school system.
In discussing first the effect of these provisions upon the problem of school accommodations throughout the city, it can be stated that the new building at the Prescott School, which was begun last year and opened for use in September of this year, is occupied by the East Somerville Junior High School; that a building for the West Somerville Junior High School is being erected which will contain eleven classrooms and four basement rooms suitable for laboratories and shops, and will be ready for use in September; that a Junior High School was opened in the Forster School last September ; and that a beginning has been made on the addition to the Boys' Vocational School. As a result of opening the Junior High Schools, a redistribution of pupils has been made in the eastern part of the city by means of which overcrowding has been relieved and part time classes in that section of the city abol- ished. These Junior High Schools retained 169 pupils of the tenth grade who were eligible to enter the High School in September. This act reduced by that number the membership of the Senior High School and relieved crowding there to an appreciable extent.
Upon this point Head Master Avery submitted the fol- lowing statement soon after the opening of the schools in October :-
"The High School has already profited by the institu- tion of the Junior High Schools in the following respects :-
(1) The number of pupils :-
In June, 1916 2,003 pupils
In October, 1916 1,804 pupils
Decrease in attendance .199
(2) Better use of building :-
(a) Four rooms, unfit for use as home rooms, have been freed from such use,-namely, two draw- ing rooms and two typewriting rooms.
(b) Two large rooms are devoted entirely to study purposes.
(c) The auditorium is freed from recitation pur- poses.
"Summary .- The administration has been made easier, the congestion has been decidedly relieved, the air seems better, and better work is already apparent."
Thus a total addition of nine regular classrooms in the eastern part of the city has been made a means of bettering school conditions throughout that section of the city and in the High School as well. The Forster School, while it has not been enlarged, has contributed its share to the relief of the High School by retaining ninety-seven tenth grade pupils
107
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
who would otherwise have swelled the numbers in the Senior High School. This school is taxed to the utmost to house the pupils who attend there. £ Like the East Somerville Junior High School, it is not large enough for the work it is now doing, much less for the work which will be put upon it in the future. More room must be provided in both places in due time.
From this survey it will be seen that half of the plan adopted in the April meeting has been started and that a be- ginning has been made to provide facilities for carrying the other half into effect. In September when the West Somer- ville Junior High School is opened over 200 pupils will be re- tained there who would in ordinary procedure go to the High School. This will still further improve conditions in that school. It would be a most happy circumstance if the Union Square Junior High School could be opened at the same time, thereby making it possible to withhold the whole first year class from the High School and without further delay organ- ize the work of the Senior and Junior High Schools upon the new basis.
Each Junior High School comprises the eighth, ninth and tenth grades. Each occupies exclusively the whole of one building and a part of a nearby building. At present the course of study for the tenth grade is identical with that for the first year of the High School and the course for the eighth and ninth grades is in subject matter similar to that of cor- responding grammar school grades. Instruction is given on the departmental plan throughout the school, but the pupils of the eighth or lowest grade receive a large part of their instruction from their home room teachers. Elective studies are offered pupils in the eighth and ninth grades. In the tenth grade the studies are grouped in the same courses as in the High School. The elective studies are Latin, French, German, Spanish, typewriting, elementary bookkeeping, drawing and design, printing (at Winter Hill), woodworking and repairing, cooking, sewing and home management. Suit- able restrictions concerning the number and kinds of electives which a pupil may take are established and provision is made for changing when it is to the advantage of the pupil to do so. Supervised study, promotion by subjects, and physical train- ing are included in the general plan. The teaching of all High School subjects is given by the teachers qualified to teach in a Senior High School and is under the supervision of the heads of departments in the Senior High School. The teaching of grammar school subjects is given by experienced grammar school teachers. The animating spirit of the organi- zation is liberal, cordial and sympathetic. It seeks to create in each pupil the desire for self-mastery and improvement and
108
ANNUAL REPORTS.
to afford him an opportunity for self-discovery. In short, the Junior High School is a medium adapted to the needs of pupils during the period of transition from childhood to youth. The East Somerville and Winter Hill Junior High Schools have now passed through the first quarter-year of their exist- ence, are well established and are giving evidence of meeting satisfactorily every reasonable expectation held concerning them.
Physical Education, Sports, and Military Drill.
The physical education of youth of the public schools has received unusual attention during the year now closing, both in our own city and in the state at large. That local opinion has been affected by the larger volume of thought cannot be doubted. That the sentiment in favor of state regulation of the physical education of the youth in public schools, at least, will grow until some legislation to govern the matter is placed on the statute books seems equally probable. A brief state- ment of these two conditions may serve to throw both into relief and to show their interrelations. ] From such a view may be obtained an opinion as to what is the duty of this community in the matter of properly providing for the physi- cal development of its pupils.
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