Report of the city of Somerville 1916, Part 8

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Somerville, Mass.
Number of Pages: 432


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1916 > Part 8


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Preparatory


801 or 39.4%


Commercial .966 or 47.7%


General 175 or 8.7%


Manual Arts 85 or 4.2%


With these facts in mind let us look again at the figures given first. In the days when the school did preparatory work only, i. e. up to 1895, 32.6 per cent. went to higher institu- tions ; in the last five years, 29.5 per cent. or only 3.1 per cent. less, continued their studies after graduation. This, it seems to me, is a creditable showing and compares favorably, from all I can learn, with the experience of other schools around us.


On the other hand if we compare the figures of the school from 1880 to 1895,-a school of Preparatory and General Courses only,-with the figures of the General and Preparatory Courses for the year 1915, a very startling conclusion is ob- tained. In the early period 32.6 per cent. attended college,


119


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


in 1915 58.7 per cent., or an increase of 26.1 per cent. An- other interesting fact is that in the year 1893, for example, pupils entered Harvard, Radcliffe, Tufts, Dartmouth, Tech- nology, and Salem Normal School. In the year 1916 our graduates entered Boston College, Boston University, Dart- mouth, Harvard, Holy Cross, Jackson, Massachusetts Agricul- tural College, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mt. Holyoke, Normal Schools, Radcliffe, Simmons, Smith and Tufts. All of these schools excepting Harvard, Radcliffe and Technology, which admit by examination only, received our graduates on certificate. Also during the present year four of our graduates are receiving scholarships at Harvard and three entered last fall with high honors.


As a result of these figures I feel justified in stating (1) that the work of our Preparatory Department compares fav- orably with the results of any year or group of years since the school was founded; (2) that the school in its present wide scope of work is more effectually meeting the needs of all classes of pupils in that it furnishes training along more varied lines. The Commercial Course, a very popular one, has been thoroughly changed and improved since 1911, a two year course introduced for those who could not remain four years, and new subjects and equipment added. Our grad- uates are placed in positions at once and are showing by rapid promotion the value of their training. The Commercial Course in 1910 required two years of general work followed by two years of special training in commercial subjects. The best pupils were allowed the opportunity to follow both lines. The fair or poor pupils found it necessary to return for a fifth year or to attend some other school. In the present plan for the Commercial Course, pupils begin their commercial training in the first year by taking in addition to English and a language or science, bookkeeping, arithmetic and penman- ship. Stenography and typewriting may be started in the second year and before graduation a pupil may take three years of either stenography or bookkeeping, with additional work in business arithmetic, law, commerce and industry, and business practice.


The effect of these changes has led to an increase of com- mercial facilities and a much more thorough preparation along commercial lines. Pupils graduate with an excellent working knowledge of their special subject and a fair knowledge along other commercial lines. Opportunity is also granted seniors to spend at least one week in actual practice in the school office or in outside offices.


The General and Manual Arts Courses, though only about thirteen per cent. of the school, are carefully supervised and give thorough opportunities to the pupils. On the whole the


120


ANNUAL REPORTS.


courses in the Somerville High School furnish the means for a broad selection of subjects and a satisfactory prepara- tion for higher schools and for business.


3. Attention to the Welfare of Individual Pupils. Much care and thought have been given by the teachers to devising plans for watching the work and the progress of each pupil.


(a) Advisory Plans. An advisory system by means of which each pupil in his freshman year selects a teacher for advice and counsel has resulted in much good. The pupil's school record, his selection of courses and subjects, and his general conduct are carefully followed by his adviser. This plan gives each pupil at least one teacher who is especially in- terested in him and watches over his efforts and progress.


(b) Committees of Teachers on Social Service, Vocational Guidance, and Advice have frequent meetings for the purpose of studying conditions and making suggestions for the better- ment of the social, mnoral, and physical standing of pupils. During the past years these committees have done much toward improving the advisory system, and have planned an annual reception to parents by advisers. Through this means Vocational Guidance has been started in the school about which I shall say more under the next heading.


(c) Vocational Guidance and Placement. A year ago the School Board authorized that the half time of two teachers be set aside to work on the problem of vocations and securing positions. One of these teachers has not yet been secured. A vocational adviser for the girls, however, has been at work since September. Her report is as follows :-


The work in Vocational Guidance has been confined to individual counseling, investigation and placement.


Number of pupils interviewed. 161


Number of pupils placed .. 14


Number of requests for student workers 24


Follow-up Work.


Letters sent to Class of 1916-B. 300


Post cards sent to pupils at work during summer. 46


Number of pupils induced to remain in, or return to, school. 7


An attempt has been made to find out why pupils leave school. It is evident that the majority of pupils do not leave school because of economic pressure, but rather because they desire to leave, or because they have obtained positions which, in their opinion, offer greater opportunities than the contin- uance of their school work.


Reasons for leaving school: Death of father; ill health of mother; ill health of student; non-promotion; poor marks; trouble with teacher; the study of music; the preferring work to school; the completion of Two Year Course; the obtaining


121


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


of a position during vacation; the desire to go to a business college.


Whenever pupils have clearly indicated their choice of life work or have expressed a desire to investigate a certain line of work, an effort has been made to form a specific group. These pupils have been given information regarding the work, referred to books giving additional information, and later they will be given a definite outline for the study of the occupation.


Mr. Wilkins, head of the Civil Service Department in the Evening High School, gave a brief talk to pupils interested in Civil Service Work.


Catalogues of colleges and schools offering vocational training have been collected and will be placed at the disposal of pupils.


Home visiting, resulting in the more active co-operation of parents and a closer relation between home and school, fully warrants any additional expenditure of time and labor.


Vocational information is given with the idea that when the pupil has the vocational material with which to think, and is stimulated by the parent or adviser to make use of this material, his mind will generally arrive at the right solution.


A room, beginning in February, will be set aside for the use of the vocational adviser, who plans to meet all pupils at least once either in groups or individually as follows :-


January Class of 1917-A


February First Year Pupils


March Fourth Year Pupils


April Third Year Pupils


May Second Year Pupils


June .Fourth Year Pupils (individually)


(d) Parent-Teacher Association. An effort has been made to connect the school and home by the organization of a Parent-Teacher Association. This association has shown an active interest in the school and has been helpful in bring- ing to parents' attention talks on many subjects of vital in- terest. Many parents, through this organization, have been brought more closely in touch with the school and the teachers.


(e) Higher Scholarship. As a means to encouraging and recognizing scholarship honor lists are posted after each quarter's marks. These lists are also published in the school paper. At graduation pupils who have been on the quarterly honor lists at least eight times are graduated "with honor." Two graduation speakers are chosen by the class from the honor lists. The lamentable tendency on the part of so many to be just satisfied with "getting by" makes any plan to encourage scholarship justifiable. An English Club has been recently formed to which honor pupils only are eligible.


122


ANNUAL REPORTS.


(f) Physical Training. The health of our young people has been little considered in the past, yet the necessity for strong bodies must be recognized if we wish to produce able citizens. The need of a gymnasium has been long felt. As an alternative to gymnastic instruction a system of physi- cal exercises has been instituted this past year. These exercises take place in the schoolrooms after the short re- cess. Groups of boys and girls under student leaders go through an energetic, carefully planned drill. Great inter- est has been taken in these exercises by the pupils and a keen rivalry has developed among the groups. I consider this drill the most helpful and valuable that could be de- vised under existing conditions.


(g) School Hours and Lunch. The school session ex- tends from 9 A. M. to 3 P. M., with the understanding that pupils whose attendance, lessons and deportment have been satisfactory shali be dismissed at 2.15. The later hour for beginning is to enable pupils living at a distance from school to eat a proper breakfast and to reach school without undue haste. At noon a half hour is devoted to lunch. This is the proper time for a mid-day meal. Pupils may bring their luncheons from home or may buy nutritious luncheon at the school. The former custom of eating a hearty dinner on reaching home after school was essentially bad for the health of pupils and interfered with the purpose for which the pupils are sent to school, i. e., the ability and opportunity to study. Education is business. Pupils are expected to plan their day in such a way as to get the greatest results from their labor. The extra period from 2.15 to 3 is not to be considered a punishment but rather an opportunity to get assistance and to prevent failure. This new plan has already worked great advantage to the school.


In closing I feel justified in stating that, although the school has far from reached its maximum efficiency, yet many problems have been met successfully, progress has been made, and in harmony and unity of effort the school is now in a position to push forward to greater achieve- ments. I wish also to express my sincere appreciation to the School Committee and Superintendent for their for- bearance, their vital interest, and their hearty assistance.


Sincerely yours, JOHN A. AVERY,


Head Master.


6.1.


i


STATEMENT CONCERNING THE HIGH SCHOOL.


The Preparatory Course has an enrollment of 782, dis- tributed by classes as follows :-


Graduate students 11


1917-A or IVb Class 37


1917-B or IVa Class 109


1918-A or IIIb Class 52


1918-B or IIIa Class


131


1919-A or IIb Class 66


1919-B or IIa Class 161


1920-A or Ib Class 69


1920-B or Ia Class


146


The General Course includes 174 pupils, distributed as follows :-


1917-A or IVb Class 11


1917-B or IVa Class 41


1918-A or IIIb Class 16


1918-B or IIIa Class . .


33


1919-A or IIb Class . .


13


1919-B or IIa Class


28


1920-A or Ib Class


9


1920-B or Ia Class


23


The Commercial Course has two divisions,-the four year course and the two year course.


The four year course includes 715 pupils, divided as follows :--


Graduate Students 4


1917-A or IVb Class


36


1917-B or IVa Class 78


1918-A or IIIb Class 41


1918-B or IIIa Class .


110


1919-A or IIb Class .


49


1919-B or IIa Class


159


1920-A or Ib Class


96


1920-B or Ia Class


142


The two year course includes sixty-five pupils, divided as follows :-


1919-A or IIb Class 5


1919-B or IIa Class 22


1920-A or Ib Class 13


1920-B or Ia Class 25


The Manual Arts Course, including fifty-nine pupils, is divided as follows :-


Graduate student 1


1917-B or IVa Class


11


1918-B or IIIa Class 15


1919-A or IIb Class 2


1919-B or IIa Class


12


1920-A or Ib Class


9


1920-B or Ia Class


. . .


. . . .


. . .


9


.


124


ANNUAL REPORTS.


The work of the entire school is distributed by subjects as follows :-


No. Last Year.


Increase.


English


1795


2114


-319


History and Civics


1348


1620


-272


Mathematics


525


943


418


Elocution


630


657


-27


Chemistry


182


282


.100


Physics


185


102


83


General Science


20


47


-27


Biology


44


57


-13


Physical Geography


17


23


-6


Physiology


71


55


16


Latin


469


541


-72


Greek


21


25


-4


French


578


684


-106


German


400


420


-20


Spanish


350


295


55


Manual Training


165


250


-85


Mechanical Drawing


334


406


-72


Freehand Drawing


253


327


-74


Cooking


35


78


-43


Dressmaking


88


107


-19


Bookkeeping


515


674


- -159


Arithmetic


272


400


-128


Penmanship


797


851


-54


Commercial Law


22


59


-37


Stenography


400


397


3


Typewriting


462


452


10


Commerce and Industry . .


252


243


9


The present senior class are preparing for the follow- ing institutions :-


Boston College


1


Boston University


1


Dartmouth


2


Harvard


10


Holy Cross


1


Jackson


2


Massachusetts Agricultural


2


Massachusetts Institute of Technology


11


Mt. Holyoke


1


Normal


3


Pittsburgh


University


1


Radcliffe


5


Sheffield Scientific


1


Simmons


5


Trinity College


1


Tufts


11


Wellesley


4


Williams


1


Wheaton


4


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Community Civics


520


REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE VOCATIONAL SCHOOL FOR BOYS.


Mr. Charles S. Clark,


Superintendent .of Schools, Somerville, Mass.


Dear Sir: The following is a report of the Boys' Vo- cational School for the sixth year. Since the school reached its maximum working capacity last year, the number of depart- ments and the corps of teachers remain unchanged.


In the school year 1914-1915 the school produced work to the trade value of $2,341.79. This last year 1915-1916 the total productivity, as reported to the State Board of Education, was as follows :-


Cash


Credit for Work Done for School.


Credit for Work Done for City Dep'ts.


Credit for Work for Personal Use.


Credit for All Other Work.


Cost of Material.


Credits.


Machine Department.


$278 40


$164 89


$14 77


$31 09


$546 23


$1,076 21


Cabinet Department.


208 68


161 75


203 50


35 74


15 05


367 52


Carpentry Department.


22 51


77 09


895 02


21 90


16 61


591 70


$509 59


$403 73


$1,113 29


$88 73


$577 89


$2,035 43


Total productivity


$2,683 23


Cost of material


2,035 43


The following tabulation shows the number of graduates, the number placed in the industries and earning capacity of each boy :-


Class.


Number of Graduates.


Number Placed in the Industry.


Earning Capacity at Start.


1912


12


9


$6 16


1913


11


5


6 50


1914


13


8


6 00


1915


11


10


8 65


1916


15


15


11 00


The boys are placed in that industry for which they have been trained in those establishments where they are best fitted. Particular attention is given to see that the boy is placed in that position where he will have the best opportunity to render the most efficient service to the employer.


If the working conditions are satisfactory, and advance- ment possible, the boy is advised to remain. If these conditions do not prevail and another good position is open, we urge the boy to accept such change as will improve his condition.


We have been highly successful in placing the graduates in some of the best known industrial plants of Greater Boston. Twenty-four boys who were obliged to leave school before


126


ANNUAL REPORTS.


graduation were placed in the industries during last year. One additional year for our graduates would add greatly to their efficiency and one year added to their age would be of advan- tage in placing them in better positions. I recommend that the course be made a three-years course at an early date.


A one-story addition now being built is expected to be ready in September, 1917. This building is 40 feet by 90 feet and provides for an enlarged machine shop for fifteen addi- tional boys, and an automobile department for fifteen boys.


The school will then accommodate the following :-


Machine Department 45


Carpentry Department 15


Cabinet Department 15


Automobile Department


15


Total


90


The class in carpentry will finish the outside and inside. work, and some of the new machine equipment is being con- structed this year by the machine department. The present machine shop, now located on the second floor of our building. will be discontinued and the room used for an additional class and drafting room. It seems advisable to introduce a painting and interior decorating course in the near future, and I recom- mend that this industry be given a place in the school cur- riculum. In regard to future growth it would seem advisable to present opportunities for new industries and thereby avoid overcrowding the present departments.


Respectfully yours,


H. L. JONES.


REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE AND ART.


Mr. Charles S. Clark,


Superintendent of Schools.


Dear Sir: The training in the Vocational School remains practically the same as last year, except that textiles has had to be temporarily given up, and the course in home nursing has not yet been added, as we had hoped. On the other hand we have extended part of our course to cover a larger ex- perience in cooking and food study that will fit for some of the higher positions that are being referred to us. This year five girls are giving an extra five months for lunch room practice, where the different operations in the conduct of a lunch room are divided into special problems, and each girl given one problem for a specified time, so that before gradua- tion she will have had every phase of lunch room work as we have seen it. Our High School Lunch Room offers this op- portunity. This has been heartily approved by temporary employers who are co-operating with us in a most helpful way, by employing our girls for short intervals and testing them out.


Accommodator service has been insistently sought, and so this year we have allowed our first-year pupils the privi- lege of testing their ability in this direction. Thirteen girls have been sent out at different times, and have earned forty dollars. Of more value is the good report that comes from this service and its practical application. When we hear that the school is one of the best training schools for entrance into more highly specialized schools because of its prac- ticability, we feel that the standards we have set are not too high to make a connection for the girls who wish to go be- yond what we can offer in our two-years' course. This op- portunity is not open to all girls, however.


Three students had an interesting experience this year during the temporary absence of an instructor in cooking, when they prepared lunch for seven teachers, and thirty girls, for a week. They were first-year pupils who had done no cooking previously to their entrance in October, and they showed beyond question the value of cooking in larger quan- tities than individual. On two days lamb stew and baked beans were cooked in the fireless cooker; then there was brown bread made the day the beans were served, and every day hot bread of some kind; with a choice of two desserts, one of which meant the making of pie crust. On one day, besides the regular lunch, and unknown to anyone, a birthday cake was made, iced, and decorated, for one of the instructors. These girls lacked no confidence in attempting new and at-


128


ANNUAL REPORTS.


tractive recipes, and came to school very early in the morn- ing to get the food ready for the fireless so that it would be ready at noon. They planned the meals entirely, and made out the store order.


This year the housekeeper and waitress for the week are taken to the Boston markets on Monday, and with the help of the instructor purchase supplies for the week. They are shown the cuts of meat and their uses, and the best places to purchase supplies. All the girls are cooking at home and bring back delighted reports from fathers as well as mothers.


We feel that we are growing in the changed attitude of our students toward this training, that a better class of girls has been steadily coming to us, that their previous education makes it possible to train them well, and find increasingly good positions for them, that most of the mothers are in- terested to visit the school and talk over the future of their daughters with the principal, and that in some cases the fathers visit in order to see what kind of a school the daugh- ters wish to attend. This is as it should be, and shows a healthy growth.


Of the fifty-six girls registered at the present time, two come from this locality. The others come from the following sections : West Somerville, 15; below Union Square, 9; East Somerville (Broadway), 10; Union Square (toward Cam- bridge), 6; Winter Hill, 5; Medford, 7; Melrose, 2; Lexing- ton, 2.


Seventy-two students registered this year, fifty-six of whom are still in school. The records show: 3 are at home ; 2 working at housework; 3 in factories ; 5 illness at home or personal illness (2 will return to school later); 1 telephone operator ; 2 placed by school (will graduate in June).


In spite of the small number entering, the percentage of those who have left has been less, and the per cent. at- tendance of those remaining has been higher than in any previous years.


Of these seventy-two, the majority have graduated from the grammar schools, as shown by the following school re- cord: High School graduate, 1; High School (1 to 3 years), 16 ; grammar graduates, 21; eighth grade, 16; seventh grade, 11; sixth grade, 6.


We are keeping in close touch with our graduates. Of the thirty-seven graduated in the class of 1916, twelve are working in dressmaking establishments, and two in millinery houses. The employers tell us they will take all the girls we can send them, as they like the type of girl we are recom- mending, and have found them able to advance rapidly in responsibility.


129


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.


Three are in tea rooms or food shops. They help pre- pare lunch, serve at noon, and make cakes and sandwiches. Four are at home. Four are married and have homes of their own, and send interesting letters to us of their housekeeping perplexities, as well as of their happiness. Two have not been heard from directly. Six are engaged in other occupa- tions, as telephone operator, saleswomen, and various posi- tions in factories. Four are taking advanced training for teaching domestic arts, and hospital training for nursing.


While previously we had graduated students only after they had been working successfully part of the time after the school course had been completed, this year and hereafter we shall graduate each class in June, as we think the tests given during the last year in school are sufficient to prove the value of the course. This year fourteen girls will be gradu- ated.


The Lunch Room has been conducted this year by two graduates of the Vocational School with an undergraduate assistant training especially for lunch room work. All the food not prepared in the regular classroom lessons has been prepared in the lunch room by these helpers, with the ex- ception of the bread and ice cream.


The number of students and teachers who are served each day remains about the same as last year : from five to six hundred students in the large lunch room, and fifty-six teach- ers in the small room.


The service has been changed to allow for greater speed in serving and for distributing the crowd. This arrangement, with the lunch period lengthened to half an hour, seems to be working out well.


Although the cost of food materials has steadily in- creased, in some instances as much as fifty per cent., we have not yet advanced the selling price of the food served, and we hope we shall not be obliged to do so for the rest of the year at least.


The value of this lunch room as a training school has been proven by the satisfactory reports that have come from those employing the girls to whom this opportunity was given.


Domestic Arts in the High School.


The elective courses in Domestic Arts and Science in the High School have been well attended. One student, having completed the course in dressmaking, was placed in a high class dressmaking establishment for practical trade experi- ence preparatory to teaching the subject, and there are open- ings for others who wish to specialize along this line.


The progress made by the students electing this course


130


ANNUAL REPORTS.


has been excellent. All parts of dressmaking have been taught, and the result has been many gowns of difficult con- struction. Some members of the class made their graduation dresses, and put much fine hand work upon them. As this department is in charge of a skillful dressmaker who is also a competent instructor the work of the classes has the profes- sional appearance that is desired.




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