USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1919 > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
Charles P. Horton
22 Everett Ave.
24.00
Glines
Roy C. Burckes
20 Jacques St.
25.00
Forster
George W. Coombs
73 Bonair St. 24.00
6 Madison St. 23.50
Bingham
John F. O'Brien
347 Lowell St. 27.00
Carr
John H. Lane
5-A Belmont St.
30.00
Morse
John W. Cremen
69 Oxford St.
24.50
Proctor
James F. Flynn
31 Linden St. 21.50
Durell
Ellsworth C. Lundgren 50 Harrison St.
17.50
Burns
Charles J. Elkins
35 Mansfield St.
21.50
Brown
James J. Cooper
105 Willow Ave.
22.50
Highland
E. Parker Cook
103 Willow Ave.
24.00
Hodgkins
George A. Givan
17 Henry Ave.
25.00
Western Junior High
James T. Eddy
38 Wallace St.
27.00
Cutler
Daniel Campbell
85 Lexington Ave.
24.00
Lincoln
Thomas F. O'Day
134 Lowell St. 17.50
Lowe
Frank H. Flagg
22 Clyde St.
21.50
Baxter
Jeremiah Sullivan
16 Newton St. 20.00
Southern Junior High
Joseph F. McCormack 206 Washington St.
Northern Junior High
Thomas G. Pullen
188
ANNUAL REPORTS.
OUTLINE OF THE ORGANIZATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE SCHOOLS UNDER THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
School Buildings.
The High School on Central Hill consists of the East and the West buildings.
The Southworth Building and a portion of the Prescott building adjoining are used by the Eastern Junior High School. The Folsom building and a part of the Forster building, at Winter Hill, are used by the Northern Junior High School. The Bell School building on Vinal Avenue is occupied by the Southern Junior High organization ; and a new building on the ledge lot on Holland street, in West Somerville, and also the Hodgkins building on the same street are used by the Western Junior High School.
The Davis School building on Tufts Street, with two addi- tional structures connected therewith, is occupied by the Voca- tional School for Boys.
The elementary schools are conducted in the following buildings : Bennett, Hanscom, Edgerly, Glines, Bingham, Proctor, Brown, Lowe, Lincoln, Cutler, Highland, Burns, Morse, Carr, Durell, Cummings, Perry, Baxter, Knapp and Pope. A few rooms in the Prescott and Forster buildings are used for elementary purposes also.
In the Annual Report of the School Committee of 1907 is found a full statement regarding the school houses in Somer- ville up to that time. In 1842, when Somerville became an in- dependent town, five small buildings accommodating 247 pupils provided for all school needs. Even the names of these schools sound strange today, for they were known as the "Pound Prim- ary, Winter Hill Primary, Milk Row Primary, Prospect Hill Primary, and Prospect Hill Grammar". School buildings have been constructed, outgrown, and in many cases converted into dwelling houses. A statement follows regarding buildings now in use :
High School.
The Somerville High School was first opened on Central Hill May 3, 1852, in a building which now forms a part of the City Hall. In 1872 the present Latin or East building of the High School was occupied. The English High School building,
189
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
now known as the West building, was constructed in 1895. In 1906 an addition to the Latin School gave only temporary re- lief. In 1913 wings were added to the West building, the two buildings were connected, and an assembly hall provided.
In the spring of 1919, the School Committee unanimously adopted a recommendation submitting to the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen a comprehensive program of school con- struction. This program includes a gymnasium building for the High School, to be thoroughly equipped with all the ap- purtenances that belong therewith.
Junior High Schools.
The Prescott School, on Pearl Street, East Somerville, which is now occupied in part by the Eastern Junior High School and in part by the Prescott Elementary School, was built in 1867, containing ten rooms and a hall which was soon divided into classrooms. The Southworth building, occupied entirely by the Eastern Junior High School was built in 1916 and contains nine classrooms besides a cooking room and a small assembly room in the basement. A covered passageway connects it with the Prescott building. The second unit, con. sisting of a duplicate of the present building, constructed in the rear thereof, will form a square, the center of which will be occupied by the third unit, to include gymnasium and assembly hall.
The present Forster School house was built in 1867. As happened in the case of the Prescott School, so in this building the assembly hall was in 1883 divided into classrooms. The Folsom building, which is connected by a covered passageway with the Forster School, was built in 1899. It contains six classrooms besides two rooms in the basement which are used, one for a woodworking shop and the other for a print shop. Unused space on the third floor has been partitioned off by the boys of the school into rooms that are now used for drawing, typewriting, sewing, and cooking. The use of this floor for these purposes should be regarded as only a temporary expe- dient.
The building program calls for the erection on another site of a building constructed for Junior High School purposes exclusively, and of sufficient size to remove the Northern Junior High School entirely from its present quarters. As in the case of the other Junior High Schools, this building is to contain gymnasium and assembly hall. This will release the Forster and the Folsom buildings for elementary school uses.
The Hodgkins building on Holland street, West Somer- ville, was built in 1896. It contains twelve large and two small
190
ANNUAL REPORTS.
classrooms. The Junior High School building on the ledge lot on Holland street was completed in 1917. It contains eleven classrooms, besides four large basement rooms devoted to cook- ing, sewing, metal working, and wood working. Like the Southworth building at East Somerville, this building is the first unit of a three unit building, the plan calling for a dupli- cation of the present building, thus completing a hollow square, the center of which is to be filled in by construction that will provide an assembly hall and a gymnasium. The location of this building upon the ledge lot, so-called, gives an exceptional opportunity for making adequate provision for the development of out-door activities that are properly associated with a com- plete junior high school organization.
Elementary Schools.
The present Bennett School on Poplar Street, East Som- erville, containing twelve rooms, was built in 1902.
The Hanscom Schoolhouse on Webster Street was erected in 1897 with six rooms, to which four were added in 1907.
The Edgerly School on Cross Street was built in 1871 con- taining four rooms. Four rooms were added in 1882 and four more in 1892.
The Glines School on Jacques Street was built in 1891 con- taining eight rooms, to which five were added in 1896.
The Bingham School on Lowell Street, containing four rooms, built in 1886, was enlarged in 1894 by the addition of four rooms and again in 1904 by adding eight rooms.
The Proctor Schoolhouse on Hudson Street containing nine rooms was built in 1905.
The Brown School on Willow Avenue erected in 1901 and containing six rooms, was enlarged by the addition of four rooms in 1907.
The Lowe School on Morrison Avenue was erected in 1903 with eight rooms.
The Lincoln Schoolhouse on Broadway near Teele Square was built in 1885.
The Cutler School of twelve rooms was built on Powder House Boulevard in 1912. To it six rooms were added in 1915. The original plans provide for a still further enlargement of this building.
The Highland School of eight rooms, built in 1880, was en- larged by the addition of four rooms in 1891.
The Burns School on Cherry Street was built in 1886. Its original provision of four rooms was increased by the addition of another four in 1899.
The Morse School on Summer Street was built in 1869 con-
191
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
taining four rooms and a hall. In 1880 the latter was divided into classrooms. In 1889 an addition of six rooms was made.
The Carr School on Beech Street containing seventeen rooms was erected in 1898.
The Durell School on Kent Street containing four rooms was built in 1894.
The Cummings School of four rooms was built on School Street in 1884.
The Perry School on Washington Street was constructed in 1899. It contains six rooms.
The Baxter School on Bolton Street with six rooms was built in 1901.
The Knapp School on Concord Avenue, originally consist- ing of eight rooms, was built in 1889. To it four rooms were added in 1894.
The Pope School on Washington Street containing twelve rooms was occupied in 1891.
School Organization.
The school organization is made up as follows :
The School Committee.
The administration office, consisting of superinten- dent, assistant superintendent, four clerks, two attendance officers ;
The High School, containing 1618 pupils December 1,1919;
Four junior high schools containing 2937 pupils ; Vocational School for Boys, 74 pupils ;
Vocational School for Girls, 21 pupils ;
Twenty-two elementary schools including four kin- dergartens, three atypical classes and one non-English-speaking class, totalling 8517 pupils.
Supervision.
Responsibilities of supervision and administration are vested in the following : superintendent, assistant superinten- dent, principal of the High School, principals of four junior high schools, nine supervising principals of elementary schools, two principals of vocational schools, supervisor of manual arts for boys, supervisor of household arts for girls, music super- visor for high and junior high schools, music supervisor for elementary schools, supervisors of drawing, penmanship, phy- sical training with one assistant, and supervisor of school gar- dens.
192
ANNUAL REPORTS.
School Committee.
The School Committee consists of sixteen members, two elected from each of the seven wards, with the Mayor and the President of the Board of Aldermen members ex-officiis. Inas- much as elections are biennial, beginning with 1919, the entire School Committee is chosen at one time. The Commissioner of Public Buildings has control of school janitors, and the erec- tion, repairs, and maintenance of school buildings. There are seven Standing Committees of the School Board, namely, Fi- nance; Text Books and Courses of Study; Industrial Educa- tion ; School Accommodations; Teachers'; Health, Physical Training, and Athletics; and Rules and Regulations. The School Board meets regularly on the last Monday evening of the calendar month.
High School.
Until September 1918 thirteen years comprised the school course. At that time the course was reduced by one year in harmony with the prevailing educational practice. The ele- mentary course of six years is followed by a course of three years in the junior high school, and then by three in the High School. Thus the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth years of the pupils' life are spent in the high school. The courses offered are college, scientific, normal, general, and commercial. Pu- pils are distributed among the several courses as follows :
College
21.1 per cent.
Scientific
15.8
Normal
3.5
66
General
.
11.4
66 66
Commercial
48.2
66 66
In September 1919 ninety-five pupils from this school en- tered higher institutions.
The change from a course of thirteen years to one of twelve years has produced an abnormally large class in the first of the three years of the high school. This class now includes those pupils who entered school at the age of five and have taken ten years to reach this point, and also those who, entering at the age of six, have taken nine years.
The high school publishes a monthly paper entitled the "Radiator," has a large school orchestra, a school drum corps, debating teams, an athletic association represented by teams in the Suburban League, glee clubs, and a system of physical training with principles of military practice organized under pupil leadership. The same system of physical training is maintained in each of the junior high schools, pupils trained as
193
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
leaders conducting the exercises in the several schools. The high school, as well as all the junior high schools, maintains a successful lunch system operated in large measure by the pupils.
Junior High Schools.
In 1914 junior high school work was begun in an experi- mental way at the Forster School at Winter Hill. It involved the highest grades only of that grammar school. In 1916 the School Committee adopted the plan of junior high schools for the entire city, to be introduced gradually. In accordance with that action, the June graduates of the Glines, Bingham, and Forster Schools were assembled in the Forster School. These, together with the last two years of the grammar school, now constituted the Northern Junior High School. Space in this building was obtained for this school by transferring elemen- tary pupils to the Bingham, Proctor, and Glines buildings.
At the same time, September 1916, the completion of the Southworth building in East Somerville made possible the es- tablishment of the Eastern Junior High School in that build- ing and a part of the Prescott building. These changes in- volved the Prescott, Edgerly, and Pope schools.
In September 1917, the completion of the new building on Holland Street, West Somerville, made possible the establish- ment of the Western Junior High School, occupying the whole of that building and the Hodgkins building located nearby. This change involved pupils in the Brown, Highland, Hodgkins, and Cutler schools.
In September 1918 the addition to the Bell School on Vinal Avenue provided the space necessary for the establishment of the Southern, the fourth and last junior high school. This change affected the Carr, Morse, Bell and Knapp schools.
In order to give the closest possible connection between the Junior High and Senior High Schools, monthly conferences are held in each subject of the third year of the junior high school. These conferences involve the head of that department in the high school, the masters of the junior high schools, and the teachers of that subject in the junior high schools.
Each junior high school maintains its own orchestra of pupils, doing work of high order in many cases. Some of the schools have emphasized public speaking in various ways and debating societies are in successful operation. One school has begun the publication of a bi-weekly school paper. War inter- ests have been emphasized in the junior high schools and the fullest advantage taken of the enthusiasm and activity that is so much in evidence at the junior high school age.
194
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Opportunities are multiplied for the assumption of respon- sibility by individual pupils or by groups of pupils. Leaders are chosen from the several junior high school rooms and they are given bi-weekly instruction by the physical training teach- ers at the State Armory. Returning to their schools, these pu- pils carry their instruction into effect with their own class- mates. Periodically the classes which are judged to be the most successful in each junior high school meet at the State. Armory to compete before discriminating judges. These con- tests are stimulating and are entered into in the spirit of true sportsmanship.
In the junior high schools the habit of saving is encouraged by maintenance of a school bank in which the pupils themselves are tellers and accountants. The funds are kept on deposit in the Somerville Institution for Savings.
In each school several hundred books upon pertinent sub- jects are deposited by the public library. This school library is managed by the pupils of the school.
The programme of studies of the first and second years in- cludes the academic work formerly provided in the last two years of grammar school with somewhat larger attention to manual arts education. In addition opportunity for discover- ing individual aptitudes and inclinations is provided in the choice of one of several electives. These at present comprise Latin, French, Spanish, beginnings of commercial work with typewriting, additional work in household or manual arts. Classes are provided also for such pupils as wish to intensify the ordinary grammar school subjects in place of these elec- tives.
The third year of the programme of studies is practically identical with the work formerly offered in the freshman class of the high school. In this year of the course, pupils are grouped as follows : College, Scientific, Normal, Manual Arts, Household Arts, and Commercial.
Cooking and sewing constitute a large part of the work in household arts, while for the boys carpentry is taught in all schools, together with metal-working in the Southern and the Western, book-binding in the Eastern and printing in the Northern. The Junior High School curriculum is given in full in the 1918 report of the School Committee.
Promotion from the elementary schools to the junior high school is given to such pupils as have obtained passing marks in their work. In addition any others whose individual interests may be better served by the special work, particularly of a man- ual character, offered in the junior high school, are transferred thereto. Promotion from the junior high to the senior high
195
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
school is given to all such pupils as appear able to take up the work of the high school with profit to themselves.
Careful consideration is now being given to the various courses of study in the junior high schools, committees of teachers being engaged in this work. It is expected that it will be completed soon and in form for use at the opening of schools in September.
The Annual Reports of the School Committee have dealt with the subject of the junior high school each year since 1911. The reports of 1914, 1916, 1918, and 1919 present an especially full discussion of this unit of our school organization.
Elementary Schools.
The elementary schools include kindergartens and six ele- mentary grades. In order to serve the interests of the various localities the better the schools show some variation in the number of grades, as will be seen from the summary that ap- pears later. The establishment of junior high schools has cre- ated a much more favorable condition for classes in elementary work, by relieving in large measure over-crowdedness in the elementary schools. While promotions are made annually in June, in all schools, individual adjustments take place at any time through' the year when the interests of the children will be better served thereby.
Vocational Schools.
The Vocational Schools for Boys and for Girls are both state-aided and are patronized by pupils from Somerville and adjoining communities. The former is now favorably situated for carrying on its three departments of woodworking, machine work, and automobile repairing. The Girls' Vocational School has, in common with other schools of like nature, suffered a loss in numbers in the last two or three years.
The Vocational School for Boys occupies the Davis School building which was built in 1884, containing four rooms. To it was added, in 1917, a building containing a machine shop and in 1918 another building for an automobile repair shop. Provision is now being made, in co-operation with the Federal Government, for special training for returned soldiers.
The Vocational School for Girls from 1911 to 1919 occu- pied a dwelling-house on Atherton Street. In the fall of 1919 this building was closed, and the school transferred to its pres- ent quarters in the High School building.
Graduates of these schools find immediate employment in the trades for which they have been prepared.
196
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Atypical Classes.
Three classes are maintained for pupils who are seriously retarded in their school work and are therefore out of adjust- ment with their ordinary classes. In such classes instruction is given of a special character in elementary school subjects and also in manual subjects. The membership of each class is limited to fifteen. Such pupils are assigned to these classes as may fairly be expected to profit therefrom, and in many cases they secure adjustment to the ordinary classes. The educa- tional interests of the city will be very materially furthered when the number of atypical classes is increased. By Legisla- tive act of 1919 the establishment of such classes will now be required throughout the state.
Kindergartens.
There are four kindergartens, maintained respectively in the Bennett, Hanscom, Glines and Baxter Schools. This num- ber is inadequate to provide for all sections of the city. An extension, therefore, of the kindergarten privilege to cover other portions of Somerville not now provided for is under considera- tion.
Elementary School Districts.
The supervision of all schools below the junior high schools is vested in nine supervising principals, each in charge of one of the following districts :
Edgerly and Glines ; Bennett; Knapp, Baxter, and Perry ; Hanscom and Pope; Bingham and Proctor; Brown and Lowe; Morse and Burns ; Carr, Cummings and Durell ; Cutler, High- land and Lincoln. The principals of the Eastern and the Northern .Junior High Schools have supervision of the Prescott and the Forster elementary schools respectively.
Summary.
The organization of these educational units may be sum- marized in the following statement :
High School-Grades 10, 11, and 12. Eastern Section :
Eastern Junior High School-Grades 7 to 9 Edgerly School, grades 1 to 6
Pope School, grades 1 to 6 Prescott School, grades 1 to 4 Hanscom School, grades 1 to 5 Bennett School, grades 1 to 5
197
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Northern Section :
Northern Junior High School-Grades 7 to 9 Glines School, grades 1 to 6 Forster School, grades 1 to 6 Bingham School, grades 1 to 6 Proctor School, grades 1 to 6
Southern Section :
Southern Junior High School-Grades 7 to 9 Knapp School, grades 1 to 6 Carr School, grades 1 to 6 Morse School, grades 1 to 6 Perry School, grades 1 to 6 Baxter School, grades 1 to 5 Cummings School, grades 1 to 4 Durell School, grades 1 to 4
Western Section :
Western Junior High School-Grades 7 to 9 Brown School, grades 1 to 6 Cutler School, grades 1 to 6 Highland School, grades 4 to 6 Burns School, grades 1 to 4 Lowe School, grades 1 to 4 Lincoln School, grades 1 to 3
Kindergartens-Hanscom, Bennett, Baxter, and Glines Schools Atypical Classes-Bennett, Knapp, and Highland Schools Vocational School for Boys Vocational School for Girls.
Health.
The Health interests of the children are given careful con- sideration in a variety of ways. In 1910 a school dental dis- pensary was opened through the co-operation of the local den- tists. In 1912 the work of this dispensary was assumed by the School Committee. It is located in the Proctor School on Hud- son Street with a dentist and an assistant in charge and is ren- dering a valuable service to the children of the city.
A matron has recently been appointed in the high school. Her duties are in general the safeguarding of all the interests of the girls in that school. By the co-operation with the Board of Health, the schools have the services of two school nurses and eight medical inspectors.
198
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Continuation Schools.
By a referendum vote, the citizens last November accepted the legislative act which provides for the institution and main- tenance of continuation schools. Such a school will be organ- ized at the opening of the school year in September 1920. It will, by the provisions of the law, be a beneficiary of State-aid. This school provides for four days of school instruction weekly for all children under sixteen years of age employed under working certificates or home permits.
Manual Training.
In addition to the vocational instruction provided in the two vocational schools, manual training of a more general sort is given in the high school, the four junior high schools, and in all sixth grades. In the high school, the work deals with car- pentry, and joinery, cabinet making, wood turning, pattern making, metal spinning, foundry work, forging, sheet metal work, tinsmithing, plumbing, gas fitting, steam fitting, machine work, electrical work, lock smithing, study of gasoline engines, and general repair work. Instruction is provided for boys in the junior high schools in addition to woodworking as follows : In the Eastern, bookbinding; in the Southern and Western, metal working ; in the Northern, printing. In all of these shops the work is of a practical sort, but is not intended to fit directly for the trade. Whittling is taught to all boys of the sixth grades. Sewing is given in the sixth grade and is continued as a required subject in the seventh and eighth grades, and as an elective also throughout the junior high school and the high school. Cooking is required of all girls in the seventh and eighth grades, and this also may be taken as an elective throughout the junior high school and the high school. The lunch rooms previously referred to are maintained in connec- tion with this work and are self-supporting.
Co-operation of Public Library.
In addition to the maintenance of large deposits of books in the junior high schools as elsewhere mentioned, the public library sends to each teacher of the elementary schools fifty books each year, largely of the teacher's choosing as best suited to her interests. The public library also pays one-half of the salary of the librarian of the high school. In all probability, few communities have as effective co-operation between the pub- Jic schools and the public library as that with which our city is favored.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.