USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1919 > Part 5
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
4 10
$17,805 00
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. CITY OF SOMERVILLE.
School Committee Rooms, January 2, 1920 ..
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 there- in ; 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.
85
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1919.
HERBERT CHOLERTON
DANIEL H. BRADLEY
Members.
EX-OFFICIIS.
Term Expires January
CHARLES W. ELDRIDGE, Mayor, 47 Highland road 1920
ENOCH B. ROBERTSON, President Board of Aldermen, 87 Highland rd. 1920
JAMES J. RUDD,
46-A Franklin street 1920
DR. WINNIFRED P. DAVIS,
125 Pearl street 1921
DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
19 Concord avenue 1920
CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON,
88 Concord avenue 1921
ALFRED L. WEST,
69 Avon street 1920
OSCAR W. CODDING,
21 Pleasant avenue 1921
EDGAR F. SEWALL,
281 Broadway 1920
FRANK H. HOLMES,
22 Walter street 1921
WARD FIVE.
HARRY M. STOODLEY,
283 Highland avenue 1920
*MRS. BLANCHE E. HERBERT,
56 Dartmouth street 1921
WARD SIX.
PAUL S. BURNS,
191 Summer street 1920
WILLIAM M. MORRISON,
97 Rogers avenue 1921
WARD SEVEN.
FRANK E. PORTER,
43 Ossipee road 1920
HERBERT CHOLERTON,
94 College avenue
1921
* Resigned Oct. 27, 1919.
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 hour is 4 o'clock on school days, and 8:30 on Saturdays.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools. JOSEPH A. EWART.
Residence: 11 Bigelow street. Office hour: 4 o'clock on school days.
Superintendent's office force :-
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland avenue.
Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria street.
H. Madeline Kodad, 1067 Broadway. Arline P. Hall, 189 Pearl street.
Board Meetings.
January 27. April 28.
February 24. May 26.
March 31. June 30.
September 29. December 26. January 2, 1920.
October 27.
November 24. 8:15 o'clock.
Chairman
Vice-Chairman
WARD ONE.
WARD TWO.
WARD THREE.
WARD FOUR.
86
ANNUAL REPORTS.
STANDING COMMITTEES, 1919. NOTE .- The member first named is chairman.
District I .- Rudd, Dr. Davis, Muldoon.
PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT.
District II .- Bradley, Muldoon, Codding.
KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER.
District III .- West, Codding, Dr. Davis.
POPE, CUMMINGS.
District IV .- Sewall, Holmes, Mrs. Herbert.
EDGERLY, GLINES.
District V .- Stoodley, Mrs. Herbert, Sewall.
FORSTER, BINGHAM.
District VI .- Burns, Morrison, Stoodley.
CARR, MORSE, PROCTOR, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN.
District VII .- Porter, Cholerton, Burns.
HIGHLAND, CUTLER, LINCOLN, LOWE.
High School .- Bradley, West, Dr. Davis, Holmes, Stoodley, Morrison, Cholerton.
Finance .- Stoodley, Rudd, Bradley, Codding, Sewall, Burns, Cholerton, Eldridge, Robertson.
Text-Books and Courses of Study .- Muldoon, Dr. Davis, West, Sewall, Mrs. Herbert, Morrison, Porter.
Industrial Education .- Holmes, Rudd, Muldoon, West, Stoodley, Burns, Porter.
School Accommodations .- Porter, Codding, Rudd, Bradley, Holmes, Mrs. Herbert, Morrison, Eldridge, Robertson.
Teachers .- Cholerton, Bradley, Dr. Davis, Codding, Burns.
Playgrounds and School Hygiene .- Dr. Davis, Muldoon, Sewall, Mrs. Herbert, Morrison.
Rules and Regulations .- Codding, Muldoon, Porter.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Somerville:
The 48th Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools is respectfully submitted. The conditions for the year just closing are given and comparisons are made with other years sufficient to show the relation of present conditions with those which have gone before. The statistics are taken, unless other- wise stated, from the report of the State Board of Education for the school year ending June 30, 1919, and do not include facts relating to vocational schools.
Membership.
The size of the school problem for the year is best shown by the average membership which is 12,643 pupils, an increase of 75 pupils during the year. This membership is distributed among twelve grades and the kindergarten. The ninth grade or third year of the Junior High School and the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades of the Senior High School contain 2361 pu- pils of this average membership. In other words if there were no Junior High Schools these 2361 pupils would be in the four year high school organization in the High School building. This would be 700 pupils more than the present number in the High School, and at least 500 more than ought to be in at- tendance at one time in that building. This large number of pupils in the High School section of the school organization is caused in part by the fact that the elimination of the ninth grade which as is shown elsewhere in this report had been under way for a number of years, brought into the High School grades in September, 1918, an extra unit. This increase will continue until June, 1922, when this extra unit will pass out of the High School and thus out of the school system. This event will' complete the elimination of the thirteenth year of the school organization and will reduce proportionally the total membership of the schools. The reduction thus resulting will occur in the High School alone and will not affect the situation in the grades below the High School.
Teachers.
During the present fiscal year 45 teachers have resigned, 10 to be married, 16 to accept better paying positions elsewhere. Of this number, two went to New York, two to Boston, one to
SS
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Newton, nine to take positions of higher rank, and two to take better paying positions in business.
Fifty-two teachers have been appointed, including a ma- tron in the High School. These new teachers were distributed as follows: High School, 14; Junior High Schools, 20; ele- mentary schools, 18. All had professional training and experi- ence. Nineteen were college graduates, twenty-five graduates of normal schools, three of kindergarten normal training schools, four graduates of commercial schools, and one, the ma- tron, an employee holding a similar position in business.
Somerville graduates of state normal schools or of college courses in education are given an opportunity to get one year's training as an apprentice-teacher after graduation, in order to qualify for a permanent position. At the end of this period they are eligible for consideration with all others for appoint- ment to any existing vacancy. Most of this number are ap- pointed to positions in the schools. This source, however, sup- plies only a fraction of the total number of new teachers needed. The remainder must be sought in other communities. To induce them to make the change better pay or more advan- tageous teaching conditions must be offered.
On the other hand, so long as there are communities which pay higher salaries than Somerville it is inevitable that some losses will occur for this reason. The probability of such losses, however, is very greatly reduced by the salary increases given our teachers this year. The increases pending and made during the year amount to $550 per annum for a large majority of the teachers, and $500 for all others.
Increase of Pay.
In January the School Committee voted to increase the pay of all elementary, junior high, and vocational women teachers $50 per year and to raise the pay of cadets from $200 to $400 per year. In June the Committee voted to increase the pay of all teachers $100 to begin September, 1919, and to in- crease the maximum of elementary teachers to $1100. A new salary scale for teachers in the high and elementary schools was adopted at the June meeting. This new scale includes the increases of pay granted by the Board during the year and has features which are more advantageous to the teachers than the old schedule. The minimum pay of elementary teachers was raised to $700 and the maximum to $1100. In the November meeting the School Committee passed a vote requesting His Honor, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen to provide funds for an increase for all teachers of $400 per annum. Thus in one year, the School Committee raised the salaries of all women teachers in the elementary and Junior high schools $150 per an-
89
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
num and fixed the maximum salary at $1100, $200 in excess of the maximum in effect January 1, and it has voted to ask for money to enable it to give a general increase of $400 per annum to all teachers to date from the first of the new year. With the increase now pending the maximum will be $1500.
School Accommodations.
In the June meeting of this year the School Committee adopted a recommendation presented by the Committee on School Accommodations asking the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen for additional accommodations in each of the junior high school centers and for a gymnasium for the use of the high school. The action proposed was intended to meet not only pressing immediate needs but also to prepare at least for the demands of the next five years. The Prescott and Southworth school buildings provide accommodation for the Eastern Junior High School and for the first four elementary grades. Four rooms in the Prescott school are used for the lat- ter purpose. As was predicted last spring, it has been neces- sary this fall to put classes on half time in the Hanscom and the Prescott schools. The Edgerly and the Glines schools are full and there is no prospect of relief in this region until addi- tional accommodations are provided. At the Southern Junior High School there are three classes in excess of the number of rooms. Afternoon classes have provided a way for relieving this situation. In the Western Junior High School there are five classes in excess of the number of rooms in the new build- ing and the Hodgkins building combined. Every available room is used for classroom purposes and classes are held regu- larly in the corridors. Afternoon classes here have relieved the situation. It will be necessary to continue to have such classes until additions are made to the plant. At the Northern Junior High School every room is used and afternoon classes are held. Twelve classes are conducted in the Folsom building, although it was originally planned for only six. All rooms in the Fors- ter building are used, including the basement ward room. Four rooms are used by six elementary grades.
The high school building is fully occupied. By transfer- ring the Girls' Vocational School to the high school building, three rooms were occupied in the basement of the East build- ing, one a domestic science room, the others small rooms ad- joining. While there are many vacant sittings in the high school, the building is so filled as to make any variation from the present program of exercises which calls for additional room impossible.
There are now three half-time classes in the Hanscom school and two in the Prescott. Two more would have been
90
ANNUAL REPORTS.
necessary in the Hanscom but for the fact that a whole class was transferred from the Hanscom to the Pope school to oc- cupy a room made vacant by transferring a class therefrom to the Bennett school. Although both changes were made for the express purpose of avoiding as far as possible making half-time classes, there was considerable objection from many parents affected by the action.
It will be interesting in this connection to review what has been done in the last few years in the matter of providing addi- tional accommodations for the schools. It appears from the records that the problem of over-crowding has constantly de- manded attention. In the school report for 1907 an earnest plea was made for additions to the High School to include among other things thoroughly equipped gymnasiums for both sexes, a suitable lunch room, and an assembly room large enough to accommodate the entire school. The following were also recommended : a six room addition to the Perry School in Ward Two; a rearrangement of several rooms in the Carr School ; and a twelve or fifteen room building with an ample assembly hall for Ward Seven on Holland Street. No part of this program was carried into effect until 1912 when a twelve room building was erected in Ward Seven on Powder House Boulevard.
In 1913 the overcrowding of the High School had become so great as to necessitate the adoption of the two-session plan. In this year thirty rooms and an assembly room were added to the plant. While this addition was considerable in size and cost, it was recognized at the time that a final settlement of the problem of high school accommodations had not been achieved.
In January, 1915, the School Committee adopted a report of the Committee on School Accommodations asking for a schoolhouse of thirty rooms, with a playground large enough for fifteen hundred pupils, to be built adjoining the Edgerly School, and also for an addition of twelve rooms to the Cutler School. As a result of these recommendations six rooms were added to the Cutler School and were occupied in September, and a nine room building was started on land adjoining the Prescott School.
In 1916 the High School again became overcrowded having an attendance of over two thousand pupils. In certain schools in the western and central parts of the city the attendance ex- ceeded the capacity of the buildings. There was a general de- mand that something should be done to relieve this over- crowdedness, and one remedy proposed was a new high school building in West Somerville. Early in 1916 His Honor. the Mayor, asked the School Committee to inform him whether ad-
91
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
ditional school accommodations were needed, and if so, to what extent, and in what locality. After due consideration, in which opportunity was given the public to express its opinions, the School Committee agreed upon a plan to meet the immediate and future needs of the city so far as schoolhouse construction is concerned. This plan was embodied in the following resolu- tion :
Resolved : It is the judgment of the School Committee that a system of Junior High Schools for Somerville should be es- tablished to consist eventually of four units ; one in the West- ern part of the city on Holland Street, one at the Forster School in the Northern section of the city, one at the Prescott School in the Eastern section of the city, and a unit to be erected in the Southern part of the city, preferably adjacent to the Bell Schoolhouse. It is the sense of the Committee that provision be made, not only for the construction of the pro- posed building in the Western section, but also for the acquisi- tion 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.
During 1916 appropriation was made for a Junior High School building to be erected on the ledge lot on Holland Street, West Somerville, and a lot of land 65x117 feet on Vinal Avenue adjacent to the Bell Schoolhouse, was bought as a site for a Junior High School. In September of this year, the Southworth building was opened as a Junior High School, and a Junior High School was opened in the Forster School. As a result of these two events one hundred sixty-nine pupils of the tenth grade, who were eligible to enter the High School were retained in the Junior High School. This act reduced the mem- bership of the Senior High School and somewhat relieved crowding there. The opening of the Southworth building also gave relief to the Glines, Edgerly, and Hanscom schools, which had been overcrowded for more than a year before that time. Provisions were made during this year for an addition of con- siderable size to the Boys' Vocational School.
In September, 1917, a new schoolhouse was opened on Hol- land Street for the use of the Western Junior High School. This building contained eleven classrooms and four basement rooms for practical arts classes. During the construction of this building, owing to the increased cost of materials, it was decided to reduce the size of the structure by the omission of a part that was included in the original plan. The building was occupied in September and was immediately filled, activities of the school occupying every room and temporary rooms created by partitioning off part of the corridors. During this year a
92
ANNUAL REPORTS.
part of the Hodgkins School was used for Junior High School purposes and the remainder for Elementary School purposes. At the close of 1917, there was a clear understanding that addi- tions to the Eastern and Western Junior High Schools were needed, and that at least six rooms should be provided for each school at the earliest possible moment. During this year an appropriation was made for the construction of a Junior High School building on Vinal Avenue.
In 1918 an addition to the Bell Schoolhouse was finished, and occupied in September. This building contained nine classrooms and three rooms for special uses. · A building fifty- eight feet by sixty-two feet was completed on Glen Street ad- joining the Davis Schoolhouse. This building is used for an automobile shop for the Boys' Vocational School.
Although these additions have been made to the school- houses, the present condition is that there are half-time classes in the Eastern section of the city, and afternoon classes in each of three of the Junior High Schools.
Action already described has been taken by the School Committee during the present year, with a view to meeting the present needs of the schools and of providing for their future expansion.
High School.
The High School had a full four grade organization during the school year ending June 30th, 1919. All departments of the school were conducted under conditions more nearly nor- mal than those which have prevailed for several years. The emotional strain of the War was relaxed during this year; there was a release from the calls for assistance from outside organizations ; teachers and pupils worked with their minds occupied with the business of the school. A successful year's work was the result. There were graduated from the school in June 310 pupils, of whom 93 entered higher institutions on certificate or examination. 18 different colleges are repre- sented in the list. 18 boys went to Tufts college, 21 pupils went to Normal Schools, and 23 entered Boston University.
The graduates of the Commercial Course all found posi- tions in business offices soon after graduation. They are filling places as typists, stenographers, clerks, and bookkeepers, and graduates of this course are in demand to fill responsible posi- tions. Reference to the report of Headmaster John A. Avery will show additional particulars attesting the success of the High School in preparing its graduates for subsequent success.
Junior High Schools.
The school year ending last June was the first in which the junior high schools were operated with provisions made for all
93
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
parts of the city. All the problems of administration of the new enterprise had been met in a competent manner and the program of studies had been carefully arranged and had been applied by teachers whose experience and skill assured efficient instruction. An admirable school spirit had been developed among teachers and pupils. A large degree of co-operation had been secured from the parents of the pupils and thriving and enthusiastic Parent-Teacher Associations had been formed in several of the schools. The junior high schools had come into vigorous, confident, and capable being. The institution had met all the conditions which the public and the School Con- mittee expected it to do, when, in 1916, they adopted it as the means best adapted to satisfy the various difficult conditions then confronting them. In the short interval of three years the transition from the old system to the new had been made all over the city, three new school buildings had been opened, the high school and elementary schools had been relieved of overcrowding, and the new organization had been completed and successfully operated. That this is a creditable record and one of which the city may well be proud is shown by the atten- tion which this undertaking has received from other communi- ties. School Boards, Superintendents of Schools, principals, and teachers have visited these schools during this time to study the plan of organization and to see how it works in prac- tice. Favorable comment in conversation, in letters, and in press notices has been frequent. Among the visitors during this year have been School Committeemen and the Superinten- dent of Schools from one of the largest cities of the State, which is now about to change from the nine year elementary and four year high school system to the six year elementary, three year junior high, and three year senior high school plan, with four junior high schools. This junior high school plan is now in operation in eleven cities and twenty-four towns in this state and in several others is being considered for early adop. tion. Other cities have adopted part of the junior high school idea by gathering together the pupils of the highest grammar grade and giving them a program of studies conducted on the departmental plan. All of these movements are indicative of a recognition of the fact that present day conditions make im- perative the giving of a broader educational opportunity to pupils of the pre-adolescent age.
The present need for additional accommodations should not be regarded as a consequence of the establishment of junior high schools. It was clearly set forth and generally understood in 1916 that more accommodations must be provided in the near future. Among other reasons for adopting the junior high school plan was that this plan concentrated in four centers
94
ANNUAL REPORTS.
building operations which would benefit the whole city. The two buildings authorized since the adoption of this plan, the Western and the Southern, were both smaller than the needs of the schools, but were provided with the idea of later adding other units of construction to make an adequate provision for the needs of the city. For more detailed information about the junior high schools the report should be read which Mr. Ewart, the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, has prepared at my request and which I submit as a part of this report.
Elementary Schools.
This term now applies to the first six grades as distin- guished from those above the sixth year. These schools are in better physical condition than ever before, because, with the exceptions already noted in this report, the elementary schools are not crowded and the number of pupils to a teacher has been · reduced in many cases. These schools are taught by experi- enced and competent women, many of whom have long been in the service of the city. The elementary schools are supervised and administered by supervising principals who were formerly grammar school masters or were instructors in other respon- sible positions. The problem of these grades is to develop the child physically, morally, and mentally, and to instruct him in the rudiments of knowledge. This is in some respects the most important part of the school undertaking. It is therefore fit- ting that it should have its needs met most fully. Such, in general, is the case now. In accommodations, in principals and teachers, in equipment and supplies, the elementary schools are better prepared to do their work than ever before.
Boys' Vocational School.
Nine boys were graduated from this school in June. The boys immediately found profitable employment in industry. Now the school has the largest membership in its history and three departments in good working order. During the war vo- cational schools throughout the State fell off in membership but this year new interest has been shown by a general increase in attendance.
Girls' Vocational School.
Nine girls were graduated from this school last June. In the fall there was an unexpected falling off in attendance at the school. After consultation with the Deputy Commissioner of Education of the State of Massachusetts, it was decided to be desirable to continue the school but to reduce the corps of teachers to correspond with the reduced membership. As a
95
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
means of further reduction of cost, it was decided to transfer the school to the high school building, where there were a large domestic science room and two small rooms in the basement of the East building which had not been in use since September. The school was established in these rooms in October under the charge of the director. One teacher of domestic science is em- ployed ; one period a day instruction in English is given by a high school teacher, and instruction in dressmaking and draw- ing is given in high school classes. This school assists in the preparation of food for the high school lunch rooms, both of which are under the direction of the principal of the Girls' Vo- cational School.
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.