USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1920 > Part 6
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II. That a pupil belonging to a school glee-club or choral practice class having weekly rehearsals may receive one (1) diploma point credit per year, if, in the judgment of the teach- er in charge, he has been regular in attendance and faithful to his work. Either course shall be open to all pupils passing a voice and sight-reading test made by the Supervisor of Music.
III. That a pupil of the High School taking lessons on the piano, organ, any orchestral instrument or in vocal music shal) be allowed two (2) points credit per year on the following conditions :
(a) An application for such credit, on forms to be fur- nished by the Board, shall be filed with the headmaster not lat. er than two weeks after the opening of school.
(b) One hour of daily practice shall be required through- .out the school year.
(c) One lesson per week throughout the school year shall be taken from a teacher.
(d) Lessons or study lost shall be made up before the end of the period for which credit is desired.
(e) A quarterly report, on the forms to be furnished by the Board, shall be filed with the headmaster by the pupil, signed by his teacher certifying the number of lessons taken during the quarter, the compositions studied or work covered and the grade of accomplishment, and signed by the parent or guardian certifying the number of hours per week practiced.
(f) Annually, during the first week in June, pupils desir- ing credit shall be examined by a Board of Examiners con- sisting of the Supervisor of Music and one other person to be appointed by the School Board. The examination shall be based on the private teacher's statement of the course covered.
(g) Granting of the credit shall be determined by the examination, but due weight shall be given to the quarterly reports of the private teacher.
(h) Outside study in applied music may be counted each year and may be substituted in place of an elective in any course ; provided that pupils fitting for Harvard College, the Institute of Technology, Radcliffe, Mt. Holyoke, Smith and Wellesley College may not substitute this subject for an elec-
1
101
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
tive but may take it only after all subjects indicated in the college requirements for that year have been elected ; provided, furthermore that the restrictions set forth in this paragraph shall automatically be removed at any time the college require- ments permit.
IV. That the Superintendent of Schools in conjunction with the Supervisor of Music be authorized to prepare a course of study for the piano, the course to be divided into groups.
V. That no specific course offered by the publishing houses be recommended by the Board.
VI. That the Superintendent of Schools be authorized to formulate and have printed two blank forms.
1. An application blank and examination rec- ord.
2. A quarterly report blank to embody space for data called for in Paragraph III (e).
VII. That the Superintendent of Schools be authorized to have printed a circular setting forth briefly the plan for giving credit for outside study in applied music.
VIII. That the Superintendent of Schools be authorized to have printed a circular showing the course of study for the piano.
IX. Inasmuch as the point credit system does not obtain in the junior high schools, the committee recommends in lieu of credit points :
(a) that pupils of the first and second year of the junior high school be allowed to substitute outside music for draw- ing;
(b) that third year junior high school pupils be allowed to substitute outside music for one period of Manual and Household Arts or for one period of another subject at the dis- cretion of the master.
X. That the requirements of applications, quarterly re- ports and examinations applicable to high school pupils shall be exacted of junior high school pupils.
XI. That the work of the musical groups, mentioned in paragraphs numbered 1 and 2 of this report, shall, when of- fered, constitute part of the approved curriculum of the high school.
Garden Work
During the summer, school gardens were conducted on public areas and upon private land loaned for the purpose. Eleven places were used for gardens ; 365 children engaged in this work during the season and raised crops whose market value was estimated by Supervisor Moore to be approximate- ly $8,214.45.
102
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The cost of this undertaking to the city was $3,044.05, so it will be seen that the young gardeners have produced values in excess of the cost of the undertaking to the amount of $5,170.40. In addition to this, they have had valuable experi- ence both in garden training and in habits of work.
The garden supervisor has reported that many children have said they worked harder in school gardens than they had ever done in anything else. In several instances parents have expressed wonder that children who would do little work at home were willing to work in the gardens. The products of the gardens were used for home consumption, but in many cases there was a surplus which was sold and yielded a good money return to the producer.
Along with the work in gardening canning classes were conducted. 56 pupils were enrolled in these classes and they put up an average of 32 jars each. Estimating the value per jar at 40 c, this made a total valuation of $716.80. As far as possible the products of the garden were used for canning classes. The cost of the canning is included in the statement already made for garden cost.
Thrift
During the last school year, the schools returned to the use of the school savings bank as a means of promoting thrift. This action was taken after a careful consideration of the relative merits of thrift stamps and of the school bank as a means of establishing habits of economy and saving.
For our schools it was the opinion of masters and teach- ers that the school bank as organized in the local schools and as carried on by co-operation with the Somerville Institution for Savings was the better agency. Consequently the school bank was set up in all the schools and children were instructed in thrift and were encouraged to bring their savings to school to be deposited in the school bank.
As a result of this effort more than six thousand children became depositors and nearly $40,000 were put in the bank dur- ing the last school year. This is a good showing when all the facts affecting the matter are taken into consideration.
The child today lives in an environment where easy spend- ing is the prevailing habit of mind. Economy and saving are old-fashioned virtues to which little respect is shown today. Along with this disregard of responsibility for the economical use of money which is everywhere apparent, temptations for the child to spend his money have multiplied on all sides. To offset these temptations and to counteract the tendency towards waste and extravagance, serious efforts should be made in the schools.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
The teaching of thrift and the promoting of saving should be vigorously carried on in the hope that the child may by these means be taught habits which will endure when he leaves school to become self-supporting. To this end the school bank should be maintained in every school and principals and teach- ers should encourage children to use it systematically through- out the school year.
Classes for Retarded Children
During the year some informal inquiries were made in the schools to ascertain the number of children three years or more retarded in mental development, with a view of carry- ing into effect the provisions of the statutes of 1920 which re- quire School Committees to establish special classes for such children.
This work was carried on before the close of school in June and it showed that there were enough children of this descrip- tion to make several more classes. Before this work was com- pleted, however, the announcement was made that the State Board of Education would be able to offer the services of travel- ling clinics for phychological testing in the schools, by means of which the children who should be instructed in such classes might be determined.
Upon the receipt of this information it was decided to defer further efforts until the travelling clinic could make the tests. It is probable that the services of the clinic will be available early in 1921. Until after the investigation shall be made by this clinic no further action need be taken. It is probable, however, that it will then be necessary to open sever- al more classes for these children. For each one of these a room and a teacher must be provided.
School Accommodations
The situation in respect to school accommodations was pre- sented at length in the last annual report of the School Com- mittee. Since that time, no material change has occurred. In the high school all rooms are now in use for the regular work of the school, and several more rooms could be occupied advan- tageously if they were available. The junior high schools are all overcrowded and three of them seriously so. Several of the elementary school buildings are full and in three of them are part-time classes.
On the other hand in several school buildings there are rooms not devoted to regular classes. These rooms, however, are used for valuable school purposes. In one building, the
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
Knapp School, two rooms have been converted into an assembly room wherein general exercises of the school can be held. In other school buildings, the vacant room will soon be needed for special classes.
During the year action for providing additional accom- modations has been halted by the high cost of building but there is encouragement to believe that with the advent of low- er construction cost, renewed consideration will be given to providing additional accommodations.
Upon this matter, in reply to a communication sent to the School Committee from the Board of Aldermen, the School Committee made a public statement of its position which is printed in the appendix of this report.
Following this action, the Board of Aldermen replied by proposing the erection of one junior high school building, "when it shall be apparent that building can be safely car- ried on" to accommodate the Northern and Eastern Junior High School organizations and the releasing thereby of "the present junior high school in the Prescott School for elemen- tary purposes."
Co-operative Work
In carrying on the work of the schools during the last year the assistance of agencies outside the administrative force has been sought wherever possible in planning the policies to be followed and in putting them into effect when once adopted.
Among the agencies which have helped in this co-operative work are the following :
First - The aid of principals and teachers has been em- ployed by means of :
1. Frequent conferences with principals of schools.
2. Stated meetings of teachers of the junior high schools with heads of departments at which policies and methods were discussed and at which plans were made for the work which was to follow. The superintendent participated in some of these meetings and the results of all of them were reported to him by a member of the conference.
3. Committees of teachers composed for the purpose of preparing outlines of study. All the courses of study in the junior high school were revised this year by committees of junior high school teachers. These committees consisted of representatives from the several junior high schools who worked together in the preparation of the outlines. The mem- bers of the committee conferred with the other teachers in their own schools so that in this way all teachers had a part in the making of these outlines.
4. Grade meetings of elementary school teachers with
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
supervisors of special subjects and with the superintendent of schools.
5. Reports from teachers upon new textbooks. Teachers have had an opportunity to examine and pass upon all books which have been submitted for adoption as new textbooks.
6. Conferences with individual teachers with the super- intendent upon their personal or school interests.
Second - Parent-Teachers' associations have been formed in connection with three of the junior high schools and with several of the elementary schools. These associations have met frequently and have done much to promote the interests of the schools by bringing the teachers and parents into more in- timate and friendly relations.
Third - The American Red Cross has given assistance by (1) providing material for the work of boys in manual training schools, and for girls in sewing; (2) making possible the ac- tivities of the Junior Red Cross organization.
Fourth - The Somerville Visiting Nursing association has contributed $50 for the conduct of the Modern Health Crusade in several of the public schools.
Fifth - The Anne Adams Tufts Chapter of the D. A. R. has offered a prize for an essay contest in the junior high schools and has furnished copies of the American's Creed for distribution.
Sixth - Major John A. Cummings Camp Number 3, Sons of Veterans, has offered a prize for an essay contest in the high school.
Seventh - The American Legion has offered a prize for an essay contest upon a patriotic subject in the high school.
Conclusion
This review is too brief to give more than an outline of the work of the schools. It will be amplified, however, by re- ports which heads of departments will submit to be printed herewith. In these reports will be found much interesting and valuable matter concerning the work of the several de- partments of the school undertaking.
In closing I wish to acknowledge cordial co-operation of the teachers and principals in the work of the school year. Theirs, in the largest degree, has been the responsibility and in a high degree they have borne it nobly. To the members of the School Committee I express deep appreciation of their consideration throughout the year and of their zeal and fidelity in caring for the interests of the schools.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES S. CLARK,
December 28, 1920.
Superintendent of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
Mr. Charles S. Clark, Superintendent of Schools, Somerville, Mass.
Dear Mr. Clark : -
The year of 1920 marked a new epoch in the history of the Somerville High School, - the establishment of a Senior High School. Although junior high schools had been in opera- tion for several years in certain parts of the city, yet not until this year were all pupils entering the High School graduates of a junior high school.
In mentioning this last rearrangement of the High School it might be interesting to note that Somerville has always been abreast the times in that it has exemplified in the changes in its High School the progress of the high school movement throughout the country. The four epochs or stages through which our High School has passed might be classified as fol- lows :
1. The original High School (1852-1895), largely a col- lege preparatory school, was the only school which a pupil desir- ing an education beyond the grammar school could attend.
2. The Specialized High Schools (1895-1911). The Latin High School, a strictly preparatory school, and the English · High School, a school doing some preparatory work, but plac- ing great emphasis on business preparation, work in the man- ual arts, and making a special feature of the elective system.
3. The comprehensive four-year High School (1911-1920). The curriculum of the school was planned along the following lines : College Preparatory, Scientific Preparatory, Normal Preparatory, Commercial, General, Manual Arts and Domestic Science Courses. This type of school has gradually been adopted as the accepted type of high school throughout the country and in the report of the Commission on the Reorgani- zation of Secondary Schools, appointed by the National Educa- tion Association published in 1918, the comprehensive high school was endorsed as the standard type of secondary school in the United States.
4. The Senior High School (1920- ).
The three upper classes are retained in the high school, the first class becoming the last class of the junior high schools.
Physical Training.
One feature of high school development emphasized under the "Cardinal Principles of Secondary Education" issued by
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
the National Education Association and endorsed by the U. S. Bureau of Education in which our city has not made satisfac- tory progress, is that of physical education. Health is placed first among the seven "Cardinal Principles," yet very little attention has been paid to this great need in our schools, and particularly in the high school. Although Somerville has stood out prominently in athletics, this has been of little advantage to the great mass of our young people. While much money has been spent upon members of our athletic teams who are selected from the strongest and healthiest and who are there- .
fore in the least need of physical training, very little on the other hand has been spent on the girls and the great majority of the boys who sadly need instruction and advice on matters of health and physical development.
A request for a gymnasium has been made year after year, and has been even recommended more than once by the School Committee, but no gymnasium has as vet materialized. There are twenty-one schools in the state of a thousand or more pupils ; seventeen of these schools are well equipped with gym- nasiums, four are not. Somerville is in the latter group. To teach properly physical training to the pupils of this school we should have at least one, preferably two, gymnasiums well equipped with proper apparatus and properly supervised by expert instructors. Then, and not till then, will we be able to help our boys and girls to think straight in the care and proper development of their bodies.
Open House Night
An interesting experiment was tried on the evening of January 21st when parents of the pupils were invited to an evening session of the high school which consisted of recita- tions and demonstrations of school work. The invitation was worded as follows :
PARENTS' NIGHT SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
will keep
OPEN HOUSE 1
Wed., Jan. 21, 1920
7:30 - 9:30 P. M.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
The program for the evening will consist of one period of the week's work, including recitations and class room work in the following subjects :
Arts and Crafts
Biology
History Manual Training
Bookkeeping
Mathematics
Chemistry
Mechanical Drawing
Commerce and Industry Cooking Dressmaking Freehand Drawing
Physics
The Languages
Stenography
Typewriting
At an assembly at 9:00 o'clock in the Auditorium the School Orchestra will play. Two Physical Training Groups will give a demonstration of the daily Setting-up-Drill.
Throughout the evening the teachers will be in their class rooms to welcome visitors for conferences.
ALL FRIENDS OF THE SCHOOL ARE INVITED
A very large number of parents were present and much interest was manifested in the demonstration of recitations, in the display of school work, and in the entertainment fur- nished by the orchestra and physical training groups.
Honor To Our Heroes
I wish to give public recognition, at this time, of the tab- lets which have been placed on the walls of the school in honor of the boys who went from this school to serve their country in the World War. Two beautiful tablets, one of the graduates of the school, and the other of the undergraduates who served in the war, were prepared by our art teachers, Blanche S. Bradford and Helen F. Lyon, who gave unstintingly their talent and time to honor our young men in the war. The other, a beautiful bronze tablet, was presented by the pupils of the school in honor of the boys who died in the service. This was formally presented at the graduation exercises last June. This tablet was made by a firm composed of graduates of the school, T. F. McGann & Company, and is in every sense symbolic of the honor and affection of all who have been mem- bers of the Somerville High School for the boys who gave their lives in loyal defense of their country.
Credit For Music
The recognition of applied music as a part of the school curriculum not only brought to our attention a great many pu- · pils who are studying music outside of school, and who are desirous of getting diploma credit therein, but has also cre-
109
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
ated renewed interest among the many pupils who have there- by registered as members of the orchestra, school band, fife and drum corps, glee clubs, etc.
The following figures are extremely interesting, and surely indicate a great appreciation of music in the school.
Enrolled in applied music. -
Boys
Girls
Total
Piano
6
64
70
Violin
4
5
9
Cornet
2
3
5
Voice
1
5
6
Trumpet
1
..
1
Drums
1 .:
In the school band and kindred organizations, the follow- ing pupils have registered :
Boys
Girls
Total
Drum
50
18
68
Fife
22
31
53
Trumpet
7
7
Horn
2
2
Trombone
3
3
Baritone
1
1
Bass
3
3
Piccolo
1
..
4
Saxophone
1
..
1
94
49
143
7
In the school orchestra there are 48 pupils playing the following instruments :
Boys
Girls
Total
Piano
1
1
2
Violin
14
11
25
Viola
1
..
1
'Cello
2
2
Bass
1
1
Cornet
3
3
6
Trumpet
1
..
1
Flute
1
. .
1
Piccolo
1
..
1
Clarinet
1
1
Melophone
1
1
Saxophone
2
2
Trombone
2
2
Drum
1
1
Tympani
1
..
-
-
1
31
17
48
.
1
1
15
78
93
..
..
..
..
..
1
Clarinet
4
..
-
1
'Cello
1
..
1
..
.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
The Girls' Glee Club has an enrollment of sixty pupils. . The Boys' Glee Club has an enrollment of thirty pupils. The total number of pupils registered in the music courses is 374; girls 204, boys 170.
Enrollment of the School by Courses, December, 1920.
III Yr.
Courses
Boys
Girls
Total
College
35
43
78
General
26
29
55
Scientific
41
...
41
Normal
13
13
Commercial
22
109
131
Grand total
124
194
318
II Yr.
Courses
Boys
Girls
Total
College
54
91
145
General
55
42
97
Scientific
119
....
119
50-50
6
6
Normal
22
22
Commercial
62
272
334
Grand total
290
433
723
I Yr.
Courses
Boys
Girls
Total
College
66
45
111
General
85
23
108
Scientific
102
....
4
Commercial
73
234
307
50-50
....
3
3
Grand total
326
309
635
Summary
Courses
III Yr.
II Yr.
I Yr.
Total
College
78
145
111
334
General
55
97
108
260
Scientific
41
119
102
262
Normal
13
22
4
39
Commercial
131
334
307
772
50-50
....
6
3
9
Grand total
318
723
635
1676
.
....
....
....
4
102
Normal
....
·
Two interesting observations should be made from the above tabulation.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
1. The size of the General Course, 262 pupils out of 1676, giving a much larger proportion of general pupils than we have had in previous years. This would seem to imply that many pupils realize that neither the College Course nor the Commercial Course furnishes the best fitting for the particu- lar plans which they have in mind.
2. The establishing of a 50-50 course, that is, the Domestic Science course authorized by the State Board of Education wherein girls may devote 50 percent of their time to house- hold arts subjects and the other 50 percent to academic sub- jects, this course being state-aided. It is to be hoped that this course will become much larger as it is truly beneficial to the school and to the pupils.
The Preparatory Course.
The result of preparation for college last year, although not satisfactory to us was nevertheless commendable. When thousands of young people had been turned away by the colleges because they had no room to accommodate them and when, therefore, the very best only of those applying were admitted, it is worth noting that Wellesley College from six pupils 'pre- senting themselves for examination from our school admitted five. Of nine girls taking examinations for Women's Colleges seven passed. Of twelve boys taking examinations for college, seven passed. It should be noted in stating the case for the schools of the present day in contrast to the old days that the recommendation of the school is not now required in order for a boy to present himself for examination. As a result, failures are often foreseen, but with no power on the part of the school to prevent them.
Honors to Our Graduates at the Colleges.
The following pupils, all of whom received their college preparation in our comprehensive high school, have been granted special honors at college.
Class of 1016
ARRINGTON, RUTHI
Radcliffe. Winner of $200 Scholarship for passing best entrance examination. Won scholarship each year of college course. Phi Beta Kappa.
ARRINGTON, WINNIFRED
Radcliffe. Winner of scholarship each year of col- lege course. Phi Beta Kappa.
MURRAY, ARNOLD
Harvard. Price Greenleaf Scholarship.
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ANNUAL REPORTS.
WEISMAN, BELLA
Boston University. Scholarship each year. Phi Beta Kappa. NEWTON, CARL
Dartmouth. Rhodes Scholarship. Rufus Choate Schol- arship at Dartmouth.
Class of 1917
COLE, RUSSELL
Tufts. Leader of class and of college in scholastic standing. Elected valedictorian. (Died shortly be- fore graduation).
COYLE, DORIS
Boston University. Phi Beta Kappa.
CAREY, FREDERICK M.
Harvard. Scholarship each year. Foreign Fellowship at graduation. Made Phi Beta Kappa in Junior Year. BARRETT, GERALD R.
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