USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1922 > Part 23
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Sight Saving Class
In accordance with plans disclosed in the last annual re- port the sight saving class was established by the School Committee last June. This class is located in the Highland School and is properly equipped and has at present an attend- ance of ten pupils.
As the children who ought to attend this class are scat- tered about the city, it becomes with some of them a prob- lem how to get to the school. Parents of some who attend are asking for transportation because they are not able to meet the daily expense for carfare. It is the practice in other communities where such classes are conducted to provide carfares. In order that this school may fully meet the pur- poses for which it is established, it is desirable that carfares be provided for those pupils who live at a long distance from the school.
Attendance
For the first quarter of the present school year, the per- centage of attendance for all the day schools of the city, with- out the Continuation Schools, was 95.9%. The percent of average attendance for the school year ended June 30, 1922, was 94.2%. This is the highest annual percent since 1915, when it was 94.5%. The percent of average attendance since
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that year is as follows: 1916, 93.4; 1917, 93.7; 1918, 92.2; 1919, 91.2; 1920, 91.9; 1921, 93.6; 1922, 94.2.
The low rate of attendance during the war and shortly after may have been caused by the general unrest or by the fact that many children had part-time jobs after school tak- ing their attention in a large part, away from the thoughts of school obligations. The present rate shows an improve- ment over former conditions. Apart from the change in the times, various other reasons contribute to better attendance. Teachers are making extra exertions to secure good attend- ance and they are having greater success than attended sim- ilar movements during the years just passed. One of the important lessons to be learned during childhood is the value of constant and sustained response to duty. School offenders of all sorts are usually found among those whose attendance is poor. Most juvenile court cases are those of children who are out of school either through truancy or irregular attend- ance. Most successful scholarship is found among children. whose attendance is constant. These facts indicate clearly the importance of regular attendance. The schools cannot train the child who is absent nor can the home make up to the child the loss which absence causes. There is, therefore, the strongest reason for the closest cooperation between home and school in the matter of insuring the regular attendance of all children.
Thrift
Instruction in thrift has been given in all the schools even more vigorously this year than at any other time. The results of this work are gratifying. The methods employed and the amounts deposited in the school savings bank are shown in the following statement prepared by George I. Bowden, Chair- man of a Committee of Supervising Principals on Thrift :
I submit the following report for the Committee on School banks for the year of 1922. The present year has been, on the whole, a year of progress.
School banking is now carried on in all of our schools and its value to the children is better appreciated by the teachers than ever before. At first this undertaking was looked upon by many of us as a troublesome interruption in an already over-crowded day. It is now regarded as a very important and helpful aid in forming the valuable habit of thrift in our pupils.
The fact that so many of our people are spending their money as fast and in many cases faster than they are earning
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it is looked upon by many of our most thoughtful men as a danger to the very foundations of our social and economic order.
The schools have a very important duty to the rising generation in this matter. It is not enough to give them the power to earn more money, for it is known beyond a doubt that the better the children are educated the greater will be their earning power. We must teach them the value of money, how to spend it wisely. how to save and safely invest a part of it.
That $38,934.10 has been deposited in the Somerville Institution For Savings by 4400 children is a very convinc- ing fact to show that thrift is being taught in our schools.
We are sure that a means of depositing the children's savings at frequent periods. such as is afforded by the school banks. is essential to this instruction. for the amount saved during the summer vacation is much less than that saved in the same length of time when the school banks are in operation.
The number of children in our schools who are deposi- tors is not as large as it is in many communities that have school banks.
Is not the number of children who are learning to save of greater importance than the total amount saved? Can- pot this number be increased during the coming year?
Health
The health of public school children is the joint concern of the School Committee and the Board of Health. More remotely. it is a concern also of the Commissioner of Public Buildings, who has charge of the school buildings including sanitary conditions, heating. lighting, and furniture. The Board of Health employs and directs the school physicians. It also employs two school nurses. The direction of the school nurses, however, is through the courtesy of the Board of Health exercised by the Superintendent of Schools. The School Committee has charge of all the school activities de- signed to promote the health of pupils through instruction, physicial training, and general care. Health instructions are given in accordance with a course in hygiene extending through the elementary schools, and the first two years of the Junior High. Physical training exercises are conducted for the purpose of promoting physical development and health. These exercises are conducted under the direction of a Director, Assistant Physical Director, and two cadet teachers. The Assistant Physical Director has charge of the
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cxtension work in games and athletics designed to promote participation by pupils in outdoor games after school. The plan for this work which was adopted by the School Board at the January meeting has been carried on during the year. Many obstacles have prevented the rapid and successful de- velopment of this plan. None of them have been of a na- ture, however, permanently to retard the work. With the experience of this year to guide us it ought to be possible for those in control of this matter to make a larger showing next year. Health work in the schools has received emphasis by the entrance into this field, this year, of the State De- partment of Education. This department has appointed of- ficers whose function it will be to promote the interests of this work throughout the state. Without going further into details of this matter, I wish to report that much interesting and successful effort is being put into this part of the school undertaking, and that the importance of the physical de- vclopment and health needs of the pupils of the public schools is likely to grow in importance and the amount of attention demanded for it. There are some important questions now requiring consideration and answer. These will, doubtless, be considered by the School Committee during the coming year.
Credits for Music
In 1919 the School Committee authorized the giving of diploma credits in the High School for outside study of mu- sic. A method of procedure was carefully prepared and the plan was put into operation in the following September. As this work has been going on now for two years, some idea can be obtained of the interest which pupils have taken in this opportunity and of the extent and character of the work in music which has been fostered thereby. Therefore, I have asked Wesley A. Maynard, High School Instructor in Band Music, an enthusiastic believer in the value of the study of music, to write a statement about the present status of this work. His statement follows :
Credited Music in the Senior High School
Since the School Committee, in the summer of 1919, au- thorized the giving of credit for music in the High Schools, there has been a constant growth of interest, yearly increase- in the number of pupils enrolling for credit, and steady im- provement in results attained.
This year 75 pupils have been entered by their parents
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or guardians for the two points of credit allowed for work under private teachers outside of school. The number of pu- pils, though not much in excess of last year, includes a great- er diversity of musical activity, the voice and 8 instruments being comprehended. Instruction on piano is being taken by A7; violin by 18; voice by 5; drums and xylophone 2; clari- net, trumpet, cornet and alto horn, 1 each.
The music teachers of Somerville are not organized in- to an association, such as exists in many other communities and while such associations have advocated and endorsed and cooperated with the system of credit for applied music real- izing that it furthers the cause of music, the talent of the pupils and the standards of the music teaching profession, some of the Somerville teachers unfortunately have not looked with favor upon the movement, and have not encouraged their pupils to enroll for credit. If some means could be found of securing the united interest of the local private teachers the opportunity offered by the school would be taken more ad- vantage of.
There are 385 pupils enrolled for the one point of credit given for membership and satisfactory performance in the different musical organizations of the school which include orchestra, band, giris' fife, drum and bugle corps, boys' fife and drum corps, mandolin club, senior-junior girls' glee club, sophomore girls' glee club and boys' glee club. These organ- izations take a prominent part in the functions of the school and in such other public affairs as are authorized. They are an important factor in the strengthening of the school spirit and the upbuilding of loyalty to the school and the commu- mity. The band and drum corps especially have an impor- tant part in the physical training program and in the outdoor activities of the school. The other organizations, by their na- ture, are associated more particularly with the indoor func- tions.
The school orchestra numbers upwards of 60 players in- cluding, but not in the right proportion, all the instruments of the modern orchestra. Some thought has been given to the proposition of dividing the orchestral players into two groups. the first of which would be a balanced team of the most com- petent performers playing music suitable for any occasion where their presence might be desired, the second being a training group from which the most proficient players would be transferred to the first group as opportunity offered or need arose.
The school band, numbering some 30 members, and the iwo drum corps, numbering about as many players in each,
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are composed of pupils able to play upon the necessary in- struments. A knowledge of music and an ability to perform is required of members of the band, as also of the orchestra. The experience gained by pupils who are members of these organizations is chiefly in ensemble playing and an increased knowledge of musical literature. Instruction on fife or drum is given to such members of the drum corps as are in need of it, the pupils so instructed being added to those organizations as soon as their musical ability warrants.
There are at present 47 girls, either playing or learning to play fife, drum, or bugle and 67 boys who can either play fife or drum or are learning to play the fife. In addition there are 48 boys who have enrolled for instruction on the arum who have as yet received no attention owing to the fact that the instructor of field music is employed for only two days a week, and that amount of time is more than filled by the amount of work now being carried on.
The mandolin club, which has a membership of 24, is the newest of the musical activities, having been started for the first time in the Fall of 1921.
Interest in singing among the girls has increased to such an extent recently that this year, as last, it was found ex- pedient to organize two glee clubs, one of senior and junior girls and another of members of the sophomore class. The boys who sing, though less numerous, are fully as much inter- ested in that art as are the girls. Their organization numbers 157 voices.
The musical activities fostered by the school, besides pro- moting a greater general interest in music, have awakened in a considerable number of pupils a desire to give expres- sion to their musical sense and have in some individual in- stances promoted a proficiency in music which has brought not only pleasure but profit to its possessors.
Interest in, and knowledge of, music, in one form or an- other, has never been as general as now, and while the musi- cal opportunities afforded at the Senior High School are not as broad or extensive as in some more fortunate communities, they have developed to such an extent as to justify their fur- iner extension.
The further extension and development of musical op- portunities that might well be considered, and which have been found to give satisfactory results where introduced, in- clude the organization of instrumental units, such as bands and drum corps, in the junior high schools, and the estab- lishing of classes in ear training, theory, perhaps harmony, and music appreciation, the giving of musical memory tests,
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and the providing of instruction on piano, violin, and other instruments either gratuitously or at a nominal cost in either the junior or senior high schools.
paid in full to this office by
I shall institute
Accommodations
In last year's report a detailed statement was made con- cerning school accommodations. No material change has oc- curred since then to modify the application of that statement to present conditions. A vacant room in the Proctor School has been occupied by an additional class but in other respects conditions are the same as last year at this time. While this statement is true now, very important action has been taken during the present municipal year which will soon change these conditions very materially. Upon recommendation of Mayor John M. Webster, the Board of Aldermen in April of this year passed an order making provisions for a very im- portant addition to the school accommodations of the City of Somerville. These provisions as a whole constitute the largest, the most comprehensive, and the most far-reaching building program ever recommended by a mayor and author- ized by a Board of Aldermen in a single year in the City of Somerville. It is responsive to the needs of the situation as they have been expressed by the School Committee in rec- ommendations made to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.
This building program consists of a new Junior High School building to be located on Marshall Street and of ad- ditions to the Western and Southern Junior High Schools: Work began on all of these projects in the early summer and has continued vigorously ever since. The corner stone of the new school on Marshall /Street was laid with due cere- mony on November 21, 1922. It is expected that this build- ing will be finished in November, 1923. It is expected that the additions to the Southern and Western Junior High schools will be finished early in 1923 so that the over-crowd- ing in both those places will then be relieved. When these two additions are completed the conditions at the Western and Southern Junior High Schools will be very greatly improved. At the Western, an assembly room capable of seating about. 1,000 pupils and convertible into an exercise room, and lock- ers and showers for boys and girls have been provided. The new building on Marshall Street when completed will be a model in design and adaptation to use, and will be a source of pride to the city. When these improvements are all com- pleted, the junior high schools, which have so far been con- ducted under very adverse circumstances, will have an oppor-
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tunity to demonstrate plainly the efficiency which they have already attained, and will be able to add others which will be made possible by these improved accommodations.
Teachers' Council
One of the important developments in the field of school management in recent years is the Teachers' Council. As the relation of the Somerville teachers with the School Board has always been cordial and cooperative, the forming of a Teachers' Council was the natural thing to do when once it became clear that such an organization was worth while. Ac- cordingly, the School Board in June, 1921, authorized our teachers to establish and maintain a Teachers' Council. An account of this undertaking is given in the following state- ment which has been prepared at my request by George M. Hosmer, Chairman of the Teachers' Council.
Report of the Chairman of the Somerville Teachers' Council
Somerville, Massachusetts December 12, 1922.
Mr. Charles S. Clark Superintendent of Schools Somerville, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Clark :
The Teachers' Council is an outgrowth of the need for greater co-operation of the teachers with the School Board. i'wo. years ago a tentative constitution was presented by a committee chosen by the School Board. This constitution was not accepted, and further action was postponed.
In the fall of 1921 a committee was appointed of four representatives from each of the following groups : Kinder- garten, Primary and Elementary grades, Special and Voca- tional school teachers, Junior High, Senior High, American- isation and Continuation Schools, masters and masters' as- sistants.
From this representative group, five were appointed to revise the tentative constitution. * * * * As revised by this committee the constitution was presented for approval by the various representatives to their respective groups. After
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their acceptance, the School Board approved the constitution at the meeting in April, 1922.
A ballot was made of twenty nominees, two chosen by cach of ten groups. The election occurred May 10, 1922; and the Somerville Teachers' Council was organized into an ac- vive body.
The first meeting called to organize was held on June 6, 1922. The following officers were elected by ballot :
Chairman, George M. Hosmer Vice-Chairman, Frank W. Seabury Secretary, Mary L. Bryant Treasurer, Mary H. Joyce
It was voted to hold the meetings of the Council in the High School Library at 4 P. M., on the Monday preceding the last Monday of each month from September to June. The run- ning expenses of the Council are met by an annual assess- ment of ten cents from each Somerville teacher.
At the first regular meeting held on September 18, as Superintendent, you accepted our invitation to be present, congratulating the Council on its organization, and asking its co-operation in dealing with the many educational prob- lems demanding solution. The Council pledged its loyal sup- port and readiness to help in all ways affecting the welfare of the schools.
At the October meeting Miss Hazelton gave a full ac- count of the origin of the curfew ordinance, and explained the difficulties in the way of its present enforcement. It was voted to promote the observance of American Education Week, December 3 to 9. The Council, therefore, at its Novem- ber meeting made definite plans for a constructive program to interest the public in the needs of our schools. The Som- erville Post of the American Legion co-operated with the Council and invited the chairman to address them, December 7, on the need of Physical Education. A letter was sent to all the ministers of the city, urging them to preach upon the subject of Education, December 3. The local papers, at the request of the Council, gave good publicity to American Edu- cation Week. The different schools introduced special fea- tures, carrying out the purposes of the observance.
At the November meeting of the School Board the Coun- cil offered some recommendations from a report of First Grade Teachers, concerning the admission of children to the first grade: 1. To admit into Grade 1, on or before the Monday following the opening of school, all children who are six, or who will be
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before December 31, and those only.
2. To limit the number of pupils to a class in Grade 1 to forty; and the seating ca- pacity in each room to forty ; all desks and chairs in excess, of that number to be re- moved, in order to allow more room for schoolroom activities.
The Council desires to be of real service in the affairs of our schools, and hopes it may bring to bear upon the problems of the future the experience and judgment of the different groups which it represents. It also wishes to ac- knowledge your willing co-operation in every way, especial- ly in circulating with official bulletins a record of the Coun- cil's proceedings.
Respectfully submitted, (signed) GEORGE M. HOSMER, Chairman.
Professional Improvement of Teachers
The professional improvement of teachers in service is one of the most important influences affecting the charac- ter of school instruction. It is the element which, added to professional training before entering the service, determines the character of a teacher's work. Last year an inquiry taken at this time showed that a large number of our teach- ers were engaged during the school year on some kind of pro- fessional study. This condition is repeated again this year as shown by recent reports. More than 190 are engaged in some form of educational study. Such continued interest by our teachers in efforts for self-improvement cannot fail to be beneficial to our schools. Inasmuch as this is all done without expectation of material reward greater credit is due them.
Cooperating Agencies
During the year the work of the schools has been helped by cooperation of a number of interested agencies. First of all among these should be mentioned the work which teach- er's have done outside of their classroom teaching. In com- mittees and as individuals working with the Superintend- ent they have furnished substantial help in the selection of text-books, in the improvement of courses of study, and in the study of problems of educational procedure. This work
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is still going on in respect to some very important problems of school organization and procedure.
A substantial gift of money was one of the outstanding contributions from outside sources. In June 1922 a group known as the "Women of Somerville" gave the School Com- mittee $429.59 to be expended in improvements of the Den- tal Dispensary. From this gift it has been possible to pro- vide a new chair and motor.
Impetus to the study of history has been given through offers of medals and money for prize essays on historical subjects. The organizations which offered such prizes were : Major John A. Cummings, Camp 3, Sons of Veterans ; Ameri- can Legion, Post No. 19; Anne Adams Tufts Chapter, D. A. R. The Women's Christian Temperance Union offered prizes for compositions upon the "evil effects of alcohol and tobac- co."
Summary
This review has dealt briefly with many things which are being done in our schools but more have been passed over without comment lest this report exceed proper limits. The selection, however, has been made for the purpose of showing the larger parts of the undertaking and what each is doing. The dominant note of the whole story is the high- est development of the individual, both for his own sake and for the sake of the social order of which he is a part. This note is dominant today more than at any other time in the history of public education in this country. The right of every child to have a chance for making the most of him- self is conceded. It is a proud boast that the public schools are for "all the children of all the people." It is recognized that children differ from one another in interests, aptitudes, and abilities. It is no longer attempted to conduct schools as though pupils were all alike. The child is the center of interest in whose behalf books, studies, equipment, and all other agencies of education are used to the end that he may attain his highest possible destiny. As children differ from one another so must agencies used and opportunities offered differ. As children are alike so must agencies used and op- portunities offered be common to all. Account has been giv- en in this report of the different opportunities which are now provided for our children. These are in the main different types of schools or courses of study. They are provided and
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maintained to meet the most outstanding differences in the needs of children. Much more can and should be done in this direction when means permit. As the dominant note dictates these provisions for the development of the individ- ual as such, so it compels the use of these provisions for the social welfare of the individual and of the society of which he is now a ward, but of which he will soon be an active par- ticipant to contribute his share in determining its nature and destiny. What the children in the public schools be- come, so will society be. Manifestly the schools must train the pupils in qualities which will make them capable of main- taining the institutions of a democracy. The schools must consciously visualize these qualities and consciously and con- stantly strive to develop them in all pupils. The means for doing this is instruction. Instruction is the function of teachers. In all types of schools or courses, in all grades of all schools, instruction is the means and teachers instruct. It is then through instruction from teachers that the pupil must be made fit for the duties which he must assume as a member of society, an equal of every other member under the law. As demand for this social training is more insis- tent now than ever before, so now, more than ever before, the school must find ways and means for performing this service. As this can only be done through instruction, the materials of instruction must be consciously and constantly used to this end. The statements which have been made by muy associates and included in this report all bear testimony to the fact that the work of our schools is consciously motiva- ted by these ideals and that the work is being vigorously and successfully carried on.
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