USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1923 > Part 9
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168,515
Total circulation (A. L. A. rules) .
155,595
106,319
67,788
68,336
48,701
446,739
Accessions
Central
West
East
Union
Total
Volumes in library, Dec. 31, 1922 .
87,752
13,636
7,092
7,488
115,968
Volumes added
4,141
976
739
1,041
6,897
Volumes transferred to
40
15
2
0
57
Volumes restored
18
5
5
3
31
Total additions
4,199
996
746
1,044
6,985
Volumes withdrawn
3,940
389
686
1,530
6,545
Volumes transferred from
15
0
1
41
57
Volumes lost
248
63
35
358
704
Total reductions
4,203
452
722
1,929
7,306
Net gain
544
24
885
321
Volumes in library, Dec. 31, 1923 .
87,748
14,180
7,116
6,603
115,647
Registration
Central
West
East
Union
Total
Borrowers registered Dec. 31, 1922
6,495
5,151
2,574
2,567
16,787
Expirations in 1923
.
.
.
3,386
2,860
1,366
1,389
9,001
Registrations in 1923
3,461
2,500
1,232
1,203
8,396
Borrowers registered Dec. 31, 1923 .
6,570
4,791
2,440
2,381
16,182
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
ANNUAL
REPORTS.
1
·
.
·
.
Net loss
4
.
.
.
Expenditures in Library Department
Per capita expenditure for library service . $0.536 Expenditure per book lent .$0.116
158
Volumes circulated, adult
.
.
159
PUBLIC LIBRARY
APPENDIX B
American Library Association Form for Uniform Statistics
Annual report for year ended December 31, 1923
Name of library: The Public Library of the City of Somerville, Mass.
City: Somerville State: Massachusetts
Name of librarian: George Hill Evans
Date of founding.
1872
Population served (latest estimate)
97,000
Assessed valuation of city .
$92,519,400 00
Rate of tax levy for library purposes: 67 cents on each
$1,000 valuation
Terms of use: Free for lending Free for reference
Total number of agencies 178
Consisting of Central Library 1 ·
Branches
3
High School Department 1
School Rooms 168
Institutions 5
Number of days open during year (Central Library) .
302
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library) .
72
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library) 72
INCREASE
Number of volumes at beginning of year .
115,968
Number of volumes added during year by purchase .
6,491
Number of volumes added during year by gift or ex- change
314
Number of volumes added during year by binding mate- rial not otherwise counted .
92
Number of volumes added during year by lost books re- stored
31
Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year 7,249
Total number at end of year .
115,647
USE
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of volumes of fic- tion lent for home use
209,411
94,535
303,946
Total number of volumes lent for home use
278,224
168,515
446,739
Number of pictures, photo-
graphs and prints lent for home use
........ ..
............
2.777
REGISTRATION
Adult
Juvenile
Total
Number of borrowers reg- istered during year .
4,692
3,704
8,396
Total number of regis-
tered borrowers .
8,939
7,243
16,182
Registration period, years .
2
160
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Number of periodicals and newspapers currently re- ceived :
Titles
224
Copies
506
Number of publications issued during year : Bulletins
7
Number of staff, library service
37
Number of staff, janitor service .
6
FINANCE
Receipts from :
City tax levy :
Library Department
$46,744 51
Public Buildings Department 13,920 00
Endowment Funds
1,102 63
Fines .
2,281 71
Other sources (Dog licenses)
2,198 78
Total
$66,247 63
Payments for:
Library Department:
Books
$11,053 26
Periodicals
1,344 77
Pictures
246 75
Music
180 74
Binding
3,133 98
Salaries, library service
32,471 31
Supplies
847 01
Printing
992 65
Telephone
239 70
Transportation, postage, express,
freight, etc.
1,206 23
Other maintenance
367 32
Total
$52,083 72
Public Buildings Department:
Salaries, janitor service
$ 6,859 01
Heat
2,234 44
Light
2,138 46
Furniture
1,264 46
Permanent improvements
428 92
Other maintenance
935 19
Total
$13,860 48
Total maintenance
$65,944 20
Balance from Appropriation, Library Dept.
$ 8 86
Balance from Endowment Funds
235 05
Balance from Appropriation,
Public
Buildings Department
59 52
Total balance
$ 303 43
161
SANITARY DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF SANITARY DEPARTMENT
January 31, 1924.
To the Honorable, the Mayor, and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.
Gentlemen :
The report of the Sanitary Department for the year 1923 is respectfully submitted herewith.
Collection of Ashes and Paper
Ashes (Cubic Yards)
Paper (Cubic Yards)
February
12,520
3,580
April
12,400
4,080
June
8,450
4,180
July
8,370
4,320
August
6,807
4,420
September
6,178
3,760
October
7,897
4,220
November
10,105
3,600
December
10,350
3,470
Totals
120,392
46,720
January
12,686
3,700
March
13,549
3,380
May
11,080
3,740
During the year the Sanitary Department paid to the Highway Department $3,359.10 for the use of teams and $1,363.50 for board of horses.
The paper and combustible materials are being disposed of at the incinerator plant, the city receiving a revenue of $400. per year for the paper. The garbage is collected by contract, twice a week from May 15th to October 15th and once a week for the period from October 15th to the following May 15th. Ashes and non-combustible refuse are collected principally with automobile trucks on account of the distance
162
ANNUAL REPORTS
to the dumps used by the department which are located in Medford and subject to the rules and regulations of the Board of Health of the City of Medford.
The Medford dumps are fast filling up and I recommend that Somerville take action in the near future to provide dumping facilities for its refuse.
Respectfully submitted,
EDGAR T. MAYHEW, Supt. of Sanitary Dept.
1 163
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
School Committee Rooms, December 31, 1923.
Ordered, that the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the annual report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the Board to the opinions or recommenda- tions made therein; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers ; and that 1,000 copies be printed separate- ly.
CHARLES S. CLARK, Secretary of School Board.
164
ANNUAL REPORTS.
School Committee, 1923
OSCAR W. CODDING
WALTER I. CHAPMAN
.
.
.
.
.
Chairman Vice-Chairman
Members EX-OFFICIIS
JOHN M. WEBSTER, Mayor ·
WALDO D. PHELPS, President Board of Aldermen
WARD ONE
JULIA A. CROWLEY, . FRANCIS J. FITZPATRICK,
WARD TWO
DANIEL H. BRADLEY,
CHRISTOPHER J. MULDOON,
WARD THREE
CHARLES W. BOYER,
OSCAR W. CODDING,
66 Avon street 59 Vinal avenue
KATHERINE C. COVENEY, . EDWARD I. TRIPP,
.
.
73 Marshall street 21 Wigglesworth street
WARD FIVE
HARRY M. STOODLEY, .
.
283 Highland avenue 64 Hudson street
WARD SIX
WALTER I. CHAPMAN,
WALTER FRYE TURNER, .
WARD SEVEN
HERBERT CHOLERTON, PAUL O. CURTIS, .
94 College avenue 41 Mason street
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.
Superintendent's Office Force
Mary A. Clark, 42 Highland avenue.
Mildred A. Merrill, 26 Cambria street.
H. Madeline Kodad, 104 Sharon street, West Medford.
Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman street.
Ruth O. Elliott, 4 Lincoln Place.
Beatrice M. Hersom, 62 Highland avenue.
Board Meetings
January 29. April 30.
February 26. May 28.
March 26. June 25.
September 24. December 31. October 29. November 26. 8:15 o'clock.
76 Boston street 14 Delaware street
34 Pinckney street 2 Austin street
19 Concord avenue 88 Concord avenue
WARD FOUR
MINNIE S. TURNER, .
18-A Central street 15 Highland road
.
165
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
Standing Committees, 1923
Note .- The member first named is chairman.
District I. - Crowley, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon. PRESCOTT, HANSCOM, BENNETT
District II. - Bradley, Muldoon, Crowley. KNAPP, PERRY, BAXTER
District III. - Codding, Boyer, Bradley. POPE, CUMMINGS
District. IV. - Coveney, Tripp, Boyer. EDGERLY, GLINES
District V. - Stoodley ,Miss Turner, Tripp. FORSTER, BINGHAM, PROCTOR
District VI. - Turner, Chapman, Miss Turner. CARR, MORSE, DURELL, BURNS, BROWN
District VII. - Cholerton, Curtis, Turner. HIGHLAND, CUTLER, LINCOLN, LOWE
High Schools - Chairman Cholerton, Bradley, Stoodley, Crowley, Codding, Coveney, Chapman.
Finance - Chairman Stoodley, Fitzpatrick, Tripp, Muldoon, Codding, Chapman, Cholerton, Webster, Phelps.
Text Books and Courses of Study - Chairman Chapman, Muldoon, Crowley, Boyer, Coveney, Miss Turner, Curtis.
Industrial Education - Chairman Tripp, Turner, Crowley, Muldoon, Boyer, Miss Turner, Curtis.
School Accommodations - Chairman Boyer, Cholerton, Fitzpatrick, Bradley, Tripp, Stoodley, Turner, Webster, Phelps.
Teachers - Chairman Miss Turner, Chapman, Fitzpatrick, Muldoon, Codding, Coveney, Cholerton.
Health, Physical Training, and Athletics - Chairman Curtis, Boyer, Fitzpatrick, Bradley, Tripp, Miss Turner, Turner.
Rules and Regulations - Chairman Turner, Crowley, Bradley, Cod- ding, Coveney, Stoodley, Curtis.
166
ANNUAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Hereby I submit a report upon the conditions of the schools for the year now closing, the fifty-second annual re- port of the schools of this city and the sixteenth which I have prepared. In accordance with our custom, there is included in this document matter prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens of Somerville as well as the report of the Superintendent of Schools. The former consists large- ly of tables dealing with facts of attendance and of cost, while the latter has to do mainly with the work of instruction or the educational side of the school undertaking. In connec- tion with the former, a condition may well be stated which, though long true, is not understood by all of our citizens. This fact is that for school expenditures the School Commit- tee has charge of and is responsible for only the sums of money spent for salaries of teachers and officers and the sums of money spent for supplies used by teachers and pupils. All other expenditures for public schools, including cost for new construction, repairs, and upkeep of buildings, fuel, light, janitor service and supplies, are controlled by other agencies of the City Government. While, therefore, under the law, the School Committee is required to make annual statements of costs including all of these factors, its function in respect to the latter is only that of securing the statistical data from other sources and compiling it in required form related to its own expenditures, viz., those of salaries and school supplies. All of these matters are set forth in the tables to be found in the appendix of this report.
In reporting annually upon the condition of the schools, the Superintendent cannot expect to present startling or out- standing changes in each report. Rather should he expect to tell of things done which denote growth, improvement, and progress accomplished gradually but surely. The same mate- rials enter in to the work of each year, pupils, teachers, and the ways and conditions under which they accomplish the work of the schools. Nevertheless, each year has distinctive features which though not spectacular, are highly important and significant of the general character of the school under- takings. Some of these will be set forth in this report. The limitations of space compel a brevity in such treatment which . excludes many details and citations which would be interest-
167
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
ing and informative, but enough has been included to show tendencies and to furnish some insight into things accom- plished and others under way.
MEMBERSHIP
The number of pupils in the day schools the first of December was 14,664, an increase of 245 over the number belonging in December 1922. The average membership for the school year which ended June 1923 was 14,308, an increase of 304. These figures show a continuation of the steady growth in the membership of the schools. The facts of mem- bership in the several large divisions of the school system are shown in the following table in comparison with correspond- ing facts for the same time last year. 1
High
Junior High
Elementary in- Voca- cluding kgn. tional
Total
Increase
Dec.
1923
1994
3584
9010
76
14,664
245
Dec.
1922
1962
3493
8878
86
14,419
The increase in membership for all schools was somewhat larger than that of the preceding year. This increase was shared by all of the main divisions of the schools, the Voca- tional School alone, showing a loss. This is explained by the Principal, Harry L. Jones, by 12 boys leaving recently to go into the industries. The automobile shop and the woodwork- ing shop have a full complement of pupils but the machine shop has vacancies. It is expected that these will be filled by the boys who will enter the first of January. The increase in the High and Junior High Schools was nearly equal to that in all of the first six grades. This fact confirms the statement made in my report last year that the High School is still growing and that we have not reached the limit of the tend- ency of pupils to remain longer in school. In a report of a survey of the schools of New Bedford, issued February 1922, tables were printed showing the percentage which the pupils under each grade of instruction in each of ten Massachusetts cities is of the whole enrolment in those cities. From those tables are taken the facts which are combined below.
Table Showing the Average of Percentages of Pupils Under Each Grade of Instruction in Ten Massachusetts Cities Com- pared with the Percentage of Each Grade in the Somerville Schools Taken from the Same Table
Grade
1 2
3 9.5
9.4
5 9.7
6 9.3 9.5
7 8.4 9.1
8 6.7
9 10
11
12
Average
14.1 11.8 11.1 11.2 10.4
6.5
4.4 5.8
2.9
2.4
8.
7.4
3.8
4.6
Somerville
11.6 11.2
4
168
ANNUAL REPORTS.
The average percentage of the total in grades nine to twelve is 16.5%. The percentage of pupils in those grades in Somerville is 21.6%, the highest of all the ten cities.
In another table showing the number of pupils in each hundred receiving certain grades of instruction the average for the last four years of the course, grades nine to twelve inclusive, was 16.5. The figure for Somerville was twenty- two, again the highest of all the cities considered.
Voluntary attendance in the schools begins to be tested during or at the close of the sixth year. In the succeeding grades children by becoming fourteen years of age escape from the control of the compulsory attendance law and are, there- fore, free to leave school. The table quoted shows that the Somerville schools lead this group of cities in the holding power of its secondary schools. Retention of the pupils in the higher grades has crowded the Junior High Schools and the Senior High School. The carrying of a heavy load in the grades of secondary instruction inevitably tends to in- crease the cost of the schools, but no surer index of good schools can be found than the persistence of attendance in the higher grades of instruction where only the appeal of self-interest keeps the pupil in school.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOLS
Organization
The next matter to be touched upon briefly is the organi- zation of the school undertaking. Our day schools are now organized on what has come to be known as 6-3-3 plan,-three years of high school, three years of intermediate or junior high school,, six years of elementary school. Below the ele- mentary schools are kindergartens, seven in number. Besides these, there are a Vocational School for Boys, Continuation School for Boys and Girls, special classes for retarded chil- dren, and for children of defective vision. The Evening Schools consist of high and elementary academic classes, Prac- tical Arts classes for Women, and Americanization Classes for men and women. The organization of the school system is comprehensive, well-laid out, and well-articulated. The means for accomplishing its work have been provided upon a careful planning to secure a maximum efficiency within the expenditure which our circumstances make possible. More- over, its plan permits, without structural change, expansion in any direction where a larger service to the community justifies additional expenditure. Illustrations of these gen-
169
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
eral statements will be afforded in the discussions following in this report.
High School
The Somerville High School is a school of the compre- hensive type, providing under one organization the various kinds of secondary instruction. This type of school has been chosen, after careful consideration, as best suited for our con- ditions. While there is difference both in practice and in opinion as to the relative merits of the general high school and the special high school, it is probably safe to say that the preponderance of professional opinion is in favor of the gen- eral high school. The broadest principle applicable to a de- termination of this question is the principle of democracy. Schools are part of the life of children. Schools are the agencies by means of which children are prepared for taking their part as men and women in a world where they must live and work and sustain the institutions of civilized life. Con- tact with and understanding of his fellow men are essential to full preparation of an individual for the duties of citizenship. in a democracy. The general high school affords this oppor- tunity to a larger extent than does the special high school. Its justification on this ground seems to be beyond successful attack, but on the other hand, it is the task of the general high school to provide for its students instruction in the vari- ous subjects which they pursue fully adequate to their needs. This places upon the general high school the necessity of meet- ing successfully in every branch of its educational under- taking the competition of schools devoted wholly to one or another specialty. Thus the general high school has not only the duty to provide a broad and liberal commingling of stu- dents on a democratic basis but also to provide instruction of a special nature as efficient as that which can be found in a school of single aim. This then is the field of the Somerville High School and this is the standard which it must set up for itself in its educational undertakings.
Junior High School
The second division of the school system is the intermedi- ate or junior high school, consisting of the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades. This type of school has been character- ized by Dr. Snedden recently as "an administrative means -- a necessary means-to essential forms of improvement of the education of young people from 12 to 15 years of age." This description of a junior high school points out the character- istic features of that new type of school organization. On
170
ANNUAL REPORTS.
-
the organization side, it is an administrative means. On the educational side, it is an improvement of the education of young people from 12 to 15 years of age. As an organization means, its characteristic features are (a) the assembling in one school of a considerable number of pupils of the inter- mediate grades and (b) the providing of ways and means for differentiation in the educational processes. On the educa- tional side, its characteristic features are the organizing of the course of study in such a way as to vary instruction to. suit the different abilities and aptitudes of pupils, while at the same time providing a considerable body of instruction com- mon to all pupils. The variations provided in the educational program are determined by (a) the needs of the pupils and (b) the ability of the community to meet the cost of such provision. In the development of the junior high school in Somerville, these fundamental characteristics have been kept clearly in mind. The organization features have been afforded by the grouping of children of the intermediate grades in four centers. The educational part of the program has been well carried out by the provision of a suitable number of variations in the program of studies, and both parts of the undertaking have been carried on well within the financial ability of the community. The most outstanding feature of the last year in this department of the school work has been the action affecting the organization of two of these schools. It has been decided to combine the Eastern and Northern Schools in one organization to be housed in the new school building on Marshall Street. This action will eliminate two small schools and create one large one, an administrative measure of wisdom and consequence. By means of this action, condi- tions more favorable to the educational objectives of the school will be provided and economies will be effected in the administration of the educational program. When this con- solidating is made Somerville will have three junior high schools each large enough to make effective variations of studies economically possible, with each school within a rea- sonable walking distance from the homes of the pupils who will attend.
Elementary
The third division of the school enterprise consists of the first six grades which for lack of a better descriptive term we are now calling the elementary schools. The first three grades are primary in character and the upper three are elementary or grammar in character. The distinctive administrative feature of these schools is their organization into administra-
171
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
tive and supervisory districts under the control of supervis- ing principals. This condition is due to the action of the School Committee August 7, 1919, whereby all the elementary schools were grouped in districts, each under the management of a responsible officer called a supervising principal. Be- sides several large schools with non-teaching principals, Somerville, like most New England cities, had many small schools whose principals were engaged in teaching most, if not all, of their time. This plan afforded for such schools no ade- quate administrative or supervisory management. Under the new plan, a supervising principal is provided for every ele- mentary school of the city and the schools are so grouped as to necessitate only a reasonable number of such officers. This plan not only gives every elementary school adequate admin- istrative educational supervision, but it assures to the' elemen- tary schools officers of suitable qualifications for this work by the means of salaries sufficient to attract such officers. This is an organization system of the utmost importance to the elementary schools, changing them from a condition of scattered and divided authority to one of organized and unified . responsibility.
Kindergartens
The kindergartens from an administrative point of view are open to the charge of incompleteness. They are highly appreciated by the communities fortunate enough to have them and greatly desired by the communities where they do not exist. The only excuse for the present condition is that it is better to have half a loaf than no bread. As soon as possible, kindergartens should be provided in connection with every elementary school. This is the more important because of conditions in Somerville which give so little opportunity for free life outdoors for young children, and secondly, be- cause of the fact that setting the age for admission to the first grade at six years makes the provision of kindergarten instruction for the five-year-olds highly desirable.
Vocational Schools
Vocational education is now provided in the day schools by the Vocational School for Boys and by the Household Arts Department in the High School. These opportunities are adequate for the present and are capable of indefinite expan- sion as additional demands are made upon them.
1
172
ANNUAL REPORTS.
Continuation School
As soon as circumstances permit, this school should be withdrawn from its present unsuitable location in the High School Building and placed in rooms where its work can be done under conditions as favorable as those provided for other day schools. It seems that such a change can be made in the near future.
Special Classes
Atypical classes have heretofore been limited in number by the lack of rooms where such classes were specially neces- sary. This condition will soon be changed and it will be possible to open others in the eastern part of the city where they are greatly needed.
Evening Schools
These schools have been organized this year under the heading of High, Elementary, Practical Arts, and American- ization. The High School has occupied portions of the High School Building. Elementary Schools have been located in the Bell Schoolhouse and in the Cliff Schoolhouse. Ameri- canization Classes have been scattered about the city in vari- ious schoolhouses where classes could be assembled. The Practical Arts Classes for Women have been conducted in the High School Building and in the Cliff Schoolhouse. All of these classes have had suitable accommodations for their work. Each type of school is sufficient for the present needs of the community. Expansion is possible whenever increased demand makes it necessary.
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