USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 12
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1925 > Part 12
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I wish to take this opportunity to express my apprecia- tion for the helpful spirit, the kind cooperation and willing as- sistance given me thus far by Mr. Clark, and all those with whom it has been my pleasure to plan and work in our new endeavor.
Respectfully submitted,
E. BELLA WISEMAN,
Director.
196
ANNUAL REPORTS
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance of pupils at school has always been recognized by teachers and school officers as a matter of great importance. Among the most carefully maintained records of the schools are those which show the attendance of in- dividual pupils and the percentage of attendance of classes, schools, and school systems. A low percentage of attendance indicates a lessening of efficiency of the school organization. Hence school teachers and school officers use all proper ef- forts to secure regularity and punctuality of attendance on the part of all pupils. For a number of years the causes of absenteeism have seemingly been increasing and the task of the schools in preserving a good rate of attendance has been growing harder. During this time no statistics have been available to the public showing the annual per cent of at- tendance for the school systems of the State. Recently, how- ever, the Department of Education issued a statement giving the per cent of attendance and the rank of towns and cities in Massachusetts for the school year ending June 30, 1924. This shows the average of the State to be 93.3%. In a let- ter accompanying the statistical sheets, Commissioner Smith says, "the percentage of attendance for the State as a whole seems very creditable." Somerville with a percentage of 93.9% is in the first third of the cities and towns. Only seven of the larger cities have a higher percentage of attend- ance than Somerville. The standing of our city in this State list is a good one. It is creditable alike to the character of our people, to the disposition of our pupils, and to the suc- cessful management of our principals and teachers.
WORK OF THE SCHOOLS
As there have been no changes during the year in the program of studies of the schools, the report of the work of this period is much like that of last year. A few comments, however, may well be made which will give some idea of the work which has been done in each division of the schools.
The High School
The usual number of pupils passed successfully from the high school to higher institutions of learning at the end of the last school year. Among the institutions which grad- uates of the high school entered were:
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Amherst College
Mass. School of Pharmacy
Bates College
Mass. Inst. of Tech.
Boston College
Mt. St. Mary's College
Boston University
Normal Art School
Brown University
Dartmouth College
Northeastern University Radcliffe College Salem Normal School
Fitchburg Normal School
Georgetown University
Simmons College
Harvard University
Skidmore College
Tufts College
Holy Cross Jackson College
Lehigh University
Tufts Pre-Medical School
Notwithstanding the good record of our high school in the matter of fitting for higher institutions, the criticism is occasionally heard that "the high school does not prepare for college." The facts of the local situation disprove this crit- icism. However, there is nothing original about this crit- icism when it is made in Somerville. It is indigenous to every clime and to every community. What high school principal has not heard it more than once? Against this unjust crit- icism it is pleasant to be able to place a statement of a grad- uate of last year's class in our high school written from col- lege to his parents with no expectation of its coming to the eve of school officials. It will be of interest to our citizens to hear it. The first extract is from a letter written to the boy's parents shortly after he entered college. In this the student pays tribute to his preparation. The second quota- tion is from a letter written after he had taken a placement examination in Latin and shows that as a result of his ex- amination he was placed in the highest Latin group. The two extracts are as follows :
Extract from First Letter
I am playing tennis a good deal and am not studying too hard. Perhaps not hard enough, be- cause they mark awfully hard up here. No resem- blance to high school. I find, however, that the Somerville High School has prepared me well. From a comparison of my basic knowledge with that of others even from Prep. Schools I find I do not suffer. In other words the S. H. S. has a high standard and admirably fits one for college, if he will allow himself to be so fitted.
Extract from Second Letter
And now a little about college. A few days ago we took a placement examination in Latin.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
If we failed it we were to be dropped back a year and take Vergil all over; if we did fairly well we were to stay where we were ; and if we did very well we were to be advanced to Latin VII. I worried a good deal after I took the exam for fear I had been careless. So much depended on it! But the re- sults were given out today and I was told that I have been advanced to Latin VII. Only about five or six others in the class were so advanced.
Our high school, like all other high schools, is going through the experience of dealing with a student body pre- senting great variations of racial derivation, cultural back- ground, intellectual ability, and scholarship attainments. This condition has approached the school stealthily without any advance notice of its coming, but the faculty of the school is aware of its arrival. The present day problem of high school administration and teaching is very unlike that even of a decade ago. To meet the present problem adequately, readjust- ments and rearrangements must be made. These readjust- ments will not fail in the preparatory courses so much as in courses of a more general nature. In recognition of this prob- lem, certain expedients have been used during the present year. Among these are the following: A class of first year over-age pupils has been organized under special instruction. Achieve- ment tests have been given in United States History under the direction of Prof. Edwin A. Shaw of the Harvard Grad- uate School of Education. Intelligence and achievement tests have been given in English for the purpose of read- justing divisions. A questionnaire has been given to all pu- pils in the school, under the direction of the English Depart- ment, for furnishing information to be used in a better class- ification and direction of the pupils of the school.
Junior High Schools
These schools have continued to work under the schedule of studies adopted several years ago. While modifications have been made of the subject matter in several of the studies since that time, the general program of studies has not been fundamentally changed. Under the direction of the Superin- tendent of Schools, a plan of revision has been made this fall which will involve the cooperation of all the teachers of the Junior High Schools. It is intended to scrutinize the whole field of Junior High School undertaking and to modify our curricula of study wherever that can be done to the advan- tage of our Junior High Schools.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The work of this year has been characterized by enthus- iasm shared by the faculties and pupils of the schools. There are abundant evidences of this enthusiasm in each of the three Junior High Schools. If the function of education is to provide a medium in which youth may live, grow, and learn, then the Junior High Schools of Somerville are doing that work well. Among the outstanding features of these schools is the training given to the pupils to exercise initia- tive, self-direction, self-control, and independent action. These characteristics are manifested in various kinds of school work. They are shown in contributions to the school paper. They are shown in various extra curriculum activities. They are shown in classroom exercises. In brief, life more abound- ing is evident in all of the activities of our Junior High Schools. An interesting evidence of the opportunity which these schools present was shown by an incident which oc- cured this year. Prizes had been offered to the High School and to the Junior High Schools for the best compositions on City Zoning. The winner of the second prize in the Junior High School was a lad born in a foreign country, who came to this country in his fourth year and has received all his educa- tion in the schools of Somerville. The language of his home is mainly a foreign language. The children alone speak habit- ually English outside of the home. Yet this boy, so derived and trained, has secured in competition a prize for one of the best essays on City Zoning awarded to pupils in the Junior High Schools of the city of his adoption.
Elementary Schools
As no important changes have been made in the course of study for the first six grades the effort of the year has been to do well the things which constituted the so-called fund- amentals of education. Various methods have been employ- ed by supervising principals to improve the work of their schools. In the early part of the year one supervising prin- cipal in connection with the Harvard Graduate School of Education examined the children of the 5th and 6th grades of his district, using for that purpose the Dearborn Group Intelligence Test. As a result of this examination he ar- ranged the children in classes according to mental ages. This grouping has proven very satisfactory and will be continued as the working plan of the school. A striking instance of the benefit of this change was given in the case of a boy who had been the most troublesome pupil in the school. The test gave him a high I. Q. and a high mental age. After he had been put in a class with others of corresponding mental age
200
ANNUAL REPORTS
his conduct became entirely normal and satisfactory and has continued to be so. Increasing attention is being given by principals and teachers to all the conditions which tend to create differences of attainment among the pupils of the schools and attempts are being made constantly to adjust the teaching methods to the differing needs. The transfer of the 7th and Sth grades to the junior high schools has given to the 6th grade the importance of a terminal position, an importance which is shared to some extent by the 5th grade. There is noticeable in these grades a degree of power for self- direction and initiative which was not apparent in children of these grades when they were occupying a position sub- ordinate to the 7th and Sth grades in the same building. Special emphasis has been given throughout the year to those studies and exercises which have for their purpose the develop- ment of character. Among these are the work in Civics, (conduct), in Health (forming right habits), Safety Educa- tion, and Thrift.
Evening Schools
The evening schools embrace the high school, elemen- tary classes, classes in Americanization work, and practical arts classes.
Evening High School-The Evening High School has maintained throughout the present school year the large in- crease of membership which it secured during the previous year. A change in program has been made giving three forty- minute periods each evening in the place of two sixty-min- ute periods. This change was made as a consequence of some experimenting during the previous year. Under the new plan a pupil may take more subjects, a fact which has apprecia- bly increased interest.
Elementary Classes-Elementary Classes are conducted in the Bell School building and in the Cliff building. While these classes are not large, having an average membership of about 110 pupils, the interest is keen and the work is earn- est and useful.
Americanisation Work-Twenty-two non-English speak- ing nationalities are represented in the Americanization work being carried on by the schools. Each of these nationalities is contributing in a helpful way to the development of our city. While the number of foreign-born coming to Somer- ville is decreasing, there remains the intensive work of in- troducing those who are here more fully into the cultural, industrial, and civic life of the city. There is an increasing
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
number of these foreign-born men and women attending the Americanization classes for the purpose of preparing for Citizenship.
Evening Practical Arts Classes-Classes in Millinery and Dressmaking were continued this year in the Cliff and High School buildings. In the two schools 134 women have regularly attended the Dressmaking Classes while the Milli- nery Classes have had a membership of 48. This work has been followed with interest by the members of the class and has given the women practical instruction in making their own apparel.
Continuation Schools
The Continuation Schools of Somerville, now in the sixth year of their existence on a compulsory basis, are con- tinuing the development of children who have become work- ers to the end that they may live well with themselves and with their fellow men. This year the follow-up work car- ried on by the teachers has been made more effective by the inauguration of a system of job analysis. The schools have good attendance and the pupils maintain an attitude of in- terest which is favorable to their getting the most from the opportunities which the schools afford.
Special Classes
Four classes are conducted for children three or more years retarded in their studies. Pupils for these schools are discovered through the work of the psychological clinic which makes an annual examination of pupils who are so back- ward in their school work as to make attendance upon a special class advantageous to them. As a result of these examinations there is now a list of pupils recommended for attendance upon classes of this type. Not all of these chil- dren have left the regular grade school classes. There is lack- ing now in the situation an authoritative determination of the status of such pupils. Under the State Law the city is required to maintain classes for such pupils, the obvious in- tention being to provide a better training for them than can be given in the class of the ordinary type. It happens, how- ever, that for various reasons parents of some of these chil- dren insist upon having them remain in the regular graded classes. In this way, the purpose of this provision is de- feated and the work of the regular grade classes is hindered. It is desirable in the near future that all of the children re- tarded three or more years should be gathered in special
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ANNUAL REPORTS
classes and should be given the specific training suited to their needs. There are at the present time in the four atypical classes 60 pupils. Another special class is the Sight Saving Class, for children of defective eyesight. This class is maintained by the School Committee in cooperation with the Department of Education. Only children who have been examined and recommended by the ophthamologist of the State Department of Education are admitted to this class. Large-faced type is used in all the reading matter. The handwork is all of a kind which places no strain upon the eyes. There are at present in this class 11 pupils.
SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to focus attention upon the most outstanding needs of the immediate future, I submit the following three recommendations :
(1) That the high school building situation receive immediate attention, to determine what shall be done to pro- vide suitable additional accommodations.
(2) That consideration be given to the situation in the eastern part of the city with a view of determining what ac- commodations must be made for the increase of pupils con- sequent upon the building up of the Ten Hills Farm section.
(3) That attention be given immediately to the peti- tion of the teachers for a general increase of salaries, in order that determination upon this question may be made in the first part of the municipal year.
CONCLUSION
This survey of the condition of the schools for the year 1925 affords many reasons for gratification to our city. The fact that every child in the elementary schools can attend school all day and have a seat to himself is the first and great cause for satisfaction. This is a condition by no means universal in cities of the State. It is a fundamental of good school conditions. The second reason for gratification is the generous provision of opportunities for the children of Som- erville which the school system affords. Diversified needs re- quire the provision of diversified opportunity. These the schools of Somerville present to a high degree. Such diver- sification is also a fundamental of a good school system. A third cause for gratification is the sympathetic, intelligent, and efficient conduct of the school work by principals and
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
teachers. Such a condition is the crowning distinction of a school system. Still another cause for gratification is the cordial cooperation existing between the schools and the homes. Through Parent-Teacher Associations and through visitations, the parents are in close touch with the schools and are cooperating to secure the best advancement of the children. This is a condition of great importance and of great promise. The development of the youth of the land is a work which can be best accomplished when the influence of the home supplements that of the school, each contributing harmoniously something that the other lacks and both com- prehending that the proper development of the youth of today is essential to the welfare of the State of tomorrow.
Respectfully submitted,
December 28, 1925
CHARLES S. CLARK, Superintendent of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
REPORT OF THE HEAD MASTER OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
February 1, 1926
Mr. Charles S. Clark Superintendent of Schools Somerville, Mass.
Dear Mr. Clark :
A report from the High School for 1925 offers very little of an unusual character.
In athletics the erection of a locker building on Dilboy Field has met an outstanding need. The winning of the base- ball championship and an improved standing in football showed commendable effort and spirit. The giving of a din- ner to the football boys by a group of High School Alumni showed a healthy interest from outside in the physical wel- fare of our pupils and should produce helpful and needed re- sults. A cup for the best all-round athlete and scholar presented by Robert M. Garland in memory of his brother Chester Otis Garland will be an excellent stimulant to the best kind of athlete. The granting of diploma credits by the School Committee for regular and faithful participation in school sports is also a helpful step.
In debating an increasing interest has been apparent. Teams representing the Girls' and Boys' Societies have won debates with other schools during the year.
Without going into detail regarding many other forms of school achievement and school activities which are com- mendable, I should like to devote the rest of my report to one phase of school organization which has been very helpful and which has been carried further in the Somerville High School than in most schools, i. e. student cooperation.
Student cooperation appears in the school in three ways.
(1) By organizations which are of an advisory and inspirational type such as the Students' Council.
(2) By organizations which have to do with the rou- tine administration of the building such as the Traffic Squad.
(3) By the filling, on the part of the pupils, of posi- tions of leadership.
The Students' Council is an organization made up of the officers of each class, the floor proctors and two teachers. The
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
class officers are elected by the classes. Each room elects a proctor. The proctors on each floor elect one of their number to serve as floor proctor on the council. The teacher representatives are appointed by the Headmaster. This or- ganization works in the school life as follows: by suggestions made to the pupils through the school bulletin, by work through the proctors in the home rooms, and by assemblies under its charge. Certain matters which have been dealt with this past year through the Students' Council have been Courtesy Week, the Red Cross Drive, athletics, and recent- ly a very successful drive for Thrift. The Students' Council is considering at present, ways and means of improving at- tendance in the school, regarding it not as an object in itself but rather as a means of teaching regularity, punctuality, and the higher conception of Thrift.
The Traffic Squad is an organization based on an en- tirely different plan. Where the Students' Council is large- ly advisory and suggestive, the Traffic Squad is primarily ex- ecutive. Under proper organization, about eighty boys and girls constitute a Traffic Squad for the school. The members of this squad are selected by the pupils though right of rejec- tion, seldom employed, is in the hands of the Head Master. This Traffic Squad supervises all filing throughout the build- ing. This supervision may be taken as a form of safety work in that accidents are much less likely to happen under pupil supervision. In addition to the supervision of the fil- ing, the Traffic Squad has duties to perform in case of fire- drill and at recess, both within and without the building. In other words the Traffic Squad is an administrative pupils' organization formed to care for the welfare of the pupils, their safety in emergency and the proper protection of the building. These young people act as ushers in all assemblies. The whole-hearted interest which they take in the work and the excellent quality of the result of their effort speak well for the valuable experience and excellent training which they are deriving.
The third form of student cooperation is shown in the ad- ministration of extra curriculum activities, as practically every pupil organization in the school is under pupil leadership. There are about fifty physical training groups, each having two pupil leaders who are elected by their own members. These pupils direct the daily physical training exercises and are a nucleus for the officers controlling military manoeuvres which take place on class day. The orchestras, Glee Clubs, Band, Fife and Drum Corps, Bugle and Drum Corps, English Club, Dramatic Society-in fact all student organization,- all have pupil leaders. The school paper, The Radiator, is
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ANNUAL REPORTS
practically under pupil organization. The editor, business manager, and all other officers, except two faculty advisors, are pupils. The success of these different organizations under pupil leadership has been most striking. The reaction on the other pupils of the school has been to develop a greater spirit of cooperation and interest than would otherwise have been secured. In other words, we feel not only do the pupils who have occupied these positions of leadership get great in- dividual gain but that the rest of the school gets an equal gain in that it acquires the habit of following leadership of the right kind. The result of good to the school in loyalty, initiative, experience, and responsibility is indeed great. Training for citizenship is one of the important functions of a school. We feel that we are meeting this need in training pupils to think for themselves, to take initiative, and to follow right thinking and helpful leadership.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN A. AVERY, Head Master.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students Entering Higher Institutions in September 1925
Amherst College
1
Bates College
1
Boston College
9
Boston University
19
Brown University
1
Dartmouth College
3
Fitchburg Normal
2
Georgetown University
1
Harvard University
8
Holy Cross
1
Jackson College
5
Lehigh University
1
Mass. School of Pharmacy
5
Mass. Institute of Technology
7
Mt. St. Mary's College
3
Mass. Normal Art School
3
Northeastern University
3
Radcliffe College
4
Salem Normal
8
Simmons College
11
Skidmore College
1
Tufts College
9
Tufts Pre-Medical
3
Wheelock School
1
110
Entering College
84
Entering Scientific Schools
12
Entering Normal Schools
14
Statement Showing Distribution of High School Pupils
By Subjects, December 1925.
English
2101
History
1487
Problems in Citizenship
70
Elocution
986
Debating
65
French
930
Latin
525
Greek
32
Spanish
442
German
61
Astronomy and Geology
43
Biology
272
Chemistry
474
Physics
290
Physiology
51
Geometry
403
Algebra
194
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Revised Algebra
250
Revised Geometry
191
Solid Geometry
42
Trigonometry
47
Bookkeeping
302
Penmanship
711
Typewriting
562
Stenography
538
Salesmanship
128
Commerce and Industry
425
Commercial Law
36
Commercial Arithmetic
65
Manual Training
146
Mechanical Drawing
333
Freehand
Drawing
322
Household Arts
111
Cooking
30
Sewing
124
Membership of High School Activities
December 1925
Girls' Debating Society
20
Boys' Debating Society
32
School Orchestra (2)
72
School Band and Drum Corps
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