USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1930 > Part 9
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Also, it must be determined by measurements how well things are being done. Measurements require standards. Re- search must determine these standards. Then these standards must be used in research to determine achievement.
The school organization should therefore within itself check its own progress, discover its mistakes, and direct its own changes and adjustments. Then and only then will it have evidence to justify what it is doing.
No city school system in a municipality of over 100,000 inhabitants like Somerville, with approximately twenty-five percent of its inhabitants in day schools and another two per cent in evening schools, and many more in private extension evening schools, can afford to be without an organization for the performance of the functions of research.
Scientific research in a city school system should be the agency by which: (1) objective information with respect to existing conditions may be secured ; (2) the relative value of existing means may be determined; (3) policy and procedure may be developed; and (4) appraisal of results may be made.
Research depends on records which must be of such sort that they are valuable and usable for study to make improve- ments. Research and its records and the application of sta- tistics and curves are not for the purpose of treating human beings as machines but to discover how human beings should be treated because they are human.
Research and experimentation are the means by which remarkable progress has been made in the humanization of education during the past thirty years. They supplant cus- tom and opinion. They displace guesses with facts.
158
ANNUAL REPORTS
A research department should be prepared to render service in :
(1) The whole field of instruction.
(2) The selection of textbooks and courses of study, strictly upon the merit basis.
(3) Measuring the abilities and achievements of pupils.
(4) Organizing and directing testing programs and interpreting their results.
(5) The diagnosis of teaching difficulties.
(6) The analysis of difficult pupil cases.
(7) The study of educational guidance.
(8) The evaluation of methods of teaching.
(9) The study of the population.
(10) The study of child accounting.
(11) The study of teaching personnel.
(12) The study of finances and the school budget.
We, in Somerville, with our very limited means in the way of organization, have been able only to scratch the sur- face of this problem of research.
It is my earnest belief that we should not delay longer the establishment and organization of such a department for the schools of Somerville, and I recommend and urge that serious attention be given immediately to the seed which has been planted as evidenced by the progress of the past year, so that the seed may germinate and soon produce a bloom commensurate with what a city of its size and valuation should produce and of which it can be justly proud.
I would recommend the establishment of a Department of Research to consist of at least five members under the direc- tion of a competent, well trained person. The other members should consist of a representative of each of the three units of our 6-3-3 plan, familiar with the methods and procedures of research work, and a fourth member who can coordinate the sociological facts with the instructional and industrial facts.
By virtue of the professional improvement plan, there are among the personnel several individuals who are fitted to be-
159
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
come members of such an organization. The project would have the unqualified support and cooperation of the entire corps of masters and instructors.
This program will, of course, be an expense, but in my opinion the additional cost, in proportion to our present school budget will be relatively small, and will be thoroughly jus. tified by the improvement which would soon be evident in our educational system.
This exceptionally important and far-reaching proposal should in no wise be considered as a reflection upon the ef- ficiency of the present system but rather as an attempt to keep abreast of the ever increasing tendencies to better the good and to approach the ideal.
A few of the problems attacked during the year 1930 and which are worthy of mention are herewith enumerated.
I. Scholarship Marks
A study of the marks in the junior high schools was attempted for the purpose
(1) of determining the extent of similitude of bas- es for the marking of various subjects.
(2) of determining the relative difficulty of various subjects by grade and by school.
(3) of determining the relation between choice of elective and the probability of success in that elective.
(4) of making direct comparison within certain divisions of probable success and failure.
The results were not conclusive but in general the following statement can be made:
(1) That there is no generally understood basis for the awarding of scholarship marks.
(2) That there is no subject that shows an exces- sive degree of failure.
(3) That the choice of elective does not affect the success of the pupil in the study of it.
(4) That there is a lack of agreement of success or failure in the work of an individual in the prepared sub- jects.
160
ANNUAL REPORTS
II. Study of the Basal Readers
For the past year several of the more prominent basal reading systems have been studied by masters and teach- ers, and in September of this year six systems were chos- en by vote of the teachers for further study.
The teachers now experimenting with the systems will form a committee which will investigate their meth- ods and their suitability for our schools. This report will be rendered probably in the spring.
III. Testing
a. Mental tests for admission.
A project which has been receiving attention by the School Committee for some time in an attempt to make provision for individual children who do not meet the age requirements for admission to the first grade, was adopted by an act of the School Committee. The chil- dren who became six during the school year were allowed to prove that their mental age in September was six years. Three clinics were arranged by the School Com- mittee where tests were made by experts. One hundred ninety two tests were given and twenty children were ad- mitted. The reaction to this plan has been so favorable that its continuance is recommended.
b. Mental tests.
Mental tests have also been given in the first grade and every teacher of the first four grades has now the facilities with which to diagnose her pupils.
c. Achievement tests.
Achievement tests such as Arithmetic and English have been used for the purpose of evaluating certain methods of teaching, and during the coming year the use of the standard achievement tests will be further devel- oped.
IV. Improvement of Instruction
a. Courses of study.
The following courses of study have been tentative- ly adopted : Arithmetic, Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools; History, Elementary grades; English, all grades ; and Commercial Subjects, High and Junior High Schools. Those that are in preparation are Social Stud-
161
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ies, Latin, French, Italian, Spanish, and Commerce and Industry.
The new courses of study adopted during the year have been the subject of study in various teachers' meet- ings. The need for further study, in particular to im- prove the' work in Composition, Spelling, and Reading, was made evident and will receive attention the next school year. In order to individualize instruction, the elementary supervisor conceived a number of projects for use in the Arithmetic classes. These projects are related to the school work and will be adopted as part of the reg- ular classroom procedure after having been revised.
b. Unifying the instruction.
Because of our many schools and widely divergent opportunities for study in different sections of the city, there has been a considerable difference in the amount of ground covered by the different grades in the various sub- jects and also a tremendous amount of difference in the depth to which these subjects are pursued. The elementary supervisor has made an intensive study of these differences and as a result of her activity our instruction possesses a unity that has not before been possible. It is not the pur- pose to standardize or in any way limit the extent to which an ambitious and enterprising teacher can adapt her work to the needs of her class.
c. Study of electives and mental ability in grade eight of the junior high school.
The purpose of this study was to determine the re- lation between the mental ability of a child and his choice of elective. Three hundred and seventy-nine pupils were' used in the study. The Otis Self Administering Test was used for the Intelligence Quotients. Factors such as teachers' marks and success in former grades, were also studied in order to find what bearing they would have on the main problem. The study proved quite conclusive- ly that there is no relation between mental ability and the choice of elective, as the correlation co-efficient was .35, computed by the Eta method of computation. This study shows the need of a better method of guiding the pupil in the selection of his elective. There also appears the need of a better means of informing the parents as to the purposes of the electives and of impressing upon them the necessity of aiding in the selection of an educa- tional career which is attainable and suitable for their child.
162
ANNUAL REPORTS
d. Study of Repeaters in the Tenth Grade.
A source of considerable concern was found in the fact that twenty-seven girls and forty-four boys of the class of 1932 in the High School had been unable to make up their deficiencies of the last school year and were obliged to repeat the work of the sophomore year. A study was started and is still being carried on for the purpose of determining the reasons for the failures and pro- viding remedial measures for the prevention of their con- tinuance. The various cases are being studied from sev- eral aspects, the educational, the moral, the industrial, and the environmental. Interviews have been arranged 'with the pupils for the purpose of gathering information concerning their character and personality, their views of life, their plans and ambitions for the future, and their health. Interviews with the parents are providing information concerning the pupils' living conditions, en- vironment, and background.
These facts, when completed, tabulated, and an- alyzed will without doubt provide some very helpful and pertinent data which can be used in the development of the courses of study and in increasing the effectiveness of the methods of instruction.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In view of the foregoing it seems advisable to recapitulate and set forth the most important recommendations made here- in as a separate item.
The Superintendent urges that (1) as soon as practica- ble after the completion of the junior high school projects now in process of construction serious consideration be given to a project which will provide a suitable, modern Vocational School in which instruction in real trade work may be furnish- ed to boys of high school grade and (2) immediate consider- ation be given by the School Committee to increasing the size and scope of the research work by establishing a Depart- ment of Research in accordance with the plan outlined ear- lier in this report.
CONCLUSION
In submitting this, my third annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools, I wish to express, first, my appreciation to the School Committee for the fine support which has been given the instructional corps and myself in our efforts to give
163
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
the children of our community the best possible educational opportunities ; and secondly, to the people of Somerville for their helpful and sympathetic attitude.
It is a pleasure to report that our public schools today are operating under better conditions and more efficiently than ever before. The people are becoming increasingly content with their schools because they realize that the schools are pay- ing larger invisible dividends on the investment made.
It is the fine spirit of cooperation and interest on the part of the teachers and their greater efficiency gained by progressive professional study which have made possible these larger dividends.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT W. IRELAND, Secretary.
164
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students Entering Higher Institutions in September, 1930
1. Annapolis (U. S. Naval Academy)
1
2. Bates College
1
3. Bentley School of Finance
10
4. Boston College
7
5. Boston University
11
a. College of Business Administration 6
b. College of Liberal Arts 2
c. College of Practical Arts 3
6. Bowdoin College
1
7. Chandler School
8
8. Dalhousie University
1
9. Dartmouth College
2
10. Harvard University
4
a. Harvard College
3
b. Engineering School
1
11. Katherine Gibbs School
2
12. Massachusetts Agricultural College
1
13. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
9
14. Massachusetts State Normal Schools
12
a. Bridgewater Normal School
3
b. Framingham Normal School
1
c. Lowell Normal School
1
d. Salem Normal School
7
15. Northeastern University
26
16. Radcliffe College
4
17. Simmons College
6
18. Tufts College
14
a. Tufts College
2
b. Jackson College
7
c. Engineering College
5
19. Wentworth Institute
1
20. Wheaton College
1
21. Wheelock School
6
Boys
Girls
Total
Normal Schools
28
28
Scientific Schools
42
42
Colleges
25
23
48
Other
10
10
77
51
128
165
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
NUMBER OF PUPILS BY SUBJECTS
December, 1930
Totals
English
2558
Elocution
1373
History
1549
Latin
467
French
1022
Spanish
443
German
103
Italian
148
Chemistry
595
Physics
247
Biology
543
Physiology
43
Astronomy and Geology
45
Trigonometry
23
Geometry
611
Algebra
539
Stenography
523
Typewriting
790
Bookkeeping
411
Penmanship
1143
Salesmanship
145
Commercial Law
63
Commercial Arithmetic
109
Clerical Practice
255
Commerce and Industry
545
Problems in Citizenship
184
Household Arts
157
Manual Training
111
Mechanical Drawing
263
Freehand Drawing
265
Arts and Crafts
102
Music Appreciation
66
Musical Theory
66
Choral Practice
192
Physical Education
1946
MEMBERSHIP IN HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
December, 1930
Orchestras (2)
113
Glee Clubs (3)
133
Band
75
Students' Council
18
Traffic Squad
125
National Honor Society
63
School Paper
24
Literary Club
175
Debating Societies
62
Players' Club
37
Chess Club
12
Girls' Athletic Association
350
S. H. S. Athletic Association
All Pupils
166
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' CLUB Officers, 1930-1931
President, ARDELLE ABBOTT
S VIOLA M. JACKSON
Vice-Presidents, RUTH L. WHITEHOUSE Recording Secretary, CARRIE E. CROCKETT Corresponding Secretary, FRANCES E. BILLER Treasurer, ELEANOR D. CAMPBELL Auditor, ANNA J. COLL
Object
The object shall be to secure a close union among the women teachers in Somerville; to promote the spirit of mu- tual helpfulness ; to advance professional interests; to create a deeper sense of the dignity of the profession; to unite the interests of the home and school.
Program
February 12-Dramatics. Under the direction of Miss Harriet M. Bell.
April 9-Fashion Show.
May 14-Annual Meeting. Election of Officers. Reports of Committees. June 3-Annual Outing, Salem Willows.
October 8-Lecture on Books, John Clair Minot.
November 15-Bridge Tea at Filene's.
December 10-Christmas Party.
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Annual Report of Treasurer, January 1, 1930, to November 1, 1930 Receipts :
Balance on hand January 1, 1930
$2,245 00
Baseball games
$ 606 00
Basketball games
98 00
Football games to date
3,627 10
Track
38 00
Interest
10 72
Miscellaneous
2 50
4,382 32
$6,627 32
167
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Expenditures:
Athletic supplies
$1,477 27
Medical, X-rays
40 00'
Paid visiting teams
1,201 72
Officials
338 70'
Police
319 00
Assistance at games
141 50
Postage
17 50
Printing
53 10ª
Telephone
18 55
Transportation
323 70
Coaching
736 00
Physician's salary
160 00
Treasurer's salary
80 00
Manager's salary
320 00
Mr. E. O'Brien, salary
560 00
Dues
2 00
Miscellaneous
528 12
$6,317 16'
Balance on hand November 1, 1930 ..... Transferred to new account
310 16;
GEORGE E. PEARSON,
Treasurer ..
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COMMITTEE.
Report of Treasurer, November 1, 1930, to January 1, 1931
Receipts :
Balance on hand November 1, 1930
$5,832 77
Miscellaneous
7 20
$5,839 97
$6,150 13
Expenditures:
Athletic supplies
$1,103 91
Medical services and supplies
205 69
Paid visiting teams
1,666 55
Officials
165 00
Police
165 00
Assistance at games
456 00
Printing
90 00
Transportation
69 55
Physician's salary
40 00
Coaching
700 00
Miscellaneous
152 60
$4,719 72
Balance in Treasury January 1, 1931 ...
$1,430 41
JOHN A. AVERY,
Treasurer.
$ 310 16
Football games
168
ANNUAL REPORTS
IN MEMORIAM
CHARLES SHEDD CLARK
Superintendent Emeritus Died January 30, 1930
ESTHER F. PARMENTER High School Died December 13, 1930
STATEMENT OF WORK OF SCHOOL NURSES FOR SCHOOL YEAR ENDING, JUNE 30, 1930
Schools
Hospitals
Total No. of Pupils
Notices sent to
Consultations with
Consultations With
Treatments in School
INSPECTIONS
PUPILS ESCORTED TO CLINICS
Oper-
ations
Conta- gion found in
* Home Visits
Hy- giene Talks
Special Work
Social Work
September ..
87
2
2878
95
259
6
230
1476
40
43
5
17
8
3
1
1
12
2
85
2
October
131
8314
2114
370
31
945
2169
67
466
472
83
26
7
6
$2
November ..
134
8603
2615
437
12
253
928
203
833
44
69
12
3
8
7
2
4
9
9
12
5
1225
4
1
4
December ..
91
6585
903
250
6
372
718
107
121
695
10
129
5
10
1
3
9
13
2
3
6
7
4
28
1
1016
3
January
147
16986
3741
652
42
595
1027
74
680
464
352
253
11
9
1
8
2
38
15
9
1
2
1
1
1
40
4 1519
8
1
February ...
104
7976
538
415
10
156
615
45
759
16
3.13
6
4
3
2
2
30
35
1
41
11
783
19
March.
116
10115
2515
425
16
1044
83
177
€36
90
520
16
9
6
3
49
94
4
10
3
3
3
25
13
298
7
2
April
136
13599
2820
379
43
380
532
1804
728
566
2
3
2
3
61
13
14
3
1
10
10
137
8
311
May
118
10683
600
642
15
130
30
469
434
430
7
2
1
28
25
11
1
1
1
26
4
198
1
90
1
516-1
235
263
21
148
41
6
36
113
1
12
1
129
Total ... 1154
3
88903
16176
3992
202
4253 7578 2639 2280 4962 743 2457
75
48
25
13
13
4
1
238
209
35
2
11
37
6 36
32
4
2
351
51
6851
49
4
7
*Treated by family physician or dentist
New: Seen first time during School Year Old: Cases followed up
217 Class talks in Hygiene given
Adenoids
School
Home
New
Old
School
Home
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
New
New
Old
New
Oid
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Optician
Corrected Vision
Corrected Hearing
seen
Guardian
Teachers
Med. Inspector
Dental
Pedic- ulosis
Un- clean
Eye
Ear
Nose and Throat
*Med- ical
Sur- gical
Skin
Dental
DATE
-
7
10
1
3
1
4
4
3
18
2
1287
1
...
...
422
1
~214
127
16
48
4
6
June
3
-
Tonsils
12
4
5
Old
1
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTIST For the School Year Ending June 21, 1930
MONTH.
School
No. of Children
Treated
New Patients
Former Patients
Temporary
Permanent
Teeth Extracted
Teeth Filled
Permanent
Teeth Filled
No. Cleanings
No. Having Brushes
Having Brushes
Treatments
Novocain
Examinations
Amount of fees Collected
1556 2221
$ 4.57
October.
20.25
117
71
46
59
4
1
48
3
105
12
67
57
November
18.79
December
96
60
36
86
4
7
11
12
52
10
145
13
62
87
149
27.35
158
75
83
85
49
74
00
A
22
=
95
13
24
76
6
18.30
February
25.30
148
68
80
75
6
01
2
0
00
4
48
7
21
55
14
41
44
57
49
11
4
28
11
101
1
41
108
May.
80
32
48
43
5
5
22
10
N
6
44
46
Or
June
$123.71
Total. ...
894
449
445
525
53
41
273
66
801
93
368
535
7840
.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
24
19
5
10
2
3
15
2
13
11
15
10
13
86
10
33
85
140
January
108
59
March
2959
9.15
April.
786
6チレ
5
59
17
134
14
61
6
19
Temporary
Teeth Extracted
No. Not
September
51
169
170
ANNUAL REPORTS
CONTENTS OF APPENDIX
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
Population and school census.
School buildings.
Teachers.
Attendance for year.
Cost of school maintenance.
Teachers' salaries.
MISCELLANEOUS TABLES
CONCERNING FINANCE
No. of Table
1. Schedule of school property.
2. Cost of maintaining schools, school year 1929-1930.
3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, school year 1929-1930.
4. Cost of maintaining schools for a series of years.
5. Cost per capita for maintaining schools for a series of years.
6. Amount spent annually for new school buildings and for re- pairs for a series of years.
CONCERNING PUPILS
7. Population and school registration.
8. Attendance, etc., of the schools for school year 1929-1930.
9. Statistics of the high school for school year 1929-1930.
10 Pupils by grades, June, 1930.
11. Separate statistics for high. junior high, elementary and voca- tional schools, for school year 1929-1930.
12. Admission to first grade in September.
13. Number of junior high school graduates, 1930.
14. Truant statistics for a series of years.
15. Evening school statistics, 1929-1930.
16. Elementary school promotees for a series of years.
17. Attendance statistics of all schools for a series of years.
18. Statistics of the high school for a series of years.
19. Promotions, junior high schools, 1930.
19a Promotions, elementary schools, 1930.
CONCERNING TEACHERS
20. Resignations of teachers, 1930.
21. Teachers elected in 1930.
22. Leave of absence of teachers.
23. Transfers of teachers.
24. Number of teachers employed for a series of years.
171
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
STATISTICAL AND GENERAL TABLES
25. Changes in textbooks, 1930.
26. High and Junior High School graduation exercises, 1930.
27. Vocational school graduation exercises, 1930.
28. Organization of school board for 1931.
29. Teachers in service January, 1931.
30. Officers in service January, 1931.
31. School janitors.
SUMMARY OF STATISTICS
1 .- POPULATION AND SCHOOL CENSUS
Population, state census, 1895
52,200
Population, United States census, 1900
61,643
Population, state census, 1905 69,272
Population, United States census, 1910
77,236
Population, state census, 1915
86,854
Population, United States census, 1920
93,033
Population, state census, 1925
99,032
Children between five and fifteen years of age in-
clusive, October, 1929, by school census
18,894
2 .-- SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of school buildings in June
31
Number of classrooms in use in June
444
Valuation of school property
4,208,100
3 .- TEACHERS
*1929
*1930
Change
In High schools
88
95
+7
In junior high schools
127
131
+4
In elementary schools
226
226
0
In kindergartens
16
19
+3
Total in elementary schools
242
245
Vocational school for boys ..
10
13
4-3
Independent Household Arts
1
1
0
Atypical classes
7
7
0
Sight saving
1
1
0
Cadet teachers
20
29
-19
Special
14
17
+3
Continuation
3
3
0
Americanization
2
1
-1
Total
515
543
+28
·4 .- ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR
*1929
*1930
Change
Entire enrollment for the year
17,083
16,851
-232
Average number belonging ....
15,521
15,632
+111
Average number attending ....
14,435
14,666
+231
Per cent. of daily attendance
93.0
92.8
-0.2
High school graduates
606
564
-42
Junior High school graduates
1,165
1,126
-- 39
172
ANNUAL REPORTS
5 .- COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE
*1929
*1930
Change
Salaries of teachers
$1,001,046 70
$1,052,494 57
+$51,447 87
Salaries of officers
20,869 34
24,350 71
+3,481 37
Cost of books and supplies.
54,662 69
59,560 28
+4,897 59
Cost of light and power
19,457 76
18,403 11
-1,054 65
Cost of janitor's services, etc.
87,451 70
89,482 95
+2,031 25
Cost of fuel and insurance ....
30,032 53
31,826 57
+1,794 04
Total cost of day and even- ing schools
1,213,520 72
1,276,118 19
+62,597 47
Per capita cost
78 19
81 63
+3 44
Cost of high school instruc- tion
205,906 25
220,055 43
+14,149 18
Per capita cost
92 96
95 02
+2 06
6 .- MISCELLANEOUS
*1929
*1930
Change
Paid for new school buildings
$673,185 00
$351,638 49 -$321,546 51
Repairs and permanent im- provements
74,968 01
72,926 90
-2,041 11
Total school expenditures ...
1,961,673 73
1,700,683 58
-260,990 13
Valuation of city
118,840,900 00 122,420,200 00 +3,579,300 00
Number of dollars spent to
maintain schools out of
every $1,000 of valuation
10 21
10 42
+0 21
Number of dollars spent for
all school purposes out of
every $1,000 of valuation
16 50
13 90
-2 60
* School year.
COST OF THE SCHOOLS
The total amount spent for the maintenance of the schools of Somerville for the school year ending June 30, 1930, is $1,276,118.19.
This includes the sums spent for care of school buildings, including janitors' services, fuel, light, and school telephones ; the amount paid for salaries of officers, and the amount spent for school supplies ; and the sum paid for salaries of teachers.
The expenditure for care for school buildings is wholly in charge of the City Government.
The amount paid for janitors is
$89,482 95
The cost of fuel is
31,826 57
The cost of light is 18,403 11
A total cost of 139,712 63
A total cost per capita of 8 94
Cost of repairs
72,926 90
173
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The second important expenditure is wholly under the control of the School Committee and is covered by what is known as the "School Contingent" appropriation. The follow- ing is the itemized account :-
DAY SCHOOLS.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
Expenditures.
Total.
High and Vocational
Elementary
High and Vocational
Elementary
CONTINUATION SCHOOLS AND AMERICANIZA- TION WORK
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