USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1935 > Part 15
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The Continuation School will have adequate provision for shop work for boys, and will in my opinion play an in- creasingly important part in the education of those children who are not sufficiently advanced to attend the vocational school. Provision will be made for the girls to have instruc- tion in those matters which fit them for household duties or to enter many minor positions.
Repairs and Alterations
Under the direction of the Building Commissioner many extensive repairs have been made to the grounds and school buildings. Many of these have been carried out as projects under the E.R.A. program.
From the mass of repairing that has been done two items because of their necessity and pertinency should receive special mention. One is the extent to which the Building Commis- sioner has been able to erect fences around all school yards where the slightest danger existed. The second matter which should be of considerable satisfaction to parents is the com- pletion of the fire alarm system which now provides each school with an outside box and an auxiliary box inside the building. In connection with this, it is also well to mention the fact that regular fire drills, which have always been a practice of the school system, are being held more intensively and that through the cooperation of the fire department a monthly inspection of all fire alarm equipment within the schools and an inspection of the building and premises for fire danger are made.
Owing to the fact that the forecasted enrolment of the High School was so large, it was necessary this fall to make two new classrooms, and a teachers' room was appropriated for one and the room formerly used for foundry practice for the other.
273
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
The Baxter School has been completely renovated, includ- ing the heating plant, and a new yard, fence, and retaining wall constructed. The Bingham School has been partially re- modelled and the building painted. The yard has been im- proved and a new fence erected, and the fire escapes and the fire system remodelled.
In the Cutler School a very much needed and expensive improvement has been undertaken in the regrading of the yard and erection of a retaining wall. The boys' toilets also have been modernized and the outside of the building has been painted and the roof repaired. The Glines School has a new yard and the heating plant and the roof have been renovated. The Highland has a new yard, new conductors, the building has been repainted, and a new entrance has been made to the girls' toilet. At the Knapp School a new yard has been con- structed, the roof has been repaired, and snow-guards placed upon it, and the inside of the building renovated by painting and a considerable amount of electrical work. At the Morse, the yard has been regraded, a new retaining wall erected, and the front steps reset. At the Prescott School a new yard, re- taining wall, and fence have been constructed.
Renovations which have taken a long time have been com- pleted at the Carr School. They include new toilets for both boys and girls, a complete renovation of the heating plant, regrading and resurfacing of the yard, and erection of retain- ing walls. At the Grimmons School the yard has been regraded, a new retaining wall erected on Puritan Road, and a fence placed to protect pedestrians. In the Lowe School the heat- ing plant has been changed to provide more heat in the toilets, new steps have been erected, new retaining walls with gratings around the building have been constructed, and a drive which will permit coal trucks to empty with greater facility has also been constructed. In the Perry School the yard has been resurfaced, a retaining wall erected, and a fence placed around the yard.
At the Pope School a project which has been begun lately will consist of remodelling the building, erecting a retaining wall in the back, and resurfacing the yard.
Other improvements which deserve mention are the re- placement of all brick and concrete sidewalks by granolithic walks around all schools, the erection of a board fence at Dilboy Field, and the addition of a hockey rink.
274
ANNUAL REPORTS
Plant Equipment
The matter of improving the educational plant has been mentioned previously. The situations at several of the school plants are sufficiently serious to receive careful and wise con- sideration. First in importance is the crowded condition at the Northeastern Junior High School. This unit of the system is much smaller than the present enrolment demands and an addition of twelve rooms and a slight remodelling of the pres- ent building would accommodate the present membership and permit a small expansion. The demand for high school educa- tion continues and the high school has found it necessary to use many rooms as classrooms which are poorly planned for that purpose. It is inevitable that the present quarters of the administration department must be used soon for their original purpose and a suitable building erected for the activities of the School Committee and its staff.
In the belief that the Highland School must succumb to the advance of trade in the Davis Square section, I recommend for consideration the abandonment of this building in the near future and the erection of a large modern building on the present site of the Burns School, which will continue to serve a residential section for many years to come. This unit should be large enough to accommodate the two hundred sixty pupils of the Burns School (built in 1886-with an addition in 1899), the three hundred sixty pupils of the Highland School (built in 1880-with an addition in 1891), and many of the four hundred pupils now in the Morse School which is also reach- ing the limit of its usefulness (built in 1869-with an addition in 1890).
Another situation is that of the Lincoln School, the only wooden building now in use. The nearness of this building to the Cutler and Hodgkins schools and the fact that the site will undoubtedly be surrounded by the growth of trade in Teele Square make undesirable a new building on this present lot. The question of the replacement of this building and the location of the site for it is also involved with the question of provision for the pupils who live in the section bounded by the Parkway and North Street and who at present are traveling a much longer distance than desirable in attending the Cutler School. The School Committee has made a study of this problem and has requested that the City Government give consideration to the erection of a primary school build- ing between North Street and the Medford line.
275
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
MEMBERSHIP
The public school membership at the present time is 16,948. A comparison of the size and change in membership over a period of years is indicated in the following table :
December
Membership
Increase
1935
16,948
+ 63
1934
16,885
- 30
1933
16,915
+344
1932
16,571
+400
1931
16,171
+149
1930
16,022
+396
1929
15,626
Although the increase this year shows only a net gain of 63 over the membership of a year ago, there is a continuing increase in the High School membership where 130 more pupils are being accommodated this year than last. This increase follows increases of 5, 237, 160, 281, and 272. These facts concerning the most expensive unit of our school system are significant with relation to the amount of money spent for schools, because it is self-evident that were the per capita cost to remain stationary or even decrease, the increase in the number of pupils would naturally increase the total amount spent.
Another comparison of figures is very significant. The total enrolment today in the High School is 3,576 while for a corresponding date in 1918 the figure was 1,520. The year 1918 was chosen because it was the first in which the High School was operated for only three classes as is the case now. A comparison of these figures shows an increase in enrolment of 135.26% or expressed in another way the enrolment today is 235+% of that in 1918. In 1918 there were seventy teachers employed to care for 1520 pupils or one teacher for twenty- two pupils. Today there are employed 119 teachers for 3576 pupils or one teacher for thirty pupils. The figures are very significant in that they show an increase in the teaching load, -- more pupils per teacher,-and indicate a more economical administration. One other fact should be mentioned and that is that in 1918, 12% of the school population was in High School while today more than 20% of the pupils are in High School.
No doubt it will be seen that the accommodations of the High School are being taxed beyond the limits of elasticity. For a building, which was designed to accommodate at most 3,000 pupils and then only by using practically all laboratories
276
ANNUAL REPORTS
and other special rooms for home rooms, to be called on to house over 3,500 pupils, is evidence that concern must be felt for the adequacy of the housing. This difficulty might be re- lieved somewhat were it possible to find an available location for the administration office and store rooms which use the space which could be made into nine classrooms. Consider- able thought has been given to this matter and it seems ad- visable at this time to recommend that serious consideration be given to the possibility of erecting an administration build- ing for the School Department. Such a construction would be less expensive than the cost of another addition to the High School. As a matter of fact the limitations of the physical site would probably make impossible any further additions. I trust the School Committee of 1936 will urge the close inter- est to this matter by the City Government that it merits.
CHANGES IN PERSONNEL
During the fiscal year twenty-one teachers have left the service. Of this number twelve left to be married; one to assume added home duties; two died; and six retired, four voluntarily, and two forced to retire in accordance with the Teacher Retirement Act. Contrary to the general impres- sion that has been created, of the fourteen persons selected by the School Committee to fill these vacancies, one held a bachelor's degree from a college, two had bachelor's degrees from State Teachers Colleges, five had graduated from three- year courses at State Teachers Colleges, and four had gradu- ated from two and three-year courses at private normal schools. The other two were technically trained in special subjects which they teach. All of these persons were legal residents of Somerville.
Notable for length of service, efficiency, and achievement were the terms of Lizzie E. Hill, forty-four years; Abigail P. Hazelton, thirty-three years; Grace H. Bliss and Nettie L. Fay, thirty-two years; Alice Hosmer and Mary L. Richard- son, twenty-nine years; Lynda V. Merrill, twenty-four years; and Alice A. Todd, twenty-two years. They have left the service of our youth but their influence will long be effective in our community.
This report would not be complete unless attention were called to the exceptionally meritorious records of service of
277
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
two very able members of the School Committee who retire voluntarily at the close of this year.
Dr. Herbert Cholerton has given continuous service since January 1, 1913, to the educational activities of the youth of our city for a period of twenty-three years, the longest term of service in the history of the Somerville School Committee. In addition to his absorbing interest in providing the best possible instructional forces he has been actively interested in the welfare of the children from the standpoint of health, having served in the capacity of a Medical Inspector for the schools since the medical inspection plan was inaugurated by the Board of Health. By his retirement from the School Com- mittee, the schools of this city will lose the influence of his keen appreciation of the educational problems of our schools, his willingness to give freely of his time and energy, his cordial personality, and his real manliness.
Dr. Francis J. Fitzpatrick has given freely of his ex- ceptional knowledge of school problems and of his time during his long term of sixteen years as a member of the Somerville School Committee. His keen perception and power of analysis of the problems of the education of our youth, in addition to his comprehensive education, made him an able leader in pre- paring for the implications of education resulting from social tendencies. His School Committee colleagues particularly will miss the influence of his dynamic personality, his extraordi- nary power of expression, and his jovial nature.
The loss of the active services of these two men will be deeply felt by the community.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In order to focus attention upon the most outstanding needs of the immediate future, and in consequence of the fore- going discussion of the various factors of trends in education, costs, membership, and accommodations, it seems advisable to enumerate the implications from these discussions in a list of recommendations for consideration by the incoming School Committee and City Government.
(1) That necessary steps be taken immediately to draft bills for presentation to the Legislature of 1936 which would, by changing the City Charter, (a) make the School Committee of the City of Somerville a fiscally independent unit as are
278
ANNUAL REPORTS
the School Committees in this Commonwealth of Cambridge, Boston, Lynn, and Springfield, and (b) place the entire juris- diction of control and maintenance of school buildings and grounds under the School Committee, as is the practice in practically all cities and towns in Massachusetts.
(2) That steps be taken which will make possible a very necessary addition to the Northeastern Junior High School.
(3) That the overcrowding in the High School building be relieved by the erection of an administration building.
(4) That a survey be made of conditions in the elementary schools with relation to accommodations so that a wise build- ing program may be evolved with special reference to the eventual disposition of the Lincoln, Burns, Highland, and Morse buildings.
(5) That consideration be given to the scholastic level of the curriculum to be effective September 1, 1936, at the newly built and newly equipped Vocational School.
(6) That attention be given to the failure of the City Government to provide the funds for the operation of the Professional Improvement Plan for Teachers, which has been inoperative for the past three years.
CONCLUSION
The survey of the conditions in our schools for the year affords reasons for gratification. Our educational accomplish- ment has been good and our physical equipment is in better condition than it has been for some time in spite of the fact that there is still much to receive attention. The percentage of the total expenditures of the City spent by the School Com- mittee for schools is less by 1.2% than for the previous year. The materials of instruction are being constantly revised and kept abreast of the times. The morale and efficiency of the teaching force is good. A well worth while and generous pro- vision of opportunities for all the children of all the people is being maintained.
Such substantial statements are indications of a good school system. Commendation should be given to the teachers and principals for the effective, sympathetic discharge of their
279
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
duties and responsibilities, and to the parents for their coopera- tion in keeping in close touch with the schools and securing a good education for the children. During American Educa- tion Week over four thousand parents visited our schools.
I want to acknowledge with pleasure and gratitude the loyalty and devotion of the masters and teachers to their work throughout the year, and the harmonious relationship among all elements of the public school organization.
EVERETT W. IRELAND,
Superintendent of Schools. December 23, 1935.
280
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students Entering Higher Institutions in September, 1935
State Teachers Colleges
Bridgewater
1
Framingham
1
Lowell
2
Massachusetts School of Art
3
Salem
5
Colleges
University of Alabama
1
U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis
1
Bates
1
Boston College
16
Boston University
22
College of Business Administration
11
Day Division Evening Division
7 4
College of Liberal Arts
6
School of Education
1
School of Music
2
School of Religious and Social Work
1
Sargent School of Physical Education ..
1
Bowdoin
1
Cambridge School of Liberal Arts
2
Colby
1
Emmanuel
2
Harvard
7
Jackson
4
University of Maine
1
Massachusetts School of Pharmacy
1
Massachusetts State
1
Nebraska Wesleyan
1
University of New Hampshire
2
Northeastern
12
Engineering
6
Business Administration School
1
Evening Law
5
Norwich
1
Notre Dame
2
University of Pennsylvania
1
Radcliffe
2
Simmons
7
Tennessee State
1
Tufts
12
Other Institutions
Bentley School of Accounting
3
Bradford Junior College
1
Burdett College
20
Chandler Secretarial School
4
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2
281
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Lesley School
8
Perry Kindergarten Normal
2
Wentworth Institute
9
Wheelock School
1
Summary
Boys
Girls
Total
State Teachers Colleges
1
11
12
Colleges
75
29
104
Other Institutions
16
32
48
92
72
164
Number of Pupils By Subjects December, 1935
English
3414
Elocution
1571
Physical Education
1212
U. S. History
948
English History
97
Modern European History
426
Early European History
454
Ancient History
257
Civic Problems
229
Elementary Economics
135
Latin
595
French
991
German
82
Spanish
547
Italian
214
Chemistry
497
Physics
221
Biology
895
Physiology
360
Trigonometry
35
Geometry
821
Algebra
779
Stenography
558
Typewriting
1258
Transcription
40
Bookkeeping
351
Office Machines
16
Clerical Practice
739
Secretarial Training
39
Business Organization
309
Arithmetic
176
Salesmanship
126
Commercial Law
567
Commerce and Industry
963
Household Arts
324
Manual Training
132
Mechanical Drawing
297
Freehand Drawing
345
Arts and Crafts
92
Business Science
204
Musical Theory
229
Music Appreciation
287
Choral Practice
404
282
ANNUAL REPORTS
Student Activities
December, 1935
Orchestra (2)
117
Band
84
Girls' Bugle and Drum Corps
70
Girls' Glee Clubs (3)
290
Boys' Glee Clubs (2)
85
Student Council
20
School Paper
52
National Honor Society
41
Traffic Squad
190
Webster Debating Society
50
Girls' Debating Society
30
Writers' Club
25
Players' Club
60
Stamp Club
20
Photographic Society
30
Girls' Athletics
375
S. H. S. Athletic Association All pupils
283
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' CLUB Officers, 1935-1936
President, ALICE M. PATTERSON
Vice-Presidents, ELIZABETH F. LEACH EDITH L. FRENCH
Recording Secretary, E. BELLA WEISMAN
Corresponding Secretary, HELEN C. JACKSON
Treasurer, ELEANOR D. CAMPBELL Auditor, PERTIE I. GRAY
OBJECT
The object shall be to secure a close union among the women teachers in Somerville ; to promote the spirit of mutual helpfulness; to advance professional interests; to create a deeper sense of the dignity of the profession; to unite the interest of the home and school.
PROGRAM
October 9-Lecturer, Edward F. Payne "Sketches from Dickens" December 10-Christmas Party "The Pampered Darling" a play given by the Players' Club of the Somerville High School.
February 12-President's Night Entertainment by the "Fuller Marionettes" April 8-Open Night
May 13-Annual Meeting. Election of Officers. Reports of Committees.
284
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COMMITTEE
Report of the Treasurer, January 1, 1935 to January 1, 1936
Receipts
Balance on hand January 1, 1935
$515.13
Basketball
500.10
Baseball
240.77
Track
20.00
Football
4,417.81
Miscellaneous
97.48
$5,791.29
Expenditures
Athletic supplies
$2,284.30
Medical
123.50
Paid visiting teams
797.53
Officials
354.00
Policing
539.00
Assistance at games
185.00
Postage
2.00
Printing
38.00
Telephone
4.05
Transportation
296.47
Dues to A. A.
3.00
Entry fees
21.25
Physician's salary
200.00
Coaching
200.00
Miscellaneous
244.94
$5,293.04
Balance on hand January 1, 1936
$498.25
Estimated outstanding bills
1,377.14
285
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
In Memoriam
LYNDA V. MERRILL Lowe School Died May 31, 1935
NATALIE B. PLANT Cutler School Died October 5, 1935
286
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 1934-1935.
3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, school year 1934-1935.
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 1934-1935.
9. Statistics of the high school for school year 1934-1935.
10. Pupils by grades, June, 1935.
11. Separate statistics for high, junior high, elementary and voca- tional schools, for school year 1934-1935.
12.
Admission to first grade in September, 1935.
13. Number of junior high school graduates, 1935.
14. Truant statistics for a series of years.
15. Evening school statistics, 1934-1935.
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, 1935.
19a Promotions, elementary schools, 1935.
CONCERNING TEACHERS
20. Resignations of teachers, 1935.
21. Teachers elected in 1935.
22. Leave of absence of teachers.
23. Transfers of teachers.
24. Number of teachers employed for a series of years.
287
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
STATISTICAL AND GENERAL TABLES
25. Changes in text books, 1935.
26. High and Junior High School graduation exercises, 1935.
26a Evening High School graduation exercises, 1935.
27. Vocational School graduation exercises, 1935.
28. Organization of school board for 1936.
29. Teachers in service, December, 1935.
30. Officers in service, December, 1935.
31. School custodians.
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
Population, United States census, 1930
103,604
Population, State census, 1935
100,773
Children between five and fifteen years of age in-
clusive, October, 1935, by school census
18,881
2 - SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of school buildings in June
31
Number of classrooms in use in June
519
Valuation of school property
$4,635,700
3 - TEACHERS
*1934
*1935
Change
In high school
113
117
+4
In junior high schools
164
166
+2
In elementary schools
255
254
-1
In kindergartens
26
28
+2
Total in elementary schools
281
282
+1
Vocational School for Boys
12
12
0
Independent Household Arts
1
1
0
Atypical classes
8
8
0
Sight saving
1
1
0
Cadet teachers
11
12
+1
Special
21
20
-1
Continuation
3
3
0
Americanization
1
1
0
Total
616
623
+7
4 - ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR
*1934
*1935
Change
Entire enrollment for the year ..
17,903
17,811
-92
Average number belonging
16,616
16,613
-3
Average number attending
15,591
15,506
-85
Per cent. of daily attendance
93.8
93.3
-0.5
High School graduates
847
826
-21
Junior High School graduates
1,338
1,342
+4
288
ANNUAL REPORTS
5 - COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE
*1934
*1935
Change
Salaries of teachers
$1,197,244.00 $1,204,223.86
+$6,979.86
Salaries of officers
34,085.92
34,189.65
103.73
Cost of books and supplies
45,837.21
44,461.96
1,375.25
Cost of light and power
20,943.92
22,577.40
+ 1,633.48
Cost of janitors' services, etc.
107,467.86
105,058.35
2,409.51
Cost of fuel and insurance
29,370.89
38,186.28
+ 8,815.39
Total cost of day and evening schools
1,434,949.80
1,448,697.50
+13,747.70
Per capita cost
86.36
86.33
0.03
Cost of high school instruction ....
259,492.58
261,668.72
2,176.14
Per capita cost
83.38
83.04
0.34
6 - MISCELLANEOUS
*1934
*1935
Change
Paid for new school build- ings
$29.03
$72,417.70
+$72,388.67
Repairs and permanent im- provements
50,356.50
40,506.73
- 9,849.77
Total school expenditures.
1,485,335.33
1,561,621.93
+ 76,286.60
Valuation of city
118,100,500.00
117,182,500.00
-918,000.00
Number of dollars spent to
maintain schools out of
every $1,000 of valuation ..
12.15
12.36
+ 0.21
Number of dollars spent for
all school purposes out of
every $1,000 of valuation
12.58
13.33
+
0.75
* 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, 1935, is $1,448,697.50.
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.
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