USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1936 > Part 13
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Part I, the report of the Superintendent of Schools, is devoted primarily to a discussion of the conditions of the schools, including the personnel, the membership, and the build- ings, with recommendations concerning the immediate and imperative needs of the schools.
Part II is prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens and consists of (1) a description of the school property, (2) statistical tables which set forth comparative figures covering a period of years concerning enrollment, mem- bership, and attendance, cost of instruction and maintenance, and other matters of organization, and (3) tables showing statistics, not necessary for comparison, covering the last fiscal year.
Part III presents the organization of the school system at the close of the year 1936, and the lists of graduates from the Schools in June of this year.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT W. IRELAND, Superintendent of Schools
December 21, 1936.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1936
The definite function of the School Committee is to act as a Board of Directors for the public school system and as such to lay out the educational and financial policies, and to ascertain that its duties are fulfilled. The Superintendent of Schools, who is the executive officer of this Board of Directors, is caused each year to recount to the citizens for the School Committee the progress and accomplishments of the organiza- tion during the year. He also indicates the nature of the problems needing attention and makes specific suggestions and recommendations as to the solutions of the problems.
In the few years preceding 1934 the Superintendent has attempted to inform the public upon the problems confronting the educational leaders of the country, the manner in which these leaders felt that the problems should best be solved, and how the schools of our city were being affected by the changing social conditions and the resultant effects of these changes.
In the report of 1934 an academic discussion was made of the important social trends, of the implications for future educational policies, and of the necessary educational adjust- ments that should follow.
In the report for 1935 attention was called to the fact that the School Committee had taken long, forward-looking steps in the development of the school work along the lines of the evident implications for education drawn from changes man- ifested by the social trends.
This year now closing has witnessed a continuance on the part of the School Committee to give willingly of its time and energy to the obligations of its responsibilities.
By the intelligent voting of the people of Somerville, the responsibilities of education were placed under the control of
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ANNUAL REPORTS
a smaller School Committee, composed of nine members in- stead of sixteen as formerly. The wisdom of this act has been proven during this year by the increased effectiveness of the smaller organization, which has spent many hours in careful deliberation over many grave problems confronting it. It is quite evident that the conclusions reached and the results ob- tained have been particularly free from political influences and each question under discussion has been settled on the merits of the case. It is very evident to the School Committee itself that a backward step was taken in returning to the obsolete sub-committee organization.
The members of the School Committee have recognized the public school system as the most important business of the country today and have given it the attention that it should receive from those responsible for its direction. The members have kept in mind (1) that the proper conduct of the schools requires unanimity of purpose and action on the part of the School Committee, (2) that only by being informed and co- operative can their responsibilities be fulfilled, (3) that their actions should be influenced only by pronounced interest in the needs and activities of children and earnest desires to promote human welfare ,(4) that their efforts should be exerted to meet their responsibilities as educational leaders without regard to their political status, and (5) that their perspectives should be broad enough to enable them so to visualize the problems that an adequate educational program will be developed in- stead of one characterized by immediacy and expediency.
As material evidence of the fact that the School Commit- tee has given attention to its problems in accordance with the ideas heretofore outlined, the following list of the activities considered, discussed, and acted upon is offered :
(1) Attempted to rectify a violation of the cadet rule of the Rules and Regulations made by a previous School Com- mittee.
(2) Re-established the position of Supervisor of Manual Arts, previously curtailed in the interest of economy, so that our supervisory system would be improved. (The entire course of study for this activity is now in process of revision.)
(3) Made provision in the budget for the full operation of the Teachers' Professional Improvement Plan, which had been inoperative for three years as an economy measure with dis- advantageous effect upon the school system.
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SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
(4) Made provision for the appointment of a special com- mittee to conduct a comprehensive study of the salary schedule and make such recommendations for a revision as deemed ad- visable in order to effect a more equitable arrangement of salaries.
(5) Established a course in Printing for the Vocational School.
(6) Made operative the Teachers' examination plan, sus- pended for three years, so that a new eligible list might be established in accordance with the increased eligibility require- ments for teacherships set up in December, 1934.
(7) Adjusted the lists of authorized textbooks so that the conditions of the revised courses of study might be better carried on.
(8) Authorized cooperation with a Federal Research pro- ject in arithmetic in the elementary and junior high schools.
(9) Increased the qualifications necessary for candidates for the position of matron in the High School so that matters relating to personal hygiene and social service might be im- proved.
(10) Established in cooperation with the Board of Health a special ungraded open-air school for under-nourished and physically handicapped children.
(11) Authorized raising the scholastic level by an increase in age and grade requirements for admission to the Vocational School, and authorized the establishment of a preparatory vocational organization.
(12) Improved the plan for (a) rating the candidates for teacherships, and (b) the establishment of the eligible list.
(13) Authorized the placement on a permanent basis of the personnel work being done in the Senior High School.
(14) Authorized two Somerville teachers of junior high school grade to exchange for the school year with two teachers of like grade from San Jose, California.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
(15) Made studies and investigations of the physical con- dition of the Lincoln School which resulted in the discontin- uance (at least temporarily) of the use of that building for school purposes.
(16) Made recommendations with reference to beautifying certain schoolhouse grounds.
(17) Presented orders, now under consideration, which if adopted will increase the available opportunities for kinder- garten attendance.
(18) Approved a plan for the establishment of eligible lists of substitute teachers so that a better and more effective use thereof may be made.
(19) Gave very serious and earnest consideration to the educational facilities and equipment being provided at the new Vocational School so that the opportunity for vocational education offered by the City of Somerville will be the equal of any offered in the country.
(20) Appointed a special committee which is now giving very serious consideration, through study and investigation, to a plan for the possible establishment of a division which will give due attention to research, guidance, and problems of delinquency (scholastic and disciplinary). An elaboration of this subject will be made later in this report.
In spite of our ability to report favorably upon the effec- tiveness of the smaller School Committee, the decrease in the size of the Board, while a step in the right direction, only solved part of the problem, as was stated last year, since no means have been provided for avoiding the conflict between the appropriating body and the spending body, nor between the department in charge of erection, maintenance, and con- trol of buildings and the department that uses them.
After considerable study had been given to the matter and a recommendation had been made in the 1935 report, a bill was prepared and presented to the General Court in 1936 which would place the control and maintenance of school buildings under the jurisdiction of the School Committee. After a num- ber of postponements of the hearing upon the bill, action was finally taken referring it to the next session, apparently be- cause a few persons who might be involved in the transfer of
247
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
control were opposed through misunderstanding of the facts. Such a situation is an indictment against an institution which can allow such action to take place without proper and full understanding of the matter.
However, be that as it may, the delay in making available for use by the school children of Somerville the newly con- structed school on Cross Street is deplorable. Were it not for the conflict and divided authority in such matters, the build- ing which was completed by the building contractor in February could have been equipped and ready for use at least two months before the close of schools in June.
Another condition which shows the exasperating dif- ficulties caused by such divided jurisdiction is the much ad- vertised Lincoln School situation. The School Committee was finally forced to refuse to continue to use the building because of the failure of those in charge to make the necessary repairs to the building so that the children might at least be housed where they would be warm and not exposed to causes of disease. It is interesting to note that some repairs were made im- mediately when the Federal authorities made them mandatory before a P W A project in Sewing could be housed therein.
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If such conditions as these are the result as has been sug- gested, of political machinations, it is time that somebody with knowledge of the real facts made them known to the public.
It is also timely to note that other recommendations made last year in the interest of carrying out the responsibilities of the School Committee have been given no consideration.
Quoting from the 1935 report, the following appeared under the heading "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
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ANNUAL REPORTS
of the City of Somerville a fiscally independent unit as are the School Committees in this Commonwealth of Cambridge, Bos- ton, and Lynn, and (b) place the entire jurisdiction 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 elemen- tary schools with relation to accommodations so that a wise building 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 new- ly 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 Pro- fessional Improvement Plan for Teachers, which has been in- operative for the past three years."
The first recommendation has been discussed.
The second recommendation, which, as a result of the over- crowded condition in the Northeastern JJunior High School, requested that attention be given to an addition of twelve rooms and some remodeling of the present building, was re- ferred by His Honor, the Mayor, to the Board of Aldermen. The Board of Aldermen, realizing the lack of accommodations in that district, presented an order within its own Board for the reestablishment of a fourth junior high school unit in con- nection with the very necessary replacement of the older por- tion of the Prescott School. While it is true that a fourth unit would relieve the overcrowding at the Northeastern building, it is also true and highly pertinent that it would reestablish another overhead item to be added to the cost for schools. This situation has in no way been relieved and needs imme- diate attention, particularly in view of the fact that consider- able difficulty has been encountered during the past few months
249
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
on account of a seriously leaking roof which creates an un- healthy and unsanitary condition, and emphasizes the in- adequacy of the toilet accommodations.
No consideration has been given to the third recommenda- tion, which called for the transfer of the administration of- fices to some other suitable quarters. This project has not been urged seriously by the School Committee because of its re- luctance to add to the already large capital outlay and its hope that the high school enrollment might be decreased through the rehabilitation of industry. However, it is evident that the high school is to continue to grow due to the ever in- creasing belief on the part of the public that a high school education is an absolute necessity for all of the present genera- tion.
The School Committee attacked with sincerity the problem of the fourth recommendation, calling for a survey to be made of the conditions of the elementary schools so that a wise build- ing problem might be evolved, but, failing to receive much co- operation, deferred further study of the problem to a more favorable time. To this recommendation, the Superintendent would add the name of the Prescott Building in East Somer- ville. This building, constructed in 1867, presents numerous problems. Among the important ones are a leaky roof and an outmoded and inadequate heating system. The expense of re- conditioning and renovating school buildings is prohibitive, and very seldom have the results been satisfactory. Therefore, the building should be replaced.
The Superintendent in his official position is forced to be more conscious than other citizens of the tremendous financial burden of new buildings. Good school buildings are a matter of civic pride and they also return dividends in other ways. That the city faces a serious situation in the condition of its school plant may be gathered from a table in which are shown the ages of some of our oldest buildings.
School
Built (year) Age
Prescott
1867
63
Forster
1866
70
Bingham
1866
70
Morse
1869
67
Highland
1880
56
Lincoln (wooden) .
1885
51
Burns
1886
50
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ANNUAL REPORTS
The Superintendent has made reference in his other an- nual reports to the necessity of making a survey of school needs and the desirability of formulating a long-term program which will remove obsolete, antiquated, high-maintenance-ex- pense buildings and which will replace them with first-class units which can be operated more cheaply.
There is ample evidence to prove that a building over fifty years of age is expensive to operate because of repairs and re- placements and that, while making all of this expenditure, the building is at no time fully suitable for human occupancy, nor is it altogether adequate from the viewpoints of safety of the children, fire hazards, and health, nor is it capable of adaptation to the business of educating young children com- pletely and efficiently.
The recommendation that consideration be given to the scholastic level of the curriculum at the new Vocational School was the only one over which the School Committee had full jurisdiction. Careful and serious consideration was given to this matter and a plan outlined, which is being made effective as fast as is practicable.
The School Committee was also able to obtain an appropria- tion to make possible the full operation of the Professional Improvement Plan for Teachers which had been inoperative for a period of three years.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
This year a new vocational school has been added to the school plant equipment. Since this unit represents a very con- siderable outlay of public funds and since it will play an in- creasingly important part in the educational program of the city, a detailed account of its construction and the plans for its use will be given here.
Vocational education is not new in Somerville nor in New England. The mechanical trades, which depend upon an in- tricate skill and knowledge, much of it passed from father to son, have been the lifeblood of New England. "Yankee ingen- uity", a clairvoyant ability with tools, much admired by others, was the inherent and intrinsic gift of every New Englander. Whole sections of New England became noted for their crafts- manship and much of this is perpetuated today.
251
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Somerville has played a vital, important, and proud part in this industrial history. From the time when its citizens labored successfully on the Blessing of the Bay, it has inter- ested itself profitably and become famous for its glass industry, its working of metals, is cooperage, and more lately its auto- mobiles. That it, as a city, should recognize early the ad- vantages of a skilled trade education was shown by the adop- tion in its program of a vocational or trade school in 1910. That this school, with decided physical limitations, became well known and that it was selected by the government as rep- resentative of its type for the rehabilitation of the ex-soldiers are facts pleasing to record. So necessary had its services be- come and so decrepit the building housing its activities that in 1929 the Superintendent recommended a new school comprising three units,-vocational, continuation, and elementary schools, situated on the site of the old Edgerly School. A detailed description of the building and the facts of its construction follow.
This building is situated on Cross Street between Bonair and Otis Streets. It is of first-class construction, with cement floors and walls.
The statistics regarding the building follow.
Size of plot-Edgerly
24,000
By Purchase
17,457
Total
41,457
Floor area of building-
Vocational
68,100
Continuation
7,959
Edgerly
11,948
Total
88,007
Other areas
3600
Corridors
6240
Auditorium
5010
(floor 4170, Balcony 840)
Lunchroom
2250
Cost of building to date-
Construction of building
$342,092.93
Land and Buildings
25,170.66
Architect
7,385.58
Clerk of Works
3,330.00
Miscellaneous
1,158.06
Total
$379,137.23
Total cubic feet
1,130,000
Cost per cubic foot .303
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ANNUAL REPORTS
Cost of equipment, approximate-
Vocational
$163,300
Continuation
8,500
Elementary
3,200
Total
$175,000
Estimated Total Valuation-
Land
$22,800.00
Building
379,137.23
Equipment
175,000.00
Total
$576,937.23
The building contains :
Vocational. Eight shops, two academic classrooms, seven instruction or conference rooms, two drawing rooms, lunch- room, an auditorium which may be used as a gymnasium, and a shower and locker room. The auditorium and shower and locker room are to be used by all three units.
Continuation. Four shops, two classrooms.
Elementary. Five classrooms, two special classrooms, kin- dergarten, and a playroom.
The vocational school program calls for the teaching of the following trades: Carpentry, Machine, Auto Mechanic, Printing, Drafting, Electrical, with facilities for expansion of existing activities or the addition of another. A preparatory vocational unit is being developed for the preparation of those boys who do not meet the requirements for admission to the vocational unit. The work of this school will be carried on in the shops of both the Continuation and Vocational units.
The elementary unit has five rooms, designed for use as a primary school, a kindergarten, a playroom, and two special classrooms,-one for boys and one for girls.
The vocational unit is designed to accommodate 350 pupils comfortably, and the continuation 50 girls and 75 boys on full- time basis. The Edgerly or elementary section has accommoda- tions for 210 elementary, 85 kindergarten, and 40 special class pupils.
The building has the shape of an inverted U and has been designed to provide separate entrances and stairhalls for the
253
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
different units. It consists of a ground floor and two others. The ground floor contains the automobile department, print shop, lunchroom, gymnasium, locker room and showers, san- itaries, and the continuation woodworking and sheet metal shops.
The first floor contains the machine shop, electrical de- partment, shop and laboratory, the offices, and the combination auditorium and gymnasium. The auditorium is provided with direct entrances to the exterior and has also a direct stairway to the gymnasium locker room.
The second floor has the carpentry shop, the mechanical drawing rooms, the balcony of the auditorium, the cooking and sewing rooms of the continuation school, and two special class- rooms. The elementary rooms are on the first and second floors.
The building is of fireproof construction throughout. The floor and roof are of reenforced concrete. The corridors are of solid, glazed, brick-tiled wainscot, with buff brick above. All of the shops are provided with the most modern ventilating apparatus and the maximum of lighting. The exterior of the building is of New England dark red brick with cast-stone cornices, belt courses, window sills, and copings.
The design of the building will permit removal of parti- tions and further adaptation of the building to vocational training if the school grows beyond its present facilities.
The following items in this building are of particular in- terest :
1. An automatic telephone system, which permits inter- communication by a dial system, making unnecessary a switch- board and the employment of a clerk for this purpose.
2. The equipping of all the shops with automatic electric switches, which permits the instructor to stop all machinery in the room immediately.
3. The installing of electrical fixtures which are fireproof, spark-proof, and shock-proof.
In general, all electrical equipment is of the best, both from the expertness of its installation and the use of safety devices for each shop and on each individual machine.
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ANNUAL REPORTS
4. Floor construction in the vocational unit of a type to permit expansion and still remain firmly fixed. The floors are of a grid type construction which is a very economical type. The floor area of the shops has been made large enough to give the pupils plenty of space in which to carry on their activities. Machines are not crowded together, the lighting is as nearly perfect as possible, and the arrangement of tool rooms, benches, and instruction rooms has been carefully planned to make the work of the pupils convenient and ef- ficient. The equipment of each shop has been chosen for its educational value and its definitive function in the develop- ment and training of the pupil. While a very considerable amount of money was spent on the equipment, great care was taken in its selection and every care was taken that it should be a justifiable expense.
REPAIRS AND ALTERATIONS
In spite of the inability of the school authorities to have attention given to the very necessary conditions to which reference has previously been made, some repairing has been done by the Building Department through its own workmen and through the assistance of the W.P.A. The Pope School has been completely renovated. These repairs included painting of the interior and exterior of the building, repairing of the roof, additions to the heating system, the complete modernizing of the boys' sanitaries, and constructing an assembly hall, which was made possible by removal of a partition and the installa- tion of folding doors. The retaining wall at the back of the yard was also repaired at a considerable expense. The approx- imate cost of this work was $23,000.
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