USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1937 > Part 13
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233
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
After a study and a conference with the Board of Health, it opened the open-air school for undernourished and physically handicapped children.
In the year 1929 and at different periods since that time, it studied the athletic program and has made several revisions. It now has in effect a teacher-coach plan with practically all sports coached by teachers under the pay and direct supervi- sion of the School Committee.
The school committees of this period have faced with cour- age and wisdom a very trying situation. To have maintained the schools at a high standard and to have enacted legislation which is of deep educational significance are milestones of progress during a period of depression which tried everybody's patience.
Basis 5. A survey of the school plant over a period of ten years, particularly as to the need for new buildings and the state of repair and efficiency of the others, is a very neces- sary consideration. In 1928 we had in use thirty buildings, with a total valuation, including furniture, of $4,053,100.00. Of these buildings, three were wooden structures, and of the remainder twenty-one were constructed prior to 1900. Since 1928, three new elementary school buildings have been made available, the Grimmons, the Cummings, and the Edgerly, the latter two to replace old buildings; the high school has been added to and renovated ; and the new vocational school has been built. A total approximate expenditure of $2,400,000 was involved.
Of these additions to the school plant. the Cummings, Voca- tional and Edgerly, and the High School wings are of first- class construction, that is, fireproof in every respect. In this city, on account of its congestion, it is wise to continue con- struction of this type when school buildings are to be built. The new vocational school, which is just about to take its full part in the educational program, is an ultra-modern building, but it is not regarded as an expensive one, having been built at the very small cost of 27¢ per cubic foot. The building com- prises thirty-two teaching units at present, occupied by voca- tional school (18), continuation and junior vocational (6), and Edgerly elementary (S). It is commonly regarded as the finest, most carefully planned, and most efficient building for voca- tional instruction that there is in the east. The wing now oc- cupied by the junior vocational and Edgerly elementary schools can at some future time be adapted for vocational use.
234
ANNUAL REPORTS
Under the auspices of the government, a great deal of renovating of the other buildings has been done, such renovat- ing including painting and work on the steam plants, sanitaries, roofs, and yards. Since the labor was supplied by the govern- ment and much of the work was either completed by or done in conjunction with the building department, no good estimate could be reached as to the total expenditure, but it would cer- tainly be in excess of $200,000. The essential facts for the citizen to have in mind are that the total valuation of all the school buildings is approximately $4,600,000. that the city should spend normally 1% of this valuation on repairs, and that a sum of approximately $120,000 is required to care for the services of the custodians. Since many of these buildings are so old as to make their upkeep a large item, and since many of them cannot be made habitable for children even with considerable expense for repair and care, it would seem provident and wise from financial and educational points of view to remove some of the older structures and replace them with more modern buildings, which would be less expensive to operate. Approximately one-fourth of the $4,600,000, which is the total valuation of the school buildings of the city, is placed on buildings constructed prior to 1900. The Highland, Forster, and Morse Schools, representing $250,000 of this valuation, should be replaced within the next ten years under a compre- hensive building plan which would consider the possibility of relocation of these schools in more centralized areas. Approx- imately 6,000 pupils are housed in buildings constructed before 1900, and approximately 1,500 pupils are housed in those three buildings for which immediate consideration is recommended. The rapidity of the population growth of Somerville, its peculiar topography, and the growth of industrial and business areas have made undesirable many of the present building loca- tions. In the replacement of these buildings, some of which date back to the era immediately following the Civil War, great care should be taken to avoid overlapping and to be sure that the new buildings serve carefully designed and well located areas, with consideration given to traffic arteries.
In connection with this topic, it is also well to bring to the attention of citizens that every broad traffic artery constructed in the city brings additional hazards to school children, that it enforces changes in the district lines of existing schools, and, if the same lack of attention is shown to educational purposes, will inevitably lead to additional construction of new school buildings in order to avoid the crossing of heavily traveled arteries. It would be well for the city to have a powerful plan-
235
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ning board which could carefully analyze the remote expend. itures of such arteries and consider the effects to the city from the viewpoints of the additional school buildings and police officers required. No more high-speed arteries should be added to the city without a careful study of the effects upon the move- ment of school children and adults and the consequent danger and mortality which will result from poorly planned and poorly situated placement of them.
It is a pleasure to note here that the City of Somerville has always provided facilities for its school children in far better manner than most cities of its size and that its vigilance has prevented any major disaster to its school children.
In a survey conducted by the School Committee, facts were brought out which showed that the schools are charged with many expenditures which are not rightfully theirs. due to the fact that the buildings are being used for purposes other than education. A second significant fact of that report is that many of the expenditures are not directed by the School Com- mittee, and as a matter of fact it has no control over them. and that many things in the way of repairs or uses of school build- ings are done without its consent or desire for them. It is well to emphasize again that if the public is to hold the school authorities responsible for this tremendous valuation of school buildings, power over them. both as to their repair. care, and use, should be directly given to the School Committee by a change in the charter.
Basis 6. While the great majority of our pupils pursue their school careers very intelligently and practically without diversion or difficulty, there remains, however, the minor few to whom school life is a problem and who therefore become involved in situations which may be unhappy. tinged with failure, and eventually disastrous in results. To attempt to bring an adjustment in these young lives is an eager duty for any school system. The work has followed three directions : (1) that of testing individual accomplishments and mental ability by means of subject tests in the elementary schools and the state clinics. (2) guidance programs in the junior high school through the homeroom teacher or by assemblies and club periods, and (3) advice and guidance in the high school by teachers and heads of courses and departments.
In addition to these, there was begun in 1935 a personnel department in the high school, with two men teachers from
236
ANNUAL REPORTS
the faculty who spend a portion of each school day visiting the homes of pupils who have difficulties which are interfering with their success. By the efforts of these men, many pupils have been able to continue in school and eventually graduate, and while it is impossible to obtain an accurate figure in mat- ters of this kind it is probable that at least 20% of subject failures in school can be remedied by this personal attention.
For those girls who may need assistance, advice, or super- vision, there are available two women teachers who spend their entire time investigating such cases as are brought to their at- tention by the masters, and through their personal touch with the pupils in the homes they alleviate and eventually eradicate any condition which interferes with the success of these pupils in the school. The influence of these women teachers is avail- able and can be made to reach girls of all ages in whatever grade they may be. Much of the work of these adjustment teachers has been caused by the large number of broken homes, the serious unemployment of the parents, the increase of loiter- ers on the city streets, and the increased number of women who spend considerable time in questionable places of amusement and entertainment.
This topic should not be dismissed until attention is called to recommendations in other parts of the report. Life has become very complex to adults, and many of the decisions made by them are based on misunderstanding, expediency, or lack of knowledge. The youth of today are confronted with much the same problems. The extent to which good judgment will enter into their decisions will be determined by how well they can think, how well they have been trained, and what knowledge they have acquired. Time, effort, and money spent in the erad- ication of unsocial traits and in reducing failure in school will prevent many of these youngsters from making the errors in judgment and thought which their elders have made the past few years. It can be confidently stated that the pupil is receiv- ing much attention and that every attempt is being made to study his difficulties and to orient him in his school career.
During the depression little time and energy were spent on those pupils who pursued the even tenor of their ways and per- formed their tasks efficiently and well. It is from this type of pupil that our good citizen is drawn and from which many of our leaders will come. If there is one outstanding and just criticism which can be made of our school or school system, it
237
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
is that of spending too much time upon the adjustment of pupils who are uncooperative and who take great delight in upsetting school programs and annoying the teachers to the consequent neglect of the bright, successful, competent, and self-sufficient pupil who grasps all the opportunities afforded him and succeeds with varying degrees of success in becoming a model pupil. The School Committee has had many orders before it and has discussed quite frequently plans by which pupils of greater ability would be provided greater opportun- ities, and since this plan has a great deal of merit it is prob -- able that the Committee will undertake it when financially able.
RECOMMENDATIONS
There are certain important and urgent matters which should receive attention and which will bear repetition at this point and a recommendation that some attention be given to- them immediately.
(1) School Buildings. Since it is inevitable that some of our older school buildings must be replaced, and that an addition to at least one junior high school is neces- sary, it is recommended that a survey be made and a comprehensive plan be adopted which will meet the edu- cational needs and be within the city's financial ability to support, and it is further recommended that the sup- port, control, and use of school buildings be under the jurisdiction of the School Committee.
To particularize .-
That immediate steps be taken to construct the ad- dition to the Northeastern Junior High School, for which plans have already been approved by the School Committee.
That new elementary schools be constructed to take the places of the Lincoln and Prescott Schools, and that a study be made of the situation regarding the Morse, Highland, and Forster Schools.
That attention be paid to the faulty sewerage system in the Bingham School, and that all school yards, particularly the Brown, be examined and put in proper condition.
238
ANNUAL REPORTS
That steps be taken as requested in the Superin- tendent's recommendation of 1936 to relieve the crowd- ed conditions of the High School by the erection of an administrative building for the use of the School De- partment.
(2) It is recommended, on account of the problems presented by the number, variety, and type of pupil subject failures, that further study and action be given to increasing the size and scope of the research work by the establishment of a Division of Research and Pupil Guidance.
(3) It is further recommended that consideration be given to the adult program so that it will extend its activities to persons in different walks of life and of varying vocations and abilities, and that the operation of the evening schools be studied as one of the means of accomplishing this purpose.
CONCLUSION
It is very gratifying to be able to report a successful educa- tional accomplishment in all the units of the school system during the year 1937 and to set forth briefly a resume of the progress made during the past ten years. The statements made herein indicate that the members of the School Committee have shown a very earnest determination to fulfill the obligations of their responsibilities, and that principals and teachers have discharged effectively and sympathetically their duties and responsibilities. Commendation in large measure is due to all involved and the Superintendent wishes to express his personal appreciation for the loyalty, co-operation, and .devotion to their work of all the masters and teachers throughout the year, and for the harmonious relations existing among all elements of the public school organization.
December 16, 1937
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
239
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Students entering Higher Institutions in September
State Teachers Colleges
13
Bridgewater
Lowell
Massachusetts School of Art
Salem
3 3325 5
Colleges
73-
Bates
Boston College
6
Boston University
8
College of Business Administration
5
College of Practical Arts and Letters ..
3
Bradford Junior College
1
Clark University
1
Colby Junior College
1
Emmanuel
6
Harvard
6
Jackson College
7
Lasell Junior College
1
University of Maine
2
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy
2
Massachusetts State College
2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. .. University of New Hampshire
1
Northeastern University
4
Regis College
2
Simmons College
5
Tufts College
11
Tufts Engineering School
4
Other Institutions
58
Bentley School of Accounting
5
Burdett College
13
Cambridge School of Liberal Arts
5
The Chandler School
9
Fisher Secretarial School
19
Katherine Gibbs
2
Lesley School
3
Portia Law
1
Wentworth Institute
1
Summary
State Teachers Colleges
13
Colleges (awarding degrees) and Junior
73
Colleges
58
Other Institutions
144
1
240
ANNUAL REPORTS
Number of Pupils by Subjects December, 1937
English
3447
Oral English
1701
Physical Education
2267
U. S. History
881
English History
85
Modern European History
463
Early European History
360
Ancient History
257
Civic Problems
194
Elementary Economics
46
Latin
522
French
983
Spanish
295
Italian
210
Chemistry
601
Physics
207
Biology
721
Physiology
310
Astronomy and Geology
15
Trigonometry
46
Geometry
724
Algebra
775
Stenography
481
Typewriting
1394
Transcription
62
Bookkeeping
423
Office Machines
41
Clerical Practice
926
Secretarial Training
60
Business Organization
386
Arithmetic
208
Salesmanship
169
Commercial Law
569
Commerce and Industry
955
Household Arts
302
Manual Training
156
Mechanical Drawing
359
Freehand Drawing
295
Arts and Crafts
149
Business Science
134
Musical Theory
230
Music Appreciation
336
Choral Practice
588
Student Activities
December, 1937
Orchestra (2)
70
Band
70
Girls' Bugle and Drum Corps
70
Girls' Glee Clubs (2)
169
Boys' Glee Clubs (1)
51
German
58
241
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Student Council
20
School Paper
52
National Honor Society
74
Traffic Squad
125
Webster Debating Society
49
Portia Debating Society
50
Writers' Club
20
Players' Club
65
Stamp Club
15
Photographic Society
43
Chess Club
12
Boys' Athletics
563
Girls' Athletics
315
242
ANNUAL REPORTS
SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' CLUB
Officers, 1937-1938
President, HELEN L. GALVIN
SELIZABETH F. LEACH Vice-Presidents,) BLANCHE LLEWELLYN
Recording Secretary, MARY E. HUGHES Corresponding Secretary, MARY A. ROONEY Treasurer, ELEANOR D. CAMPBELL Auditor, IRENE M. KENNEY
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 inter- est of the home and school.
PROGRAM
October 21-Dinner. Speaker: Dr. Francis J. Horgan, Boston Teachers' College. "International Affairs."
December 16-Dinner. Associated Teachers' Clubs. Musical Entertain- ment and Speakers.
February 9-Play.
April 13-Presidents' Day. Musicale and Tea.
May-Annual Meeting. Election of Officers. Reports of Committees.
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
243
SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC COMMITTEE
Report of the Treasurer, January 1, 1937 to January 1, 1938
Receipts
Balance in treasury January 1, 1937
$575.03
Basketball games
567.20
Baseball games
203.55
Football games
5,331.14
Minor sports
55.41
Exhibition basketball game
140.55
Miscellaneous
92.80
$6,965.68
Expenditures
Athletic supplies
$2,078.95
Medical supplies
148.38
Paid visiting teams
1,134.65
Officials
423.00
Policing
840.00
Assistance at games
284.00
Postage
3.03
Printing
71.70
Telephone
7.80
Transportation
332.40
Dues to A. A.
15.75
Entry fees
18.75
Faculty Manager's Salary
200.00
Physician's Salary
200.00
Floodlights
400.00
Orchestra basketball games
72.00
Miscellaneous
234.44
$6,464.85
Balance in treasury January 1, 1938
$500.83
Estimated outstanding bills
$1,632.80
244
ANNUAL REPORTS
In Memoriam
LILLIAN E. HASKELL
Cummings School
Died March 1, 1937
245
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
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 Tahle
1. Schedule of school property.
2. Cost of maintaining schools, school year 1936-1937.
3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, school year 1936-1937.
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 1936-1937.
9. Statistics of the high school for school year 1936-1937.
10. Pupils by grade, June, 1937.
11. Separate statistics for high, junior high, elementary and voca- tional schools, for school year 1936-1937.
12. Admission to first grade in September, 1937.
13. Number of junior high school graduates, 1937.
14. Truant statistics for a series of years.
15. Evening school statistics, 1936-1937.
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, 1937.
19a. Promotions, elementary schools, 1937.
CONCERNING TEACHERS
20 Resignations of teachers, 1937.
21. Teachers elected in 1937.
22 Leave of absence of teachers.
23. Transfers of teachers.
24. Number of teachers employed for a series of years.
24.6
ANNUAL REPORTS
STATISTICAL AND GENERAL TABLES
25. Changes in text books, 1937.
26. High and Junior High School graduation exercises, 1937.
26a Evening High School graduation exercises, 1937.
27. Vocational School graduation exercises, 1937.
28. Organization of school board for 1938.
29. Teachers in service, December, 1937.
30. Officers in service, December, 1937.
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
October, 1937, by school census
18,560
2 - SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of school buildings in June
31
Number of classrooms in use in June
527
Valuation of school property
$4,868,900
3 -TEACHERS
*1936
*1937
Change
In high school
120
126
+6
In junior high schools
165
167
+2
In elementary schools
244
241
-3
In kindergartens
31
30
-1
Total, elementary and kindergarten
275
271
-4
Vocational School for Boys
12
13
+1
Independent Household Arts
1
1
C
Atypical classes
8
8
0
Sight saving
1
1
0
Cadet teachers
32
22
-10
Special
19
24
+5
Continuation
3
3
0
Americanization
1
1
0
Total
637
637
0
4 - ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR
*1936
*1937
Change
Entire enrollment for the year
18,003
17,871
-132
Average number belonging
16,779
16,626
-153
Average number attending
15,537
15,564
+27
Per cent. of daily attendance
92.6
93.6
+1.0
High school graduates
856
871
+15
Junior High School graduates
1,301
1,302
+1
Children between five and fifteen years of age inclusive,
STATEMENT OF WORK OF SCHOOL NURSES For School Year Ending June 30, 1937
PUPILS ESCORTED TO CLINICS
Oper-
ations
Conta- gion found in
* Home Visits
Hy- giene Talks
Pedic- ulosis
Un- clean
Eye
Ear
Nose and Throat
*Med- ical
Sur- gical
Skin
Dental
Corrected Vision
Corrected Hearing
Tonsils
Adenoids
School
Home
New
Old
School
Home
-
September ..
98
6065
247
473
6
189
345
89
87
1
7
2
25
14
12
2
1 1
10
7
1
464
......
October
164
12840
1851
787
24
2:22
2213
133
460
5
14 22
177
21
13
.25
2
9
9
33
2
1787
47
November ..
133
10811
3721
579
14
79
935
10
284
32
8
48
1
13
14
1
3
9
9
21
1
22
G
214
4
December ..
146
4544
1552
493
13
50
290
31
38
89
6
23
4
1
2
6
2
3
1
1
10
7
4
257
1
January ....
145
9774
1964
579
51
175
478
635
55
369
17
63
12
1
·2
22
20
8
17
17
32
41
-1
1038
20
February ...
1]1
7980
1401
545
12
107
2037
467
51
541
3
59
15
1
3
18
18
4
2
5
1
1
21
1
22
9
442
6
March
167
7573
286
626
29
153
27
470
48
12
6
20
11
2
4
2
*2
29
37
8
96
15
April
136
8783
2570
673
12
122
676
10
576
56
14
1
25
32
5
3
3
15
4
26
36
292
10
May
156
12167
4036
736
27
85
2129
47
338
16
33
5
18
7
3
23
23
29
9
5
836
3
June
13)
7924
1367
602
18
147
685
147
49
6
1
1
22
3
3
14
14
19
·2
23
6
301
5
Total ...
1
1387
88461
18995
6093
206
9788
1186
425 3361
47
378 105 .
6
260
6
42
165
4
9
44
70
70
195
227
84
5727
111
· Treated by family physician or dentist.
New: Seen first time during school year. Old: Cases followed up
17,875 Children weighed and measured. 1,662 Physical Examinations made. 4 Class Talks in Hygiene given.
DATE
Hospital
| School
seen
Notice sent to
Consultations with
Consultations with
Treatment in School
Dental
Guardian
Teachers
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Old
Old
New
New
Old
New
Old
New
Old
Optician
Total No. of Pupils
INSPECTIONS
Med. Inspector
...
...
...
...
138
....
...
New
New
Old
6
12
6
1329
8
...
1
247
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
5-COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE
*1936
*1937
Change
Salaries of teachers
$1,231,691.05 $1,259,827.78 +$28,136.73
Salaries of officers
33,454.55
33,489.27
+34.72
Cost of books and supplies
43,294.85
45,373.25
+2,078.40
Cost of light and power
18,156.88
22,077.11
+3,920.23
Cost of janitors' services, etc.
105,137.94
112,884.63
+7,746.69
Cost of fuel and insurance
25,643.00
42,028.07
+16,385.07
Total cost of day and evening schools
1,457,378.27
1,515,680.11
+58,301.84
Per capita cost
86.24
90.28
+4.04
Cost of high school instruction ....
270,933.82
284,682.94
+13,749.12
Per capita cost
82.93
87.22
+4.29
6 - MISCELLANEOUS
*1936
*1937
Change
Paid for new school build- ings
$339,509.88
$152,587.22
-$186,922.66
Repairs and permanent im- provements
39,194.44
52,847.00
+13,652.56
Total school expenditures ..
1,836,082.59
1,721,114.33
-114,968.26
Valuation of city
115,688,600.00
113,453,300.00
-2,235,300.00
Number of dollars spent to
maintain schools out of
every $1,000 of valuation
12.60
13.36
+0.76
Number of dollars spent for
all school purposes out of
every $1,000 of valuation
15.87
15.17
-0,70
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, 1937, is $1,515,680.11.
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 expenditures for care for school buildings is wholly in charge of the City Government.
The amount paid for janitors is
$112,884.63
The cost of fuel is
42,028.07
The cost of light is
22,077.11
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