Report of the city of Somerville 1944, Part 9

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1944
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 492


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1944 > Part 9


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The central heating plant at the High School received many necessary repairs, including new boilers, the installation of new tubes, repairing the smoke stack, and cleaning the chimney. Lights in the gymnasium, corridors, and cafeteria were re- paired, and the cafeteria refrigerator was reconditioned. The roof and floor of the gymnasium were repaired and the outside steel framework and sashes were painted.


One of the most substantial improvements made during the year was the installation of new boilers at the Glines and Forster Schools. A new concrete floor was installed in the basement of the Glines School, new partitions were built in the boys' and girls' sanitaries, and additional improvements were made to the kindergarten.


A considerable amount of glass has been set in all of the buildings. Bells, telephones, fire alarm systems, and electric lights have been repaired in eighteen of the buildings. Special attention has been given to the repair of panic bolts and door checks in several buildings. Window cords have been renewed and sashes replaced in the High School and in ten elementary schools. Fences have been repaired at six of the buildings, and the roofs of the Carr, Forster, Hanscom, Perry, Cholerton, and Brown Schools have received necessary repairs. Furniture and doors have been repaired in twelve buildings. Ceilings and walls were painted and necessary plastering was completed in fifteen buildings. General plumbing and heating repairs were


145


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


made in almost all of the buildings and the seats were painted in the sanitaries in fourteen buildings.


It should be noted, however, that as extensive as these re- pairs have been, and in spite of the fine cooperative attitude of the Building Commissioner, in many instances these repairs have made many of the buildings simply usable. Further ref- erence will be made to this matter in later pages.


COSTS AND SALARIES


In view of what has been written in preceding pages with reference to probable necessary expenditures for postwar educa- tion, it seems advisable to make a statement here with relation to the cost of education in Somerville.


It has always been a privilege and a source of pride to the Superintendent of Schools to point to statistics gathered and tabulated by the State Department of Education, which showed that the school system of Somerville, the seventh largest city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with the fourth largest school population in the State (being exceeded in that respect only by Boston, Worcester, and Springfield), has operated its schools at a per capita cost far less each year than the average of the thirty-nine cities of the State, and ranking from twenty- second to twenty-ninth in this respect in the various years. This rating is attained in face of the fact that the seventh largest city ranks in the early thirties in assessed valuation, approximate- ly $8,000 of taxable property supporting each school child, as well as carrying on and supporting general community serv- ices for all the people of the City. Of this per capita cost, ap- proximately 85% is spent for instruction and supervision, 3% for supplies, and 12% for care and maintenance of the build- ings which house the schools.


Due to the great expenditures which were necessary for care and maintenance, to make the school buildings usable, which, by the way, are not under the jurisdiction of the School Com- mittee in any way but rest in the control of the City Govern- ment, after many years of neglect, and due also to the fact that these buildings, many of which have been in use for from fifty to eighty years, are more expensive to maintain each year, it is evident that the large expenditures for maintenance this year will cause the percentages of the funds expended for supplies and instruction and supervision to be much lower this year.


146


ANNUAL REPORTS


The program of education offered to the children of Somer- ville includes all the elements of the regular conventional school plan and all the elements of a temporary or emergency nature which come about through the efforts to win the war and to prepare for the peace which must follow.


The instructional force is well trained, as is evidenced by the fact that our percentage of college graduates and those holding advanced degrees is exceptionally large in comparison with those of other communities in the State. It is well qual- ified by experience and is endowed with the will, the spirit, and the determination to give its best efforts to the task for which it is employed.


The textbooks furnished are adequate in amount and mod- ern in content and educational philosophy, and the supplies furnished are adequate in amount and quality. Prices, of course, of these commodities have continually increased from year to year, but through careful purchasing by annual bids it has been possible by quality-buying to operate on a prac- tically constant appropriation.


The housing for this most important function of the com- munity cannot be commended very highly, because many of the buildings are antiquated, unsuitable in design for modern edu- cational needs, and have not been properly maintained in spite of the entreaties of school committees. It is only fair to re- peat that which was referred to earlier in this report, that much necessary repairing has been done recently, but even this does not provide suitable housing and facilities for modern ed- ucational needs and services.


From these statements it can readily be seen that two items call for immediate attention and adjustment. The buildings should be very thoroughly surveyed (possibly the survey of the present Commissioner of Public Buildings made last January will suffice as a basis), a long-term building program form- ulated as a part of the postwar planning project, and steps taken to begin to replace the antiquated housings as soon as practicable when building materials are available.


The second of these two items concerns the salaries of those concerned with the educational processes. The economic situa- tion of the teaching profession, like that of all so-called white collar workers, under present conditions is extremely serious.


147


SCHOOL. DEPARTMENT


School people have been seriously hampered, to say the least, by the increased cost of living now apparent in every expend- iture, by greater taxes, including the high rate of income tax, which in 1945 will be considerably increased, and by constant demands for contributions to worthy emergencies, and for pur- chases of War Bonds. These demands must be met regardless of the financial condition of the individual.


Another factor pertinent to the situation, but seldom rec- ognized or given any consideration by those responsible for the salary schedules for persons in the profession, is the investment made by educators in obtaining the education and training necessary to meet the eligilibility requirements of the profes- sion. Compare these requirements educationally and econom- ically with those of other emloyees of the City Government whose salary schedule maxima, obtained in approximately three years after entrance to service, is greater than can ever be acquired by a school teacher after seven years of service and investment for at least four years of schooling beyond the High School.


During the year 1944 the School Committee made an at- tempt to meet partially this situation by the formulation in June of a new salary schedule, which was amended in Novem- ber. This schedule, however, simply raised the maximum sal- aries of the classroom teachers and gave no thought or con- sideration to those having to do with administrative respon- sibilities, whose economic and social obligations are, in many instances, far greater than those of the classroom teacher.


Further than that, the differentials between the maximum salaries of those in the various units of the organization were maintained in spite of the fact that the same standards of ed- ucational qualifications are required of all. Immediate con- sideration, therefore, should be given to a further study of the salary schedule to provide an equalization plan, so that equal salary is obtainable for equal training, preparation, and serv- ice regardless of the unit in which the service is rendered.


It is probably impossible at this time to judge accurately what the upper limit of salaries will be when the national in- come reaches the estimated figure of 120 to 125 billions of dol- lars. Upper limits must, then, be varied from time to time de- pending on demand expenditures. Now is the time to save our American educational institution before serious inroads into


148


ANNUAL REPORTS


the potential stock of outstanding candidates for teacherships is made by industry through its ability to attract these persons by offering exorbitant salaries. Just remember that Education is the country's greatest and largest industry.


RECAPITULATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS


In submitting this report of the Somerville schools during the year 1944, the Superintendent of Schools has attempted to present a discussion of the matters and circumstances involved in the outstanding activities and considerations of the School Committee during the year and to present a picture of the situations and matters needing serious thought, study, and ac- tion during the coming fiscal year. Attempt has been made to show that educational change is bound to come and that only the nature and direction of the change can be controlled. To provide for the immediate necessities in postwar education, plans must be formulated as soon as possible for a complete analysis of the present school curriculum with the idea in mind that a remodeling and revamping shall result which will elim- inate all non-essentials, to the end that there will be developed by local and state educational authorities a wisely planned and vigorously implemented program for improvement, adaptation, and extension of educational services to youth. The creation of a federalized system of youth service should not and cannot be tolerated.


Attention has been called to the alert, energetic, ambitious, and active manner in which the administrators and supervisors have kept abreast of those problems requiring the aid of the educational forces, have analyzed and studied the problems, and have made the necessary recommendations for changes, temporary and otherwise, to the end that the educational pro- gram has been full and complete.


The legislation necessary in connection with the educational program has been enacted after careful, thoughtful, and far- sighted discussion and analysis of the matters involved, by the School Committee which gave much energy and time to its duties and responsibilities for keeping the Somerville schools abreast of the times with reference to aims, curricula, and ac- complishments. Much credit is due the members of the School Committee who, under the guidance, direction, and leadership of their able chairman, William J. Shea, have made the prog-


149


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


ress of this year possible. Mr. Shea has brought to the School Committee a mature judgment, supported by a firsthand knowl- edge of educational affairs over a long period of years, gained through a close contact because of his profession. He has pre- sided over and guided his colleagues with impartiality and with a sincerity of purpose to keep always in mind the welfare of the children and the interests of the taxpayers.


The members of the teaching force have energically and seriously adapted the newer ideas to the courses of study by analysis and revision, and have, with their usual industry and determination, guided their pupils to an excellent degree of ac- complishment.


From these statements it can readily be seen that the entire organization intends to devote itself to continue to maintain the standards of its accomplishments and to make the neces- sary adjustments and revisions with all possible speed.


Throughout this discussion various matters which, in the opinion of the Superintendent of Schools, need attention from the School Committee and the Mayor and City Government have been called to the reader's attention.


For three years it has been deemed inadvisable to make rec- ommendations which concerned situations which would involve long-term planning because of the indefiniteness of the length of the global conflict and of the uncertainty of the extent and direction of the necessary future revisions of both objectives and curricula.


One aim of this report has been to show that recent develop- ments in the progress of the war make it a real necessity to survey thoroughly the general situation and to formulate plans for a long-term program of activity with relation to objectives, curricula, program of studies, and adequate housing.


It therefore is deemed advisable at this time to make some very definite recommendations for immediate planning and for execution, as soon as it is humanly possible to ascertain the surety of obtaining the necessary moneys and materials for the attack on what must necessarily be a long-term program.


In the opinion of the Superintendent, it is his duty and re- sponsibility to request and seriously to urge the School Com-


150


ANNUAL REPORTS


mittee to devote careful thought, study, and deliberation to the preparation and development of a long-term plan of action which will result in the establishment of a system of education for the present and future citizens of the community, which will be commensurate with what is considered an adequate ed- ucation for all its constituents and which will be within the ability of the taxable factors of the community to afford and maintain.


It is therefore strongly urged that speedy but thorough con- sideration be given to the following recommendations :


1. That the School Committee recognize the need for devel- oping a comprehensive system of public education to meet the probable increased needs of all children and adults during the postwar years.


2. That authorization be given to the Superintendent of Schools to set up a committee to be composed of school person- nel and a group of representative citizens, to be known as the Committee on Postwar Education (the personnel of which will be subject to approval by the School Committee), to consider the method of procedure, to analyze resources, opinions, ob- stacles, and finances of the community with regard to educa- tional practices, and to study the possibilities of the extension of the community's offerings beyond grade twelve.


The Committee would further study thoroughly the possibil- ities of the establishment of extended offerings of other trades in the Vocational School and the possibilities of changes in aims and objectives for education, particularly at the second- ary school level, with resultant changes in organization and cur- riculum.


A representative of this Committee should be a member of the City Planning Committee for Postwar Activity, as set up by his Honor the Mayor.


3. That provision. be made for an allocation of funds, out of the operating budget of the School Committee, for financing the research, planning, and public relations of the Committee on Postwar Education.


4. That consideration be given to a possible extension of the scope of the Professional Improvement Plan for the pur-


151


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


pose of stimulating a speedy preparation for the new postwar developments.


5. That reconsideration be given to the salary schedule for all employees of the School Committee for the purpose of es- tablishing an adequate wage, commensurate with the invest- ment incurred in acquiring the training and experience neces- sary to meet the eligibility requirements for positions, and equalized in amount dependent upon training, experience, and quality and length of service.


6. That a further attempt be made through appeal to the Legislature for enactment of legislation to rectify the obsolete practice, peculiar now only to two or three communities in ad- dition to Somerville, of having the jurisdiction for the care and maintenance of school buildings vested in an agency of the City Government other than the School Committee.


(Such proposed legislation was reported favorably by the Committee on Cities of the General Court in 1943 and passed through a second reading in the House of Representatives, only to be referred for reconsideration by the Committee on Cities, which eventually recommended reference to the next session).


7. That provision be made for a complete study of condi- tions involved in a long-term building program, such as trends in population, birth rate, safety conditions, mobility of pop- ulation, conditions of attendance and enrollment, and other necessary factors, so that when a building program is started the buildings will be correctly located geographically in view of the purposes to be served.


8. That a request be made of his Honor the Mayor and the Honorable City Government that steps be taken as soon as feasible and as soon as adequate materials and labor are avail- able to replace, on the same locations or other sites as shown to be proper by the study referred to in recommendation No. 7, the antiquated school buildings, now quite unsuited for modern educational needs and demands, which were built in the years 1866, 1867, 1869, 1880, 1886, and 1891.


(The buildings referred to are the Forster, Prescott, Morse, Cholerton, Bingham, Burns, Pope, and Glines. These build- ings have served the city well for periods of from over fifty to


152


ANNUAL REPORTS


nearly eighty years. The high cost of maintaining these build- ings for further use is out of proportion to the cost of replace- ment. Much has been written and urged about the replace- ment of the original Prescott building, and last year the Super- intendent stated that further delay might result in a major disaster.)


9. That the Board of Health be requested to consider the advisability of revising the medical inspection plan for school children in order to make possible a more thorough annual physical examination of the children, by the employment of an adequately paid full-time force of two or three physicians to re- place the force of seven very inadequately paid inspectors of the present time.


10. That consideration be given to an intensification and elaboration of the health program in the schools.


CONCLUSION


In concluding his seventeenth annual report, the Superin- tendent of Schools desires to express to the Chairman and members of the School Committee of 1944, to the members of the administrative, supervisory, and teaching forces, to all other school employees, and to the pupils of all the schools, his most sincere gratitude and appreciation for their devoted, faithful, and enthusiastic assistance in the solutions of the very intricate and perplexing problems of the schools during the year.


It is a sincere privilege to be associated with such a group, and it is the Superintendent's earnest hope that in spite of the arduous task of analyzation and reorganization ahead the same fine associations and attitudes may be maintained, to the end that in a world at peace our educational system will go forward with ever increasing efficiency.


EVERETT W. IRELAND,


Superintendent of Schools.


December 18, 1944.


153


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


In Memoriam


L. ALICE GRADY Western Junior High School Died May 5, 1944


HELEN T. SMITH Morse School Died August 2, 1944


FRANCIS J. GANNON High School Died August 11, 1944


MARGARET E. BUCKNAM Hodgkins School Died November 7, 1944


154


ANNUAL REPORTS


PART II


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 1943-1944.


3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, school year 1943-1944.


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 repairs for a series of years.


CONCERNING PUPILS


7. Population and school registration ..


8. Attendance, etc., of the schools for school year 1943-1944.


9. Statistics of the high school for school year 1943-1944.


10. Pupils by grades, June 1944.


11. Separate statistics for high, junior high, elementary and voca- tional schools, for school year 1943-1944.


12. Admission to first grade in September, 1944.


13.


Number of junior high school graduates, 1944.


14. Truant statistics for a series of years.


15. Evening school statistics, 1943-1944.


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, 1944.


19a. Promotions, elementary schools, 1944.


CONCERNING TEACHERS


20. Resignations of teachers, 1944.


21. Teachers elected in 1944.


22. Leave of absence of teachers.


23. Transfers of teachers.


24. Number of teachers employed for a series of years.


STATEMENT OF WORK OF SCHOOL NURSES For School Year Ending June 30, 1944


PUPILS ESCORTED TO CLINICS


Oper-


ations


Conta- gion found in


*Home Visits


Hy- giene Talks


School


Home


September ..


4


6011


1141


438


16 277


1


172


94


10


19


10


5


34


27


2


19


...


...


...


. ..


...


11


14


56


9


October ..


183


16004


1301


637


1116


...


12


202


69-1


12


41


28


4


1


404


4


27


33


9


4


13


2


29


37


3


162


16


November ..


131


10495


2891


432


19


114


382


70


518


4


33


12


2


193


9


1


46


6


1


1


24


3


29


8


66


5


December ...


136


10149


1153


558


18


162


815


31


711


3


43


-1


2


11


3


16


15


6


6


23


20


7


70


8


January .....


143


11483


2565


559


28


494


175-1


21


47


851


3


49


8


3


56


8


8


16


3


2


12


1


3


1


29


30


3


96


10


February


'92


8018


996


457


17


174


2


2


35


938


12


77


7


3


2


8


44


9


16


2


2


32


49


5


92


8


178


12668


2532


751


26


276


706


37


82 1333


11


112


12


3


5


3


1


1


1


73


25


3


3


12


7


5


42


2


51


9


152


19


April


93


6564


2367


391


11


97


770


2


684


52


9


1


4


3


1


17


2-1


4


6


...


20


2


39


4


56


14


May


14%


9511


2738


.617


9


457


2127


12


831


7


76


10


1


7


2


51


12


7


8


5


37


45


7


106


13


June ..


135


81-17


2198


621


39


398


319


9


15


514


1


48


8


5


5


1


2


2


1


5


42


9


6


6


6


10


22


8


117


Total ... 1333


99650


22882


5461


222


3565


6876


91 724 7168


68


550 108


15


31


10


716


6


75


2


21


1356


97


7


6


77


15 36 22


287


8 336


54


972


106


ยท Treated by family physician or dentist.


New: Seen first time during school year. Old: Cases followed up


21,388 7,373 Physical Examinations made.


DATE


School


seen


Guardian


Teachers


New


OId


New


Old


New


Old


PIO


New


Old


New


Old


New


Old


New


Old


New


Old


New


Old


Optician


Corrected Vision


Corrected Hearing


Tonsils


Adenoids


School


Home


New


Old


Total No. of Pupils


Notice sent to


Consultation with


Consultation with


Treatment In School


Denta!


Pedic- ulosis


Un- clean


Eve


Ear


Nose and Throat


*Med- ical


Sur- gical


Skin


Dental


--


-


:


2.1


5


-


40


3


... ......


4


...


17


......


Children weighed and measured.


...


39


9


1


...


...


.


-


2


....


...


...


New +


INSPECTIONS


Med. Inspector


...


155


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


STATISTICAL AND GENERAL TABLES


25. Changes in text books, 1944.


26. High and Junior High School graduation exercises, 1944.


26a. Evening High School graduation exercises, 1944.


27. Vocational School graduation exercises, 1944.


28. Organization of school board for 1945.


29. Teachers in service, December, 1944.


30. Officers in service, December, 1944.


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


Population, United States census, 1940


102,304


Children, between five and fifteen years of age inclusive,


October, 1944 by school census


16,595


2 - SCHOOL BUILDINGS


Number of school buildings in June


31


Number of classrooms in use in June


527


Valuation of school property


$4,869,800


3 - TEACHERS


*1943


*1944


Change


In high school


118


113


-5


In junior high schools


145


142


-3


In elementary schools


207


213


+6


In kindergartens


28


28


0


Total, elementary and kindergarten


235


241


++6


Vocational School for Boys


17


17


0


Independent Household Arts


1


1


0


Atypical classes


12


12


0


Sight saving


1


1


0


Cadet teachers


11


6


-5


Special


18


17


-1


Continuation


4


4


0


Americanization


1


1


0


Total


563


555


-8


4 - ATTENDANCE FOR YEAR


*1943


*1944


Change


Entire enrollment for the year


15,703


14,975


-728


Average number belonging


14,304


13,742


562


Average number attending


12,758


12,296


-462


.


156


ANNUAL REPORTS


Per cent, of daily attendance


89.2


89.5


+0.3


High School graduates


800


677


-123


Junior High School graduates


1,073


1,016


-57


5 - COST OF SCHOOL MAINTENANCE


*1943


*1944


Change


Salaries of teachers


$1,256,023.81 $1,275,817.79


+$19,793.98


Salaries of officers




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