USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1952 > Part 7
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The executive function is discharged by the appointment of a superintendent of schools, who is held responsible for the efficient organization and operation of the schools, having been given by statute sufficient authority and personnel to discharge this responsibility effectively.
The School Committee and its administrators, to achieve maximum effectiveness, must not only provide the best in leadership, in facilities, and in personnel, but must warrant intelligent community support by creating a trusting public through the development of a clear understanding of the task by the public.
This country during very recent years has entered and is passing through the most perilous period in its history. Fun-
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damental freedoms are at stake. Human resources offer the greatest hope. The outcome will finally be determined by the manner in which the joint activity of all the communities of the country develop and bring to fruition every resource of mind, of spirit, and of will, recognizing, of course, that the most precious resource is the growing generation, the pupils of the educational system, whose abilities and talents must be developed to the utmost.
The following quotation from a report written by Horace Mann, the father of free public school education in America, is as pertinent today as when written in 1845, over one hun- dred years ago.
"The cardinal principle, which lies at the foundation of our educational system, is, that all the children of the State shall be educated by the State.
"It is not enough for this purpose, to appropriate a large amount of money; . . . It is not enough, that able and accom- plished teachers should be provided: ... It is not enough, that the heart of a parent may yearn for the intellectual, and moral welfare of his child; . . . Nor is it enough, that a few philan- thropic men should feel the force of the great truth, that nothing but our system of general education stands between us and a despotism; for, though they may so feel, and may so act, and although the community may think with them, yet the result is apparently so remote, there are so many immediate and engrossing objects of pursuit, and an effort in this cause has so much the appearance of labor for another's welfare, that a speculative belief is .not, necessarily, the parent of ef- ficient action
"The principal object to be kept steadily in view, in the promotion of the cause of popular education, is to impress upon the mind of the whole people a proper sense of its importance. The parent should consider it as the well-spring of happiness for his children; and the citizen should regard it as the source of prosperity to the State."
It might be interesting to note that at that time Horace Mann was considered more or less as a radical or extremist when he urged the teaching of music, hygiene, and drawing in addition to the three R's in the schools. Imagine, then, the surprise he might experience today if he could see driver training, safety, thrift, atomic science, typewriting, citizenship education projects, and many other such subjects in the public school curriculum.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE ACTIVITIES
The School Committee of Somerville for 1952 was com- posed of seven members with terms ranging up to eleven years and two new members, Walter W. Whitney, ex-officio member, a businessman and President of the Board of Alder- men, and John J. Brennan, lawyer, accountant, social worker, and keen exponent of educational and vocational guidance, who was elected to be the representative of the citizens of Ward 7.
The Committee organized on the first Monday in January by electing Mrs. Eleanor S. Coyne and Mrs. Sarah M. Mc- Laughlin as Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. The situation of having both offices held by women is unique in the history of the City of Somerville.
Mrs. Coyne, who had served two years on the Committee, of which she was the Vice Chairman in 1951, brought to her position a broad training and experience. Holding a bachelor's degree from Salem Teachers' College, she acquired a Master's degree during her successful nine year term of teaching at the Northeastern Junior High School, which training has been broadened by the pursuit of advanced courses during her mem- bership on the School Committee. Her training and experience in the educational field, coupled with her experience as a mother and the unusual amount of time which she has devoted to the responsibilities of the position to which she had been elected, gave promise of an effective administration of the educational program provided for the children of Somerville.
Mrs. McLaughlin, who also had served two years on the Committee, and is the mother of daughters devoted to a life in education, had given of her talents and time in carrying for- ward the responsibilities and duties of her predecessors, the combination of which indicated that a successful year in the progress of the educational system would be accomplished.
The following pages will record the results of the discus- sions, deliberations, and accomplishments of the School Com- mittee under the leadership of these two ladies.
As usual at the beginning of the year, the Committee gave serious consideration to bills before the legislature and again voted to oppose H1326, a proposal which for several years had been made by either John Atkinson, former City Manager of the City of Cambridge, or representatives of the Mayor's Club
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or the Selectmen's Club, which, if enacted into law, would place the jurisdiction of the public schools in the hands of the City Government, and at the same time put the financial affairs of the schools under the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws, commonly known as the Municipal Finance Act. Once again H1326 was not enacted into law, but it is unwise to think that continued defeat will discourage the proponents for they, failing in these direct bills to accomplish their pur- pose because the motives are so evident, will attempt to ac- complish the purpose by concealing the real issue by cleverly hiding the intent through bills which would appear to be in no way, even remotely, associated with the real purpose. Due to constant vigilance such craftiness has been thwarted to date, but there should be no letdown in this regard.
H1441 and H1442, almost identical in wording and iden- tical in thought, were submitted to the legislature for con- sideration by John F. Fitzgerald, former member of the School Committee from Ward 7, and John J. Brennan, present mem- ber from Ward 7, proposing that the care and maintenance of public school buildings be placed in the control of the School Committee instead of the Department of Public Buildings.
Previous reports of the Superintendent of Schools have shown the necessity of bringing before the public the very obsolete provisions of the Somerville City Charter, which places all matters pertaining to school buildings and grounds in the hands of departments of the City Government other than the School Committee, where the responsibilities logically be- long. It should be well known to the citizenry now that the responsibility of a school building and its grounds is divided among four different agencies (School Committee and the Departments of Public Building, Engineering, and Highway), with the School Committee's control limited to the instruc- tional organization within the building. Such a situation gives positive assurance that efficiency of operation is impossible of attainment. Since the schools of the country are looked upon as tools of instruction and expressions of educational functions and purposes, and in view of the fact that schoolhouse planning is closely related to the processes of instruction, it is evident that the School Committee is the logical agency to plan for, construct, care for, and maintain the school plant. For proof of this statement, be it known that over ninety per cent of the city school systems in the country are under the complete control of school committees.
At hearings on these bills before the Committee on Cities and Municipal Finance, the several groups which had in pre-
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vious years appeared in favor of the principles of the bill recorded their endorsement and by undeniable arguments left no doubt of the soundness of the provisions and the benefits which would be derived from passage of the bill. Although no logical argument was presented by the very small opposi- tion, the reports of the Committees were not favorable, and again the School Committee, the agency elected by the public to establish and maintain an adequate school system for the furtherance of the welfare of all the children of all the people of the community, has been prevented from properly perform- ing its fundamental duties and responsibilities. When may it be expected that the demands of right thinking, sensible people will be recognized in order that the schools may func- tion under standards which are considered to be proper throughout the country?
In the opinion of the Superintendent of Schools the most important and significant task to which the School Committee devoted its attention this year was that of urgently attempting to make a real start in acquiring sites upon which to erect buildings to improve the plant facilities of the school system.
It will be recalled that in 1950 the School Committee sought a solution to alleviate the very serious conditions which had been caused by the closing of the Charles G. Pope School because of structural weakness. A special committee of the School Committee undertook the commission and diligently, with seriousness and intelligence, brought forth a report in the form of a resolution which indicated that the solution to the problem would be effective only in a very small way if the emergency of the Pope School was considered alone because of the many coordinated problems.
It appeared advisable, therefore, to suggest that a survey be made of the elementary school building needs of the entire city with a resultant long-term building program which would provide an adequate and modern school building plant in which Somerville can continue its high standards of education.
The School Committee requested a transfer of a small por- tion of its already appropriated funds to provide for a group of expert school building consultants to make a survey of the elementary school buildings of Somerville for the purpose of creating a twenty-year building program, a portion of the cost of which would be obtained through construction grants from the state. The survey was made, resulting in a fine analysis of the plant needs and providing a suggested program of activity.
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During the latter part of 1951 the School Committee pursued its study of the survey and finally, realizing that Mayor Lynch had declared that it was his belief that it was the proper function of the School Committee to recommend the location of necessary school accommodations and to indi- cate the capacity, the design, and the required equipment of such schools, appointed another special committee, which in this case would gather facts and investigate the possibilities of sites for buildings in the areas where they would be required. This committee did a very fine piece of work in locating the approximate sites, but being more competent to provide the solutions for educational phases of their function than to furnish engineering and constructional advice arrived at a conclusion in June of 1952 and voted favorably upon the fol- lowing recommendation:
In consequence of the intensive and exhaustive two- year study of the school plant facilities of Somerville by the School Committee and its Building Site Com- mittee, aided by conferences with His Honor, Mayor Lynch, the Somerville Planning Board, a representative of the Housing Authority and the Urban Redevelop- ment Commission, and state representatives of the Federal Housing Authority, and in view of the necessity of making application immediately for state and fed- eral building construction assistance while such funds are available, it is recommended that the following procedures be approved and prompt action by the proper authorities be urged.
(a) That His Honor, Mayor Lynch, be respectfully requested to appoint an Advisory School Build- ing Committee of such number as he deems ad- visable, which will include among the members the Mayor, the Chairman of the Planning Board, a representative of the Board of Aldermen, a representative of the School Committee, a repre- sentative of the School Administration, a repre- sentative of the Department of Public Buildings, and such technical associates as appear neces- sary.
(b) That His Honor, Mayor Lynch, be respectfully requested to consider the advisability of taking the necessary steps to acquire parcels of land for school house purposes as follows:
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(1) A parcel or parcels of land on Capen Street and Alewife Brook Parkway of sufficient size to provide a modern building containing the necessary classrooms and the required acces- sory rooms and playground facilities, for the purpose of relieving the rapidly increasing primary school enrollment of the Cutler School district.
(2) A parcel of land adjacent to the Prospect Hill Tower on Munroe Street or other suita- ble nearby site for the purpose of alleviating the conditions already a problem for three years, due to the demolition of the Charles G. Pope building, and the consequent bus transportation problem and cost.
(3) A parcel of land adjacent to the present Cummings School lot between School and Prescott Streets for the purpose of relieving the Pope District problem.
(4) Parcels of land on Mt. Vernon Ave. for the purpose of providing the school which will care for the increased school population re- sulting from the erection and occupation of the Veterans Housing Project on Mystic Ave- nue, and the potential increase in school population which will result from the pro- posed housing project on Mystic Ave. ad- jacent to and west of the Veterans Housing project, as recommended by the Survey Con- sultants who prepared the Survey of Ele- mentary School Building Needs.
(c) That His Honor, Mayor Lynch, be respectfully requested to take the necessary steps, as soon as possible, to provide for the selection of an architect or architects to prepare plans for the buildings suggested in item (b).
On July 1, 1952 Mayor Lynch responded to the requests of the School Committee by appointing an Advisory School Building Committee consisting of the following persons: Robert J. Muldoon, City Solicitor, Lawrence A. Baruffaldi, City Engi- neer, Edward J. Moynihan, Commissioner of Public Buildings, Dean Harry P. Burden, Chairman, Somerville Planning Board,
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John M. Lynch, Mayor of Somerville, Walter W. Whitney, President of the Board of Aldermen, Eleanor S. Coyne, Chair- man of the School Committee, Joseph F. Leahy, Member, School Committee and House of Representatives, Charles J. Murphy, Member, Housing Authority, and Everett W. Ireland, Superintendent of Schools.
This committee was charged by His Honor the Mayor to consider proposed sites, select sites, and make plans necessary to acquire parcels of land for schoolhouse purposes, as recom- mended by the Committee.
It proceeded immediately to hold meetings, discuss its responsibilities, investigate the proposals of the School Com- mittee, ascertaining the areas, the possibility of attainment of the desired sites, and other pertinent necessary information. On August 1st the Committee sought the advice of John E. Marshall, Director of the State School Building Assistance Com- mission, the approval of which Commission is required before further steps can be taken in making application for construc- tion grants. At this stage in the procedure it became necessary to acquire advice and tentative plans from architects exper- ienced in schoolhouse construction.
Again such assistance was provided immediately by Mayor Lynch, and soon the approval of the proposed sites to be recommended by the Advisory School Building Committee was received from the Director of the State School Building Assist- ance Commission.
The following statement containing recommendations was forwarded to Mayor Lynch on October 29, 1952 by Robert J. Muldoon, Chairman of the Advisory Committee.
"Since the organization of this committee, we have met on many occasions and have made several visits to various locations which had been proposed as school sites. In our consideration of this program, we have also been fortunate to have the advice and cooperation of Mr. John Marshall, Director of the State School Building Assistance Commission, and we have also con- sulted architects experienced in school construction. As a result of our consideration of the need for new school buildings, I have been authorized to report to you our recommendations, which were unanimously adopted by the committee on October 29, 1952.
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"Provision for a building to replace the abandoned Pope School structure is of first importance. Because of the congestion of buildings in the area to be served, the selection of a suitable site for this district has been extremely difficult. The site of the abandoned school at Boston and Washington Streets has been regarded as unsuitable by everybody with whom we have dis- , cussed the matter. The area which was occupied by the Pope School is far too small to be used for building a school in accordance with modern schoolhouse con- struction principles. Acquisition of additional land would be impractical because of the extreme slope of the land from Washington Street up Boston Street.
"After exhaustive investigation and consultation, it is the unanimous opinion of this committee that land should be acquired in the Aldersey Street area in suf- ficient amount to erect a proper school building with adequate play yard area. We believe that the erection of a modern building in that vicinity would best serve the children of that school district. In coming to this conclusion, we have been supported by the opinion of the Director of the State School Building Assistance Commission, who has written our committee that his commission would approve a school in that vicinity, so that the city will be eligible for assistance in meeting the cost of erecting and equipping the building.
"We also recommend the acquisition of land in the vicinity of Capen Street and Alewife Brook Parkway for the erection of an elementary school to serve pupils in the present Cutler School district, which has grown rapidly in recent years. We believe that there is avail- able land which is not occupied by any building in the area suggested. The size of the parcel available is large enough to provide for a modern building with adequate play yard area.
"It is our understanding that of all the districts in the city the need is most urgent for increased facilities in the Pope School district and the Cutler School dis- trict. We, therefore, recommend that action be insti- tuted to provide for these two buildings at the earliest possible time.
"We also recommend a building in the vicinity of Meacham Street and Mt. Vernon Avenue near the present Caesar Marchi Playground. A new housing
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project will add to the already overburdened school dis- trict. Sufficient unoccupied land is available in that area, some of which is owned by the City, some by the Metropolitan District Commission, and some which is privately owned. With the acquisition of all of that land, sufficient area would be available to erect a proper school building with appurtenant facilities.
"All of the proposed buildings are necessary and all have received initial approval of the State School Build- ing Assistance Commission. A portion of the cost of constructing and equipping the buildings will be ob- tained from the State once the program is undertaken. We, therefore, urge that action be undertaken forth- with in the order in which these recommendations have been made; that is, that the Pope School district should be first, the Cutler School district second, and the Meacham Street area third on the program."
The School Committee having received a copy of the above quoted letter and a copy of the letter of approval of the State School Building Assistance Commission, after further study of the two letters, took action on November 12, 1952 in the form of a resolution concluding as follows:
"Be it Resolved, That the School Committee of Som- erville heartily endorse the recommendations of the Advisory School Building Committee and urge His Honor the Mayor to take early action to acquire the proposed parcels of land for schoolhouse purposes."
The Mayor has initiated the necessary steps to acquire the parcels of land necessary for these new school buildings.
A brief summary of other activities of the School Com- mittee during the year follows:
1. Established several new classes in the elementary schools to accommodate the increased enrollment, particularly in the primary grades.
2. Authorized follow-up work on a survey concerning the vocational ambitions of boys in the High School.
3. Cooperated with the Tufts Dental School in making a survey of 14 to 18-year-old students with respect to habits of mastication.
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4. Requested the local Board of Health to consider the advisability of providing the Fluoride treatment for all children in the public schools.
5. Authorized a survey of the television habits of high school students.
6. Considered several proposals to amend the Rules and Regulations of the School Committee with reference to (a) the age limit of forty-five for the employment of teachers for the first time, (b) the eligibility requirements of teachers, (c) the examination plan for teachers and cadets to qualify for the eligible lists from which all permanent teachers are selected, and (d) the day on which the two meetings of the Committee of the Whole will be held each month.
7. Authorized the use of courses of study which during a period of two years had been revised by committees of teachers.
8. Authorized the recruiting services of the various agen- cies of the Armed Forces (Active and Reserve) to present to the students affected by the Selective Service Act information about and the advantages of their particular branches.
9. Added books to and deleted books from the authorized lists of texts in accordance with the recommendations of the Book Council, composed of principals and teachers.
10. Authorized an educational program in Good Citizen- ship through lectures to be given at High School assemblies by a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
11. Gave tentative approval to a plan proposed by the High School Faculty Committee for the educational portion of the Centennial celebration of the establishment of Somerville High School.
12. Granted permission, under suspension of the Rules, for the solicitation of funds from the school children for the Infantile Paralysis Fund and the Cerebral Palsy Fund.
13. Authorized participation of the junior and senior high schools in the Massachusetts Schools' "Get Out the Vote" campaign, as sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Education.
14. Directed that Parent-Teacher Associations or similar organizations be organized and developed in all individual schools or school districts, and ordered the Superintendent of
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Schools to make bimonthly reports upon the plans and progress made in the furthering of such organizations.
15. Extended thanks and appreciation to the officers and members of the Parent-Teacher Association of the Cutler School for their financial contributions and personal services resulting in the provision for and the furnishing of a much needed First Aid Room in the school, and further expressed appreciation for their interest in the health and safety of the pupils and the teachers of the school.
16. Requested His Honor the Mayor to cause parking in the driveway in front of the High School to be restricted be- cause of the hazardous conditions caused by the seriously con- gested parking.
17. Requested the appropriate city departments to provide additional fire extinguishers and emergency lighting units for the schools to comply with the statutes and to make the neces- sary inspections.
18. Permitted the circulation of printed information by the school children to their parents relative to an extremely low- cost accident insurance plan for children and teachers, the coverage of which includes accidents occurring while at school or on the way to and from school, or at any time while partici- pating in any school activity, except as a spectator, other than interscholastic football.
19. Authorized the request for an appropriation to provide a booklet, to be given to all junior and senior high school stu- dents in the city, describing the various courses and subject offerings in Somerville High School, in order that the pupils and their parents may select courses with better understanding of their contents.
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