USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1880 > Part 9
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The whole expenditure, excepting for permanent alterations, therefore, has been $33,783.37, or, deducting extraordinary repairs, $31,477.70.
The whole number of scholars attending school during the past year has been 1,910, a decrease of 43 upon the preceding year.
The average amount expended on each scholar has been $16.48, an increase of 80 cents upon the preceding year. The average number of scholars in the schools was 1,551, an increase of 67 upon the preceding year.
1
I73
The amount expended for each scholar of the average num- ber in the schools was $20.29, as against $20.64 for the pre- ceding year.
The average daily attendance was 1,467, compared with 1,413 the preceding year, and the amount expended for each unit of average daily attendance was $21.46, as compared with $21.69 of the year preceding.
It will be seen from these figures that there is a discrepancy, as compared with last year, between the expenses per head, ac- cordingly as you divide the total expenditures by the whole number of children in the schools, or by the average number in attendance. Then there was a decrease as compared with the year preceding by both methods of computation ; now, by one method only, can a diminution of expenses per head, as compared with last year, be deduced, a considerable excess re- sulting from the other. It is proper to call attention to the fact that this increased cost is partly attributable to a loss of forty- three school children. If this diminution had all occurred at one time and place, the expenses of one school for an entire year might have been saved. But as it was variously distrib- uted over all the schools, and the whole school year, it was impossible to make any reduction of our teaching forces, or of a current outlay which was necessarily sufficient to have taught the same number that we had the year preceding.
The literary and educational condition and progress of the schools have been reasonably satisfactory during the year, and a fair degree of improvement has been noted. The spirit of the corps of teachers is excellent, and their intelligence constantly increasing. But for all details concerning this subject reference is made to the report of the Superintendent, which is submitted herewith.
The full statistical tables of attendance and cost will be found appended.
The Committee are glad to say that they are not compelled this year to call upon the town for any extraordinary appropria- tion. The school buildings are in fair order and sufficient for our immediate want, requiring only the usual and average amount
: 174
of repair necessary to keep the buildings in good order. £ We shall need, to maintain the present standard of our school sys- tem, the following sums, if the town shall think fit to vote them : -
For Teachers' salaries,
$23,230
Fuel,
1,100
Care of rooms,
1,770
$26,100
For Incidental expenses,
$2,000
Transportation of children,
600
$2,600
For Books and stationery,
$300
Repairs of buildings,
2,000
Superintendent's salary,
2,000
$4,300
And we accordingly ask the town to appropriate the sum of $33,000 for school purposes for the coming year.
The following tables will enable citizens to compare the re- sults of a series of years conveniently.
J. Q. ADAMS, JASON G. WITHAM, EDWIN W. MARSH, C. F. ADAMS, JR., GEO. L. MILLER.
175
No. I.
YEAR.
Total ordi- nary school expenses. *
Whole number of schol- ars.t
Average am't expended for each scholar.
Amount Average expended for number in each scholar r.ch'ls. #
Average daily of the aver- attendance age number of scholars. in schools.
Amount expended for each scholar of the average number in daily attendance.
1875
$30,170.60
1,544
$19.54
1,363
$22.13
1,30I
$23.19
1876
30,605.62 1,784
17.15
1,40I
21.84
1,335
22.92
1877
31,293.92 1,868
16.75
1,436
21.94
1,373
22.79
1878
30,628.41
1,953
15.68
1,484
20.64
1,413
21.69
I879
31,477.70 1,910
16.48
1,55I
20 24
1,467
21.46
.
* This includes salaries, fuel, repairs of an ordinary character, and every- thing except additions to buildings or furniture.
+ This includes all the scholars who have attended the schools during the year, irrespective of the length of attendance. The name of no scholar is registered twice.
# The average number of scholars is obtained by dividing the aggregate number of days' membership of all the scholars by the number of school days.
No. 2.
High School.
Adams School.
Coddington School.
Quincy School.
Washington School.
Willard School.
Wollaston School.
Year.
Amount spent.
Scholars enrolled.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
Amount spent.
Number of pupils.
Cost per pupil.
1875
$2,963 69
63
$47.03
$5,975 00
377
$15.85
$4,877 25 207
$23.56
$3,285 35
165
$19.91
$5,232 96
230
$22.75
$6,222 98
402
$15.72
$2,481 08
100
$24.81
1876
2,649 97
77
34.41
6,098 63
421
14.48
5,057 65
246
20.56
3,741 52
198
18.89 16.45
4,480 42
244
18.36
6,158 21
485
12.69
2,337 50
I26
18.55
1877
2,740 23
112
24.43
6,005 15 439
13.67
5,015 43
247
20.30
3,453 57
210
4,758 42
264
18.00
6,633 25
499
13.29
2,787 56
148
18.83
1878
2,796 26,
I37
20.41
5,832 55
436
13.37
4,798 66
274
17.51
3,215 79
195
16.48
4,594.521
284
16.18
6,805 80
528
12.89
2,568 30
166
15.47
1879
3,200 22
I45
22.07
6,230 00
456
13.55
4,718 73
243
19.41
3,342 30
I88
17.77
4,746 62 274
17.32
6,650 47
489
13.60
2,702 93
I68
16.08
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of Quincy.
I have the honor to submit this my Fifth Annual Report.
Normal teaching and good treatment have nearly if not quite settled the question of attendance. As a rule children attend school when they possibly can. There is noticeably a growing love for school and all that pertains to it. Means of stimulating attendance, behavior and study, outside of real teaching, are be- coming less and less necessary. Tardiness has been greatly reduced during the past year, and the truancies are confined to a few trivial cases, most of which are due to changes in teachers. We have had only two truants who seemed incorrigible, and they have been cured, I am happy to say, by kind treatment. There have been few punishments of any kind, and they, like the truancies, are generally caused by changes in teachers. The results seem to prove that the attractive influence of real teach- ing will render punishment and compulsion in attendance un- necessary. There is, I believe, in this direction a far higher result than this - to be seen by those who follow the children from step to step, and grade to grade. It is the steady growth in good character of the boys and girls in our Public Schools. The moral effect of filling children's heads full of good thoughts, and their hands full of pleasant, absorbing work, is the formation of good habits of thought and action.
The healthy, happy tone that seems to pervade all the school- rooms, the busy hum of pleasant, attractive work, that never ceases during school hours, are sure indications that good work is done in them. One of the most promising results which I find is the steadily increasing power of children to study, to concentrate their minds upon and to master the thought that words awaken. The training of the children leads them to go straight to the thought, with very little conscious attention to
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178
the words. The love for books and reading is increasing with rapid strides. Books are not put into the hands of the little ones until they are ready and eager to use them, and then only when they bring pleasure to the readers, thus keeping the appe- tite for reading keen and active. The large number of books in sets of twenty-five owned by the town forms a select circulating library, furnishing a great amount of excellent reading. This reading is supplemented by books from the Public Library, se- lected by the teachers and read under their direction. It is not to be supposed that all trashy reading is banished ; still I can confidently assert that a great step in this direction has been taken.
That a great love for good, healthy literature can be aroused in the minds of all children who attend our schools, is to me no longer an open question. Good reading is one of the direct re- sults of good teaching. When the children's minds are open and active, when they are led to crave knowledge, teachers can easily direct their charges in the richest fields of thought and imagination. Better than this is the increasing power on the part of children to observe nature and to understand the condi- tions and relations of things that surround them. Training the senses is the foundation of education, and it has also much to do with the superstructure. The practical value of close, accurate observation cannot be overestimated. I can record a step in advance in this direction during the past year.
The way of teaching language may be thus very briefly ex- plained. The main purpose of all our teaching is to awaken and express thought. The forms of language, articulation, pronun- ciation, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, etc., are acquired under the impulse of thought. All lessons given are in part language lessons - the language part consists in constantly tak- ing care that the forms of expression are correct, and the arrange- ment of words proper. The main and indispensable part of the lesson is the evolution of thought, without which expression is of course unnecessary. The results are very gratifying, although they differ greatly in the various schools. The best are found where the work has been continued without a break or blunder
179
from grade to grade. The onerous drudgery of learning to spell is now unnecessary, for children learn a new word when a new idea demands one, and not before. The proficiency of the pupils in most of the A & B Primary grades, in reading, writing, spelling, capitalization and punctuation, is far better than I ex- pected when the work began. I am confident a careful exami- nation would show that pupils in the fourth and fifth year of the course, are more expert in these branches than the pupils in the eighth year formerly were.
Sufficient time has not elapsed to test fully the plan of teach- ing laid down in the Course in Arithmetic ; the results, although not conclusive, are decidedly encouraging. I notice in the fourth and fifth grades an increased power to concentrate the mind upon problems, and an accuracy and rapidity of calculation that is due, I think, to the better method of teaching number. We teach Geography,- Ist. As the foundation for remembering and understanding History; 2nd. To understand the adapta- tion of the earth's forms and phenomena to life; 3rd. As the proper beginning of the study of the Natural Sciences. The structure of the earth's surface is placed first in importance. The vertical forms give the variety and characteristics necessary to memory of facts, determine the shape of the continent, and to a great degree give it its life - and adaptation to the use of man. We study the surface of Quincy, that we may clearly imagine that which lies beyond. The results, therefore, are merely tentative, owing to the imperfect application of the method ; yet they are sufficient to show that the facts heretofore so laboriously learned by question and answer come into the mind to stay, when the structure of the Earth's surface forms the framework of memory.
We try to teach History, so that pupils may form a great liking for after-reading in this direction, and may acquire a method by which they can take in the great leading facts of History. The course is divided into topics ; each topic cover- ing some great stirring event; or some central or turning point in History. Around these points are grouped all facts that bear upon them,- thus making great vivid sketches and pictures of
180
events and men. Pupils obtain facts from all quarters, pour them into the common treasury, then they are discussed and placed in order, under the direction of the teacher. Each pupil then care- fully writes all he knows of the subject, the composition is cor- rected, and then re-written. For examination, the subjects are written upon slips ; one slip is drawn by each pupil, and two or three pages written upon the topic drawn.
The teachers have entered upon the preparation to teach draw- ing under the direction of Miss Bertha Hintz, with commend- able energy ; as yet very little in the way of results can be shown, except, perhaps, a good beginning. I have no doubt that, if this work is carefully and persistently carried on, the re- sults will prove that there is no more practical or useful branch, except reading and writing, taught in the primary and grammar schools.
I have endeavored to sketch in this brief, and to me unsatis- factory way, some of the results already attained, and those . which seem to be in store for us. A description of the faults and imperfections that I am daily trying to correct would take much more space. I am painfully aware how very far from a perfect system we still are, and how very much there yet remains to be done.
The continuous, steady work, so indispensable in obtaining good results, has been often sadly interrupted by the loss of good teachers. No matter how competent the successors may be, they cannot take up another's work without the loss of much valuable time.
Several schools have suffered severely by the loss of excellent teachers during the past year. Among them I feel constrained to pick out Mr. Sylvester Brown for special mention. He has served the town with great ability and zeal, at first at Atlantic, and lately at West Quincy. In both places, but especially in the latter, he effected most valuable results. That very large and, ordinarily considered, difficult school was carried by him to a high point of excellence, and in his loss the town suffers a con- siderable and substantial injury. The vastly greater induce- ments which more wealthy places can offer must always tend to
181
cripple our schools in this manner. In those schools where the teaching has not been broken by resignations, the very best re- sults are found. As I have said before in this report, most of the punishments, truancies, and complaints, are the result of changes in teachers. Money cannot measure the difference betwen good and poor teachers. No amount of supervision, no methods however excellent, can remedy in any degree the defects of an incompetent teacher. The teacher is the school.
It is pleasant to notice the increasing appreciation of good teachers, on the part of parents who have children under their care. This is manifested in the efforts to retain good teachers, and by expressions of sorrow at their loss. The experiment, to us, of putting a female teacher at the head of the Coddington School, is entirely successful. Without disparaging the former principals, I can say that this school has not been so well managed as at present during my term of supervision. Another teacher of the Coddington School richly deserves special men- tion here. Miss Julia E. Underwood will finish on the first of April next twenty-five years of faithful earnest teaching in this one school. When I came to Quincy, I found her in the basement room of the Coddington School - surrounded by nearly eighty little ones. She had then taught in this half- cellar for twenty years. There is not a teacher in Quincy to- day more faithful or more earnest than she is, to learn new and better ways of teaching and treating the little ones who are so fortunate as to be under her care. The citizens of Quincy, especially those who reside in the Coddington District, owe her a lasting debt of gratitude.
A large number of meetings for the instruction of teachers have been held during this year. Miss J. H. Stickney of Brook- line gave us, gratis, six valuable lessons upon the art of teaching language. Rev. E. A. Perry has helped us, by instruc. tive lessons in mineralogy, to study the rocks of Quincy.
One very pleasant and profitable feature of the teachers' meetings has been the lessons given by teachers of the schools in town. The teachers, one and all, are indefatigable students of the science and art of teaching. Nineteen of the regular
182
teachers now in the Quincy Schools were members of the dif- ferent training classes.
This fact, taken in connection with the great difficulty in ob- taining good teachers, is a convincing proof of the value of the apprentice system.
Much of the money so cheerfully given by the citizens of Quincy has been spent to change dingy school-rooms into com- fortable places for their children, to make wretched outhouses decent, and to provide means for teaching, so that the teacher's time may be used to the best advantage. The surroundings of children in their school life exercise an immense influence for good or evil upon their education. One thing more is a great, an imperative necessity, namely, - pure air in the school-rooms. No one can tell how much sickness and death are occasioned by the bad air breathed in class-rooms, from which a constant stream of pure air is excluded. I trust that some plan will very soon be devised to remedy this great evil. It is of little import- ance to teach and train children in the best possible way if health and physical development are neglected. It is a terrible fact that many pupils, girls especially, leave school after eight or eleven years of study, with ruined health.
Among the causes of this alarming result bad air stands first ; bending over books in abnormal positions may, I think, be placed second. Although very little can be done in the way of systematic physical training under our present school organiza- tion, yet every possible effort should be made to prevent the sow- ing of the seeds of ill health, that will lead to an early death or life-long misery. Children should be made to understand how very much depends upon a sound, healthy body. They should be trained to sit properly, stand and walk naturally, and fill their lungs full of pure air. I would respectfully recommend that great attention be given in our schools to all matters that per- tain to health. You have taken one step in this direction by employing Miss E. M. Ballou to give instructions in physical training to the High School and to the teachers of the other schools.
F. W. PARKER.
FINANCIAL REPORT.
TUITION.
HIGH SCHOOL.
H. A. Keith,
$ 1,400 00
Mary L. Flint,
600 00
Mary E. Dinegan,
200 00
Samuel T. Fisher,
180 00
$2,380 00
ADAMS SCHOOL.
C. E. Meleney,
$ 500 00
Tilson A. Mead,
500 00
Hetta Clement,
237 50
Mary Wilson,
400 00
Eliza C. Sheahan,
475 00
Cora Young,
225 00
S. Addie Souther,
225 00
Anna C. French,
237 50
Mary M. Devlin,
425 00
Susie Flint,
362 50
Mary W. Woods,
500 00
Evaline Robie,
275 00
Lotta Polson,
100 00
Hattie Curtis,
70 00
Maggie Burns,
55 00
Plummer Farm School, board of Henry Chance, 118 37
4,705 87
Amount carried forward,
$7,085 87
(183)
184
Tuition, continued. Amounts brought forward, $7,085 87
CODDINGTON SCHOOL.
Edward A. Greeley,
$200 00
John W. Staples,
300 00
Mary E. Dearborn,
637 50
Hetta Clement,
237 50
Mary E. Dinegan,
285 00
Lizzie E. Morse,
450 00
Julia E. Underwood,
450 00
L. L. Follett,
450 00
H. Holbrook,
131 25
3,141 25
QUINCY SCHOOL.
D. S. Farnham,
$ 1,000 00
Cora Young,
225 00
A. E. Frye,
175 00
Lillian Bryant,
390 00
Mary F. Taylor, .
450 00
Abbie M. Kelley, .
60 00
Carrie Eaton,
55 00
2,355 00
WASHINGTON SCHOOL.
I. Freeman Hall,
$ 1,200 00
Lillie A. Hicks,
237 50
Mary Marden,
475 00
S. Addie Souther,
225 00
Clara E. Crosby,
225 00
Kate Raycroft,
377 50
Carrie E. Morse,
495 00
Norah Baldwin,
235 00
Maggie Burns,
55 00
3,525 00
Amount carried forward,
$16,107 12
185
Tuition, continued.
Amount brought forward,
$16,107 12
WILLARD SCHOOL.
Sylvester Brown,
$1,080 00
A. H. Blood,
100 00
John W. Staples,
90 62
Lillie Woods,
315 00
Mary T. Dewing,
475 00
Mary A. Bosworth,
427 50
Annie Murdock,
35 00
Emily A. Bosworth,
450 00
E. A. Newcomb,
450 00
Nellie Fegan,
450 00
Mary A. Spear,
500 00
Euphrasia Hernan,
350 00
Mattie Chase,
20 00
Ida Ellis,
100 00
Nellie Wilson,
40 00
Clara Grignon,
80 00
4,963 12
WOLLASTON SCHOOL.
Hattie H. Morse,
$400 00
Lillie A. Hicks,
300 00
C. E. Deming,
237 50
Cora Bates,
362 50
Olive Holbrook,
40 00
Mary Gay,
292 50
Grace Swallow,
65 00
Mary King,
113 75
1,81I 25
M. Bertha Hintz, lessons to Teachers in Drawing, $235 00
E. M. Ballou, lesssons in Physical Training, 127 50
362 50
$23,243 99
(13 Q)
186
* TRUANT OFFICERS.
S. B. Turner, Adams School, $5 00
J. E. Maxim,
8 00
-
66
15 00
M. W. Gerry, Quincy School,
20 00
$48 00
CARE OF ROOMS.
High School,
$200 00
Adams School,
166 06
Coddington School,
181 00
Quincy School,
200 00
Willard School,
300 00
Wollaston School,
200 00
Washington School,
250 00
Cleaning materials,
164 70
$1,661 76
FUEL.
High School,
$133 36
Adams, "
125 09
Coddington School,
127 28
Quincy,
177 76
Washington 66
178 98
Willard,
66
217 34
Wollaston,
66
164 99
$1, 124 80
TRANSPORTATION.
J. T. French, to Coddington School,
$434 50
Carriage-hire, 126 40
M. W. Gerry, to Quincy School, 73 00
B. S. Robinson, to Washington School, 55 IO
$689 00
* Heretofore in regular town account. t Last year bill.
187
BOOKS.
Ginn & Heath, "Irving's Sketch Book," $8 00
Macmillan & Co., readers, II 13
R. S. Davis & Co., arithmetics, 9 00
Henry Hoyt & Co., French books, 6 45
Porter & Coates, readers,
25 43
Thomas Nelson & Co., readers,
21 00
D. Appleton & Co., reference books, 9 44
Jones Bros. & Co., arithmetic, drawing books, IO 35
Nichols & Hall, primers,
2 80
Knights, Adams & Co., arithmetic,
6 53
M. W. Tewksbury, readers,
29 95
Boston Society of Natural History books, 29 25
Willard Small, books, 81 14
J. S. Hammett, readers, 14 40
D. Lothrop & Co., books,
2 73
Lee & Shepard, books,
5 00
John L. Shorey, 74 readers,
II 20
Wm. Ware & Co., 103 readers,
30 52
$314 32
INCIDENTALS.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Pierce & Sanborn, repairs on furnace-pipes, $29 87
C. Shoenhof, French books, 9 06
C. S. Hubbard, ribbon for graduation,
2 00
M. R. Keith, music lessons, &c.,
37 90
W. S. Pattee, stationery,
I IO
S. B. Turner, extra labor,
7 10
J. E. Maxim, setting glass,
6 00
A. Keating, moving plants and piano, 13 00
P. H. Gavin, repairing pump, 2 75
Amount carried forward,
$108 78
ISS
Incidentals, continued.
Amount brought forward, $108 78
Citizens' Gas Co., foot-lights, 2 00
Whitman & Breck, surveys and estimates, 5 00
J. W. Jacobs, I Lithogram,
3 75
Whitney & Nash, dippers, pails,
3 40
Gin & Heath, reference book,
2 02
Mrs. Packard, flowers for graduation, 6 75
Jacob Flint, use of carpet, 1 50
E. S. Fellows, repairing furnace, IO II
M. J. Kiley, printing programmes, 18 75
$162 06
ADAMS SCHOOL.
John L. Gray, painting blackboards, 41 50
P. H. Gavin, repairing pump, 4 50
E. A. C. Hardwick, rent on land, 10 00
E. S. Fellows, repairs on pails,
95
J. E. Maxim, setting glass, 1 15
S. B .. Turner, repairing desks, stock, 18 97
H. C. Bird & Co., book-case, 18 00
John Pray, Sons & Co., 12 mats,
30 22 .
Ewell & Co., repairs, stock,
39 65
Pierce & Sanborn, I scoop,
60
Peter B. Turner, moulding-table, repairs, 16 00
Samuel H. Spear, repairs,
8 80
Harvey H. French, painting blackboards, 9 00
W. S. Pattee, stationery, 6 00
Whitney & Nash, dippers, &c., 3 75
H. S. Litchfield, labor, I 25
John W. Hersey, paint,
2 30
E. S. Fellows, stove, and repairs,
IO 90
183 54
Amount carried forward,
$345 60
189
Incidentals, continued. Amount brought forward, $345 60
CODDINGTON SCHOOL.
Pierce & Sanborn, repairs, stoves, hods, $154 66
John H. Veazie, I sponge, 80
P. H. Gavin, repairing pump,
6 50
Terence Keenan, work on yard,
II 62
J. D. Rollins, building steps, 31 00
B. H. Butterfield, kalsomining, 10 00
John W. Hersey, setting glass, paint,
6 25
John W. Watson & Co., book-case, 6 00
W. W. Ewell & Co., repairs,
13 70
Peter B. Turner, moulding-table, repairs,
24 39
P. A. Wales & Son, repairing pump, 6 00
Harkings Bros., repairing plastering,
3 25
S. H. Spear, repairs, 7 26
C. F. Pierce, repairing stove, I 75
Whitney & Nash, dippers, pails,
7 10
290 28
QUINCY SCHOOL.
P. H. Gavin, repairing pump, $5 00
James M. Glover, setting glass, 4 50
M. W. Gerry, grading yard and setting posts, 23 46
S. D. Ramsdell, work on pump and seats, IO 35
D. S. Farnham, sundries,
I 45
W. F. Merrill, setting glass,
I 50
P. A. Wales, repairing pump,
10.00
W. W. Ewell & Co., chairs,
5 35
J. A. Swasey, black-board,
19 61
Pierce & Sanborn, cleaning furnaces,
4 00
S. H. Spear, repairs,
75
Harvey French, painting blackboards,
6 00
Whitney & Nash, dippers, pails,
3 45
95 42
Amount carried forward,
$731 30
I90
Incidentals, continued. Amount brought forward, $731 30
WASHINGTON SCHOOL.
I. F. Hall, stationery,
$5 50
Cyrus Patch, coal-screens,
12 00
Harvey French, painting blackboards,
21 75
Terence Keenan, labor, carting gravel,
6 00
Harkings Bros., whitewashing,
3 00
W. W. Ewell & Co., repairs, supplies,
32 68
G. C. Clements, repairs,
6 12
Pierce & Sanborn, repairing furnace,
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