USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Town annual report of Quincy 1885-1886 > Part 12
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It has seemed impossible for us to do less in this direction, and meet in any degree the demands which have been made; there- fore, we trust the citizens will kindly pardon the excess of expenditure over the appropriation, since the results attained seem, in our judgment, to justify the course we have taken to satisfy the public desire.
NEW SCHOOLHOUSE.
The suggestion made in our report of last year, in regard to the necessity of erecting a schoolhouse on the Granite Street lot, has been adopted by the town.
At a special town meeting, held Aug. 19, 1885, the Committee asked for an appropriation of fifty thousand dollars for the pur- pose of building a large twelve-room schoolhouse on the lot mentioned. This measure was freely discussed, and finally referred to a committee of well-known citizens, who were, in con- junction with the School Committee, to take the whole matter into further consideration, and to report to another meeting, to be called for that purpose. This committee, after carefully in- vestigating the subject, called a special town meeting, Sept. 24, and reported in favor of an appropriation of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000) for building a brick schoolhouse on the Granite Street lot, containing eight rooms, with aggregate accommoda- tions for four hundred pupils. This recommendation was adopted, and the Town Treasurer authorized to borrow the sum appropriated for this purpose. This meeting also appointed a Building Committee, - consisting of the following named gentle- men : Messrs. Elias A. Perkins, Quincy A. Faunce, and Jonas Shackley, - to act with the School Committee and Superintend- ent in the general oversight and supervision of the work.
The report of this Committee, on the completion of the building, will show in detail the various steps in the progress of the work.
The Building Committee, after due consideration, engaged Messrs. Cabot & Chandler, of Boston, architects, to prepare plans and specifications for the proposed building. These plans and specifications, upon their adoption by the Committee, were opened for inspection in the Selectmen's room at the Town
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Hall, and an advertisement for building proposals published in the Quincy Patriot.
The Building Committee awarded the contract to Messrs. Meade, Mason & Co., builders and contractors, of Boston, for the sum of twenty-nine thousand and sixty-six dollars ($29,066) ; which sum includes the building of gables in the roof, by which a large hall might be secured, which, at first, we feared our ap- propriation would be insufficient to cover, and by which change great improvement in the general appearance of the building will be effected.
The equipment of the building with steam-heating apparatus, by the system of indirect radiation, which is designed, is esti- mated to cost about three thousand dollars.
This building (somewhat unique in its plan, as will be seen) is to be one hundred and seventy feet long, by about forty in width, and two stories in height. In the basement will be fin- ished two large play-rooms, one for either sex of the pupils. Each floor comprises four school-rooms, with a capacity of fifty pupils each. These rooms all lie on the south side of the build- ing, which runs longitudinally about east and west. By this arrangement, a very large amount of sunlight, so necessary to the health and convenience of the pupils, is secured, which it would be impossible to obtain in a building constructed on the ordinary square plan.
We are confident in the belief that we shall secure a school- house, when completed, which, in point of excellence and general desirability for the purpose, will equal any in the Commonwealth, and constitute not only a great public benefit, but an ornament to the town.
PHYSIOLOGY AND HYGIENE.
The requirements of the statute in regard to instruction in Physiology and Hygiene have been complied with in our schools, and those important subjects are receiving attention alike from teachers and pupils. We are unable to record, with any degree of accuracy, the real progress which has been made in these studies, as they have been pursued but a few months, and differ so much from the ordinary exercises of the public school. We presume, however, that in time the results of this instruction will be apparent in the schools, and an increased interest mani- fested in the subject.
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HIGH SCHOOL.
The heating and ventilating of the High Schoolhouse is in a most primitive state of inefficiency, and contrary to all laws of health and comfort. It has been necessary in some of the severe cold days of the past season to dismiss the school, as it has been found actually impossible to heat the rooms sufficient to render them tenantable. We believe a sufficient amount of money should be expended there to obviate this difficulty and render the rooms comfortable and convenient, so that the pupils may pursue their studies under less discouraging surroundings, which could not fail to benefit the school in every particular.
It is a matter of regret to the Committee that the fourth-year course in the High School, which was arranged and carried into effect in the graduation of three pupils last year, has not a single representative at the present time.
We believe many pupils would be greatly benefited by availing themselves of this privilege, and find it a valuable addition to their school accomplishments ; particularly if their education is to terminate in the High School. We earnestly recommend the advantages of a full four-years' course, to the careful considera- tion of those parents who design to secure every educational opportunity available for their children, and to those pupils who are inclined toward, and expect to follow, a teacher's vocation.
NUMBER OF PUPILS.
The annual enumeration of pupils, made in May last, shows the following number, by districts, viz. :-
Atlantic
257
Adams
520
Coddington
409
Washington
308
Wollaston
229
Willard
693
Total
2,416
The excessive crowding of some of the rooms at the Adams and Willard schools has made it necessary for us to adopt half- time schools in some of the grades in those districts. This temporary method of relief will be discontinued on the comple- tion of the new schoolhouse, which will probably be on the first of September next.
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SEWING IN THE SCHOOLS.
The attention of the Committee has been called to the subject of teaching sewing in the public schools, also some light mechanical instruction for the benefit of the boys. A subcom- mittee was appointed to consider and gather information on this subject, and that committee reports that, in their judgment, it would be inexpedient at present to introduce sewing into our schools, but think at some future time, when proper arrangements can be made, this, with some light, industrial occupation for the benefit of the boys, will be provided for and taught in the schools.
We would cheerfully recommend, however, that the study and exercise of music in our schools may receive more attention ; and that the facilities for its teaching may be increased, and the character of the work very much improved, as it certainly can be with a little time and effort, on a more comprehensive system.
We make this distinction in favor of music unreservedly, not on account of its value as an accomplishment alone, but from the peculiar nature of its influence in relieving the more laborious duties of the children, and in rendering the school-room a cheer- ful and enjoyable place in which to pursue their early life work.
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES.
At the annual town meeting in March, 1885, the sum of forty- five thousand two hundred fifty-nine dollars and sixty cents ($45,259.60) was appropriated for school purposes, and also an additional appropriation of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for an evening drawing school.
To this must be added our share of the State school fund, one hundred fifty-five dollars and seventy-five cents ($155.75) ; the usual amount of income from the Coddington lands, seventy- five dollars ($75) ; and twenty dollars ($20) received from John Chamberlin, for the privilege of taking water from the supply pipe at the Adams School, - making the entire amount placed at our disposal, exclusive of the appropriations for the new schoolhouse, and drawing school, forty-five thousand five hun- dred and ten dollars and thirty-five cents ($45,510.35).
The total expenditure, exclusive of the expense of the drawing school, has been forty-five thousand four hundred and sixty-eight dollars and seventy-nine cents ($45,468.79). The items are as follows : -
.
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For Teachers' salaries, Fuel,
2,132 35
Care of rooms,
2,565 87
Books and stationery,
1,895 36
Incidental expenses,
3,240 19
Transportation of pupils,
896 00
Salary of Superintendent,
1,500 00
Repairs on buildings,
2,083 17
$43,909 19
Paid balance due on the Granite Street Schoolhouse lot, 1,559 60
Total, $45,468 79
Balance unexpended,
41 56
$45,510 35
Amount appropriated for drawing school,
$ 1,000 00
Amount expended for same,
1,162 32
Excess of expenditure over appropriation, $161 32
For the necessary school expenses of the ensuing year we recommend the following appropriations, viz. : -
For Superintendent's and teachers' salaries, fuel, and care of rooms, $37,500 00
Incidental expenses,
3,700*00
Books and stationery,
2,000 00
Repairs on buildings,
2,000 00
Transportation of pupils,
900 00
$46,100 00
For building an outhouse at the Willard School,
600 00
For support of evening drawing school,
1,000 00
Total,
$47,700 00
Your Committee have carefully estimated these proposed amounts of expenditure, and, while they would be glad to report a smaller sum, the growing and legitimate demands of our schools render it necessary for us to practise a wise and liberal economy in the administration of our school system, for any other course must result in a marked deterioration of the character of the school work.
$29,596 25
IO
Believing that the prevailing sentiment of our citizens is favor- able to the adoption of the most progressive methods and appli- ances of the age for the benefit of our schools, we are encouraged to request an amount sufficient, in our judgment, to fairly ac- complish the results which they have a right to demand of those who are intrusted with the education of their children.
A part of the increase in the amount required over last year can be explained from the fact that three or four rooms in the new schoolhouse will be occupied as soon as they are completed. These must be supplied with desks and apparatus, an increased force of teachers, and an extra janitor employed ; also additional fuel required. It is also absolutely necessary to build an out- house at the Willard School, and we have requested a special sum in our estimates for that purpose, which, we trust, will be granted.
In conclusion, we congratulate our citizens upon the general good results of the work of the children of our schools during the year which has passed, and trust their future progress will keep the schools of Quincy in the front rank of the free educational institutions of Massachusetts.
We cheerfully acknowledge the extent of our indebtedness to the skill and ability of the Superintendent in the management and direction of the entire work of the school administration. For the more minute details of that work, which will be found interesting to parents and guardians, we respectfully refer you to his report hereto appended, and trust it will receive your careful perusal and consideration, as a part of the report of your School Committee.
JASON G. WITHAM. ADELAIDE A. CLAFLIN. JOHN A. GORDON. SYLVESTER BROWN. FRANCIS L. HAYES. SIGOURNEY BUTLER.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF QUINCY :
Your attention is respectfully invited to the following report, which constitutes the eleventh in the series submitted by the Superintendent of Schools, and the third of the present incum- bent. Although the ten preceding reports were written by three different individuals, an inspection of them will reveal very little, either in aims or methods, which is contradictory. That must be a poor policy indeed which, being steadily followed for a decade, fails to result in good. It would be mere affectation to ignore the fact that our recent educational policy has resulted in giving the town good schools. These reports, however, have devoted very little space to congratulating the community on the excellence of its schools, but have rather attempted to inform the public of what was attempted in them ; and, never satisfied with present attainments, have steadily pointed forward to de- sirable results yet to be accomplished. If one thought more than another has been emphasized, it is that the efficiency and welfare of these schools depend on the character of the teach- ing which they receive. The old saying, that " as is the teacher, so is the school," is worn threadbare by many repetitions. In great part, these have been " vain repetitions." We have ear- nestly tried to live up to the truth, that while "teaching is the noblest of all professions, it is the sorriest of trades." While it is true that the Quincy schools have acquired a widespread repu tation, we have only regarded that fact as an incentive to make their real character as good as their reputation. There is always a tendency to regard the present in school methods and manage- ment as the final. Considering the marked changes in our schools which the last ten years have witnessed, it need not surprise any to find here and there the feeling that now we have reached the end ; that now we have come to that point in topics of study, principles and methods of teaching, and all the details of general school management, beyond which there is neither necessity nor likelihood of change. Should this feeling become
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widespread, it would be fatal to our future welfare. Some one has wisely said that " routine is always easier than intelligence." It is beyond question that nowhere do we find a greater con- servatism, nowhere does tradition oppose itself more strongly to reason, nowhere is there a stronger tendency to "the letter that killeth, rather than to the spirit that giveth life," than in the management of school affairs. It is hazarding little to venture the assertion that the future will bring about changes more widespread and radical than any we have witnessed. We should be thankful for the promise which the future offers. How dis- couraging would be the outlook, and how slight the attractions held out by the work of the teacher, if we were forced to admit that the problems were all solved ; that no further mastery of the principles of education was to be gained ; that no better methods were to be discovered ; that no wiser order of studies would be found ; in a word, that, in the great work of educating human beings, no further progress need be hoped for or worked for.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Last year, I reported to the Committee the urgent need of additional school-room in the Adams and Willard Districts. On the opening of the last spring term, April 13, 1885, the numbers of pupils in these schools had become so great that it was- deemed necessary to adopt the half-time arrangement in two D Primary rooms of the former school, and in one of the latter. One hundred seventy pupils of the Adams School and one hundred of the Willard School were put upon half-time attend- ance. On the opening of the fall term, in September, the half- time arrangement was of necessity prolonged ; and it seems inevit- able that existing arrangements should continue until the com- pletion of the new school building, recently voted by the town. During the summer, the principal's room, at the Adams, was enlarged in order that an A Grammar class of increased size might be accommodated. In September, it became necessary to place desks and chairs in the hall of the Quincy School for the use of the D Grammar class ; which, from its increased size, could no longer share the room of the C Grammar pupils. The consideration of plans for a new school building having brought prominently before us many points relating to the sanitary con- ditions of a model school-room, I have been led to gather some facts in regard to the rooms which we are at present occupying. The information thus collected will be shown by a table ap- pended to this report, and I reserve for a later page any com-
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ments or explanations which may be necessary. I rejoice in the prospect that we are to have at least one school building, every room of which may be flooded with light and sunshine. We can scarcely overestimate the blessings to be conferred on the successive generations of children, who will occupy the build- ing. They will be benefited mentally and morally, as well as physically, and the moderate increase in cost of a building, which will insure such results, is not for a moment to be con- sidered. On its completion we shall not only be able to abandon the half-time plan, but also to diminish the numbers belonging to the Primary classes of the Adams and Willard Schools, - numbers which have long been too large for the best interests of the pupils. It is the poorest economy, in fact, it is no economy, to put more than forty Primary pupils in charge of a single teacher, even though money may be thereby saved. In education, if nowhere else, there are higher interests than " the almighty dollar."
ATTENDANCE.
Among the marks of a good school will always be found a constant and punctual attendance of its pupils. A good teacher is the efficient cause of such attendance. When you find a school which is hateful to the pupils, and from which they escape on every possible occasion, and upon all manner of pretexts, there is sure need of a change of administration. In some in- stances it may be necessary to appeal to the truant officers, more rarely still to the authority of the court-room ; but the excel- lence of schools will be found to vary inversely with the frequency of the appeals to such agencies. The usual information in regard to the size of the different schools, in regard to attendance, tardiness, and truancy, may be gathered from the table which constitutes a part of this report. There has been but one case during the year in which it has been necessary to resort to the court-room. Wherever the showing is less favorable than could be desired, the result must be chiefly attributed either to changes in teachers, or to a partial failure on their part to exert the influence which they should.
VISITS.
From its proximity to our principal depot, the Coddington School receives a larger number of visitors from abroad than find their way to the other schools. As an offset to the advan-
I6
tage enjoyed by that school, it would be well if residents of the other districts would make special efforts to visit the schools attended by their children. The effects of frequent visitors upon both teachers and pupils are most salutary. The welfare of the schools demands the active co-operation and sympathy of parents and teachers. The acquaintance afforded by frequent visits must result in a fuller appreciation of the good accom- plished by the schools, a clearer sense of the many difficulties which confront teachers, and a wiser and more discriminating criticism where criticism is called for.
TEACHERS.
The number of teachers - fifty-three, assistants not included - remains the same as at the beginning of the year ; an increase of one in the Quincy School, and a decrease of one in the Washing- ton, offsetting each other. The crowded condition of several rooms has necessitated the employment of an unusual number of assistant teachers, and the total cost of tuition has been corre- spondingly increased. During the year eight teachers have left the service of the town, one principal being included in the number. While these changes may be less numerous than those of some former years, the loss of one seventh of the teaching corps in a single twelvemonth must always prove a serious blow to the progress of the schools. My associations with the teachers of Quincy have been uniformly pleasant, and I should do them an injustice if I failed to commend them to the confidence, sym- pathy, and hearty support of the Committee. While upon this topic, I venture the following extract, because it well sets forth the motives which have guided us in the management of the children intrusted to our care, and because it suggests some truths which the public is quite inclined to overlook. The writer of the extract, in addressing a body of teachers, says : -
"|For the teacher the one thing needful is a high aim, and a strong faith in the infinite possibilities which lie hidden in the nature of a young child. One hears much rhetoric and nonsense on this subject. The schoolmaster is often addressed by enthusiasts as if he were more important to the body politic than soldier and statesman, poet and student, all put together; and a modest man rebels, and rightly rebels, against this exaggeration, and is fain to take refuge in a mean view of his office. But. after all. we must never forget that those who magnify your office, in ever so bad taste, are substantially right. And it is only an elevated ideal of your profession which will ever enable you to con- tend against its inevitable discouragements, - the weary repetitions,
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the dulness of some, the wilfulness of others, the low aims of many parents. the exactions of governors and of public bodies, the ungener- ous criticism, the false standards of estimation which may be applied to your work. What is to sustain you in these circumstances, in places remote from friends, or in the midst of uncongenial surround- ings ? Nothing except the faith which removes mountains, the strong conviction that your work, after all, if honestly and skilfully done, is some of the most fruitful and precious work in the world. The great- est of all teachers, in describing his own mission, once said : 'I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.' And may we not, without irreverence, say that this is, in a humble and far-off way, the aim of every true teacher in the world ? He wants to help his pupil to live a fuller, a richer, a more interesting, and a more useful life. He wants so to train the scholar that no one of his intellectual or moral resources shall be wasted. . . . He looks on the complex organization of a young child, and he seeks to bring all his faculties, not merely his memory and his capacity for obedience, but also his intelligence, his acquisitiveness, his imagination, his taste, his love of action, his love of truth, into the fullest vitality. No meaner ideal than this ought to satisfy even the humblest who enters the teacher's profession."
FREE EVENING DRAWING SCHOOL.
Evening schools have not been entirely unknown in Quincy. In the school report for the year 1869-70 I find a paragraph relating to this subject, and the appropriation of $600 recommended. The next report mentions a meeting held at the Town House to determine the number and. location of these schools, which resulted in the opening on Oct. 31, 1870, of one school in the Adams and one in the Willard School building. Thirty-five sessions of each school were held. In 1871 the Committee asked an appropriation of $100, for the support of evening schools for the ensuing year, and the next report states that three such schools were opened Oct. 2, 1871, in the Adams, Willard and Quincy School buildings respectively, and continued until Jan. 23, 18/2. Succeeding reports say nothing of evening schools, and I conclude that none have existed. In the schools above mentioned the common school branches were taught, the only reference to drawing being to the effect that a small class in the elements of mechanical drawing made commendable progress in the Adams School. The statute which imposes upon Quincy the duty of maintaining a free drawing school reads as follows : " Any town may, and every city and town having more than ten thousand inhabitants shall, annually make provision for giving free instruction in industrial or mechanical drawing to
persons over fifteen years of age, in either day or evening schools, under the direction of the school committee." In compliance with this law and by means of $1,000, voted by the town for the purpose, the school now in successful operation was established.
The upper hall in the Hardwick Building, corner of Frank- lin and School Streets, having been secured and thoroughly equipped with tables, stools, drawing-boards, gas-lights, etc., applicants for admission to the school were asked to present themselves at that place on Tuesday evening, Oct. 20. It was assumed in fitting up the school that the majority of its students would desire instruction in mechanical drawing, rather than in freehand, and our equipment was planned in accordance with this assumption. On the evening above named 189 persons made application for admission to the school, which number has since been increased to 220. As the room can accommodate only 40 students at one time, it seemed necessary to devise some means of more nearly meeting the demands laid upon the school. The most feasible plan was found to be the establishment of a second class, forty in number, which should meet on Monday, Wednes- day, and Friday evenings, while the first class formed should occupy the room on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday even- ings. The first class, in charge of Mr. Thomas E. Sweeney, began work on Oct. 22 ; the second, in charge of Mr. Wallace B. Church, on Nov. 6. As a further means of reaching the largest possible number of individuals, it was early arranged that absence from the school upon two consecutive evenings, unless accompa- nied by satisfactory explanation, should forfeit the seat of the student thus absent. As fast as vacancies occurred, membership was offered to some of the waiting applicants. Up to the pres- ent time 104 different men have been connected with the classes. It plainly requires some pluck and a marked earnestness of purpose to devote three evenings per week to steady work at the drawing-table in addition to a full day's work elsewhere, and it is not surprising that some students should have fallen out by the way. Mr. Church's has thus far (Feb. I) had thirty-one meetings with an average attendance of thirty-four, while Mr. Sweeney's class has met on forty-three evenings. The average attendance of the latter class for the months of December and January, twenty-seven evenings, was also thirty-four. With the exception of drawing-boards, both classes have used the same equipments, and each class deems to have respected the rights of the other. The earnestness, good spirit, and gentlemanly behavior of the students have been most noticeable, and there is no one
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