USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1895 > Part 10
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To the Citizens of Saugus :-
The School Committee respectfully submit their annual re- port for the year ending Dec. 31, 1895.
School Buildings.
We are pleased to say that much improvement has been made in some of our school buildings during the year, in the way of heating, ventilating and renovating.
The shabby building at the Centre, used as a grammar school has been transformed into as pleasant and tasteful a building, especially the interior, as can be desired. The old school building at Cliftondale has been greatly improved, and the heating and ventilating is now very satisfactory. The floors, walls and ceilings, however, require attention.
We believe money could nowhere be more judiciously expended than in making the rooms in this building sweet and wholesome.
Heating and Ventilating.
The three school buildings at Cliftondale will, we think, now comply with the state regulations.
When the new school building at the Centre is erected, that section of the Town will also have buildings thoroughly heated and ventilated.
The four-room building at East Saugus, like the building at North Saugus and Oaklandvale, has no ventilation whatever, being heated by stoves.
The State Board has been very patient and lenient with us in our slow compliance with its demands. It will not, how- ever, permit us longer to put off the ventilating of the East Saugus building.
One of the members of the Board has again made a visit to the building for the purpose of testing the quality of air as breathed by the pupils, and found it so much below the test grade even on an unfavorable time (it being a warm day with
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
windows open) as to cause him to condemn the building. If we do not make some effort to remedy the evil, no doubt we shall be compelled to do so. We would therefore recommend that an appropriation be made at our March meeting for the purpose of excavating a cellar, erecting stacks for ventilating and putting in furnaces and toilets. The latter may be con- nected with the sewer at a small expense. An appropriation should also be made to put in suitable condition the Oakland- vale building. A large amount would not be required for this purpose.
Condition of the Schools.
The work in some of the schools at the Centre has been very much broken up by reason of the interruptions caused by moving and repairing of the two buildings; but aside from this, the schools as a whole have shown great improvement. One need but investigate to be convinced of this. We would call attention to the reports of the Superintendent and Principal of the High School for comprehensive statements of advances made and other interesting facts pertaining to the needs of our schools.
Appropriations.
The larger school buildings, the care required to keep them in good order, the greater amount of fuel consumed in heating, and the increased number of schools demand a larger appro- priation for the coming year. Pupils are rapidly increasing in number-which facts call for a larger outlay for supplies. After a careful consideration we have estimated that $14,000 at least will be required to meet the expenses for the coming year.
The citizens have cheerfully and readily responded to the sug- gestions of the Committee in the past, usually voting the amount called for, showing a confidence in the Committee which we trust will not be abused.
(Signed) THOMAS P. PARSONS, HENRY J. MILLS, GEORGE M. AMERIGE, School Committee.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee,
Gentlemen: I hereby submit to you my second annual report.
A retrospect of the work of the schools for the year just closed is in the main satisfactory. Notwithstanding the in- terruptions caused by the prevalence of contagious diseases, and the annoyance caused by the condition of the school- houses at Saugus Centre at the opening of the fall term, the year has been one of advancement. While our schools are not yet in the most desirable condition, they are better graded, better supplied with books and more efficiently taught than one year ago.
Our teachers' meetings have been productive of much good. They have been held weekly for most of the year. Once each month we have a meeting for all the teachers. In these we have considered subjects of general interest such as "School Discipline," "The Personality of the Teacher," "Moral Edu- cation," "Habit in Education," "Physical Education," "The Study of Children" and "Attention and Interest." In each of these meetings several teachers and the superintendent have taken a part in the presentation and discussion of the topic.
We have also held numerous grade meetings-three grades at each meeting-in which we have considered the subjects and methods of teaching for each grade. The study of plants and birds was given considerable attention in the spring. This work was introduced somewhat in all the schools. It was found to be a very interesting and valuable addition to our course of study.
High School .- Steps have been taken looking towards great improvement in our high school. At the beginning of the fall term two assistants were employed, making it possible to en- large and extend our course of study. This we have already done although it will take some time before the new four- years' course is in full operation.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
When the new building is ready for occupancy with the opportunities which it will afford for teaching the sciences by the laboratory method we shall have a school of which the town may well be proud. Your attention is called to the re- port of our high school principal, Mr. Emrich.
"During the year just closed there have been several changes of special interest in our High School.
"The Entering Class this fall was much larger than ever before. This class of over 30 pupils increasing the mem- bership of the school to 65, made it necessary to put desks into one of the small rooms used for a recitation room and to have a part of the school sit there during the school session.
"The larger membership of the school and the changes in the course of study have led the school committee to give 11s a third teacher.
"The Course of Study has been revised and enlarged. The Course in Chemistry and Physics has been extended. This department has suffered much in the past from the short space of time allotted to its study and more especially from the lack of a laboratory without which the study of these sciences is, to put it very mildly, pursued at the greatest disadvantage.
"The Study of Greek has been added to the Course of Study; so that now it will be possible for the boy or girl, wishing to fit for college, to do so at home. While the requirements for admission to our New England colleges has been kept in mind in revising the Course of Study, we have also not forgotten that the larger part of our pupils complete their studies in our High School. With this in view, in addition to the four years' Classical Course, there is a three years' and a four years' English Course for the benefit of those who feel they must end their studies in the High School and desire a course practical rather than preparatory.
"The year has been of special interest to your High School in that it has seen the town make an appropriation for a school-building in which there should be ample accommoda- tions for the High School with its necessary laboratories and recitation rooms.
"In making this appropriation the Town has recognized a long-felt need and it is hoped that we may soon be in a posi-
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
tion to do our work with advantages for its prosecution equal to those of neighboring towns of the same size.
"Many citizens are not aware that we are occupying three rooms in the town hall building which were never designed for school rooms and which are therefore neither properly ventilated, lighted nor adequately supplied with blackboards.
"I am of the opinion that many colds and much sickness is directly due to the poor facilities for heating and ventiliating our school rooms.
ยท "The High School of Saugus, within ten miles of such an educational centre as Boston, surrounded by such schools as we have in Malden, Everett and Lynn, ought in behalf of the interests of the boys and girls of our town, in behalf of the reputation of the town, yes, in behalf of the purely selfish in- terests of the town to be made to stand on a level with schools of its size in respect to the equipments for its work; and then we may expect to see boys and girls prepared for the college or the counting-room as well in Saugus as in our neighboring towns."
The net proceeds of the Bond Prize Exhibition was $22.65. We have expended for books $5.30, leaving a cash balance Jan. 1, 1896, of $17.35.
Music .- The work in this subject has been continued much the same as last year. The new teacher is in sympathy with the system and methods used by her predecessor. In music as in other studies our pupils are learning to think. Accuracy in reading, fidelity to pitch, distinct articulation and enuncia- tion, and sweet, clear tones are, to quite an extent characteris- tics of our pupil's work.
Miss Page the supervisor of Music says:
"Our aim is to so present the work from the lowest to the highest grades that the result may correspond to that ob- tained in other studies.
"When the child first enters school the study of the scale as a whole is commenced. Following this is the process of teaching the child to think the intervals of the scale so that the relation of each tone to the scale as a whole is accurately known. This work which comes in the lower grades is, per-
9
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
haps, the most important-for the success of all future work depends upon the correct conception of tones of the major scale.
"Next, the printed page is placed before the pupils and the study of time is introduced. Though we advocate the use of time language yet it must always be regarded as a 'means to an end, and not as being itself an end.'
"The music of the second and third grades is simple, adapted to the condition of the child. In the higher grades part singing is commenced, greater difficulties in time and tune are found, and modulation together with chromatic and minor scales are taught.
"It is expected that the pupils graduating from the grammar grades will be able to sing ordinary music at sight. In the primary grades a few rote songs are taught chiefly to afford mental rest and recreation. They are of assistance also in the training of the ear and voice.
"We advise the use of syllables as a valuable aid to instruc- tion in sight singing, yet would consider it a serious mistake to use them to an extent which would make it impossible for the pupils to sing at sight when not using them. Systematic practice of vocalizing all exercises sung in the study of sight- singing will enable the pupils to outgrow the necessity of their use.
"Too much stress cannot be laid upon the quality of tone. To cultivate the quality of sweetness, which properly de- veloped is one of the prominent characteristics of the child voice, we have insisted upon soft singing and I am pleased to note the improvement in this direction.
"The results of the past term from the primary grades through the High School are very pleasing, but we hope the work of the coming six months may show even greater im- provements."
Teachers .- The following are the changes in our corps of teachers for the year :
Withdrawals. Estella J. Clark, North Saugus. A. M. Gove, East Saugus. Jean Belsher, Music.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Edith O. Rowe, High School.
Elizabeth Hoar, Oaklandvale.
C. C. Farnham, Cliftondale.
E. W. Boardman, Centre. Marion Conn, North Saugus.
Elections.
Marion Conn, North Saugus.
Helen Bacheller, High School.
Grace Putnam, High School.
Carrie A. Barber, East Saugus. Alice E. Chase, Cliftondale.
Hariot Sanborn, Ashlandvale.
Helen M. Page, Music.
Annie L. Ricker, Centre.
Agnes S. Ord, Cliftondale.
M. A. Plummer, North Saugus.
There have been too many changes in our teaching force this year, but not more than may be expected as long as salaries are so small. Nearly every city and town in this part of the state pay enough more than we do so that our good teachers may readily secure better positions than we can offer. Then, too, in seeking for teachers whenever vacan- cies occur, we are not able to secure as desirable candidates as our neighbors. The cost of board in Saugus is as much if not more than in the cities of Lynn and Malden. A part of our teachers have been paying six dollars a week for room and meals. The highest salary we now pay any primary teacher is $380. Measured by the needs of a full year this is very meager. In Lynn and Malden the maximum is not less than $600. In Winthrop, Watertown, Revere and Mel- rose, they pay primary teachers as high as $550; in Hyde Park, Peabody, Norwood, Dedham and Swampscott, $450. In fact there are but few of the towns in this part of the state that do not pay primary teachers more than Saugus.
The highest annual salary we pay grammar teachers is $420. What do our neighbors pay? Arlington, Dedham, Everett, Lynn, Malden, Wakefield, Revere, Reading, Swampscott and
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
Watertown, pay not less than $600 maximum. Belmont, Mel- rose, Medford, Norwood, Peabody, Hyde Park, Winchester, Woburn and Stoneham, pay from $500 to $550 maximum. Nearly all towns in this vicinity are paying more to the gram- mar teachers than Saugus.
In response to inquiry I have received information from nearly forty cities and towns within fifteen miles of Boston. Of these I find only six which have not increased the salaries of teachers within five years. In a few cases the increase in this time has been 25 per cent. Of those which have made no recent increase all with one exception are paying good salaries-more than we are. If we would keep pace with recent and widespread educational progress, we must pay higher salaries. We are paying our teachers the wages of a common laborer while we demand the skill of a profes- sional expert. We desire as good teachers as are found any- where, but we pay from 25% to 37% less than the prevailing salary of such teachers.
The school appropriation should be enough to make it pos- sible for the school committee to pay first class primary teachers not less than $450 and grammar teachers $500.
I should urge discrimination. Not all primary or all gram- mar teachers should necessarily be paid the maximum. Only those of the greatest efficiency and success should receive the highest salary. I should favor a gradual increase.
In this connection I desire to recommend the employment of a teacher of drawing. This study is required by the laws of the state to be taught in the public schools. Its import- ance is universally admitted. But it cannot be satisfactorily taught without the supervision of a specialist. For a small amount we could employ a skillful teacher two days each week who would systematically plan the work, visit all the schools regularly to give lessons and assist the regular teachers. If such a specialist could be added to our teaching force it would be the means of greatly improving our schools.
Cost of Schools .- It may be urged that our schools now cost us more per scholar than some of our neighboring cities. This statement has been publicly made but it is not true. The mistake, I presume, was made by basing the computation
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
upon the number of children between five and fifteen years of age. This number often differs greatly especially in cities from the number actually attending the public schools. A little thought will make it apparent that this latter number is the one to use in ascertaining the cost per scholar of main- taining our public schools. It may be of interest, therefore, to examine the following table based upon the returns of 1894-95 made to the State Board of Education in April, 1895.
Amount Expended for the Maintenance of Public Schools, 1894-95.
CITIES AND TOWNS.
Amount Expended Exclusive of Repairs and Buildings.
Average Membership of All Schools.
Amount for Each Child.
Malden
$ 102,043 3S
3991
$28 07
Belmont
11,556 16
412
28 26
Winthrop
15,006 27
543
27 74
Revere
28,515 65
1139
25 03
Swampscott
12,275 00
313
23 92
Medford
56,993 44
2389
23 S5
Winchester
24,574 29
1048
23 44
Reading
16,573 44
716
23 14
Lynn
197,566 75
8817
22 40
Melrose
46,008 31
2056
22 37
Peabody
33,837 43
152S
22 14
Everett
64,234 67
2906
22 10
Saugus
12,937 72
705
1S 43
The State
8,160,452 37
341.671
23 SS
In the amount expended we have included all money used in the School Department except the cost of new buildings, permanent alterations, all repairs and income from local funds. In the next column is given the actual membership of the schools and in the last column is placed the amount expended for each child. It will be observed that the average amount expended for each child throughout the whole state is $23.88. This is $5.45 more per scholar than Saugus expended. It seems evident that many cities and town expend more than $25 for each pupil, and it is equally evident that the number of public school children in this state whose education annually costs less than $20 is comparatively small.
The membership of the schools of Saugus during this fall
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
term has been about 800. It will probably be more for the year to come. The appropriation should be not less than $14,000, not including the Superintendent's salary.
If the Town is ready to increase the teachers' salaries a little, employ a drawing teacher and better equip our schools with text and reference books, the appropriation should be $15,000.
The efficiency of our schools will be measured largely by the cost of maintenance. While we cannot as generously pro- vide as the more wealthy municipalities, we can, I feel sure, more nearly approach the average state of expenditure.
School Hygiene .- The experiences of the year have led to careful consideration of this subject. Several of our schools- those of Cliftondale more than once-have been disturbed by an outbreak of scarlet fever and diphtheria. This is unfortu- nate both in regard to health and education. When schools are closed, even for one week, the interruption is considerable and the anxiety of parents is unnecessarily great. The inter- ruption is considerable because its effects continue for weeks. The diseases of school life have been too common. They appear so mysteriously in the midst of health and apparently healthful surroundings that not even the greatest care can pre- vent occasional cases. This may be expected, I think, but every possible preventive should be used. I have no sym- pathy with the notion that every child must sooner or later have measles, chicken pox, scarlet fever and other diseases. I believe it to be our duty, as well as that of every parent, to pre- vent children if possible from contracting these diseases, for very serious results often follow the mildest cases. But what can we do? A very important sanitary consideration in any school is the cleanliness of the building. I urge that all school rooms be thoroughly washed, cleansed and fumigated at least twice each year. Let the work be well done. All floors and woodwork, as well as windows, including the pupils' desks, should be made clean. (If floors are old, with dust-collecting cracks, new floors should be laid.)
In the interest of health, I recommend also that the use of the slate and dirt-collecting sponge be forever banished from our schools. To continue their use is too great a risk.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The extra expense necessary to provide paper is not worth considering in view of the greater safety.
Again I suggest that all outbuildings and closets should be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them in wholesome con- dition. Some of these buildings as now arranged are a con- stant menace to the health and morals of our pupils. Despite the efforts of teachers and janitors they are often in a filthy condition and scrawled with obscenity. May the time soon come (I think it will) when light, neatly furnished water closets or other sanitary closets will be connected with all our school buildings.
Under no circumstances should children from homes in which there is a communicable disease be allowed to attend school or to go to other homes to play with school children. It is quite possible that parents have not always taken the pre- caution necessary to prevent the spread of fruitful germs of disease. Children should be kept at home for at least two weeks after the death, removal or recovery of the sick persons. Even then they should never be allowed to return to school without a certificate from the physician or Board of Health. This requirement should without exception be rigidly enforced.
That good ventilation is necessary to the best health of school children is freely admitted. We do not care to have them breathe the air polluted by foul breath, bodily exhalations or dirty clothing. It must be remembered that children are much more susceptible than adults to injury from impure air. Such injury often acts slowly and almost imperceptibly upon the sys- tem, but its effects will sometime be seen, perhaps when too late to repair the harm. And so we take real pleasure in record- ing the fact that two of our buildings have been so much im- proved. During the summer vacation the old building at Cliftondale was provided with furnaces and ventilating flues. If now it could be completely renovated inside, new floors laid and sanitary closets put in, it would meet all the essential requirements.
The old Grammar School building at the Centre has also been improved in a very thorough and satisfactory manner. It is now heated by steam, is well ventilated, has a good base- ment in which are the water closets, has new hard-wood floors
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
and new walls and ceiling. If this building could have been ready for occupancy in September, as was expected, it would have prevented serious inconvenience. The long delay in beginning repairs and the slowness with which the work pro- gressed was a costly and seemingly unnecessary procedure. As a consequence, one school, for three months, was trans- ported daily to and from East Saugus. Another occupied the Town Hall for nearly the same length of time. Both schools have worked under great disadvantage, but are now well cared for.
We cannot speak as favorably of the accommodations of the other schools at the Centre. They are all in great need. The High School is suffering, and the intermediate and primary schools are suffering.
The school in charge of Miss Groce is ocupying a room wholly unfit for school purposes. Every pupil attending that school does so at considerable danger to health. The two primary schools are full to overflowing, and that too in rooms heated by stoves and without means of ventilation except the windows. We have already more children in this ward than the present school rooms will accommodate, and the number is steadily increasing; but we cannot increase the school member- ship until the new building is ready. Relief was expected before this, but still we wait.
At East Saugus we have a very good building, containing four large school rooms, but it is heated by stoves and is venti- lated only by doors and windows. This building should be furnished with good ventilating flues, a proper system of heat- ing and wholesome sanitary arrangements. A good cellar should of course be included in the plans. These changes could easily be made during the summer vacation, and they should be.
At the Oaklandvale building may be seen a pleasant school very uncomfortably housed. They have been patiently wait- ing for something better, and they should have it at the earliest date possible. Pupils who are obliged to spend hours each day in a room the walls of which are blackened and defaced, having battered desks, scratched and disfigured by the "jackknife's carved initial," will be somewhat affected by the character of
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
the place. In addition the renovation of the whole interior new school furniture should be provided. The pupils' desks now in use should be replaced at once by new ones of approved pattern. Doors and windows of the lower story should be fur- nished with such secure fastenings that evil-disposed persons cannot so easily affect an entrance.
The North Saugus schoolhouse has had a new floor laid and if the walls and ceiling were whitened would be in fair condition.
School Visitation .- We have been pleased to notice the in- creased number of visitors in our schools this year. Parents would be of much assistance if they would visit schools oftener. A special invitation was issued to our friends to visit the different schools in June on days especially appointed. The response was gratifying. Many visited the schools these days that would not otherwise have done so. However, parents can gain a much more satisfactory idea of the school if they visit during the regular exercises. You are cordially invited-yes, urged-to visit often and without any special invitation. "Fre- quent visitation of school stimulates and encourages both pupil and teacher, and is one of the most helpful forms of assistance the parent can render. To secure the best results there must be confidence and cooperation between parents and teacher."
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