USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1907 > Part 16
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IO
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
grades of East Saugus and the Centre already are, but just how further relief to Cliftondale can be given after another year is not apparent.
The Growth of East Saugus.
The growth of the school population at East Saugus in the last few years has been most surprising to your committee. In 1897, there were in the Chestnut Street building 167 pupils, in 1898, 197. The following year this number had declined to 164, in 1900 to 152, and it was not until 1904 that there once more were as many scholars at East Saugus as in 1898. The Town therefore had no reason for believing that any considerable additional school rooms would be needed at East Saugus for years to come. It expected that the removal of the ninth grade to the Centre and the use of the new Lincoln Avenue building jointly with Cliftondale would be quite adequate present provision for future needs. The considerable influx of new residents at East Saugus, however, has caused the school population of that end of the Town to increase more rapidly than had been supposed was possible. In September 1905, 250 scholars in all were en- rolled at the Chestnut Street building, as against 198 pupils at the same time the year before. To-day, with no ninth grade in East Saugus at all, both the Chestnut Street building and the new Lincoln Avenue building are filled and in both cases practically entirely with pupils from the East Saugus precinct. As a matter of fact, out of 133 scholars in the new Lincoln Avenue building, 126 are from East Saugus. The whole number of East Saugus pupils attending grammar schools to-day, including the ninth grade, cannot be less than 300.
What can be done in that end of the town if many more families, having several children each, shall come in is not easy to determine. The law permits fifty scholars to a room. The eight rooms now available for East Saugus might therefore be presumed to afford accommodation for 400 pupils. In actual practice, however, the increase in school population is never spread evenly over all grades, but is usually confined to a few of the lower ones, and in those grades the limits of our present
II
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
accommodations are very near. Without predicting just when it will he necessary for the committee to hire rooms for school use at East Saugus, and at Cliftondale, we do feel safe in saying that further accommodation for the growing school population of these two portions of the town is a problem which those who have the interests of the town at heart, must even now begin considering.
Superintendent of Schools.
The committee recommends that its appropriation be made large enough this year to permit the employment of a superintendent of schools who shall give to the town all of his time. This recommendation is not based upon any dissatisfaction with the efforts of the present superintendent of schools, but upon our feeling that the number of scholars and number of school rooms now under the charge of the school department has become so much larger than when the present arrangement for a superin- tendent was made that anything short of a man's whole time is inadequate for proper supervision.
The present cost for a superintendent is $1, 100 per year, the committee having increased the pay of this office during the past year from $1,000 to that figure, because the town of Stone- ham had already taken the same action. For $400 per year more, or $1,500 in all, the committee feels confident it will be able to employ a satisfactory superintendent who shall be resi- dent in the town and be accessible to its citizens every evening, beside being in touch with the schools every day. The officials of the State Board of Education have assured us that there certainly will be a large number of applicants for the position at that salary because it is the same wage which is paid to those district superintendents whom the state board directs and who have several towns under their care. The opportunity to get the same pay for work in a single town and near Boston seems to that board certain to appear most attractive to such district superintendents. The State Board of Education have further been kind enough to promise us their assistance in choosing a good superintendent.
I 2
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Conditions Have Changed.
A comparison of conditions which prevailed here when the present superintendent began, with those which exist to-day shows most convincingly why the arrangement for a superin- tendent in common with Stoneham, which was very satisfactory then, cannot in the nature of things be the best arrangement for to-day. The present superintendent began in May, 1894. The total number of children of a school age in the town then is shown by the census of that year to have been 780 and the average attendance at school, 706. Then, only nineteen teachers were employed, Cliftondale had only about 285 scholars as against nearly 700 now, and the High School had about forty-seven scholars. The whole appropriation for the committee's use by the Town was only about $12, 100. Today the town employs more than twice as many teachers as then, has nearly 1,500 scholars or about as twice as many as then, and the appropriation for the conduct of the schools is $34,000 or nearly three times the appropriatton of that time. Conditions have certainly materially altered. Try as a superintendent may, we do not believe it is possible for him to adequately supervise our schools in half his time. It is not a matter of lack of will on his part, but physical inability to cover so much ground. It has meant not only that the district schools at Lynnhurst, North Saugus, and Oaklandvale cannot receive anywhere near so good supervision as that of the schools in the more thickly settled parts, but it has meant that many problems must come to mem- bers of the committee for solution which ought to be handled by a superintendent closely in touch with actual conditions. Furthermore, the committee realizes that for many parents it is absolutely impossible to call upon the superintendent of schools during the daytime to discuss with him matters which concern their own children and that they cannot conveniently see him evenings, unless he is resident in the town.
Respectfully submitted, HENRY J. MILLS, GEORGE M. AMERIGE, FRANKJP. BENNETT,«JR.
13
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
We estimate that we shall require for the year 1908 as follows :
Teachers $23,400 00 ·
Superintendent
1,500 00
Janitors
3,620 00
Supplies
2,400 00
Fuel
.
3,600 00
Incidentals
.
1,000 00
Water, gas and electricity
0 330 00
.
Dedutt amount probably receivable
$35,850 00 from the State, and from the city of Boston for tuition . 450 00
$35,400 00
Report of the Superintendent.
To the School Committee :
GENTLEMEN,-The Superintendent of Schools herewith pre- sents his fourteenth annual report.
The state law requiring annual school reports was passed in 1838. Previously they were prepared in manuscript and read in town meeting, but when in 1839 it became necessary to send reports to the state, several towns had them printed. The advantages of having them put in a form in which they could be circulated and read by the people of the Town were so evident that the custom spread rapidly. In 1839, not more than half a dozen were printed ; in 1840, twenty-five; in 1841, thirty- three including Saugus, sixteen being from Essex County.
At this time Saugus had a population of about 1,000 with 257 scholars in school in summer, and 205 in winter. Five teachers were employed and the average wages paid per month including board was $16.60. The total amount of money raised for the support of schools including only wages of teachers, board and fuel was $850. This amount compared favorably with the school appropriation of other cities and towns. In the same year Lynn had in school 1,606 children in summer and 1,534 in winter, and the total amount raised for support of the schools was $5,000.
By comparing the foregoing statements with the statistics for the present year we see that the Saugus schools have had a remarkable history of growth and development. This fall we had in school six times as many children as in 1840 and twice as many as thirteen years ago.
For the year ending June 30, 1907, the total average member- ship for the town was 1,433, an increase of sixty-six. The
15
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
average membership for the fall term ending Dec. 20, 1907 was 1,511, a gain of fifty-eight for the year. The total enrollment for the fall term was about 1,600. For the past two years the largest increase has been at East Saugus.
The present teaching force includes a superintendent, two supervisors and forty-one regular teachers. There are six teachers in the High School, eight in the Roby, fifteen at Clif- tondale, eight at East Saugus including the new school, and four in outside districts. Six of these teachers are college trained, twenty-four are normal school graduates, and three others have attended normal school without graduating. Among the regular teachers there is but one man - the high school principal.
Our schools are housed in eleven school buildings having forty-two class-rooms and, with the exception of the high school, every one is occupied. At Saugus Center there are two unoc- cupied buildings which have been used for school purposes. Unfortunately they are not located in that part of the town where additional accommodations are needed.
At the opening of school in September it was found impossible to seat all pupils at East Saugus even though the ninth grade had been transferred to the high school building and many of the other children had been sent to the new school on Lincoln avenue. The problem was solved temporarily by placing the entire school of grades seven and eight in the new building leaving only six grades in the four rooms at East Saugus. Grades one and two were separated each forming a school. Grades three and four together formed one school, but with too many scholars for the best work. There is need at East Saugus of eight school-rooms and steps should be taken at once to meet the need.
At Cliftondale there has been no increase during the year. All the school-rooms are occupied and every one is comfortably full. In a few cases it has been with considerable difficulty that all children of a grade were seated, yet after much planning and numerous transfers this was accomplished. There has been a disposition to avoid the Lincoln avenue school, due in part to the difficulty in keeping the rooms warm enough in cold weather
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
and in part to the sanitaries which are in the rear of the building some distance removed. It is believed that the changes which have been made in the heating apparatus, together with other precautionary measures, will remove the first objection. If this is not the case the remaining old furnace should be examined, and if insufficient a new one should be installed. To remove the second objection, I would suggest that steps be taken to provide sanitaries in such form and location that they may be clean, comfortable, warm and easily accessible.
Should the number of pupils at Cliftondale increase to such an extent that another school becomes necessary one could be pro- vided at the Felton by removing the ninth grade to the High School building.
At North Saugus there are two schools and about fifty pupils. The older scholars use the lower floor and the younger ones occupy the second story. As the room on the second floor is used for other purposes the desks have never been fastened to the floor. It would be of considerable advantage to the school if the room could be permanently and more adequately furnished. When this is done it would be better to have the older pupils go up stairs rather than the very youngest.
Teachers.
During the year 1907 twelve teachers have withdrawn. Eight were offered more salary elsewhere. To make good these losses and to provide for the increase of pupils, thirteen teachers have been engaged. The following is the complete list of changes to date :
WITHDRAWALS
SCHOOL
ELECTIONS
Alice G. Preston Felton
Eva May Brewer
Roby
Lena Schenk
Lotta M. Wentworth
North Saugus
Florence M. Little
Grace E. Penney
Oaklandvale Effie E. Campbell
Edith M. Clark Roby Mary W. Hall
Lucy M. Hayes
Lincoln Avenue Florence L. Brooks
Maud L. Plummer
North Saugus Edith R. Day
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
Elizabeth P. Lefavour Felton
Nellie M. Peabody
Elizabeth B. Sawyer
Lincoln Avenue
Grace M. Stone
Lincoln Avenue
Ida B. Macdonald
Ina E. Hildreth
New School
Emily McFadden
Lucille C. Morse
New School
Gertrude R. Sherman
East Saugus Marah G. Stebbins
Felton Fannie N. Allen
East Saugus Edna C. Purvis
During the past two years we have found it necessary to engage twenty-six teachers. At this rate we should have an entire change of the teaching force as often as every three and a half years. With such frequent changes it becomes very difficult to maintain a high standard of schoolroom efficiency. Indeed it becomes almost impossible to develop plans for improvement which extend over a number of years. Our best teachers usually work with us not more than two years and then pass on to more lucrative positions. This means frequent and expensive inter- ruptions. Sometimes it involves the surrender of enterprises before the successful issue is reached. Under these conditions the best results are impossible.
One of the most influential factors in effecting this unfortunate condition is the low salaries paid the teachers. If mechanics were paid five dollars a day in Saugus and six dollars in all of the adjoining cities and towns skilled workmen of this class would leave Saugus as rapidly as they secured satisfactory employment elsewhere. Unless the supply was greater than the demand, in a short time there would be no skilled mechanics working in this Town. The same law of supply and demand alike influenced by money compensation is operative among teachers. Nearly every city and town in this section of New England pays its teachers more than Saugus. Hence there need be no surprise that our most skillful teachers give us but a short term of service.
To compare the salaries paid teachers with the day wages of mechanics or common laborers involves some difficulties. The active duties of the teacher cover about forty weeks, while in the
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
other occupations mentioned the year is a full fifty-two weeks. The teacher is paid an annual salary, out of which she must pay her expenses for a full year. The teacher is given release from school-room service during the summer, but it is not expected that she will use this time in any other occupation. She is en- couraged to, and usually does spend the time in rest and self- improvement, often taking a course of study at some summer school. In Saugus the prevailing salary of grade teachers is $500. This is equivalent to $9.61 a week or $1.66 a day for fifty-two weeks. It is less than the wages of the unskilled laborer of whom nothing by way of preparation is required. The teacher must meet rather exacting requirements before she may hope to obtain a position. In addition to a High School course of study she must have had some experience or special preparation for her work.
The purchasing power of the salary paid the teacher is less than the same amount paid in wages to the workmen, because , her expenses for clothing, board and room are greater. The purchasing power of the same salary in different towns is not always the same. Teachers receiving an annual salary of $420 and paying $4 a week for board are getting the same money as teachers in Saugus with a salary of $500 and board at $6 a week. The fact that living expenses in Saugus are high as well as the additional fact that good boarding places for teachers are hard to find greatly increases the difficulty of obtaining efficient teachers. It has sometimes happened that teachers could find no suitable accommodations in town and were compelled to locate elsewhere. At present no less than ten teachers are living out of town.
The efficiency of the schools depends in no small degree upon the permanency of the teaching force. To obtain greater per- manency it is necessary to increase the salaries, provide comfort- able and home-like boarding places, and secure to the teachers happy conditions of work. The contented teacher is less easily disturbed by an offer of more salary. The dissatisfied teacher will change at the first opportunity, sometimes even at a financial sacrifice.
19
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
High School.
The High School has had a successful year. Its management is capable and efficient and its methods of discipline and instruc- tion are of a high order. The school continues to grow in size and usefulness. If there is a large increase in the enrollment next fall it will be necessary to employ an additional teacher.
The lunch counter arrangements might be made much more satisfactory, and the character of the lunches furnished greatly improved if some changes and additions could be made in the basement where lunches are furnished. For the convenience as well as the health of the pupils a small outlay for this purpose is urged.
Your attention is invited to the report of the High School Principal.
Mr. C. E. Stevens, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR,-I herewith submit to you my sixth annual report of the Saugus High School.
Enrollment . 145
Average membership for the year . 132.47
Percentage of attendance
934
Present membership
137
Once more we can say that the membership of the High School for the past year has been the highest in the history of the school. Again we have nothing unusual to report. The routine work outlined in the course of study has been carried forward in the usual way. There has been no change in the corps of teachers.
The cordial relations between pupils and teachers, and the hearty goodwill and enthusiasm which has been characteristic of our school for several years has been shown to even a greater degree this year and is a source of gratification to all.
In addition to our regular work our declamations, the observa- tion of Memorial Day, and of the birthdays of Lincoln, Long- fellow and Whittier, the editing of the school paper, the work of the school orchestra, and of a monthly debating society have all been sources of pleasure and of profit to our scholars.
20
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
Most of our studies are designed to improve the mind; few to train the heart, the esthetic side, to inculcate a love for the beautiful in art and in nature which adds so much to the happiness and usefulness of one's life.
Believing in the silent influence of surroundings we have tried to make our school not a gloomy prison for drudgery but a workshop, bright, clean, and attractive in its environment. We have tried to beautify our grounds, keep them neat and clean, and to decorate the walls of our school-rooms.
Last spring with the assistance of the School Committee we seeded and rolled the east side of our grounds which were nearly bare, set out some trees, nearly two hundred shrubs, and planted flower seeds and bulbs. The result was better than we expected the first season. In the fall we planted about 1,300 bulbs, and more recently from the proceeds of our art exhibit we have purchased the following pictures :
Bastien-Lepage's Joan of Arc.
Barth's Choosing the Caskets.
Wagner's Chariot Race.
Adam's End of Day.
Alma-Tadema's A Reading from Homer.
Hobbema's Avenue of Trees.
In this connection should be mentioned the beautiful gift of a bust of Lincoln presented to the school by the class of 1907.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
Financial Report.
Amount of money on hand Jan. 1, 1907 $24 60
Received from public exhibition .
31 75
Received from art exhibit 62 27
Received from sale of recitation pro-
grams
5 85
Total .
$124 47
Paid for printing programs
$5 75
Paid for elocution teacher 25 00
Paid for seeds, bulbs, etc.
.
I 20
Paid for recitation programs .
6 00
Paid for drawing paper, special size
1 00
Paid for pictures
62 27
IOI 22
Amount on hand Jan. 1, 1908
$23 25
Respectfully submitted,
LELAND A. ROSS.
Music.
Mr. C. E. Stevens, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR,-The general work of music in the various grades has remained the same during the past year, but a gain may be said to have been made along certain lines.
The study of music forms a prominent feature in the regular work of the school. Almost universally singing is included in the daily opening exercises. In some schools each day begins and ends with singing-a most commendable practice.
The subject of correct tone produced is important. I am convinced that too much care cannot be taken during the early years of school life.
Teachers, having classes of forty-five children cannot obtain results as satisfactory as the private teacher secures from one
22
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
pupil. I suggest more careful attention be given to the forma- tion of a pure, sweet quality of tone and the utter banishment of all harsh or forced tones. If a teacher is able to get her pupils to give her a sweet musical quality of tone in the daily music lesson its softening, refining influence is felt throughout the day.
The effort to bring the work in music more closely into line with the other branches taught and to make it a substantial study has led to increasing emphasis being put upon individual reading and singing.
The result so far has been gratifying and it is my hope that, at the end of the Grammar school course, our pupils shall be so equipped musically that they can appreciate and enjoy good music, sing at sight any simple melody or a second or a third part in a chorus.
I believe that nothing aids so much the ability to do anything as enthusiasm. I have noticed a marked difference between the class in which the teacher was enthusiastic and inspired her pupils with the idea that they were capable of doing good work, and the class in which the teacher did not enjoy the subject.
It is not necessary that the teacher be able to sing well herself, so long as her attitude toward the subject be one to inspire con- fidence on the part of the pupils.
In closing, I wish to thank all who have aided me by kind work and co-operation.
Respectfully,
HELEN M. PAGE.
Drawing.
Mr. E. C. Stevens, Superintendent of Schools :
DEAR SIR, - After five years of conscientious work to develop a course of study adapted to the conditions in Saugus, we begin to see the kind of results that repay us for our efforts. The subjects are practically the same as those studied last year but our manner of presenting the subjects has improved I believe.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
The teachers are a most interested and active body, always eager to advance. This has been true in the past and is so in relation to the industrial work we are attempting this year.
The movement for industrial education is one over which much study is being exerted. Experiments from which inter- esting results are yielded, help us to find our way toward suc- cess. Special equipment makes industrial education a burden and prevents many towns and cities from supporting such a movement. We are in this class. We cannot seem to afford special equipment but feel we need some form of manual training.
In the early fall I started an experimental course in manual training, closely associated with our course in drawing. In the spring term we hope to hold an exhibition to show all who care to know what we can do in the line of manual arts, without special equipment. The support that we ask is the interest of the people of Saugus in what we are trying to do. The applied mathematics, if I may coin such a term, making the best possi- ble use of materials and conditions, planning without waste, economy and co-operative spirit, are all parts of the general education of our children we cannot afford to overlook.
As a supplement to my report I wish to call your attention to the list of works of art acquired by our schools during the past five years. (See appendix. )
Respectfully submmitted,
C. EDWARD NEWELL.
Industrial Education.
Interest in all forms of manual training is wide-spread and increasing. Sloyd and sewing have an established place, cook- ing is on the increase, school gardening is no longer an experi- ment and trade schools are pushing for recognition. Industrial education is not only a school question but also a social and a commercial problem. The welfare of the society and the development of business enterprises are involved. There is need of careful study and wise leadership.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
Last year by legislative enactment a Commission on Industrial Education was appointed by the governor "charged with the duty of extending the investigation of methods of industrial training and of local needs, and aiding in the introduction of industrial education in independent schools." The law which provides for the appointment of this commission offers state aid to any city or town, or a union of two or more cities and towns, establishing an independent industrial school approved by the commission. There is little in this offer to interest a town situated as Saugus is. Why not amend the law so that state aid may be available to any town establishing in its present high school a department of industrial education approved by the state authorities. A change of this character seems to be necessary if the cities and towns too small to establish two high schools are to have aid from the state in solving the problem of industrial education.
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