USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1904 > Part 5
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1,100
Soldiers' Relief .
2,000
State Tax (estimated)
8,000
County Tax (estimated)
7,000
Interest (estimated)
8,500
Sewer Bonds
5,600
Interest Sewer Bonds
7,500
Coal.
The following bids were received in answer to an advertise- ment in the paper for coal :
People's Coal Co., broken, $6.40; egg, $6.65; stove, $6.65.
Sprague & Breed, all kinds, $7.00. Discount of 25 cents per ton for prompt payment.
Breed Coal Co., broken, $6.57; egg, $6.57; stove, $6.57.
B. O. Honors & Son, broken, $5.95; egg, $6.20.
Contract awarded B. O. Honors & Son.
Recommendation.
Owing to the increased duties of the Clerk of the Selectmen, we recommend that an additional $100 be added to the salary.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH M. BASSETT, CLARENCE B. DELANO, MARTIN L. QUINN, Selectmen of Swampscott.
78
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
Report of the School Committee.
To the Citizens of Swampscott :
The past year has been one of advancement and improvement in our schools, and the credit belongs to the faithful, unselfish efforts of our teachers, who have labored in season and out of season under the supervision of the Superintendent to give our children an education that will be a credit to them and also to the town. Success here depends in a measure upon the hearty co-operation of the parents, and the committee urge upon the latter the advisability of visiting the schools from time to time, and thus becoming acquainted, at first hand, with the work of the teacher and pupil.
While the committee, from lack of experience, have been unable to meet all the problems that have presented themselves like veterans, they have been actuated in all their work by a deep sense of the responsibility connected with the office and by a sincere desire for the welfare of the pupils and teachers.
We believe it would be wise on the part of those interested to make considerable effort to retain in office, as long as possible, men who are devoted to the interests of the schools, since the value of their service increases with the ability to understand their needs, and to acquire that ability time is necessary. The committee have been aided in their work by suggestions and advice from parents, and the conviction grows that the meetings of the officers and parents, which have proved of such benefit to both this year, will be productive of even greater benefit in the future, as thus their mutual desires can become known and misunderstandings removed.
79
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
Repairs and Improvements. Phillips School.
Repairs have been continued on the roof and tower by Mr. Quinn, to prevent rain from beating through. It is hoped these will prove effective. The boiler tubes were found to be in need of renewal, the hard water of previous years contributing largely to shorten their usefulness. It was hoped they would last until the next summer vacation, but the severe weather of the past winter and the consequent higher pressure caused them to give way and made it necessary to replace them with new ones. With the soft water now in use these should last a much longer time than the others.
Complaint was made by residents in the vicinity that the cess- pool was leaking to such an extent as to constitute a nuisance. After a conference with the Board of Health and those interested, the matter was temporarily adjusted by having constructed a bank with 100 loads of clay. This will probably be sufficient until connection can be made with the sewer.
Platforms have been erected in some of the school rooms to enable the pupils to reach the blackboards and storm porches built for the rear doors.
Essex Street School.
An unsatisfactory condition of things exists here with regard to the heating and ventilating apparatus. In theory there should be no trouble, but in practice there is nothing but trouble. Experiments have been made, some at the suggestion of those who installed the system, looking to the improvement of condi- tions, but thus far without satisfactory results. A change in system would involve considerable expense, and we are hardly ready yet to recommend it. Further experiments may cause the unexpected to happen. The draught in the old chimney was found inadequate for the new furnace and the aperture was enlarged last summer. Little improvement was effected and the only solution seems to be a new chimney nearer the furnace, which will be built during the vacation just at hand.
80
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
It was found that in a driving storm rain beat in under the ventilator caps, threatening the ceilings in the school rooms. below. This was remedied by Mr. DeLory, without expense to the Town, by lowering the caps.
An additional outside closet was urgently demanded and was built.
Pine Street, Redington Street and Beach Schools.
These buildings have needed and received only the usual minor repairs.
The care of two school-houses, so widely separated as those on Pine and Redington streets, was found to be more than one man could properly attend to, and Mr. J. E. Homan has been appointed janitor at Pine street, while Mr. Stone remains at Red- ington street. The salary given to one has been proportionately divided.
Farms School.
A vault has been found necessary on account of leakage on other premises and has been built.
-
The committee believed the proper care of the school-house to be more than a woman of Mrs. Casey's age could guarantee and Arthur McNamara was chosen to fill her place. The results have justified the wisdom of the change.
Salaries.
The salary of the Superintendent has been raised $200 a year because of increased duties and responsibilities as Superintendent.
The salary of teachers in the Primary grade has been raised to $600 a year, to correspond with that of teachers in the same grade elsewhere; otherwise our best teachers are likely to be drawn away to other places. Then, too, a cause for dissatisfac- tion has been removed since the ambition for " promotion" to grammar grades will thus be largely eliminated and a teacher retained where contentment cannot fail to increase her value.
The salary of the janitor at the Phillips school has been increased $60 a year, in return for which he undertakes to care for the ashes, etc., which has formerly been paid for out of the - appropriation.
81
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. -
1904]
Sanitary Inspection.
We have authorized an inspection of the schools by a practis- ing physician of Swampscott whenever it is found necessary and suggest to the parents that an intelligent co-operation in this matter will do much to remove any unpleasantness that may arise. The utmost care will fail sometimes to prevent infection, and hence any undue sensitiveness in the matter will tend to diminish rather than increase the benefits to be secured by the inspection.
For more detailed information relative to the schools, we refer you to the report of the Superintendent, which follows.
CHAS. A. FLAGG, SIDNEY E. BAILEY, D. E. BURTNER.
. 82
TOWN -DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott :-
GENTLEMEN,-Herewith is submitted my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
This last year has seen several changes in the arrangement of the schools, caused by the increase in the number of pupils. The growth of the high school made more room necessary for the proper carrying on of its work. Therefore the room occupied by Miss Fernald was taken for that purpose and assigned to the teacher of " commercial branches," and seated for pupils of the second year class. Miss Fernald took Miss Gould's room and Miss Gould was transferred with her fifth grade to Redington street, where she is serving as principal. The fifth grade that was at Redington street was changed to Essex street, where Miss Verry is in charge, acting as principal of the building. By these changes all the rooms available for school use have been filled and any more room must be provided by a new building.
As the schools are arranged now, all the grades above the fifth are in the Phillips building, the fourth and fifth having been re- moved from it in the last four years; two buildings have four teachers and one has two teachers, and two have one each. The school rooms where two grades or more are given to a teacher, are Miss Prescott's at Redington street, with grades second and third, the Beach School, where Miss Doyle has the three primary grades, and the Farms School, where Miss Stanley has the three primary grades.
83
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
Changes in the teaching force have resulted from resignations of three of the teachers. Miss Berry of the High School was drawn away by an offer of a better position and is now in charge of the business department in the Chelsea high school. We were very sorry to lose her for she had filled a large place in the school, among pupils and teachers alike. Miss Marion H. Nick- erson of Quincy, a graduate of Boston University with some ex- perience in teaching has been chosen to the position and is making her own place in the school. Miss Graydon from the fourth grade resigned because of the offer of a more desirable position as wife, and Miss Farnum was appointed to the vacant place. Miss L. Ardell Kimball of Ipswich, a teacher of several years' experience and fresh from a year's special study at the Salem Normal School, took Miss Farnum's vacant first grade at Red- ington street and has won universal approval. Matrimonial reasons made a vacancy also at the Beach School, where Miss Mary A. Phillips had taught so faithfully the last three years. Miss Blanche H. Doyle, a resident of this town and a teacher of experience, last year in Connecticut, was elected to the vacancy and has proved herself a valuable addition to our corps of teach- ers. The superintendent feels that the town should consider itself very fortunate in securing such additions to its teaching force.
Since this report was written, Miss Charlotte Bain has re- signed her position as principal of the Pine Street School, to be married. Her loss is much to be regretted, for her seven and a half years of service have been efficient and appreciated by all. It was very fortunate that her place could be filled at this season, as it is difficult to secure a good teacher who is free to take a school in the middle of the year. Miss Annie O. S. Clemons of Andover, who has been teaching in private families in Swamp- scott for some time past and substituting in this town and Lynn, has been appointed to the place. Miss Clemons comes to us after several years of successful experience and strongly endorsed by the school officials where she has taught.
While speaking of teachers it is well to note that teachers are more important than books or studies. Emerson well said, " I do not care so much what you study as with whom
84
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
you study." The selection of teachers is the most important part of any school officer's duties, for what the teacher is, in man- ners, habits and character, teaches more, and with more effect, than anything she may set as a task for her pupils to learn. The less a real teacher is cramped by rules and restrictions of courses of study and notions of proper methods imposed from above, the better work she can do. But not all can properly use such freedom and demand " thus far and no farther."
Much time has been lost this winter because of the lack of proper accommodations in cold days, especially at Redington, Pine and Essex streets. In the Essex street building there has been constant trouble and complaint from the time the enlarged building was opened. The heating and ventilating apparatus has caused much annoyance as well as many colds and headaches, if not worse. Some radical remedy is absolutely needed, though I am not prepared to say just what that remedy should be. The teachers' supply closets and the platform at the blackboards are much appreciated improvements at Essex street of this year, the latter being an imperative necessity to enable the children to use the boards.
The improved janitor service at the Farms School has removed a long-standing cause of complaint.
High School.
Special attention is called to the high school and the results from its growth. On looking at the page of enrollment, follow- ing this report, it will be seen that the school has grown from sixty-nine in five years to one hundred and two, but that the en- tering class has remained at about the same average, thirty-five. The increase has come therefore from the fact that the pupils have stayed in school longer and this seems an endorsement of the work of the teachers and management. The addition of so- called commercial studies has helped to hold some pupils and the social side, emphasized by larger numbers, has attracted others.
While this increase is gratifying, it has had an effect not so wel- come. Formerly those pupils remained in the school to the end who cared for study and did some hard work. This made the
-
85
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
percentage of college students among our graduates really high, higher than at present, apparently. There remains therefore in the school, entitled to all it can afford, a number who do not care for study and who will not do hard work. This has worked an injury to the really ambitious and has been a draw-back to a high standard of accomplishment. How that injury can be made as small as possible, is at present the most serious problem before the teachers, who see no real solution as things are now. An in- crease in the number of teachers, enough to allow a separation of the two kinds of pupils seems to be the first suggestion. Whether the benefit warrants the expense, is a question for the committee and citizens to consider.
This condition and the increasing demands of the colleges on entering students make it advisable for us to do what other schools are doing-i. e., recommend that ordinary pupils take five years to do good preparatory work while brightest pupils may do it in four. Pres. Eliot of Harvard said he did not expect pupils to be well prepared in four years and advocated beginning some of the work in the upper grammar grades. We have this year begun Latin in the eighth grade and feel well satisfied with the results so far, the class being under the care of the regular high school Latin teacher, Miss Rideout. This may help the difficulty for some, but still it is hard work for any pupil to prepare for col- lege in four years. The Boston high schools take longer.
The other need of the school is better considered later in con- nection with the needs of the grammar schools for next year.
Much is often said as to the small percentage of the grammar school pupils who graduate from the high school. By looking again at the enrollment figures it will be seen that of the forty- five pupils in the eighth grade in 1898, twenty-two per cent. grad- uated in 1903, of the forty-four in 1890 in the eighth grade, thirty- one per cent. are expected to graduate next June. Such figures are well worth remembering.
Twice this winter, attempts have been made to bring the teach- ers and the parents together, for considering their mutual needs and gaining mutual acquaintance. While less than half of the parents responded, it was an effort worth making and has been
86
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
helpful in its results. It would be a most effective means of help- ing our schools, if the parents and teachers could meet regularly during the year and consider the questions of mutual concern. Such association has been tried successfully in other towns.
A New Building Needed.
In looking forward to next fall, there appears a call for another room for the grammar school, probably in the eighth grade. There is no place for it now and a new building must be built soon, and the sooner the better. Various plans are proposed of varying merit. The best plan in my mind is to put up a new building for the high school and leave the Phillips School building for grammar school pupils, thus separating the two schools. This would be a gain for both schools, as it is not best to have both high and grammar schools in the same building, their different characters and the different ages of their pupils requiring different kinds of treatment. The Phillips building is better adapted to grammar school use than to high school use, and is too large to devote wholly to the high school for many years to come.
In employing the new teacher, a man should be secured and made principal of the school, that there may always be a man in charge when the superintendent's duties call him away. Should this plan not be adopted, some other plan should be promptly made and put into operation. Delay will not better the situa- tion.
Co-operation of Public Library.
Again I would call attention to the need of closer relation be- tween school and library, the two educational plants of the town. A new catalogueing of the library is needed to make it a good reference library, and a plan whereby the schools can take out several books on some subject of study is much needed. Such co-operation is working well in other towns and cities, and apparently would here. While our library cannot rank in size with that of Lynn, it ought to rank with it in effectiveness and
87
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
helpfulness to the school children. A solution of the problem of new quarters for the library might be found by planning a building to include high school and pubic library under one roof.
Much is said at the present time about the need of interesting the pupil in his work. This idea has been carried much too far in some directions. It rightly holds a large place in the early, primary years of a child's life, but rapidly takes a smaller place in grammar and high school work. When a boy has reached an age when he can think and see for himself that he goes to school, or rather the purpose of his school-going should be, to gain a greater power of mind and a wider knowledge of truth, there should be less call for the teacher to " interest" him or to ex- plain everything to him. When he enters what is called his " life work " his employer does not spend much time trying to make his work " interesting " or in giving very many explana- tions. He wants a boy or a man with enough manhood in him to tackle a hard problem and stick to it until conquered. There is a sad lack of that courage in most of our pupils, many of whom are perfectly willing to " ask teacher " rather than spend a few more minutes in doing what is for their own welfare. Most of us have many tasks not at all "interesting," and we all need to learn as early as possible to be self-reliant.
It is well to notice in passing that pleasure is not the purpose of school life, except in a very slight degree. Happiness should be the accompaniment and the outcome of every boy's school life, and happiness is far greater and better than mere amusement and pleasure. A happy life, controlled by a strong will and guided by an appreciation of what is real interest, may have little pleasure, so called, but must be a most useful life.
Just such work I feel that your teachers are trying to do, amid much that discourages and perplexes, amid much resistance and many difficulties, and they deserve the expressed thanks of the citizens for their patience and self sacrifice. Those who have actually tried to deal with a roomful of "other people's chil- dren" realize that the task is no sinecure. I wish to say at least
8
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
so much in appreciation of the labors of our teachers who have so long given of their best for the progress of their pupils, and to thank them for their cordial support in my work among them.
The Women's Relief Corps has given to every school a silk flag for the adornment of the room and the stimulation of the growing sentiment of patriotism in the children. To the High School, with the flag, was given a framed copy of the origin and - history of the flag, the presentation being made by Mrs. Newhall of the corps. The thanks of the schools is here publicly given to the women for their interest and efforts in behalf of the schools.
Allow me here to thank your Board for their interest and labors and for the generous and cordial treatment of your super- intendent. My thanks are also due the citizens for their support and sympathy.
Very respectfully, HAROLD C. CHILDS.
February, 1904.
89
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
GRADUATION EXERCISES
OF THE
SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE
PHILLIPS SCHOOL HALL
Wednesday Evening, June 24th, 1903 AT 7.45 O'CLOCK.
Order of Exercises.
ORCHESTRA
Mildred R. Munsey, Pianist.
PRAYER
Rev. George A. Jackson.
SONG-" Joy, Joy, Freedom To-day," . Benedict School.
RECITATION-" Execution of Montrose," . Aytoun Ethel S. Griffin.
90
TOWN DOCUMENTS. [Feb. 20
SONG-" The Song of the Flower Spirit,"
Rossini
School.
DECLAMATION-" Under the Flag," Phillips
Jack W. Stanley.
SONG-" The Clang of the Forge," . Rodney School.
PRESENTATION OF THE| CLASS GIFT-" Giuliano de' Medici" Gertrude M. Childs.
SONG-"My Soul to God, My Heart to Thee," . Clapisson Ethel G. Proctor.
ADDRESS --
Rev. Charles F. Dole.
SONG-" The Morning Ramble,"
Veazie
School.
PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS By Chairman of School Committee CHARLES A. FLAGG.
ORCHESTRA
Frances Brown, Pianist.
AWARDING OF PHILLIPS MEDALS.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF HONORS By Secretary of School Committee SIDNEY E. BAILEY.
91
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
GRADUATES-1903.
Florence Irene Bulfinch,
Caroline Alice Chapman,
Gertrude Mace Childs, Ethel Sherman Griffin, Adelaide May Jones, Stella Maxfield,
Ethel Gertrude Proctor, Grace Lillian Rowell, Susan Ellen Stanley, Jack Wardwell Stanley.
POST GRADUATE.
Lessie Emilie Berry, Class of 1902.
92
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL.
Course of Study, 1904.
First Year Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
Per Week
English
4 hours
Algebra .
5 hours
English History 3 hours
Declamationst
I hour
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
Per week
Latin I 4 hours
French I. . 4 hours
Commercial Arithmetic .
Book-keeping I
4 hours
Elementary Physics.
Physical Geography.
4 hours
Drawing .
2 hours
Second Year Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
English .. 4 hours
Ancient History 4 hours
Declamationst I hour
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
Greek I* . 5 hours
Latin II .
4 hours
French II
4 hours
Botany.
4 hours
Book-keeping II 3 hours
Drawing .
2 hours
Geometry
4 hours
Junior Class ..
REQUIRED STUDIES.
English . 3 hours
Modern History 3 hours
Declamationst . I hour
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
Greek II* 4 hours
Latin I or III. . 4 hours
French I .
4 hours
German I
4 hours
Astronomy . 3 hours
Physics 4 hours
Short-hand I .
4 hours
Advanced Algebra
Plane Geometry 3 hours
Drawing . .
I hour
93
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1904]
Senior Class.
REQUIRED STUDIES.
Per week
English. .. 3 hours
Civil Government
3 hours
Political Economy 3 hours
Declamations+ I hour
*See Note 2. tSee Note 3.
ELECTIVE STUDIES.
Per week
Latin IV 4 hours
Greek III 4 hours
French II
4 hours
German II
4 hours
Chemistry 4 hours
Plane and Solid Geometry* 3 hours
Geology 3 hours
Typewriting# 3 hours
Short-hand II
3 hours
Drawing .
I hour ]
#With three hours of practice.
Notes.
I. Each regular pupil who is candidate for a diploma is required to take all the " required studies " and as many hours of " elective studies " as will make fifteen hours of prepared lessons per week for each year, making sixty hours in four years. Pupils able and wishing to take more than fifteen hours per week, may do so on approval of the teachers. Pupils who, for reasons of health, or for other reasons, wish to take less than fifteen hours of work per week, may distribute their work over more than four years, and receive their diplomas when sixty hours of work have been done. An average of " C," both in studies and deportment is required for a diploma. The choice of electives must have the approval of the teachers, and no class will be made in any study unless enough pupils elect it. Two years of some foreign language is required of each pupil.
2. For pupils preparing for college, such changes in the course of study as are necessary may be made to meet the requirements for admission to such institutions. Special students may take such studies as they are fitted for.
3. Music is required of all pupils, except those excused by Director of Music because of lack of ability. The work in declamations is prepared work, with regular class instruction weekly, and is required of all the boys and elective for the girls.
4. Pupils graduating from the school who were unable for any reason to take any desired study may return after graduation, and enter any classes they may wish, and receive recognition for such work done.
5. Class work and deportment are marked on the following scales : A=excellent ; B=good; C=fair; D=unsatisfactory ; E=poor.
94
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Feb. 20
Phillips Medals Given to Pupils of the High School, June, 1903.
For Superior Scholarship during the four years :
A Gold Medal, to Gertrude Mace Childs.
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