USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1911 > Part 9
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Patriot's Day, April 19.
Memorial Day, May 30.
Bunker Hill Day, June 17.
Thanksgiving recess, from noon of the day before until the Monday following Thanksgiving Day.
Christmas Day.
Every ninth week following the opening of the schools after Christmas week.
No School Signal.
If the signal, "2-2" is sounded on the fire-alarm at 7.20 A. M., the High School will open at 8.30 A. M., and the other schools at 9 A. M. If the signal is repeated at 7.50 A. M., no schools will be open for the forenoon. If "2-2" is sounded at 12.50 P. M., no schools will open in the afternoon.
147
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
Report of School Committee.
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott :
While your School Committee feels that the year just past has been one of advance in all departments of school work, it has labored under extraordinary disadvantage through the limited amount of room that has been at its disposal. For the two years preceding the opening of the schools last September the Committee had been aware of the coming situation, and a year ago urged upon the Town the necessity of providing a suitable school building to relieve all present congestion, enable abandon- ment of the old Redington and Beach school buildings and pro- vide for at least a few years of the future.
The question was placed before the Town at the regular Town Meeting last March. A committee was appointed and it has already reported upon the advisability of building a sixteen- room building on a lot on Redington street. At present the matter is in the hands of the Ways and Means Committee which will report at the regular Town Meeting of the present March.
The urgency of the situation can best be described by calling attention to the congestion that exists in all the school buildings of the Town. The old Redington street building, the date of the erection of which the oldest inhabitant remembereth not, is providing quarters for seven classes, though it was originally intended for only four. It is a gloomy, poorly lighted building of ancient construction and entirely unadapted to the needs of the present. Whatever may be said of it, the building has long since passed its era of usefulness and continuance of its use can reflect no credit upon the Town.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 3 1
The old Beach school is another example of decay. The building has no cellar underneath it, is improperly constructed for school purposes and is a relic of the last century. For a great many years only the upper of the two rooms the building contains was deemed suitable for use. Owing to the crowded conditions of last year and the probability that a new school building would be erected this year, the Board of Health per- mitted the School Department to improve the sanitary conditions and temporarily occupy the lower room. Several hundred dollars were expended to make this building as near fit for occu- pancy as its age and construction would allow.
The Machon or Essex street school is entirely occupied this year and the Clark school is filled. The Palmer or Farms school is well taking care of the needs of its district. The Phillips school building has been gradually filling until now it is used exclusively for High school purposes.
The school committee believes that a sixteen-room building on Redington street would best serve the interests of the Town. It has arrived at this conclusion only after a great deal of thought and study. The site recommended is situated in the center of a district where population is showing the greatest increase. Within a radius of half a mile is practically the entire school population. With the exception of a very small number, not over two per cent. a sixteen-room building here would be filled with pupils from within this circle.
Wherever you find advancement in school affairs you will find that effort is being put forth toward concentration. The bigger the school building the better and more economical can its affairs be administrated. It costs less to build one sixteen-room building than two eight-room buildings. The expense of administration in the case of the former would be a great deal less. Only one principal and one janitor would be required while the facility with which the affairs of sixteen classes can be administered would unquestionably improve in some degree the educational results to be obtained.
The population of not every town is so distributed as to allow of the erection of a sixteen-room building. In this respect
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
Swampscott is fortunate and to the students of school problems in the greater cities of our country the situation would offer no cause for hesitancy. The very fact that we have a populous ares from which a sixteen-room building can be filled within a radius of half a mile would be an all-sufficient argument in favor of the erection of such a structure.
Recently the school-house commission of the District of Columbia, after having investigated conditions in all parts of the United States, made a report of which the following is an extract :
"The eight-room building, however, has grave disadvantages, being less economical of administration both as to upkeep and administration. Possibly its most serious disadvantage develops as the result of the organization of the educational system into eight grades of school work below the High School. The eight- room building, therefore, allows but one room for each grade and if a school has a class of fifty pupils in the first primary grades it will seldom have over sixty per cent as many in the eighth grade, the result being that either some rooms are only half filled or others are so crowded that it becomes necessary that the first two grades, and may be also the third, must be put on half-time, largely increasing the work of the teachers in the primary grades although as a rule these teachers receive less pay. The commission believes that no more eight- room buildings should be constructed except buildings of the extensible type -that is an eight-room building should be built that would be capable of being extended with the growth of the section at least to twelve rooms and possibly, where the section is building up rapidly, to sixteen. It would appear that the sixteen-room building is a good type for the finished school building."
With the probability that the time is not far distant when manual training will be introduced into the grades and domestic science for girls in the upper grades and high school the immense advantages of having large school centers must be readily seen. In fact it seems to us that the only possible reasonable argument in favor of two eight-room buildings is the simple one of widely
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
distributed population a condition that does not enter into the present situation here.
The opening of a sixteen-room building on Redington street would immediately relieve the congestion at the Clarke School and leave that building free to take care of only the district which it was intended to serve. If a sixteen-room building were to be started this spring thirteen of its rooms would be filled at completion and as statistics of the past year show that a child is born every three days in Swampscott and families with children are constantly moving into the Town it is obvious that the other rooms would not be long in filling.
It is not at all improbable that in September of the present year the Committee will be obliged to look to the Pine street building, Odd Fellows hall or some church vestry for additional quarters, perhaps all of them. The pupils have got to be housed and the School Committee has ample authority to provide quarters.
A sixteen-room building can very properly contain an assem- bly hall which would be of great advantage in promoting the work of the school system. Here the classes may be assembled for general work, such as singing and drawing, and for purposes of entertainment. Its general use would increase the interest the pupil takes in his or her school work and stimulate the boy or girl to continue through the entire eight grades. An assembly hall has many advantages and they should not be over- looked by those who have a tendency to discourage the move- ment for a sixteen-room building.
With the opening of a sixteen-room building on Redington street many pupils now sent to the Farms school from the Orient street district would come up to the new building and leave the Farms school for the people of the district in which it is located.
The cost of heating a sixteen-room building would be reduced to the minimum as the size of the building would enable the establishment of a heating plant which would save a great deal of money in both coal and labor. The old wooden buildings now in use afford an excellent example of the cost of heating. The average annual expense for fuel for each room is $73.50,
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
while Lynn, with its more modern buildings, pays out only $46 per room for its eight-room buildings and $29.35 for its eighteen and twenty-two room buildings.
When the schools opened for the year in September the Com- mittee was obliged to add three teachers to the staff, one at the Clarke to give the principal more time to attend to supervision, one at the Redington and another at the High school. In order to meet the expense of this increase in the teachers' force the physical condition of the school system had to be somewhat neglected in order that the Committee should be enabled to keep within its appropriation.
During the summer the Beach school was somewhat remodel- led, a retaining wall was constructed at the Machon school, an iron fence was placed along the retaining wall of the Farms school and a wire fence in the rear and better facilities for a Commercial Department were established at the High School. This was done by removing the partition between a coat room and a class room and erecting a new partition composed largely of glass windows. This partition was set a few feet over the line of a former class room and gave the school ample room for a type-writing department and at the same time left a class room of sufficient size for commercial purposes. Modern commercial desks were placed in the room and all the appurtenances neces- sary for the proper conduct of this department.
The grade teachers have petitioned the Committee for an advance in salary and have presented facts and figures to show that their living expenses have greatly increased in the past few years. They are now receiving a maximum of $100 less a year than the grade teachers of Lynn and are working under practically the same conditions. It has been fourteen years since their sal- aries have been advanced. Although it is not a particularly auspicious time to raise salaries we feel it to be our duty to do so and shall recommend a sufficient increase in the appropriation to give them an advance of at least $50 a year of the $100 which they ask.
During the past fall the Committee inaugurated a more syste- matic medical supervision of the schools and it is now in operation
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
with every prospect of being very suceessful. The schools were divided into four districts. The High and Palmer schools were given to Dr. Bicknell, the Redington to Dr. Glidden, the Beach and Machon to Dr. Lowd and the Clarke to Dr. Grimes. The regulations under which they work are as follows :
Inspectors are required to visit the schools to which they are assigned once each school week, on a fixed day, during the fore- noon session.
They are to examine each child that has been isolated by the teachers as a possible source of contagion, and all those absent from school for a few days for no known reason, and exclude from school attendance any child affected with, or showing symptoms of, an infectious or contagious disease.
The following affections should be excluded from the schools, without any delay, and the patients sent to their homes : viz .. measles, diphtheria, scarlet-fever, whooping-cough, mumps, chicken-pox, and any acute catarrhal affections of the eyes, nose or throat.
Each pupil who is excluded from school is to be furnished with a card, on which is noted the name, age and address of the pupil, the grade, number and situation of the school, and the reason for exclusion. The principal will keep a duplicate record.
Children afflicted with pediculosis, contagious eye or skin diseases, may be allowed to return to their classes temporarily. At the Inspector's discretion they may be excluded until they bring a certificate that they are under treatment, in which case the child will be allowed to return to the class.
In cases of repeated refusals to go under treatment they should be reported to the office of the Board of Health, with all the facts of the case.
A weekly report, including the number examined, the number excluded, and the name address, age and reason, shall be made in duplicate by each Inspector, and forwarded every Thursday to the Board of Health and Superintendent of Schools.
At the beginning of each school year in September, the Inspectors shall make an examination of each child in his dis- trict for the purpose of ascertaining if any troubles exist which
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
should be reported to the parents for medical treatment. At this time the Inspectors shall also make the examinations for eye defects, as required by the school laws.
Children excluded from the schools on account of contagious or infectious diseases must not be allowed to resume attendance until they have received a written certificate from their medical attendant, or from the district Medical Inspector. that their homes are free from contagious diseases, and that the children are ready to return to school.
Vaccination certificates may be given by the district Medical Inspector.
If, by reason of illness or other cause, an Inspector is unable to attend to his duties. he must so report to the Board of Health, and name his substitute.
During the summer Mr. William J. Pelo. who had served as superintendent of the schools for four years resigned to take the editorship of the Silver, Burdett Company publishing house of Boston. Mr. Pelo's work in the schools had been of a most beneficial chatacter and his resignation was received with the utmost regret. He left the schools in admirable condition for his successor Mr Thomas B. Ford of Cambridge and Harvard University who was selected from among a large number of applicants as the best qualified to pursue the duties so admirably discharged by Mr. Pelo.
It must be obvious to the most casual observer of school events that the committee is to be pressed hard for adequate room the coming fall. Instruction must be furnished to the pupils who enter our schools. The committee hopes that the townspeople will cooperate with it in facilitating the school work and allow no trifling obstacles to stand in the way of gaining the desired ends as quickly as possible.
The School Committee urges a more frequent visitation of the schools in order that citizens may become conversant of the work that is being done to advance the educational interests of the children.
S. PERRY CONGDON, Chairman. ARTHUR W. STUBBS. J. HENRY WELCH.
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Members of the School Committee:
At the end of the fiscal year, January 31, 1911, the books of the School Department showed expenditures of $34,748.32 for the year with an unexpended balance of $3,547.30 to carry the department to the March Town Meeting. Following is a state- ment of the receipts and expenditures for the year :
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand January 31, 1910 .
$3,144 34
Overdraft on March 15, 1910
·
6 28
March appropriation ·
.
35,000 00
Received for tuition
·
145 00
Total receipts
$38,295 62
EXPENDITURES.
Salaries
$26,308 95
Supplies
1,588 34
Books
1,600 48
Light and power
I30 48
Miscellaneous items
391 44
Repairs and cleaning
1,219 91
Furniture and furnishings
700 40
Fuel
2,205 31
Printing
95 25
Water
.
284 63
Freight and express
223 13
34,748 32
Balance on hand January 31, 1911,
$3,547 30
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
19[1]
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott :
I have the honor to submit herewith for your consideration my first annual report.
My term of office has been too short to affect greatly the con- dition of your schools. Your former Superintendent, Mr. William J. Pelo, thoroughly knows educational theories and this school system. Even the present condition of our schools is due largely to his efficient service. In fact the fall term was under his supervision during the first two weeks after which time he resigned to accept a position with Silver, Burdett & Company. A new man must make changes and introduce reforms gradually when a system of schools has been well supervised. For this reason I have considered it unwise to formulate many new policies of far reaching results. I shall not, however, play the part of a moral coward by dodging new issues that may arise but I shall settle them in my own way. Our music supervisor, Mr. Eben Richardson, began his work last fall by filling the vacancy caused by the resignation of Miss Proctor. Other changes in our teaching force are recorded in the reports of the Principals. It is difficult to maintain a high standard of work in any school while many changes are constantly occuring. This defect is largely overcome by the teacher's hearty cooperation and by the strength of the teaching force.
The Teachers.
In estimating the educational progress of any school, one must consider the ability of the teachers the most vital factor. All other conditions are much inferior to this very important ques- tion. Buildings and equipments alone will not make a good
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
school yet they add much to the successful teacher. But unless the teacher is able and willing to do good work the school must remain poor regardless of its environments. The good teacher can accomplish valuable results when working under great disad- vantages but her value increases in proportion to the improved condition for good work. Not only does the teacher need equipment and pleasant quarters but she needs scholarship vastly more than all this. She should have a knowledge of the subject she is to teach far beyond the scope and thoroughness of her pupil. The teacher must know how to use her knowledge wisely and effectively in teaching minds rather than subjects. The efficient teacher extends her horizon beyond her classroom. beyond her subject, and beyond the daily routine of school-room work. Fortunately the schools are provided with efficient teachers but they are not supplied with pleasant sanitary rooms. The object in securing the good teacher and in providing modern buildings and equipment is to fit the child for complete living.
It has been previously noted that the best work cannot be done in poor and cramped buildings. In another part of this report our attendance is shown to have increased sixty-six over last year. The school was too large then for the number of teachers employed and especially for size and convenience of some of our buildings. Our largest enrollment for the fall term was twelve hundred and ten. The increase is greatest in the Redington. Clarke and Machon schools. Increased room is absolutely necessary in the Redington school and the boundary lines should be changed between the Machon, Clarke and Redington schools. giving more students to the Redington ward. This would re- quire a new building. At the present rate of increase there will be one hundred and thirty two more pupils in the Redington school by January 1912 than there was enrolled in this ward, January 1910. Enough students should be drawn from the Clarke school to make the number two hundred. It should be apparent to any thinking citizen that the schools cannot continue to do good work without more room.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
Half Year Promotion Needed.
The scattered condition of the schools of Swampscott has made half year promotion impracticable, but if the Beach school can be placed in a new Redington building, this much desired change in promotions can be made. All educators agree that half year promotions are much better than the crude and more objectionable method of yearly promotions. Bright pupils are often permited to miss a grade. This requires the students to omit a large body of intervening work in the course of study. This violent readjustment is so great that pupils are often held back with slower classmates because they are not possibly able to " skip " a year's work but many of such pupils could safely be advanced a half a year. It is very apparent that such a system is best for the bright pupils because they can make their promotions oftener. Such conditions also add to their interest and ambition.
The slow students who are put back into the same grade at the close of the year's work are required to think the same old straw for another year. This destroys their interest in their work and they lose what little ambition they formerly had. To repeat a half year's work is not so wasteful. If a student loses a half year for sickness he is not required to repeat work that has been well done because he is not able to work a half year in advance of his present standing. It is also more convenient to readjust the classification of pupils of different mental ability by shortening the intervals of promotion. The slow pupils that must fall back can be placed in the next lower division without so much loss of time. No defence can be made for yearly promotion when conditions will make a shorter period possible.
An Effort to Improve Common Defects.
It shall be my purpose to mention briefly some defects in our school work, and to point out some ends to be attained in the future. In justice to our teachers it should be said that these faults are not peculiar to our schools alone.
The vocabulary of the average child is so limited that he is incapacitated for understanding and appreciating the subject
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TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Jan. 31
matter studied. This deficiency is due to the fact that too little attention is devoted to the study of words. The limited amount of classical literature afforded by this community is also largely responsible for this defect. It goes without saying that bad spelling is too prevalent, and that this defect incapacitates pupils for the great business affairs of life. This defect can be over- come by increasing the amount of good literature to be read, and by an intelligent and persistent study of words as individual items, and this work must be continued until students have a knowledge of the sources from which words come, and a knowledge of their original significance, the changes which they have undergone, and their present meanings. They should also understand the parts, prefixes and suffixes, and the extent to which they have changed in meaning. The teacher should so teach the best classical literature until the pupils have a knowl- edge of the finest shades of meaning given to words by those who use them as a means to embody beauty, express thought, stimulate emotion, defend opinions, reinforce convictions, and bless life. This reading will enable them to discern those deli- cate distinctions which give to words in certain relations their peculiar force. They will see that " They are apples of gold in pictures of · silver." While they must know the meaning of words and their uses, they need still more than all this can give them. They should have such a comprehension of thought as a unit as to enable them to perceive its message. This knowl- edge will enable them to see with dignity and propriety what they know, think, feel, believe, hope, strive for. The subtle meaning of words, their skilful arrangement, their attractive dic- tion, their quality of style, and their marvellous suggestion must appeal to them in some degree for them to drink deep or drink with refreshing from Pierian Springs.
We talk much and learnedly about instructions and inspiration, and many who talk and still more who listen have but vague or little ideas of the words themselves. If instructions always carried out the thought that some one is bringing to another something of value, then the word contain an idea for the person who expresses it, and carry a message to the one addressed. If
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
1911]
it were a part of our general knowledge that when we speak of inspiration we mean that we are breathing into some one some thing that means life and a blessing, then it would serve a pur- pose which is so seldom accomplished. Teachers have inspired pupils to the extent of breathing into them that breath of life which has made it possible for them to become living souls, and they have been able to do this because of the quality of their personality and the character of their culture.
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