USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1875 > Part 4
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The schools throughout the town were, at the close of the summer term, with few exceptions, on the prescribed Course of Study. The grading was as thorough as it could be with the existing school ac- commodations. The year was a prosperous one so far as the schools were concerned. At its close the schools were for the most part in a better condition than at the end of the preceding year. While much was done in the way of advancement, much still remains to be done before our schools will be what they ought to be in all respects.
EXAMINATION FOR ADMISSION TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
The annual examination of candidates for admission to the High Schools was held at the Town House early in July. Seventy-five scholars from the Grammar Schools presented themselves, and out of that number forty-two obtained a rank of seventy per cent and up- wards, and were admitted. Of this number, nineteen were from the south part of the town, and the remainder from the north.
For the purpose of comparison with the class which was admitted to the High Schools four years ago, and which graduated in reduced numbers this year, we append a list of the questions which were made use of in July last ; also a table giving the scholar's number, rank in each study, and the average rank in all the studies ; also the average mark of all the (seventy-five) applicants, and that of the forty-two successful ones.
The Committee feel that this exhibit will compare favorably with that published in the School Report of 1872 (to which they refer the reader), and are willing to abide by this result as evidence that decided progress had been made in our schools during this period. The strict- ures then made by the Chairman of the Board concerning the neces-
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sity of fixing the point of qualifications low in order to secure a requi- site number of scholars for the two High Schools, although just for that date, will not apply at the present time. To the prove correct- ness of this assertion let us compare, for example, the marks in Arith- metic, which is considered to be the most important study. The lowest mark which was obtained in this study by any scholar admit- ted to the North High School in 1871 was 12. The lowest mark in Arithmetic received by any successful applicant to the North High School in 1875 was 34. The highest mark in this study then was 78 ; the highest mark last year was 90. The average mark in Arithmetic. four years ago was 56.5. The average mark in the same study (of scholars admitted to North High School) at the examination last July was 66.8, showing an increase of 10.3, or a gain of more than eighteen per cent. An examination of the published questions used then and now will show that the latter are more difficult than the former.
When we consider, moreover, that candidates this last year were examined in five studies, - History and Spelling being added, - instead of three, which only were required four years ago, the improvement in our schools will be still more manifest; but we do not claim that we have arrived at perfection yet. Instead of admitting scholars on an average mark of seventy per cent in all their studies, it would be desirable to have them so well prepared as to be able to get that mark in each study.
As has always been the case, so this year there were some disap- pointed candidates. After considerable discussion it was decided to take a new departure, and allow a second trial. This practice pre- vails in some towns and cities, and the example is also set by most of our colleges, which hold a second examination at the close of the long vacation. Accordingly, in the latter part of August, such scholars as desired to make a second attempt to rise above the Grammar school and such as did not present themselves at the first examination, met at the Torrey Street School-house, and a new set of questions, as dif- ficult as the first, was submitted to them. The result was not such as to encourage a repetition of the experiment. Six candidates who had tried before, by great leniency on the part of the Committee, were admitted on probation, and one (number 77), who did not apply the first time, got an average mark of 74 per cent. The average mark of the seven was seventy-one per cent. For a statement of the condition of the schools since the commencement of the present school year see Report of Mr. Gamwell.
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SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
Notwithstanding the action of the town in June in increasing the appropriation made in March for the payment of a Superin- tendent of Schools, yet the gentleman who had served the town so faithfully and so efficiently for a period of two years resigned his sit- uation here just at the commencement of the present school year, and accepted another at an advanced salary in a distant part of the State. The Committee would gladly have retained Mr. Lewis, but felt powerless to do so under the specific instructions of the town. They improve this opportunity to put on record their appreciation of his valuable services in raising the standard of our public schools, and their testimony concerning his uniformly quiet and scholarly bearing in the school-room, thus setting an example worthy of imitation by pupil and teacher.
The Committee considered themselves fortunate in securing the ser- vices of Mr. F. B. Gamwell, who was long and favorably known to them as a former teacher of one of our High Schools. In twenty-four hours' time he would probably have been beyond their reach, as he was about perfecting engagements elsewhere. In this event the Committee would have felt obliged to run the risk of employing a stranger, or else take charge of the schools themselves. Either horn of the dilemnia, in their judgment, would have been detrimental to the best interests of our schools. Mr. Gamwell entered upon his new work with a deter- mination to succeed, if industry, perseverance, and knowledge gained from experience among us could avail anything. Without forming a premature judgment, based on so short a trial, we feel justified in testifying to his active devotion to the duties of his office, and venture to predict, that under his direction the schools will not only receive no detriment from the change, but will continue to advance in the line already marked out by his predecessor. We trust the town will not allow its schools, now fairly established and in a prosperous condition, to lose ground through need of competent superintendence.
REPAIRS OF SCHOOL-HOUSES.
By special vote the town made the Selectmien "a Committee on . Public Buildings," and directed that " all school-houses be placed under their care." The intent of this vote, although not directly expressed, was interpreted by the School Committee to refer to a
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previous vote relating to repairs of school-houses. They have there- fore conformed to the inferred intentions of the town in this respect, and have surrendered to the Selectinen this duty which has hitherto devolved upon them, and which, in the absence of specific instructions from the town, legally belongs to them. Aside from the want of con- fidence in the School Board, which is manifestly implied in this vote, the Committee feel, in all due deference to the Selectmen, that they, the Fathers of the Town, cannot reasonably be expected to know so well about the needs of our school-houses in respect to repairs and im - provements as those officers whose duties require them to become familiar with the condition of the school property, and who, through the superintendent, teachers, and janitors, have better opportunities for actual knowledge in these respects. No little embarrassment has resulted to the members of this Board during the past year in consequence of this vote. They therefore respectfully suggest, that, as there are to be at least three members elected to this office at the approaching town meeting, due care be taken to select persons who will be amply qualified to perform all the duties pertaining to it.
CHILDREN OF SCHOOL AGE.
The law requiring the School Committee to " ascertain, or cause to be ascertained, the names and ages of all persons belonging to the town on the first day of May between the ages of five and fifteen years,". was duly complied with by delegating that duty to the assessors, who have hitherto performed it to the satisfaction of all concerned. We submit the following summary of their report : -
The whole number of persons between five and fifteen in Ward One is 248
The whole number of persons between five and fifteen in 563
Ward Two is
The whole number of persons between five and fifteen in 498
Ward Three is
The whole number of persons between five and fifteen in Ward Four is 297 The whole number of persons between five and fifteen in Ward Five is 330
Total . 1,936.
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ASSISTANT TEACHERS.
The law provides that in every public school having an average of fifty scholars there shall be employed " one or more female assistants, unless the town, at a meeting called for the purpose, votes to dispense with such assistant. " In accordance with this provision several assistant teachers have been employed in our schools during the last year ; but at the beginning of the present school year the Commercial Street Upper Grammar School, having become reduced in numbers below the limitation of the statutes, the assistant teacher was removed. No reflection, therefore, on her ability as a teacher is intended. The half-time assistant in the Torrey Street Grammar School having been recently promoted, a vacancy was created there which has not yet been filled, although the school is of sufficient size to be entitled to such assistance. The Pratt Grammar School, being regarded as particu- larly in need of the services of an assistant, on account of an unusual number of classes, has the benefit of such service during each after noon session. Likewise, the Adams School, being a large and mixed school, is allowed the aid of an assistant teacher. On account of the re- organization of the schools in Ward Three, the assistant in the Broad Street Grammar School is placed in full charge of a class like the other teachers. The Athens Grammar School has never had the ser- vices of an assistant teacher, although, on account of its size and the number of its classes, it has been as much entitled to such help as some of the schools which have been thus favored. On account of this inequality the Committee felt more inclined to dispense with assist- ants altogether, except in urgent cases ; but in view of the prospective influx of pupils at the beginning of the next school year, we believe that the services of half-time assistants in each of our large Grammar Schools may be required at that time.
SALARIES.
That the town recognizes the justice of adequate remuneration for services on the part of its female teachers is shown by the instructions given the Committee in the event of 'a superintendent not being employed. Although a superintendent was employed, this Board, believing that an inequality in the wages of some of these teachers had for some time existed, proceeded in August last to consider some of the petitions which had been received for relief, and to readjust, if necessary, the pay-roll. In Ward Four there were two mixed (Primary
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and Intermediate) schools whose teachers had always received the pay of teachers in the primary department. These schools, which, when first established, were rather small, had increased in size, and there seemed to be no just reason why their teachers should not receive the same pay as teachers. in other schools of precisely the same grade. The salary of these teachers was accordingly raised from thirty to thirty-four dollars per month, in order to correspond with that of other teachers in the intermediate department.
The Adams School is the only school in town which has pupils of all grades from primary to grammar. This school is also quite large, so as to require an assistant teacher. It was thought by the Com- mittee that the principal of this school was entitled to the pay of any other female teacher of the grammer grade. Her salary was therefore raised to that extent.
Several other changes in the pay-roll were made, which involved an expense of thirty-seven dollars per month. This increase of expense however, was more apparent than real, inasmuch as the services of one assistant teacher, amounting to thirty-four dollars a month, had been dispensed with, so that the extra expense to the treasury of the town was only three dollars per month.
TEACHERS' MONTHLY REPORTS.
The practice of the Committee in requiring monthly reports from the teachers of the condition of their respective schools, which had existed several years, has been dispensed with during the past year, the superintendent's verbal report to the Board taking its place. Teachers, however, continue to make monthly reports to parents of the standing of their children in school, their names and rank being placed upon cards prepared for the purpose. The Committee desire to call the attention of parents and guardians to these monthly reports, and respectfully request them to examine them carefully and sign them, thus testifying to the teachers that they are duly informed concerning the rank of their childeren in school. Nothing is more encouraging to a scholar, if he has done well, than to receive commen- dation from his parents, and if he has not done well it is equally important that the parents should know it.
WALL MAPS.
The subject of outline maps for the use of the schools having been brought to the attention of the Committee, and the need of them as
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aids to the study of Geography having been recommended by the Superintendent, it was voted early in the year to furnish a set of Mitchell's maps to such of the Intermediate and Grammar schools as were not already supplied with them. These maps have been placed in our schools, and it is the testimony of teachers and Superintendent that the use of them has been of decided benefit to the scholars.
DRAWING AND WRITING.
It is now six years since Drawing has been one of the required studies in the schools of this Commonwealth, yet for various reasons it has not been pursued to any considerable extent in the schools of Weymouth. Mr. Lewis, in his report of last year, gave some very good reasons why this study should be taught in our schools, and among others that as it trains the eye and hand it is an aid in penman- ship. The Committee are of opinion that writing has not received in all the schools the attention that its importance deserves, and the sub- ject is before them of having Drawing introduced, not only on its own merits, but as a stimulus to penmanship. It is thought that a short daily exercise alternately in one or the other of these studies may be attended with beneficial results. The objection which is sometimes raised, that as most of our teachers have never received any instruc- tion in this branch, on that account they are incompetent to teach it, is not an insuperable one. The instruction needed would be so elementary that with the copy-book before them the teachers must be poor scholars themselves if they could not master the science suffi- ciently to give their pupils all the assistance which would be required.
MUSIC.
Vocal music is a study the pursuit of which in our public schools is left, according to the laws of the State, to the discretion of the Com- mittee. In this town for several years past singing has received a share of attention in most of our schools. Many of our teachers are competent and love to train the voices of their pupils in song. Others who do not themselves sing are able to conduct this exercise quite satisfac- torily. Some also aim at instruction in the science of music by the aid of charts. That we approve of music as an exercise in our schools is shown by these resolutions, which were recently adopted by the Board : -
"That the School Committee will encourage instruction in music when given with the approbation of the Superintendent.
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" That not more than twenty minutes per day be given to such in- struction without special permission from the Superintendent.
" That when the study of music is pursued in any school all scholars may be required to join in the exercise unless they can show to the Superintendent that they are unfitted for the study."
TEXT-BOOKS.
It is well known to the Committee that the cost of school-books. is quite a heavy burden to many parents who desire to give their children a good education. Efforts have therefore been made to bring about a reduction in the prices at which they have been sold by dealers. A price list has been fixed upon by the Board, which, it is thought, will be accepted by the agents throughout the town. It will be found at the end of this Report. Text-books, however, might be- sold at cost, provided the town would authorize the Committee to pay their agents a commission for selling. It estimated that the expense to the town by this arrangement would not exceed $300.
REORGANIZATION OF SCHOOLS IN WARD THREE.
This principle of action is recognized by the Committee, that if any part of the town, from any combination of circumstances is so situated that it can have better school advantages than other less favored parts of the town, then we are in duty bound to allow it such privileges, provided no extra expense is thereby incurred. If, for instance, Ward Five is obliged on account of its outlying population to tolerate three mixed schools, this circumstance is no reason why Ward Three, being more favorably situated in respect to its population, should be obliged to maintain mixed schools also.
According to the course of study which is pursued in our schools, there are nine classes below the High School, - three classes in each de- partment. Now it so happens that there are just nine classes taught by nine teachers in Ward Three, - three in the primary department, three in the intermediate department, and three in the grammar depart- ment. One of these teachers, however, was an assistant in the Broad Street Grammar School. Availing themselves of the accommodations for a school in the lower rooms of the new school-house, the Committee decided to reclassify the schools in this Ward, giving to each teacher one class, which includes scholars pursuing studies taught during one year. This regrading of the schools required a redistribution of some of the scholars in the primary and intermediate departments. This
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change was effected at the beginning of the present term. As this arrangement is considered to be the perfection of the graded system of schools, the Committee expect favorable results from it. Should our expectations be realized here, it is not improbable that a similar arrangement of the schools may be effected in other localities at no distant period. It is much to be regretted that the Committee are obliged to establish mixed schools in some localities where graded schools might exist were it not for the location of the houses. For instance, in Ward Four we have a Grammar School and two mixed (Primary and Intermediate) schools. If the Pratt School-house and the Washington Street School-house were situated where they ought to be, nearer together, we could have a Primary, an Intermediate, and a Grammar School, and not only save the expense of an assistant teacher, but have better schools, because they would be better graded. The Main Street School-houses are situated in one yard, so that the schools are properly graded, and the benefits are obvious.
It is also thought that the Adams School, which is a large mixed school, - three grades being represented in it, - might be divided into two schools, and occupy both rooms of the house, by giving to the assistant teacher the charge of the primary department. This change would involve little or no expense, and be of incalculable benefit to the pupils.
DEDICATION OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL-HOUSE IN WARD THREE.
The new school building which was erected during the summer and autumn months under the supervision of the Selectmen was appropri- ately dedicated, in the winter vacation, to the uses for which it was designed, and 'is now occupied in its upper rooms by the North High School. The lower room, not being furnished by the Selectmen, was supplied by the Committee with desks taken from the Broad Street School-house, and the third grammar class was transferred to it. The Committee have proposed the name of Tremont Street School-house for this new building, by which designation it will hereafter be known, unless the town sees fit to change it. The new school edifice built last year in the south part of the town is called the Torrey Street School_ house.
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS.
No provision having been made by the town for furnishing trans- portation to scholars belonging to the North High School who reside
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in Wards One and Two, the School Committee, with the concurrence of the Selectmen, entered into an agreement with the managers of the Old Colony Railroad, whereby pupils should be conveyed to and from school at reduced fares for a period of two months, - up to the date of the annual town-meeting, - when it is expected that action will be taken on this subject. The terms of this agreement were that the railroad company will carry the scholars between East Weymouth and Weymouth at the rate of $15 each per school year, and between North Weymouth and Weymouth at the rate of $10 each per school year. This contract was subject to the condition " that the tickets may be revoked at any time when the scholars are troublesome, or do not comply with the rules of the road." It is believed that these rates are the most favorable that can be obtained from the company. The conditions, too, we believe to be perfectly proper and mutually desirable.
NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE AT WEYMOUTH NECK RECOM-
MENDED.
In the " Report of the Special Committee on Schools," published two years ago, a statement from Mr. L. B. Curtis is given, showing the exact number of children as " ascertained by personal inquiry " whose parents reside on the Neck. According to this report,
The whole number of children under five years of age was then . 31
66 66 between five and fifteen, " ". . 31
The report further says that " In view of the facts just presented concerning the increasing number of children living on the Neck, the Committee are of opinion that a school-house will be needed in this direction within a few years."
At the request of this Board Mr. Curtis has instituted another in- quiry, the result of which shows that,
The whole number of children under five years of age is now
. 25
66 66 66 between five and fifteen « 46
showing an increase in two years of nine children under fifteen years of age. But if we compare the number then and now between five and fifteen years, - which period represents the ages when children are required by law to attend school, - we find an increase of fifteen scholars, or a gain of nearly fifty per cent. An examination of the registers of the Athens School further shows that of the forty-six children living at the Neck who should attend school, but eighteen of that number did attend last summer, and but five of that number do
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attend school this winter. It also shows that of the thirteen scholars who dropped off during the cold weather, twelve of them belonged to the primary department, and were probably unable on account of their tender years to make the trip to and from the school-house, which is a mile and a half distant. The Athens Schools are already quite full, and there would not be room enough for the forty-six children from the Neck, if they should come.
These facts, which are patent to every one who will take the pains to examine into them, and others which are presented by the Super- intendent, induce your committee to recommend that the town build a school-house at Weymouth Neck similar to that on Grant Street or Washington Street.
NECESSITY OF OTHER SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
We hesitate, on account of the general depression in business affairs which prevails at the present time, to more than briefly allude to the needs which exist for further school accommodations in other parts of the town. Ward Two is actually suffering from want of ample and decent school-houses. With her rapidly increasing population, she has outgrown the limited provision made for her children in years past. But we forbear to say more. It is possible, if the necessity of the times is urgent, to endure these privations still longer. The town has already done much in providing commodious school-houses, and with the return of business prosperity it will be disposed to do still more. We trust that the adage, " Patient waiters are no losers," will apply here.
CLAIM ADJUSTED.
The claim of Mr. Noble Morse, for services rendered the town in efforts to detect the guilty parties who injured the property of the Athens School-house, which was referred to the School Committee for adjustment, was considered at an early day, and the conclusion reached that it was a valid claim and should be paid. His bill was accordingly approved.
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