USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1867-1870 > Part 64
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For all these and more who might be mentioned, as well as for the improvement of all our schools, in grade and progress, this school for special instruction is needed.
In its organization, one room should be set apart for the dis- orderly and the truants ; and before them might be the con- stant hope of promotion, for good behavior, to the other rooms. In these other rooms, each pupil should receive that special and individual aid which he needs, and which he cannot well receive in the graded schools. Six or seven rooms at the least would be needed ; for this school would, doubtless, at- tract many who do not now attend any. Its value would be immense.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Such a school should be central. The project of occupy- ing the site on Mechanic street for this purpose has already been referred to.
MECHANICAL AND INDUSTRIAL DRAWING SCHOOL.
This is the first school of the kind established under the law of May 16th, 1870. The subject was referred to a special committee early in June. Their conclusions and recommen- dations, which were adopted, are embodied in the following.
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
ON INDUSTRIAL AND MECHANICAL DRAWING.
SEPTEMBER 29, 1870.
To the Mayor and School Board of Worcester:
The special committee, appointed June 5th, to consider the recommendation for opening a Drawing School for adults, submit the following
REPORT.
At the recent session of the General Court, a law was enacted, the first seetion of which in- cludes Drawing among the studies required to be taught in the publie schools; the second see- tion direets that every city and town, having more than ten thousand inhabitants shall, annually, make provision for giving free instruction in Industrial and Mechanical Drawing to persons over fifteen years of age, &e.
The instruction now given in the public schools ineludes Drawing, in compliance with the first section of this law ; and it is gratifying to know, that we were in advance of the public opinion of the state, so far as to be only the second city to adopt this, as a regular branch of study, and thus to anticipate the above legislation, which affirms its importance.
The second section obliges towns and cities of the size of ours to provide for the instruction contemplated ; but the character and extent of that instruction must, of course, depend upon the wish of the school committee, under whose direction it is to be given.
Industrial or Mechanical Drawing means, that which is of use in any of the industries of life; and to be of use, it must be simple and practical; but it can be neither simple nor praetieal, un- less it is thorough and scientific. It is the opinion of your committee, therefore, that no instruc- tion ought to be provided for, which is not of this character. And we believe that there are three requisites for such instruction, viz : Free-hand drawing, which gives control of the museles, and educates the hand to obey the will more perfectly : Some knowledge of geometrie forms and figures, which cnables one to see in a drawing, not merely a combination of lines and angles, but the elevations and depressions, the surfaces, edges, and corners represented : And lastly, prae- tice in drawing from objects themselves; by which one is enabled to make the real form appear, and stand out as it were, upon the flat paper.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
In a course of this kind not less than thirty lessons are required ; five in free hand drawing alone ; five more to alternate with lessons in geometric forms; and the remaining fifteen in draw- ing from objects, and mechanical drawing. This proportion may vary with different classes, and can best be fixed by the teachers.
This course of instruction may be to some extent complete in itself, so as to be valuable if ear- ried no farther ; and yet the course next year, if the school is continued, may go on from the point where this terminates.
As to the place where this school may be opened, there have been three propositions consid- cred. The first was, to unite with the Mechanics Association, which has a school already estab- lished, with rooms weil furnished, and is centrally located ; and the officers seemed glad to afford us every facility in their power. But their school is already crowded by those entitled to its privileges. We could only open a new school in their rooms. These rooms, they occupy two evenings cach weck, but cannot have them regularly on account of their frequent use in connec- tion with Mechanics Hall. There would be still less regularity for another school, and many wecks, no doubt, the second school could not use the rooms at all. .
A second proposition was to hire some hall on the street; but to this there is the objection of expense in rent and furniture, in this, as yet somewhat experimental school. And, unless a great expense were incurred, the accommodations would be poor. Such a difficulty as this will not continue when the Walnut street improvements are completed.
A third proposition was, to secure the use of the rooms at Boynton Hall, at the Technical School which are well f rnished, lighted, heated, and in all respects fitted for such a school, and where there is an abundance of the most approved apparatus. To this there is the single objection, that it is somewhat remote from those who may live in the south part of the city. But no place can be selected which is not remote from some; and the superior advantages to be had here will more than over-balance any inconvenience from the distance.
All doubt on the question was removed, when the trustees of that institution, with the same liberality which has secured for it such high character, offered us the free nse of all their appli- ances by the payment of the barc cost of fuel and light.
Prof. Gladwin of the Technical School, can be engaged for the lessons in free-hand drawing, at an expense of about $100; and Prof. Alden of the same school, for the remaining lessons, at a cost of about $175.
It is impossible to predict what number of persons will wish to enter such a school. There is no reason why its advantages should not be enjoyed by both gentlemen and ladies.
Should a large number wish to attend-beyond the capacity of the school-some rule must be made for admission. The school for ladies, if needed, might be appointed on a different evening. Questions of this kind which may arise must be decided as they come up.
To bring this matter before the board in definite form for action, your committee submit the fol- lowing :-
Resolved, That the superintendent of schools be requested to engage Boynton Hall, and to se- cure the services of Profs. Gladwin and Alden, for a school of Industrial and Mechanical Drawing, npon the plan set forth in the foregoing report.
That he canse notices of the proposed school to be published in the daily papers, setting forth its purpose. and inviting application for admission to be made at his office.
That, from these applicants, he admit as many as the school wil accommodate, making such discrimination as he, in connection with a committee appointed for the purpose, may deem, best-and
That he open the school October 15th, provided not less than twenty applicants be received.
GEORGE W. GALE, ) R. N. MERIAM, D. S. GODDARD,
Committee.
City Hall, Sept. 29, 15.0.
In accordance with the above resolves, applications were re- ceived at the superintendent's office ; and instead of the twenty,
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
thought necessary to warrant proceeding with the enterprise, in about one week, more than two hundred had applied. So large a number had not been provided for ; but on examining the list it was found that none could reasonably be excluded except pupils from the day schools, for whom instruction is already provided. Omitting these, and such as were in any way deterred from entering the school, there remained 145 ; 136 men, and 9 women. These were organized into two classes for free hand drawing, each meeting two evenings a week. After these classes were opened, many others applied for admission ; but after some progress had been made, begin- ners could not so profitably commence ; the classes were full ; the enterprise was new ; the strength of the teachers limited ; it was not thought best therefore to open a third class.
"In respect of age there were forty-nine under 20, sixty-one between 20 and 30, twenty-eight between 30 and 40, four be- tween 40 and 50, two between 50 and 60, and one over 60. In respect of occupation there were machinists 42 ; carpenters 26; pattern makers 7; teachers 9, masons 3 ; farmers, boot and shoe makers, clerks and architects 4 each ; organ build- ers, book-keepers, painters, armorers, and engravers 2 each ; insurance agents, civil engineers, reed makers, engineers, up- holsterers, moulders, wire drawers, blacksmiths I each ; mis- cellaneous 24. Since the class started very few have dropped out. More than half the class walk two miles to get the les- sons, and more than two thirds of them are in their seats half an hour before the time of beginning. Only five of them have ever been in a drawing class before, though voluntary classes have been held in the city for years."
In discriminating among the applicants for admission to these classes, the question arose whether we have a right to establish schools for adults. We exercise a similar right in maintaining a public reading room or library, in public grants to colleges, and schools of law, medicine, and technology, in evening schools for young gentlemen and ladies of mature age, in all our large cities, and in excluding no one from any public school on account of age. Up to a certain age chil-
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
dren are compelled by law to attend school a part of the time each year. It would be inconsistent to refuse to one, the edu- cation which is deemed necessary for another.
The benefit of our public schools are limited to persons un- der age by no express provision of law, only by the incidental use of the word children in a few places. In the nature of things the pupils are almost all children ; but custom as uni- formly admits all over age who wish to attend.
Nor is drawing a mere accomplishment as some have sup- posed. It is a language which one may, as it were, first learn to read, and then to write. In many occupations it is an in- dispensable language ; in all it is a useful one. Even a branch of study not directly practical is of general profit, though pur- sued by but few. Much more is this study of public utility, which in its elementary stages may be applied in the humblest occupation, and in its higher uses has to do with the most ex- tensive productive industries of the land. It is not creditable to us that the large print works in Southbridge can find no Americans skilled in this direction, and so must depend on for- eign workmen. It is not profitable to this city that thousands of her mechanics cannot work from a drawing. The cost of her manufactures is increased thereby. Fortunately no one objects to a wise liberality in this school for adults. But if any one were to object, the law is explicit ; instruction shall be provided for "persons over fifteen years of age."
Upon the completion of the ten lessons in free hand draw- ing by Prof. Gladwin, contemplated by the committee, it was found that about one third of the class wished to continue them. The remaining numbers could not be taught mechanical draw- ing in a single class. Mr. Higgins, superintendent of the Washburn machine shop, was therefore engaged for the sec- ond class. Prof. Alden taking the other. A pupil of the in- stitute has assisted in both.
The course of introductory instruction in free hand is as fol- lows :- "Three lessons in horizontal and vertical lines, and plain and ornamental forms composed of those lines. Three lessons in curves. Two lessons in perspective. Two lessons in review.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
For the first course of twenty lessons in mechanical dray a good part of the time, say three fourths, is spent in lea the elements of descriptive geometry. Descriptive geometry is mechanical drawing in one sense ; that is it is the method of representing any object in horizontal and vertical projection, in any position. A knowledge of geometry proper is of incal- culable value as a preliminary, but is not indispensable. The problems to be given must be selected with great care ; and the aid of a blackboard so contrived as to show the two plains, is of great importance. The remaining lessons may be de- voted to simple or complicated problems in construction, according to the proficiency of each pupil. It will be ob- served that this method of instruction differs widely from the one usually followed in classes connected with our volun- tary organizations. That plan is to give the pupil certain arbitrary rules for producing certain results, and pupils are generally allowed to choose their own studies. This plan con- templates the mastery of the great principles of projection. So that the pupil can delineate any form he wishes, and put it in any desired position."
All the instruction in these classes is oral. The teacher illustrates with crayon at the board; at first drawing in ad- vance of the class the figure he wishes them to copy ; and, farther on, showing what perspective is by models, cubes, cones, cylinders, spheres, and a few other simple forms before the eye, and their representation by lines upon the board. In the mechanical classes the projection of any object upon the vertical and the horizontal plane is shown by a small black- board, hinged in the middle. When placed at right angles the two planes are seen ; when open it appears the ordinary surface on which the two planes must be represented. In this simple, practical way, principles are elucidated-not mystified by abstract definitions.
Each pupil is provided with paper, pencils, rubber, and a simple drawing board only-except that the mechanical class have a simple set of instruments ; a pair of adjustable dividers, a pen, a scale, a 7 square, and a triangle.
The entire cost of these classes, eighty lessons in all, or
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
to each class, is about $900-or not far from $6.00 to upil.
the promptness of this board, to the generosity of the trustees of the Institute, to the ability and enthusiasm of the instructors, and especially to the wise direction and impulse given by Prof. C. O. Thompson, is due the success of this school, which is the model of its kind, and which will lead, it is believed, to still further cultivation of a fruitful field.
TEACHERS.
"Next to the preaching of God's Holy Word, I know of no more Godly purpose that a man goeth about, than the teaching a Schole." These are the words of Roger Ascham, Preceptor of Queen Elizabeth ; and three centuries, though they have modified the spelling of the words, have only made the truth the more apparent. The dignity and importance of this pro- fession is often undervalued or misunderstood. To the ob- scure preceptor, are due those influences which produced a Shakspeare, and rendered the queen illustrious. Many a man who has filled a large place in history, received the first impulse from his teachers. No class of persons has a more powerful influence upon the nation of the immediate future. It is questionable whether even the exception, in the above quotation should be made. The teacher, five or six hours a day five days in the week, with the advantage of superior age, is moulding the impressible minds of youth, and whether he will or not, leaving more or less distinctly, upon fifty minds and characters, the impress of his own. Teachers are a power behind the throne of public opinion, by which that throne it- self is moved. No trump of fame calls to this field of humble yet effective labor. When some heroic action, some discovery in science, or some deed of patriotic valor is heralded through the land, no one thinks of the teachers by whom the virtue was encouraged and the industry stimulated by which high attainments become possible. To them, partly, is often due the credit of other men's success, as on them may partly rest the responsibility of others' failure.
To fit one for this high calling, there is need of the most
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" SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
careful preparation and the most conscientious devotion. Yet numbers are anxious to engage in it, not only without profes- sional training, but almost without education ; and it is surpris- ing to see how low is the popular standard of what should be required in a teacher, and how little the value of the best tal- ent is really appreciated.
The provision for educating teachers in this state, and the inducements for them thoroughly to prepare themselves for the work, seem inadequate.
Of the one hundred and forty teachers at present employed in our schools, twenty-nine have been engaged within the year. Part of these are graduates of our Training School. The others have, for the most part, been purloined from the smaller towns at whose expense their experience and practical skill have been acquired, and where their services were still needed. By the same unjustifiable practice, some of our best teachers have been lost to us. More of them have been re- moved by matrimony-a cause more natural, and hence more difficult and less desirable to prevent.
The average length of time female teachers continue in the business here is about four years. Ninety-three per cent. of all our teachers are females. Very likely and properly this per cent. will continue to be nearly as large. For reasons beyond the control of society, and higher than human laws, their time of service will as a rule continue to be short. But frequent change in the corps of teachers is injurious. There should be a conservative element among them-a class per- manently employed.
Statistics show that the proportion of young men engaged in teaching is smaller than it was twenty years ago. But there is an army of agents, urging upon the public that which is not desirable, and of persons courting success in unproductive employments for which they are not qualified. If the men of talent among these would fit themselves to be teachers, and engage in this noble work, they would become useful mem- bers of society, and, in elevating humanity, find themselves ennobled, and their self-respect restored. The policy which
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has driven young men from this profession is not good. To retain in it in sufficient numbers, those whose ability may illus- trate its capacity for good, requires a change in the popular estimate of its importance.
The teachers of our schools have entered into several plans for their own improvement, proposed during the year, with an enthusiasm which shows them to be in earnest in their work. With a few exceptions the teachers' meetings have been well attended. Nearly ninety per cent. of the whole corps attended the county convention at Southbridge. An interesting lecture on Natural History, by Prof. E. S. Morse, of Salem, whose services were secured by the school board, was well attended and very instructive. The lessons in elocu- tion by Prof. L. B. Monroe of Boston, were enjoyed by about nine tenths of all the teachers; and in nearly all the schools may be seen the traces of his excellent work. The instruction in Free-Hand Drawing by Prof. Gladwin, just beginning, will no doubt be equally appreciated and improved. These efforts for constant improvement are both creditable to the zeal of the teachers and the wisdom of the board, and highly useful to the schools.
PIANOS AND LIBRARIES.
Pianos have been purchased for the Ledge street and Wood- land street halls, where the pupils of different grades assemble for their lessons in music. There are now instruments in all the houses having halls. A set of Appleton's Cyclopedia has also been placed in the library at Lamartine street and the one at Ledge street ; and a copy of Johnson's Atlas is now in each of the libraries in the higher Grammar Schools.
It is appropriate in this place to express our thanks to Mr. William Dickinson, for his gift of Appleton's Cyclopedia to the Dix street library ; and to Mr. Albert Curtis for the gift of $100 towards the purchase of a piano for the school at New Worcester. As remarked in a former report, these gifts from citizens have a value beyond that which can be reckoned in dollars and cents. They encourage teachers by showing that their labor is appreciated ; they remind the children that their
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
welfare is dear to the men on the street, engaged in the hard business of life ; and they give the assurance that the needs of our schools will always be met with open and liberal hand.
ATTENDANCE.
The average daily attendance of pupils, has been ninety one per cent. of the average whole number belonging to the schools. During the summer term the small pox prevailed in the city to an alarming extent ; and many children were with- drawn from the schools on that account. This will probably fully explain the decrease of about .007 from the per cent. of last year. But after every allowance has been made for ne- cessary absence, the number of pupils who attend school with no regularity is alarmingly great. There can be no good rea- son for the constant absence of one pupil from every eleven- or the absence of each scholar one eleventh of the time. The cost of the schools is the same as if all were present. By these absences then nearly nine per cent. of this expense is lost. It is not to be expected that there will be no absence. So much absence is needless and should be prevented. By the rules of the school board "Sickness, domestic affliction, and absence from town, are regarded as the only legitimate causes of absence or tardiness. All other cases must be considered as in violation of the rule and treated as misdemeanors. Ab- sence from any of the schools for other than the specified causes, amounting in the aggregate to three days during one term, shall subject the pupil to discipline. In every instance of absence or tardiness, a written statement, or personal explanation, shall be required of the parent, master or guardian, on the return of the pupil to school, or at the next session, that the teacher may know whether the cause is legitimate or otherwise."
To enforce this rule, it is generally necessary only to point out to parents and guardians the evils of irregular attendance, both to their children and to the schools. But if moral means fail, the ultimate remedy is expulsion from school ;- that is, to cure the evil of occasional absence we compel constant ab- sence. As may well be supposed, such a remedy is applied with great hesitation. For those who wilfully or carelessly
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
detain their children from school, it is worth considering whether some other means should not be used. What right have a few persons thus to defeat almost nine per cent. of the good our schools might accomplish ?
The right of a parent to control his own children is admitted on all hands. But that control is limited. He cannot take their lives, as he could under the Roman law ; he cannot de prive them of food ; nor of, at least a little, education. And so when they are once in school, he is morally bound that their irregularity shall not retard the general progress, and thus in- fringe upon the rights of others. Those few parents who sup- pose themselves possessed of the right to detain their children at home any day because, forsooth, they are taxed to support the schools, should be reminded of their duty by some means more effective and more just than to dismiss those children entirely.
Besides irregular pupils there are children under fifteen years of age, who do not, even nominally, attend school more than one term in a year, if at all. This leads to the question whether it would be right to make
ATTENDANCE COMPULSORY.
As intimated above, other "rights" are to be considered, be- sides that of the parent over his child. The child himself, every human being, has a right to such a training as will fit him for usefulness and enjoyment, just as he has a right to care, food, and raiment, in the helpless years of infancy. The parent who abandons an infant may be punished ; so should he be punished who neglects the education of his child. The infant would perish. The child in ignorance may live in wretched- ness and toil, to curse his parents, and by his blighted life to reproach society, if not by crimes to visit it with retribution for the evil it should have prevented.
Society then has "rights." It is of the highest interest to us each, whether our fellow citizens are intelligent or ignorant. We are all concerned whether in the future, our children are to live in an educated community, or in the semi-barbarous state of prevailing ignorance. It is a shame that any intel- ligent freeman-and no others are free-can stand at the
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
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