USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1873 > Part 4
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29
45
VALEDICTORY ADDRESS.
fitness to control their men and give them judicious instructions. Crime has been on the decrease during the year, and it is now pretty well understood that Worcester is not a healthy place for thieves or highwaymen. Five officers have been discharged dur- ing the year for neglect of duty, and one was allowed to resign, on account of conduct unbecoming an officer.
SMALL-POx.
One of the first compliments paid to the new administration a year ago was the official call of the City Physician, who informed us that the small-pox was on the increase in the city, there being thirteen cases, making as many different centres of disease. This was a matter that required prompt and decisive action, without much regard to the opinion of those who go out of their way to give advice. The Board of Health was at once called together and such measures adopted to suppress the disease as were thought wise and prudent. After four months hard labor and constant anxiety the wished-for result was obtained. The City Physician deserves the gratitude of the entire community for his fidelity in this work. During the four months, we had one hun- dred and twenty-five cases, eight of which proved fatal. Those who were removed to the hospital were better cared for and the death rate much less than in cases treated at home. The man- agement of this disease, when a reasonable cooperation on the part of the people with the Board of Health can be maintained, is very simple. Were it not for concealed cases, complete isola- tion and general vaccination, applied in season, would extermi- nate it from any city in four weeks. But a few days of inde- cision, or listening to advice under the mild influence of "can't say no," would be likely to put it beyond immediate control.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The Fire Department commends itself so thoroughly to the approbation of all, that it seems unnecessary for me to call atten- tion to it. Its officers and members have studied carefully their
46
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
respective duties, and we have tried to give them every facility for accomplishing their noble work. Their reputation abroad has become the envy of every fireman, and the cause for proud recog- nition at home.
CONCLUSION.
My thanks are due to the City Council, and especially to the Board of Aldermen, for their kind consideration so liberally ex tended on all occasions when we have met for the transaction of public business. The unanimity with which I have been sus- tained in the management of the Police, and in the performance of other duties, will be held by me in grateful remembrance. As we are about to separate, let us extend a cordial greeting to our successors, hoping that they may profit by our mistakes and make for themselves a glorious record.
We now leave our work for the criticism of generations to come. It is not embellished with brilliant achievement or ambi- tious pretension, but we trust it bears the plain impress of honesty and fidelity.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF WORCESTER, SEPT., 1873.
CLARK JILLSON, PRESIDENT.
ALBERT P. MARBLE, SUPERINTENDENT. SAMUEL V. STONE, SECRETARY.
Members whose term expires January, 1876.
Members whose term expires January, 1875.
Members whose term expires January, 1874.
E. H. HALL. C. B. METCALF.
WILLIAM T. HARLOW. GEORGE W. GALE.
G. HENRY WHITCOMB.
TERENCE J. HINES. JAMES MCDERMOTT. JASON CHAPIN. T. E. MURRAY. DENNIS J. SCANNELL.THOMAS GRIFFIN. M. P. FINNIGAN. F. J. MCNULTY.
EDWARD H. PEABODY. F. P. GOULDING.
CHARLES BALLARD.
EDWIN T. MARBLE.
EMERSON WARNER.
CHARLES A. CHASE.
P. EMORY ALDRICH. E. B. STODDARD.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
ON SCHOOL HOUSES-Mayor and Messrs. Gale, Chapin, Ballard, Hines and Scannell.
ON BOOKS AND APPARATUS-Messrs. Stoddard, Williams, Aldrich, Chase and Griffin.
ON EXAMINATION OF TEACHERS-Superintendent, ex-officio, and Messrs. Hall, Metcalf, Harlow, Whitcomb and Warner.
ON FINANCE-Mayor, Superintendent, and Messrs. Marble, Goulding, Har- rington, McDermott and Murray.
ON ASSIGNING VISITING COMMITTEES-Superintendent, ex-officio, and Messrs. McNulty, McCafferty, Harlow, Ballard and Finnigan.
HARTLEY WILLIAMS.
M. J. MCCAFFERTY.
LOAMMI HARRINGTON.
50
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
The Committees of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the Schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them according to the provisions of the Statutes, not less than once in four weeks, and gener- ally during the week preceding the monthly meeting of the Board, at which they shall report their true condition .- [Rules, Chap. 3, Sec. 6.
Though each School is assigned to a Special Committee, yet every member of the Board shall deem it his duty to watch over all Public Schools of the City, to attend their examinations, and visit them at other times as his convenience will permit .- [ Sec. 7.
VISITING COMMITTEES.
CLASSICAL AND ENGLISH HIGH SCHOOL.
COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Hall, Aldrich, Metcalf, Stoddard, Griffin, Williams, Warner, Chase, and Harlow.
TEACHERS. Ellis Peterson, Principal.
Abner H. Davis.
Ann C. Stewart. Fanny S. Tucker.
Roswell Parish.
Mary Parkhurst. Caro. V. Aldrich.
Florence V. Beane.
Mary E. Wilder. Alla W. Foster.
General Assistant for all Schools-Ella J. H. Knight.
BELMONT STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IX
Edward I. Comins, Principal.
Whitcomb.
Asst.
Annie C. Wyman.
Whitcomb.
VIII
Vashti E. Hapgood.
Whitcomb.
VII
Mary H. Warren.
Whitcomb.
VI
Sarah L. Phillips.
Harlow.
Tirsah S. Nichols.
Harlow.
IV .
Esther G. Chenery.
Harlow.
III
Mary T. Gale.
Hines.
II
Ida C. Upton.
Hines.
I
Hannah R. Beede.
Hines.
DIX STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IX Addison A. Hunt, Principal.
Stoddard.
Asst.
Clara Manly.
Stoddard.
VII
Carrie A. George.
Stoddard.
VII
Eldora M. Aldrich.
Ballard.
VI
Mary A. Harrington.
Ballard.
IV
Elizabeth E. Daniels.
Ballard.
III
Emily M. Halsted.
Scannell.
II
Susie W. Forbes.
Stoddard.
I
Emma C. Moulton.
Stoddard.
WALNUT STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
VII VI V
Etta A. Rounds, Principal. Nellie C. Thomas. Kate A. Meade.
Williams. McCafferty. McCafferty.
51
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WOODLAND STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IX
Samuel E. Fitz, Principal.
Williams.
Asst. VIII VII
Emma G. McClellan.
Williams.
VI
Mary M. Lawton.
Whitcomb.
Carrie R. Clements.
Whitcomb.
Martha E. Amidon.
Whitcomb.
Lizzie C. Goodwin.
Murray.
Maggie I. Melanefy.
Murray.
Amanda H. Davie.
Williams.
LAMARTINE STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IX
Charles T. Haynes, Principal. Josephine M. Wilson.
Aldrich.
Asst. VIII VII VI
Mary A. Smith.
Aldrich.
Nellie L. Moore.
Aldrich.
V
S. Lizzie Wedge.
McNulty.
IV
Louise A. Dawson.
McNulty.
Mary A. Kavanaugh.
McNulty.
Alice M. Underwood.
McNulty.
Ida A. E. Kenny.
Scannell.
Ellen T. Shannon.
Scannell.
I
Ida A. Tew.
Scannell.
LEDGE STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IX
Charles C. Woodman, Principal. Ann S. Dunton.
Griffin.
Griffin.
Joanna F. Smith.
Griffin.
Maria P. Cole.
Griffin.
Charlena C. Harrington.
Peabody.
Margaret M. Geary.
Peabody.
Hattie A. Smith.
Peabody.
Eliza E. Cowles.
Chapin.
Mary E. D. King.
Chapin.
Mary V. Callagan.
Chapin.
Emma C. Maynard. Chapin.
THOMAS STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
VIII
Harriet G. Waite, Principal. Susie M. Everett. Gale.
Gale.
Asst. VII VI
Ann E. McCambridge. Abbie J. Reed.
Gale.
VI V IV
Susie G. Gale. Elizabeth H. Coe.
Harrington.
Abbie J. Knowles.
Harrington.
Amanda M. Phillips.
Harrington.
Abbie J. Hemenway.
Murray.
Flora J. Osgood.
Mary E. D. Cavanaugh.
Murray. Gale. 8
I
Jennie A. Howard.
Williams.
Jennie I. Rice.
Williams.
V IV III II I
III II II I
M. Ella Spaulding.
Aldrich.
Aldrich.
Asst. VIII VII VI V IV III II II I
III II I
Gale.
Harrington.
52
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
SYCAMORE STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
VIII
Abbie E. Clough, Principal.
Hall.
VII
Minnie F. Whittier.
Peabody.
VI V
Susie J. Partridge.
McDermott.
IV III
Mary E. Trask
Hall.
Sarah W. Clements.
Hall.
Effie J. Phelps (sub.)
McDermott.
Eliza J. Day.
McDermott.
0
EAST WORCESTER SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
V
Ella W. Fosket, Principal.
Murray.
IV
Annie Brown.
Murray.
IV
Tamerson S. Darling.
Harlow.
III
Ella M. McFarland.
Metcalf.
III
Mattie A. Collins.
Metcalf.
II
Ella J. H. Knight. .
Metcalf.
I
Mary E. Russell.
Murray.
I
Aloysia Radcliffe.
Harlow.
Asst.
Mary J. O'Connor.
PROVIDENCE STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
V
Elizabeth L. King, Principal.
Ballard.
IV
Sarah J. Newton.
Ballard.
III
Belle Y. Hoyt.
Finnigan.
II I
Evelyn E. Towne.
Finnigan.
Sarah C. Maynard.
Warner.
I
Alice G. McMahon.
Warner.
ASH STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS.
SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
V
Mary J. Mack, Principal.
Chase.
IV
Lottie M. Harrington.
Chase.
III
Sarah A. Harrington.
Warner.
II I
Sarah J. Melaney.
Marble.
I
Mary J. Packard.
Warner.
SOUTH WORCESTER SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHIERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
VIII Myra J. Denby, Principal. Eliza J. Wallace.
McNulty.
VI
McNulty.
V IV III
Ellen M. Boyden. Amelia M. Walker.
Chase.
Ann E. Hall.
Chase.
Maria L. Rice.
Goulding.
Abbie N. Hoxie.
Goulding.
II I
Emma J. Barton.
Marble.
McNulty.
II I
Jennie A. Greene.
Peabody.
53
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
PLEASANT STREET SCHOOL. (Training School.)
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
V IV III II I
REBECCA JONES, Principal.
Carrie E. Gilbert.
Eunie M. Gates.
Metcalf.
Mary L. Norcross.
Hall.
Mary A. E. Hoyt.
Emma J. Norcross.
Whitcomb.
SALEM STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Rebecca Barnard, Principal,
Goulding.
Mary O. Whitmore.
Goulding.
Emma J. Claflin.
Hattie A. Harrington.
Finnigan.
EDGEWORTH STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
V IV III II I
Hattie E. Clark, Principal.
McCafferty.
Sarah M. Brigham.
McCafferty.
Susan M. Buttrick.
Gale.
Hattie M. Bliss.
Chapin.
NEW WORCESTER SCHOOLS.
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IV
VIII
VII
VI
V IV
III I
SUMMER STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE.
II I
Abbie A. Wells, Principal. Lilla F. Upton.
QUINSIGAMOND SCHOOL.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
VII
VI
V
Jennie P. Fisk.
Harrington.
IV S
III I S
Loretta M. Chase.
Scannell.
MASON STREET SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Chapin. Stoddard.
Julia M. Martin, Principal. Mary E. Pease.
III I
Charlotte N. Munger, Principal.
Marble.
S. Lizzie Carter. Marble.
Alice M. Greene. Griffin.
Mary O. Hoyt. Griffin.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES. Hines. Finnigan.
GRADE.
Eveline Conant, Principal.
Harrington.
VI V IV III I
Metcalf.
Hall.
Marble.
54
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
GRADE. II I
ADRIATIC SCHOOL.
TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
Martha T. Wyman, Principal. Maria J. Metcalf.
Finnigan. Hines.
UNION HILL SCHOOL.
GRADE. TEACHERS. SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
IV S
Ellen G. Wheeler, Principal.
Harlow.
Asst.
Etha M. Stowell.
Harlow.
I 3
Esther B. Smith.
Gale.
ORANGE STREET SCHOOL. (Ungraded.)
COMMITTEE. McNulty. Hall.
TEACHERS.
Preston D. Jones, Principal.
Asst. Octave M. Farnsworth. Persis E. King.
SUBURBAN SCHOOLS. (Ungraded.)
SCHOOL.
TEACHER.
COMMITTEE.
NORTHVILLE.
Sylvia N. Stackpole.
Metcalf.
TATNUCK.
. Helen H. Welch.
Ballard.
VALLEY FALLS.
Sarah A. Bullock.
Marble.
LEESVILLE.
Eliza J. Seaver.
Marble.
BLITHEWOOD.
Emily Heywood.
McCafferty.
BLOOMINGDALE.
Hattie M. Johnson.
McDermott.
ADAMS SQUARE.
Ada M. Davis.
Peabody.
BURNCOAT.
Ada E. Simonds.
Goulding.
NORTH POND.
Lizzie Vaughan.
Metcalf.
CHAMBERLAIN.
Elizabeth L. Webb.
Chase.
MUSIC.
COMMITTEE.
Whitcomb. Warner. Goulding. TEACHER .- E. S. Nason.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To His Honor, the Mayor, and the School Board of Worcester:
In conformity to your regulations, I submit the following as my Sixth Annual Report.
This report aims to contain a faithful history of the Public Schools, and the measures from time to time adopted for their improvement, during the year ending Nov. 30th, 1873. It refers also to other institutions of learning located here, since they add to the educational forces of the city, and indirectly affect public school education. Statistics relating to attendance, expenditures, etc., appear in the report ; and observations upon the proper management and the needs of these Public Schools may be found.
Such a record of the schools in preceding years is valuable to those who attempt to oversee the educational interests of a grow- ing city. Their action may thus be guided by the light of history. It would also accomplish a noble work, if it should cause any considerable number of our citizens to realize what is being done in the schools. Outside of the school committee there are not ten men in the city who have an adequate conception of what this public school system really is, and really does. Each new mayor is greatly surprised at the number of the schools and children, as from year to year he visits them, in the performance of official duty. Taxes are usually interesting to tax-payers. One year within the past decade, about forty per cent. of each man's tax was expended for schools and school houses. What the per cent.
56
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
is for the past year may be found further on. It is of interest to every man to know how this money is expended, and to learn what are the results aimed at and attained by this expenditure. Eight or ten thousand children are growing up here ; it is of still greater interest to every citizen, to know how they are trained, and what sort of men and women they are likely to become. There is a warmer interest than this general care for the public good-the interest of a parent in the welfare of his child. Where are . the parents of these children? Why do they not more frequently visit the schools, to see for themselves what culture their children are receiving? No parent does his whole duty if he does not make the acquaintance of his child's teacher, so as to co-operate in the instruction. Right education is a process requiring care and skill. Teachers are not perfect, nor committees infallible, how- - ever excellent they may be. To correct the faults which may mar our schools, we need the candid criticism of parents and the thoughtful interest of the public. To secure these is in part the present aim.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS,
FOR THE YEAR 1873.
I. POPULATION.
Estimated population, January, 1874, 48,000
Census of 1870, 41,115
Children between the ages of five and fifteen, returned by the assessors in May, 1873, 7,681
II. FINANCIAL.
Valuation of the city, May, 1873, Increase for the year, 5,052,284 00
$47,294,834 00
City debt, including sewers, water, and B., B. & G. Railroad,
2,616,920 03
Value of school houses and lots, 919,474 00
68,500 00
Other school property, Total of school property, 987,974 00
State, county, and city tax,
849,084 11
Rate of taxation, .0174
57
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
$143,055 77
Ordinary expense of schools,
Per cent. of same to valuation,
.003+
Per cent. of same to whole tax,
.168+
Fuel, janitors, and repairs,
$33,270 46
Salaries of teachers,
104,885 31
Salaries of school officers,
4,900 00
Extraordinary expense,
32,494 54
For permanent repairs, furnishings, etc.,
$8,620 67
Lot on Summer street,
23,873 87
Total expenditure,
$175,550 31
Amount received from State,
$1,522 73
Average cost per scholar for all day schools,
20 57
Same last year,
18 76
Cost of Evening schools,
2,493 30
Average per scholar,
7 79
Cost of Evening Drawing schools,
2,230 95
Average per scholar, estimated,
9 91
Cost of High School,
17,468 51
Average per scholar,
60 17
III. SCHOOL HOUSES.
Number occupied December, 1873,
34
Rooms, not including recitation rooms, occupied December, 1873,
149
Drawing rooms, additional,
4
Evening school rooms, additional,
2
Whole number of sittings,
7,951
In High School,
382
Additional space for 180.
1,819
Secondary schools,
1,599
Primary schools,
3,617
Ungraded schools,
112
Suburban schools,
422
IV. SCHOOLS.
High School, nine rooms,
1
Grammar rooms, four grades,
36
Secondary rooms, two grades,
30
Primary rooms, three grades,
58
Ungraded school, for boys,
1
Ungraded school, for girls,
1
Suburban schools,
10
Northville,
Bloomingdale,
Tatnuck,
Valley Falls,
Adams Square, Burncoat,
Grammar schools,
3
58
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
Leesville, Blithewood,
North Pond, Chamberlain,
Evening Schools,
4
Orange St. for boys; Walnut St. for girls ; Summer St. for both; Cambridge St. for both.
.
Free Evening Drawing Classes, Walnut St.,
6
V. TEACHERS.
Male teachers in High School,
3
Female teachers in High School,
7
Male teachers in Grammar and Ungraded Schools,
6
Female teachers, all grades below the High School,
141
Male teachers in Evening Schools,
1
Female teachers in Evening Schools,
14
Teachers in Free Evening Drawing Schools,
3
Special teacher of Music, male,
1
Number of teachers in Day Schools,
158
Whole number of teachers,
176
VI. PUPILS.
Number registered in the public schools during the year,
9,990
Number exclusive of Evening Schools and Drawing Schools, Decrease, 505
8,740
Number over fifteen years old,
670
Estimated number from this city in private schools here,
1,000
Average number belonging to the schools,
6,725
Decrease, 99
6,134
Increase, 85
591
Number at close of Fall Term, 1872,
7,185
At close of Winter Term, 1872-73,
6,270
Decrease, 915
At the close of Spring Term,
6,041
At the close of Summer Term, Decrease,
91
At the close of Fall Term, 1873,
7,084
Increase, 2,134
Per cent. of daily attendance to average number belonging, Increase, .023
.921
Number perfect in attendance the whole year, Increase, 126
384
Number perfect three terms,
Increase, 100
512
Average daily attendance,
Average daily absence,
Decrease, 229
5,950
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
59
Number perfect two terms, Increase, Number perfect one term, Increase,
841
222
-
1,720
25
Whole number registered in the High School,
461
Boys, 197.
Girls, 264.
Number at close of the year,
328
Number of graduates, June, 1873,
33
Number gone,
100
Average number belonging,
290.3
Average daily attendance,
284.1
Per cent. of daily attendance,
.979
Average age of pupils, January, 1874,
15:9
Average number of pupils to a regular teacher,
29
The number of children as returned by the assessors is 751 less than last year. There is no doubt that the number in the city is larger than it was then.
The valuation of the city was increased about five million dol- lars. It increased the year before about four millions. The ordinary expense of schools has increased $15,028.53. Of this, about $7,400 is for increase of salaries ; there is on hand coal valued at $2,51)0 more than last year, and the increased price paid for coal make a further difference of $1,100. This accounts for $11,000.
The more numerous books, and articles of apparatus and fur- niture supplied to the schools, though costing but little for a single school, make in the aggregate a large amount ; yet I know of no unnecessary expenses of this kind.
The average annual cost per scholar in all the day schools has increased $1.81. This is in part in consequence of the additional expense mentioned above ; and in part it is due to the smaller number of scholars to each teacher,
It was observed in the last report that there was a loss of $12,- 800 expended for scholars not in attendance. This year the average daily absence is 591; but the schools and the expense go
9
60
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
on. This absence amounts to more than pupils enough for ten schools. Last year the cost per scholar was, in
Malden, $20.68.
Brookline, $23.86.
Milton, 20.91.
Belmont, 24.79.
Boston, 22.02.
Medford, 24.90.
Newton, 22.48. W. Roxbury, 25.39.
No new houses have been built the past year. The sum of $23,873.87 was paid for the lot on Summer street, where no house has as yet been erected. One more room has been occupied at Walnut street, Grade VII. and one at Sycamore street, Grade VIII. There were additional Schools, Grade I. during the Sum- mer term at Edgeworth street and Summer street. There are now vacant rooms at Summer street, two; at Providence street, two; and at Quinsigamond, two. New desks have been placed in the room of Grade I. Sycamore street, and Grade VIII. Thom- as street. High School Hall has been ventilated through the roof ; and rooms for the casts and models have been fitted up in the attic of the Walnut street house.
It is probable that more room may be needed for the schools at New Worcester, before the end of the year.
In the Day Schools there are five more teachers than last year, one of these being in the High School. The whole number of pupils enrolled is 475 less than last year. This is partly due to more care about repeating names perhaps, but chiefly to the fact that the pupils belonging to the Private School on Temple street, were many of them enrolled in the Public Schools in the Fall of 1872. The per cent. of attendance shows a gain of .023. The attendance of one more pupil in each school of fifty makes this difference. There have been 154,148 cases of absence, against 243,575 last year ; and 11,132 cases of tardiness against 21,608 in 1872. Tardiness has decreased each year since 1867, when there were 30,727 cases. See table of absence and tardiness in the Secretary's report. For the last two months this gain in the attendance was due to the new
TRUANT OFFICERS.
Heretofore a single officer, detailed from the police force, has attended to this duty. In point of fact it has of late years been
61
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
impossible for truants to be returned to school promptly, because the officer had other duties which occupied a part of his time, and when attending to the schools he could not go to opposite parts of the city the same half day. To stop truancy, each case should be dealt with at once. The new state law places the election and control of truant officers with the school committee. A city ordi- nance was passed in October to carry out the provisions of this law. Since that time two officers have been employed; and the attendance has improved in a very marked degree. Besides truants from school, there is always a large class not sent to school as the law directs; to look up these and the cases of children illegally employed, takes a great part of the officers' time.
AFTERNOON SESSIONS.
Previous to this year the afternoon session continued from 2 o'clock to 5, except during the winter months. In March last it was voted that teachers be allowed to dismiss pupils perfect in deportment and scholarship, at 4 o'clock, that personal attention might be given to those who should remain. To avoid error in mataphysical distinctions, "perfect" was explained to mean, not the absolutely perfect, but that degree of perfection commonly attained. Physical exercise in each room was to take place at 3 o'clock; and recess at 4, for the pupils remaining. In accord- ance with this regulation, it was found that about 18} per cent. of the pupils were detained till 5 o'clock. Some of the teachers were much pleased with the operation of this plan, since it gave them the opportunity for individual work with the pupils who specially need it, the absence of which is the greatest defect of graded schools. Other teachers could not convince their scholars that there was any other purpose than penalty, in their remaining till 5 o'clock. This was unskillfulness. On the whole, the plan was working well, and might have produced still better results.
THE NEW RULES,
adopted in May, reduced the afternoon session to two hours ; and this change has given general satisfaction to parents and teachers. It is now too early to decide whether the progress of the schools
62
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 28.
is advanced or retarded by this change. Some of the teachers believe that less work can be accomplished. Whether this is true or not, it is not probable that we shall ever return to the old hours, so strong is the tendency in all quarters to reduce the hours of labor. Let us hope that better methods of teaching and more punctual attendance will make up for reduced time.
TEACHERS.
Of the one hundred and fifty-nine teachers at present employed in the day schools, ten, including the special teacher of music, are males. One of these has been employed during the year to fill a vacancy caused by death. Of the female teachers, thirty- two have been employed during the year. More than twenty per cent. then of the whole corps, are employed for the first time each year. This would give an average term of service of less than five years. I believe that, for a series of years, the average would not much exceed four years.
This frequent change of teachers seriously impedes the pro- gress of our schools. It is still worse, since a large portion of the new comers are untrained ; but the changes are unavoidable ; they come about in the regular course of nature. In the first place, among so many workers of any class, there will always be a proportion of incompetent or unsuitable persons, who, in the fullness of time, must drop out ; and, in the second place, matri- mony is a goal which a large number of unmarried women must reach year by year, so long as society exists. Among those women who are fitted by nature to be the guides and instructors of children and youth, the proportion who marry is as large as that of any other class of young ladies, if not larger. Should it then be the policy of this committee to employ, as far as possi- ble, those only who are probably exempt from liability to this change? To discriminate here would not be easy ; and the quali- ties of love of children, amiability, gentleness and affection, which make woman the superior of man in the discipline of children, and therefore fit her especially for places in our schools, are the very qualities which, as a rule, will subsequently withdraw her from them. I mean that a majority of female teachers will
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.