USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Town annual reports of the several departments for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1884 > Part 21
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464 MAIN STREET.
Members whose term expires January, 1887.
Members whose term expires January, 1886.
Members whose term expires January, 1885.
GEO. F. THOMPSON. AUSTIN P. CRISTY.
FORREST E. BARKER. DENIS SCANNELL.
M. J. P. MCCAFFERTY. THOMAS J. CONATY. WILLIE C. YOUNG. KATE C. TAFT.
JOHN J. CASEY.
CHARLES M. LAMSON. EUGENE M. MORIARTY. JOHN B. COSGROVE. GEORGE C. REIDY. HENRY S. KNIGHT. ALZIRUS BROWN.
EMERSON WARNER. HENRY L. PARKER. JOSEPH F. LOVERING. EDW. B. GLASGOW. GEORGE SWAN.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
ON SCHOOL-HOUSES .- Messrs. Brown, Cosgrove, Reidy and McCafferty.
ON BOOKS AND APPARATUS .- Messrs. Scannell, Parker, Knight and Young.
ON TEACHERS .- Superintendent ex-officio, and Messrs. Conaty, Lamson, Swan, Warner and Barker.
ON APPOINTMENTS .- Superintendent ex-officio, Mrs. Taft and Messrs. Glas- gow and Casey.
ON FINANCE .- The Mayor ex-officio, Messrs. Warner, Moriarty, Cristy, Thompson and Lovering.
The Committee of Visitation shall exercise a general supervision over the schools to which they are severally assigned, and shall visit them not less than once in four weeks, and report their condition at the monthly meeting of the Board .- [Rules, Chap. 3, Sec. 6.
333
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Though each school is assigned to a special committee, yet every member of the Board shall consider it his duty to watch over and visit all the public schools of the city, as his convenience will permit .- [ Sec. 7.
VISITING COMMITTEES.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Messrs. Warner, Conaty, Lamson, Swan, Glasgow, Mrs. Taft and Parker.
TEACHERS. Alfred S. Roe, Principal.
A. Carey Field,
Jennie I. Ware, Nellie M. White,
William F. Abbot,
Rachel L. Moore, Annie L. Fifield,
Joseph H. Perry,
Mary L. Bridgman, Florence Snow,
John W. Gordon,
(Alice Goddard),
Mary E. Whipple,
Mary P. Jefts,
James Mahoney, John I. Souther,
Helen M. Parkhurst.
The ROMAN NUMERALS designate the ROOMS to which members of com- mittees are specially assigned, and the GRADES according to the course of study.
BELMONT STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Lamson,
Arthur G. Lewis, Principal,
IX
Lamson,
(Emma C. McClellan), Assistant.
Lamson,
Mary H. Warren,
Lamson,
Sarah M. Averill,
VIII
Lamson,
Sarah L. Phillips,
VII
Lamson,
Tirzah S. Nichols,
VI
Lamson,
Owen H. Conlin,
VI
Parker,
Jennie L. Dearborn,
V
Parker,
Esther G. Chenery,
V
Parker,
Carrie P. Townsend,
IV
Parker,
Mattie A. Collins,
IV
Parker,
Carrie A. Smith,
III
Mrs. Taft,
Mary T. Gale,
III
Mrs. Taft,
Eliza T. Gilbert,
II
Mrs. Taft,
Anna M. Waite,
II
Mrs. Taft,
Lilla F. Upton,
I
Mrs. Taft,
Hattie B. Andrews,
I
DIX STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Brown,
William H. Bartlett, Principal,
IX
Brown,
Clara Manly, Assistant.
Brown,
Effie F. Kinne,
VIII
Brown,
Mattie Howe,
VII
Brown,
Minnie W. Sherman,
VI
Moriarty,
Nellie F. Lindsay,
V
Moriarty,
Susie W. Forbes,
IV
Moriarty,
Esther B. Smith,
IV-III
Moriarty, Moriarty,
Alice W. Giddings,
III
Alice E. Johnson,
II
Moriarty,
Harriet Lightbourn,
II-I
Moriarty,
Gertrude Melanefy,
I
334
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
WINSLOW STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE. IX
Lovering,
J. Chauncey Lyford, Principal,
Lovering,
(Ella K. Morgan), Assistant.
Lovering,
Sarah Brigbam,
Lovering,
Mary A. Drake,
VIII
Lovering,
Jessie M. Nichols,
VII
Lovering,
Lucy Lewisson,
VI
Lovering,
Octavia H. Vaughan,
V
Lovering,
Ella E. Goddard,
V-IV
Lovering,
Eliza J. Seaver,
IV
Cristy,
Ida M. McCambridge,
III
Cristy,
Emma G. Goodwin,
III-II
Cristy,
A. Calista Hale,
II
Cristy,
Mary E. Horgan,
I
WOODLAND STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Mrs. Taft,
Joseph Jackson, Principal,
IX
Mrs. Taft,
Alice E. Meriam, Assistant.
Mrs. Taft,
Ann S. Dunton,
VIII
Mrs. Taft,
Mary M. Lawton,
VII
Mrs. Taft,
Jennie L. Higgins,
VII-VI
Mrs. Taft,
Carrie R. Clements,
VI
Conaty,
Martha T. Wyman,
V
Conaty,
Susie A. Partridge,
V
Conaty,
Sarah J. Melanefy,
IV
Conaty,
M. Rosalie Goddard,
IV
Conaty,
Maggie I. Melanefy,
III
Brown,
Carrie F. Meriam,
III
Brown,
Maggie A. Flaherty,
II
Brown,
Emma Buckley,
II-I
Brown,
Mary E. Proctor,
I
Brown,
Mary L. Haselden,
I
WASHINGTON STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Reidy,
Charles T. Haynes, Principal,
IX
Reidy,
Ida L. Gaskill, Assistant.
Reidy,
M. Louise Rice,
LEDGE STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Barker,
Charles C. Woodman, Principal,
IX
Barker,
Margaret M. Geary, Assistant.
Barker,
Emma L. Cowles,
VIII
Barker,
Maria P. Cole,
VII
Barker,
Kate A. McCarthy,
VI
Barker,
(Mary J. Packard),
VI
Barker,
Daniel H. Casey,
V
Barker,
Frances M. Athy,
V-IV
Barker,
Mary E. D. King,
IV
Moriarty,
Fanny A. Williams,
III
Moriarty,
Carrie E. Howe,
II
Moriarty,.
Mary B. Dudley,
I
Moriarty,
Hannah M. Kickham,
I
Barker,
Alice G. McMahon,
335
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
THOMAS STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Moriarty,
Harriet G. Waite, Principal,
VIII
Moriarty,
Mary E. Houghton, Assistant.
Moriarty,
Abbie C. Souther,
VII
Moriarty,
Belle H. Tucker,
VII
Moriarty,
Anna P. Smith,
VI
Lamson,
Mary E. Fitzgerald,
VI - V
Lamson,
Rosa I. Seavey,
V
Lamson,
Lucia N. Jennison,
IV
Lamson,
(Eudora A. Dearborn),
IV
Lamson,
(Esther E. Travis.)
Lamson,
Nellie M. Rood.
Knight,
Ella A. Casey,
III
Knight,
Addie E. Sprague,
II
Knight,
Mary E. Barnard,
II-I
Knight,
Jennie C. Clough,
I
EDGEWORTH STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS. GRADE.
Knight,
Ella E. Roper, Principal,
VIII-VII
Knight,
Anna T. Cavanough,
VI
Knight,
Jennie E. Maloney,
V
Knight,
Julia E. Greenwood,
V-IV
Knight,
Sarah M. Brigham,
IV
McCafferty,
Hattie G. Gates,
III
McCafferty,
Fransess D. Martin,
II
McCafferty,
Estella V. Rolston,
I
McCafferty,
(Selma P. Ahlstrom),
I
McCafferty,
Addie T. Gauren.
WALNUT STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Warner,
Nellie C. Thomas, Principal,
VIII
Warner,
Kate A. Meade,
VII
Warner,
Ella M. Macfarland,
VI
Parker,
Mary L. Norcross,
V
Parker,
Kate A. Coughlin,
IV
Parker,
Mary E. McCormick,
III-II
Parker,
Alphonsine T. L'Esperance,
I
OXFORD STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Swan,
Ella L. Dwyer, Principal,
VIII
Swan,
Mary A. Hathaway,
VII
Swan,
Olive G. Davidson,
VII
Swan,
Nettie A. Murray,
VI
Swan,
Eva E. Stone,
VI-V
Swan,
(Mary F. Harrington),
V
Swan,
Louise F. Clark,
Scannell,
Mabel B. Tew,
IV
Scannell,
Mary F. Barker,
III
Scannell,
M. Gertrude Griggs,
II
Scannell,
Catherine T. Nevins,
I
336
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
SYCAMORE STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Parker,
Charlotte H. Munger, Principal, Janet Martin,
VIII
Parker,
VII
Parker,
A. Teresa Timon,
VI
Parker,
S. Lizzie Carter,
Young,
Hattie S. Hagen,
IV
Young,
Sarah W. Clements,
III
Young,
Ida A. E. Kenney,
II
Young,
Eliza J. Day,
I
NEW WORCESTER.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Thompson,
M. Ella Spalding, Principal.
VIII-VII
Thompson,
Martha D. Adams,
VI-V
Thompson,
M. Ella Clark,
V-IV
Reidy,
Jennie M. Tainter,
III
Reidy,
Anna B. Ranger,
II
Reidy,
Rebecca H. Davie,
I
SOUTH WORCESTER.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Conaty,
Carrie A. George, Principal,
VIII
Conaty,
John E. Lynch,
VII
Conaty,
Ellen M. Boyden,
VI
Conaty,
Edward A. Quinland,
V
Swan,
Mary O. Whitney,
IV
Swan,
Lydia W. Ball,
III
Swan,
Mary C. Paige,
II
Swan,
Maggie A. Mahony,
II-I
Swan,
(Jennie M. Sprout),
I
Ellen G. Daley.
MILLBURY STREET.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Glasgow,
Francis P. Mckeon, Principal,
IX-VIII
Glasgow,
Ella J. Lyford, Assistant,
VII
Glasgow,
Eliza J. Lawler,
VI
Glasgow,
Harriet E. Maynard,
V
Casey,
Elida M. Capen,
IV
Casey,
Hattie S. Putnam,
III
Casey,
Mabel Piper,
II
Casey,
Mary L. Gafney,
I
Alice A. Tatman.
PROVIDENCE STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Barker,
Etta A. Rounds, Principal,
VIII
Barker,
Etta R. Leonard,
VII
Barker,
Mary E. Convery,
VI
COMMITTEE.
Swan,
COMMITTEE.
Glasgow,
Mary A. Rourke,
Casey,
COMMITTEE.
337
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Barker,
Marion C. Tucker,
V
Warner,
Emma M. Plimpton,
IV
Warner,
Sarah J. Newton,
III
Warner,
Mary A. Kane,
II
Warner,
Mary C. Smith,
I
LAMARTINE STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Casey,
Arthur Hay, Principal,
VIII-VII
Casey,
Ida A. Tew, Assistant.
Casey,
John F. O'Connor,
VI
Casey,
Louise A. Dawson,
V
Casey,
Mary E. Kavanagh,
V
Glasgow,
Ellen T. Shannon,
IV
Glasgow,
Anna M. Murray,
III
Glasgow,
Abbie F. Hemenway,
III
Glasgow,
Emma F. Brown,
II
Glasgow,
Ida F. Boyden,
II
Glasgow,
Mary B. Wheatley,
I
Glasgow,
Mary C. Morrissey,
I
Glasgow,
Helena B. O'Keefe,
I
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Scannell,
Richard H. Mooney, Principal,
VIII-VII
Scannell,
Helena M. Kalaher,
VI
Scannell,
Olive M. Butler,
V
Lovering,
Edna Currier,
IV
Lovering,
Mary A. Winter,
III
Lovering,
Alice V. Phelps,
II
Lovering,
Mary G. Smith,
I
ADRIATIC.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Casey,
Emma A. Porter, Principal,
VII
Casey,
(Sarah E. Rogers,)
VI
Casey,
L. Elizabeth King,
Casey,
Lizzie E. Chapin,
V
Casey,
Mary M. Bowen,
V-IV
Casey,
Abby B. Shute,
IV
Cristy,
Mary A. McGillicuddy,
III
Cristy,
Cora A. Baldwin,
II
Cristy,
Margaret F. Hagan,
II
Cristy,
Etta T. Whalen,
I
Cristy,
Ellen F. Fallon,
I
EAST WORCESTER.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS. GRADE.
Cosgrove,
Ella W. Foskett, Principal,
VI
Cosgrove,
Minnie M. Parmenter, Assistant.
Cosgrove,
Annie Brown,
V
Cosgrove,
Mary E. C. Carroll,
V-IV
Julia A. Bunker,
Thompson,
QUINSIGAMOND.
338
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Kate C. Cosgrove,
III
(Aloysia Radcliffe,)
III
Thompson,
Mary J. Sullivan,
Reidy,
Mary E. Russell,
II
Reidy,
Mary J. O'Connor,
II
Reidy,
Maggie E. Magone,
I
Reidy,
Anna T. Kelley,
I
ASH STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Cristy,
Mary J. Mack, Principal,
VI
Cristy,
Mary S. Eaton,
V
Cristy,
Mabel Crane,
IV
McCafferty,
Kate A. Fallon,
III
McCafferty,
Sarah A. Boyd,
II
McCafferty,
Marina H. Tucker,
I
GRAFTON STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Young,
Bridget T. Carlon, Principal,
V
Young,
Evelyn E. Towne,
IV
Young,
Kate A. McLoughlin,
III
Cosgrove,
Margaret J. McCann,
III-II
Cosgrove,
Carrie M. Adams,
I
Cosgrove,
Ella J. Emerson,
I
SUMMER STREET.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
McCafferty,
Mary A. Gauren, Principal,
McCafferty,
Mary A. Hayward,
IV
McCafferty,
Anna T. Smith,
III
Thompson,
Alice Chapin,
II
Thompson,
(Arabell E. Burgess,)
I
Thompson,
Agnes R. Stewart.
SALEM STREET.
TEACHERS. GRADE.
Cosgrove,
Minnie F. Whittier, Principal,
IV
Cosgrove,
Mary O. Whitmore,
III
Cosgrove,
Addie M. Blenus,
II
Cosgrove,
Nellie J. Carlon,
I
UNION HILL.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Barker,
Etha M. Stowell, Principal,
IV-III
Barker,
Anna D. Stowell,
II-I
MASON STREET.
COMMITTEE.
TEACHERS.
GRADE.
Lovering,
Mary E. Pease, Principal,
II
Lovering,
Effie L. Bennett,
I
Thompson, Thompson,
COMMITTEE.
COMMITTEE.
339
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
SUBURBAN.
COMMITTEE. PLACE.
TEACHERS.
Northville,
(Mary F. Lewis.)
Knight,
Tatnuck,
Elma L. Studley.
Scannell,
Blithewood,
Eudora E. Hay.
Glasgow,
Bloomingdale,
Lizzie M. Urban.
Rebekah L. Taft.
Mrs. Taft,
Adams Square,
(Annie DeW. Pearce.)
Jeannie E. Sanderson.
Young,
Burncoat Plain,
Hattie L. White.
Cosgrove,
North Pond,
Etta M. Thayer.
Cosgrove,
Chamberlain,
Fanny R. Spurr.
Glasgow,
Lake View,
Minnie A. B. Chase.
Glasgow,
Lake View,
Ada B. Braman.
Mrs. Taft,
Valley Falls,
Ann Foskett,
VI-IV
Mrs. Taft,
Valley Falls,
Georgianna M. Newton, III-I
DRAWING.
COMMITTEE. Messrs. Parker, Barker, Lamson, Reidy and Swan.
TEACHER. Walter S. Perry. Fanny H. Smith, Assistant, High School.
MUSIC.
COMMITTEE. Messrs. Lovering, Cosgrove, Mrs. Taft and Mr. Swan.
TEACHER. Seth Richards.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
COMMITTEE. Messrs. Conaty, Casey, Mrs. Taft, and Messrs. Glasgow and Thompson.
TRUANT OFFICERS.
Henry E. Fayerweather, Michael J. English.
Joanna F. Smith.
Trowbridgeville,
Ada D. Saunders.
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 Seventeenth Annual Report ; and by these regulations this report, which it is the duty of the Superintendent to prepare, becomes the Report of the School Board to the public, and the school authorities of the State.
ABSTRACT OF STATISTICS, FOR THE YEAR 1884.
I. POPULATION.
Population, Census of 1880, 58,295
Estimated population, 70,000
Children between the ages of five and fifteen, May, 1884, 12,884
II. FINANCIAL.
$50,773,475 67
Valuation, May, 1884, Increase for the year, 2,203,141 00
City Debt, December, 1884, less Cash and Sinking Fund,
2,428,144 83
State, county and city tax, 1884,
879,004 54
Rate of taxation, .0166
Value of school-houses and lots,
899,336 00
Other school property,
86,139 63
* Ordinary expenses of schools,
198,388 51
Per cent. of same to valuation, .0039
Per cent. of same to whole tax, .226
Repairs of school-houses, furniture and stoves,
8,841 03
Extraordinary repairs,
$5,611 44
New furniture,
$1,093 77
Rents,
937 51
$2,031 28
$7,642 72
$214,872 26
Expended for all purposes,
$207,229 54
* See detailed Statement in Secretary's report.
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
341
Average cost per scholar for day schools, including ordinary repairs,
19 03
Average cost, for all schools, including ordinary repairs,
18 62
Same last year,
$16 88
Cost of evening schools,
3,579 79
Average per scholar,
11 30
Cost of evening drawing schools,
1,692 28
Average per scholar,
8 78
Cost of High School,
25,272 14
Increase,
7,430 19
Average per scholar,
46 98
Increase,
8 29
Expended by City Council for new school-houses,
45,366 74
III. SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Number occupied December, 1884,
41
ยท Rooms, not including recitation rooms,
234
Rooms rented,
2
Drawing school rooms, recitation and evening school rooms, additional,
9
Whole number of sittings :
In High School,
628
Grammar schools, Grades IX .- VI.,
3,060
Grammar schools, Grades V .- IV.,
2,730
Primary schools, Grades III .- II .- I.,
4,874
Suburban schools,
582
IV. SCHOOLS.
High School,
15
Grammar rooms, Grades IX .- VI.,
61
Grammar rooms, Grades V .- IV.,
55
Primary rooms, Grades III .- II .- I.,
90
Suburban schools :
13
Northville, Tatnuck, Valley Falls (2), Trowbridgeville, Blithewood, Bloomingdale, Adams Square, Burncoat Plain, North Pond, Chamberlain, Lake View (2.)
Evening schools :
9
Belmont Street, South Worcester and Grafton, for both sexes; Washington Street, New Worcester, Lamar- tine Street, Quinsigamond and East Worcester, for boys; Walnut Street, for girls.
Free Evening Drawing Schools, both sexes,
7
342
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
V. TEACHERS.
Male teachers in High School,
7
Female teachers in High School, 9
Male teachers in Grammar Schools,
14
Female teachers in all grades below the High School,
221
Special teacher of Music, male,
1
Special teacher of Drawing, male,
1
Special teacher of Drawing, female,
1
Number of teachers in Day Schools,
254
Graduates of the Worcester Training School, or of a State Normal School,
177
Male teachers in Evening Schools,
24
Female teachers in Evening Schools,
18
Teachers in Free Evening Drawing Schools, male 5, female 1,
6
Whole number of teachers,
302
VI. PUPILS.
Census of children 5 to 15, May, 1884,
12,884
Number registered in Day Schools,
12,698
Increase,
594
In Evening Schools,
423
In Free Evening Drawing Schools,
216
Number registered in all the schools,
Increase,
491
Number over 15 years old,
1,495
Estimated number attending in private schools,
1,500
Pupils in State Normal School, this city,
90
Average number belonging to public schools, Increase,
45
Average daily attendance in Day Schools, Decrease,
7
1,069
Average daily absence, Increase,
53
Number at close of Fall term, 1883,
10,014
At close of Winter term, 1883-84, Increase from last year,
174
At close of Spring term,
9,715
Increase,
65
9,516
At close of Summer term, Increase,
108
10,668
At close of Fall term, Increase,
554
Per cent. of daily attendance to average number belonging,
89.5
Decrease,
.4
13,337
Decrease, 69
10,143
9.074
9,803
SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
343
Number perfect in attendance the whole year,
133
Decrease,
55
Perfect three terms,
335
Perfect two terms,
746
Perfect one term,
1,866
Number registered in High School,
818
Increase,
146
Boys,
371
Increase, 69
Girls,
447
Increase,
77
Number at the close of the year, Increase,
78
Number of graduates, June, 1884,
50
Number left the school,
151
Average number belonging,
537.9
Average daily attendance,
521.5
Average daily absence,
16.4
Per cent. of daily attendance to average number belonging,
96.9
Average age of pupils, January 1, 1885,
16.7
Average number of pupils to a regular teacher,
33.6
THE BULLOCK
HIGH SCHOOL LIBRARY AND APPARATUS FUND.1
OFFICE OF THE CITY TREASURER, WORCESTER, MASS., December 20, 1884.
To A. P. MARBLE, EsQ.,
Supt. of Schools :
SIR :
The undersigned, as Treasurer, ex-officio, of the Bullock High School Library and Apparatus Fund, presents for your informa- tion, and for the information of the Honorable School Board, the following brief statement, showing the receipts and payments on account of said fund, during the last financial year, together with
1 For a history of this fund see School Report for 1882.
617
344
CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
the balances carried forward at the close of business on Saturday, November 29, 1884 :
Balances, December 1, 1883, viz :
Savings Bank deposits, Cash on deposit,
$1,500 00 3 92
$1,503 92
Receipts during the year, viz :
Dividends on Deposits,
60 00
Total,
$1,563 92
Payments during the year, viz :
Sundry bills for books, $59 61
Balances, November 29, 1884, viz :
Savings Bank deposits,
$1,500 00
Cash on deposit,
4 31
1,504 31
Total,
$1,563 92
Respectfully submitted.
WM. S. BARTON,
Treasurer.
FINANCIAL.
The cost of all the schools for the year, aside from the ordi- nary repairs, has been $198,383.51, against $171,919.56 for the previous year, an increase of $26,463.95. The ratio of this cost to the whole city tax is greater than the year before by two and nine-tenths per cent. Including the repairs of school-houses, furniture, stoves, &c., the cost of the schools for 1884 is $207,- 229.54, an increase over the year 1883 of $27,209.15.
Of this increase more than $20,000 was paid for school books, under the new law, for the 12,000 children. The remaining increase is due to the larger registration of pupils, which is 594. Last year the increase from 1882 was about $9,000, against about $7,000, the increase for the year 1884.
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SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
For new boilers at the High School and the enlargement of the Lake View School-house $5,611.44 has been expended; and for new furniture and seats $2,031.28. Both these items were charged to the school appropriation, making an aggregate of $214,872.26, against the sum of $182,749.50 for the year 1883.
The average cost per pupil in the day schools has increased from $17.82 in 1883 to $19.03 in 1884; and the average cost for all schools has increased from $16.88 to $18.62. This increase is about what might be expected from the cost of supplying the text-books and apparatus to pupils. It is to be remembered that these supplies will last a number of years, and a part of this increased cost properly belongs to the two or three succeed- ing years.
SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Besides the enlargement of the Lake View School-house already mentioned, two new houses of ten rooms each are in process of construction-one on Chandler street and one on Gage street near the State Normal School. These houses will accom- modate, when finished, about one thousand pupils ; but six rooms at East Worcester are to be abandoned on account of their dan- gerous and annoying proximity to the railroads. The increased room will therefore but little more than provide for the addi- tional number of pupils registered this year.
For these new houses and lots the amount thus far expended, to December 1, is $45,366.74. The entire cost will be about $57,000. There are not two prettier or more convenient houses in the city. The cost, for such buildings, is exceedingly low ; and no city can be found with houses so good at so small a cost. In a neighboring city of this State a house not better than one of these was built a few years ago at a cost of about $90,000. It costs this growing city a large sum to build school-houses as fast as they are needed. Our citizens may congratulate themselves, however, that the city is a growing and not a stagnant copora- tion, and that they get good houses cheap.
The houses are all kept in good repair, too. For this, much credit is due to the Superintendent of Public Buildings, who
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
acts under the direction of the Committee on Public Buildings of the City Council.
MORE SCHOOL-HOUSES
will be needed the coming year. Already the Millbury street house is more than full, though it was occupied for the first time but little more than a year ago. At New Worcester two rooms are now hired in a building unsuited, both in locality and in size and construction, for such a use; and another room in that neighborhood will be required before the end of this year. Besides, the Woodland street house will soon need further relief than the new house at Chandler street will give. At Sunnyside, northwest from Elm Park, there is a neighborhood with about 90 pupils, at a distance from school, now helping to crowd the Dix street school. In these three localities the School Com- mittee have already asked the Council to build houses, and they will doubtless be put up next summer.
It has come to be pretty well understood that one or two new school-houses must be built every year as long as the city con- tinues to grow as fast as it has for the past five or ten years. To neglect the building of a house one year, only lays a greater burden upon the next, besides bringing a serious interruption to the work of the schools. The liberal provision made for schools by the City Government is always approved by the citizens of Worces- ter, and to this liberal spirit may be traced much of her pros- perity. It is a well-known fact that many intelligent and well- to-do people move into the city, year by year, on account of our educational advantages of public schools, libraries, colleges and other institutions ; and thus her population and her wealth increase. For their labor in life, the men and women of to-day get only a bare living and the pleasure that comes from doing their duty. All our accumulations are for our children. It is the part of wisdom to train those children well, so that they may be able to take care of themselves, rather than to lay up money for them which somebody may steal. The building of good school-houses and the support of good schools is a part of this wise provision.
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SCHOOLS .- SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TEACHERS.
The number of teachers in the day schools is 254, and in the evening schools and the free evening drawing schools there are 48 more who are employed four months in the year, making an aggregate of 302. Of the teachers in the day schools, 177 (about 69 per cent.) have received a professional training at some normal school.
In seeking the important office of instructor of the young, no person ought to be satisfied with any preparation short of the very best within reach. At the foundation of this preparation there should be thorough scholarship and a broad culture ; a mind well disciplined by study and a heart in love with the work; for the good which a teacher may do, does not consist merely in carrying the pupil along in a fixed curriculum, and preparing him to pass an examination on certain definite topics. With this as a means, the best work is done for pupils by those teachers who, from a well-stored mind and from close observation of the children under their care, are able at the fitting time and occasion to suggest some fact to stimulate the child's mind, or to point out some way by which he may the better gain the complete control and mastery of his own powers. The end to be sought is education, and not the mere mastering of the course of study. For this higher kind of teaching a meagre preparation is not suited. Those persons who hurry forward from the Grammar School or from the first or second year in the High School, in order at the earliest possible moment to become teachers, make a great mistake. With their meagre equipment they must be inferior to what they are capable of becoming ; and it is a difficult, though not an impossible, thing for them to make up by later study what they lack in early training. To be sure, an extended course of study, through all the lower schools and the High School, with the full course of Normal School training added, can not create talent in a person of inferior capacity ; and it is doubtless true that one person with less training may make a better teacher than another who has had the whole. The important fact, how- ever, is that the thorough training would make a still better teacher of the person with natural ability; and, having the
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CITY DOCUMENT .- No. 39.
ability, he is in duty bound to make the most of himself, and become an excellent teacher instead of remaining an inferior one.
There are other schools besides State normal schools and various means of culture besides schools. The Committee here seek to get the best within their reach from whatever source, and for this purpose they hold semi-annual examinations of candidates, near the last of January and May. These examinations are open to all who apply with a probability of fitness. The principles and method on which the Committee act, and the way in which appointments are made, are set forth in the following from a former report, whose importance both to candidates and to the public seems to warrant its repetition here :-
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