USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1886-1889 > Part 13
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The Committee hardly needed this stimulus, the subject having already been so many times considered and examined by them with care.
However, a sub-committee of three was promptly appointed, who worked patiently from first to last for a satisfactory solution of the difficulty which they at last found. The rapid growth of school population had now made the estab- lishment of a fourth school in the Locke building justifiable. Therefore they were able to report a plan which was adopted by the Committee, and went into effect in last September.
The old Cutter district was divided by a line just below Forest street into two distinct grammar districts-the Cutter and the Locke. In each district are four schools, the nine grammar and primary grades existing under our system being distributed among them, by putting two classes in each
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 129
room, except the upper, where there are three. Each dis- trict is under the supervision of the principal of its school, and, in fact, they are entirely independent, with two excep- tions. First the master of the Cutter School may be called upon if necessary to aid in the enforcement of discipline in the Locke School, and, secondly all scholars in the first grade attend the Cutter School during the present year-at the request of the parents who wished that their children, who had already been under Mr. Soule's instruction for a year, should so continue.
The plan thus established has worked well -- so far as the Committee can judge, and has much pleased the citizens of that section. A special word of deserved praise is due to the teachers who have heartily worked for the success of the new system, although in almost every case their duties have been made more difficult, since each teacher has been obliged, in whole or in part, to teach a new set of subjects to a new school.
· The difficulties are settled in this way for the present. One serious disadvantage, necessarily introduced, has been the break in our graded system caused by putting two classes in one room and especially by putting three classes in the principal's room.
It will be remembered that formerly the primary teacher in the Locke School had three classes under her care. The difficulty may appear to have been simply transferred to a teacher in charge of older pupils. But we believe that the principal of a grammar school can handle the three highest grades, the classes being small in numbers, with much less difficulty than the primary teacher can manage the three lowest grades, the classes being large enough to over-crowd the school-room.
It may be well to bear in mind however, that clearly where scholars of so many grades have to be taught by one
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
teacher the time which can be given to each class is neces- sarily abridged and parts of the work must be hurried over.
It seems to be the conclusion reached by nearly everyone who has carefully looked over the whole subject in all its bearings that as the school population increases and outstrips the present accommodations the final remedy may be the build- ing of a new school-house near the Foot of the Rocks which may contain the four or five highest grades from both districts, each class to be under one teacher, and the principal to supervise the whole district, while the present buildings will serve to accommodate the lower grades.
Although the need of such a building may seem not ur- gent at present, no harm can be done by bearing the matter in mind, and considering at any rate the selection of a proper site before it is too late.
A far more pressing need exists at the other end of the town, where the two rooms in the Crosby school-house have served to accommodate all the primary scholars from that dis- trict. The rapid and continuing growth of that part of the town has caused these rooms to become greatly crowded of late years. The subjoined figures will tell the story of the in- crease in these schools more clearly than words. The whole number of scholars in the Crosby Schools in September, 1880, was 75; in 1881,-77; in 1882,-77; in 1883,-83 ; in 1884,-79 ; in 1885,-104; in 1886,-84; and finally in September last,-97.
It will be observed that the climax was reached two years ago, in 1885, when these two rooms furnished accommodations for 104 scholars.
Turning now to the school report for that year, we find that the Committee called attention to the situation at some length, the statement closing with these words : " It seems none too soon for the town to provide for the inevitable by erecting at once on the old grounds a substantial school building, with at least four large rooms."
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
At the present time we think a third school should be established at once, and a fourth in the near future. There- fore we again advise that a four-room building be erected as soon as may be.
As predicted in last year's report the Prudential Committee found no great alterations or extensive repairs to make in properly caring for the school buildings and grounds. We believe in the policy of having everything that is done, done thoroughly and properly once and for all, and this statement applies to the alterations and repairs made this year, as well as to those made heretofore. As fully explained in former reports such a plan leaves little to be done from year to year beyond attending to the usual general repairs, and it keeps our school property in a generally satisfactory condition.
The Cutter school-house, with its out-buildings and fences, received one good coating of paint, and the shingling of the roof, begun last year, was completed. Twenty new seats and desks of an approved pattern were put in Miss Brady's room in place of old ones which were out of repair and too small for the grades occupying the room under the new plan. In fact, all the remaining seats and desks are out of repair and too small for the grades, being without ink-wells and without proper shelf-room for text-books. They should be replaced by larger and more modern seats and desks.
In the Locke school-house, the new plan necessitated of course the rearrangement of seats, desks, etc., in most of the rooms, and the purchase of considerable new school fur- niture, since the fourth and only remaining empty room was to be fitted for occupancy. The school furniture, seats, desks, etc., already in the building were transferred to the three rooms to be occupied by the lower grades, and properly ar- ranged.
Miss Pierce wished to retain her old room, and so it was fitted up with seats, desks, etc., suitable for the three high-
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
est grammar grades,-only 24 desks being supplied for the present ;' enough, it is thought, to meet all probable demands. A new teacher's desk was purchased for this room, large and well adapted to all the wants and requirements of the principal of such a school.
It was found, soon after opening the fourth room, that the heating capacity of the two furnaces, which were expected to warm the whole building, would probably be taxed to the utmost. On some previous occasions it had become neces- sary to push these furnaces very hard. With the object of using all means at our disposal to aid in keeping the house warm, at the close of the year, two portable partitions were added in the lower hall just inside each entrance door, making in effect a good storm door at each end of the building. Bearing in mind the difficulties we have had heretofore in keeping this house supplied with good, healthy and palatable drinking water, it may be well to mention the fact that the cistern in the basement which supplies this school-house, was pumped dry during the summer vacation, and thoroughy cleansed. This insures for several months, at least, a supply of as pure water as could be desired, viz : - filtered rain water from a clean reservoir.
The Prudential Committee would call attention here to some alterations and improvements which we believe it is im- perative should be made at once, and would ask that the proper appropriation of money be specially made for carry- ing these changes into effect.
At the Cutter school-house new floors of properly seasoned wood should be laid in both rooms in the second story ; the wood-work and all the school furniture should be carefully cleaned, shellacced and varnished; in short, these rooms should be put in thoroughly good repair.
Even since the Cutter building was erected, the janitor has been obliged to wade through water to his furnaces, for
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
from one to three weeks during the annual spring thaws and freshets. On several occasions the water has risen high enough to put the furnace fires out.
The necessity of trying to get rid of such a difficulty must be obvious to all. It seems hardly necessary to mention the troubles and dangers resulting ; among which are the damp cellar with consequent dangers and risks for so many chil- dren in the four rooms above ; the annoyance to the janitor, not to speak in stronger terms; and the fact that certain exposed parts of the furnaces rust out and have to be replaced much more frequently than in any other of our school-houses. It is thought that a trench can be dug and a drain-pipe laid to take away all this water from directly beneath the fur- naces. From the nature of the soil, the presence of ledges of hard rock, etc., the difficulties are insurmountable in the way of shutting the water entirely out of the basement at the outset.
When this drain-pipe is. laid, advantage should be taken of the opportunity for laying a water pipe for a second supply of water,-one pipe to supply each story. For at present, there is so little pressure in the water pipes at this point, that no water can be had in the upper story while a single faucet is turned on in the lower.
It is thought that an appropriation of $650 will enable us to make these improvements.
It may be a surprise to many to know that the heating apparatus in the Russell school-house is inadequate for its purpose during our coldest winter weather. Such is the fact, however, which has become very evident now that all the twelve rooms are occupied.
The radiators in the building are sufficient and furnish enough radiating surface at all points, but the furnaces and boilers are not large enough to supply the steam required to fill them at the critical moment, even when pushed to their
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
utmost by skilled hands. The steam for heating the build- ing has been supplied by two boilers, one of which only is used during the early fall and late in the spring months.
We would recommend that one of the boilers now in use be taken out, leaving the second in position, and that a tubular boiler be put in the place of the one removed,-a boiler large enough to furnish all the steam that can, by any possibility, be required during the very coldest weather, and with some considerable still in reserve. The economy of such a plan must be obvious to all; for then only a single furnace and boiler would be needed at any and all times. The small one would serve as at present, early and late in the season, while the new tubular boiler alone would supply steam enough during the winter season.
Some $650 will be required to make the desired change.
Turning to the work of the schools, we report that it has been properly carried on and that they are now in a condition quite creditable and satisfactory. The same teachers remain in charge, the only change in the number consisting in the addition of Miss Mary E. Rogers who was appointed as teacher of the new school in the Locke building. Miss Rogers is a teacher of experience and her work here already convinces us of her excellent qualifications for the position.
Miss Simmons has returned to her duties at the High School to the great satisfaction of all connected with it. During her year's absence her place was supplied by Miss May C. Hardy and it is a source of satisfaction to the Com- mittee that we were able to find one of our own graduates capable of filling a position, in some respects of peculiar difficulty, with so much intelligence and success.
The High School has had a prosperous year. The build- ing although never designed for the purpose and with some incurable defects has, nevertheless, within the last few years been so altered as to be much less unfit than formerly and
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
the rooms have been made attractive by the addition of valuable pictures, etc., procured largely by the efforts of the scholars under Mr. Fisher's direction.
The course of study has been modified from time to time as experience directed, and so as to make it conform to the requirements for admission to college, and, as it now stands, is printed with this report, together with the list of text- books now in use. This is done in response to frequent requests from parents and from others outside our own town for our printed course of study. We believe it will be seen to be an attractive and useful course, and one well adapted to modern needs.
COURSE OF STUDY FOR THE COTTING HIGH SCHOOL.
ENGLISH COURSE.
FIRST TERM.
SECOND TERM.
THIRD TERM.
FIRST YEAR.
Algebra. Physiology. History.
Algebra. Eng. Composition. General History.
Algebra. Rhetoric. Botany.
SECOND YEAR.
Geometry. Arithmetic. French. Rhetoric.
Geometry. Arithmetic. French. Eng. Literature.
Astronomy, or Mineralogy. French. Eng. Literature.
THIRD YEAR.
Physics. French. Eng. Literature.
Physics. French. Eng. Literature.
Civil Government. French. Eng. Literature.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
CLASSICAL COURSE.
FIRST TERM.
SECOND TERM.
THIRD TERM.
FIRST YEAR.
Algebra. Physiology. Latin.
Algebra. Eng. Composition. Latin.
Algebra. Rhetoric. Latin.
SECOND YEAR.
Geometry. Arithmetic. Rhetoric. Latin.
Geometry. Arithmetic. Eng. Literature. Latin.
Mineralogy, or Astronomy. Eng. Literature. Latin.
THIRD YEAR.
Physics. Eng. Literature. Latin.
Physics. Eng. Literature. Latin.
Civil Government. Eng. Literature. Latin.
COLLEGE COURSE.
FIRST TERM.
SECOND TERM.
THIRD TERM.
FIRST YEAR.
Algebra. Physiology. Latin.
Algebra. Eng. Composition. Latin.
Algebra. Rhetoric. Latin.
SECOND YEAR.
Latin. Greek. French.
Latin. Greek. French.
Latin. Greek. French.
THIRD YEAR.
Latin. Greek. French.
Latin. Greek. French.
Latin. Greek. French.
FOURTH YEAR.
Latin. Greek. Physics. Adv. Algebra. Arithmetic.
Latin and Greek. Greek History. Physics, Adv. Geometry.
.
English. Roman History. Astronomy. Latin. Greek.
الى
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
TEXT-BOOKS USED IN THE COTTING HIGH SCHOOL.
Mathematics.
Physics. Chemistry.
Mineralogy. Astronomy. Physiology. Botany.
History.
Gray's Manual and Field Book. Berard's English. Barnes' General. United States. Leighton's Rome. Smith's Greece. Kellogg's.
Chittenden's.
Allen and Greenough's Grammar. Allen and Greenough's Cæsar. Allen and Greenough's Ovid. Allen and Greenough s Virgil. Allen and Greenough's Cicero.
Collar and Lessons.
Daniell's
Latin.
Greek.
Daniell's Sentences from
Cæsar.
Jones' Prose Composi-
tion.
Bennett's
Prose
Com-
position.
White's Lexicon.
White's Lessons.
·
Goodwin's Grammar.
Anabasis.
Boise's Iliad.
Goodwin's Herodotus. Jones' Prose Composi- tion. Sidgmik's Prose Com- position. Liddell and Scott's Lexicon. Keetel's Analytical Grammar. Keetel's Reader. Sauveur's Grammar. Causeries. Henniquin's Idioms. Duffet's Literature. Cassell's Lexicon. Littre's Various authors are used for reading. Various books and lec- tures.
Rhetoric. English Composition. Latin.
Algebra, Wentworth's Elements: Geometry, Wentworth's Plane and Solid .. Geometry, Bradbury's Elements. Arithmetic, Thompson's Commercial. Avery's Elements. Steele's Fourteen Weeks. Dana's Elements. Rolfe and Gillette's. Hutchison's. Gray's How Plants Grow.
French.
English Literature. Music.
Eichberg's High School Reader. Holt and Tuft's High School Reader. Veazie's High School Reader.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
To facilitate the work in the scientific branches, a con- siderable quantity of apparatus in physics and astromony has been procured at an expense astonishingly small com- pared with its educational value. Special mention should be made of Yaggy's Physiological Chart, which has recently been obtained.
The mention of Yaggy's Chart suggests a topic in regard to which inquiries have often been made, viz. the teaching of physiology in our schools with especial reference to the temperance question. The legal requirement is (St. 1885, ch. 322) : "Physiology and hygiene, which in both divisions of the subject, shall include special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, stimulants and narcotics on the human system, shall be taught as a regular branch of study to all pupils in all schools supported wholly or in part by public money," except certain special schools. The Com- mittee believe that the law is observed, not simply to the letter but in spirit as well, in all our schools, although as in all other studies the amount and character of instruction must vary with the age and capacity of the pupils.
In the grammar and primary schools there is little that calls for special comment. On the establishment of the Locke district Miss Pierce was made principal, with the same authority in matters of study and discipline as is given to the grammar masters in the other districts. Miss Scanlan was also given the same powers in the Crosby district. By such division of authority the proper supervision of schools is best secured, the schools in each district having a respon- sible head, while each school is under the further supervision of a sub-committee of this Board and all under the control of the Chairman. The question of the appointment of a Superintendent of Schools which has frequently been before this and former Committees again arose this year and was referred to a sub-committee who after mature deliberation
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
were unable to recommend the appointment of such an officer, believing that under the above described system, our schools are not suffering from lack of proper oversight.
The attendance of pupils has as a general thing been good. Parents evidently appreciate the advantages freely offered by our schools and willingly co-operate with the Committee in seeing that children attend school regularly and punctually. Such cases of truancy as have arisen have been promptly and vigorously taken in hand by the truant officers and satisfactorily and quickly settled, without further legal pro- ceedings. It is a noticeable fact that these cases almost without exception have occurred in the Russell district.
The town has been remarkably healthy during the year 1887, as far as those contagious diseases are concerned which affect school attendance. While severe epidemics of contagious diseases, - notably of scarlet fever, - have ap- peared in Boston and in several of the smaller cities and towns about us,-some of such severity as to make the tem- porary closing of school necessary, the situation with us has at no time been grave enough to lead us to think for a moment of the advisability of closing any of our schools. In fact the question has never come before us at all in any form. And yet, under the circumstances described, it was to be expected that exaggerated reports should circulate of the existence of large numbers of cases of scarlet fever in our schools, and, on more than one occasion, of our decision to close some school.
We are fortunate in being able to report so favorably, since there are good reasons for believing that the State laws and our town rules bearing on this subject have not always been carefully and promptly complied with. These laws and the rules and regulations of our Board have of course been established for the general good, and constant watchfulness and willing obedience to such rules are at all times necessary.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Bearing in mind the old adage, " In times of peace pre- pare for war," and feeling that such fortunate freedom from epidemics as we have lately enjoyed is very apt to be fol- lowed by carelessness or at least indifference, it has seemed advisable to state here just what the statutes require and what our own special regulations provide.
The laws of the Commonwealth provide [Rev. St. 1882, Chap. 47, Sect. 9], that " The School Committee shall not allow a child who has not been duly vaccinated to be admit- ted to or connected with the public schools." Again they provide [St. 1884, Chap. 98 ], that the Selectmen or the Board of Health, and through them the School Committee shall be promptly notified of the existence of every case of contagious disease. by the householder in whose family such case exists, and also by the physician in charge. And again [St. 1885, Chap. 98], they provide as follows :
AN ACT
to prevent the spread of contagious diseases through the Public Schools.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows :
Chapter sixty-four of the acts of the year eighteen hun- dred and eighty-four is hereby amended so that it shall read as follows :-- The school committees shall not allow any pupil to attend the public schools while any member of the household to which such pupil belongs is sick of small-pox, diphtheria, or scarlet fever, or during a period of two weeks after the death, recovery or removal of such sick person ; and any pupil coming from such household shall be required to present to the teacher of the school the pupil desires to attend a certificate from the attending physician or Board of
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Health, of the facts necessary to entitle him to admission, in accordance with the above regulation.
The rules of our Board read as follows :
1. No pupil shall be admitted into any school without a certificate from a physician that he or she has been vaccinated.
2. No teacher or scholar shall be allowed to attend school from any house in which small-pox, varioloid, scarlet fever, or diphtheria exists.
3. No teacher or scholar shall be permitted to return to school from any house in which small-pox, varioloid, scarlet fever, or diphtheria has existed, without a written state- ment from a physician that such length of time has elapsed from the commencement of the last case in such house as to make the return safe, in his judgment.
4. No teacher or scholar shall be allowed to attend school who is affected with measles or whooping cough.
5. Teachers shall have authority to exclude, temporarily, from school any scholar who may be affected with other diseases or eruptions of doubtful character ; but all such cases shall be at once reported to the sub-committee having charge of the school.
It is hoped that all our town's-people will acquaint them- selves with these rules and bear them in mind at all times ; and that parents will, if necessary, err on the safe side, rather than run any risk in doubtful cases, until the doubt is settled. In such cases, if all will work together for the public good, we can reasonably expect to report just as favorably a year hence.
Mr. W. E. Wood reports for the sub-committee on Music as follows :
"Musical instruction has received especial attention in all the grades, both from Prof. L. B. Marshall and from the teachers. The new Holt and Tuft's text-books, which were introduced last year, and which have been supplemented during this year by an additional grade,-' The Introductory
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Third Reader,'-have afforded abundant material for hard work, and it is gratifying to report that the interest of the scholars seems to have been stimulated by the vigorous har- mony of the exercises and songs, which has caused them to develop, even among the younger classes, a comprehension of scientific musical chords and progressions, which once would have been thought to be entirely beyond their power to appreciate.
No year has ever produced better educational results in music in our schools than the one just closed. While the casual listener might say that the concerted singing of the classes is now no better than one year ago, the musically- versed can discern in their work a mastering of difficulties in intervals, in suspensions, in relation of keys, in discordant harmonies, and in broken time, which evinces faithful and intelligent application, and which is of more real benefit to the pupils than scores of pretty songs, rote-learned, could be.
Self-reliance on the part of the scholars has noticeably in- creased ; and it seems fair to predict that a continuation of present methods of musical instruction will result in surpris- ing accomplishments, in sight-reading and correct intonating, and will elevate the musical taste of our school-children to a standard of appreciation which was not possible to be obtained in former days except by expensive private tuition."
In conclusion we would commend our schools to your favorable consideration ; and would ask that by more fre- quent visits to the schools while in session, and by an appropriation of money for school purposes, liberal as heretofore and commensurate with the grand object aimed at, you may show that our schools have your hearty support and your Committee your entire confidence.
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