USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1886-1889 > Part 31
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 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34
Writer's handbook, The. A guide to the art of compo- sition. 1409.27
Y.
*Youngest Miss Lorton, The, and other stories. Nora Perry. 83.2
Z.
Zanoni. E: Bulwer-Lytton. 65.26
*Zigzag journeys in the British Isles. Hezekiah But- terworth. 1402.24
School Committee's Report.
To the Town of Arlington :
It is the duty of the School Committee in presenting their report, to speak first of the loss recently sustained by them and by the town in the death of their Chairman, William Adams Winn.
Dr. Winn's connection with the schools of Arlington was a close one during the greater part of his life. After pass- ing through the primary and grammar grades he entered the High School when it was first established in 1864. There he spent four years, graduating in 1868. Entering Harvard College in that year he took his degree in 1872, ranking as one of the ablest scholars in his class. After a course of study in the Medical School and in the hospitals, he came back to his native town to take up the practice of his profession. In 1880 he was chosen a member of the School Board and at the time of his death had nearly com- pleted ten years of service - continuous except for about seven months in 1883 when serious illness compelled him temporarily to withdraw. He was first chosen Chairman in March, 1882, and with the exception just mentioned remained in that position until the end of his life.
In the organization of the School Board the Chairman has a most important place. Although nominally on few sub-
151
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
committees, he is considered as in fact belonging to all, and not many important things are done without his knowledge and participation. Parents naturally go to him in case their children are in any difficulty in school relations or if any special privilege is desired. Teachers consult him more frequently than they do other members. The work that almost inevitably falls upon a Chairman was increased during the time that Dr. Winn held the position, by the fact that most of his associates on the Board were men who were engaged in business in Boston, and could not, therefore, be easily reached in the daytime.
Consequently Dr. Winn had an unusual amount of work put upon him -work that required time and care. He brought to it a strong interest and certain mental qualities that made him excellent in it. He always wanted to ascer- tain all the facts of a case and was not hasty in coming to a decision. This habit of mind served an admirable purpose when complaints were made to him as to the conduct of teachers towards individual scholars. Most of such com- plaints arise from pure misunderstandings - a parent getting a distorted idea of what a teacher has said or done, or else not understanding the reason for a teacher's action ; or on the other hand a teacher acting unwisely from a failure to appreciate the scholar's intention or the parent's views. Dr. Winn was able to settle satisfactorily many cases of this sort which might have caused a good deal of irritation if he had acted hastily upon a one-sided view of the facts.
He showed great impartiality toward the various schools. Naturally he was more familiar with the schools in the neighborhood of his home than with those in other parts of the town, but he felt equally interested in them all. He looked on them as parts of one system and did not believe in favoring one at the expense of any other.
In the choice of teachers, a difficult and important duty,
152
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
he had very sound judgment. He cared much more for substantial than for showy qualities. Although giving weight to formal recommendations he mainly relied upon what he could learn in other ways of a teacher's experience and success and upon his own judgment from personal ob- servation. For this reason he always preferred to meet candidates for positions, and so get a general impression of their character, and his impression usually turned out to be well-founded.
He took a special interest in the health of the scholars and in everything relating to the ventilating and sanitary arrangements of the school-houses. As a physician such matters were peculiarly within his knowledge, and his views as to what was needed and what could be done were sound and practical.
In the general conduct of the schools - the studies to be taught in them and the relative attention to be given to each branch -he showed good common sense. He did not have hobbies, but wished the customary branches of knowledge to be well and sensibly taught. He felt a certain distrust of innovations in methods and subjects - at radical departures from the ways that experience had approved. But he was desirous that teachers should have the best appliances, in the way of improved text-books and apparatus, when he could see a real and permanent advantage.
At the meetings of the School Board he liked to have members state their views frankly, and avoided so far as he could all formalities that would hinder and delay business. He was modest in giving his own opinion, but his words always carried weight and usually commanded assent. It was always clear to his fellow-members, whether they agreed with him or not in the particular case, that he was honestly trying to come to a fair and impartial judgment on the matter under discussion.
153
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The town has reason for satisfaction in that the interests of her schools were for so long a time so largely intrusted to such a man.
The year has been an uneventful one in most of the schools. In the Cutter School there has been no change of teachers. Miss De Blois, who was away for several months in the winter of 1888-89/on account of severe sickness, was able to resume her work in the spring. During her en- forced absence her place was taken by Miss Rose Brady, who showed excellent tact and skill in the difficult position of substitute teacher, so that the loss to the school from Miss De- Blois' absence was much less than it would have been with a less efficient substitute. This school is now in excellent condition with faithful and competent teachers in all its grades and the town may be satisfied that its scholars are carefully and intelligently taught.
The Locke School has retained the same teachers in the three upper rooms. Miss Fannie E. Taylor withdrew at the end of the spring term after three years' service in the pri- mary grades. The Committee esteem themselves fortunate in securing the services of Miss Mabel E. Blake, who for several years had taught a corresponding grade in the Russell School with great success. The Locke School is in good condition : it has had a prosperous year and there is no reason to doubt that it will continue to keep on in the same path.
The Crosby School has had no change of teachers and it is hoped that there will be none. Misses Scanlan and Snelling are entirely competent teachers and in addition to their other qualifications have had much experience in this school. The number of scholars varies from year to year from temporary causes, but the eastern part of the town is steadily growing, and larger school accommodations are sure to be needed soon.
154
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
The Russell School has had several changes of teachers, occurring in the fifth and sixth grammar grades. After the transfer of Miss Flanders in November, 1888, to the position of general assistant, Miss Steele taught both divisions of the fifth class and continued so to do until her resignation at the end of the school year. Miss Steele showed origi- nality in her methods of instruction and took unusual pains to make her school attractive to her scholars. The resigna- tion of Miss Elizabeth B. Blake in November, 1888, left the second division of the fifth class without a teacher. Miss Anna H. Rood filled the vacancy temporarily ; in January Miss Sadie O. Mason was appointed, but on account of ill health was obliged to withdraw after a few days. Miss S. Alice Fell was then appointed and continued to hold the position until the summer vacation. With the help of Miss Rood who acted as assistant successively in several rooms according as her services were needed, the school year was completed in the manner just described. In the Fall how- ever, when the number of scholars was considerably increased, it seemed advisable to organize these grades regularly with two divisions in each. Accordingly the fifth grade was divided between Miss Fell and Miss Irene S. Nightingale, while the sixth was assigned to Miss Warren and Miss Lucy E. Evans. It should be said in explanation that Miss Fell's experience elsewhere had been largely in the fifth grade, and when she came here, it was with the understanding that if practicable she should teach that grade. It thus hap- pened that of the four teachers who taught these two grades in September, 1888, Miss Warren was the only one remain- ing in September, 1889. The scholars in her room had the benefit of her faithful and conscientious instruction through- out the year, while the other schools necessarily suffered somewhat from union of schools or change of teachers. We believe that the schools of these grades are in excellent
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 155
hands and that the progress already made gives promise of success in the future.
The other grades in the Russell School have suffered no change in teachers, and have gone on in the satisfactory way which we expect to find. The appointment of Miss Flan- ders as general assistant, spoken of in our last report, has proved useful. The master is now enabled to attend to duties of supervision and discipline that he could not well perform otherwise, and it is a great advantage, in case of the temporary absence of a teacher, that there should be at hand a competent substitute.
A considerable change has taken place in the High School. For some years the teaching force has consisted of a principal and two assistant teachers. At the beginning of the fall term the number was increased by the appoint- ment of Miss Ella C. Williams, a teacher of approved energy and ability, as third assistant. The reason for this step per- haps requires some explanation. To any one who estimates the necessity of an additional teacher by the simple method of dividing the number of scholars in the High School by the number of teachers, it would certainly appear uncalled for- and this conclusion would be correct if the scholars were all in the same class and all studying the same branches. But when it is considered that beside those who are pursuing the regular course, there are always some who are preparing for higher schools and need special instruction, it will not appear surprising that the teachers have been kept exceed- ingly busy. In the appointment of a fourth teacher the Committee aimed to bring about two ends in especial which they believe highly important - additional attention to those not fitting for college and a lengthening of the course of study from three years to four.
In the early days of the school the number of scholars who were preparing to enter other institutions was very
-
156
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
small. But with the growth of the school, the increase of opportunities for higher education, and the increase of the desire for education which the growing facility for obtaining it helps to produce, it has come about that there is now always a number of boys and girls in the High School who are fitting for one or another of the higher institutions of learning. To meet the strict entrance requirements and to prepare students properly to go on, requires a great deal of time and work on the part of the teachers, and the time must be taken and the work must be done unless the school is to become one of lower grade than those in the towns about us and unless citizens are to be obliged to send their children away from home for an education. While no injustice has been done to the scholars in the regular courses, who have and always have had, the greater part of the attention of the teachers, it is nevertheless true that more time may be profitably given to them and with a fourth teacher it is now possible to do so.
The other principal reason was the extension of the course to cover four years. This is not such an innovation as it might seem, since a considerable number of scholars have ordinarily returned after graduation for a fourth year. By extending the course, the branches taken up can be studied more thoroughly, and several other desirable studies for which there is not room in a three years' course may be pur- sued. While recommending that scholars take the full four years' course, which the experience of almost all the towns and cities about us has shown to be a proper length of time, the Committee have not been unmindful of the wants of those who although able to enter and remain in the school for awhile, are compelled to leave before they have completed the course. The studies have been so arranged that the first two years form, in a sense, a separate course. That is, a scholar who completes the second year will have received a
157
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
good training mainly in mathematics, English and history- especially that of England and of the United States-so that he may feel if he has to quit school then, that he has really gained something in mental discipline and in information, in- stead of feeling as so often happens, that he has merely made a beginning that is of little use to him if he cannot go on further.
The change from a three years' to a four years' course can not be made at once. The class that entered in 1887 will graduate in June, after three years' stay in the school. The class that entered in 1888 would, under the old system, graduate in 1891, but will now remain a fourth year and graduate in 1892. After that time classes will graduate regularly each year as heretofore.
Such are some of the principal features of the year's work in the schools. The annexed table states the whole number and the average attendance of scholars, and the caution given in the report of last year should be repeated, viz., that as scholars who have been members during any part of a term, are counted in making up the whole number, the re- sult so arrived at exceeds the number of members at any particular time. The average attendance is in fact more nearly equal to the full attendance than it seems to be.
The important subjects of repairs and alterations in the school-houses as well as the studies of music and drawing are not touched upon here. They are presented in the accompanying report of the Chairman of the Prudential Committee and of the Committee on Music and Drawing.
For the School Committee,
JAMES P. PARMENTER,
ARLINGTON, January, 1890.
Secretary.
158
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Report of the Prudential Committee of Public Schools for the Town of Arlington for the Year 1889.
It is not customary to make a separate report, but in the absence of a chairman, we are called upon to do so.
The Locke School has had a new furnace put into the basement of larger capacity than the old one, and the necessary repairs have been done, and we see very little to do for the coming year.
The Cutter School was last year thoroughly repaired in- side and out, and with the exception of a leaky gutter, very little has been done to this building, or will be required for some time.
The High School at the suggestion of the State Examiner of Buildings, Mr. White, has had a change in the ventilating arrangements, with what success it is difficult to state, because they are just completed ; but it is our opinion that the only permanent change that can be made that will give the re- quired result, is a new High School building ; the sooner this is under way the better.
The Crosby School has had very little done to it, the re- pair of outbuildings at a small expense, and the necessary repairs of each year.
The Russell School, besides the necessary repairs, has had the sanitary arrangements in the basements all taken out, and, after considering the various methods, have placed the Smead system in place of the old one. This is a dry closet arrangement by which the cellar and closet is venti- lated through two large chimneys, one on each side of the building, the ventilation being created and kept up by means of a fire burning all the time in the base of the chimney, the air passing over and under the deposit, thus drying it. At the Christmas vacation the Company came out and burnt it out in the presence of the Committee and other officers of
159
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
the town. We are not prepared to say that it is a complete success, but it is practically so and with a few changes will be made all that they claim for it. We awarded the con- tract to the Smead Company for $1500, payable in one year from time of completion if satisfactory. It requires some ten to twelve tons of coal to run the fires, the expense of which is partly made up by the less quantity of water for which we had a reduction of fifty dollars made ; and our cesspool, which we used to be obliged to have pumped out every year, now will have nothing to take from it, making a saving of about thirty dollars more, so that the running expenses will not be changed by the new arrangement. We invite the citizens to examine the same, and if they have ever seen the old system to notice the difference in the air in the basement now and formerly. We feel well pleased with the result thus far, and think that if the proper requirements are carried out, the new system will prove a complete success.
We asked at the March meeting for $500, for a piece of land to build a new out-building upon; also for $2500 to erect the building. After we had looked around in various places we decided upon this as the best system ; the whole cost will be about $2000, thus saving to the town the sum of $1000. The water arrangements in the basement were all taken out and relaid, the expense of which, together with the plastering around the chimneys, which were cut though six of the rooms, and the making of new black- boards around these chimneys, with many other expenses necessary to the change, are all included in the $2000. We see no call for any large expenditures the coming season, and therefore submit this as our report.
W. W. RAWSON, Chairman Prudential Committee.
160
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
Report of Committee on Music.
It is gratifying to note the steady progress that has been made in the study of music and the remarkable proficiency of the pupils.
The twofold purpose of music is to afford recreation and enjoyment and to provide a valuable means of mental and moral training. An intellectual knowledge of the subject is acquired through the training of the senses. By following the objective principle the pupil is gradually taught to per- ceive the real though hidden things pertaining to the subject, to form mental conceptions of the various elements. When these mental impressions have become fixed it is an easy matter to make known the written characters which repre- sent them. Real things first, their signs afterwards.
In order that the pupil may gain ability to read music- readily, it is necessary that an abundance of the right kind of material be placed in their hands for daily use. Children. learn to do in music as in other branches, by constantly do- ing. Fortunately we have in the excellent publications now in use in our schools, ample provision for all these needs.
The unconscious educational influence that comes from studying and performing music of a high order is not easily estimated. Its effect upon the character of the child is very great. Though he cannot thoroughly analyze or describe: much that he is singing, yet through the practice of such music, he is forming mental impressions of great value, is absorbing all there is of intrinsic worth in them, is becoming, in fact, truly musical. In the primary grades the pupils learn. to think in sounds, to cultivate a feeling for rhythm and time measurement ; they sing in nine keys and in four varieties of time, and complete the first series of charts and the First Reader. This work, well performed, assures quick reading.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT. 161
upon entering the grammar grades, and is the secret of the good work which is done through the remaining years of school. The grammar grades take consecutively the second series of charts and the Second, Introductory Third and Third Reader for unchanged voices. The High School pupils study and sing from the Third Reader for mixed voices and from the "Euterpean," a most excellent collection of part songs, and other music. These charts and books contain every thing essential for study in music, illustrating as they do all the ordinary elements of time and tune. One, two, three and four part music is well represented. Careful attention is given to the cultivation of a pure musical tone and to all that relates to expression.
Our music teacher, Mr. L. B. Marshall, on Nov. 1, re- ceived an appointment as teacher in the Boston schools, and took the position on Dec 1. We were very sorry to lose him as he had been with us for eighteen years and had really grown up with our schools. His excellent teaching in our schools was highly praised by the committee who gave him the appoint- ment, and some of our classes were invited to Boston on various occasions to give an example of their work. This should satisfy us that our schools rank among the first in musical instruction, and to him belongs the larger part of the credit that has placed them on that high standard. In him we lost a careful teacher, a thorough musician and a true gentleman. We have selected as his successor, Mr. Diman, of New Bedford, who was among the first to introduce the new method in his schools, and who will take up the work where his predecessor left it, and carry it along in that pro- gressive way which has characterized the music in our schools all the way through.
W. W. RAWSON, Chairman Committee on Music.
11
162
TABULAR STATEMENT OF ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOLS.
FIRST TERM.
SECOND TERM.
THIRD TERM.
YEAR.
SCHOOLS.
TEACHERS.
Whole No.
Average Attend.
Whole NO.
Average Attend.
Whole No.
Average Attend.
Average Attend.
( A. Gardiner Fisher
·
Anna J. Newton
.
62
60
58
55
67
62
59
COTTING HIGH
·
.
.
Eliza A. Simmons
.
·
J
36
32
30
25
48
42
33
45
4:1
43
35
40
32
36
Caroline C. Turner
38
34
36
30
46
39
34
5th
1st division
Marguerite J. Steele .
58
52
57
48
-
-
-
41
34
56
5th
2d division
Irene 8. Nightingale .
42
36
40
34
46
35
35
6th
66 2d division
S. Alice Fell
43
37
40
34
-
-
35
6th
66 "
Lucy E. Evans
50
46
51
42
41
33
40
2d Class
-
Lizzie A. Day .
48
42
48
42
45
34
39
.
46
35
53
42
42
30
36
CUTTER GRAMMAR-1st, 2d, 3d Classes
Nathan T. Soule
18
17
16
15
27
25
19
4th and 5th Classes
Jennie A. Chaplin
35
29
27
23
32
27
26
6th and 7th
"6
Mary M. Brady
37
34
35
31
39
37
34
8th and 9th
Elizabeth DeBlois
39
35
39
32
41
34
34
LOCKE GRAMMAR-Ist, 2d, 3d Classes
Mary L. Pierce
31
28
30
22
30
27
26
4th and 5th Classes
Mary J. Copeland
36
35
32
30
32
31
32
6th and 7th
Mary E. Rogers .
36
33
35
32
37
34
33
8th and 9th
Mabel E Blake .
40
37
42
36
41
32
35
General assistant in Russell School
Ada E. Flanders
·
-
-
-
-
-
886
786
849
727
901
759
758
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
RUSSELL GRAMMAR-1st Class
2d Class
.
·
3d
.
·
4th
.
Anna Pillsbury
59
18
52
45
49
41
45
5th
"
S. Alice Fell
Louisa R. Warren
·
·
.
·
·
45
38
47
39
35
29
35
CROSBY PRIMARY-1st & 2d Classes 2d and 3d Classes .
Annie C. Snelling
·
·
·
·
·
.
·
.
·
·
·
·
·
·
TEACHER OF MUSIC
.
.
6th
1st division
·
RUSSELL PRIMARY-1st Class
Elizabeth L. Geer
42
38
38
35
44
35
. 36
3d
M. Carrie Lawrence
.
Olive M. Hobart
·
·
-
33
40
38
33
Mary F. Scanlan
Leonard B. Marshall
·
[ Ella C. Williams
Horace A. Freeman
LIST OF JURORS OF THE TOWN OF ARLINGTON.
REVISED BY THE SELECTMEN, JAN. 25, 1890.
George W. Austin,
Calvin Andrews, James Baston, Major Bacon,
George W. Lane, Henry L. Lawrence, James A. Marden,
Alfred T. Marston,
James A. Bailey, Edward T. Butcher,
Oran B. Marston, Nichols L. McKay,
Gorham Buttrick,
Edward Mears, William C. Mills,
Leander D. Bradley,
Herbert H. Ceiley,
R. Byron Moore, George D. Moore,
Nathan L. Chaffin,
Edmund W. Noyes,
Elbert L. Churchill,
T. Ralph Parris, Herbert W. Pattee,
William A. Clark,
Moses J. Colman,
Albert W. Cotton,
Charles F. Crosby, John S. Crosby, Edward H. Cutter, Herbert M. Day,
Theodore D. Dupee,
Winfield S. Durgin,
Charles H. Doughty,
Henry D. Dodge,
Charles B. Fessenden,
Parker H. Foster,
Frederic O. Frost, Francis S. Frost, George T. Freeman,
Edward S. Fessenden,
Edwin S. Farmer, James Gibson, Cassius M. Hall, Benjamin Hall, James Hanna, Joseph J. Hewes, R. Walter Hilliard, George Hill, Jr., Jacob F. Hobbs. Richard M. Johnson, William H. Jones, Edwin B. Lane,
Apollos J. Tillson, Andrew W. Turner, Edward E. Upham, William N. Winn, Daniel Wyman,
Frank Y. Wellington, Richard A. Welch, Charles H. Wharton,
Charles P. Wyman.
· Warren A. Peirce, Leander Peirce, John H. Perry, Horatio A. Phinney, Edwin Prescott,
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.