USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1912 > Part 12
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TEACHERS.
During the year the following teachers have left the service: High: A. H. Smith, Marguerite McIntosh, Ethel B. Flewelling; Russell: Arthur W. Kallom, Wyllian H. Cutler, Amy A. Lapham, Fannie L. Morrison, Edith L. Shorrock, Clara M. Hartshorn; Cutter: J. Adelaide Moffitt, Eva G. Jones; Locke: Thomas L. Barnes, M. Alice Connor, Bertha W. Richards, Effie M. Carter; Supervisors: Bessie L. Barnes; Special Teacher: Miriam A. Tobey.
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The teachers new to the Town are: High: Frank V. Gordon, Alice R. Porter, Mary G. Magner, *Ruth Burdette, *Rebekah Wood; Russell: Aaron B. Palmer, Grace A. Mowry, Agnes D. Crotty, Bertha J. Weare, Pearl M. Pillsbury, Grace L. Seaver, Ellen A. Baker; Cutter: Elizabeth E. Thompson, Olive Stratton; Locke: Roy A. Kane; Supervisor: Helen S. Carleton.
With one-fifth or more of the teaching force new to the schools every year, no school system can be at its best. The Superintend- · ent, with considerable outlay of time and money, must search for new teachers, the new teachers must become acquainted with a new system and with a new class, while the children must accustom themselves to new personalities, to new methods of instruction, and to the discipline of new teachers. It takes time to do this, and there is a distinct loss to the children. I have known classes to lose the value of a half year, because of frequent changes of teachers.
Twelve of these teachers left to take positions which paid larger salaries. Almost without exception, they would have preferred to stay in Arlington if the salary paid were as large as that offered elsewhere. As a matter of fact, we know several teachers who have refused more salary in other places, because they preferred to remain in Arlington. Larger maximum salaries is the only solution of our difficulty. I am aware that at the present time the Town can scarcely afford to pay more for its schools, but, at the same time we may well ask - Can we afford to lose good teachers at such a rate? Every one is well aware that teachers are poorly paid. It is hardly necessary to present the teacher's side of the case, for any one who has experience in paying living expenses can easily see that the margin between necessary living expenditures and the present maximum salaries must usually be small. A nine-hundred-dollar salary is only the equivalent of a six-hundred-dollar salary a few years ago. In view of the extreme difficulty of securing teachers for the upper grammar grades for the present salaries, I repectfully recommend that the maximum for seventh, eighth, and ninth grade teachers be ad- vanced fifty dollars, making $750 for grades seven and eight and $800 for grade nine.
The problem is somewhat complicated also by an ethical *In Locke section of High School.
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consideration. While the contract signed by teachers in accepting a position may not be legally binding, yet it ought to be morally binding upon them to live up to its provisions, and, except in rare instances, remain throughout the school year. In some cases teachers begin a year expecting to resign in a short time, without letting the Superintendent know of their intentions. It is difficult to understand the ethics of such a failure to stand by the agreement made. I feel more charitable toward those who unexpectedly receive a call to a better position, provided it comes unsolicited. More disconcerting than all else, however, is a sudden resignation during the summer vacation, when it is difficult to find good teachers unemployed and when it is impossible to thoroughly investigate their work.
I wish to express my appreciation of the work of the teachers during the past year. It has been a year of earnest work on the part of teachers, principals, and supervisors, resulting in large measure in efficiently meeting the problems of education in Arlington. Not that all problems have been solved, or the highest degree of efficiency reached, for we have failed with some pupils with whom we should have succeeded, but we may feel assured that teachers have always put duty first. The Superintendent has been supported and helped by principals, teachers, and janitors. Withoutan earnest and loyal teaching force, no Superin- tendent can hope to accomplish much. I have asked of teachers many difficult tasks and not once have they failed to respond to the best of their ability, and the work has been well done. Our teachers are deserving of a much larger measure of appreciation than they generally receive. Among them are many who might have made great success for themselves in other fields. They are content to be just teachers, the world's most useful workers, whose labor is never recognized at its full value, and whose glory is in the future achievements of the human race, a glory that comes when the teachers are dead.
In closing this report, I wish to thank the members of the Committee for their consideration and support in advancing the interests of the children in our schools.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN F. SCULLY, Superintendent of Schools.
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REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL.
Mr. John F. Scully, Superintendent of Schools, Arlington, Mass .:
Dear Sir: As principal of the Arlington High School, I present this report:
ATTENDANCE.
Year.
Total Enrolment.
1908- 9
263 ·
1909-10
300
1910-11
350
1911-12
425
1912-13
483
This gives an increase of 220 pupils in four years - an increase of eighty-three and six tenths (83.6) per cent. The school stands near the top of the list of Massachusetts High Schools in member- ship in proportion to population. No other High School in the State, it is safe to say, has increased so rapidly in proportion to the increase in population.
Below are given data showing the per cent of the membership of each entering class to graduate, for three years previous to 1909 and for three years since 1909.
Class
Number Entering
Number Graduated
Per cent to Graduate
1907
65
16
24.6
1908
72
29
40.3
1909
72
25
34.7
Average per cent of number entering to graduate, 33.2.
1910
82
35
42.9
1911
86
47
54.3
1912
113
58
53.1
Average per cent of number entering to graduate, 49.2.
The present Senior class numbered 112 upon entering the school. It now numbers 74. If 70 graduate next June, it will be 62.5 per cent of the number entering.
When we consider that in this State only one-third of the pupils who enter the public High Schools remain to graduate, we must feel gratified that so large a per cent of our pupils are remaining with us to the end of their course.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
We have every reason to believe that the school will continue to grow in the future at as rapid rate, if not more rapid, than it has in the past. This will be due in part to the increase in the population of the Town, but more to the fact that a greater proportion of the grammar school graduates enters the High School and a greater proportion of the number entering remains to gradu- ate. The reason for this is that the pupils are finding in the High School today, more than ever before, the training that they desire. This is partly due to the more complete establishment of our courses, but more to our attempts to make the work in- teresting as well as instructive.
NUMBERS TAKING SUBJECTS OFFERED.
SUBJECTS.
CLASSES
I
II
III
IV (Senior)
Total
(Freshman)
English .
162
145
79
49
462
Latin. .
85
40
24
20
169
French
119
40
32
191
German .
45
16
9
70
Greek .
6
6
Geometry
Solid . .
8
8
Plane (Review)
32
32
Plane .
58
45
227
History.
American
35
35
Ancient
27
27
English
36
36
Roman
55
55
Modern
31
31
Greek .
81
81
General
26
26
Physics
39
19
58
Chemistry
29
29
Biology
25
25
Physical Geography
76
75
36
27
138
Stenography .
35
21
56
Commercial Law.
25
25
Bookkeeping .
75
30
105
Commercial Geography .
64
64
Commercial Arithmetic.
71
Penmanship.
74
74
Manual Training
29
18
4
51
Drawing
73
27
8
2
110
Music .
1
467
The modern High School is "the people's school" and it should consider the needs of all its pupils. Previous to the past few years
58
Algebra .
182
76
Typewriting.
.
71
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
the majority of High Schools considered that their chief business was to prepare pupils to enter college. From the last three classes to graduate from our school, thirty-five per cent of the pupils have entered college - a very large per cent. But this leaves sixty-five per cent, or a majority, who have been preparing for their life work. Thirty per cent have graduated in the Commer- cial Course and now have good positions. This leaves thirty-five per cent (the same per cent that we have prepared for college) who have not been prepared for college, normal school, or business.
For this last class of pupils, we need more extensive and inten- sive instruction in the manual arts than our present room permits us to give. For the girls who, during their school course and after graduating, are to become home makers, we need the domestic science course. The value of such a course is well known. It will be valuable to all the girls electing it, but especially valuable to those who are not preparing to continue their studies beyond the High School, or to go into business houses. Drawing is now offered but one period a week to each class. When more room will permit it, we shall give work each day to pupils electing this very important subject.
When we have additional room, making it possible to extend the work in drawing and manual training, and to add domestic science, the increase in membership will be more marked than in the past.
CLUBS.
During the past three years the pupils have organized various "Clubs" which exist for both intellectual and social purposes.
The object of the English Club, as expressed in its constitution, is to further the work in English along original lines and to increase the knowledge of the pupils along literary lines. Members of this Club have unusual ability in English and special interest in the subject. Their meetings are held in the Assembly Hall, in the afternoon, once every four weeks. At these regular meetings a literary and musical program is prepared by the Committee . in charge. The English teachers act as advisers in the preparation of the program and in the conduct of the meetings. Debates on up-to-date subjects are held, original stories are read, original monologues, dialogues, poems, etc., are given. Original ideas
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
are encouraged in every possible way. Several plays written by pupils have been presented. Two original Senior class plays have been presented. One of these plays was selected and pre- sented by the graduating class of the New Bedford High School. A musical comedy written and acted by eight boys who had won their letter "A" in athletics was given last year. This latter plan has been in use in other schools for some time.
The object of the Modern Language Club is to increase our knowledge of Germany and France, their manners, customs, institutions, languages, and literature. Meetings are held in the Assembly Hall or recitation rooms. A German professor from Harvard has given talks to the Club. A German play has been given and two French plays.
The object of the Science Club is to give pupils who are especially interested in the natural sciences an opportunity to do extra work, and to encourage original investigation. The science teachers act as advisers. An original experiment by two boys on "Centrif- ugal Force" was published in "School Science and Mathematics," the standard magazine on these subjects.
Two years ago a Girls' Glee Club of thirty voices, and an or- chestra of seven pieces were organized. The Glee Club under the efficient direction of Miss McIntosh has given concerts and assisted in the program of several other Club meetings. The orchestra has furnished music for many meetings, for all the social dances following the meetings, and for graduation last June. This year the orchestra numbers fifteen pieces, and a great deal of interest is shown by the members. Miss Porter, who has had experience in work of this nature in college, has charge of this organization.
This year a Boys' Glee Club of thirty voices is being trained by Mr. Gordon, who was for four years a member of Tufts College Glee Club.
The school paper, "The Clarion," has been revised and published every two months during the past three years. The last number of the year - Commencement Number - has contained all the . Commencement parts. The paper has had a new cover each year designed by some member of the senior class. The essays are selected from the best written in school, on "Clarion Theme Day," by all the pupils. School Creeds, written by the pupils
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and published in calendar form, were widely distributed last year.
At the present time our organizations cover seven fields: 1. Literary; 2. Musical; 3. Publication; 4. Modern Language; 5. Science; 6. History; 7. Athletic.
Under Literary comes "The English Club" made up of pupils in the four classes, who maintain a rank of A or B (80% to 100%).
Under Musical: Girls' Glee Club; Boys' Glee Club; Orchestra.
Under Publication: "The Clarion" - the school paper.
Under Modern Language: German Club.
Under Science: Science Club.
Under History: History and Current Events Club.
Under Athletic: Football; Hockey; Baseball; Track-team.
Membership in these clubs is determined by unusual ability of some kind. None of these clubs is purely social, but they are important factors in a wholesome social life.
We have found from three years' experience that the school derives the following benefits from these organizations:
1. Fewer failures, and fewer pupils who drop out of school.
2. An increased pride in the school among pupils and teachers.
3. Increased interest in the school on the part of parents and friends.
4. More school government and less teacher government.
5. A wholesome school spirit as a result of a happy, busy atmosphere.
6. Better acquaintance between teacher and pupil and general co-operation in place of exclusive class-room work.
7. Development in pupils of leadership and the ability to act and work together.
8. Development of originality and initiative in pupils.
The High School teachers must ever be mindful of the fact that they are helping to fit the pupils to fill positions of honor, influence, and respect in after life. To do this best, the school must provide activities which are in a measure similar to the ac- tivities into which the boys and girls must go. "It must furnish an education for initiative in enterprises, for development in natural leadership, for the expansion of liberal opinions, for the meeting and solving of difficulties which come from a clash of interests, for the fostering of courtesy and dignity of manner, and,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
last but not least in importance, a training in social conventions, without which a boy or girl meets with a serious handicap."
HONOR DIVISIONS.
In subjects where the numbers make it necessary to form two or more divisions, the pupils who have more than average ability in the subject are placed in a division by themselves. This makes it possible for the teacher to do better work with all pupils than is possible with pupils of varying abilities together. Under the latter method there is wholesome rivalry among pupils of nearly the same ability in the subject.
It requires an endless amount of work to arrange and re-arrange the divisions in this way, but the results justify the doing of the extra work by the Principal.
In order to be an honor pupil in any subject, the boy or girl must do at least 80% work in the subject and at least passing work in all other subjects. The pupils take pride in being in as many honor divisions as possible. The work of the honor divisions is more extensive and more intensive than in the regular divisions. It is absolutely impossible for all pupils to do equally well the same amount of work, and unpedagogical to expect them to. If the brighter pupils are not required to do more work and to do it all better than the poorer ones, they fall into the habit of loafing. We have heard a great deal in our teachers' conventions for the past ten years about what we should do for the dull pupil, and it is right that a great deal of attention should be given this very important subject; but it is only during the past few years that anything has been said in our meetings about the "gifted" pupil, or that any special attention has been given to him in our High Schools.
By having the poorer pupils in a division by themselves, the teacher understands better their difficulties, and can give the instruction which they need and which the brighter pupils do not need. It is neither interesting nor enlivening, but deadening, for a pupil who knows the lesson as well as for the teacher to be forced to sit quietly and hear the instruction which the poorer pupil by right should have.
A's has been stated under "Clubs," membership is based upon unusual ability in the subject or subjects studied. Pupils with
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
unusual ability in any subject have two methods, therefore, of exercising that ability that the poorer pupil cannot enjoy for lack of ability. Membership in any club is optional with the pupil; but the decision as to which division he recites in, rests with the teacher and Principal. Three years' trial has shown that pupils desire to become members of an honor section, and. will work hard to remain members after once securing member- ship.
This year, in subjects having more than one division, the pupils have been divided into three grades as follows; First Honor (rank 80% to 100%); Second Honor (70% to 80%); and Regular (below 70%). This arrangement of the individual program is first made by the Principal during the summer vacation. The arrangement as to divisions is based upon the pupil's record in each subject either during the previous year or years in the High School, or in the Grammar School. Changes are made thereafter whenever it seems wise.
THREE YEAR COURSE.
By taking an additional subject each year, a pupil may obtain the necessary number of points (seventy) required for graduation in three years. To be permitted to elect an extra subject, the pupil must maintain a rank of approximately 80% or above in all subjects that he is taking, our motto being "quality and not quantity." The Principal gets from the Grammar School Prin- cipals the names of all pupils in the entering class whom they consider able, physically as well as mentally, to try to do the High School work in three years. About 75% of those recommended succeed in carrying the additional work through the first two years. In the class of 1911 there were five who completed the work in three years; in the class of 1912, one; in the present Senior class, four.
ATHLETICS.
Athletics were placed three years ago under a new constitution prepared by the Principal during the summer vacation and ap- proved by the School Board. By this new method the control of athletics is placed largely in the hands of a Board of Directors including the Superintendent of Schools, the Principal of the High School, a Sub-master who is treasurer, three graduates, and
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
three undergraduates. Football and track athletics have been added to the sports. During the past three years all the teams have been coached by men of experience.
The school is very grateful for the new grandstand which the generosity of Arlington's citizens has made possible. It will make athletic sports more popular with pupils and parents than they have been in the past, and it will also give the Athletic Association the financial help which it will require.
The teams have been very successful in winning games and contests from other schools. Our cross-country team perhaps deserves special mention for the victories won at Winchester, Worcester, and Brookline. At Winchester they won the Mystic Valley meet; at Worcester, the State; and at Brookline, the New England.
AFTERNOON WORK.
Pupils who wish to return in the afternoon are asked to register in their home room, before leaving at the close of school, just what teacher or teachers they wish to return for and the subject or subjects they wish help in. This is to regulate and control the afternoon work and keep out of the building pupils who are not back for business. Every teacher is back for work, principally with backward pupils, at least one afternoon each week. The Principal is back every day. The laboratories are open for work in the sciences, and the typewriting room is filled nearly every day from 2.30 to 5.45 or 6 o'clock. No pupil is obliged to return for afternoon work. It is entirely voluntary on the part of the pupil. The teachers call them back for discipline alone, and yet in 1910-11 we had an average of 33 pupils each afternoon or over 11% of the average membership. Last year we had an average of 48 or over 12%, and this did not include pupils who came back for club work and rehearsals.
VISITORS.
The school is blessed with a large number of visitors who are always welcomed at any time. We should enjoy and appreciate many more visits by parents and members of the School Board, and I am sure that we should profit by their visits and criticisms, for "close-range criticism is always justifiable," and it is only by the closest co-operation of all forces interested that the best
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
results can be accomplished. In 1910-11 we had three visits from the members of the Board, and 93 from others, chiefly teachers and superintendents from other schools. In 1911-12 we had five from the Board, and 128 from schools. Last year we received five from Board members, and 207 from others. Visitors, teachers and superintendents, last year were from New York, New Jersey, and every state in New England excepting Vermont. The pupils and teachers appear to be glad to have visitors and there seems to be no bashfulness or awkwardness on the part of pupils while reciting or doing other work in their presence.
TEACHER ADVISERS AND AUDITORS.
Each class, at the suggestion of the Principal, has appointed a teacher adviser of class affairs and auditor of all accounts. The consent of this teacher is obtained before ordering anything for the class, and all accounts are carefully kept and audited.
The members of the entering class are divided into groups of thirteen or fourteen each, and a teacher adviser is appointed for each group. It is the business of each teacher to watch the weekly unsatisfactory reports of his group sent to parents and then to talk with his pupils in regard to their work, find out why they are failing, advise, and encourage.
COLLEGE PREPARATORY WORK.
We are well aware of the fact that there are still a few who believe that the chief business of a public high school is to prepare the pupils to enter College, and that the only criterion by which to judge of the quantity and quality of the work done by any given High School is to look at the result of its College preparatory work. Of the last three classes graduated from this school, a little over 35% of the pupils have entered and now attend College or Normal School. Every member of the 1910 class who went to these higher institutions passed in every subject taken by them the first year in these institutions. Every member of the 1911 class who entered has passed thus far in every subject; four of these pupils, by taking extra work in their last two years, did the High School work in three years, and passed successfully every College Entrance examination taken. One pupil of the four is in each of the following institutions: Amherst Agricultural,
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Tufts, University of Maine, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Graduates of the last three classes are in the above named Colleges, also in Harvard, Radcliffe, Dartmouth, Amherst, Boston University, Wellesley, Simmons, Jackson, and Cornell, while three have entered the Salem Normal School.
Cornell granted the school certificate privilege a year ago last May. At the last meeting of the College Entrance Certificate Board, May 15, 1912 the school was again approved for the maximum time - three years.
A graduate who entered Amherst passed his examinations so high that he was told he could do the work in three and one-half years. The pupil who entered Amherst Agricultural College was permitted to omit a part of the College work in English. The young man who entered the University of Maine did the first half year's work so well that he was permitted to take extra work the last semester with the hope of graduating in three years. A Technology pupil, in four subjects, received at the end of the first semester the highest marks given and next to the highest in the other three. A young lady who entered Wellesley received the highest marks the College gives in every subject. Every one of these pupils was very active in one or more branches of Club work and all were members of the English Club and took parts in plays.
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