USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 11
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SECT. 6. The Committee on Music shall supervise the in- struction in music in all the schools by the regular and special teachers. They shall nominate, subject to confirmation by the Board, the special teacher of music ; and shall recommend to the Committee on Text-Books the books, charts, &c., that are desirable. They shall aim to promote the proficiency of the pupils of every grade in reading music and in singing ; and they shall report to the Board in writing, at the April and November meetings, concerning the condition of this study.
SECT. 7. The Committee on Drawing and Writing shall supervise the instruction in these branches in all the schools by the regular and special teachers. They shall nominate, subject to confirmation by the Board, the special teachers of drawing and writing ; shall recommend to the Committee on
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Text-Books the books, models, &c., that are desirable for use in the schools ; shall examine the pupils of all the schools in these branches; and report to the Board in writing, at the April and November meetings, the condition of these studies.
SECT. 8. The Committee on the High School shall have the immediate charge of that school in all its departments, and arrange the studies and classify the pupils in such a manner as they shall think best. Meetings of the Committee shall be called at not less than twenty-four hours' notice ; and the proceedings of the same shall be recorded. Four members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum. The Sub-Com- mittees (vide Chap. I., Sect. 5) shall examine the classes assigned to their special charge at least twice during each school term, and report to the Chairman ; who shall report in writing, on the condition of the school in its several depart- ments, at the regular meetings of the Board in February and September. All matters of importance or disagreement, aris- ing in either of the departments, shall be immediately reported by the Sub-Committee to the whole Committee for considera- tion and action. This Committee shall see that pupils are admitted to the High School under such regulations as are established by the Board, and not otherwise. They shall sustain the Principal in a strict enforcement of the regulations, especially those regarding promotions, to the end that the standard of scholarship shall not be lowered, nor the discipline relaxed. The Committee shall nominate all teachers for the High School for appointment by the Board, and may tempo- rarily fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Board.
SECT. 9. The District Committees shall have charge of the schools in their respective districts, and shall perform the same duties, and exercise the same authority over the classes, instruction, and discipline of these schools, that the Committee on the High School exercises in respect of that school. Each District Committee immediately after its organization shall designate a sufficient number of Sub- Committees, among whom the work of visiting schools
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shall be fairly allotted in such manner as to provide that every school shall receive proper attention, and each teacher shall know to what members of the Committee he may apply for counsel and direction. All questions of importance or disagreement shall be referred to the District Committee for consideration and action. The District Committees shall nominate all teachers for appointment by the Board, and temporarily fill vacancies until the next regular meeting of the Board. Meetings of any District Committee may be called by its Chairman, on not less than twenty-four hours' notice ; and a record shall be kept of all proceedings. In order to the decision of any question, a majority of the Dis- trict Committee must have voted one way ; but a minority shall always have the right to bring any matter of district business before the whole Board for consideration and action. At the regular meeting in September, the District Committees shall submit to the Board written reports of the condition of the schools in their several districts.
SECT. 10. The Committee on Evening Schools shall main- tain, in any district where the Board may authorize it, an evening school for instruction in the elementary English branches, for those who cannot attend the day schools. This committee shall have control of the instruction and discipline of all such schools, and shall nominate the teachers of them for appointment by the Board. The Committee shall make a report, in writing, of the schools under their charge, at the regular meeting of the Board next succeeding the closing of the evening schools for the year.
SECT. 11. The Committee on Industrial Drawing shall maintain, in any district where the Board may authorize it, an evening school for instruction in industrial drawing, of all who may attend. This committee shall have control of the instruction and discipline of all such schools, subject to the provisions of the statute authorizing them, and to the regu- lations established by the Board; and shall nominate the teachers of them for appointment by the Board. The com- mittee shall make a report, in writing, of the schools under
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their charge, at the regular meeting of the Board next suc- ceeding the closing of them for the year.
SECT. 12. In addition to the reports required by the rules, any of the standing committees may make a special report at any regular meeting ; but such report, if it calls for action by the Board, shall be in writing.
CHAPTER V.
THE SUPERINTENDENT. - HIS ELECTION AND DUTIES.
SECTION 1. At the regular meeting in June of each year, the Board shall decide whether they will employ a Superin- tendent of Schools during the ensuing school year. If the decision be to employ a Superintendent, the Board shall pro- ceed immediately to an election, which shall be by ballot. In case there is no choice at the June meeting, or in case of a vacancy in the office during the year, there shall be no elec- tion of Superintendent at any meeting, except by special assignment, of which all the members shall be notified. The Superintendent's salary shall be fixed at the time of his elec- tion, and shall remain unchanged during the year for which he is elected. He may be removed from office at any time by vote of the Board for cause, provided that no final action in such cases shall be had, except by special assignment, of which all the members shall be notified ; and his salary shall cease at the removal.
SECT. 2. The Superintendent shall act as the executive officer of the Board, and shall take care, that, in the practical operation of the school system, the measures sanctioned by the Board are faithfully carried into effect. In all matters where his duties are not definitely prescribed, he will exer- cise his discretion, subject to his responsibility to the Board.
SECT. 3. He shall, while in the service of the School Committee, make the theory and practice of public school education his constant study, and shall from time to time recommend to the Board such improvements of the system as shall seem to him wise and practicable.
1
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SECT. 4. He shall diligently supervise all the public schools, having regard to the efficiency of instruction and discipline. He shall keep himself accurately informed of the condition of each school, not only by written examinations, but by thorough personal inspection of each school as often as four times a year, and oftener if necessary. He shall pro- mote harmony of spirit and work through all grades of the system, bearing in mind that the children in all parts of the city are entitled to equal advantages of education. It shall be his duty to report to the proper District Committee any marked disqualification or unfaithfulness of any teacher that is not promptly corrected upon his suggestion of the need.
SECT. 5. He shall appoint regular meetings with the teachers for the purpose of instructing them in his plans of work and their duties, and for mutual consultation concern- ing the prosperity of the schools. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board, he shall appoint separate meetings of the teachers of the several grades, as follows : -
For the masters, once in every month of the school year.
For the teachers of the ninth and eighth classes, once in every two months.
For the teachers of the seventh and sixth classes, once in every two months.
For the teachers of the fifth and fourth classes, once in 'every two months.
For the teachers of the third, second, and first classes, once in every two months.
He may appoint meetings of all the teachers of a district, or of the city, whenever necessary. The times of regular meetings shall be fixed at the beginning of each term.
SECT. 6. He shall provide for a quarterly written examina- tion of the pupils of all the schools except the High School. These examinations shall be upon the studies of the previous quarter ; except that the examination at the end of the school year shall be upon the studies of the year. In preparing for and making these examinations, he shall have the assistance of the masters and teachers as he may require it.
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SECT. 7. He shall receive and classify the monthly reports of the masters or principals of the several schools, keep them in orderly files for preservation, and present them when called for by the Board at any meeting. At the beginning of each term, he shall receive and classify the order of exer- cises of each school.
SECT. 8. He shall attend all meetings of the Board, and when requested by any member, or by the presiding officer, may communicate information, or express his opinion, on any matter before the Board; but he shall not be present when the election of Superintendent is under consideration.
SECT. 9. He shall communicate to the several committees of the Board whatever facts relating to the specific matters in their charge he may think deserving attention ; especially with regard to text-books, the condition of the schoolhouses and furniture, the delinquencies of teachers, and the health and convenience of teachers and pupils. Such communica- tions shall be in writing, when it is requested.
SECT. 10. He shall make to the Board, at the regular meet- ings in September, December, March, and June of each year, a report in writing, containing a statement of his work of school visitation, a list of changes of teachers since the last report, an account of the condition of the schools with special reference to the work assigned, and such suggestions for their improvement as may seem to him pertinent. At the October meeting, he shall present his annual report, reviewing the work of the schools during the last school year.
SECT. 11. He shall keep, in a book provided for the pur- pose, a list of applicants for positions as teachers in the New- ton schools, and of desirable teachers concerning whom he has trustworthy information. This record shall specify, in respect of each teacher, by whom he or she is recommended, where educated, extent of experience, quality of testimo- nials, and whatever other facts of information or personal knowledge may help to the formation of a reasonable judg- ment of the candidate's merit. This record shall at all times be open to the inspection of members of the Board.
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SECT. 12. He shall have his office at the School Committee room, in the High School building, where he may be found for the transaction of business at appointed hours, including one whole afternoon of each week during school terms. He shall take care that the Committee and teachers are properly notified of his office-hours. In case of his sickness or en- forced absence, he shall notify the elected Chairman of the Board, and make such arrangements for the conduct of his business as meet that officer's approval.
CHAPTER VI.
ELECTION AND COMPENSATION OF TEACHERS.
SECTION 1. At the regular meeting in June of each year, there shall be an election of teachers of the several schools for the next school year, unless some shorter period is speci- fied. A ballot shall be taken at the request of any member : otherwise the elections shall be viva voce. Vacancies in the corps of teachers may be filled by election at any time ; but the term of all elections shall end with the school year, unless a shorter term is specified.
SECT. 2. Teachers' salaries shall be established at the time of their election, and shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which the teachers are elected, except as provided in Sections 5 and 6. They shall be paid in ten equal instalments, as the proper disbursing officers of the city may arrange ; provided, that no teacher shall be held to have earned any part of the year's salary before the beginning of the school year ; and provided, that no teacher shall be entitled to the last instalment of the year's salary until he shall have accurately filled up the blanks of the register as required by law, and committed the same to the custody of the Secretary of the School Committee.
SECT. 3. All nominations of teachers for election, except teachers in the High School, special teachers, and teachers of
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the evening schools, shall be made by the District Committee having charge of the schools for which the teachers are pro- posed. Teachers for the High School and the evening schools shall be nominated by the committees on these schools ; and special teachers shall be nominated by the com- mittees on special studies. (Vide Chap. IV., Sects. 6-11.) In the case of new teachers for the graded schools, the nomi- nation shall be for a probationary appointment for three months, unless the Board specially suspends this rule. At the end of three months, if the trial proves satisfactory, the Board may proceed to an election for the balance of the school year.
SECT. 4. Certificates of election, duly signed by the Chair- man and Secretary of the Board, stating the position to which elected, and the established salary, shall be forwarded, to- gether with a copy of this chapter of the Rules, to each teacher elected, as soon as may be, and an acceptance in writing shall be required. If no acceptance is received within four weeks, the Board may declare the position vacant.
SECT. 5. Teachers may be peremptorily dismissed, for cause, at any time by a vote of a majority of the whole Board ; but in all ordinary cases it shall be considered that a teacher is entitled to four weeks' notice of an intention to dismiss ; and in case of dismissal, the teacher's salary shall cease when discharged.
SECT. 6. Any teacher wishing to resign before the close of the term for which such teacher was elected shall give to the District Committee four weeks' notice of an intention to resign ; or, failing to do so, shall forfeit all salary for the last month of service, except by a vote of the Committee. In any case of resignation, the teacher's salary shall cease at the date he leaves the school.
SECT. 7. Until otherwise ordered by the Board, the salaries of teachers shall be established in conformity to the following scheme : -
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Master of the High School .
$2,700
Sub-master 66 66 1,850
Assistants 66 66 1,100
Masters of Grammar Schools
2,000
Head Assistants "
750
All others, first year
500
66 second year .
550
66 66 third year (maximum) .
600
Teacher of Oak Hill School
900
Teacher of Music .
1,500
Teacher of Drawing and Writing .
1,200
No exceptions shall be made to this rule but by vote of a majority of all the members of the Committee, after a report in each case from the Committee on Salaries.
SECT. 8. Substitutes shall be paid at the rate of 75 per cent of the salary of the teacher in whose place they serve, the balance to go to the regular teacher ; provided, that, if the absence of the regular teacher shall exceed four weeks, he shall not continue to receive pay except by vote of the Board.
CHAPTER VII.
ANNUAL EXAMINATIONS AND REPORTS.
SECTION 1. The Committee on the High School and each District Committee shall, during the month of June, make a thorough examination of the schools under their charge, and shall make a written report to the Board of the condition of the several schools, with such suggestions as may seem good to them, at the regular meeting in September.
SECT. 2. At the regular meeting in September, the Chair- man shall appoint a special committee of five members, of whom the elected Chairman of the Board shall be one, to prepare the Annual Report of the Board for publication.
SECT. 3. The Annual Report shall present in as clear and just a manner as practicable, by statistics and otherwise, a
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statement of the actual condition of the school system of the city, its defects as well as its merits, its failures as well as its successes ; and shall contain such recommendations of changes as it may seem wise to call public attention to. All reports on the files of the Board, whether regular or special, may be used at discretion in the preparation of the Annual Report ; but no report shall be used which has not been pre- sented to the Board, and accepted at or before the regular meeting in November.
SECT. 4. The Annual Report of the superintendent shall be presented to the Board at the October meeting, and if accepted may be published with the annual report of the School Committee. The Superintendent may add, in the form of an appendix to his annual report, such extracts from his December quarterly report as may serve to make the in- formation concerning the schools complete to the latest prac- ticable date.
SECT. 5. The Annual Report of the Committee on Ac- counts shall be published with the Annual Report of the Board.
SECT. 6. The Annual Report as prepared by the Special Committee shall be presented to the Board at the December meeting. If adopted, it shall be printed with the accom- panying documents before the last day of January following, for distribution to the citizens in the manner of the distribu- tion of the City Auditor's report.
CHAPTER VIII.
MEETINGS.
SECTION 1. The Annual Meeting of the Board for organ- ization shall be held on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January, at 7.30 P.M.
SECT. 2. Regular monthly meetings of the Board shall be held on the fourth Wednesday in each month except in July, at such hour as the Board may fix.
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SECT. 3. Special meetings may, and at the request in writ- ing of three members shall, be called by the Chairman ex officio, or in his absence by the elected Chairman, or in the absence of both by the Secretary, by giving three days' notice in writing to all the members ; provided that nothing shall be acted upon at such special meeting, of which the subject-mat- ter is not mentioned in the notice.
SECT. 4. All meetings shall be held in the committee-room in the High School building, unless otherwise ordered by the Board.
SECT. 5. Seven members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business ; but a less number may meet and adjourn.
SECT. 6. All meetings shall be open and public ; provided that the Board may by vote go into executive session to elect teachers or a superintendent, or to consider a question of the discharge of a teacher or superintendent, but not for the transaction of other business, unless by a three-fourths vote of the members present at any regular meeting.
CHAPTER IX.
RULES OF ORDER.
SECTION 1. At each regular meeting, after it is called to order and regularly organized (vide Chap. I., Sect. 2), the order of proceedings shall be as follows : -
1. Calling the roll.
2. Reading the record of the last meeting.
3. Papers from the City Council.
4. Nomination and confirmation of teachers.
5. Reports of standing committees.
6. Reports of special committees.
7. Unfinished business of preceding meetings.
8. New business.
SECT. 2. At special meetings the roll shall be called, and
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the records of the last regular meeting shall be read for information, if the reading is requested by any member ; but no action shall be had in the verification of the record. No other business shall be transacted except that for which the meeting was called.
SECT. 3. At a meeting pursuant to adjournment, the roll shall be called, and the journal of the previous meeting may be read and verified ; after which business shall be resumed at the stage reached previous to adjournment.
SECT. 4. At the request of the Chairman or any member of the Board, the mover of a motion shall put it in writing before it is voted upon.
SECT. 5. At the request of any member, the vote upon any question shall be by count, and entered upon the journal. At the request of three members, the vote shall be by yeas and nays, and the record shall be entered upon the journal.
SECT. 6. Every member present shall vote on all questions, unless excused by the Board.
SECT. 7. No action of the Board shall be reconsidered at a subsequent meeting, except by a vote of a majority of all the members of the committee.
SECT. 8. Motions to adjourn, to lay on the table, to take from the table, and for the previous question when seconded by two members, shall be decided without debate.
SECT. 9. Any of the rules of the School Committee, and any of the regulations for the schools, may be suspended at any meeting until the next meeting, or for a shorter time, by a vote of a majority of all the members of the Committee ; provided that none of the Rules or Regulations shall be sus- pended at a special meeting, unless the notices of such special meeting designate the rule or regulation to be suspended.
SECT. 10. As to all questions of order not specifically determined by the statutes concerning public schools, or by the Rules and Regulations, Cushing's Manual shall be the authority.
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CHAPTER X.
AMENDMENT OF THE RULES AND REGULATIONS.
SECTION 1. The Rules or Regulations may be added to, amended, or repealed, at any regular meeting, by a vote of a majority of the whole Committee, provided notice was given of the subject-matter of the proposed addition, amendment, or repeal, at the previous regular meeting, and the matter referred to the Committee on Rules and Regulations to be reported on.
SECT. 2. Whenever the Rules and Regulations are amended, the Secretary of the Board shall cause to be printed at least one hundred copies of the amendments as adopted, certified by himself, on slips suitable for insertion in the books of Rules and Regulations, and shall distribute copies to the members of the Board and to the teachers.
CHAPTER XI.
MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS.
SECTION 1. In the Grammar and Primary grades, forty pupils shall be the minimum number to each teacher. This rule shall not be departed from, except in cases when it is impossible to make an assignment of classes to the several rooms in a building without giving one teacher more than fifty-six pupils, and in cases where the whole number of pupils attending school in one building is less than forty.
REGULATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
REGULATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
CHAPTER I.
THE SCHOOL YEAR : TERMS, VACATIONS, SESSIONS, ETC.
SECTION 1. The school year is divided into two terms. The first term begins on the first Monday in September, and ends on the last Friday in January. The second term begins on the Monday after the last Friday in January, and ends on the last Friday in June.
SECT. 2. There shall be a suspension of school duties every Saturday, and upon the following days: Washing- ton's Birthday, Memorial Day, and the 17th of June ; also the week of the annual Thanksgiving, and from Christmas Day to New Year's Day, both inclusive ; also for one week after the third Friday in April.
The Superintendent may, with the consent of the District Committee, close any school one day in each term, to allow the teacher to visit other schools.
In any emergency, when it is impracticable to call a special meeting of the Board, the Mayor, or, in his absence, the elected Chairman of the Board, may close all the schools for a day. In case of very stormy weather, the Superintendent may order the omission of the afternoon session of the Gram- mar and Primary grades ; and, should he deem it prejudicial to the health of the children to go out in the morning, he may direct that no school be opened for the day.
SECT. 3. The High School shall have one session each day, beginning at quarter-past eight o'clock, A.M., and ending at half-past one o'clock, P.M. , with a recess of twenty minutes at half-past eleven o'clock, A.M.
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The Grammar and Primary Schools shall have two sessions each day. The morning session shall begin at nine o'clock, and end at twelve o'clock, with a recess of twenty minutes at half-past ten o'clock. The afternoon session shall begin at two o'clock, and end at four o'clock, with a recess, in the Primary grades, of fifteen minutes at three o'clock.
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