USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 16
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and shubbery as to give the lands on either side an open, park like appearance. Fine houses, located at varying distances back from the avenues, surrounded by judi- ciously grouped trees, shrubbery and flower beds, with winding avenues and well kept lawns, and an entire absence of unsightly walls and fences, would form a new feature in park scenery, and one every way desirable and comparatively inexpensive. We feel well assured that every man and woman of good taste, through whose lands such an improvement should be projected would gladly unite in aid thereof. The result to be achieved by such an apparent innovation on past actions in park matters, is in our estimation well worth an earnest effort to accomplish.
The Newton Horticultural Society offered a prize of one hundred dollars " for the best plan of a park or a series of parks for the City of Newton, all such plans to be handed to the chairman of the committee before January 1st, 1876." In consequence of this offer, we have delayed the presentation of this, our report, until after the full time for the reception of plans had ex- pired, hoping for, and relying firmly on our obtaining great assistance in the preparation of the report, from the plans that might be offered in competition for the prize. In this we have been greatly disappointed, no plans whatever having been offered in competition, and we have been compelled in consequence to give in this the result only of our own investigations and discus- sions, which is :
That we recommend as " the best means of securing the necessary lands and laying out one or more public parks in Newton," that the City Council appoint three suitable persons to serve as park commissioners without
12
pay, with authority to employ a competent engineer, who shall, under their direction, make such plan or plans for a series of public parks and connecting avenues for the City of Newton, as in their judgment its present and prospective needs require. Such com- missioners to secure donations and refusals, as far as possible, of the lands required for such park or parks and connecting avenues, as they may deem advisable for the City to establish from time to time, and report to the City Council the estimated cost of the lands, material and labor necessary to complete the same. They shall not, however, make any expenditure of money or incur any debt for or on account of the City, in the discharge of their duties, except for the employment of an engineer and the making of plan or plans as hereinbefore provided.
Submitting this, our report, we consider our duties ended, and the term of our appointment expired.
Very respectfully yours.
JOHN S. FARLOW. JAMES F. C. HYDE. EDWIN B. HASKELL.
.
HENRY ROSS. GEORGE EASTMAN. EDWARD P. BOND.
NEWTON, January 6th, 1876.
8353
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF NEWTON.
1877. No. XXXVIII.
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BERTY AND UNION
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679.A
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BOSTON : FRANKLIN PRESS: RAND, AVERY, & CO. 1878.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
January, 1877.
HON. ALDEN SPEARE, MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, ex officio. HON. GEORGE E. ALLEN, PRESIDENT COMMON COUNCIL, ex officio. REV. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, D.D., CHAIRMAN. ISAAC HAGAR, SECRETARY.
Elective Members.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE,
Ward One,
Present Term of Office. Expires January, 1880.
HENRY C. HARDON,
HENRY O. MARTIN,
Two,
1880.
HORATIO S. NOYES,
66
66
66
1880.
JULIUS L. CLARKE,
Three,
66 1879.
*ELIJAH W. WOOD, JAMES E. LATIMER, ISAAC HAGAR,
Four, 66
66
1879.
JOHN A. GOULD,
66
Five,
66
1878.
WALTER ALLEN,
66
JAMES S. NEWELL,
66
Six,
66
66
1878. 1878.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE,
1878.
GEORGE W. SHINN,
Seven,
66
66
1878.
LINCOLN R. STONE,
66
1879.
DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
NEWTON-CENTRE DISTRICT.
JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre. WALTER ALLEN, Newton Highlands.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton.
UPPER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre.
WALTER ALLEN, Newton Highlands. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls.
AUBURNDALE AND LOWER-FALLS DISTRICT.
ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls. JAMES E. LATIMER, Auburndale. ELIJAH W. WOOD, West Newton.
WEST-NEWTON DISTRICT.
JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton. GEORGE E. ALLEN.
ELIJAH W. WOOD, West Newton. HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. JAMES LATIMER, Auburndale.
* Elected in convention to fill vacancy.
1880.
1878.
1879.
NEWTONVILLE DISTRICT.
HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. JULIUS L. CLARKE.
NEWTON DISTRICT.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton. HENRY C. HARDON, Newton. LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD.
High School. - Bradford K. Peirce, Horatio S. Noyes, George E. Allen, James E. Latimer, Walter Allen, Amos E. Lawrence, George W. Shinn, Mayor, ex officio. Evening Schools. - George W. Shinn, Henry C. Hardon, Julius L. Clarke. Music. - James E. Latimer, Lincoln R. Stone, Amos E. Lawrence. Drawing. - Henry C. Hardon, Elijah W. Wood, Horatio S. Noyes. Industrial Drawing. - James S. Newell, Isaac Hagar, Henry O. Martin. Text-Books. - Bradford K. Peiree, James E. Latimer, Walter Allen. Rules and Regulations. - Walter Allen, Amos E. Lawrence, George W. Shinn. Salaries. - Elijah W. Wood, George E. Allen, James S. Newell. Schoolhouses. - Isaac Hagar, John A. Gould, Lincoln R. Stone. Accounts. - Isaac Ilagar, George E. Allen, Julius L. Clarke.
ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE,
January, 1878.
HON. WILLIAM B. FOWLE, MAYOR, CHAIRMAN, ex officio. HON. GEORGE E. ALLEN, PRES. COMMON COUNCIL, ex officio. REV. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, D.D., CHAIRMAN. ISAAC HAGAR, SECRETARY.
Elective Members.
BRADFORD K. PEIRCE,
Ward One,
Present Term of Office. Expires January, 1880.
66
1880.
HENRY C. HARDON,
Two,
66
1880.
. HORATIO S. NOYES,
JULIUS L. CLARKE,
Three,
1879.
EDWARD D. HINCKLEY,
66
66
1879.
JAMES E. LATIMER,
66
Four,
66
65
1879.
ISAAC HAGAR,
66
66
1879.
JOHN A. GOULD,
Five,
CHARLES E. ABBOTT,
66
Six,
1881.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE,
1881.
GEORGE W. SHINN,
Seven,
1881.
LINCOLN R. STONE,
66
66
1879.
HENRY O. MARTIN,
66
1880.
1881.
1881.
JAMES S. NEWELL,
DISTRICT COMMITTEES.
NEWTON-CENTRE DISTRICT.
JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre. JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. HENRY C. HARDON, Newton. CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands.
UPPER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JOHN A. GOULD, Newton Upper Falls. JAMES S. NEWELL, Newton Centre. CHARLES E. ABBOTT, Newton Highlands. AMOS E. LAWRENCE, Newton Centre. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls.
LOWER-FALLS DISTRICT.
JAMES E. LATIMER, Auburndale. ISAAC HAGAR, Newton Lower Falls. EDWARD D. HINCKLEY, West Newton.
WEST-NEWTON DISTRICT.
JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton. GEORGE E. ALLEN, West Newton.
EDWARD D. HINCKLEY, West Newton. HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. JAMES E. LATIMER, Auburndale.
NEWTONVILLE DISTRICT.
HORATIO S. NOYES, Newtonville. LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton.
HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. JULIUS L. CLARKE, West Newton.
NEWTON DISTRICT.
LINCOLN R. STONE, Newton. GEORGE W. SHINN, Newton.
HENRY C. HARDON, Newton. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, Newton. HENRY O. MARTIN, Newtonville.
STANDING COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD.
High School. - Bradford K. Peirce, Horatio S. Noyes, George E. Allen, James E. Latimer, John A. Gould, Amos E. Lawrence, George W. Shinn, Mayor, ex officio. Rules and Regulations. - George W. Shinn, Amos E. Lawrence, Charles E. Abbott. Accounts and Printing. - Isaae Hagar, George E. Allen, Julius L. Clarke. Schoolhouses. - Isaae Hagar, John A. Gould, Lincoln R. Stone. Salaries. - James S. Newell, George E. Allen, Henry O. Martin. Text-Books. - Bradford K. Peiree, James E. Latimer, Julius L. Clarke. Music. - James E. Latimer, Lineoln R. Stone, Amos E. Lawrence. Drawing and Writing. - Henry C. Hardon, Horatio S. Noyes, Edward D. Hinekley. Industrial Drawing. - James S. Newell, Isaac Hagar, Henry O. Martin. Evening Schools. - George W. Shinn, Henry C. Hardon, Lincoln R. Stone.
·
CITY OF NEWTON.
NEWTON, Oct. 26, 1877.
REV. BRADFORD K. PEIRCE, D.D. Dear Sir, - At a meeting of the School Committee of the City of Newton, on the 24th instant, the following-named gentlemen were appointed to prepare the Annual Report of the School Committee for the year 1877 ; viz., Messrs. Peirce, Noyes, Clarke, W. Allen, and Shinn.
Respectfully yours, ISAAC HAGAR, Secretary School Committee.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
OUR public schools are of such vital importance to the well-being of the community, that it is not won- derful that public attention is constantly attracted towards them. Occasioning a very considerable por- tion of the annual outlay raised by taxation, affecting in some way the interest of nearly every family in the community, and comprehending in their curriculum all the text-book instruction that a large proportion of the pupils will receive, it would be surprising if the thoughtful citizens of a community left so serious a matter, without personal consideration or criticism, to a small committee of their own number as busy with their private business as themselves. Even hasty and unfriendly observation is better than neglect and apathy. The impulsive and unmerited denunciations of the school policy, which occasionally give animation, at least, to the columns of the newspaper ; the dog- matic assertion, usually quite as unfounded ; the rash generalizations based upon an utter ignorance of the facts involved, -awaken the attention of the appoint- ed supervisors of the school, of the parents of the children, of the tax-paying citizens, and of our hard-working instructors, and doubtless have their influence in securing a constant progress and im- provement both in instruction and discipline.
10
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Whatever the schools may have lacked during the past year, they have not failed of receiving abundant consideration on the part of the School Committee. The whole order of the schools has been carefully reviewed, the system of discipline and instruction freshly arranged, and the text-books revised, with all the light of previous experience. Every question relating to the well-being of the schools, to their draft upon the public treasury, to their adaptation to the wants of the various classes of pupils that attend them, has been discussed at length through a succes- sion of evening sessions. The committee does not flatter itself that it has secured a perfect plan ; indeed, in many respects, it has not satisfied itself with the results attained : but no more radical changes could be introduced without seriously affecting the whole established system, for which the community is not yet prepared.
It would be a consummation greatly to be desired, if a commission of the leading educators of the State, or even a broader congress of the chief public-school supervisors of the country, could be appointed to pre- pare, and set forth with the authority of their combined wisdom and experience, an order of studies, an ar- rangement of hours, and a list of the best text-books for our public instruction. Probably the great diver- gency of opinions in reference to the appropriate studies for the common and high schools, and modes of teach- ing, would forbid any confident expectation of entire harmony of views ; but the results of such a discussion as would be had by a committee of experienced edu- cators would be of invaluable service to the cause of public instruction. The ordinary educational conven-
11
GENERAL REPORT.
tions cover too wide a field in their essays, and never gather up results into positive statements.
The expenses of our schools, when measured by the number of pupils instructed, seem large; our per capita being among the highest in the Common- wealth : but this is not an incident growing out of lavish outlays, but of the physical condition of our city. All our grammar-schools could be easily accom- modated in two of the Boston school-buildings, with two adjoining primaries. It can be . readily seen how materially our expenses would be reduced, if the pupils could be thus brought under two male princi- pals, with a lady assistant for every fifty pupils. But this arrangement is impossible. Our city is broken up into villages widely separated from each other. Our schoolhouses are necessarily smaller, and our masters and first assistants more numerous. In one of the most distant districts there are just now but eighteen pupils. We have but one teacher here, - a faithful and accomplished lady, - and she has nearly as many classes in her school as pupils, on account of the diversities of age and intellectual advancement. The expense of this school is fifty-five dollars a year for each pupil; but it is the only con- siderable outlay of the city in a large and generous tax-paying district, and no citizen cognizant of all the circumstances would recommend any decrease of the school-expenses here. Just in proportion as our popu- lation increases our expense per capita will decrease.
Our schools are still somewhat in a transition state. In effecting the important change incident to the introduction of a superintendent of schools, the num- ber of masters was decreased; and the process of
12
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
most economically and wisely adjusting our present force to the work to be done has not yet passed entirely out of the region of discussion and experi- ment. In view of the reputation of our city, the character of its population, and the high estimation which its schools have already gained, no intelligent citizen would be willing to lower essentially the stand- ard we have now held for a number of years. Our salaries are much below the larger cities of the Com- monwealth, and about the average of those of the same population ; while incidental expenses are re- duced to the lowest practicable limits. Our best female teachers are now constantly solicited by more favorable opportunities in other places.
Some criticism has been offered upon the selection of teachers by the committee. It has been intimated that home talent has been overlooked. A knowledge of the actual facts would show the error of this opin- ion. Quite a considerable number of our female teachers were educated in our schools. If there has been any mistake, it has been in looking even too favorably upon applicants living in the city. It is quite a prevalent opinion, that good scholarship is all that is requisite for good teaching. Some of the best teachers, however, have enjoyed limited opportunities of academic or normal training ; and some of the best and broadest scholars are, on the other hand, misera- ble teachers. A successful teacher is " born, not made." She may be largely benefited by a liberal training; but all training will be unavailing, if she has not the " gift" of teaching. The fact that a young lady has passed through all our schools, and graduated at a normal institute, does not afford a
13
GENERAL REPORT.
sufficient presumption that she is qualified to teach. It is of the highest importance that we have accom- plished teachers, rich in experience and resources, able to manage the discipline and instruction of their schools or classes without assistance from a master. If they are not developed among us in sufficient num- bers, we must have a wider horizon than that which shuts down around our immediate vicinity in our search after teachers.
The nature of the instruction to be given in our public schools is a difficult question. As these schools embrace all the instruction a large proportion of the pupils will receive, there is a tendency both to crowd the few school-years with a multiplicity of studies, and to press the pupils forward as rapidly as possible. It is important that these children should have as gen- erous a training as practicable ; for into their hands, and not into those of college graduates and profes- sional men (for they far outnumber them), will the interests of our towns, our cities, and our state also, be committed. Every day, however, there is a grow- ing conviction that some form of industrial training might wisely be connected with the common-school tuition, which would be of infinitely more service to a large majority of these children of both sexes, intel- lectually as well as materially, than what may be called the æsthetic branches now taught in our schools. There is a prevalent impression, certainly not without ample foundation, that this lack of early industrial training-which was formerly secured when the chil- dren attending the public schools only studied, at most, half the year, and worked with their parents during the remaining months- is inducing a general disrelish
14
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
of all manual labor ; creating habits and tastes unfit- ting lads for mechanical trades or the cultivation of the soil, and girls for housekeeping; over-crowding certain kinds of mercantile and clerical forms of busi- ness ; and exposing many youths to indolent, vicious, and dissipated courses. The breaking-down of the apprenticeship system has also doubtless enhanced this very serious social evil. It has been questioned whether the difficulty might not be met, in a measure, by introducing manual labor into the public-school system. It is of much less importance that any par- ticular trade should be taught than that a habit of industry, a taste for physical labor, and a skilled use of the hands, be formed. The introduction of sewing for girls into some of the schools in the city of Boston has been found to be wholesome and useful as a stimulant, a recreation, an excellent discipline, and a valuable acquisition. Why could not some simple in- dustrial pursuit be arranged for boys ? The hour, that, in later years, has been cut off from the daily task, might be added again for this physical instruc- tion, without harm to the pupils. The moral results of such a training in some practical trade, as well as the economical,-in the instance of the great body of young persons who now frequent the streets and places of public resort during the time they are not in school, -could but be of the most wholesome character. It was a public accusation of one of the most thoughtful of English writers against modern university train- ing, that it did not enable a graduate to earn his bread. This indictment ought not to, but practically does, hold against the present public-school system.
As the public-school instruction is now adminis-
15
GENERAL REPORT.
tered, in order to save the pupil and the parent from the chagrin and disappointment of the former's fail- ure to pass to a higher class when the hour for pro- motion is reached, the school discipline must take on a strenuous form. Parents that object most seriously to detention after school to make up deficiencies, or studying at home, are quite as ready to be unrecon- ciled when the written test of scholarship shows the consequences of these daily failures. In the high school this is almost the only form of discipline. As the session of this school is a protracted one, and pupils should not be compelled to remain a longer period without nourishment, it is the custom never to require a pupil to tarry behind on the day of the delinquency, but to come prepared for it with a luncheon on the succeeding day. When the wish of the parent, or the health of the pupil, forbids even this, information of the deficiency is sent home; and the responsibility of the ultimate failure of the stu- dent to pass his examinations, and advance in his classes, is left to rest upon the natural guardians.
As a whole, the year has been a successful one. A sad event dropped its shadow over all our schools near the close of it. In our last Report we congratulated the city upon securing so excellent a superintendent, as successor to Mr. Willard, as the one who had then entered upon the office. Mr. Warren Johnson was amply fulfilling all the high expectations predicated upon his wide experience and great success as an educator in another State. He had secured for him- self the confidence and co-operation of our teachers, the love of all the pupils of our schools, and the respect of our citizens generally, when he was sud-
16
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
denly removed from his office and from life, to the great grief of all who knew him. We succeeded, however, in obtaining at once a successor who had enjoyed equally large experience in the general work of education, and more professional service in the immediate office of a school superintendent. E. Hunt, LL.D., late superintendent of schools in Portland, has already introduced himself favorably in all depart- ments of his important office, and will, in his accom- panying Report, give his estimate of the condition and promise of our present system of public instruction, and make such suggestions as his experience prompts.
It is proper to express, what is the common senti- ment of this Board, that we have a body of as accom- plished teachers as can be found in the State; and that, with all the opportunity that is still manifest for improvement, our schools, considered with respect to the existing standards, were never in a better condi- tion, doing more efficient work, or giving more signifi- cant promise of progress. One of the best tests of the results of our system is the consummate flower of it ; and this we have in the fact that our graduating grammar-school classes never sent more or better- prepared scholars to the high school, and that the latter still holds its honestly-won pre-eminence in the high standing of the pupils that pass from its training into our colleges.
HIGH SCHOOL.
HIGH SCHOOL.
THE whole number of pupils registered last year was 261, -ten less than the previous year. The standard of requisition for entrance was raised, both for the improvement of the grammar-schools, and to secure advancement in the high school. The aver- age attendance through the year has reached 244.6, with an average daily attendance of 228.5, or a per cent of attendance of .93. Of the whole number of pupils, 171 were enrolled in the general course, 48 in the classical, and 42 in the mercantile. The classes contained the following numbers (the fourth being the entering class): I. 37 regular pupils, and 4 special ; II. 51 regular, and 5 special; III. 69 regular, and 5 special; IV. 79 regular, and 11 special. The special students are pupils of various ages, some quite mature, who avail themselves of instruction in certain branches, especially French and German ; or youths whose physical strength forbids the assuming a full course.
Last year, of the graduating class, thirty-two took a full course, and nineteen a three-years' course. We are not disposed to compare one class with another ; but this one was remarkable rather for the excellent average all seemed to attain than for any instances of specially brilliant promise. The graduating exercises
20
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
filled the great hall of the school with an interested audience. The essays of the young men and ladies were eminently sensible, practical, and of a high moral tone. The speaking was admirable in distinct- ness, grace, and impressiveness. A pleasant feature was added to the occasion, in the distribution by the mayor of the city, Hon. Alden Speare, of a floral gift to each one of the graduates. Of this class, three passed their preliminary examination at Har- vard, and seven their final; two entered Amherst, one Williams, and one the School of Technology. Of those entering Harvard, five gained eleven honors, -a fine tribute to their own diligence, and to the excellent training they had received at the high school.
During the year the interest in the mercantile course has not abated. To enjoy the opportunity it offers for a liberal training in practical science, in modern languages, and in professional branches, some who had previously entered upon a three-years' course returned to the institution for an additional year. In addition to the regular studies, as during last year, a course of very valuable practical lectures was ar- ranged, chiefly given by honored citizens of Newton. Their generous services have been highly appreciated by the classes which have listened to them, and their beneficial results have been shown in many forms. Full reports of them were made by the pupils, some of which were published in the local paper. To this valuable course Mayor Speare contributed one upon " Success in Life ;" Mr. W. C. Bates, upon "The Old Merchants of Boston." Gen. A. B. Underwood chose for his theme " Civil Service ; " W. S. Slocum,
21
HIGH SCHOOL.
Esq., " Contracts ; " Thomas Weston, jun., Esq., " Uses and Abuses of Law ;" Dr. Henry M. Field, " Laws of Health;" Hon. William Claflin, "Banks and Banking ; " Mr. Walter Allen, "Newspapers ; " Mr. William F. Bradbury, " Metric System ; " Gamaliel Bradford, Esq., "Money;" and Mr. Gorham H. Gilman, " Sandwich Islands." The thoughts sug- gested by these lectures, in some instances, gave color to the graduating addresses, and showed how excel- lent and permanent an impression had been produced.
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