USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 7
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While the conditions of progress in these schools have been so unfortunate during the past season, nothing has happened to produce serious or lasting ill effects. No room, at present, exists for doubting that this school-year will be as pleasant and prosper- ous as any that has preceded it. The hope is con- fidently entertained, that, in some respects, it will show a marked improvement.
HAMILTON AND WILLIAMS SCHOOLS.
THE committee who have special charge of those schools known as the Williams and Hamil- ton, in Upper Falls and Auburndale, report that these schools have been, during the year past, and are to-day, in a flourishing condition. The work of the year has been well performed in the main; and the promotions from class to class, at the close of the year, had the same standard been adopted as hith- erto, would have been as numerous as ever before. The deportment of the scholars in both the schools has been good. But few instances of corporal pun- ishment have occurred during the year, while a very large number of detentions after school has been deemed necessary.
In the Williams School, one of the teachers was obliged to take a furlough for her health; and the work of the substitute was not up to the average work of the school.
The supervision of the master is satisfactory ; and his work in the class-room appears to good advantage in the advancement of his pupils.
PEIRCE, DAVIS, AND FRANKLIN SCHOOLS.
THE last year's work in the schools in Ward Three has not been as fully and thoroughly done as in some previous years ; but as the principal cause was exceptional, and not liable to occur again within the next ninety-nine years, it might seem unneces- sary to refer to it, did not the result suggest the inquiry, whether we are not still requiring of our teachers an unnecessary amount of similar work, thus interfering with the regular studies upon which the promotion of the scholars depends. Our best teachers are by no means limited in their work to school-hours; but much of their success is due to the careful preparation for and arrangement of the various recitations done outside the schoolroom : and, in order to give the teachers full opportunity to devote their time and attention to the advancement of the scholars in their studies, they should be relieved of all clerical work not indispensable to the success of the schools.
Some of the schools have suffered the last as in previous years by the admission, during the winter and a part of the spring months, of twenty or more large boys, who, owing to the depressed condition
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PEIRCE, DAVIS, AND FRANKLIN SCHOOLS.
of business, finding it impossible to get employment, seek admission to the schools. Having attended school but irregularly in previous years, they are poorly prepared to enter upon the regular work of the advanced classes ; but, owing to their age and large size, they have generally been assigned to the seventh class ; and the result has been, a much larger number have failed of promotion in this than any other class. Our late superintendent, fully appreci- ating the evils arising from this arrangement, recom- mended, in his last Report to the Board, the establish- ment of three schools, during a part of the year, in different parts of the city, to accommodate this class of scholars. If as large a number as during the last two or three years continue to apply for admission to the schools, some provision must be made for them where they can be better accommodated, and where their presence will not so seriously interfere with the work of regular classes.
A later and more careful inquiry among the teachers in this district only confirms the opinion, previously expressed, in favor of the recent change in regard to the promotion of pupils : there seems to be entire unanimity of feeling among the teachers in its favor. There are, indeed, in some of the schools, individual cases, where the scholars, owing to some disadvantage in the early part of the year, such as enforced absence, or recent admission to our schools, run far below the average, while during the last half of the year, having an equal chance, they are above the average of a majority of those whose more even record entitles them to promotion. While the sym-
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
pathies of the teachers are enlisted in their cases, and they desire their promotion, they would not wish it done, if, by so doing, the standard of promo- tion is to be lowered, or rendered less firmly fixed than at present.
ADAMS, CLAFLIN, AND JACKSON SCHOOLS.
IN the Adams and Claflin buildings, the schools have, with one exception, had no change of teachers for at least two years, and have had teachers who ought not to be changed. They are faithful, en- thusiastic, and capable; and their accumulated efforts for these years in one place have elevated the standard of the schools. We have noted improvement the past year, especially in the more useful branches. The intelligent reading in some of the lower classes has been quite remarkable.
In the seventh class in the Adams School, there has been a number of changes; but Miss Mills has, as far as it is possible, made up the loss caused by changing teachers. During the fall term of this year, our schools are very full. Almost all the classes have a large number of pupils ; and, beside, almost a full class of the seventh grade has come to the Adams from the Jackson School. This has made it necessary to have two seventh classes, - one at the Adams, and one at the Claflin buildings, and five separate schools in the latter. There are no accommodations at the Jackson School for any more classes, the sixth being the highest at present. We suggest whether there ought not to be a room at
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
or near that building for a seventh class. The schools are full under the present arrangement, some are crowded, and the numbers are not likely to diminish.
The discipline of our schools is generally very good. We find that parents can have great control over this matter. If a scholar is inclined to mischief, he can be controlled with comparative ease, if the authority at home is with the teacher; but, if the mischief-maker is sustained in his wrong-doing by parents, it is not possible to have good discipline until the pupil submits, and the parent is willing to have the teacher rule in the schoolroom. We find that our teachers are generally sustained in their discipline.
We earnestly invite citizens, especially parents, to visit the schools often. The teachers are glad to see them. We wish all to be acquainted with our schools; and we will always gladly receive sugges- tions and opinions as to rendering them more efficient. We ask, too, for interest in the teachers and their work.
BIGELOW, UNDERWOOD, AND LINCOLN SCHOOLS.
THE past year has been more than ordinarily eventful, and the work less satisfactory, in some respects, than usual. The winter and spring were quite sickly ; and so many were out of school from that cause, that the class work was a good deal inter- rupted. Then came the extra work called out by the preparations for the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, which broke up still more the ordinary duties of the school, and was exhausting to both teachers and pupils.
Many teachers have resigned during the year, among them some of the best in the schools of the city. Their places have, however, been well filled, we trust.
There have been complaints, as usual, about the ventilation and warming of our schoolhouses, and justly ; but neither teachers nor school committee are responsible for this condition of things.
Ventilation is very important, but cannot be fur- nished without a large expenditure of money. It is not alone in our schoolhouses that ventilation is defective; in our dwelling-houses it is com- pletely overlooked. With the imperfect means of ventilation at their command, the teachers do the
36
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
best they can. We must educate the community up to the fact that fresh air, so important, so all-essential to sound health, cannot be had without expense in the consumption of fuel, and, in houses already built, through a large outlay in making the neces- sary changes.
In conclusion, this committee would congratulate the Board on the important step taken to raise the standard of education in the grammar schools by in- creasing the percentages that applicants for admission to the high school must obtain before entering that school. It is true there may be some cases in which hardship will result in fixing so high a percent- age, and rejecting those who do not reach it; but will it not be a greater hardship, if a whole class of bright, industrious pupils are kept back, so that the few who fail may be dragged through their whole school course ?
INDUSTRIAL AND FREEHAND DRAWING.
THE chairman of the committee upon these branches, in submitting the Reports of the teachers employed, says, -
" I have the honor to submit herewith the Report of the Committee on Industrial Drawing for the winter of 1875-76; and, in so doing, I enclose, Ist, The detailed report of the special teacher in mechan- ical drawing, Mr. Otto Fuchs, from which all par- ticulars of attendance, &c., may be learned ; and, 2d, A similar report from Mrs. O. W. Bowler, regarding the freehand department.
"It will be observed, that, in both these Reports, attention is called to the infrequency of the meet- ings of the several classes, by reason of which the pupils make slow progress, and lose interest. This matter is commended to the attention of the Board, in the hope that some plan may be devised, whereby the lessons may occur more frequently, even if the whole number given is no greater than under the present system.
" Your sub-committee are sorry to be obliged to re- port so large a falling-off in attendance towards the close of the course in each department ; but they can- not attribute it to any lack in either the ability or
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
diligence of the teachers. The true course is, probably, that already referred to; and we trust that this may, in some way, be remedied during the com- ing winter."
REPORT ON THE FREE INDUSTRIAL DRAWING-SCHOOLS
Held at the Mason Schoolhouse, Newton Centre, and at the High School Building, Newtonville, during the Term of 1875 to 1876.
THE school at Newton Centre was opened on the even- ing of Nov. 10, 1875, twenty-eight names registered, and classified as follows : -
Age of oldest scholar
50 years.
" " youngest 66
15 66
average
24 66
OCCUPATIONS.
Carpenters
19
Machinists .
4
Civil Engineers
4
Clerks .
2
Students
8
The whole number of sessions during the term was nineteen, and the average attendance for each month as follows : -
November, two sessions, average attendance . 30 .
December, four 66 66
. 22
January, four 66 66
.
. 11
February, four 66 66
66
.
7
March, five
66
.
6
It would seem by the above figures that the falling-off in the number of scholars was unusually large: the cause of this, however, is obviously owing, firstly, to the fact that many of the scholars live some distance from the school ;
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FREE INDUSTRIAL DRAWING SCHOOLS.
secondly, and I think chiefly, that the time intervening between two sessions is too long to secure and maintain sufficient interest on the part of the scholars to induce them to continue regular in their attendance to the end of the term. Of course, where the evenings for instruction are so few and far between, the progress, especially of the beginners, must be correspondingly slow : they soon realize this, feel disappointed in their expectations, become dis- couraged, and drop off. To make this perfectly plain, I note here the attendance each evening ; and the figures, I think, will prove my theory correct.
Nov.
DEC.
JAN.
FEB.
MARCH.
DATE. ATTENDANCE.
10 17
1 8 15 22
5 12 19 26
2 9 16 23
6 each
28 32
21 24 21 21
13 13 10 9
6 6
8 6
evening.
Thus you see that the decline was quite gradual, except in two instances, - from Nov. 17 to Dec. 1, and from Dec. 22 to Jan. 5. In the first, a session fell out Thanksgiving week, and, in the latter, Christmas, leaving each time two weeks between sessions.
Those who persevered, and remained till the end of the term, made a very satisfactory exhibit in both the amount and quality of their work, which was shown in Horticultu- ral Hall at the State Exhibition in May last.
The Newtonville branch was still more disadvanta- geously situated. The majority of the scholars who came there lived so far away, that they had to come and go by rail. Those who came from Auburndale and thereabouts could not get to school till about half-past seven, and then had to wait till ten o'clock, and after, before they could get home again. By Christmas, the attendance had fallen off so much, that I felt constrained to report the fact to Mr. Willard, who thereupon decided to discontinue the school.
Under the existing circumstances, I think the best plan would be to have but one school at Newton Centre, and
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
allow the students two evenings a week. There are enough young men in that vicinity who would appreciate the bene- fit of a real efficient school ; and, by giving them twice the amount of instruction, they would feel that they are learn- ing something. Secure their interest, and prompt and regular attendance will naturally follow, and with that a satisfactory result at the end of the term.
OTTO FUCHS.
REPORT OF THE WORK DONE IN THE FREEHAND EVENING SCHOOLS.
THE evening drawing classes in the freehand depart- ment began at Newtonville and Newton Centre, Nov. 9 and 12 respectively. Seventeen lessons were given in each of these places, one lesson in each place per week.
The main part of each class began in blank drawing- books, and was carried through a course of elementary lessons, preparatory to model drawing. Some of the more advanced drew from the cast and model. Lessons in elementary and applied design were also given, and some creditable work done.
One drawback to the full success of the evening pupils is the desire of many to copy some difficult lithograph simply, without wishing to do the plainer and more prac- tical subjects first ; but I hope this will wear off in time, as the pupils from the public schools enter these classes, who will either be trained in the elementary work, or understand the need of beginning in the right way.
It is somewhat unfortunate, also, that so few lessons can be given per week : it is hardly sufficient to keep up the interest, and limits considerably the quantity of work.
As in every other study, there is a difference in ability and perseverance, which is shown in the pupils' work. However, allow me to give due credit to some earnest spirits who worked, night after night, with zeal and profit, and who, I hope, feel compensated for the time devoted.
41
FREEHAND EVENING SCHOOLS.
Outside of the regular work done in the books, we selected several drawings for a modest tribute to the Centennial Exhibit, embracing outline, shaded drawings from cast and model, and applied design.
The classes dwindled, at the last, to fifteen at Newton- ville, and eight at the Centre, when we closed, about the first of April.
EMMA F. BOWLER.
REPORT ON MUSIC.
THE wisdom shown in devoting so much attention to the study and practice of music in the schools be- comes yet more apparent with each succeeding year. Certainly the system of instruction in a special branch like this should be carried out until it has had time to bear fruit, which, it may be declared, is already apparent, even in the more limited period of musical drill.
The brief time which can be devoted to this sub- ject, even under the ampler provisions of last year, renders it necessary that the instruction should be general and elementary, rather than specific, or for immediate effect.
The committee would express their confidence in the music-master, Mr. W. S. Tilden, and his general system, and submit the following suggestions relat- ing to his department, coming from his own pen : -
"The course of instruction which has been pursued hitherto with success is still continued, with such modifications and additional helps as the constant study of the condition of the classes, and observation of musical instruction elsewhere on the part of the teacher of music from time to time, suggest.
" The advantages derived from previous instruction
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REPORT ON MUSIC.
show themselves more and more with each suc- ceeding year. The musical perception among the younger children is developed more generally ; and the result is, that a far larger majority of those in the middle classes sing than was formerly the case.
" The facility with which the older pupils in the high school and in the upper grammar classes take up the choruses for mixed voices, and the increas- ing interest and energy with which they are sung, go still farther in the direction of proving that the course in music has been wisely taken.
" The objects sought in this department of instruc- tion are the same now as during the four or five years since the present instructor commenced his labors, - to awaken a love of singing, to direct the development of the musical faculties to that which will be of highest consequence in after-life, to place before the young singer such music and words as tend to improve, rather than degrade, the taste, and to guard against the ruinously harsh and over- strained use of the voices, which in former years, in many places, has justly called forth condemnation of the school music.
"It is not possible to meet all the varying musical tastes in a variously cultured community, or the widely differing notions of what musical instruction for the mass of children should attempt or accom- plish ; but that which has proved best in the end, ac- cording to the judgment of men who have spent their lives in the study of this subject, both here and abroad, is what has been carefully sought for and diligently pursued. It is not what will tell immedi- ately in a performance alone that is desired, neither
44
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the preparation of the children for that which they are only to do as children, but to make the course judicious and far-reaching to that degree, that, while the present benefits of song are not lost to the child, he shall be prepared in maturer years to take his place intelligently in the choir, the congregation, or the oratorio, as the case may be. In order to that, the musical sense must be educated out of the bare singing of melodies in unisons and octaves, which was the condition of music in public schools fifteen or twenty years ago, up to the enjoyment of the harmonic element in music, that which, above all things, distinguishes the modern music from that of more uncultured times. It is true that all properly- constructed melodies are built upon a harmonic basis, and these demand a portion of the practice throughout the course ; yet the mind of the learner can never be led to thoroughly apprehend the true basis of, and the beautiful relations that exist in, a melody without much study of part-singing.
"This begins in the fifth year of the school course; all the pupils singing either part interchangeably until the time when the voices begin to show more clearly their natural aptitude, when they are selected for upper and lower parts.
" During the past year, the larger boys with changed voices, who belong to the upper grammar classes, have been taught to read the bass, and to sing that part also. This has been more successful than was anticipated at first ; and, in several schools, we have heard a good chorus of mixed voices, each singing his appropriate part. The older boys have shown an interest in this kind of work, which is very creditable to their intelligence.
45
REPORT ON MUSIC.
" During the year, also, the time spent in this branch each day has been restricted to somewhat narrower limits than before; yet the impetus which the study of music has received, and the longer experience the regular teachers have had in follow- ing out the lessons given by the special teacher, com- bine to render the ten minutes of song effective.
"We would recommend a regulation similar to that recently made by the School Board in the neighbor- ing city, by which the singing is done at the same time throughout the building : indeed, the sugges- tion commended itself so strongly, that, in several schools, it is already adopted ; and the ten minutes next succeeding the morning devotions, which, on many accounts, is the most appropriate time, has been chosen, as is the case in the city schools referred to."
The foregoing statements are so fitting, and so completely cover the ground which it is desirable to present, that we do not hesitate to engross them into the Report, and to commend them to the School Committee, and to the public at large.
REPORT ON DRAWING.
THE drawing of the school year ending in June - save for the introduction of the geometrical as a part of the grammar-school work, and some intro- duction of the model in classes where the teacher felt able to carry it on, and the pupils were able to be benefited by it - has received about the kind of attention of the previous year. The success, on the whole, has, we think, exceeded that of the former year.
The momentum acquired by able and interested supervision, on the part of the lady at the head of the department; the interest of the masters, disposed, we think, in all cases, to give it the time belonging to it, and with faith in its value; the system on the part of the lady-teachers who availed themselves of an early opportunity for instruction, so as to teach with pleasure, and with profit to the pupils ; the addition to the number this year of teachers of advanced knowledge on the subject, - these have all helped to make the result not fall below our reasonable expectations.
It is not the purpose of the public schools to give any one an artistic education, that being the work of a large fraction of a life with devotion to this
47
REPORT ON DRAWING.
object ; but the foundation training that comes of careful instruction in drawing is of very great bene- fit, if we do no more than to carry out the present programme of work. Whatever, then, increases the efficiency of the means contributing to this end, is to be noted and employed, if possible. Whatever in any regard diminishes that efficiency is to be avoided. In the line of this thought it may be said, that some of the teachers who passed the drawing examination this year passed with no margin of merit ; and should they not be able, by attacking the subject with energy in the work of instruction, to dispel the mistiness in which it yet seems to be involved, they cannot come out into clear air, in which alone it is delightful to teach. Toward this latter condition of teaching drawing from an abun- dant knowledge an additional number of Massachu- setts teachers are yearly hastening. They have the joy of progress by the way, and an increased power of effective teaching in the onward march. Newton has a respectable number in this marching body. Many that have attained the certificate are recast- ing their knowledge, and enlarging its borders, so as to make the whole effort in instruction effective.
Some of the marks of the quality of the instruc- tion in the high school are the excellence and variety of last year's drawings, the understanding with which the pupils come to the new work, the fine exhibit at the Centennial Exhibition, and the appreciation, on the part of the pupils, of the excel- lent advantages that they enjoy.
To increase the effectiveness of the teaching for the coming years throughout the schools, as a whole,
48
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
teachers yet seeking light will be afforded the best advantages that a wise economy of the power for instruction of the head teacher will admit.
We hope that the lessons to be given will be utilized by all teachers yet needing guidance in the elements, and that all who have now served the city for some years may pass with success, near the end of this year, the somewhat deferred examination.
EVENING SCHOOLS.
THE Committee on Evening Schools respectfully report, that, acting under the instructions of the Board, they opened an evening school in the Lincoln Building, on Pearl Street, Ward One, on the evening of Feb. 14, for boys and men, under the charge of two teachers, Mr. William N. White and Mr. J. B. Gifford. During the first week, the attendance of scholars grew so large, that it was found to be necessary to engage two additional teachers; and accordingly the services of Miss Emma Wilkins and Miss Nellie Dalrymple were secured.
The sessions of the school were held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from seven to nine, P.M., and continued for twenty-one nights, closing on the 31st of March.
Some anxiety was felt in the beginning, lest there might be difficulty in preserving order ; but this was soon relieved by the thorough efficiency of the head master, Mr. White, who, in the course of a few evenings, brought the discipline of the school to as creditable a point as is maintained in our day schools.
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