USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875-1877 > Part 8
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The progress of the scholars has been very gratify- ing. Some who, when they first came, were not able to write, have acquired that ability; and others
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
who could read very imperfectly have advanced rapidly.
The expenses of the school, including the cost of fitting up the room, and some incidentals, have been less than ten dollars per night. It is doubted if the same amount of money can be expended by the Board to produce more gratifying results; and it is suggested, that, in future, a larger appropriation be made, so that the school may be continued during five months of each year.
A number of our citizens, beside the committee, have taken a warm interest in the success of the school, and have visited it. Some have added to the information of the scholars by delivering short lec- tures upon such topics as would interest the boys and men assembled.
€
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
REPORT OF H. M. WILLARD.1
To THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF NEWTON.
Gentlemen, - By a vote of this Board, the Superin- tendent of Schools is required to make a quarterly report of the condition of our schools, including statistics, to- gether with such recommendations of changes as would seem in his judgment to be conducive to the highest inter- ests of the schools.
The present year has been somewhat broken; and con- sequently the only report made thus far was the annual report, covering the ground to the close of the year 1875. On account of the absence of your superintendent in Europe, no report could be made until the close of the year.
The time for the next report was the latter part of March, when the work involved in the preparation of the Centennial exhibit of our schools prevented any other work than that absolutely essential for proper superin- tendence.
Accordingly, the present report is to cover the time from the first of January to the first of May, including the report of the two last examinations of the schools, which occurred in February, and during the first week of the present school month, respectively.
1 Resigned Sept. 15. Succeeded by Warren Johnson, Oct. 1. See supplement to this report.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Our attendance has not been by any means all that could be desired ; and yet a variety of causes, some of which could not be prevented, have contributed to this result. Colds, diphtheria, scarlet-fever, have been the most prominent of these causes. The latter, which has proved a terrible scourge to numerous families, has prevented many parents from sending their children, through fear of exposure. The want of suitable clothing has been a serious drawback to good attendance in several schools. The hard times, and the extreme poverty resulting there- from, have made it an impossibility for some families to provide decent clothing for the schoolroom. Some of the teachers have, by their personal efforts in behalf of such, provided a part of them with suitable clothing : still not a few have been necessarily thus detained from school. In a city like Newton, this seems a strange state of things : still it must be borne in mind that many of the pupils of the Jackson School in Newtonville, and of the Franklin School in West Newton, are the children of working- people, who find it hard in these times to provide more than the bare necessities of life. The same is true to a great extent of the Mason School at Newton Centre, and of the Hyde School at Newton Highlands. Many of the children of the Mason School come from the village of Thompsonville, and from that section lying between West Newton, Newtonville, and Newton Centre, part of which is known as Cold Spring City. These children, coming from such a scattered territory, and living so far from the school, are often kept at home, when, if living nearer the school, they would be present. In course of time, as the population increases, I think it will be well to put up a small schoolhouse for the accommodation of primary- school scholars, and perhaps even of the lower grammar- classes, in each of the above-mentioned sections, which, without being reduced to the same exact classification as is maintained in our large schools, will be well adapted to the wants of those neighborhoods. These would at the
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
same time relieve the Mason School of the pressure for room which already begins to be experienced there. A competent teacher, working right in those sections, could secure better results, and could send scholars earlier and better fitted into the grammar-classes of the Mason School than is possible at present, when the teachers work more or less at arm's-length. The attendance will be better, and the cases of tardiness less frequent ; as the low per cent of attendance is found in the lower grades, and is caused mainly by these pupils living at a distance. This difficulty is not experienced to such an extent in any other part of our city.
The per cent of attendance in the various schools and districts since Jan. 1, 1876, is as follows : -
AVERAGE FROM JAN. 1, 1876, TO MAY 5, 1876, OR FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THIS YEAR.
DISTRICTS.
Average Whole No.
Average Attend- ance.
Per Cent Attend- ance.
Cases of Tardiness.
Number Admit- ted.
Number Dis- charged.
No. 1.
674
612
907
524.77 per cent.
296
302
2.
296
273
92
98.33
164
125
3.
740
681
92
246.33
503
447
4.
658
584
887
*932.141
440
384
General Av ..
2,368
2,150
907
450
350
314
From the foregoing figures, it will be seen that our schools are not equally successful in securing good at- tendance of the pupils. Certain reasons have already been alluded to in explanation of the comparatively low per cent in District No. One ; viz., the great extent of terri- tory for which there are only four schools, and also the character of much of the school population.
Good attendance is secured in Districts Two and Three ; viz., Lower Falls, Auburndale, West Newton, and New-
* 4 out of 6 in one room against 1 scholar. 13 out of 18 in another room, &c.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
tonville. The families sending to these schools are much more concentrated than on the south side of the city ; though it has been only by the untiring efforts of the teachers that so good attendance has been secured. Sickness has been the chief cause which has kept pupils from school. In District No. Four there has been much sickness, twelve pupils having died during the year ; viz., eight of scarlet-fever, two of diphtheria, one of croup, and one of quinsy. The fear of disease has naturally pre- vented many parents from sending their children, for fear of exposing them. Other reasons for the low attendance here might be adduced, were it necessary. It has, how- ever, proved a serious drawback to the prosperity of the district; and, when the question of promotion is to be decided, the important facts of good attendance as an ele- ment of this question ought not to be overlooked.
EXAMINATIONS.
The examinations for the past year have been very different from those of last year. Then a monthly exami- nation was given; the questions being in the main pre- pared by the masters, and referred to the superintendent. They were, for the most part, such as required only the transfer of some of the regular monthly work to the exami- nation-paper. This was leading to a style of work too mechanical, the schoolroom-work having too much ten- dency to cram the children with the bare facts upon which they were to be examined.
With such a system, one might easily stand well with- out really learning to use his knowledge as a means for the accomplishment of something new and original.
The thing learned in the schoolroom was in itself the object, rather than the tool with which to work.
Our work for the present year has been of a very dif- ferent character, necessitated by the very different charac- ter of the examinations.
I have made it the one prominent thing in these exami-
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
nations to require independent thoughts on the part of the pupils, according to the capacity in this direction which might fairly be expected from his grade. The examples in arithmetic, the questions in language, and, as far as possible, the work in geography, history, phi- losophy, and physiology, have been planned to necessitate instruction of such a character, that the pupil need not, if asked to do something which was not exactly what he had done before, find himself like one at sea without oar, sail, rudder, or compass.
The plan has necessarily made the examinations more difficult than those of last year; though nothing has been called for which involved principles not brought out in the regular school-work.
The teaching has been, as a natural consequence, more thorough and more comprehensive. The schools have generally worked harder and more intelligently, and will, I believe, be better prepared next year for new subjects than from the work of last year, though the percentage will not be so high. These questions were submitted to the inspection of the masters on the night previous to the examination, and considered fair. They are such, that at least seventy per cent of them could have been answered by a scholar who had worked even fairly well, and been regular in attendance. The first examination being con- siderably different in character from those of last year, as shown in the annual report, was not borne very success- fully. It proved, however, quite an incentive; and the next examination, the one from which class-work was to be selected to send to the Exposition at Philadelphia. though much longer and harder in character than the first one, resulted in as large a percentage of correct answers, in the studies of arithmetic, language, history, and geogra- phy, as the first one.
In preparing the questions for the Centennial Examina- tion, I tried to keep in mind two important things ; viz., that the questions should not be so difficult as to discour-
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
age the pupils, and at the same time that they should not be so simple as to indicate to strangers examining them that we did only a shallow and superficial kind of work in our schoolrooms. The average percentage of correct an- swers obtained upon this examination in the four studies named above was 66.7, and the corresponding average on the examination of November was 67 per cent ; showing a difference of only three-tenths of one per cent on a much harder examination.
The third examination, given during the present month, shows an average of 68.5 per cent upon these same studies. The questions were nearly as difficult as those given for the Centennial Examination ; and considering the various interruptions to which we have been subjected, not only in the preparation of work for the Centennial, but in vari- ous losses of time, I consider the result, on the whole, very good. The loss of time referred to since the Centennial Examination is as follows : In February, one half-day was lost on account of a storm, and also Feb. 22; viz., a day and a half. In March, one entire day was lost from a very severe storm ; while also St. Patrick's Day was virtually of little use to a large number of the schools, - two days.
In April occurred the Annual Fast; also the day on which the schools close for the County Convention of Teachers, and the day given as a holiday on account of the children's party at Newton, - three days.
Just twelve weeks elapsed from the close of the Centen- nial Examination to the third or last examination. Out of that time must be deducted two weeks of vacation ; also one week, one day and a half, for the causes just named ; leaving eight weeks, three and one-half days, in which to finish the work of February, March, and April, or nearly three months' work.
I speak of this thus exactly, because I hear from time to time various criticisms to the effect that our efforts in behalf of the Centennial Exposition have greatly crippled our regular work.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
The work for the Centennial was briefly as follows : In the middle of February the second regular examination was given, which was corrected by the teachers, marked and sent to this office as usual. After an examination of these papers at the office, certain classes were selected to send papers, and certain individuals beside ; care being taken to have all the schools represented, even though the work thus sent was not always the best that might have been selected. The papers thus designated were returned to the teachers and copied once, just as they had been sent in, including the incorrect answers; then the copied papers and all the originals were returned to this office.
The work in drawing was such as could be done in the regular drawing-time; viz., one hour and a half a week. Mrs. Bowler, on consultation with myself, assigned for the February work a sort of review of the previous work. Eight lessons in drawing are given each month. Mrs. Bowler assigned six subjects for the eight lessons, leaving two lessons free to be employed as the teachers pleased, or as they needed them. In these six lessons the scholars were to produce one drawing in each of the following subjects : viz., one free-hand from the flat copy, one free- hand from a model, one geometrical, one original design, one from memory, one from dictation ; leaving two lessons for completing the work.
In writing, each child was required to write something from dictation, and also a specimen upon paper ruled like the writing-book. Several letters and compositions already written were selected, which the children copied.
In music, more time was given to copying for a while : so that enters into the regular curriculum of musical in- struction. Some complaints were brought to me that the children in some schools were not singing at all, as all the time was required for copying music. I immediately con- sulted Mr. Tilden, who stated that the work assigned did not make it necessary to spend all the time in writing, but
58
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
that he had distinctly stated that some singing was to be called for every day. He was, however, pressing the mat- ter of copying temporarily for the sake of the Exposition ; but as comparatively little time had been spent upon it till then, the time having been devoted entirely to vocalizing and singing of songs, which could not be represented upon paper, I could see no reason why, for a short time, he might not be allowed to press the matter of writing music, as that was part of his legitimate work, and was the only way in which his admirably conducted work could be represented.
In the primary schools the work assigned was as fol- lows: The primary teachers were called together, and asked by myself to represent each branch of their work by two selected specimens, which were to be sent to this office. This work was to be represented under the fol- lowing heads, - printing or writing, drawing, music, num- ber, oral work, and spelling. This called for just twelve specimens from each primary teacher. Slips of brown drawing-paper, six inches square, were furnished to each teacher, in sufficient quantities to allow her to distribute them to all her pupils, upon which they were to put the work assigned. From these the teachers were to select the best, and to return those selected to this office.
The above was all that was required. If a teacher did not accomplish it without trespassing very much upon her regular work, it was, as has been before stated here by one of this Board, either from a lack of tact in keeping busy those not engaged in Centennial work, or from a too great ambition, which led to her doing more than was asked for. I believe that those who try to excuse them- selves largely on the plea of Centennial work are not among our best teachers. Indeed, one of our best teachers in town, who has both an eighth and a ninth class to carry on their numerous studies, said only a few days since, without supposing that it would be reported to me, that the nice work done for the Centennial had proved the
59
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
greatest stimulus to her classes, not only to do neat work, but also work of a higher intellectual character than they had ever done before. The same thing has been told me by other teachers, whose work, then as now, was very creditable to them. But, aside from this testimony, my own observation convinces me, that not only was the time not wasted, but of a positive benefit to our schools. The set of examination-papers now lying upon the case in this room will speak for themselves. Doubtless some- what higher percentages would have been obtained, had our regular work experienced no interruption ; but, as stated above, this interruption cannot in justice be attributed to the Centennial work exclusively, but must be in a large part attributed to the loss of the six and one-half days from the causes above named, and from the break caused during the two weeks of vacation.
I hope that Memorial Day will be the only interruption in our work for the rest of the year. Fortunately the 17th of June occurs on Saturday. I hope that our closing exercises will be of such a nature, that little time need be taken from the regular work.
I would respectfully recommend that all the grammar- schools close on Friday afternoon, June 30, at four o'clock ; that the forenoon of that day be devoted to an examination of both the grammar and primary classes ; and that, in the afternoon, the primary schools be closed to allow the primary teachers to attend the graduating exer- cises of the grammar-schools, - the latter to consist of declamations, compositions, perhaps one or two simple dialogues, singing, presentation of diplomas, and speeches. I should also recommend that the lower grammar-classes be allowed to be present, if there is room, with their teacher, as occasions of this kind give a sort of éclat to the graduating of the grammar-classes, and are incentives to the progress in the lower classes to complete at least the grammar-school course.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
PROMOTIONS.
As the time for the annual promotions is near at hand, and as due care that these promotions be made judiciously has so great influence upon the success of the schools for the coming year, I will say a few words upon this subject at this point in my report. A scholar's age, his natural ability, his punctuality and his fidelity, as well as his scholarship, are to be considered in deciding upon his fit- ness for promotion. The main question, however, is, Has he that mental training which fits him to grasp the subjects of study in the grade above, and to go on with profit ? There are in every class some who are so old, or so dull, that to keep them back does them no good, while they can learn something in the grades above. Such cases are understood by others of the class whose instincts make them feel that it is fair to promote such. But if a pupil's low rank in his class is the result of laziness, indifference, or of any thing for which he is himself responsible, to allow such a one to go on injures him, discourages those who are faithful, and is an injustice to both teachers concerned. Those who have worked hard and faithfully, and so earned their right to promotion, feel that it is unjust to them, and thus they lose much of their ambition; while the pupil thus promoted enters the next class, in nine cases out of ten, only to impose in the same way upon his new teacher. The teachers feel that their work is crip- pled by leniency in this matter, and have expressed to me many times in the course of the year the hope that the promotions will be more strict this year, though not one of them would debar any scholar from promotion when it is plainly for his good.
The standand fixed by the Board last year was seventy per cent for unconditional promotion, and sixty-five per cent for conditional promotion. For various reasons, however, many were allowed to go on who had not come up to the standard. If the School Committee will fix the
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
standard at either seventy and sixty-five, or, in considera- tion of the somewhat harder tests, at perhaps sixty-five and sixty, and then rigidly adhere to that, I believe it will be far better for the classes next year. All cases fall- ing below the fixed standard ought, I think, to be passed upon by the sub-committees in the different districts, who can consider all the facts in the case, and pass upon them individually. It would take but a short time, and would be an assistance to the masters and teachers. This obvi- ates the necessity of any individual assuming the respon- sibility of deciding such cases; and, though it may create some friction at the beginning of the year, it would obvi- ate far more during the year.
I believe, if the Board would take a decided stand in this matter, referring the doubtful cases to sub-committees, all would yield quietly to it, and the classes next year would be relieved of much heavy material which tends to drag them down. Our teachers are naturally sensitive at having their classes judged by the results which they can show, when they contain many scholars who are not fitted for the work of the class. During the present year there have been in the seventh class at the Pierce School, and also in the ninth, many scholars not fitted for their work. In the ninth class, however, several were doubly promoted from the seventh class of the previous year.
The seventh class at the Adams School contains a large number who were not ready for it. The same is true of the sixth class at the Jackson School, and in a less degree of the ninth class at the Bigelow School.
The ninth class at the Mason School is also a backward class; and, if it could have been put with the eighth class, I believe it would have been better for it; but most of the scholars were so old, that it was thought best to promote them.
At the Hamilton School the seventh class last year was very weak, and was transferred to its present teacher as a seventh class still. The result has been, that the
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
scholars have done excellent work this year, and are now prepared to make a capital eighth class.
UNGRADED SCHOOLS.
I think it would be well to open during the coming year, at least during the fall and winter, an ungraded school, where scholars who need special training in arith- metic, reading, writing, &c., can have the attention they need. There are many scholars who need this special attention, which they cannot receive in graded schools, who have little time, and who feel that their time is wasted in the regular school-work; at the same time, they hinder the work in the regular classes, There are also many, who for some reason have been out of school, and thus fallen behind their class, who, by the aid of such a school, could be brought up to the right standard. Such a school might be profitably established for a part of the year, I believe, at West Newton, and at the North Village School, Newtonville, or at the Pearl-street School at Newton. I think, too, such a school would draw in many at Upper Falls for a part of the time.
COURSE OF STUDY.
Of our own course of study I will say little at the present time. Of one thing, however, I am fully con- vinced ; viz., that we are attempting to carry too many studies at once in the upper grades. As stated in a pre- vious report, I felt that last year, and the year before, too little was accomplished in the daily recitation, they were crowded into so short a time. This year, to obviate that, a new programme was arranged, so that each study did not occur every day, but only a certain number of hours per week, with a longer recitation at the time. This has been an improvement; and yet in such a multiplicity of subjects there is too much confusion. I think it would be well to revise our programme somewhat, and to arrange the course in such a way, that while arithmetic, language,
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
reading, and writing shall be continued through the whole course, the other studies, such as history, physiology, phi- losophy, geography, and " Child's Book of Nature," shall be taken up only one at a time for a certain part of the year, or one half. This matter, as well as our programme of work, needs careful attention very soon.
Our arithmetic and reading, I am sorry to say, are still decidedly below what they ought to be. Time enough is given to arithmetic ; but the trouble is, I am convinced, in the method. I found that the children in New-York schools did much better work in arithmetic than our own. They push the mechanical work in the lower grades, and the rational work in the middle and higher grades. I think we shall do well to follow their example.
In the matter of reading some of the schools are doing very fair work, while some fall very far short of a high standard. I think this matter will be a profitable one for consideration in the teachers' meetings arranged for in the new rules and regulations. Good reading is certainly one of the surest tests of a good school, and, aside from its value in itself alone, exerts its influence upon all the oral work of the schoolroom, helping to make all the recita- tions spirited and interesting.
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