USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875 Vol. 1 > Part 5
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the measure of what is expected of the pupil. Re- finement in manner and speech, accuracy in scholar- ship, and neatness in personal appearance, as well as dignity in intercourse with the pupils, and with each other in the presence of the pupils, will have an important influence for good upon the school ; while the absence of these cannot be otherwise than pre- judicial to its highest interests. Nor is it sufficient that the teacher should be conscientiously desirous of doing his whole duty. The true teacher is endowed by nature with certain intuitions requisite to his profession, and no amount of application can wholly compensate for their absence. In many of the teachers of the Mason School we are happy to recognize these qualifications. Newton cannot afford to employ inferior teachers.
It is not possible for a thoroughly competent teacher to wholly sink his individuality : while con- forming to the general plan of instruction, and adopting its general routine, he cannot well be hampered with too much of detail. He must to some extent be allowed to work in his own harness, and, if qualified for the position, may safely be allowed to do so. In the matter of reading par- ticularly is this illustrated. If good readers be produced, it matters little whether in the process the teacher shall use ten pages or one hundred. Something being left to his discretion, the teacher may be more rigidly held to responsibility for results.
The Committee have the conviction that there exists another evil more easily told than provided for. The order of exercises in the various classes is
55
MASON SCHOOL.
such that a very large proportion of each school session is occupied by recitations and general exer- cises, to which each pupil is expected to give atten- tion. This is certainly well with the younger pupils ; but with the older classes there seems to be a lack of time for the study of the lessons assigned. We do not think any amount of aid rendered by the teacher in a general way will compensate for the lack of careful study on the part of the pupil. He must learn to investigate and solve difficulties for himself. The ambitious pupil will do this. If time fails him in school, he will take it elsewhere. But too many are content with a lower standard. The result is, that the somewhat indolent learn to lean too much upon others, instead of becoming self- reliant.
For the Committee,
JAMES S. NEWELL.
INDUSTRIAL DRAWING.
IN the report of the Superintendent will be found a detailed statement of the industrial drawing. The general outline of the work of last winter was given in the last report. The classes in mechanical draw- ing were well sustained, and showed the results of good teaching and good attendance. None of the drawings were exhibited in Boston ; but a number of them were exhibited to the School Board, and gave evidence of successful work. They were drawings from the model in every instance, none from the flat. Mr. Andrews did good work for the class, and was in- defatigable in his efforts. We had hoped to secure his services for the present season; but from the pressure of business he was obliged to decline. The Committee, however, deem themselves very fortunate in securing the services of Mr. Otto Fuchs, who has charge of the same department at the Normal Art School, and at the South Boston School of Art. He is also the draughtsman of a large manufacturing estab- lishment at South Boston, so that your Committee felt perfect confidence in him. The result has more than exceeded our anticipation. Mr. Fuchs has at once realized the needs of his classes, and has adapted his instructions to their wants. The classes consist
57
INDUSTRIAL DRAWING.
of men who seem to be in earnest, and therefore likely to receive great benefit.
The hall of the Mason School is admirably fitted for evening instruction; well lighted, and furnished with all necessary conveniences. The class here is considerably larger than the one at Newtonville. The instruction is necessarily adapted to the wants of architects, machinists, and carpenters who have had some training, and to those who have had no previous training. This requires various diagrams and lectures from the blackboard by Mr. Fuchs ; consequently he can take but little time to examine individual work, and render assistance to individuals. It has been found necessary at Newton Centre to furnish him with an assistant who can see that his instructions are properly appreciated and carried out by individuals. The class at Newtonville is smaller, and the services of an assistant therefore are not required.
At both these schools, doubtless, the attendance would be much larger, were the facilities for going and returning better.
In the freehand department the classes show great interest. Mrs. Bowler is not only an artist, but also a teacher who understands the needs of classes. She therefore adapts her instructions not to the wants of a few; but, knowing herself what her pupils need, she puts them upon such work as she considers most profitable for them. With a well-defined plan for her entire course of lessons, her work is progressive in character; and, for those who are sufficiently inter- ested to attend regularly till the close of the course, there will be a rich reward in the acquisition of val-
58
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
uable knowledge upon art, and the mechanical pro- ficiency which comes from practice under a genuine teacher. We only wish that many more knew of the advantage open to them without the cost of any thing but a little self-denial and effort.
In behalf of the Committee,
JOHN A. GOULD, Chairman.
MUSIC.
WE are glad to report that another year has passed without any drawback to the successful prosecution of the admirable work in music now going on in all the thirteen classes of our public schools. We hear occasional criticisms against it; but, if those who are disposed to cavil would take the trouble to look into the matter, they would soon be convinced that we can ill afford to check the system which is bringing higher and higher results each year. If it is let alone it will demonstrate its worth more fully each year. £ Frequent changes from outside pressure will often do more harm to the successful prosecu- tion of any well-settled policy in educational work, than years can undo. If a better method can be shown, there should be no hesitation in adopting it; but to overthrow a good system which is working well, and proving its value more and more each year, merely on the ground of economy, is no more a measure of economy than any short-sighted policy in finance which cannot look beyond the interests of the present moment.
The teacher of music is working faithfully and suc- cessfully. As the well-trained voices come up into the higher grades, a higher and better class of music
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
may be attempted successfully in these upper grades. We look for a higher appreciation of music among the citizens of Newton, in the coming years, as these pupils take their places in the social life of our city. Every home will be elevated in time by the higher musical sentiment, and by the appreciation of that which is truly classical.
The Italian and German musical sentiment is not an accident, but an outgrowth of the training of those who have studied the composition of the grand old masters. The trivial popular airs which gain a foothold in America can find no place there, as the classical taste stamps them at once as spurious. In our public schools must be laid the foundation of a similar taste for music, which by cultivation in after- years shall bring us as a people more of that elevated enjoyment so universal among the Germans and Ital- ians from lowest to highest.
In the report of the Superintendent will be found a statement in detail of the work in music, to which I would refer all who desire an exact knowledge of the work now going forward.
In behalf of the Committee,
JAMES E. LATIMER.
DRAWING.
THE Drawing Committee presents the following report to the Board.
The great motives that have influenced educational Boards to make this a part of regular Primary and Grammar School work are the following : -
1. Its great value in developing the faculty of observation and comparison.
2. Its immense utility as a preparation for skilled labor of any kind as applied to the mechanical arts.
3. Its subsequent power upon the adult, preparing him for some of the more refined pleasures to which he would otherwise be nearly a stranger. On these truths we shall deliver no address. They are ad- mitted by all that have given the subject any pro- tracted attention and study. To use this truth for the best interests of Newton schools, has been the object of the Newton Board, and especially of the Sub-Committee on Drawing.
Each year reveals the fact anew to the unconverted, that there is no more difference in power to draw than in power to read or write. It cannot be doubted that the items of value, stated at the head of this, apply to all children intelligent enough to attend the public school ; and we trust that the eight
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
per cent of time allowed by the School Board as the maximum will not seem at any time an undue pro- portion to the study.
To have the subject appreciated and loved by the pupil, it is necessary that all elementary art-knowl- edge should be a part of the teacher's qualification. To this end the teachers have been giving attention to the instructions of the Drawing Instructor for the City, and have in most cases reaped large advantage, and new confidence in the old and some knowledge in a new branch of elementary work. The proof of this lies both in the result of the teachers' examina- tion near the close of the school year, and the appearance of the pupils' drawing-books, all of which in the city, save those at Oak Hill, were examined by the Chairman of the Drawing Committee near the expiration of the summer term. Quite a large por- tion of our teachers now hold certificates of qualifi- cation to teach Freehand, Model, and Geometric Drawing.
The Instructor for the City still gives these neces- sary lessons to the teachers on old or new subjects ; and it is the desire of the Committee, that any dislike for drawing that may occur with any pupil in the City shall not have bad teaching as the cause.
No one will probably imagine that the drawing curriculum in a Grammar School can ever attain to more than a very few subjects. They are to art what spelling and addition are to language and mathematics, - the keys that can unlock more diffi- cult art-subjects as the mind matures. By these faithfully insisted upon, large aptitudes will often be found, and wonderful capacity occasionally though
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DRAWING.
rarely revealed. To find the latter while best edu- cating all the former, is to give sure promise of art triumph in the future in fields old and new.
Finally, this elementary knowledge should soon be so completely the knowledge of the Primary and Grammar teacher, especially in all cities and large towns, that the services of an extra special instruc- tor for such schools shall no longer be required. To have the public mind made up to stay made up, its flag nailed to the mast, is to put new vigor into elementary drawing in public schools, and increased qualifications in this subject among the present and future ambitious teachers. It will save public money, better the quality of the instruction, and soon present to us a generation to testify by expe- rience of its utility.
HENRY C. HARDON, Chairman of the Drawing Committee.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF NEWTON.
Gentlemen, - The time has come for submitting to you and through you to the people of Newton, my third an- nual report, which will constitute a part of the thirty-sixth annual report of the schools of Newton.
As the preparation of a report of this kind, with its statistics, history of a year's work, with suggestions and recommendations, requires considerable time, I will confine my report for this year more particularly to the actual work done, referring you to previous reports for the statement of my views upon certain topics there discussed, as they remain unchanged.
The number of children in Newton on the first of May, 1875, between the ages of five and fifteen, which the School Committee caused to be ascertained in accordance with the provision of Sec. 1, Chap. 40, of the General Statutes, was found to be 2,845, divided among the several wards as follows : -
Ward 1
518
2
617
66
3
· 498
66
4
· 382
5
369
66
6
461
Total
2,845
The average whole number belonging to all the schools during the school year ending June 25, 1875, was . 2,568.2 The average attendance for the year was . 2,347.8 The per cent of attendance was 91.5
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
The following table shows the attendance during each month : -
Average Whole Number.
Average Attendance.
Per Cent Attendance.
September
2612.1
2474 5
95 5
October .
2689.6
2548 2
94.3
November
2664.5
2488.6
93.5
December
2530.7
2239.
88.5
January .
2468.1
2189.4
89 6
February
2418.3
2179.5
90.5
March .
2423 2
2175.6
89.8
April
2612.2
2395 5
91.7
May
2671.9
2425 9
90.8
June.
2591.2
2361.1
91.5
Total
2568.2
2347.8
91.5
From the table of attendance for the last two school years, it will be seen that the schools stand in the following order, from the per cent of attendance attained by each : -
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1874.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JUNE, 1875.
1 Hamilton, 94.9
1 Davis, 94.5
2 Pierce, 94.5
2 High, 93.8
3 High, 94.4
3 Hamilton, 93.7
4 Bigelow,
92.5
4 Williams, 93.6
4 Davis,
92.5
5 Pierce,
93.1
5 Adams,
91.9
6 Adams, 92.8
6 Williams,
91.6
7 Bigelow, 92.4
7 Prospect,
91.2
8 Hyde,
92.1
7 Lincoln,
91.2
9 Claflin,
91.1
8 Oak Hill,
90.1
10 Franklin,
90.4
9 Hyde,
89.9
10 Prospect,
90.4
10 Mason,
89.8
11 Mason, 89.4
11 Franklin,
89.4
12 Oak Hill, 88.9
12 Jackson,
88.2
13 Jackson, 88.2
13 Claflin,
87.7
14 Lincoln, 87.6
14 Underwood,
86.
15 Underwood,
86.3
From the table it will be seen that the per cent of at- tendance for the last school year was 91.5. I find that this compares very favorably with that reported from many
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
other cities. Still it must be borne in mind, that this per cent is based not upon the number of school age belonging in the city, nor upon the whole number enrolled, but it is the ratio of the average attendance to the average whole number ; and as any scholar's name is dropped from the number belonging, after he has been absent five consecutive days, a longer absence does not affect the attendance. This is a method of " watering " the per cent, allowed and commonly practised throughout the State, which gives, however, a wrong impression. If the per cent of attend- ance were the ratio of the average attendance to the whole number enrolled, it would in all places be much lower. That per cent of the money appropriated for public schools which represents the true per cent of absence, would indi- cate the actual pecuniary loss to the city from absenteeism. Ample provision is made for the accommodation of all the children of school age, and if all were present no additional expense for teaching would be incurred.
In the school report from Fitchburg, for the year 1874, this matter is put as follows : " The average number belong- ing to the schools for the year, is 1883, and that there may be no misunderstanding of the expression ' belonging to the school,' I will state that a pupil is regarded as belong- ing to the school for the term, from the time he enters the school until he leaves it, whatever his occasional absence may be. He is not, however, regarded as belonging to the school until he enters it, nor after he has removed from town, or has gone to work in shop or factory or upon a farm, or has been expelled or is dead." He then shows that the per cent as usually given is 91.7, but based upon the entire enrolment is 69. I would simply call the atten- tion of the Board to this matter, with the hope that through the influence of the various sub-committees, an additional incentive may be given to secure better attendance in some of our schools.
67
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TRUANCY.
I am happy to report that the ordinance of the city council establishing an effective truant law, in accordance with the provisions of Sect. 1, Chap. 42, of the revised statutes has been faithfully carried out by the four truant officers appointed by the School Board at its regular meet- ing in February. With one exception it has been un- necessary to use extreme measures.
The fact that there is a law which can and will be enforced is generally a sufficient check upon those inclined to truancy. This evil, which, in the absence of any power behind the throne grows unbearable, has been easily sup- pressed.
' By the aid of the truant officers, the law requiring every person having under his control a child between the ages of eight and fourteen, to cause such child to attend school for twenty weeks in one year, for two consecutive terms of ten weeks each, has in a few cases been enforced. The per cent of attendance during the past year has been but slightly affected by truancy. The primary schools suffered considerably last winter from colds, and various light dis- eases incident to childhood. The poor attendance of certain schools indicates more of indifference, or rather a failure to appreciate the importance of good attendance on the part of certain of the parents. The slow progress and the unsatisfactory results have in some schools during the past year been partly owing to this cause.
VENTILATION.
Most of our teachers have a due regard to the impor- tance of a plentiful supply of fresh air, but I am sorry to say that there are still those who need to be continually reminded of the importance of ventilation. I trust that this matter will receive attention from the members of the school committee during their visits to their several schools.
Simply opening a window a little way at the top and
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
bottom is not enough, and often produces draughts to which the children ought not to be exposed ; but throwing all the windows wide open for a moment or two, twice beside at recess, and requiring the children to practise light gymnastics or to march, ought, with our ventilators, to keep every room in a healthy condition. I think that the practice of introducing the air of the basements into the rooms above through the air boxes has been stopped ; but in a few buildings still, the air of the basements be- comes vitiated from their connection with the closets, and this foul air finds its way into the entries above.
The putting of a new furnace into the Prospect School will make that building comfortable, I hope, even in the coldest weather ; heretofore, upon a cold day it has been far otherwise. The furnaces now are ample for heat- ing all the buildings, unless it be in extremely cold and windy weather, when it is difficult to keep many private houses comfortably warm, so that the occasions for dismiss- ing the school on account of the cold ought to be ex- tremely rare.
TEACHERS' MEETINGS.
During the past year, a few general teachers' meetings have been held for some specific purpose ; several meet- ings of primary teachers for considering the work required in that grade ; and once a fortnight a masters' meeting.
As the teachers are assembled weekly for a drawing lesson, I have hesitated to call them together much oftener, as either some of the valuable school time must be given up, or the meeting must be at an inconveniently late hour. The masters' meetings have therefore been the chief means for bringing before all the teachers any matter requiring attention. At these masters' meetings each month's work for the grammar grades was laid out, and questions upon each month's work were prepared for the written exami- nations. Also all points which the Superintendent or masters wished to discuss, were brought up here, and the
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
conclusions reached were communicated to all the teach- ers. The result of these meetings, was to bring all our schools into a more uniform system of work. I think, however, that it would be well to hold occasional meetings of teachers by grades, as the opportunity to compare notes, to relate methods, and to show results is stimulat- ing and encouraging. At such a meeting, there is more freedom, than in a general one where there is not so much community of interest. I find that visiting other schools of the same grade as their own, stimulates teachers to greater effort, and the same results would naturally come from the meetings of teachers of a single grade.
In reviewing the work of the year now drawing near its close, I can see that more intelligent work has been done in the schools than during either of the two previous years. While I am fully aware of the faults of our schools, of some of which I shall presently speak, I can say without covering facts with any " rosy tinge " that the work of the teachers has been more intelligent, and pro- ductive of more intelligence than before. This is owing partly to the fact that, by paying a fair compensation, we are able to hold our teachers, and thus to derive the bene- fit accruing from their enlarged experience. Every teach- er, worthy of the name, will do better and better work as the years roll along ; but the greatest difficulty with which many towns must contend is that they lose their teachers just as they are qualified to do good work, by wealthier or more liberal cities and towns enticing them away. Some of our finest teachers have to my knowledge had offers of a higher salary in some of the cities and towns near us, but feeling that they have a fair compensa- tion here, and taking a real interest in their work, they have staid with us. All honor to them for it; let such services be appreciated as they deserve. By the help of such teachers the Newton schools can and will improve. The salaries paid, entitle the city to fine, experienced teachers ; no others unless the possessors of remarkable qualifications should be appointed.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
EXAMINATION.
The plan for examination of the schools described in my last report was carried out successfully through the year. Eight monthly examinations were given upon four topics each time, so that thirty-two papers were prepared, and in addition examinations were given in music and drawing.
The good results were as follows. The weaker points were exposed and consequently received especial atten- tion ; the work became much more uniform throughout the city ; the giving of too great prominence to one study, to the neglect of another, which had occurred and is always liable to occur, unless some check is placed upon it, was prevented ; the later examinations in April and May gave evidence of much greater uniformity. Nothing sub- ject to examination was liable to be neglected. Eight of the thirty-two papers were upon arithmetic and eight upon language, as these are considered the most imme- diately useful, and are good tests of mental growth. The remainder were divided among history, geography, spell- ing, synonymy and natural science. Examinations were also given in music and drawing. The writing was examined only through the medium of the other exami- nations.
The difficulty experienced in the preparation of a set of questions which shall be fair for the pupils of an entire city, was also by this system obviated; each month's work was assigned at the end of the previous month, and the examination of each month's work occurred on the month following, so that the work was laid out with great definiteness ; consequently the questions were less liable to contain any thing which was not just. The scholars too were spurred to greater activity, knowing that these examinations were the same for all, and that their promo- tion would depend upon the results which they could show on paper. As all these papers were sent to the office of
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
the Superintendent for inspection after their examination by the teacher, an additional importance was given to them.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Com- mittee on Rules and Regulations to this Board at the regular meeting in March, during the present school year, quarterly examinations of the schools are to be given by the Superintendent, and a report of the results of these made to the Board. The per cents obtained on these examinations will be the basis on which promotions are to be made, in accordance with the recommendation to this Board by a special committee at the regular meeting in May. The first of these examinations was given on the 18th and 19th of November, on the work of Septem- ber and October. The next examination will be about the 1st of February, upon the work of November, Decem- ber, and January. The questions for these examinations were prepared by the Superintendent, and on the night before the examination, those on arithmetic and language were submitted to the teachers, to prevent the giving of any which might possibly be unfair. Of the results of this examination, I will speak in another part of this report, but here I would like to say a few words upon what seems to me to be the best method of examination, in the light of the experience of the past.
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