USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1875 Vol. 1 > Part 7
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
With us, the child in the primary school, is on the school premises but twenty-five hours a week ; his time being so divided and so broken up, that the thought of weariness ought not to occur to him. In the German primary school, the teachers in the cities are generally men of liberal edu- cation, who have also spent years in training for their work. Some of the most cultivated teachers are found here. They hold the attention of their youngest children in a remarkable manner, and thus they accomplish this great amount of work. Constant unvarying attention produces rapid thought, and brings great results in a short time.
I do not however think that the course of instruction in their primary schools is so good as our own. If they were to adopt a course of study similar to ours, diversify- ing their work as we do, though they would not perhaps accomplish so much in arithmetic and language as at present they would show some remarkable results in these other subjects of instruction.
The children in our primary schools are held but a short time to one subject, and during that time are not held to it so closely that it need fatigue them, while the more difficult subjects are so interspersed with music, singing, light gymnastics, marching &c., &c., that it cannot possibly hurt them. I almost fear sometimes that, in our anxiety to smooth the way, we give them too little to grapple with, and that there is danger of dwarfing their mental develop- ment.
I looked with much interest to the results from the first examination of the present Fourth Class which was the highest primary class last summer, as considerably more work in oral instruction had been required, which some had thought would retard the other work. I was much pleased therefore to find it better than the work of the preceding year, showing that the scholars had not fallen behind in the " essentials" while attending to the oral work. The per cent obtained by this class was 81-7% in arithmetic, and 65% in language, which considering their
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
age, and the fact that this was their first written exam- ination, was very creditable. The oral instruction instead of being onerous, is intended to make the school time pass more pleasantly, and to supplement that oral instruc- tion of the higher sort which the children are ever receiv- ing in a greater or less degree according to the intelligence of the family from which they come.
The drawing and writing books of this grade make a very commendable appearance, and the singing is good and constantly improving. These are under the supervision of the special teachers, who with the hearty co-operation of the regular teachers are laying a good foundation for higher and better work in the upper schools.
THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS.
Few changes which need be mentioned have occurred. In the Pierce School, by promoting some of the best schol- ars of the Seventh Class to the Ninth, a sufficiently large Ninth Class was formed to occupy the first room by itself, and thus to enjoy the advantage of the teacher's whole time. That school has now reached the desirable point when it has one class only in a room. Figures plainly indi- cate that soon its accommodations will be too small for the large numbers that will seek admission. By doubly pro- moting at the Jackson School the same thing has been accomplished, and a fair-sized class given each teacher, some of them smaller than is desirable, but too large for any to be united. The small Fourth and Fifth Classes of the Lincoln School have been merged in the corresponding classes of the Bigelow School, and one of its primary classes has been merged in a class at the Underwood. So small is this school now that I think it might for the present at least be transferred with its teacher to the Underwood School, and the classes there arranged to occupy the four rooms. The schools at Oak Hill, which for the last year have had an average attendance of only 28.8 have been consoli- dated, and put under the instruction of the teacher of
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the higher department, who by her great tact and energy, is carrying every thing before her, and the school is doing finely.
The Encyclopædias furnished these schools have proved a great acquisition. They are in reality a choice reference library, and are in good use, adding largely to the intel- ligence of all. Two good Chickering pianos, purchased at a remarkably low rate, have been furnished the Hyde and Jackson Schools respectively, which add much to the pleasure of both teachers and scholars, and to the efficient performance of the work in music.
I think that during the past year there has been a good state of feeling, a willingness to co-operate, to receive sug- gestions kindly, and to work in harmony. The influence of the masters has been apparent in the lower classes, where they can and do exert as important an influence as on the upper classes. With the aid of their head assist- ants, the masters can make themselves felt in every grade, and can attend to many a little matter so as to keep all things working smoothly and well.
From my own observation in visiting the rooms, and from the written examinations sent to my office all through last year, I should say that our schools are strongest in language, history, geography, drawing and music, weakest in arithmetic and reading. In the recent examination given by the Superintendent the classes stood as follows upon the different subjects of examination : -
Arithmetic 45.2
NINTH CLASS. Language 77.1 History 60.8
EIGHTH CLASS.
Arithmetic 48.4
Language 62.1 History 72.6
SEVENTH CLASS. Language 65. Geography 76.3 Arithmetic 77.5
Arithmetic 73.8
SIXTH CLASS. Language 73.7
Geography 66.9
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
FIFTH CLASS.
Arithmetic 63.6 Language 65.2 Geography 62.2
FOURTH CLASS.
Arithmetic 81.7 Language 65.2
The average in Arithmetic for all classes was 65., Lan- guage for all classes 68., History 66.7, Geography 68.4.
The general average for all the classes was 67.
The questions upon which the above per cents were obtained are herewith submitted.
Though they are not of so high a character as I could wish, they aim at discovering something of the intelligence of the work. The papers as a whole are much better than those sent to the office a year ago, in the intelligence of the answers. In penmanship they are about the same as then ; with the attention which our writing teacher is now giving to this subject, I hope they will be much better in this respect next June. The answers to the questions in arithmetic show that the greatest difficulty of the pupils is their inability to apply principles, to new cases involving them. The more they are trained to understand prin- ciples, without of course, a waste of time or labored ex- planation of that which is above their comprehension, the better are they prepared for future work. One mis- take at present is the effort to secure absolute accuracy in the performance of long abstract examples under each of the fundamental rules, before allowing the pupils to ad- vance, and thus sustaining their interest, leaving to prac- tice in the succeeding work to secure the desired accuracy.
The questions are as follows : -
EXAMINATION IN ARITHMETIC.
NO. I. - FOURTH CLASS.
1. Write in words the following numbers: 7020, 2009, 7648, 1001, 9203.
Five 4's.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
2. Write in figures : one thousand one hundred eigh- teen, seven thousand five, eight thousand sixty, two thou- sand one, six thousand two hundred eighteen. Five 4's.
3. Add 4956, 8728, 9764, 220, 202, 13, 47. 20.
4. In a schoolhouse containing six rooms, the whole number present one morning in each room was as follows : first room 37; second room 40; third room 42; fourth room 49; fifth room 53; sixth room 55. How many scholars were in the building ? 20.
5. Add: Two hundred ninety-seven ; five thousand eight ; seven hundred one ; seven thousand sixty-eight. 20.
NO. I. - FIFTH CLASS.
1. Add 17648, 2303426, 2728, 18957, 246349. 10.
2. From 19648 subtract 18756. From 1864 subtract 1397.
From 74956 subtract 68967.
From 9417 subtract 3584. From 10000 subtract 1875. Five 4's.
3. A common clock strikes 156 times every day. How many times does it strike in one year, or 365 days ? 20.
4. How much will a baker receive for 48 pounds of crackers at 14 cents a pound, and 128 loaves of bread at 9 cents a loaf ? 30.
5. An army of 97648 men has a tent for every 18 sol- diers. How many tents are in the army ? 20.
NO. I. - SIXTH CLASS.
1. Write and define an improper fraction ; a mixed num- ber ; a proper fraction. Write a proper fraction whose denominator is 67 ; an improper fraction whose numera- tor is 37. Eight 4's. 20.
2. Reduce 19-3%, 168, 2513, 46-76, 9927. 81 864 333 72 96
3. Reduce to their lowest terms 243' 984' 696' 81' 144. 20.
4. In how many ways may a fraction be multiplied by a whole number ? Illustrate. 2, 8.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
5. If a city lot is worth $3145, what is -% of it worth ? Multiply 37g by 293. 9,9.
NO. I. - SEVENTH CLASS.
1. How many feet make a rod ?
How many square feet make a square rod ?
How many pints make a bushel ?
How many cubic inches make a cubic foot ? How many cubic feet make a cord ? How many quarts make a gallon ?
How many days make a leap year ?
How many shillings make a pound ? How many cwt. make a ton ?
How many ounces of sugar make a pound ? Ten 2's. 2. Write 3 E. $2. 7 d. 5 c. 2 m. as it is usually written. 5.
3. At $2 a rod, what will it cost to dig a trench } of a mile long ?
What will it cost to pave a court 10 ft. by 15 ft. at 50 cents a square foot ? 15, 15.
4. How long must a pile of wood be which is 4 feet wide, 3 feet 6 inches high, to contain a cord ?
How high must a box be made to contain 24 cubic feet, the length of the box being 4 feet and its width 3 fect ? 15, 15.
5. If 4 barrels of flour are worth $36, how many yards of cloth worth $3 a yard will two barrels of the flour buy ? 15.
NO. I. - EIGHTH CLASS.
1. A merchant bought a cargo of flour for $21731, and sold it for 23 of the cost, thereby losing $0.25 on a barrel. How many barrels of flour did he purchase ? 20.
2. If a man travel 1912 miles, going at the rate of 3} miles per hour, how many hours does he travel ? 10, 10. Add 3 of 25 to 4 of 37.
3. Write the interest of $1.00 at .06 for the following
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
times : 1 year ; 10 months ; 6 months; 1 month; 27 days ; 15 days ; 6 days ; 2 hours ; 2 minutes ; 1 second. Ten 2's.
4. What is the amount of $765.48 from May 16, 1870, to July 4, 1876, at 73 per cent ?
5. A loaned B $25 at 6 per cent. On payment of the debt B found that he was owing A just $50. How long had he had the use of the money ? 20
NO. I. - NINTH CLASS.
1. Define Ratio, Proportion, Percentage, Base, Rate, Compound Proportion, Partnership, Involution, Index, Stocks. Ten 1's.
2. What is the ratio of 9 to 45 ? of 45 to 9 ? of 6 to 6 ? of 21 to 94 ? of 1 qt. to 1 bu. ? of a cu. in. to a cu. ft. ? of 1 day to a leap year ? of 50 per cent to 1 ? of 371 per cent to 2? of a cord foot to a cord ? Ten 2's.
3. How many bushels of barley at $.80 in gold can be bought for $385.56 currency, when gold is at 118} per cent ?
¿ of 28 is 4 of how many per cent of 55 ? 10,10.
4. If a man travels 280 miles in 7 days, travelling 10 hours each day, how many miles will he go in 12 days, travelling at the same rate, only 9 hours each day ? 10.
5. Adams & Brown built a schooner. A. furnished $8000, and B. $1700 and 15000 feet of lumber. Her freights for the first year were $1125, of which B.'s share was $225; what was the price of his lumber per thousand feet ? 20.
6. What must be the face of a note at 60 days, the proceeds of which when discounted at a bank at 6 per cent are $100 ? 20.
EXAMINATION IN LANGUAGE.
NO. I. - FOURTH CLASS.
1. Good scholars study diligently. Which word is an adjective ? Which word is an adverb? Which word is a noun ? Which word is a verb ? Four 5's.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
2. Write an interrogative sentence containing an adjec- tive, a verb, and a noun. Four 5's.
3. Tell why the following sentences are wrong : -
Do you go to school. I do go to school ? 10, 10.
4. Write a list of five nouns. Write a list of five verbs. Make five sentences with these words you have written.
Fifteen 2's.
5. The hare runs (how ?)- - We shall go (where ?)- -We worked (when ?).
Fill the blanks and tell what kind of words you use. 6, 4.
NO. I. - FIFTH CLASS.
1. Build up a sentence containing the eight parts of speech, using the words, " Dogs run." Eight 4's.
2. True, honest, and brave sailors saved the father, mother, and child from drowning. What kind. of a sen- tence ? Give the reason for the capital.
Is the verb transitive or intransitive? Why ? Why does it end with a period ? Give the rule for the commas after true and honest. Give the rule for the commas after father and mother. Seven 5's.
3. What is a descriptive adjective ? Write five of them. What is a limiting adjective ? Write five.
Two 5's and ten 1's.
4. Write the following address as it would appear on a letter, abbreviating as much as you can : Henry J. Smith, Doctor of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia, United States. 5, 5,3.
NO. I. - SIXTH CLASS.
1. Is this a sentence ? What a beautiful day! Give the reason for your answer. 5, 5.
2. What must a sentence contain ? Write a sentence containing only two words. 5, 5.
3. Write a sentence consisting of eight or ten words, containing only one subject and one predicate. Underline
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
the whole subject, and doubly underline the whole predi- cate. 5, 5. 4. How many parts of speech are there ? Which two are most important ? Why ? Three 5's.
5. By what kind of words is a fuller meaning given to the noun ? to the verb ? Write a sentence to show this. Three 4's.
6. What are pronouns used for ? Underline the pro- nouns : Mary promised to ask them to let her go with me. Three 3's.
*7. Write a composition of not less than eight lines, on " Thanksgiving Day." 34.
NO. I. - SEVENTH CLASS.
1. What is a phrase ? Name the two kinds of phrases.
Write a sentence containing a phrase, and change the phrase to an adverb. Five 2's.
2. The wool of the sheep is clipped every year. Change the phrase to the adjective form of the noun.
Give the two rules for changing a noun to its adjective form, in both the singular and plural. Three 5's.
3. What is the meaning of an adverb formed from an adjective by the suffix ly ? Are all words ending in ly adverbs ? How can you tell ? Three 5's.
4. What is meant by a noun in apposition ? Write and properly punctuate a sentence containing a noun in appo- sition.
Combine into one sentence the following statements : -
Bryant wrote the Thanatopsis. He is an American poet. He is an illustrious poet. Three 5's. 5. By what part of speech is the meaning of almost all incomplete verbs completed ? Write a sentence to show this. What one verb may take either a noun or an adjec- tive to complete its meaning ?
What is the adjective called that completes the meaning of this verb ?
* One off for each error, for which the child should be held responsible.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
Write a sentence containing an incomplete verb with three nouns as objects, and punctuate it carefully. Five 5's.
6. Write five sentences on the lion, employing the word lion in the first in its Subject use, in the second in its Ad- jective use, in the third in its Object use, in the fourth in its Explanatory use, and in the fifth in its Phrase use. Five 2's. 7. What is the chief use of the relative pronoun ? Write a sentence to show this. 5, 5.
NO. I. - EIGHTH CLASS.
1. What is a simple sentence ? a compound sentence ? a complex sentence ? Three 5's.
2. Combine these two simple sentences, first into a com- plex sentence, then into a compound sentence : The wind blows. The trees bend. 5, 5.
3. The electric telegraph, which was invented by Prof. Morse, an American, has greatly facilitated business. Why is this not a simple sentence ? Change it to one, and ex- plain how it is done. Three 5's.
4. If a sentence contains several phrases, how should they be arranged ? Combine the following statements into a simple sentence : -
We came to a spacious mansion of freestone.
The mansion was built in the Grecian style.
We did so after riding a short distance. 5, 5.
5. What is a clause ? Like what parts of speech are clauses used ? Underline the clauses in the following sen- tences, and tell like what parts of speech each is used : - How he made his escape is a mystery.
They best can bear reproof, who merit praise.
The farmer declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night.
When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war.
Six 5's.
6. What is analysis ? Analyze the following sentence :
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
When we passed the corners of the streets, we were always saluted by some beggars who were congregated there. 4, 16.
NO. I. - NINTH CLASS.
1. What is a simple sentence ? a compound sentence ? a complex sentence ? Three 2's.
2. Combine these two simple sentences, first into a com- plex sentence, then into a compound sentence. The wind blows. The trees bend. 2, 2.
3. The electric telegraph, which was invented by Prof. Morse, an American, has greatly facilitated business. Why is this not a simple sentence ? Change it to one, and explain how it is done. Three 2's.
4. If a sentence contains several phrases, how should they be arranged ? Combine the following statements into a simple sentence : -
We came to a spacious mansion of freestone.
The mansion was built in the Grecian style. We did so after riding a short distance. 3, 3.
5. What is a clause ? Like what parts of speech are clauses used ? Underline the clauses in the following sen- tences, and tell like what parts of speech each is used : - How he made his escape is a mystery.
They best can bear reproof, who merit praise.
The farmer declared that his watch had gained half an hour in the night.
When Greek meets Greek, then comes the tug of war. Six 2's.
6. What is analysis ? Analyze the following sentence :
When we passed the corners of the streets, we were always saluted by some beggars who were congregated there. 4, 12.
7. Analyze the eighth verse of " The Brook." 25
8. Parse one noun, one verb, one preposition, one adjec- tive, and one conjunction in this verse. Five 5's.
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
EXAMINATION IN HISTORY.
NO. I. - EIGHTH CLASS.
1. What changes have taken place in the surface of the Continent of North America ?
Tell something of the elephant and mastodon once found here.
Give one reason why we may believe that men lived at the same time with these animals. Three 5's.
2. How do we know that the mound-builders did not live at the same time with the mammoths ?
Is it probable that they were the ancestors of the Ameri- can Indians ?
How can we judge whence they came ? Three 5's.
3. Why did the Europeans call the native Americans Indians ?
Why were the Indians of a roving disposition ?
Were they as strong as the Europeans ?
In what did they excel them ?
Four 5's.
4. When did the Northmen probably first come to America ? Explain how they probably came here. Did they make any permanent settlements ? Three 2's.
5. How long was it before any more Europeans crossed the Atlantic ? Where is Madeira ? Iceland ? the Azores ? the Canary Islands ? How did these strengthen Colum- bus's belief that he would find land by sailing west ?
Four 2's and 6.
6. Describe briefly Columbus's first voyage, by answer- ing these questions : When and from where did he sail ? What land did he reach in a month ? In what direction had he been sailing then ? What land did he next reach ? To what group of islands does it belong ? What land did he next visit? Did he reach the main land on this voyage ? Seven 4's.
7. When was Plymouth Colony founded ?
When was Massachusetts Colony founded ? 1,1.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
NO. I .- NINTH CLASS.
1. Give the date of J. Q. Adams's administration. What internal improvements took place ?
Why did he fail of re-election ? Four 2's.
2. What was nullification in South Carolina ? How did it end ?
What two Indian wars occurred during Jackson's ad- ministration ?
The cause of each ? Six 2's.
3. What two measures of Jackson's policy were sup- ported by the election of Martin Van Buren ? 4, 4.
4. What were the financial difficulties of Van Buren's administration ? Why did he fail of re-election ? 6, 6.
5. What measures of the Whig party did Tyler veto ? What was the great political question which divided the Whigs and Democrats when Polk was elected ? 4, 4.
6. What important war during Polk's administration ? What territory did the United States acquire by this war ? 4, 4.
7. Name the three parties and their candidates for the presidency at the close of Polk's administration. Six 2's.
8. What was the great political topic of Tyler's and of Fillmore's administrations ?
What were the five provisions of the " Omnibus Bill " ? Six 3's.
9. What was the Kansas-Nebraska Bill ? During whose administration was it brought forward ? 3, 3.
10. Give an account of the John Brown affair. 8.
EXAMINATION IN GEOGRAPHY.
NO. I. - FIFTH CLASS.
1. What are volcanoes ? 10.
2. What are the grand divisions on the Eastern Hemi- sphere ?
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
What are the grand divisions on the Western Hemi- sphere ? Five 2's. 3. How many oceans are there, and what are their names ? Five 2's.
5. What ocean must be crossed in going from Asia to America ? in going from America to Africa ? 2, 2.
5. What seas, gulfs, and bays are made by the Atlantic ? Eleven 2's.
7. What are the West Indies ? 4.
8. Where are the Sandwich Islands ?
Tell something about them. 5, 5.
9. Where are the Alleghany Mountains ?
Give the names of different parts of them. 10, 10.
11. What is the monastery of St. Bernard ? 10.
NO. I. - SIXTH CLASS.
1. What two motions has the earth, which affect its relations to the sun ?
What is the axis of the earth ? its orbit ? Four 3's.
2. What is the time required for one rotation ? for one revolution ? 4, 4.
3. What are great circles ? Name two small circles sit- uated 23}° from the equator. 5, 5.
4. How do we describe the exact position of a place on the globe ? What is latitude ? longitude ? From what circle is latitude reckoned ? What is the Prime Meridian ? Four 4's.
5. What is the latitude of the North Pole ?
What is the longitude of a place half way round the globe from the Prime Meridian ? 2, 2.
What is an inland sea ? a border sea ? a gulf or bay ?
Three 4's.
7. Why are the tropics considered the boundaries of the Torrid Zone ? 8.
8. How does vegetation vary on a high mountain in the Torrid Zone ? 4, 4.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
9. How many and what are the primary races of men ? How many and what are the secondary races ? Six 2's.
10. How do savages live ? How do civilized people live ? 5, 5.
NO. I. - SEVENTH CLASS.
1. In what part of Europe are nearly all its mountains ? 5.
2. In what part of Europe are its rivers largest ? Why is it so ? 5, 5.
3. What country occupies all the eastern part of Europe ? What countries touch it on the west ? 5,10.
4. Name the bodies of water which surround Denmark. Three 2's.
5. Bound France. Four 2's.
6. Name all the countries which touch the Baltic Sea, giving the capital of each. Six 2's.
7. What and where is the capital of Italy ? 5, 5.
8. Draw a map of the British Isles, with the names of the principal bodies of water. 20.
9. What are the two principal streams of Scotland ? 3, 3.
10. Which are the four great manufacturing cities of England ? Four 2's.
The reading in general is not yet what it ought to be, though improvement has been made. Brilliant displays of elocution are not, of course, to be expected from scholars in a grammar school, but earnest, distinct, appreciative and intelligent reading is attainable. If a scholar is trained to feel the sentiment of what he reads, he will generally ex- press it, unless he stands in fear of a heavy fire of criti- cism from the class, which too often is his sole reward for an honest effort. Sensitive children under such a fire of criticism too often lose self-confidence, and have such a self-consciousness that they dare not and can not throw any life and animation into what they read. With a view to
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SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
correcting this by something entirely new and novel, George William Curtis's oration delivered at Concord last April, was put into the hands of the Eighth and Ninth Classes last summer. It had a good effect. In all our grammar grades I hope to see improvement in the work in reading, and that the pupils will acquire more of that nat- uralness which characterizes much of the reading in the primary grades.
Map-drawing has been a prominent feature in the work in geography. Some of the children have produced beauti- ful specimens of this work. I should, however, be much more gratified to see them able to go to the board and sketch rapidly, even though roughly, if it were done with tolerable accuracy, an outline of any country they had studied. Ability to do this, and to represent in the out_ line the prominent physical and political features is, I believe, the highest and best work which a class in geogra- phy can do, certainly it is the most practical, and a recita- tion from their own maps is more valuable than any other.
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