USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1880-1881 > Part 10
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39
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
II. MERCANTILE COURSE.
This course may be taken in one, two, three, or four years. The studies are the same as in the General Course, except that the last year shall include Commercial Arithmetic, Book-keeping, Penmanship, and Political Economy, in place of a portion of the regular studies of that year.
III. CLASSICAL COURSE. FIRST YEAR. - FOURTH CLASS.
FIRST TERM. - I. Latin (Latin Reader), 5. II. Arithmetic and Algebra, 5. III. Ancient History, 4.
SECOND TERM. - I. Latin (Latin Reader), 5. II. Algebra, 5. III. Elements of Correct English, 4.
SECOND YEAR .- THIRD CLASS.
FIRST TERM. - I. Latin (Cæsar, Latin Composition), 5. II. Greek (Grammar and Exercises), 5. III. English Language, 3 ; Geometry, 2.
SECOND TERM. - Same as first term.
THIRD YEAR. - SECOND CLASS.
FIRST TERM. - I. Latin (Vergil, Latin Composition), 5. II. Greek (Xenophon, Greek Composition), 5. III. Physics, 5.
SECOND TERM. -- I. Latin (Vergil, Latin Composition), 5. II. Greek (Xenophon, Greek Composition), 5. III. Reviews for Pre- liminary Examinations, 5.
FOURTH YEAR. - FIRST CLASS.
FIRST TERM. - I. Latin (Vergil, Cicero, Ovid, Latin Composi- tion), 5. II. Greek (Homer, Herodotus, Greek Composition), 5. III. French (Grammar and Exercises), 3; Geometry, 2.
SECOND TERM. - I. Latin (Vergil, Cicero, Ovid, Latin Compo- position), 5. II. Greek (Homer, Herodotus, Greek Composition) , 5. III. French (Grammar and Translation), 3 ; Geometry, 2.
Other exercises and optional studies as in the General Course.
40
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GRADUATES OF HIGH SCHOOL, 1881.
FOUR-YEARS' COURSE.
WILLIAM F. BACON.
DAVID S. HERRICK.
JULIA BISSELL.
HELEN A. HOVEY.
WINTHROP S. BRACKETT.
HENRY D. KENDALL.
MARY W. CALKINS.
MARY C. MOSMAN.
EDWARD H. CHANDLER.
NELLIE E. PUTNAM.
LEONARD B. CLARK.
EMMA A. ROBINSON.
MARION B. CURTIS.
HARRY L. ROLLINS.
SANFORD L. CUTLER.
ELLEN S. TEWKSBURY.
ADA L. DONKIN.
CARRIE TURNER.
ELLA M. DONKIN.
EMMA E. UPHAM.
JAMES W. DORNEY.
ARTHUR G. WEBSTER.
JUSTIN EDWARDS.
WALLACE W. WILLARD
ROSE A. HARKINS.
EDWIN B. WOODIN.
THREE-YEARS' COURSE.
JOSEPH C. AYER, JUN.
DAVID BAKER.
SAMUEL K. BILLINGS.
DEAN W. PARK.
MILO F. HARGEDON.
FREDERIC W. TURNER.
· MARY A. HILLS.
KATE F. MELLISH.
FREDERICK W. MILLER.
GEORGE C. WARREN.
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
NEWTON-CENTRE DISTRICT.
MASON SCHOOL.
THERE has been no change during the year under review in the teachers of this school. They are, -
Mr. A. L. HARWOOD ·
Master.
Mr. GEORGE A. MOORE
.
Head Assistant.
Miss SARAH H. MUNGER
. Assistant.
Miss MARIA F. WOOD
Assistant. ·
Miss MARY TENNEY . ·
Assistant.
Miss LIZZIE S. FRIEND
Assistant. ·
Miss ELLENA H. THOMPSON
Assistant. ·
Miss HARRIETTE E. BIRD . Assistant. ·
Miss ELLEN M. COOK
Assistant.
The Mason School still stands first among the schools of Newton in the number of its enrolled pupils and in the number of its daily attendants. Its registers this year show four hundred and forty-four names. This is a decrease from the number reported last year, when the registers showed four hundred and seventy-one names. The decrease is due to the transfer of pupils to the Hyde School. These four hundred and forty-four have been distributed among the several classes as fol- lows : -
42
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
PUPILS.
The first or lowest class had
87
second class
51
third class
41
fourth class
60
fifth class
45
sixth class
55
seventh class
44
eighth class
39
ninth class
22
A comparison of the first class with the ninth will suggest that only about one-quarter of the entering pupils reach the graduating class, and that a large part of them leave on completing the studies of the sixth or seventh year. This is a fact that emphasizes the neces- sity of giving to these early classes the very best teach- ing ability, and the best opportunities for laying well the foundations in those essentials, reading, writing, and numbers. This consideration has been constantly before the minds of the Committee ; and to supply these classes with competent instructors has been their steady aim.
The school-building is again overfilled, and new ac- commodations are demanded to meet the wants of the district ; and as its population is steadily increasing, and is destined to an accelerated increase in the near future, additional room must be provided for them. The loca- tion of such a building would, of course, be decided by a careful consideration of the needs of neighborhoods, and the distribution of the population ; but it is hoped that the necessary steps for its erection will be taken at an early day. It would be requisite at first to provide only for a primary school, leaving it for the future to make such enlargement as should be demanded by the growth of the population.
43
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
This school, in common with nearly every other in the city, has suffered exceptionally this year from sick- ness, - from the unusual prevalence of those zymotic diseases to which children are specially liable. This has, of course, brought down the per cent of attendance in the school; the highest rate being in the ninth or oldest class (93.7 per cent), and the lowest in the young- est class (78.5 per cent).
Mr. George A. Moore commenced in September his second year as head assistant in the school, and has well sustained the high reputation he brought with him to his work here. He has proved himself a laborious and enthusiastic teacher, and has found time, without divert- ing attention from the regular and prescribed course of study, for occasional informal lectures or talks on natural history. These have not called for the use of text-books, nor, on the other hand, have they been so desultory and aimless as to be mere pastimes. They have been recreations, but recreations that have left a useful residuum, - an awakened interest in nature, in birds, minerals, and plants, and the beginnings of knowl- edge about them. The same has been true, also, in other class-rooms ; and all the teachers have done more or less of this pleasant work.
The Committee emphasize anew the importance of good reading, and the necessity of teaching the scholars to read at sight any new matter of ordinary English - and to read it intelligently - with appropriate and natu- ral emphasis, and with such inflections and pauses as are prompted by a clear understanding of what is read. If there is a weak point in our school, it will be found here.
Instruction in vocal music during the year has been
44
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
given in all the classes by the regular teachers in charge. But they all confess that the results are not wholly satisfactory. The experience of this school ac- cords with the general experience throughout the city, and points to the employment of a specialist in this department as the only means of success.
Mr. Harwood's time during the year has been very closely occupied with the ninth class. This has made it impossible for him to visit the other rooms of the build- ing to any extent ; and he has been unable, for this reason, to secure that unity in the school, that harmony of methods and aims, that are deemed essential to ob- taining the best results. With a view to meeting this defect, the master has been authorized to adopt a tem- porary expedient, and to dismiss his class once a fort- night at one o'clock P.M., instead of twelve M., that he may give the two hours of the afternoon to this work of school supervision in his own building. It is believed that the class will not suffer in consequence, as study will be required of them at home on lessons assigned. This cannot but prove a useful exercise in preparing them for the requirement of independent home study at the High School ; while the Mason School will profit from the master's large experience and more direct supervision.
The last graduating class of the school numbered twenty-two members, of whom twenty-one received cer- tificates of admission to the High School, and one ob- tained a situation in business.
AMOS E. LAWRENCE.
45
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
OAK HILL.
The advantages of the graded system of school train- ing, by which the entire attention of a teacher is se- cured to each class of pupils, have for many years been denied to this school. This has resulted from no parsi- mony on the part of the School Board, since there has never been any unwillingness to make the most liberal provision for the school that could consist with the gen- eral policy of the city. But the number in attendance for years past has been too small to warrant the em- ployment of more than a single teacher for all grades of advance in study. If the graded system is really an advantage over the old mixed schools of thirty years ago, then the Oak-Hill School is unfortunate, in that its small number of pupils renders its application here impracticable. In this respect something would be gained if the two schools, Oak Hill and Thompsonville, could be united in one, as, in that case, the teachers, by a division of labor, could expend their strength to far better advantage. This, however, does not seem to be practicable ; and the district can only wait till the in- crease of population shall call for additional teachers.
This year the school has opened with thirty-five names on its register, showing a gain of six over the year last reported. In the last five years the number in attendance has been respectively twenty-three in 1877, then twenty-four, twenty-seven, twenty-nine, and thirty- five. Mrs. Mattie S. Owler still continues in charge, and is working courageously and efficiently, and to the general satisfaction of parents and the guardians of the school.
A. E. L.
46
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THOMPSONVILLE SCHOOL.
This school, like so many others in the city, has suf- fered during the past year from sickness among the pupils to an unusual degree.
During the winter, also, the proximity of a house used as a hospital for small-pox caused many of the parents to fear contagion, and hence their children were kept at home.
Faithful work has, however, been done by the earnest teacher, Miss Helen E. Davis, who enjoys the confidence and hearty co-operation of the parents, and who, while not neglecting the mental training of her pupils, has sought their physical and moral advancement.
A number were promoted as usual to the fourth class of the Mason School at the close of the year.
EMILY W. HYDE.
47
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
UPPER-FALLS DISTRICT.
PROSPECT SCHOOL.
WALTER C. FROST
. Master.
MARTHA L. PERKINS
Head Assistant.
ELLA F. CROOKER .
Assistant.
HELEN NORWOOD
. Assistant.
KATE P. RICHARDSON Assistant. .
LIZZIE W. EVERETT .
.
Assistant.
MARY P. FANNING
Assistant.
THE teachers, with one exception, have remained with their respective classes through the year. Soon after the winter vacation ended, the health of Miss Norwood became impaired, and, as it was probable that she would not be able to resume the charge of the school for some months, she resigned the position, it being her third year of faithful and very satisfactory service with this school.
The vacancy was filled by the appointment of Miss Kate P. Richardson, who has also proved to be the right person for the place. The excellent work which has been done by Mrs. Fanning with the primary class has received many favorable comments from parents and visitors, and this work is here emphasized, from its having been so well appreciated, and that it only fairly represents the quality of teaching which each of the classes has received by its respective teacher.
While what are considered as the important studies
48
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
have not been neglected, but have been taught with more than usual force, new subjects and talks have been introduced, from which the pupils have obtained much valuable knowledge of minerals, birds, insects, and vegetable life. This knowledge has been acquired without any evidence that the pupils have been over- worked, and in this way much has been done to make each room interesting and attractive to them.
One fact is worthy of notice, which is full of encour- agement, - that so many of the graduating class ex- pressed a desire to remain with their teacher another year, thus showing that they had learned enough to feel the want of knowing more.
When the last report of the school was made, sick- ness was quite prevalent, and fears were expressed that it would affect the school injuriously the coming year. This proved true to a noticeable extent ; but fortunately a few cases only terminated fatally. In addition to the prevailing sickness, it proved to be the year for the return of most of the zymotic diseases to which the young are once subject. This affected the regular at- tendance, and that implies unsatisfactory work for both teachers and pupils. But, in the face of all obstacles, no year has closed when all the work has been so satis- factory as during the past, - a year when every pupil has had so fully the best instruction that ability and tact on the part of superintendent and teachers could devise. I am thoroughly conscious of the great value of the services rendered to this school by Dr. Ephraim Hunt in the discharge of his duties as superintendent, and am also pleased to have occasion again to thank the parents for their cordial support of the teachers in their duties through the year.
JOHN A. GOULD.
49
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
HYDE SCHOOL.
There have been so many matters pertaining to this school, that have come to the attention of your Commit- tee, that, at this time, a report to the effect that a satis- factory future for the school is anticipated would seem to be expressive.
During the past year the master, Mr. George S. Turner, has entered most heartily into many needed reforms, which in time must be productive of good re- sults. As an executive head of the school, and having a deep interest in his work, with ability to impart his knowledge, the scholars are to be congratulated that they have such a teacher.
The bad effects of having too many scholars in a room have been seriously felt in this school, though the teachers may have been assiduous in the discharge of their prescribed duties.
The overcrowding has been remedied, in a measure, by the employment of Miss Collins as assistant; but there are now about fifty-five pupils of the first class in her room, and the other teachers have as many as they should.
Before long, if the school continues to grow, it will be necessary to provide more rooms for teaching, and make such other changes for the better, as from time to time suggest themselves.
LOUIS W. YOUNG, Committee.
50
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
AUBURNDALE AND LOWER-FALLS DISTRICT.
THE HAMILTON SCHOOL.
CONGRATULATION upon the good condition of this school is always qualified by the regret that its ample accommodations and thorough appointments are so dis- advantageously located. While the fitness of things demands that this entire village, lying on both sides of the river, should have one good, strong, central school, town-boundaries necessitate, instead, two neighboring institutions, both of which are too limited in numbers to grade, instruct, or support to advantage.
The Hamilton School building, so beautiful for situa- tion, so spacious and excellent in its provisions, is amply sufficient for that compact community ; so that both the school and the people suffer from the inconvenient limi- tation. Nor can this surplus of resources be turned to the relief of the overcrowded Williams District, because it is clearly out of reach. From this glance at the situa- tion, it will be plain why one of our best schools, with an apparently large constituency, has yet such small classes, and sends so few graduates to the High School.
Still, however, these educational advantages must be kept at their best; and special efforts should be made by teachers and parents to counteract the pressure that bears so heavily upon this, as upon all our busy com- munities, to cut short the precious years of school-life.
51
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
The need of additional instruction which has been experienced at the Hamilton for some time has been supplied by the appointment of Miss Addie Tuttle as assistant teacher, who had rendered very satisfactory apprentice-services last year in the same school. It is hoped and earnestly desired that Miss Swain, the head assistant, who has been suffering from protracted illness, will soon be able to resume her efficient services in her classes, although good fortune in supplying the tempo- rary vacancy has prevented any very serious detriment on account of the interruption.
W. S. SMITH, Chairman.
WILLIAMS SCHOOL.
The number of pupils at the opening of the Williams School the current year was such as to suggest anew that the time is not far distant when the present school- building will be utterly inadequate to furnish either convenient or healthful accommodations for the increas- ing population of this district. It is not too early, there- fore, for the citizens of Auburndale to consider what building or buildings will best meet the demands of the situation in the years soon to come. It has been neces- sary to add already to the teaching force of this school, and also to make a partial re-arrangement of the classes in order to relieve, to some extent, the existing pressure.
Notwithstanding the numerous changes in teachers the past year, the Williams School is still fortunate in retaining the valuable services of Miss Pinnock, the head assistant, who, while strenuously insisting upon thorough work and strict order, at the same time secures in an unusual measure the respect and affec-
52
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
tions of her pupils. Miss Smith also continues her very successful work in the primary department. Miss Brown, after an approved service of several years, has resigned her position as teacher for a special course at Wellesley College. Miss Richards, who was welcomed to the charge of the second class one year ago, has resigned, under appointment by the American Board to an important position in Spain. Miss Louisa N. Bur- bank and Miss Helen I. Merrill, both experienced teachers, have been employed to supply the vacancies thus caused. Miss Laura Saltonstall, a Newton gradu- ate, who has done satisfactory apprentice-work in the city schools, has been made additional assistant, and put in charge of an additional room in the Williams School. The six rooms now occupied exhaust the capacity of the building, and most of these rooms are now well-nigh overcrowded.
The removal of pupils from the public schools, with- out a frank and friendly reference of the causes of complaint to the local committee, is a step greatly to be deplored, as it is believed that the cases would be few indeed which could not be satisfactorily harmonized.
The presentation of a case of stuffed American birds to the Williams School, by his Honor Mayor Pulsifer, was not only a generous and serviceable gift, but it is also suggestive of the relationship of the individual citizen to the resources and efficiency of the common school. While it may be believed that about all that it is best to do in a public way is now being done, in New- ton at least, yet it is easy to see that here is an object which may well challenge the substantial recognition of the public-spirited citizen. Endowment for the few has filled the land with colleges and institutions of learning ;
53
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
but why not care for the many also by a wise and gen- erous provision for the people's school ? The full devel- opment and perfection of this great universal educator remains for the individual benefactor, and he will be an important agency in the common school of the future.
W. S. SMITH, Chairman.
54
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
WEST-NEWTON DISTRICT.
PEIRCE, DAVIS, AND FRANKLIN SCHOOLS.
OUR school-work for the year, covered by this Report, has been, in the main, fully up to the average standard of proficiency and requirement, and in many respects exceptionally excellent and satisfactory. For the ac- complishment of this result, all our teachers are enti- tled to much credit, especially in view of disadvantages which could not have been averted or controlled. The prevalence of epidemic diseases, attended with more than usual virulence and fatality, interposed serious interruptions, in some instances for considerable periods, and in a few cases reducing, by twenty to forty per cent, the general ratio of class attendance.
Pending these unfortunate conditions, the impaired health of two or three of our old and prominent teach- ers required prolonged leave of absence and the supply of substitutes in their places. Such relief from the pressure of long and faithful service was sought and granted not an hour too soon; for, during the last days of the school-year, one of these teachers. Miss Susan P. Richmond, was called to her final rest. For nearly ten years she had served town and city with great accept- ance as a teacher in the Franklin School. In her de- cease the district has lost a most devoted and successful educator. Her place is now filled by Miss M. Isabel
55
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
Jenkins, who served for some months as her substitute. In this connection, we record the death, in the early months of the year, of another beloved and valued teacher, Miss Lucy E. Davis, late of the Davis School, who had received leave of absence during the previous year on account of ill health, which compelled her sub- sequent resignation.
Aside from matters of purely local concern, a review of the year's work in each of our school-buildings - the Peirce, Davis, and Franklin - suggests some points of general interest which may be profitably considered. Passing over those of comparatively minor importance, which the District Committee have endeavored to regu- late for their own locality, we make reference here to those only which seem worthy of special attention.
In view of the fact that so many go, even from the lower as well as from the High-school classes, into busi- ness connections, before completing their educational course, and with no intention of return, we must admit the justice and necessity of aiding them as far as possi- ble to attain success in their chosen vocations. While text-books and teaching should be adapted to age and capacity, we desire to say that prescribed courses of study may be sometimes supplemented with great advantage, even by oral instruction in higher branches holding kindred association and scope. To the class of pupils specially referred to, some knowledge of higher mathematical work and of single and double entry book- keeping, thus incidentally obtained in advance, tends to develop and establish a commercial force which it is our duty to encourage. It contributes to such education as they may acquire, either in the grammar or high school courses, - an element which directly and mate-
56
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
rially helps to make them more useful and successful in the business to which they go. Not only so, but those who enter the High School with any measure of pre- liminary preparation in this behalf are better prepared to meet its requirements, whether wholly or partially completing its course.
As an illustration, we have to state, that, in our dis- trict, the elements of algebra were taught orally in the ninth class, and sufficiently to enable the pupils to solve problems involving simple equations containing one or two unknown quantities, many such examples occurring in their text-books in arithmetic. The time used in the algebraic drill was more than compensated by the readi- ness with which many operations and examples not otherwise easily comprehended, were intelligently mas- tered.
Oral instruction of this character, systematically im- parted, and introducing new lines of thought to the young student, which can be put to immediate and practical use while at his daily task, can scarcely fail to awaken new interest in the work of the schoolroom. More than this, it will enable him to see that sometimes, at least, an added branch of study may not increase his labors, but enhance his ability to accomplish work already assigned. In assuming this position, it is a pleasure to be able to say that the instruction to which allusion has been made did not encroach in the least upon other branches, but, as already intimated, it essen- tially aided them ; and its continuance is recommended. If similar practice were in some degree judiciously interpolated in connection with the regular eighth-class course, it would materially aid many who never pursue their studies further, but leave even that class to enter upon business occupations.
57
GRAMMAR-SCHOOLS.
Another suggestion is prompted by the fact that our last year's work in history was changed from a recita- tion to an exercise in reading. A change in this direc- tion was perhaps desirable ; but we venture to affirm, that, unless a connected chain of the most important events be thoroughly studied, the benefit accruing from such change will be far less than it might and ought to be.
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