USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1885 > Part 13
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Quite a number of our school-houses are in great need of repairs. The present method of making these repairs is somewhat unsatisfactory. The responsibility is so subdivi- ded that it is almost annulled. It is desirable that the City Council should make some more efficient provision for the purpose in all the more expensive and important matters, such as re-shingling, ré-slating, external painting, substantial alter- ations or additions, and outside repairs generally. The smaller matters, incident to the daily wear and tear, such as glazing, cleaning and tinting walls or ceilings, mending locks, shades, hinges, and the many little inside repairs, the
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need of which comes first to the attention of the local com- mittee, and, in the interests of comfort and economy, should be promptly attended to, we believe might well be left to the care and management of this Board. With this view the Board, in the estimate of the cost of the schools for the next year, included a request for $3000 for this purpose, but the City Council has not seen fit to make the appropriation.
Certain alterations in the outbuildings at the Franklin and Underwood schools, rendered necessary to preserve the health of the children and teachers, were made at a slight expense, under the direction of this Board, as the Public Property Committee of the City Council were unable to un- dertake the work from a lack of funds.
The statutes of the Commonwealth require the School Committee "to have charge of the school buildings, so far as relates to the uses to which the same may be appropri- ated." As there has been some apparent confusion or mis- understanding in regard to this subject under the City ordi- nance which gives to the Public Property Committee the care and management of the public buildings, the attention of the City Council has been directed to it. It is of course presumed that the ordinance is not intended to conflict with the statute.
During the year some changes in the rules and regula- tions of the Board have been found necessary or desirable. The law requiring all text-books to be furnished free to all pupils necessitated a change in the methods of issuing them and regulating their use. Under the change in the City charter the estimates and appropriations for the maintenance of the schools are now made in the latter part of the year for the ensuing year. The time for beginning school in the fall has been changed from the first to the second Monday of September, as the first week of September is frequently un-
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comfortably warm, and the change is desirable for other reasons also. As an offset to this the vacation during Thanksgiving week has been shortened to Thanksgiving day and the day following. The Board has continued the plan of shortening the morning session half an hour, and doing away with the long recess in the grammar grades. This plan was tried experimentally for over a year, and the opin- ions of many well-known and respected physicians in the City taken, with the almost unanimous testimony that no in- jury had resulted or was likely to result. With the provision now in force requiring a recess of a few minutes in the mid- dle of the session, and a thorough renovation of the air, and perfect freedom to pupils to leave the room whenever neces- sary, it does not seem possible that any harm can result, while the advantages of the present system are decided. All the teachers are quite strongly in favor of the present plan.
The legislature last winter passed an Act requiring in- struction to be given to all pupils in the public schools as to the effects upon the human system of alcoholic drinks, stim- ulants and narcotics. The Board has under consideration the proper methods and text-books, if any, to be used for this purpose. As a preliminary measure the Board accepted the invitation of the Ladies' Educational Society of West Newton, to attend the lecture of Mr. Arthur C. Boyden up- on the topic and the proper methods of teaching it, and requested all the teachers in our schools to attend. The lec- ture was interesting and instructive. The Legislature also provided that instruction might be given in the use of hand tools, if deemed expedient by the School Committee. This subject will receive due consideration. At present no proper means are at hand nor place available for the purpose, and cannot be provided without considerable expense. The
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question of the propriety and advantage of industrial train- ing cannot be said as yet to be definitely settled, and, as the matter is being carefully tested in one or more cities, it would seem to be the most prudent course to await the result of these experiments before deciding in favor of it. It can be said however, that the instruction in sewing, which has been for some time given in our schools, is found to be of value. In case a drill shed is placed upon the High school lot, it is possible that such a building might be utilized for the purpose of industrial training, if it is decided to adopt the plan of giving such instruction.
The Board have recently secured the services of Mr. Horace M. Walton as music teacher. The schools have been without a special music teacher for over a year, owing to the difficulty of securing one in all respects satisfactory. There is every reason to believe that the appointment is a good one.
The Evening school was in operation for fourteen weeks last winter, with a force of nine teachers. The attendance averaged 62; the enrollment was 110; 60 males and 50 fe- males. The school is now open for the present winter with an enrollment of about 100, and the number is expected to increase as the school continues. The work done by this school is of great value, and it furnishes an opportunity for giving the instruction in industrial drawing required by law.
The special instruction in sewing is productive of benefit to the girls. The work of the year has been satisfactory. As the instruction is continued through four years it is found that one hour per week is sufficient for it, and during that time a very fair knowledge of the art can be obtained.
In drawing fair progress has been made. A new set of models being greatly needed, an order has been passed pro- viding for the purchase of a set.
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The past year has not been remarkable for any unusual events. The work has gone on in the customary way, though, as we believe, with an improved tone and renewed zeal. The year has been tolerably free from serious or dan- gerous epidemics, although, at times, there was more or less of contagious disease prevalent, in some cases interfering somewhat with the regular work.
The total enrollment for the last school year was 4027; average attendance 3047.2. Fuller statistics will be found in the reports of the Superintendent and Secretary.
The appropriation for the maintenance of schools for the year 1885 was $106,350. The increase of expense for the year by reason of furnishing all text-books free was about $5000. It is expected that it will be necessary to renew the books every three or four years, but the average annual outlay for books under the new system will probably be less than heretofore, the burden of the ex- pense being differently distributed. The indications are that the law will prove beneficial and advantageous. It un- doubtedly tends to increase the average attendance.
The appropriation made by the City Council for the support of schools for the year 1886 is $111,800, being somewhat less than the estimate of the Board.
In the High school the increase in numbers necessitated an increase in the number of teachers, and early in the last school year Miss S. Alice Ranlett and Mrs. L. P. Underhill were appointed. Both appointments have proved excellent ones, adding much to the efficiency and value of the school.
The work of the past year has been about the same as in preceding years. The crowded condition of the school has produced some discomfort and interfered somewhat with
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satisfactory work. It is especially felt in the military drill, the numbers present rendering it practically impossible to carry it on in the school building. The City Council allowed the battalion to drill in the City Hall last winter, but the hall is somewhat small for the purpose, and the incon- venience and expense attending its use were very consider- able. For the present winter Armory Hall has been kindly put at our disposal. The increased and increasing size of the battalion absolutely requires some proper and adequate provision for the drill, if it is to be retained as a part of the course of instruction, and this Board is convinced of its value and importance. The Board has several times asked that a drill shed might be erected. The expense of such a building need not be very great, and it could probably be used for other purposes also.
It has been found necessary to put two classes, the first and second, into the room formerly used by the first class only, and the number in the room, over one hundred and fifty, is too great for comfort and convenience, and seriously interferes with the variety and efficiency of the girls' calisthenic exer- cises, which are now limited to the narrow spaces between the desks. The value of these exercises for imparting strength and grace was well demonstrated by the public exhibition given by the girls of the school at Eliot Hall, December 19th, which reflected great credit upon the girls and their teacher, Miss Ireson, and afforded much pleasure to the many spectators. These exercises require and should have a large open floor space, with good ventilation. There being no such space in the school building, the drills prepar- atory to the exhibition were held in some of the public halls, the City and other owners kindly allowing their use for the purpose.
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There is probably room for a few more seats, but the ventilation and lighting are so defective that the building is now uncomfortably full, with a due regard to its real work- ing capacity. The report of the State Board of Health just issued characterizes the building as badly planned, badly lighted and badly ventilated. The middle room in the second story is long and narrow, lighted from the narrow end, necessarily used as a passageway, and is unfit for a class room. The want of suitable and conveniently located recitation rooms, and of a sufficiency of ward- robe and closet room, and the inadequacy of the means of exit and of passage through or into the building have long been a source of discomfort, if not of actual danger, which must increase as the numbers increase. It is clear that the school is outgrowing the building, and that some provision must soon be made to meet the needs of the future. The at- tention of the City Council having been called to the matter by a vote of this Board, the subject has received very careful consideration by committees of the City Council and of this board, in frequent conferences, resulting in the preparation of plans contemplating the enlargement of the present High School lot and the erection of an ad lition constituting a sec- tion of a building to be completed at some future time, when required. These plans have been transmitted to the City Council, with the recommendation of this Board that they be adopted. It should be stated that a considerable part of the increase in the number of scholars is due to their longer con tinuance in the school, the graduating classes being larger in proportion to new admissions, than formerly. This indi- cates an increasing popularity and usefulness of the school.
During the year the Board carefully considered a plan to relieve the pressure on the school by dividing it into two sessions, one-half of the scholars to attend in the forenoon
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and the other half in the afternoon. Although the plan pos- sessed some advantages, the Board came to the conclusion that the disadvantages were too many and serious, and it was not adopted.
The class which graduated this year numbered sixty, of whom thirty-six were girls and twenty-four boys. Of these, five went to Harvard, six to the Institute of Technology, five to the Boston University, and others in small numbers to a number of other colleges and schools. The exercises of grad- uation day (which, by the custom of the school are, to a great extent, determined by the class), were quite creditable, and were attended by a large number of interested spectators. The military exhibition and competitive drill showed a great degree of proficiency and skill, considering the difficulties under which the drill labored throughout the year for want of proper accommodations. Mr. J. P. B. Fiske, the Major, acted as military instructor, gratuitously, with marked suc- cess, and the Board has since elected him as the regular in- structor.
During the year the course of study has received some attention, and some modifications have been adopted. Alge- bra has been made optional in the English or general course, the amount of history increased, and other efforts made to broaden the course. In the classical course no changes have been made, except some slight re-arrangement of the order of studies.
The teachers in the High school are as follows: Ed- ward H. Cutler, head master; Ezra W. Sampson, master ; S. Warren Davis, assistant master; Caroline Spear, S. Alice Worcester, M. Abby Smith, Maybell P. Davis, Evelyn Rich, S. Alice Ranlett, Lida P. Underhill, assistants. Special teachers: J. P. B. Fiske, military instructor; Jennie E. Ireson, instructor in Elocution and Calisthenics.
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In accordance with the usual custom, a list of the names of the last graduated class is appended.
GRADUATES OF THE HIGH SCHOOL, 1885.
FOUR YEARS' COURSE.
CLASSICAL.
WILLIAM R. BIGELOW
MAY L. DAVIS
HARRY F. BROWN
MABEL I. DYER
ALLSTON BURR
WALTER W. GODDARD
CHARLES W. BURR
EMILY HAZEN
MARY E. CHESTER
MARY W. KINGSBURY
ALPHEUS S. CODY
JOHN S. LESTER
LILLIE A. COLLINS
BERNARD J. PETERS
THOMAS J. DALY
JAMES S. STONE
IDA S. DAVIS
GEORGE E. WARREN
GENERAL.
LILLIE V. BOOTHBY
MARY L. LOVETT
JAMES CONVERSE
FANNY I. LUTHER
ELLEN L. DOHERTY
EDMUND P. MARSH
HELEN L. ELLIS
BESSIE D. MOODY
J. P. B. FISKE
EDITH G. PAGE
CLARA L. FLINT
FRANCIS C. PARTRIDGE
HARRIET FORBES
MARY L. PATRICK
CAROLINE S. FULLER
FLORENCE B. PETTEE
FRANC L. GARDNER
MABEL H. POTTER
ALBERTA GROVER
ALBERT E. PUTNAM
FREDERIC A. HILLS
ISABEL SHINN
ELIZABETH D. HINCKLEY
MARGARETTE L. STRONG
LUCIE M. JOHNSON
LOTTIE A. TOMLINSON
MABEL F. KENRICK
PAUL VAN DUZEE
MARTHA A. LOVELY
THREE YEARS' COURSE.
MARTHA M. DIX SUSAN C. PECKHAM
WILLIAM M. DUANE
WALDO L. PLIMPTON
GEORGE L. HOLMES MABEL F. ROBINSON
WALTER S. KRAMER
GERTRUDE F. THOMPSON
LILIAN J. MANSON MARIA W. TYLER
WILLIAM T. MAY
MARY H. WALLACE
LINDA E. NICKELSON.
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The matters to be noted and the changes of teachers in the various districts are as follows:
The Mason school has been relieved by the opening of the Rice school. Resignations: Sarah H. Munger and Dela E. Dodge, first assistants; Annie E. Bancroft and Fannie E. Longfellow, assistants. Mary Tenney, assistant, was granted one year's leave of absence. Present teachers: Al- bert L. Harwood, master; Ellen L. Baker, first assistant; Abbie D. Esty, Maria F. Wood, Georgia Bucknam, Roberta J. Hardie and Mary E. Mason, assistants.
The Rice school proves to be a very satisfactory build- ing. There are now four grades in the school. The teach- ers are, Myra A. Wilson, principal; Margaret Martin, Ellen M. Cook and Ida D. Merrill, assistants. The first three were transferred from the Mason school.
Mr. C. Howard Wilson has resigned from the charge of the Oak Hill school, which is now under the care of Miss Louise N. Burbank. The Thompsonville school continues under Miss Helen A. Davis.
In the Hyde school Mabel R. Wetherbee, assistant, re- signed. George A. Moore, master; Charlotte E. Cameron, first assistant; Gertrude Blackmar, Blanche Wetherbee, Phebe E. Churchill and N. Grace Gould, assistants.
In the Prospect school Mr. Walter C. Frost, the master, resigned. Present teachers: Charles E. Hussey, master; Martha L. Perkins, first assistant; Ella P. Crooker, Lucy A. Hayward, Lizzie W. Everett and Mary P. Fanning, as- sistants.
There has been no change at the Hamilton school. The buildings and grounds were recently put in good order and repair. Luther E. Leland, master; Anna G. Swain, first assistant; Ellen M. Leland and Sarah H. Jumper, assistants.
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Williams school. Miss Grace G. Billings, resigned. George L. Chandler, master ; Elizabeth A. Pinnock, first assistant; Laura Saltonstall, Dora A. Allen, Mattie A. Ingraham and Ann B. Smith, assistants.
There was no change in the Pierce school except the transfer of Miss Helen S. Tolman to the Davis school. Levi F. Warren, master; Sarah A. Warren, first assistant; M. Alice Warren and Eliza E. Simmons, assistants.
Davis school. Calista S. Wood and Susan E. Copeland were transferred to the Shaw street school. Ella G. Bates, principal; Helen S. Tolman, Addie A. Jackson and Sarah E. Foster, assistants. The necessity for the further employ- ment of a temporary assistant was obviated by the opening of the Shaw street school.
Franklin school. Resignations, M. Isabel Jenkins and Emma T. Weeks. Present teachers: Elizabeth F. Paddock, principal; Lulu M. Bagley, Clara H. Thompson and Marga- ret A. Mague, assistants.
Shaw street school. Calista S. Wood, principal; Susan E. Copeland and Lizzie Jones, assistants. In this district the first five grades are now divided between the Davis and Shaw street schools, and the pressure on the Pierce and the Davis is relieved. The new building is quite satisfactory, except a difficulty of heating in severest weather.
Adams school. William A. Spinney, master; V. E. Hap- good, first assistant; Abbie I. Fiske, Estella M. Haynes, Angelia A. Smith and Clara H. Fox, assistants. The in- crease in attendance in this school necessitated opening an additional room.
Claflin school. Resignations, Lilla T. Wilder, Mary R. Ware. Mrs. Lizzie Jones was transferred to the Shaw street school. Present teachers : Herbert F. Sylvester, master; Carrie H. Rugg, first assistant; Ellen M. Harrigan, Ellen S. Tewksbury and Lydia A. Brierly, assistants.
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Eliot School. George G. Edwards, master; H. Augustus Millard, first assistant; Louise W. Clelland and Gertrude G. Tewksbury, assistants.
Jackson school. Resignations, Abby J. Clark, Gertrude H. Smead. Present teachers: Eliza J. Lovely, principal ; Mary A. Wellington, Rose A. Harkins, Jeanette Cobb and Lottie E. Stearns, assistants.
Bigelow school. H. Chapin Sawin, master; Martha M. Bakeman, first assistant; Annie E. George, S. Louise Shel- ton, Augusta A. Lentell, Emily J. Dyer, Elizabeth Ayles and Mary R. Putney, assistants.
Underwood school. Resignations, Emma M. Cleary, Principal; Lizzie C. Clark and Clara A. Farwell, assistants. Present teachers: Charlotte E. Sewell, principal; Annie L. Wood, Ada L. Donkin and Josephine W. Littlefield, assist ants.
Lincoln school. Nellie B. Rand.
Special teachers. Music, Horace M. Walton; Sewing, Miss Julia Grant, Mrs. Ellen L. Bond; Drawing, Miss Ade- line V. Pond.
For the Committee,
FISHER AMES, Chairman.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF NEWTON :-
In compliance with the rules of the Board I respectfully present my annual report for the school year 1884-5. The schools were in session forty weeks, beginning September 8, 1884, and ending June 26, 1885.
A general exhibit of the number of schools and teachers' of the enrolment and attendance of the pupils, and of the school accommodations, is given in the following statistics:
POPULATION.
Population of the city, United States census of
1880, 17,000
Number of persons in the city between five and
fifteen years of age, May 1, 1885, . 3,611
Number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age attending the public schools in May, 1885, 2,891
Number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age in private schools, 199
Number of persons between five and fifteen years of age not attending school, . 521
2
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Number of schoolhouses, 19
Number of buildings rented for school pur-
poses,
1
Number of occupied rooms, May 1, 1885, 82
Number of unoccupied rooms, May 1, 1885,
11
Total number of rooms, May 1, 1885,
93
Number of halls, May 1, 1885,
6
Total number of sittings, May 1, 1885,
4,304
SCHOOLS.
High School, .
1
Grammar Schools, .
46
Primary Schools,
31
Mixed School,
1
Total,
79
TEACHERS.
In High School, . 10
Special teachers in High School,
3
In Grammar Schools,
46
In Primary Schools,
31
In Mixed School,
1
Special Teachers of Sewing,
2
Total,
93
ENROLMENT, ATTENDANCE, &C.
Whole number of pupils enrolled, 1884-5, 4,027
Increase, . 66
1883-4, 3,963
64
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Average whole number of pupils enrolled 1884-85,
3,356.5 66 66 1883-4, 3,275.9
Increase, 80.6
Average number of pupils in daily attendance, 1884-85, . 3,047.2
Average number of pupils in daily attendance,
1883-4,
2,992.9
Increase,
54.3
Average per cent of daily attendance, 1884-5, 90.8 66 1883-4, 91.4
Decrease,
.6
Whole number of tardinesses, 1884-5,
4,955
1883-4, 5,045
90
Decrease,
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening
School, 1884-5, 110
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening School, 1883-4, 125
Decrease,
15
Average number in attendance, 1884-5, .
62
66 1883-4, 61
Increase, 1
A more detailed exhibit of the statistics of the schools will be found in the tables appended to this report.
Table I shows the number of persons in the city between five and fifteen years of age, May 1, 1881-5, by wards.
Table II shows the number of rooms, halls, sittings, pu- pils, teachers, number of pupils to a teacher, number of pu- pils over fifteen years of age and number under five years of age, in each school, May 1, 1885.
Table III shows the semi-quarterly attendance, by schools, for the year ending June 26, 1885.
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Table IV shows the total enrolment, attendance, etc., by schools, for the year ending June 26, 1885.
Table V shows the number of pupils and their average age, by grades and classes, in September, 1884.
Table VI shows the annual enrolment in each grade and class, in September, 1876-1884.
Table VII shows the percentage of the total annual en- rolment in each grade and class, in September. 1876-1884.
Table VIII shows the distribution of the pupils in the High School by classes and courses of study.
REMARKS.
The school population of the city on the first day of May, 1885, was 3,611, a decrease of forty-two as compared with the year 1884. By reference to Table I in the Appendix, it will be seen that the decrease was in the first, third, fifth and seventh wards. In the fourth and sixth wards there was an increase. In the second ward there was no change.
The number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age attending the public schools on the first day of May, 1885, was 2,891. The number in private schools was 199, making the total number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age in the public schools of the city and in private schools on the first day of May, 1885, 3,090. Deducting this sum from 3,611, the total school population of the city, May 1, 1885, we have 521, which is the number of persons in the city, between five and fifteen years of age, not attending any school, public or private, on the first day of May, 1885. Of this number, 34 were at work in mills and elsewhere, and 333, nearly all of whom were under seven years of age, were at home. The remaining 154 I am unable to account for.
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SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The number of school buildings in use during the past year was nineteen. Eighteen of these are the property of the city. The school at Thompsonville occupies a rented build- ing. The whole number of sittings, including those in the leased building, was 4,304.
I beg leave again to call the attention of the Board to the need of repairs upon the school buildings, and to urge that arrangements may be made for the completion of the work before the close of the summer vacation, in order that there may be no confusion or delay at the opening of the next school year. With proper forethought many of the minor repairs may be made during the April vacation. As no new school buildings are now in process of erection, the present time would seem to be favorable for the prosecution of this work. Of the repairs needed the following are the most urgent. Some of them should have immediate attention. The health and comfort of the children demand it :
1. The cellars of all the buildings, except those recently erected, should be cleaned and whitewashed.
2. The ceilings of the rooms and halls should be whitened, and the walls should be kalsomined in colors that will be agreeable to the eyes.
3. Three of the buildings need new water-closets, and some five or more need to be painted.
4. The desks and chairs of twenty or more rooms should be rearranged, so that the light may fall upon the left side of the pupil, and that a cross light may be avoided as much as possible.
5. Registers should be placed in the floors of each of the rooms at the Claflin school building for the use of the pupils in cold and stormy weather, and such changes should be made
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