USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1886 > Part 8
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172
Average number of pupils in daily attendance,
1884-5
3,047.2
Increase . 191.6
Average per cent. of daily attendance, 1885-6 91.8
Average per cent. of daily attendance, 1884-5 90.8.
Increase
1
Whole number of tardinesses, 1885-6 5,105.
Whole number of tardinesses, 1884 -- 5 4,955,
Increase
150
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening
School, 1884 -- 5
152
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening School, 1883-4
110
Increase
. 42
Average number in attendance, 1884 -- 5
. 98
Average number in attendance, 1883 -- 4 . . 62
Increase
. 36.
The following table shows the total enrolment, average whole number, average attendance, and per cent. of attend- ance in the schools, from 1877 to 1886, a period of ten years. The increase in the total enrolment of pupils during this. period was 724; in the average whole number, 843; in the average attendance, 785.
Total enrolment.
Average whole number.
Average of attend- ance.
Per cent. of at- tendance.
1877.
3,382
2,684.4
2,453.8
91.5
1878
.3,354
2,740.7
2,527.1
91.9
1879.
.3,397
2,791.7
2,540.9
91.
1880
. 3,418
2,824.4
2,571.3
91.5
1881
.3,677
2,844.7
2,588.3
91.
1882
3,759
3,092.7
2,796.7
90.4
1883.
4,002
3,170.3
2,903.8
91.6
1884.
. 3,963
3,275.9
2,992.9
91.4
1885
4,029
3,356.5
3,047.2
90 8
1886.
.4,106
3,527.7
3,238.8
91.8
173
The following table shows the entire cost of the schools, exclusive of the amount expended for the Evening School and for new school buildings, from 1877 to 1886. It also shows the cost per pupil based upon the average whole num- ber belonging. The lowest cost per pupil, $29.56, was in 1879, the highest, $37.65, was in 1883. The difference is due to the large expenditure for permanent repairs in the latter year. The average cost for the ten years was $32.54.
The aggregate cost of the Evening School during the corresponding period was $5848.21, being an average of $584.82 per year.
The amount expended for new school buildings from 1877 to 1886 was $98,146.84.
Cost of the Schools, 1877-1886.
Year
Whole cost.
Average whole number.
Cost per pupil.
1877.
$87,577.56
2,684.4
$32.62
1878
86,839.17
2,740.7
31.68
1879
82,521.04
2,791 7
29.56
1880.
86,397.64
2,824.4
30.59
1881.
87,669.48
2,844.7
30.82
1882.
94,885.43
3,092.7
30.68
1883
119,359.75
3,170.3
37.65
1884.
109,103.42
3,185.9
34.25
1885
111,632.56
3,356.5
33.25
1886.
121,154.20
3,527.7
34.35
The comparative cost of the schools may be gathered from the following tables. The first is a graduated table in which the cities in the State are numerically arranged according to the percentage of their taxable property appro- priated to the support of public schools for the year 1885-6. The second is a similar exhibit of the cities and towns of Middlesex County.
The statistics of the schools of the State and County are inserted here for the convenience of those who do not have access to the report of the Secretary of the State Board of Education from which they are taken.
1
For 1885-1886 by the State Valua-
tion of 1885.
CITIES.
Percentage of Val- uationappropriated to Public Schools equivalent to mills and hundredths of
mills.
For 1885-1886 by
the State Valua- tion of 1885.
CITIES.
Percentage of Val- uationappropriated to Public Schools equivalent to mills
and hundredths of
mills,
Waltham
$004-37
Cambridge $003-13
2
Haverhill
4-14
14
Fall River.
3-10
3
Gloucester.
3-86
15
Taunton.
3-03
4
Newton
3 58
16
Brockton
2-89
5
Somerville
3-45
17
Lowell.
2-89
6
Fitchburg
3-38
18
Salem.
2-83
-1
Lynn
3-35
19
Lawrence
2-68
S
Worcester.
3-34
20
Springfield.
2-68
9
Northampton
3-27
21
Newburyport.
2-65
10
Malden.
3-23
22
New Bedford .... 2-59
11
Holyoke
3-20
23
Boston
2-02
12
Chelsea
3-17
TOWNS AND CITIES OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
1
Hudson
$004-99
28
Medford.
$003-40
2
Marlborough. . .
4-81
29
Melrose.
3-35
3
Stoneham
4-42
30
Acton.
3-32
4
Waltham
4-37
31
Malden.
3-23
5
Natick.
4-36
32
Framingham.
3-21
6
Wakefield
4-35
33
Cambridge.
3-13
7
Littleton
4-32
34
Shirley
3-06
S
Ashland
4-26
35
Wilmington.
3-06
9
Ashby
4.08
36
Pepperell ..
3-01
10
North Reading.
4-01
37
Bedford.
3.00
11
Concord.
3-92
38
Lexington
2-95
12
Westford
3-90
39
Lowell.
2-89.
13
Arlington.
3-79
40
Everett.
2-87
14
Boxborough.
3-76
41
Maynard
2-83
15
Wayland.
3-74
42
Weston
2-74
16
Watertown
3-71
43
Sherborn
2-69
17
Tyngsboro
3-66
44
Dracut.
2-60
18
Woburn
3-65
45
Dunstable
2-59
19
Hopkinton
3-62
46
Lincoln
2-34
20
Winchester
3-61
47
Burlington
2-27
21
Newton
3-58
48
Stow
2-24
22
Ayer.
3-57
49
Carlisle.
2-16
23
Townsend.
3.51
50
Belmont.
2-12
24
Holliston.
3-48
51
Sudbury
2-03
25
Somerville.
3-45
52
Tewksbury
2-00
26
Chelmsford.
3-44
53
Billerica.
1-91
27
Reading.
3-43
54
Groton.
1-82:
174
175
Comparing the towns and cities of the State with refer- ence to the percentage of their taxable property appropriated to the support of public schools during the past year, we find that Newton is the fourth among the twenty-three cities of the State, the twenty-first among the forty-seven towns and cities of Middlesex County, and the one hundred fifty- second among the three hundred forty-eight towns and cities of the State. Newton makes liberal appropriations for the support of its schools, but these statistics show that twenty towns and cities in the county and one hundred fifty-one in the State contribute even more liberally in proportion to their wealth.
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, 1886, by wards.
Table II shows the number of rooms, halls, sittings, pupils, teachers, number of pupils to a teacher, number of pupils over fifteen years of age, and number under five years of age, in each school, May 1, 1886.
Table III shows the semi-quarterly attendance. by schools, for the year ending July 2, 1886.
Table IV shows the total enrolment. attendance, etc., by schools, for the year ending July 2, 1886.
Table V shows the number of pupils and their average age, by grades and classes, in September, 1885.
Table VI shows the annual enrolment in each grade and class, in September, 1876 -- 1885.
Table VII shows the percentage of the total annual enrolment in each grade and class, in September, 1876 -- 1885.
Table VIII shows the distribution of the pupils in the High School by classes and courses of study.
176
SCHOOL CENSUS.
The general statutes require the School Committee annually, in the month of May, to ascertain, or cause to be ascertained, the names of all persons between the ages of five and fifteen years belonging to their respective cities and towns on the first day of May, and to make a record thereof. In conformity to this requirement of the statutes, an enum- eration of the school population of the city was made in May last, and a record of the same has been deposited in this office.
The school population of the city on the first day of May, 1886, was 3,785, an increase of 174 as compared with the year 1885. By reference to Table I in the appendix to this report, it will be seen that there is an increase in all the wards except the sixth. In the sixth there was a decrease of one.
The number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age attending the public schools on the first day of May, 1886, was 3,116. The number in private schools was 152, 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, 1886, 3,268. Deducting this sum from 3,785, the total school population of the city, we have 517, 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, 1886. Of this number 54 were at work in mills and elsewhere, and 396, more than three-fourths of whom were under seven years of age, were at home, leaving 67 to be accounted for, a decrease of 87 as compared with last year. It is possible that a comparison of the school registers with the record of enumeration may reduce still further the number to be accounted for.
177
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The number of school buildings in use during the past year was twenty-one. Twenty of these are the property of the city. The school' at Thompsonville occupied a rented building. The whole number of sittings, including those in the leased building was 4,543.
It is gratifying to be able to report a marked improve- ment in the condition of some of our school buildings. Much-needed repairs and alterations have received attention, and liberal provision has been made by the City Council for further progress.' The Mason, Hyde, Pierce, Franklin, Davis, Claflin, Jackson, Lincoln, and Bigelow school houses are still in need of repairs and improvements more or less extensive. A vigorous prosecution of the work during the coming year is demanded by every consideration of health, comfort, and economy.
In my last annual report I called the attention of the Board to the need of better accommodations for the school at Thompsonville, the leased building occupied by the school being unattractive, inconvenient, and deficient in regard to light, ventilation, and other essential appointments. A building of two rooms will be sufficient to meet the probable wants of that locality for the next ten or fifteen years. I again respectfully submit the matter for your consideration.
I beg leave also to remind you of the need of additional school accommodations at West Newton. At the regular meeting of the Board in April last, I submitted the following facts and suggestions in regard to the matter. " The total enrolment of pupils in the West Newton District, May 1, 1885, was 583. The total enrolment, April 26 of the present year, was 646, an increase of 63. Should this rate of increase continue, it will probably be necessary to open another room before the close of the next school year. The
178
children in this district are at present accommodated in four school buildings-the Pierce. the Davis, the Barnard and the Franklin. The Davis and Barnard schools include the primary grades and the fourth and fifth grammar grades. The Franklin School includes the primary grades and the fourth, fifth, and a portion of the sixth grammar grades. The Pierce School includes a portion of the sixth and the seventh, eighth, and ninth grammar grades.
It is quite desirable that the pupils of the grammar grades should be gathered into one building, and it is equally desirable that the other buildings should be occupied exclusively by the primary grades. Accordingly I recom- mend that additional accommodations be provided at the Pierce School and that the pupils of the grammar grades now attending the Davis, Franklin, and Barnard schools be transferred to the Pierce School as rapidly as the circum- stances will justify the change. It will be greatly to the advantage of the Franklin School if the sixth grade can be transferred at the beginning of the next school year. I am not prepared to submit a definite plan for providing the additional accommodations needed .. All the rooms in the Pierce School, with the exception of the hall, are now occu- pied. It may be thought advisable to utilize the hall by dividing it into two rooms as has been done at the Hyde, Claflin, Adams, and Jackson schools. Or it may be well to enlarge the present building by the addition of two or more rooms. Or some better plan may be devised."
I may add that the crowded condition of the Franklin and Davis schools in September last compelled the transfer of between forty and fifty pupils to the Pierce School, and the opening of another school in the hall of that building. A presentation of these facts to the City Council can not fail to secure prompt action.
179
ATTENDANCE.
The duty of the city to maintain "a sufficient number of schools for the instruction of all the children who may legally attend public school therein" carries with it a corres- ponding obligation on the part of those parents who are patrons of the schools to see to it that their children, so far as it is consistent with a prudent regard for their health, shall be constant and punctual in attendance.
To what extent has this obligation been mnet? The statistics already given furnish a definite answer to this inquiry. The average daily attendance has been ninety-one and eight tenths per cent. of the average whole number belonging to the school. The average daily absence was eight and two-tenths per cent. That is, out of an average enrolment of 3,527 pupils, there was an average daily attend- ance of 3,238, and an average daily absence of 289. In other words the number of pupils who were absent every school day for the entire year was more than enough to form seven schools of forty pupils each. The per cent. of absence in the several schools varies from three and six-tenths per cent. to twelve and four-tenths. the lowest per cent. being in one of the grammar schools, and the highest in one of the primary schools. Referring to the last report of the Secre- tary of the State Board of Education, I find that, in a table in which all the towns in the State-348 in number- are numerically arranged according to the average attendance of the children of school age upon the public schools. Newton occupies the one hundred eighteenth place.
Schools are provided for the accommodation of all the pupils enrolled. Whether the pupils are present or absent, the cost of the schools is the same. The absences of the past year, amounting in all to 57,800 days, involved a waste of eight per cent. of the entire cost of the schools. Is it
180
probable that all or even a majority of them were necessary and unavoidable? Was it from necessity that one pupil out of every twelve was absent every day in the year? If so how can we account for the discrepancy among the different schools? Why should there be a difference of nearly eight per cent. between two of the grammar schools, and a dif- ference of five per cent. between two of the primary schools? Is it because the necessities of one locality are so much greater than those of another ? In a city like ours the condi- tions that affect the problem we are discussing must be essentially the same.
Again, why should the per cent. of attendance in the High School be from five to six per cent. less than in some of the grammar schools? It can not be on account of the greater distance that the pupils of the High School are obliged to travel, for a large number of them use the cars, the barges, or a private conveyance in going to and return- ing from school.
I confess my inability to offer a satisfactory explanation of these differences, and am forced to the conclusion that irregular attendance is more the result of habit than necessity.
Another growing evil in our schools is tardiness. The whole number of tardinesses during the past year was 5,105, an increase of 150 as compared with last year. This seems a large number, especially when we consider the length of the sessions and the long intermission between them, the extent and excellent condition of our sidewalks, and the fact that our schools are within easy reach of most of the pupils that attend them. If all these tardinesses were unavoidable, why is there a difference of more than one hundred fifty per cent. between two schools of the same grade, and, as far as we can judge, organized and working under similar conditions ?
181
Again, we should expect to find the largest percentage of tardinesses in the primary grades, a considerably smaller percentage in the grammar grades, and a minimum per- centage in the High School. What are the facts? The Rice and the Jackson schools- composed exclusively of primary grades-had a total enrolment of 454 pupils, and an aggregate of 428 tardinesses, while the High School, with an enrolment of 431 pupils, had an aggregate of 1,688 tardi- nesses.
Furthermore, the records of attendance in the High School show that the tardinesses are confined chiefly to a comparatively small number of pupils, more than fifty per cent. of all the tardinesses for the year being recorded against the names of somewhat less than ten per cent. of the pupils. The largest number recorded against the name of any pupil was fifty-three, while seventeen pupils were neither absent nor tardy during the entire year.
I regret that I am unable to give the number of dis- missals in the several schools during the year and the num- ber of days lost thereby. Observation and inquiry, however, leave little room for doubt that the record in this particular also is far from satisfactory. It should be stated. moreover, in justice to the great body of pupils and patrons of our schools, that irregular attendance, whether in the form of absence. tardiness. or dismissal, is confined chiefly to a limited number of pupils in each school. The people are loyal to the public schools, and are unwavering in their sup- port. They recognize the excellences and defects of the system, and show a generous appreciation of every attempt to improve it. It is in their behalf that I would urge that some check should be placed upon this gross waste of time, labor, and money. The highest interests of the many should no longer be sacrificed to the indifference or the whims of the few.
182
The remedy for these evils is with the parents. The home and the school should be brought into closer relations. Parents and teachers should work together in every measure that pertains to the well-being of the school. Parents should be led to see "that the duties of the school constitute the regular business of the child so long as he remains a member of the school, and that all other work should be made subordinate to this. If parents allow a son to become a clerk for some tradesman, they do not feel at liberty to keep him from his employer one or two days every week. If errands are to be done in the morning, he is not expected to do them unless he can do them and still be on time at his employer's office. " Just so it should be with the child while at school. Then the performance of school duties is his regular business. And parents should feel no more at liberty to interfere in the one case than in the other. Parents should come to feel that school duties ought to take the precedence of all others so long as the child is a member of the school; that among these duties is that of regular and punctual attendance; that irregular attendance is an offence against the community, whose substance, freely given in support of its schools, is thereby wasted; that it is an injustice to the school, in that thereby the cares and labors of the teacher are increased, and the progress of the pupils is retarded; and that it is an injury to the child who is allowed to form habits that will lead to bankruptcy in busi- ness, and disorder, waste, and discontent in the home.
183
TRUANTS AND DISOBEDIENT PUPILS.
At a meeting of the Board, held February 25, 1885, a motion to appoint truant officers, with a view to a more thorough enforcement of the truant law, was referred to the committee on rules and regulations. At a meeting, held April 22, this committee submitted the following report: -
"1. The School Committee are charged with the duty of securing the attendance upon the schools, of all children of school age, not otherwise under instruction.
" Your committee have secured, through the Superinten- dent and teachers of the schools, the names of a considerable number of persons between seven and fifteen years of age that are not attending any school, public or private. They assumed that the list would be enlarged if a thorough canvass were made.
"2. By law, the School Committee are required to appoint two or more truant officers.
" Your committee, believing that the duties of the office in this city can be efficiently performed by one competent officer, recommend the appointment of two truant officers for the current year, the first of whom shall be paid at the rate of three hundred dollars per year and all necessary travelling expenses. subject to approval of the committee on accounts and printing of this Board.
"3. It shall be the duty of such paid officer. in addition to the duties prescribed in chapter 48, section 11, of public statutes, to co-operate with the superintendent and teachers to secure the uniform attendance upon the schools of all chil- dren of school age not otherwise under instruction and in all ways, within his power, to supplement the discipline of the schools."
The report was unanimously adopted, and Martin C. Laffie was appointed first truant officer, with a salary of three
-
18.
hundred dollars a year and all necessary travelling expenses. At a subsequent meeting of the Board, held January 27, 1886, Mr. Laffie was authorized to incur such expense for livery, not to exceed twenty-five dollars a month, as may be necessary to render his services thoroughly efficient.
In order to give full effect to the law, it was necessary that a suitable place should be provided for the confinement. discipline and instruction of such pupils as might-be convicted of truancy. The attention of the City Council being called to the matter, an ordinance was passed early in the year designating the Lawrence Industrial School for that purpose.
Mr. Laffie has rendered efficient service during the past year, and the wisdom of the Board in their action upon this important matter has been fully confirmed. Three hundred and seventy-four cases of absence have been investigated dur- ing the year. As some of the parents are disposed to shield their children from the operation of the law. it is difficult to tell just how many of these absentees were truants, and how many were absent with the permission of their parents It is probable that not less than one-third were truants.
Seven boys have been convicted as habitual truants. Three of them were sent to Lawrence, and the remaining four are still on probation. The cost for board and tuition at the Lawrence Industrial School is two dollars and fifty cents per week. I am informed that the school is now full, and that no more pupils can be received at present. This is to be regretted, as the institution seems to be admirably adapted to meet the wants of that class of boys to whom more than ordinary restraint is needful.
In this connection I wish to call your attention to another class of pupils who seem to me to require exceptional treat- ment. I refer to those boys who are constitutionally obstinate and refractory, " who persistently refuse to comply with the
185
reasonable rules and regulations of the schools, " and thus set at naught the authority of the teacher, whose example Is pernicious, and whose presence is a constant menace to the good order and the morals of the school. It is gratifying to know that this class of pupils is not numerous in the schools of Newton. Still their number is sufficient to occasion solici- tude in the minds of many thoughtful parents and teachers. Being beyond the reach of the ordinary and approved_means of school discipline, they require special consideration and are entitled to the largest measure of our charity and wisdom. For good or for evil they are soon to be citizens of our Com- monwealth. What shall be done with them? Shall; 2 We attempt to reform them by a resort to corporal punishment ? Possibly their present condition is due to a too liberal use of this means of discipline. At least public opinion will not tolerate so vigorous a use of the rod as would be needful to secure their reformation. Shall they be suspended [from school ? Suspension means still greater opportunities for that evil communication that corrupts good manners. Shall they be kept in school to the injury of the well-disposed and obedient? "Parents have a right to demand that the com- munity that assumes the education of their children shall see that they are protected from the influence of such as these. "
This question is receiving attention in other places, and is exciting considerable interest among the friends of public schools. The School Board of the city of Cambridge has the matter under consideration at the present time. Superinten- dent Coggswell, who has had a large experience in the_man- agement of schools, and has given much thought to this sub- ject, believes that additional legislation is needed, such legislation as will give} authority to deal with incorrigible pupils in the same manner as habitual truants are now dealt with.
186
"It is the universal testimony of teachers," says Mr. Coggswell, "that often a single scholar by his example and influence seriously interferes with the progress of a whole class, and makes it impossible to secure that harmony of feel- ing which is essential to the awakening of the best and noblest impulses of our nature. This disturbing element should be removed from the schools. How it can best be done is a problem involving many difficulties. Each town is now required to provide a suitable place for the confinement, dis- cipline. and instruction of truants, and of children between seven and fifteen years of age who may be found wandering about in the streets, or public places therein, having no law- ful occupation or business, not attending school, and growing up in ignorance.
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