USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > Town of Newton annual report 1888 > Part 20
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The new courses of studies, which have been in operation
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some two years, have led to the extension of the work of the high school in some directions, notably in the larger attention given to the study of science.
A new physical laboratory has been fitted up, the chemical laboratory has been enlarged, and a room has been set apart for instruction in botany, mineralogy and geology, and has been supplied with the specimens and other appliances needed. Im- proved methods of instruction have also been introduced, laboratory practice of individual pupils being substituted for general class-room work. The enlargement of the scope of the work and the change in methods of instruction have enabled the school to adapt itself to the recent changes in the require- ments for admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and to the several colleges. The school now has all the appli- ances needed for the successful study of physics and chemistry, and its patrons may be assured that the work in these two branches of study will hereafter be in accordance with the best methods.
A new school house of two rooms is in process of erection at Thompsonville and will probably be ready for occupancy in a few weeks. The primary pupils in Thompsonville and vicinity will be transferred to the new school house when it is completed, and the use of the rented building will be discontinued. The additional school accommodations at Thompsonville will help to prevent the overcrowding of the Rice School at Newton Centre for some years.
Additional accommodations are needed for the Hyde and Claflin schools. For the relief of the Hyde School your Commit- tee has recommended to the City Council the erection of a two" room building near the junction of Walnut and Beacon streets for the accommodation of the primary pupils in that vicinity. For the relief of the Claflin School your Committee has recom- mended the erection of a four-room building in the rear of the Claflin school house for the accommodation of the primary
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pupils attending the Claflin School. Two classes of the Claflin School are now occupying rooms on the third floor. These rooms are poorly lighted and imperfectly ventilated, and conse- quently are unfit for use as class rooms. Your Commitee having made known the wants of the schools, it remains for the City Council, whose duty it is to provide buildings necessary for their accommodation, to take such action as may be deemed wise. It is hoped that the Council will act with its usual gen- erosity.
In July last your Committe requested Mr. James H. L. Coon, State Inspector of factories and public buildings, to examine the school buildings of Newton. Mr. Coon re- sponded promptly to the request and has made a partial report of the results of the examination. Under date of October 29th, he writes as follows in regard to the means of egress in case of fire: - " Since your communication to me under date of July 27th, I have inspected every school building in Newton in accordance with your request and as required by the statutes, and have issued to you certificates to that effect. With a few minor changes for which orders have been sent, all the build- ings will be in a very satisfactory condition as regards the means of egress. Each of the school buildings in Newton is provided with two separate and distinct stairways, a very im- portant and essential provision in all public buildings."
Referring to the sanitary condition of the buildings, Mr. Coon says :- "There is yet room for improvement in some of the buildings in a sanitary line. With one or two exceptions the basement walls of every building should receive two coats of lime-wash, and at periods of two years at least should be rewashed with lime. In England stone or brick walls are washed once in thirteen months, as required by law. In Boston it is done annually as an important sanitary measure."
Mr. Coon directs that changes be made in the water-closets of some of the buildings with a view to improving their sanitary
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condition, and closes his report with the following remarks in regard to ventilation : -- "Section 2, chapter 149, Acts of 1888. requires that every school-house shall be ventilated in a proper manner, that the air may not be injurious to the health of the persons present therein. As to the means of ventilation pro- vided for some of your buildings, whether adequate or not, I am unable to state at the present time, not having had oppor- tunity to make such tests as I desire ; but several of your older buildings are without any means, and action should be taken in the near future to make them conform to the law. The disposi- tion of the School Committee is without doubt favorable to- wards all improvements that tend to secure the teacher and pupil health and safety. The State has enacted special laws affecting school buildings, and has placed their enforcement in the hands of the State inspectors of public buildings, conse- quently all buildings must be made to conform thereto."
The time has come when some system of industrial train- ing seems necessary to be taught in our public schools. A large sum of money is appropriated each year to fit boys and girls for college, a mercantile course is offered to the student who desires to avail himself of it, but there is no aid offered to any child wishing to enter into any one of the many industrial pursuits.
At a meeting of the Board in June last, Mr. Barnard, Miss Smead, Mr. Philbrick and the Superintendent were appointed a special committee to consider the subject of industrial educa- tion, with a view to its adoption as a part of the school system of Newton. At a meeting of the Board in September this committee submitted the following report. The entire report is inserted here on account of the importance of the subject and the place it occupies in the public mind at the present time : -
Report of Special Committee on " Industrial Education." "The special committee, appointed at a meeting of the
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Board in June last, to consider the subject of industrial educa- tion, with a view to its adoption as a part of the school system of Newton, has considered the matter in two particulars only : First, what are the schools already doing in the line of indus- trial training? Second, can this work be extended without detriment to the regular work of the schools ?
1. What are the schools already doing in the line of in- dustrial training ? Instruction in drawing is given in all the grades, and modeling in clay is taught in some of the first and second grades. Special instruction in sewing is also given in the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh grades. It may be added that students in physics in the High School have more or less practice in the construction and repair of the simpler pieces of apparatus used in the laboratory. They thus become familiar, to a greater or less extent, with the use of the carpenter's bench and the most common mechanical tools.
Our schools are well equipped in every particular for a vig- orous and successful prosecution of their work in drawing, having competent teachers and all the appliances needed. The general subject has been well handled, and valuable results have been realized. This is a great advantage, in that drawing is a most important factor in the problem of industrial education. In- deed, a thorough knowledge of this branch of study is essential to the successful pursuit of any branch of industrial training.
2. Can the work already doing be extended without detri- ment to the regular work of the schools?
Your Committee believes that it can be done not only with- out detriment but with positive advantage. It is believed that by ingrafting the industrial idea more fully upon the present system our schools may be made more practical and more help- ful, and that this may be done chiefly through the medium of drawing. To this end your Committee recommends the adop- tion of the plan of work presented by the State Board of Edu- cation in its last report (1886-7.) "Industrial drawing," it
..
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should be borne in mind, "is a required study in the public schools of the State: (1) because of its educational value; (2) because of its industrial value." It has an educational value, because it "necessitates close and accurate observation, quickens thought, furnishes the pupil with a new means of expression, develops his comparative, originative, and reasoning powers, leads to an appreciation of the beautiful and good, and gives skill of hand." It has an industrial value, because " a practical knowledge of industrial drawing is indispensable in all the me- chanical trades and useful in every profession, and in every day life. It improves the design and finish of manufactured arti- cles, thus enhancing their value ; and its diffusion among all classes of people will create a demand for the best in every department of industry."
The plan as outlined in the report referred to requires "the constant use of models and objects, for the correct ideas of things can come only from observing the things themselves." It requires that "the forms should be observed by means of both eyes and hands, and that the knowledge of form thus gained should be expressed in three ways, - by language, by drawing, by construction; that is, by words, by lines, and by forms."
"The three means of expression, language, drawing, and construction, each offer an excellent moral training, aside from increased skilfulness in the use of hands and eyes. Yet these means will not give accurate results unless they are the product of systematic thought. To draw, make, or describe a thing correctly necessitates a certain orderly procedure that cannot fail to result in an orderly habit of thought, good judgment, the power of concentration, economical use of time, etc., - quali- ties which cannot be too highly valued as contributing to the most important elements of a useful life."
Drawing thus taught may also be made to contribute valu- able aid in the study of other branches, such as arithmetic,
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geography, and sewing. In short, it will help to improve the methods of instruction in every branch of study.
Your Committee, therefore, recommends the adoption of the following resolution : -
RESOLVED, That the plan of work in industrial drawing as outlined by Mr. Bailey in the report of the State Board of Education for the year 1886-7 be adopted for use in the schools of Newton, and that the superin- tendent be instructed to see that it is carried into effect, as far as it is prac- ticable, during the present school year.
Your Committee submits this partial report at the present time, and, in view of the importance of the subject, requests that additional time may be granted for its further considera- tion."
The report of the special committee was unanimously adopted, and the plan and methods of work as outlined therein are now in process of execution in our schools.
Attention is called to the report of the Superintendent, which treats of many matters of interest and importance to the patrons of the schools and to the citizens generally.
Your Committee desires to congratulate the citizens of Newton upon the general efficiency of the schools, and to ex- press its appreciation of the teachers whose faithful efforts have contributed so largely to increase their usefulness.
CHARLES C. BARTON,
Chairman of Committee on Annual Report.
SECRETARY'S REPORT.
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES FOR 1888.
General appropriation
Received from dog tax
$107,690 40
Transferred to incidentals
Amount paid superintendent
$2,800 00
66
66 teachers
88,918 66
66
66
66 secretary
66
66 fuel .
8,402 73
Amount expended
$107,252 39
Balance unexpended
$3 01
School incidentals
$11,500 00
Transferred from general appropriation 66 evening schools
315 00
$12,250 00
Transferred to conveyance of pupils
$140 00
140 00
$12,110 00
Amount expended
12,107 02
Balance unexpended
$2 98
Evening schools
$1,600 00
$1,600 00
Transferred to incidentals
315 00
$1,285 00
Amount expended .
1,282 18
Balance unexpended
$2 82
$105,000 00 2,690 40 435 00 435 00 $107,255 40
66 janitors 6,831 00 300 00
433 00
18
Conveyance of pupils
$250 00
Transferred from incidentals
.
140 00
$390 00
Amount expended .
$390 00
RECAPITULATION.
APPROPRIATIONS.
Total amount, including dog tax .
$121,040 40
EXPENDITURES.
General appropriation
$107,252 39
Incidentals
12,107 02
Evening schools
1,282 18
Conveyance of pupils
390 00
Total amount expended
$121,031 59
Balance unexpended
$8 81
.
DECEMBER, 26, 1888.
THOMAS EMERSON, Secretary.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
To the School Committee of Newton.
In conformity to the rules of the Board, I respectfully present my annual report for the year 1887-88. The schools were in session forty weeks, begining Sept. 12, 1887, and ending June 30, 1888.
A general exhibit of the results of the last school census, of the number of school buildings and the value of the school property, of the enrolment and attendance of the pupils, and of the cost of the schools, is given in the following statistics : -
POPULATION.
Population of the city, State census of 1885 19,759
Number of persons in the city between five and
fifteen years of age, May 1, 1888 . 4,087
Number of pupils between five and fifteen years of
age attending the public schools in May, 1888, . 3,325 Number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age in private schools 209
Number of persons between five and fifteen years of age not attending school 583
Number of pupils between eight and fourteen years of age attending the public schools in May, 1888 2,136
Number of pupils between eight and fourteen years of age in private schools 116
.
20
Number of persons between eight and fourteen years
of age not attending school 61
SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
Number of school houses 21
Number of buildings rented for school purposes 1
Number of occupied rooms, May 1, 1888 104
Number of unoccupied rooms, May 1, 1888 6
Total number of rooms, May 1, 1888 110
Number of halls, May 1, 1888 5
Total number of sittings, May 1, 1888 4,648 .
The total value of the school houses, furniture, and land is $576,600. The following table gives the value of the school property in detail : -
High School buildings, furniture, and land . $113,000 00
Bigelow school house, furniture, and land 44,000 00 ·
Underwood school house, furniture, and land 24,000 00
Lincoln school house, furniture, and land 5,500 00
Jackson school house, furniture, and land 15,000 00
Eliot school house, furniture, and land
19,000 00
Adams school house, furniture, and land 22,500 00 Claflin school house, furniture, and land 35,000 00 Pierce school house, furniture, and land Davis school house, furniture, and land 13,000 00
32,000 00
Franklin school house, furniture, and land . ·
15,500 00
Barnard school house, furniture, and land ·
21,000 00
Williams school house ( old ) and land 10,000 00
Williams school house ( new ), furniture, and land . 3,5000 00
Hamilton school house, furniture, and land .
28,000 00
Prospect grammar school house, furniture, and land . 31,000 00
Prospect primary school house, furniture, and land . 7,500 00
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Hyde school house, furniture, and land
24,500 00
Mason school house, furniture, and land 49,100 00
Rice school house, furniture, and land 20,000 00
Oak Hill school house, furniture, and land 12,000 00
Total
. $576,600 00
SCHOOLS.
High School
1
Grammar schools
47
Primary schools
39
Mixed school
1
Total
. 88
TEACHERS.
Number of teachers in High School .
. 12
Male teachers, 5; female teachers, 7.
Special teachers in High School .
3
Male teachers, 1; female teachers, 2. Number of teachers in grammar schools
. 47
Male teachers, 10; female teachers, 37.
Number of teachers in primary schools
39
Number of teachers in mixed school .
1
Special teachers of sewing
3
Special teachers of music
1
Whole number of teachers
. 106
Male teachers, 17; female teachers, 89.
ENROLMET AND ATTENDANCE.
Whole number of pupils enrolled, 1887-88 . .
4,213
Whole number of pupils enrolled, 1886-87 . 4,237
Decrease . 24
Average whole number of pupils enrolled, 1887-88, 3,650 Average whole number of pulils enrolled, 1886-87, 3,655.7 Decrease . 5.7
22
Average number of pupils in daily attendance,
1887-88 . . . . 3,384 Average number of pupils in daily attendance,
1886-87 . . 3,357.1
Increase .
26.9
Average per cent of daily attendance, 1887-88
92
Average per cent of daily attendance, 1886-77 91.3
Increase .7
Whole number of tardinesses, 1887-88 3,872
Whole number of tardinesses, 1886-87 5,214
Decrease . 1,342
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening Schools, 1887-88 ( males, 81; females, 110 ) 191
Whole number of pupils enrolled in Evening School, 1886-87 120
Increase .
71
Average number in attendance, 1887-88
115
Average number in attendance, 1886-87
60
Increase .
55
The following table shows the total enrolment, average whole number, average attendance, and per cent of attendance, in the schools from 1879 to 1888, a period of ten years. The increase in the total enrolment of the pupils during this period was 816 ; in the average whole number, 858; in the average attendance, 843.
YEARS.
Total Enrolment.
Average Whole Number.
Average Attendance.
Per cent. of Attendance.
1879
3,397
2,791.7
2,540.9
91.0
1880
3,418
2,824.4
2,571.3
91.5
1881
3,677
2,844,7
2,588.3
91.0
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 .
1887
4,237
3,665.7
3,337.1
91.3
1888
4,213
3,650.
3,384.
92.
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SCHOOL CENSUS.
In conformity to the requirement of the General Statutes, an enumeration 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, 1888, was 4,087, - an increase of 194, compared with the year 1887. By reference to table I in the appendix to this report, it will be seen that there is an increase in each of the wards.
The number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age attending the public schools, on the first day of May, 1888, was 3,254; the number in private schools was 209; 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, 1888, 3,463. Deducting this sum from 4,087, the total school population of the city, we have 624, 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, 1888. Of this number 67 were at work in mills and elsewhere, and 508, most of whom were under seven years of age, were at home, leaving 49 to be accounted for.
SCHOOL HOUSES.
The number of school houses in the city is twenty-one. The number in use during the past year was twenty. The school at Thompsonville occupied a rented building. The whole numder of sittings, including those in the leased building, was 4,648.
Important repairs and alterations have been made in several of the school buildings, chiefly with a view to improving their sanitary condition.
A fire escape has been added to the new High School building, and the ventilation of the old High School building has been completed.
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The outside of the Eliot and Jackson school houses has been painted.
The hall of the Pierce school house has been divided, and thus two additional school rooms have been made available. The floors of the building have been relaid, water has been carried to all the rooms, and the building has been still further improved by the introduction of the Mihan system of ventilation.
The furniture has been repaired in three rooms of the Bigelow school house, in all the rooms of the Eliot, and in one room of the Franklin.
The walls and ceilings of the Hyde School have been tinted, and the wood work has been renovated by the addition of a coat of hard oil finish.
The progress made during the past three years in the direction of improved sanitation is very gratifying. A majority of our school buildings are now well supplied with the means of ventilation. The Jackson, Claflin, Davis, Franklin, Pros- pect, Mason, and Oak Hill school houses are still defective in this particular, and I recommend that the work on two or more of them be undertaken during the present school year.
I am pleased to report that the new school house at Thompsonville is nearly completed. It is expected to be ready for occupancy immediately after the Christmas holidays.
I beg leave to renew my suggestion as to the need of a primary school building near the junction of Walnut and Beacon streets.
I would also recommend the erection of a building of four rooms on or near the Claflin School lot, for the accommodation of the primary grades now attending the Claflin School. The means of lighting and ventilating the two upper roonis of the Claflin building are insufficient, and consequently their use as class rooms should be discontinued. They can be remodelled and improved at an expense of several thousand dollars, but it
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seems to me that health, comfort, and economy would be secured more fully by the erection of a new building.
ATTENDANCE.
I am pleased to report a slight improvement in the attend- ance during the past year. The average daily attendance was ninety-two per cent of the average whole number belonging to the schools, a gain of seven-tenths of one per cent, compared with the previous year. The average daily absence was eight per cent. That is, out of an average enrolment of 3,650 pupils there was an average daily attendance of 3,384, and an average daily absence of 266. It is to be hoped that there will be a further improvement in attendance during the present school year, and that this waste of public money, amounting to eight per cent of the entire appropriation, may be avoided in the future.
Referring to the last report of the secretary of the State Board of Education, I find that in a table in which all the towns of the State -350 in number -are numerically arranged according to the average attendance of the children of school age upon the public schools, Newton occupies the ninety-second place.
I am pleased to report a considerable improvement in the record of tardiness also. This improvement is especially gratifying in that it shows an increased interest on the part of parents and pupils in the work of the schools. It is also a strong endorsement of the faithfulness and efficiency of the teachers. Real teaching power, the ability to attract pupils and interest them in hard work, common-sense and tact in all things pertaining to the discipline of the school, and a genuine love for children give the teacher a commanding influence in securing good atterdance. The whole number of tardinesses during the past year was 3,872, a decrease of 1,342, compared with the previous year. These tardinesses, as heretofore, are
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confined chiefly to a few schools. The High School is the most conspicuous in this particular, having a total of 1,730, being nearly one half of the aggregate number in all the schools.
Section 6, chapter 4, of the regulations for the public schools reads as follows : -
"Pupils shall be required to attend school regularly and punctually. In every case of absence, or tardiness, or request for dismissal during school hours the pupil shall furnish to the teacher, in writing or otherwise, a satisfactory excuse from parent or guardian, except in case of sickness or sudden emergency. And a record of absence occasioned by tardiness and dismissal shall be kept by the teacher and included in the semi-quarterly report of attendance."
That portion of the regulation which requires that "a record of absence occasioned by tardiness and dismissal shall be kept by the teacher and included in the semi-quarterly report of attendance " was made a part of the regulations at the time of their revision some year and a half ago. It has been in operation during the entire school year. The effect of this regulation is to lower the percentage of attendance, in that every hour of absence, from any cause whatever, is now included in dertermining the percentage of attendance, whereas only days and half-days were formerly reckoned, no account being taken of any less period. The hours of absence occasioned by tardiness and dismissal aggregate several days in some of the schools in each semi-quarter.
In the High School for the semi-quarter ending December 23, the absences from these two sources amounted to one hundred fifty-eight days ; for the semi-quarter ending June 29 the aggregate was one hundred thirty-two days. In the face of these facts it is gratifying to report that the record of attend- ance for the past school year shows the highest percentage that has been reached during a period of ten years.
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. I refer to this fact, not because we have reason to be proud of or even satisfied with the standard we have reached, but because it encourages us to hope that it marks the beginning of effort that will result in steady and permanent progress and improvement.
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