Town of Newton annual report 1891, Part 24

Author: Newton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1891
Publisher: Newton (Mass.)
Number of Pages: 728


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Underwood school house, furniture, and land . 24,000 00


Lincoln school house, furniture, and land 5,500 00


Eliot school house, furniture, and land . ·


19,000 00


Jackson school house, furniture, and land


15,000 00


Adams school house, furniture, and land 22,500 00


Claflin school house(old), furniture and land . 35,000 00 Claflin school house (new), furniture, and land . 35,000 00


Peirce school house, furniture, and land . 32,000 00


Davis school house, furniture, and land . 13,000 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 . 35,000 00


Hamilton school house, furniture, and land 28,000 00


Prospect grammar school house, furniture, and land . 31,000 00


17


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


Prospect primary school house, furniture, and land . $7,500 00


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


Thompsonville school house, furniture, and land 5,000 00 Oak Hill school house, furniture, and land 12,000 00


Total


. $616,600 00


Schools.


High School


(19 rooms)


1


Grammar schools .


(51 rooms)


10


Primary schools


(39 rooms)


14


Mixed schools


( 2 rooms)


2


Total


111 27


Teachers.


Number of teachers in high school


14


Male teachers, 5 ; female teachers, 9.


Special teachers in high school Male teachers, 1 ; female teachers, 3.


4


Number of teachers in grammar school .


51


Male teachers, 10 ; female teachers, 41.


Number of teachers in primary schools .


39


Number of teachers in mixed schools


2


Special teachers of sewing


3


Special teacher of music


1


Unassigned teacher


1


Whole number of teachers


115


Male teachers, 17; female teachers, 98. 2


-


18


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Enrolment and Attendance.


Whole number of pupils enrolled, 1890-91 4,487


Whole number of pupils enrolled, 1889-90 4,363


Increase 124


Average whole number of pupils enrolled,


1890-91 3,901.4


Average whole number of pupils enrolled, 1889-90 3,729.4 172


Increase


Average number of pupils in daily attendance,


1890-91 ·


3,591.9


Average number of pupils in daily attendance, 1889-90


3,406.5


Increase


185.4


Average per cent. of daily attendance, 1890-91


92.1


Average per cent. of daily attendance, 1889-90 Increase


91.3


.8


Whole number of tardinesses, 1890-91 . 3,108


Whole number of tardinesses, 1889-90 . 2,931


Increase


77


Whole number of pupils enrolled in evening schools, 1890 (males 128 ; females, 65) 193


Whole number of pupils enrolled in evening schools, 1889 123


Increase


70


Average number in attendance in evening


schools, 1890 84


Average number in attendance in evening schools, 1889 95


Decrease 11


The following table shows the total enrolment, average whole number, average attendance, and per cent. of attend- ance in the schools from 1882 to 1891, a period of ten years. The increase in the total enrolment during this period was


19


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


810; in the average whole number, 1,806.7; in the average attendance, 1,003.6.


YEARS.


Total Enrolment.


Average Whole Number.


Average Attendance.


Per cent of Attendance.


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


3,357.1


91.3


1888


4,213


3,650


3,384


92


1889


4,283


3,738.7


3,570


92.4


1890


4,363


3,729.4


3,406.5


91.3


1891


4,487


3,902.4


3,591.9


92.1


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, 1882-91.


Table II shows the number of rooms, halls, sittings, pupils, teachers, and number of pupils to a teacher in each school, May 1, 1891.


Table III shows the number of pupils of different ages in each school, May 1, 1891.


Table IV shows the semi-quarterly attendance, by schools, for the year ending June 30, 1891.


Table V shows the total enrolment, attendance, etc., by schools, for the year ending June 30, 1891.


Table VI shows the number of pupils, and their average age, by grades, in September, 1890.


Table VII shows the annual enrolment in each grade in September, 1880-90.


Table VIII shows the percentage of the total annual enrolment in each grade, in September, 1880-90.


Table IX shows the distribution of the pupils in the high school, by grades and courses of studies, for the year ending June 30, 1891.


20


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


Remarks on the Census.


In conformity to the requirements of the Public Stat- utes, an enumeration of the school population of the city was made in May last, and a record of the same has been de- posited in this office.


The school population of the city on the first day of May, 1891, was 4,436, an increase of 195 compared with the year 1890. 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 except the fourth.


The number of pupils between five and fifteen years of age attending the public schools, on the first day of May, 1891, was 3,442; the number in private schools was 277, 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, 1891, 3,719. Deducting this sum from 4,436, the total school population of the city, we have 717, which is the number of persons in the city, be- tween five and fifteen years of age, not attending any school, public or private, on the first day of May, 1891. Of this number seventy-six were at work in mills or elsewhere, and 641, most of whom were under seven years of age, were at home.


School Houses.


The number of school houses is twenty-three. The num- ber in use during the past year was twenty-two. The whole number of sittings is 4,914.


The new school house of six rooms and a hall in process of erection in Newtonville when the last report was issued, was completed and occupied at the opening of the schools in September. It is a building of extremely pleasing architec- tural effect, constructed of brick and in the most substantial manner. The hall in the third story is yet unfinished. The whole house is heated and ventilated by the Fuller-Warren


21


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


heating and ventilating apparatus. The rooms and cor- ridors are finished in natural woods, and supplied with ample blackboard surface. On the opening of the school last fall, the pupils in three rooms of the old school were transferred to corresponding rooms in the new house. The building of this house provides for increase of school population in its vicinity for some time to come, there being three vacant rooms in each house. A school house of four rooms is nearly completed at Waban and will be ready for occupancy in September. It is the intention to finish but two rooms at present as being sufficient to accommodate the school popula- tion of this district for a year at least.


The Public Property Committee has ordered some long needed repairs on the Adams, Hyde, Underwood, Hamilton, Prospect, and High schools, besides providing for painting and freshening many rooms in other houses. A new heat- ing and ventilating system has been adopted and the ap- paratus will be put in place in the Underwood during the vacation. It is believed excellent results are to follow its use. Its working will be anxiously watched in the hope that the right heating and ventilating apparatus for school purposes has been discovered at last. There are several houses demanding the attention of the proper authorities so deficient and almost useless are the means for ventilation now provided.


Cost of the Schools.


The amount expended for school purposes, exclusive of evening schools and new school buildings, under the direc- tion of the School Board, during the past school year was $123,701.98, being an average of $31.71 per pupil. The amount expended under the direction of the City Council, chiefly for repairs, was $6,350.29. The aggregate amount expended was $130,052.27, being an average of $33.33 per pupil.


22


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


The expenditures of the Board include the following items : teachers' salaries, $95,658.29; salary of superintend- ent, $2,337.50 ; salary of secretary, $300 : salaries of janitors, $7,124; fuel, $7,803.68 ; incidentals, $10,478.51.


The incidental expenses include the following items : books, $3,620.18 ; school supplies, $3,151 89; janitors' sup- plies, $220.11 ; repairs, $610.97; furniture, $801.37 ; print- ing, $370.65 ; water, $565.59 : gas, $131.40 ; truancy, $75.13; miscellaneous, $931.22.


The amount expended for evening schools was $804.75.


The amount expended for new school buildings was ฿25,000.00.


The following table shows the cost of the schools, ex- clusive of the amount expended for evening schools and new school buildings, from 1882 to 1891. It also shows the cost per pupil based upon the average whole number belonging.


Cost of the Schools, 1882 -- 1891.


YEAR.


Whole Cost.


Average Whole Number.


Cost per Pupil.


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


1887


124,718.13


3,655.7


34.11


1888


127,110.10


3,650


34.82


1889


123,918.94


3,738.7


33.14


1890


126,699.64


3,729.4


33.97


1891


130,052.27


3,902.4


33.33


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


23


CITIES OF THE STATE.


For 1890-91 by the State valuation of 1890.


CITIES.


Percentage of valuation appropriated to


Public Schools, equivalent to Mills


and hundredths of Mills.


For 1890-91 by the State valuation of 1890.


CITIES.


Percentage of valuation appropriated to Public Schools, equivalent to Mills


and hundredths of Mills.


1


Gloucester


$ .004.48


14


Cambridge


$ .003.22


2


Brockton


.003.92


15


Salem .


.003.17


3


Woburn


.003.88


16


Worcester


.003.17


4


Malden


.003.65


17


Lynn


.003.05


5


Northampton


.003.59


18


Lowell


.003.02


6


Taunton


.003.58


19


Newton


.003.00


7


Somerville


.003.51


20


Springfield


.002.75


8


Quincy


.003.47


21


New Bedford


.002.70


9


Haverhill


.003.37


22


Lawrence


.002.65


10


Fitchburg


.003.36


23


Fall River


.002.22


11


Waltham .


.003.33


24


Newburyport


002.17


12


Chelsea


.003.33


25


Boston


.001.92


13


Holyoke


.003.25


24


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


TOWNS AND CITIES IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY.


For 1889-90 by the State valuation of 1889.


For 1890-91 by the State valuation of 1890.


CITIES


CITIES


AND


AND


TOWNS.


TOWNS.


Percentage of valuation appropriated to


Public Schools equivalent to Mills


and hundredths of Mills.


3


1


Westford . .


$ .004.70


32


28


Boxborough .


$ .003.34


6


2


Holliston . .


.004.57


21


29


Waltham .


.003.33


2


3


Marlborough


.004 50


31


30


Framingham .


.003.27


23


4


N. Reading


.004 49


26


31


Townsend


.003.23


4


5


Natick . .


.004.28


39


32


Tyngsboro'


.003.23


5


6


Stoneham


.004.22


33


33


Cambridge


.003.22


1


7


Wilmington


.004.21


27


34


Acton .


.003.20


9


S


Ashland


.003.93


38


35


Sherborn


.003.19


15


9


Woburn


.003.88


40


36


Everett


.003.04


8


10


Wakefield


.003.86


36


37


Lowell .


.003.02


11


11


Ayer


.003.78


37


38


Newton


.003.00


17


12


Littleton


.003.78


34


39


Maynard


.002.99


12


13


Medford


.003.77


35


40


Watertown


.002.99


13


14


Arlington .


.003.71


41


41


Lexington


.002.95


10


15


Hudson


.003.71


42


42


Tewksbury


.002.86


18


16


Malden


.003.65


46


43


Weston


.002.74


19


17


Reading


003.63


47


44


Sudbury


.002.63


25


18


Concord


.003.61


44


45


Carlisle


.002.46


16


19


Hopkinton


.003.60


49


16


Billerica


.002.45


20


20


Shirley


.003.58


43


47


Bedford


.002.39


30


21


Pepperill


.003.51


48


48


Dunstable


.002.39


28


22


Somerville


.003.51


52


49


Dracut


.002.24


22


23


Winchester


.003.47


45


50


Belmont


.002.23


7


24


Ashby


.003.44


51


51


Burlington


.001.96


14


25


Chelmsford


.003.42


54


52


Groton .


.001.89


24


26


Wayland .


.003.40


50


53


Stow


001.77


29


27


Melrose


003.36


53


54


Lincoln


.001.73


Percentage of valuation appropriated to


Public Schools equivalent to Mills


and hundredths of Mills.


For 1889-90 by the State valuation of 1889.


For 1890-91 by the State valuation of 1890.


Books and Supplies.


The number of text books in use during the past year was 42,239, an increase of 1,150 compared with the previous year. The number of reference books was 2,099, an increase


25


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


of twenty. The number of books worn out at the close of the year was 1,334, a decrease of 4,140 ; the number missing was 113.


The following table shows the distribution of the books among the several schools.


SCHOOLS.


Text Books.


Reference Books.


Worn Out.


Missing


High


7,997


260


80


28


Bigelow


4,680


184


180


8


Eliot


2,947


268


160


20


Adams


2,750


146


40


11


Claflin


3,055


170


75


2


Peirce .


6,102


218


300


4


Williams .


3,130


210


172


16


Hamilton


1,863


123


32


10


Prospect


2,704


150


30


8


Hyde


2,823


129


70


3


Mason


3,873


213


185


3


Oak Hill .


315


26


10


0


Totals


42,239


2,097


1,334


113


The amount expended for new books was $3,320.18; the amount paid for rebinding books was $1,300; the total amount expended for books was $3,620.18. The cost per pupil, based upon the average number enrolled, was ninety- two cents.


The amount expended for supplies was $3,151.89. The cost per pupil was eighty cents.


The following table shows the amount expended for books and supplies during each school year from 1884 to 1891. It also shows the average cost per pupil. The amount expended for books includes the cost of new books and the cost of repairing old books :


26


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


School Year.


Books.


Cost per Pupil.


Supplies.


Cost per Pupil.


Total per Pupil.


1884-5


$5,896.30


$1.76


$3,177.44


$0.95


$2.71


1885-6


2,953.92


.84


3,746.95


1.06


1.90


1886-7


3,842.00


1.05


2,797.37


.76


1.81


1887-8


2,078.67


.57


3,903.21


1.06


1.63


1888-9


2,315.12


.62


2,754.82


.74


1.36


1889-90


2,441.75


.65


3,175.04


.85


1.50


1890-91


3,620.18


.92


3,151.89


.80


1.72


The increase in the amount expended for books the last year is easily accounted for by referring to the table showing the number of books worn out in 1889-90. It will be seen that after repairing such as were worth repairing there were 5,574 books wholly valueless for pupils' use any longer. It is the common experience that the ordinary school book lasts about four years. Hence during the past year, this large de- ficiency and the wants of the new schools that were organ- ized had to be met by new purchases.


Graduates of the Schools.


The number of diplomas awarded in the several gram- mar schools was 224. They were distributed as follows: Bigelow 44, Eliot 10, Adams 16, Claflin 23, Peirce 42, Williams 17, Hamilton 9, Prospect 10, Hyde 17, Mason 36.


The number of high school certificates awarded in the several grammar schools was 203. They were distributed as follows : Bigelow 30, Eliot 9, Adams 16, Claflin 23, Peirce 38, Williams 17, Hamilton 8, Prospect 10, Hyde 16, Mason 36.


The number of pupils entering the high school from the eighth grade class on an average scholarship of seventy-five per cent. under the order of the School Committee passed in June, was 89. They were distributed as follows: Bige- low 16, Eliot 1, Adams 9, Claflin 14, Peirce 11, Williams 19, Hamilton 0, Prospect 0, Hyde 5, Mason 14.


27


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


The number of pupils who took their examinations for the Institute of Technology last June was sixteen. Three took the final examinations and were admitted without con- ditions. Thirteen took the preliminary examinations and all passed clear, with the exception of one failure in French.


At Yale, two students took the final examinations, and passed in every subject.


At Boston University, three students were .examined. Two took the preliminary examinations ; one passed clear, and one failed in Caesar and Cicero. One student took the complete examinations and passed with credit in algebra.


At Harvard -including one at the Annex - fourteen pupils were examined. Six took the final, and eight, the preliminary examinations. The whole number of conditions was three : One student was conditioned in history; one, in advanced Latin; and one in English. The whole number of honors received was thirty-two. One, in elementary French; one, in elementary German; two, in elementary Greek; seven in elementary Latin; five, in history ; two, in algebra ; four, in advanced Greek; two, in advanced Latin; three, in Greek composition; three, in Latin composition ; one, in geometry; and one, in physics.


Certificates of admission were given as follows: for Smith one, for Wellesly five, and for Vassar two.


The number of pupils graduated from the high school last June, was sixty-three. Of these twenty-five had com- pleted the general course; nineteen, the classical course ; three, the Institute course; and thirteen, the mercantile course.


The record for the school is very encouraging to both pupils and parents.


Evening Schools.


During the school year, there were two evening schools maintained; one, a drawing school at the Prospect school


28


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


house, Newton Upper Falls, the other including a class in drawing at the Jackson school house, Nonantum. With the exception of the class in drawing at the Jackson, the two schools were opened October 6, and discontinued December 19, 1890. The drawing class at the Jackson was not or- ganized till the evening of October 29, and closed after twenty-three sessions with the other schools. The other schools were in session thirty-three evenings. There were fifty names enrolled at the Prospect. The average attend- ance of the school was 26.2 with an average per cent. of 52.4.


Each pupil was obliged to make a deposit of $1.00 as an evidence of his good faith in the school, with the under- standing that all who should reach an attendance of fifty per cent. could have the money returned. Thirty-one received the rebate. The balance, $19, was paid into the city treas- ury. The drawing class at the Jackson enrolled fifteen different names. The average attendance was 16.47 even- ings, showing a very pleasing interest in the study.


The total enrolment at the Jackson school, including the drawing class, was 143, ninety-five men and forty-eight women. Of the 128 in attendance on the regular evening school, twenty-nine were present less than two evenings, sixty-three were illiterates, having an average attendance of 17.52 nights.


The thirty-six others of this class attended 15.56 even- ings on an average. There were two teachers in charge of the Prospect school and nine at the Jackson, or four men and seven women. No record of the age of the pupils en- rolled at the Prospect has been reported. At the Jackson the age of the pupils ranged from thirteen to twenty-four years. The total enrolment of the two schools was 193.


The cost of the evening schools for the past year was $804.75. Teachers' salaries, $657; janitors' pay, $49.50; incidentals, $98.25. The cost per pupil based on the total


29


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


average attendance, $9.58. The cost per pupil in 1888, $10.88; in 1889, $6.25.


The order of the Board permitting pupils to enter the high school from the eighth grade classes of the grammar schools under certain conditions was accepted in September 1890 by thirty boys and girls. The conditions imposed were that pupils should choose the five year classical course and waive all privileges to change to other courses during their connection with the high school. The class began its work on September 1, 1890, and has accomplished as much as could well be expected during the year. The conditions and delinquents are no more in proportion than in the fourth class.


There is no evidence that the pupils who remain to the close of the high school course, will not have done as well as if they had continued a year longer in the grammar school. A modification of the order was adopted in June for the benefit of the eighth grade pupils of the present school year. A scholarship standing of seventy-five per cent. average in all studies for the year was required, the restric- tions as to course and length of time in the school removed. This privilege has been accepted by eighty-six pupils who enter the high school this September. Their choice of studies does not appear different from those of the ninth grade pupils just entering. The average age of the class entering last year was fourteen years and six months; that of this year is fourteen years and seven months. There is little doubt that this action of the committee is a wise one and will be beneficial every way to the boys and girls ac- cepting its privileges.


The course of study for the primary and grammar schools is too long by one year or takes one year more to ac- complish it than is necessary. Theoretically children enter school in this state at five years of age and remain three


30


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


years in the primary schools or grades, and six in the gram- mar schools or grades, so that when they begin their high school work are expected to be only fourteen years old. Last year the average age of the fourth grade class, 196 in number, was fifteen years and three months; this year the average age is fifteen years and eight months. The follow- ing table shows by schools the average age of the pupils in the eighth and ninth grade classes September 1890. Add one year for their present age.


Bigelow,


Sept. 1890, age.


VIII 13.10


14.10


Eliot,


66


66


66


13.2


14.11


Claflin,


66


60


66


14.4


15.1


Adams,


66


66


13.6


14.11


Peirce,


66


66


13.7


14.8


Williams,


66


66


13.1


14.9


Hamilton,


6.


66


66


13.5


13.11


Prospect,


66


66


13.7


14.5


Hyde,


66


66


66


14.3


14.5


Mason,


66


66


66


13.6


14.3


Average age,


66


60


13.7


14.8


Present age, September 1891.


14.7


15.8


IX


From this it will be seen that if pupils begin school at five as most do, or a few months older, we should expect they would enter the high school on finishing the work of the eighth grade. The facts are they are kept a year longer. Recognizing that this was a weak point in the grading of the lower schools my predecessor hoped to correct it by mid-year promotions. The complaint is a just one that boys and girls are kept too long in our grammar schools, that grammar school pupils should accomplish all that is desired or required in less time that they may enter upon the broader and closer work of the high school at an earlier age. There is a mis-


31


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.


taken idea prevalent that grammar schools are an end in a child's education. Why not primary schools ? There can be no more reason why one particular year or division of school work should be selected as an end in the schools of Newton than are other years. Why the ninth grade more than the third grade is not apparent. There is some reason why the close of the high school work may be considered an end so far as the majority of the Newton pupils are concerned, since it is all the Newton public feel they can offer in the educa- tion of their children, and because too, the completion of the high school work fits a boy or girl for other duties in life beside college. The class that left the high school in June had an average age of eighteen years and nine months, and when they enter college this fall, will be nineteen years old.


If we add to this age the time necessary to complete a college and professional course, these boys and girls will be twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, too late to begin their real life work. These pupils have been wronged.


A study of this problem shows me that there should be but eight years to the high school, and that the theory that boys and girls beginning school at five, take up high school work at thirteen should be made true by earlier and more frequent promotions, for the facts show that even promoted at the end of the eighth year Newton pupils are fourteen years and seven months old on entering the high school. How shall we remedy this? By regrading the schools ac- cording to the following schedule and by making a few changes in the present course of study.


The grading of the Newton schools and of most New England schools is into three departments, the primary cover- ing three years of work, the grammar school requiring six years to complete the course prepared and the high school divided into four grades or classes of one year each. A more logical and symmetrical grading would be to make each de- partment cover a term of four years. This extends the


32


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.


primary department through the fourth year of the pupil's school life. The grammar department will then include the fifth to the eighth years inclusive where the pupils will graduate to the high school, which remains unchanged in its grading.


Proposed Grading of Newton Schools.


Dept.


Primary


Grammar


High School


Years.


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This arrangement eliminates the ninth year and places the pupils in the high school earlier by one year. The terms primary, grammar and high school have no significance only as indicating some special four years of school work, for the step from the primary to the grammar, or grammar to the high school is and should be no greater than between any other contiguous school years. The proposed grading is into twelve years of twelve classes. In those towns where this grading obtains, the terms primary and grammar are sel- dom used by pupils and teachers to designate the advance- ment of a pupil in his course towards graduation. The terms first grade, fifth grade, eighth grade, etc., being used as these terms, represent the year as well as class. The terms may be retained, however, as in a way representing certain changes in methods but not in studies. The first four years represent the years devoted more to oral work and instruction, than the second four or grammar schools, where text books are introduced and pupils are taught their use. In these years, if instruction is properly given, the pupil learns how to study and why he should depend on himself. The step into the high school is to work requiring still greater personal effort for the benefit of greater mental strength and confidence aroused.




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