USA > New Hampshire > Strafford County > Rochester > Annual report of the city of Rochester, New Hampshire : for the year ending 1918 > Part 14
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*Florence D. McHugh Eva A. Sanborn Phyllis Bliss
* Transferred.
347
CITY OF ROCHESTER
It will be noted that eighteen teachers, or forty- five per cent. of our present teaching force, have re- signed during the year. This is certainly too many changes for the maintenance of a coherent and efficient body of workers. I called attention last year to the steady increase in the number of resignations; seven in 1914, eleven in 1915, twelve in 1916, and seventeen in 1917. The loss of eighteen in 1918 continues this vicious tendency, and warns us that a further increase will mean great harm to our school system. A study of the table of comparative salaries (Table B) will show the reason for this exodus of teachers, and the imperative necessity for the adoption of the schedule .of increased salaries which you have recently decided upon. During the present school year, when the scarcity of teachers has become more and more marked, it has been impossible to attract condidates from abroad under our prevailing schedule of salaries, and positions becoming vacant have been filled only by finding persons in the community who were available. It is to be hoped that the advanced schedule, recently adopted, will put us upon a better footing.
THE INFLUENZA.
The work of the schools here, as everywhere, has been seriously interrupted by the epidemic of influenza. During the fall term the schools were closed for a week of Rochester Fair and for three weeks on account of the influenza. We shall be able to make up this lost time by shortening the mid-year vacations and con- tinuing the summer term to June 27. In addition to this loss of time the schools have been broken up by the unusual prevalence of colds. Never, in my exper- ience, have there been so many calls for substitute
.
TABLE B Salary Schedule
SCHOOLS BELOW HIGH
HIGH SCHOOL
Number
Pupils
Minimum
Maximum
Principal
Number
Pupils
master Head-
Men As-
sistants
Min.
Max.
Aver-
age
Berlin
1300
$525
$750
$ 825
375
$2,500
$1,375 to $1,600
$650
$ 900
$763
Claremont
978
$558
$720
$ 684 to $1,000
255
$1,800 to $2,100 $1,800
$ 900 to $1,200
$750
$1,000
$858
Dover
1300
$400
$700
$ 850 to $1,200
268
$2,200
$1,200
$650
$ 950
$800
Laconia
925
$500
$725
$ 750
230
$2,100
$1,100 to $1,500
$700
$ 850
$775
Lisbon
300
$576
$700
102
$1,800 to $2,000
$800
$ 900
$875
Littleton
760
$600
$700
$ 625 to $ 725
186
$1,700
$700
$1,000
$790
Milford
572
$432
$648
135
$1,400 to $1,600
$600
$ 800
$707
Newport
517
$700
110
$1,800
$725
$ 900
$829
Portsmouth
1370
$500
$800
$1,000 to $1,400
490
$2,400
$1,300 to $1,500
$750
$1,000
$887
Rochester
964
$450
$550
$ 600
248
$1,700
$1,000
$600
$ 900
$750
Somersworth
480
$625
$675
$ 675 to $1,200
85
$1,700
$1,100
$800
$ 850
$825
Woodsville
335
$432
$702
$ 702
127
$1,600
$720
$1,00€
$790
Berlin and Claremont pay a bonus in addition to regular salary, to teachers remaining till June. Further increases are now pending in Claremont and Somers- worth.
$740
$ 920
$840
Franklin
600
$540
$584
$ 750
190
Women Assist's
349
CITY OF ROCHESTER
teachers to take the places of those who were ill, nor so large a proportion of pupils out on account of illness as during the last few weeks. Besides the prevalent colds we have suffered from an outbreak of several cases of scarlet fever in the School Street school and of sev- eral cases of diphtheria in the Allen school. One of these resulted fatally, involving the sad loss to the fourth grade of Pauline Seavey, a much beloved pupil and school mate.
EVENING SCHOOLS
The war has opened our eyes to the danger of an element in our citizenship which is shut off from the currents of public opinion by inability to understand the common tongue, and strenuous efforts are being made throughout the country to overcome this danger by the immediate instruction of all in the use of the English language. In New Hampshire the campaign for this purpose has been especially effective and suc- cessful. In response to the appeals of the Committee on Americanization that all communities containing non-English speaking people organize evening schools for their benefit your board immediately expressed itself favorable to such action. The fact that funds were not available, however, has caused the postpone- ment until the present time of the plans made by the board. The school has finally been opened during this week. A class has been organized for those having little or no use of English, and another who have some knowledge of the language. Pupils in attendance are intelligent, alert and enthusiastic. They give undivided attention and immediate response to the instruction and already show progress. There is a demand for instruction in other subjects, but for the present we are
350
ANNUAL REPORT
limiting the work to training in speaking, reading and writing English.
I hope that we have here the beginnings of great things. It has always been my belief that the evening schools ought to develop into real people's universities, in which a group of persons beyond the usual school age might receive instruction in any desired subject, and education instead of being finished and done with in youth should be continued and yield the most val- uable returns in mature life. The influence upon the character of individuals and upon the higher life of a community by the successful conduct of such work can hardly be over-estimated.
WAR WORK
The war has made large demands upon the schools, and to all of these demands both teachers and pupils have responded with splendid patriotism. Al- most every agency engaged in philanthropic work has endeavored to have the schools fully organized in be- half of its particular cause, and we have had con- stantly to resist the pressure for such organization and effort. We have chosen to co-operate in those under- takings which most completely harmonized with our educational aims, and have found that war work, as thus directed, reinforced rather than detracted from the regular work. For example, we try every year to stimulate the cultivation of home gardens. The re- quest of the government that pupils help to win the war by producing food, and the organization of the United States School Garden Army, with enlistment, officers and badges, has given great impetus to the regular work in gardening. We had had in operation for some time a system of school savings. The urgent
351
CITY OF ROCHESTER
demand that pupils invest in thrift stamps as a means of furnishing funds for winning the war reinforced our efforts to inculcate thrift, and was so useful to this end that the school savings system has been closed out as superfluous. So all study and discussion of the war and of questions connected with the war have given point and zest to the study of geography, history, and civics, and have been the starting point for much read- ing, discussion and writing.
Besides contributing, through their own efforts, to many war causes the children have been a useful means of communication between the government and the home, and have been of great help by delivering notices, circulars and information regarding food con- servation and other governmental activities. Most people will be surprised at the total contributions made by the pupils in those activities whose results can be tabulated. Four hundred and twenty home garden plots were successfully cultivated, yielding returns carefully estimated as $2,984.77. The government is urging that the School Garden Army organization be continued another year, and already 655 pupils have enlisted as gardeners for 1919. The total investment in Thrift Stamp and War Saving Certificates to date is $11,697.00 and in Liberty Bonds $41,870. The totals pledged for United War Work by the Victory Boys and Girls is $1,432.49 and most of the pledges have already been made good. Besides these contri- butions much Red Cross work has been done by pupils and teachers, of which I have no account.
MEDICAL INSPECTION
At the city election in December the city voted in favor of installing a system of medical inspection in
352
ANNUAL REPORT
the schools. The committee appointed by your board at the January meeting has prepared a plan for carry- ing out this mandate of the voters as soon as necessary funds are provided by the city council. From experi- ence in the past with medical inspection in the schools I am led to believe that the co-operation of a school nurse immensely increases the effectiveness of the work. It is exceedingly desirable, also, that the in- spection of pupils include a thorough dental exam- ination.
PROGRAM
We have made no change in the elementary studies, except to substitute French for Latin in the seventh and eighth grades. This change was made because of the increasing importance of the French language, and because the change put us more com- pletely in line with the other school systems of the state. Pupils are attacking this subject with the same interest and enthusiasm shown for Latin in previous years. We try to approximate the direct method in teaching, and look for increasing effectiveness as teachers gain experience. Great credit is due the teachers, some of whom have spent a great amount of time in preparation for teaching this new subject.
In the high school program a third year has been added to the domestic arts course, and domestic arts is offered as an elective in the first two years of the commercial course. Botany has been substituted for physiology in freshman year, and the history of civilization takes the place of ancient history in all courses except the classical.
An unusual achievement which deserves special
353
CITY OF ROCHESTER
mention is that of Felice Baril, who graduated from the high school last June. The school records show that she was not absent from school for a single session during her school course from first grade through high school.
Permit me to acknowledge the uniform courtesy and constant support which I have received from your body during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. BRECK,
Superintendent.
23
Report of the Principal of High School
Mr. Charles A. Breck, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit the annual report of the High school.
In the class of 1918 the following students were given diplomas :
NAME
PRESENT OCCUPATION
Felice Baril
Rochester Public Library.
Katharine Bates
Post Graduate Rochester High School.
Palma Beaudoin
Office of United Box & Lumber Co.
Elizabeth Berry
Rogers Hall School.
Lucille Carter
Office of N. E. Brick Co.
Dorothea Davis
Bates College.
Doris Dennett
· Post Graduate Rochester High School.
Mona Grant
With Linscott, Tyler, Wilson.
Ethelyn Gray
Remnant Store.
Beulah Guilford
Office of Justin Emery.
Mary Hanscom
Office of Frank Kendall.
Tessie Hooper
With Feineman Bros.
Ruth Hescock
With Feineman Bros.
Katherine Hartley At home. At home.
Mary Howard
Gertrude Jenness
At home.
Mary Leighton
Plymouth Normal School.
Eva Locke
At home.
Mildred Mathews Lois Meader
With Linscott, Tyler, Wilson. At home.
355
CITY OF ROCHESTER
NAME
PRESENT OCCUPATION
Eugenia Morrill
P. G. Dorchester High & N. E. Conserv- atory.
Beulah Morrison
Nurse's School, Boston Homeopathic Hos- pital.
Edna Perrault
Office of N. B. Thayer & Co.
Margaret Salinger
P. G. South Pasadena (Cal.) High.
Ardys Shaw
At home.
Nurse's School, Children's Hospital,
Boston.
Lola Thompson
With Charles Varney.
Berthena Winkley
Office of Lothrop-Farnham Co.
Marion Whipple
Plymouth Normal School.
Mildred Whipple
Plymouth Normal School.
Raymond Auger Everett Bickford G. Kenneth Chesley Sidney Corson
S. A. T. C., Tufts Dental. At home.
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College. New Hampshire College.
Norman Dame
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College.
Herbert Drown Arvin Gunnison
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College.
S. A. T. C., Dartmouth College
Olin Henderson Willis Horne Frank Jones
S. A. T. C., Dartmouth College. S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College
Robert Marsh
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College. With Atlantic Shipbuilding Corporation. At home.
Joe Morrison
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College. With Spaulding Sons. Co.
Richmond Parshley
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College.
Warren Parsons
S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College.
Clifton Perkins
S. A. T. C., Bates. Ill at home.
Edward Rumazza S. A. T. C., New Hampshire College.
Donald Sweet
S. A. T. C., Dartmouth.
In addition to these from the graduating class, Lillian Connell, '17, entered Wheaton, and the follow- ing entered college as members of the S. A. T. C .: Ken- neth Brock, '15, Murray Collins, '15, Carleton Meader, 15, Henry Jacques, '16, Albert Leblond, '16, Carleton Wingate, ex-'17, Paul Osgood, ex-'18, Ernest Campbell,
Winslow McCallister
John McDuffee
Minnie Tanner
356
ANNUAL REPORT
'16, at New Hampshire; Raymond Pugsley, '17, at Bowdoin; Lawrence Faunce, '17, Arthur Nixon, '17, at Northeastern; and Spencer Baril, '15, at Boston Uni- versity.
The total enrollment for the year is 253 divided as follows : 2 postgraduates, 43 seniors, 42 juniors, 61 sophomores, 104 freshmen, and 1 special. Of this number 22 have left school, leaving the present mem- bership 230, as compared with a total enrollment of 252 and a present membership of 217 last year.
There are at present, in the school, only two of our nine assistant teachers who were here a year ago. While some of the new comers already rank as among our most efficient teachers, it is unnecessary to point out that no school can do its best work, as long as it loses from half to two-thirds of its staff each year. As the head of the commercial department, we have had 11 different teachers in the last five years, without counting the substitutes we have employed for a few weeks at a time. Such frequent changes disturb the morale of the school, put greater burdens on the teach- ers who remain, and materially injure the preparation of the pupils. May I urge once more that when a teacher is proven efficient, it is of vital importance to retain that teacher ?
Rochester Fair week still remains an open ques- tion. My personal opinion, as often expressed, is that the schools should remain in session; and that if this policy could be consistently followed for a period of perhaps, five years, the results would show a marked gain over those at present obtained. However, it is evident that the sentiment of our city is in favor of closing during the week, so much so in fact that the
357
CITY OF ROCHESTER
attempt to keep open has resulted merely in delaying the final decision. Accordingly, I would respectfully recommend that Rochester Fair week be placed as a regular vacation on the school calendar.
The Springfield scholarship was awarded to Miss Katharine Hartley of the class of 1918; but she found it inadvisable to attend college this year. Accordingly, the committee made the award to Miss Gladys Bick- ford, '16, at present a Junior in New Hampshire State College.
Gifts to the school this year, for which thanks are most heartily expressed, are the Dartmouth medal, the gift of Fred Allen Walker, and a bronze fac simile of the Declaration of Independence, the gift of Evelyn Tucker Mott of the class of 1909. The Dartmouth medal for excellence in scholarship was awarded to Pauline Corliss, '21. The class of 1918 used a large part of its funds to pay the debt of the Athletic Asso- ciation.
Athletics and school socials have been almost en- tirely neglected during the year just past, owing to war conditions and to the fuel shortage. A base ball team was maintained and was very efficiently handled by Mr. Remick. No attempt was made at football owing to the influenza as well as to general conditions. Plans are now under way for a baseball team for this spring and the various classes are preparing to resume the plan of class socials from time to time through the year. Special effort is being made to secure a wider participation in these socials than we have had in the past. A very small percentage of our pupils care for dancing and the practice of having the social
23a
358
ANNUAL REPORT
hour after a class play given over to dancing has re- sulted in some half dozen couples really entering into the enjoyment while the others are content to be merely passive onlookers. We hope by organized games to provide some remedy for this condition.
The general spirit of the school has been com- mendable. I believe the war has brought a new sense of responsibility and of seriousness even to high school pupils. While I do not intend to claim that all our pupils are rapidly becoming students, I honestly be- lieve that the vast majority are working more seriously than I have known them to be doing in the seven years I have been in Rochester. If the handicaps of lost time and of changes in the teaching force are overcome this year, I believe no small part of the credit should be given to the earnest endeavor of the pupils them- selves.
For the future, I believe our prospect is excellent. We have passed through the period when high wages, high prices and unsettled conditions have combined to reduce the number of those who remain in school be- yond the bare legal age at which they can begin work in a store or in a factory. From now on, it is reason- able to expect a growth of 10% to 20% in the school membership for the next two or three years. Such a normal growth can be accommodated with the present teaching force and in the rooms now occupied by the school, for a year or two more at least, unless changes in the courses offered call for further extension. Some changes will be found necessary. For instance, if French is to be taught in the seventh and eighth grades, the high school must open its French course to the entering classes rather than wait till sophomore year
359
CITY OF ROCHESTER
as at present. Before long, I believe we shall find it advisable to offer Spanish as a second modern language in the place of German we abandoned three years ago. In general, however, I believe that our immediate efforts must be concentrated on our present courses without undertaking new lines of work.
In conclusion I would express my appreciation of the spirit of co-operation the high school has found in dealing with its problems.
Respectfully submitted,
GILMAN H. CAMPBELL,
Headmaster.
TABLE C Grade and Age Distribution, September, 1918
1
Total of each age
40
102
125
92
126
117
117
149
102
111
83
58
32
15
1,269
190
14.9
-
1
40
80
32
5
2
159
7
4.4
II
21
52
22
17
5
1
1
119
24
20 1
III
1
37
35
24
9
5
1
2
1
115
18
15.6
IV
4
28
44
21
14
10
5
1
127
30
23.6
V
2
39
46
22
18
8
4
3
1
143
34
23.7
33
54
32
11
11
7
148
29
19.6
VII
3
20
46
19
4
100
12
12.
36
26
17
104
17
16.4
High
I
1
5
28
39
21
1
104
10
9.6
-
=
3
19
20
13
4
2
61
00
9.8
III
3
00
22
6
3
42
3
7.4
.
IV
3
12
19
CO
43
0
0
1
2
1
4
0
0
360
ANNUAL REPORT
AGE
or
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Total in
Above
Age
Percent
mal Age
Grade
Normal
Above Nor-
Grade
5
8
VIII
25
9
<
.
361
CITY OF ROCHESTER
TABLE D Promotions
GRADES
Total
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
1. Number of pupils pro- moted to next grade during or at the end of the year
116
106
122
137
133
100
109
121
944
2. Number receiving dou- ble promotion
5
5
10
20
3. Pupils in grade at end of year not promoted
28
16
10
12
12
8
8
6
100
4. Per cent not promoted
24
15
8
9
9
8
7
5
9
5. Number pupils in grade at end of year who have been there two years
16
7
8
14
14
7
66
TABLE E Teachers, December 31, 1918
SCHOOL
GRADE
NAME
TRAINING
HOME
SALARY
High
Geom. & Hist.
Gilman H. Campbell Anna S. Allen
Bowdoin College, A. B.
Portland, Me.
$1,800
English
Emerson School Oratory
Rochester
1,000
Domestic Arts
Boston School Dom. Arts
Somersworth Northfield, Vt.
800
Commercial
Bryant & Stratton .
New Windsor College, A. B. Bates College, A. B.
Rochester
1,000
Latin
900
French
Sten. & Type Mathematics English
Marjory Boomer Mabelle M. Clow
Emerson School Oratory
Rochester
650
VIII
Annie I. Rollins
R. H. S. State Certificate
Portsmouth
625
II
Bernice E. Frye Edith P. Foss
Portsmouth Training School Plymouth Normal School
Strafford
650
III
Lillian I. Dennett
Bridgewater Normal School Plymouth
Rochester Lisbon
650
V
Jeanie J. Kier
- Salem
Rochester
750
V, VI
Catharine A. Doran
Keene
Somersworth
500
VI
Lillian Cooper
Plymouth
Rochester
650
VII
Lida Varney
650
School St.
1
Alice M. Corson
Gorham
650
=
Hattie M. Littlefield
Alfred, Me.
625
ANNUAL REPORT
850
Science
Eliz. S. Woodworth Abbie R. Dillingham S. Gordon Tucker Emily C. Davis May Springfield Emma J. Williams
Boston University, A. M.
850
Readfield, Me.
800
Wesleyan Seminary, Me. New Hampshire College, A. B. Dover
650
700
Wakefield Allen
I
650
IV
Laura S. Elms
362
III
Florence M. Osborne Louise Perkins Ellen L. Hart
Gorham Normal School
Rochester
$ 650
IV
Plymouth
650
V VI VII
Alice M. Ludden
650
Mary. I. Smith
650
VIII I
Mary G. Collins Mahala M. Willey Bessie M. Littlefield Florence E. Dame Marie Jeneau
Kindergarten Training School Somersworth Plymouth Normal School
550
IV V, VI
Terese A. Mullen Mary M. Farley Gracia D. Prue
Keene
500
Plymouth
550
VII, VIII
Marion Littlefield
Sanford, Me.
750
E. Roch.
I, II
Helen M. Varney
East Rochester
625
III, IV
Melissa H. Jacobs
-
600
V, VI
Florence D. McHugh Fitchburg
550
Meaderboro
I-VIII
Ida B. Meader
700
Supt. of
Music
Mary C. Donohoe
New York University
Rochester
600
Supt. of
Charles A. Breck
Amherst College, A. B. Harvard University, A. M. -
Rochester
*2,350
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Maple St.
650
II
Gorham
Alfred, Me. Rochester
625
III, IV
Plymouth
700
Gonic
I II, III
500
Gorham 66
¥
Amesbury, Ms. Rochester
750
VII, VIII
Phyllis Bliss
Wheelock's Training School R. H. S. State Certificate
Schools
*Supervisory District, Rochester and Rollinsford.
363
600
750
Report Supervisor of Music
To the Superintendent of Schools:
DEAR SIR :- I take pleasure in answering your re- quest for a brief report of the work done in music this year.
We have had many interruptions on account of sickness and this has delayed the work in a measure. However, we are working hard, and expect to make up most of the work.
At our graduation in June we gave another mus- ical program of fifteen numbers, being work taken from our regular schoolroom music, and the children gave a good account of themselves.
At Christmas we also gave a program of ten num- bers, the upper grades singing the old and new carols. This was also regular schoolroom work, and we hope this will be repeated in future years.
We have met with the same hearty response and co-operation from the teachers as in past years and the children show marked improvement in all branches of the work.
At the High School the chorus is doing as well as can be expected, with such limited time. We were giving an extra period to the boys' part of the work,
365
CITY OF ROCHESTER
but had to discontinue this as the time was needed for their other studies.
We have introduced in all the schools a special period for community singing, taking the upper grades as a chorus. We have studied a great many of the old familiar songs, and taken a number of the best of the present day songs. This period meets with a ready response, and both teachers and children enjoy thor- oughly this feature of the work.
At this writing, of the seventh year's report, we thank most sincerely all our old associates for their help, and welcome the new members with words of appreciation for their earnest endeavor.
Our supplies are much better than ever before, and in closing, we thank you, Mr. Breck, for your kind support.
Respectfully, MOLLY C. DONOHOE
Financial Statement
1918
RECEIPTS
Regular appropriation
$40,000 00
Tuitions
712 57
Dog licenses
758 07
Literary fund
861 25
Special appropriation for bills of 1917
3,483 69
Petty cash, C. A. Breck :
Paper and junk sold, F. R.
Hayes $ 17 70
Supplies sold, G. E. Horne
6 50
Books and supplies sold, C. A. Breck 14 45
Spellers sold, Mrs. Allen 6 12
Brooder sold to G. M. Rankin 1 00
Damage to school property 2 10
Neostyle work 5 75
Use of telephone 3 02
Sold, town of Rollinsford
8 85
$ 65 49
$45,881 07
EXPENDITURES
Teachers Janitors
$22,874 29 3,103 45
367
CITY OF ROCHESTER
Transportation
$5,016 70
Supervision
1,850 00
Fuel
2,924 49
Repairs
1,007 88
Printing
80 25
Building supplies
103 54
Reference books, maps and apparatus
20 43
Text books
1,226 91
Blank books and supplies
1,293 01
Lighting
18 98
Flags
10 75
Miscellaneous
855 87
Equipment
75 22
Bills carried from 1917
3,483 69
Balance carried to 1919
1,935 61
$45,881 07
JANITORS
Frank R. Hayes
$ 832 76
Charles Pearl
73 03
William Farmer
468 00
Leroy S. Redlon
476 00
George E. Horne
476 00
Charles R. Brackett
279 52
Willis E. Meader
49 14
Norman Dame
16 00
Charles Hussey
7 00
Emilio Beaulieu
426 00
$3,103 45
368
ANNUAL REPORT TRANSPORTATION
Jesse C. Baker,
$272 00
A. W. Barber
308 00
E. W. Bickford
420 00
Wesley Blaisdell
425 00
S. E. Colomy
408 00
George Gagne
170 00
Joseph Hayes
340 00
Scott G. Winkley '
104 00
Addie Hussey
272 00
Ezra Smart
374 00
Abraham Stark
176 00
Roscoe Tuttle
510 00
Sumner Watson
440 00
W. T. Sawyer
180 00
Samuel Hale
240 00
Charles Lowe
137 50
D. S. & R. Street Railway Co.
240 20
$5,016 70
FUEL
A. F. Bradley
$2,876 48
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