Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-11
BOARD OF EDUCATION.

BOARD OF EDUCATkONs Plans For the New school Building on
 Lawrence Street CompIeted-New
 Appointments Professor Jeps0n's
 Twenty-hfth Annual Report as
 Musical Director of the Pubic
 Schools.
 Every member of the board of education was present at meeting of that body last night.
 The following appointments were recoms mended by the committee on schools and laid over according to rule: Miss Frances N. Wheeler from room to room 12 Winchester school, salary $725; Miss Eleanor N. How'd Winchester school salary $550; Miss Lottie Gorham from No. 3 Oak to No. Wooster, salary S560; Miss Jennie A. Trophy from No. to No. Edwards street school, salary $560. Miss Edith M. Todd from No. 6 to No. 7 Cedar street school, $500; Miss Grace L. Bell from No. to No. Cedar street school, ,$560.
 L. A. Cooper, principal of the ungraded school, sent in communication asking for an increase of salary from $500 to $1 ,000. The matter was referred to the school com- mittee.
 It was voted to place Jepson's music read- CTS, Nos. 1, 9 and 3, in the public schools in place of the present readers. The publishers will exchange the ones now used for the new ones.
 Wells geomtry was also adopted for the schools.
 Miss Anna M. Smith resigned as teacher in the Edwards school.
 Architect Robinson submitted plans for the new school building on Lawrence street. It will be the same as the Rosette school. Bids will be received by Architect Robinson until Friday, May 24, at p. m. Each bid der must furnish bond for ons-half of their contract price as a guarantee for the faithful performance of their duties. The building must be completed on or before December l.
 Prof. Jepson read his twenty-ffth annual report as musical director of the public schools, as follows:
 TwENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT IN MUSIC
 NEW HAVEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. To the President and Members of the Board
 of Education and the Superintendent of
 Schools:
 Gentlemen-I am privileged this evening to present my twenty-ffth annual report in music Under the circumstances have felt that it would not be out of place in connec- tion with the past years work to make some reference to my long term of service.
 Commencing in 1865 with 15 rooms con- taining 800 pupils find myself to-day giving instruction in 254 rooms with total of near ly or quite 12,O00 pupils, single school, the Hamilton, containing 100 more pupils than the total number at first placed under my care.
 Of all those who witnessed my first music lessons in the public schools, but three gen. tlemen, Messrs. Whitmore, Camp and Lewis, and less than one dozen lady teachers remain in the schools.
 In entering upon my duties I was cordially received by the principals and teachers of the schools and their unanimous and steadfast support from that hour to the present has been to me a continual bsnediction.
 can scarcely realize the great change that has taken place. Whereas 25 years ago was alone in the musical instruction of pupils, to- day have the assistance of 250 competent lady music teachers, nearly all of whom were former pupils, and who now spend fifteen minutes per day drilling their classes in the elements of music, un der my supervision.
 In reference to the general plan of muei- cal instruction, think l can truthfully say, that have ever been opposed to anything like sham or show. It has been nay constant aim, as it has been my life long ambition. to so adapt musical instruction in the public schools, that none might graduate without ability at least to sing ordinary music at sight.
 With this object in view, have always aimed to place music on precisely the same basis as other studies pursued ill the school room, expecting the same discipline, and the same attention to detail in preparing lessons.
 ought to say in this connection that we have easily gone beyond the mere practice of hymn tunes in the upper grades; pupils who have received the benefit of the full course, are enabled not only to sing, but to read with facility, the finest music of the best composers; I wish also to emphasize the fact that this proficiency in the upper grades alv ko ha ajD tematic drill of the primary grades.
 The graduating programmes of the High school from year to year, have contained sev- eral selections from nearly, if not quite all the Standard Oratorios, operas, and Masses of the great masters, as also many classic compositions from modern writers; I will add here that while my own good judgment would ever prompt me to aim high, I have often been stimulated to my best efforts, by the recollection of @ single remark of Presi- dent Welch, made at the very commence ment of these public exercises, to the effect, that "nothing but the best would satisfy this 
 The results of the annual examination in music for the year just closed are given heres with:
 Number of solo singers, o,051.
 Number perfect by dictation 1,2e3.
 Number of monotones, 620.
 Number of rooms marked 10 in sight sing ing, 106.
 Number of rooms marked in sight sing ing, 61.
 The term monotone" is applied to those scholars who are unable even in concert with the class, to sing the scale perfectly, all oth- CTS according to ability and grade, are re- quired during the months ot January, Feb ruary, and March, to take part in a solo, Who uiSs pass % the ordeal ''V5 Successfully, nHss are designated as ''solo singers" During the allotted time I listened to each. individual scholar with the result above noted, 6,051 soloists, which is the greatest number we have ever recorded. The number of mono tones is slightly increased, but only keeps pace with the increase of pupils from year to year.
 The methods of ''dictation" introduced last year have proved eminently successful and are really marking new era in musical pro- gress; the accompanying paper containing the ''test exercises" which were sung and the 'dictation exercises" which were written by .he pupils in the various grades, sufficiently the advance which has been made n the study of music the past year.
 In regard to the revised series of music readers, to which attention has been called, permit me to say, that in their preparation which has occupied my vacations and leisure | hours for the last four years, have simply anticipated the wants of this and other com nunities where my text books have been | ong in nse.
 Soon after commencing the work of re- vision was notified by the superintendent l that it was proposed to arrange a new course l of study throughout, and suggested that l adapt my work to the general plan, which would consist of eight grades; had al- l ready thought of doing this, as the series of music readers now in use contains but six l grades. Accordingly arranged my sched- | lle to correspond with the other studies, and it is so printed in the course of study ! adopted two years ago; on this plan I have been working ever since, although at con siderable disadvantage, as may be readily | seen In accordance with this eight grade | plan I have arranged the new series of readers to consist of four books, there being two grades in each.
 The first three books have been in use in this and other States for the last six months, and have only awaited the publication of book fourth in order to bring the whole sub ject to your attention.
 Book first of the new series costs 90 cents, old series 50 cents; book second costs 35 cents, old series 50 cents; book third costs 50 cents, old series the same; book fourth costs 65 cents and is nearly twice the size of