Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-01-05
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Annual Report of Q. F. Carroll,
the Superintendent.
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS.
Pure Kindergartens and Manual
Training Advocated.
A New High schoolhouse With Gymna
SUM Recommended-6at Rooms for
Dirty Scholars Suggested.
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS

we make the liberal extracts which fol-
low:
The average number of pupils be-
longing to the public schools for the last
year is 1854. an increase of 1887. This
number is the largest for any year in
the last 10 years. The largest increase
in any previous year was 1877. The in
crease in the average number belonging
in the high schools is los. This is also
considerably the largest increase in the
averag number belonging in the recent
history Of the high schools.
EXPENDITURES.
The total amount expended for all
purposes last year was $505, 542. IS, an in
| crease of s33, $3.50 over the sum spent in
1896. The average amount of increase
in expenditures for the last six years
has been $4,000. This increase has
been, in round numbers, as follows: 1892,
900; 1898. 100000; 1894, $4,000; 1895,
$34, 900; 1896, S43, 900; 1897, 49,, 1000. From
this 1t appears that the amount of in
crease in the last year is less than that
of 1892, 1895 and 1896, For the first
time in IA years, the cost per pupil
shows a decrease.
The amount spent upon ordinary re-
pairs during the last year is $50, 442.71
years has been $24, 900. That Is. the
amount spent this year upon ordinary
repairs was $4,000 more than the aver
age, and last year was $1,000 more than
the average. If ordinary repairs were
left out of account, the cost per pupil
would have decreased in 1896 .92, and in
1897 s213.
The figures showing the increase and
decrease per pupil are somewhat mis-
leading, since the amount spent upon
ordinary repairs has varied so greatly
in different years. The following list,
therefore, will show the cost per pupil
since 1891, leaving out of account or
binary repairs: 1891, S20.2s; 1892, s23.O7;
1883, S2f.S6; 1894, $24.27; 1895, $23. sc; 1896,
S22.94; 1897, s20S1.
1t may not be necessary either to ex-
plain or to defend the expenditures of
the school department, since they are
made under the direction and oversight
OF the various committees, with the ap-
proval of the committee on finance. 1t
is always a source of regret when it APP
pears that such emphasis must be given
to this question. 1t is more important
to inquire whether the schools are prop
erly provided with necessary material,
and whether all the employees are earn
ing the amount of money which they
receive. Certainly the public demand
the best school houses, the best teach
ers and a reasonable amount of work.
ing material Of the best quality. No
demand has been made that the schools
be less efficient or that any study be
omitted from the curriculum. On the
other hand, the tendency is to introduce
certain lines Of instruction that have
hitherto not been in the curriculum
e. g., manual training.
The public has been extremely sensi-
tive as to the amount of the expendi-
lures Of the school department. The
total item is so great that there is ap-
parent reason for inquiry and there is
every reason why this expenditure
should be so ordered and so tabulated
that we may at least answer questions
that are asked bearing upon the sub
ject
AS will appear from the clerks report.
the cost of pure kindergarten for the
year 1S96-97 is $7734.3S.
The cost Of manual training for the
year 1867 was 5743.55.
The cost Of cooking for the year 1896
7 was Sl11SS0.
In November 1894, the board adopted
the present rule governing the rate of
increase in the salaries Of teachers in
the graded schools. The salary list was
Immediately increased to a considerable
degree by this change. Leaving out of
account the ninth grade assistants, this
unnatural increase of salaries will not
be felt beyond another year.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
The completion of the new buildings
on Providence street, Lamartine street,
Adams street and at Quinsigamond has
gone far in supplying needed school ac-
commodations With the completion Of
the addition to the new building at
Canterbury street, the children now at
tending Cambridge street school can
be accommodated in their own district,
and the crowded primary rooms will be
permanently relieved. With the COM
pletion of the addition to the new build
ing at Woodland street, the basement Of
the old Woodland street building will not
longer be used as a school room. This
Woodland st. addition win also furnish
accommodations for children now at
tending school in the third story of the
Freeland street building
In my last annual report, / urged
very strongly the necessity of a new
building in the Belmont street district.
All the schools in this locality must suf-
fer severely in the year to come be-
cause this building was not erected
Every available room in this district is
now occupied, excepting one of the two
dark rooms in the third story of the Bel
mont street building. The remaining
room will probably be occupied certain
ly as early as April l. The Elizabeth
street and Belmont street schools both
Increase in numbers very rapidly, and
this vacant room affords the only out
let for these districts for the coming
year.
The new building at Adams street has
temporarily relieved the Gage street
school, but this building will again be
crowded to its utmost capacity with the
opening of another year.
The Adams street school, which was
built primarily to relieve Gage street
is now entirely filled and cannot there
fore receive more pupils from Gage
street. Moreover, the present sixth
grade at Adams street must be trans
ferred to Gage street in September. A
few children can probably be sent from
Adams street to Bloomin gdale. Further
more, the old school on Shrewsbury
street still remains a disgrace to the
city and a menace to the health and
eyesight of the children and teachers
which 1t contains
The building of a large school in the
Belmont street district might make it
possible to transfer the older classes
along the line from Gage and Elizabeth
streets to the Belmont street district
But this would be only a makeshift. A
new eight-room building in the Belmont
street district would be speedily filled
from Belmont street and Elizabeth
street schools alone.
School accommodations are needed