Number admitted, 40; average age, 20 years; number graduated, 40. Whole number of pupils for the year 1894-95: men, 9; women, 115; total, 124. Occupation of parents: farmers, 41; mechanics, 34; merchants, 12; engineers, 3; clergymen, 2; market-men, 2; school superintendent, 1; miscellaneous, 29. Residences of pupils: Massachusetts,-Hampden County, 38; Berkshire County, 26; Franklin County, 16; Hampshire County, 17; Worcester County, 5; Middlesex County, 3; total, 105. Other States, Maine, 1; New Hampshire, 2; Vermont, 4; Rhode Island, 2; Connecticut, 3; New York, 1; Virginia, 2; District of Columbia, 2; Ohio, 1; Minnesota, 1; total, 19. Number from Massachusetts and other States, 124. M. B. WHITNEY, J. D. MILLER, Board of Visitors. STATE NORMAL SCHOOL, WORCESTER. E. HARLOW RUSSELL, PRINCIPAL. INSTRUCTORS. E. HARLOW RUSSELL, Principles of Education, Theory and Art of Teaching, Hygiene, Reading, Physical Exercises; HENRY W. BROWN, Psychology, English Grammar and Literature, German; CHARLES F. ADAMS, Arithmetic, Geography, Geology, Physics; Miss REBECCA JONES, Elementary Methods, Supervision of Apprentices, Sewing, Cooking; Miss ELLEN M. HASKELL, History, Civil Government, English, History of Education; Miss JULIET PORTER (absent on leave); Miss ANNA P. SMITH (substitute), (Librarian), Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, English Grammar; Miss HELEN F. MARSHI, Music, Drawing; Miss ARABELLA H. TUCKER, Botany, Penmanship, Gymnastics; Mrs. MARION J. SUMNER, Choral Singing; Miss E. LOUISE RICHARDS, Kindergartner; Miss OLIVE RUSSELL, Assistant Kindergartner; THADDEUS L. BOLTON, Physiology, Psychology, History. IN GENERAL. The statistics hereto appended indicate the general prosperity and progress of this school. The visitors need only add that, in point of management and instruction as well as of numbers and character, the institution was never in a stronger or better condition. The entering and graduating classes have been above the average of past years, both in size and quality; while the daily work of students and teachers has been marked by the breadth, originality and thoroughness which we long ago learned to expect of this school. Graduates whose judgment has been ripened by years of experience in teaching continue to testify with practical unanimity to the soundness and serviceableness of the training they received at this school, a fact which the visitors cannot but regard as of the greatest weight. REPAIRS. The main building, which had been used continuously by increasing numbers for upwards of twenty years, had naturally fallen into a condition of general and serious disrepair, to which attention had been repeatedly called in former reports. The roof was leaky and without effective gutters, the woodwork outside and in was almost bare of paint, the plastering was dingy and badly cracked in every room, the floors were splintered and worn out, the plumbing service had become inadequate, and there was no apparatus whatever for ventilation. The legislative committee on education, after visiting the school last winter, were so much impressed with the urgent need of thoroughgoing repairs that they recommended without hesitation that a liberal appropriation be forthwith asked for. Accordingly the visitors, upon such estimates as could be made, fixed upon $25,000 as the needed sum, and submitted a petition to that effect. The amount seemed large to the committee, though not to the visitors, and was cut down to $20,000, which sum was finally appropriated for the purpose in view. Work was promptly commenced at the very beginning of the midsummer vacation, and, although it proved a larger and more laborious undertaking than was or could be foreseen, it was prosecuted with such vigor and with so large a force of men that the building was made fit for occupancy at the opening of the school, in September. From its nature, little or none of the work could be done by contract, and the narrow limitations of time made it necessary to employ several sets of workmen simultaneously. This of course required much personal attention and supervision, so that we have had a busy and somewhat anxious summer. The building has now been put in complete repair from roof to basement, and brought up to modern standards in all essential particulars. It is in fact today in much better condition for service than when it was first built. It is provided, moreover, with what it never had before, namely, a ventilating apparatus that has been examined and pronounced satisfactory by the inspectors of the district police. But, with the strictest economy and without doing a thing that any man of judgment and experience would not approve, it has been found impossible to keep within the limits of the appropriation. Once begun, work of this character could not be left in an unfinished state; and the visitors considered that they had no alternative but to carry it to proper completion, and then appeal to the Board and the Legislature to approve what they have done in the exercise of their best judgment. The building has never been lighted, either by gas or electricity, a lack which has long been sorely felt and should be immediately supplied. THE NEW GYMNASIUM. The appropriation of $15,000 for a gymnasium has proved sufficient, with the exception of two or three items of construction and drainage that could not be anticipated (amounting to about $1,000), to erect by contract a building ample and suitable in every way to accomplish the purpose for which it was designed, and of such substantial structure and architectural dignity and beauty as to be a credit to the school and to the State. Messrs. Earle & Fisher, architects, of Worcester, made the plans, and Mr. Thomas Barrett, contractor, also of Worcester, did the work; and we are happy to report that the result is in every respect satisfactory. The sum voted was for construction, and was not expected to cover the cost of plumbing, heating, lighting, finishing and furnishing and grading the surrounding grounds; and an additional appropriation will of course be required to meet these needs, and put the building in a proper condition for use. When thus finished and equipped, this gymnasium, though not of large size or ambitious design, will be second to none in the State for convenience and utility, and it will supply a want long felt in the administration of this school. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS. The visitors take pleasure in acknowledging their indebtedness to President Mendenhall of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute for his able and interesting address at our public anniversary in June, and to other friends for various gifts and favors more fully specified in the last annual catalogue. STATISTICS. 1. Number of normal students, first (fall) term, 201; second (spring) term, 184; whole number for the year, 215. 2. Numbers in entering classes in September, 1894, 63; in February, 1895, 9; total, 72. 3. Average age of pupils admitted: in September, 1894, 18 years, 9 months; in February, 1895, 20 years, 4 months. 4. Residences of pupils admitted: Worcester County, 70; Middlesex County, 1; Connecticut, 1; total, 72. 5. Occupations of pupils' parents: mechanics, 32; merchants, 9; farmers, 7; salesmen, 4; foremen, 3; policemen, 2; contractors, 2; painter, printer, dyer, postmaster, tailor, broker, peddler, lawyer, insurance agent, hackman, driver, engineer, laborer, 1 each; total, 72. 6. Numbers in graduating classes: in January, 1895, 19; in June, 1895, 23; total, 42. 7. Average age of graduates: in January, 1895, 21 years, 5 months; in June, 1895, 22 years, 9 months. 8. Library reference books reported last year, 3,678; volumes added this year, 321; total, 3,999. Text-books reported last year, 5,090; volumes added this year, 224; total, 5,314. Whole number of volumes in the library, 9,313. E. B. STODDARD, J. D. MILLER, Board of Visitors. |