Index
| Next Page >
REPORT OF TRUSTEES OF THE BEVERLY INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER
To the Trustees of the Beverly Independent. Industrial School:
I have the honor to present herewith the sixth annual report of the Beverly
Independent Industrial School.
This school is now well established as a valuable type of institution for
furthering industrial education. Indeed, it may well lay claim to being the
best type of school for such a purpose, from whatever point of view the situation
is studied.
Any worthy boy fifteen years of age has access to the opportunities offered
in this school (up to the limit of its capacity) whenever he desires them
and will, therefore, appreciate them. He is not required, as in the case of
some industrial schools, to complete a prescribed course in some other school
before being admitted. He is not indentured as an apprentice to any employer
who may be tempted to exploit his labor to the financial gain of the corporation.
He does real work under real shop conditions where modern, efficient methods
will be found at all times-a condition that cannot be supplied in a school
building. Though working in a real shop, he is instructed by trained workmen
who devote their entire time to the boys -- a distinct advantage over spasmodic
assistance from foreman or fellow-workmen. He earns real money in the factory
in proportion to his ability and his energy -- an invaluable opportunity for
him to measure himself up with his fellows and with the standards of his trade.
At the school he studies those problems in science, mathematics, mechanical
drawing, etc., that bear directly upon his work in the shop -- thus gaining
an insight into the "why" of things done there as well as the "how"
of their solution. He is given an opportunity regarding the eighty-one withdrawals,
forty-five and two tenths per cent. of the total enrolment. This high "mortality"
seems necessary to the starting of a new enterprise. It is significant that
fifty- eight per cent. of all withdrawals were from those who had enrolled
during the first year. No better proof of the irregular quality of the early
membership can be given. In the first eight weeks one- third of the membership
was changed.
STUDY
OF WITHDRAWALS IN FIRST FIVE SCHOOL YEARS
It is interesting
to note that the average age of the withdrawals was sixteen years, seven months.
The median of attendance was twenty-two weeks. There is. a suggestion here
that may crystallize into a rule that a trial period of, say, four months
should elapse before boys are received into full membership. It must be remembered
that this would give only two months in the factory. As bearing upon this
point it may be noted that for the past two years the average period of attendance
before withdrawals has been steadily decreasing. In the case of withdrawals
by expulsion the term of membership has been about fifteen weeks.
Now that the school is on an established basis and the experimental stage
passed, it would seem that withdrawals should average about fifteen per cent.,
one-third of these being expelled for misconduct.