Dorchester Atheneum
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Search
Site Tips
> Home
> Agriculture
> Architecture
> Artists
> Authors
> Books
> Cemeteries
> Churches
> Dorchester Historical Society
> Entertainment
> Entertainers
> Industry & Commerce
> Institutions
> Maps
> Monuments
> Myths
> Postcard Images
> Public Figures
> Schools
   > Dorchester High School
   > Gibson School
   > Harris School
   > Home School for Young Ladies
   > Industrial School for Girls
   > Pauline A. Shaw School
   > More on Schools..
> Town History
> Walking Tours
> 
Header
Pauline A Shaw School, Norfolk Street
Click image for more information
 Pauline A. Shaw School (Elementary)

429 Norfolk Street, Dorchester
Built 1919
James E. McLaughlin, Architect

Pauline A. Shaw, a pioneer in American education, was born in 1841, the daughter of Louis Agassiz. She introduced kindergartens into the Boston Public Schools and was instrumental in securing the use of school buildings as neighborhood centers.

Source:

What's In a Name? Names of Boston's Schools: Their Origin. Boston: School Volunteers for Boston and the Boston Public Schools, 1980.


_____

This school is slated for closure in 2009 -- Boston Globe 11/20/2008.

_____

In 2011 the Boston Public School website says that this building is now Boston Adult Technical Academy.

Readers' Comments
 From: Rick Taplin July, 2007
Re: Overview: Pauline A. Shaw School

I went here for elementary school from 1960-1963 (I had transferred from the Sarah Greenwood). Oddly enough, I remember the boys' restroom because they had no urinals. You did your business against a large slate wall which had a constant flush of water. Sometimes you would get a dry area and all the boys would write their name! Great schoolyard. Of course, back then, they would separate the boys and the girls. You were in big trouble if you were caught conversing with them. After the Shaw, I went across the street to the Roger Wolcott school for 5th and 6th grades.

From: Tony Graham, June, 2009

I went to the Shaw from 1972-1974. Mrs. Cunningham was my teacher. Man did i love her. She was the best teacher I ever had. I remember the day Lyndon Johnson passed away--she was so heart broken that she just cried and cried. I remember she always lovee to talk about her dog Sunshine, and she also loved Boston College football, but best of all, if you where good, she whould give you money to go buy yourself some ice cream!!!!! lol

Related Images: showing 1 of 1 (more results)
Here are some images from the Atheneum archive related to this topic. Click on any of these images to open a slideshow of all 1 images.
Pauline A. Shaw School
Feedback
Do you know something about this topic? Do you have other pictures or items or knowledge to share? What about a personal story? Are you a collector? Do you have questions? Contact us here.
Created: March 7, 2004   Modified: October 30, 2011