Hatfield Annual Town Report 1925-1935, Part 11

Author: Hatfield (Mass)
Publication date: 1925
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 846


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In addressing several hundred New York educators, Ed-


57


ward A. Filene of Boston, made the following statements from the standpoint of the business and industrial leader: "Cultural education is as important to business and industry as vocation- al education. Modern business must give preference to college and university men trained in scientific methods."


"While we are contributing a great deal of money to educa- tion, it is wholly inadequate. No man can run a 10-acre fac- tory with a five-horsepower engine. Neither can we run Ameri- ca's 60,000,000-horsepower industrial system without intelligent manpower, in the low as well as in the high positions."


The above statements show that we should not handicap our children by reducing their local educational opportunities. We should give them the very best within our possibilities and even be willing to make real sacrifices that they may be ade- quately prepared for the fierce competition that they are sure to meet when they enter the industrial, business or professional world.


Just as soon as the industrial conditions of Hatfield war- rant, two forward steps in education should be taken-a central school should be opened for those children who require for their best development a special type of training and an up-to-date Junior High School should be organized at the Center for all the seventh, eighth and ninth grade pupils in town.


In conclusion, I wish to call your attention to the reports of the Principal of Smith Academy and the Supervisors.


Respectfully submitted, ORION A. MORTON,


Superintendent of Schools.


58


Principal of Smith Academy


To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee of the Town of Hatfield :


My first annual report as principal of Smith Academy is confined to the period from September 17, 1928 to the present time and therefore will be rather general in nature.


School opened September 10, under the able supervision of acting principal E. J. Burke. Due to his efforts and to the preparatory work of my predecessor the work was in full swing upon my arrival one week later.


The opening registration was 87: eight seniors, twenty-two juniors, twenty-five sophomores, and thirty-two freshmen. Since that time four juniors and two sophomores have left school and two sophomores have entered. The present enrollment is 83.


The attendance record so far this year is 85% as compared with 90% for the entire year last year.


The subject of attendance seems to me to be a matter in which the utmost degree of co-operation between the home and the school is needed. All necessary absences should be reduced to a minimum and unnecessary absences should be eliminated.


One of the problems of administration which a school the size of Smith Academy must face is the problem of presenting a school curriculum wide enough and flexible to meet the needs of all the types of pupils enrolled.


Three types are in the majority: the pupil who expects to continue his education further, the pupil whose formal education ceases at the time of graduation, and the pupil who drops out of school before graduation. All three are equally important.


Our courses must include subjects and subject matter of college grade for the benefit of pupils of the first type.


For the second we plan a four-year-course which, when completed, will enable him to earn a living, and for the third group we plan an entirely practical course which will be of im- mediate value to the student regardless of the point at which he leaves school.


59


This is particularly difficult in a small school, limited as we are in teacher teaching hours. We endeavor to solve this problem in two ways. First by offering three courses of study: college preparatory, general, and agricultural or household arts. Second by offering classes in practical English, applied mathe- matics, and applied civics.


The athletic program is a little more comprehensive this year through the introduction of volley-ball for both boys and girls. Girls' basketball has been discontinued.


The method of financing the chief expenses of our three major sports, soccer, basketball, and baseball is, to my mind, inadequate. The expenses incident to soccer, exclusive of balls, such as shoes, referees and transportation have been paid by means of a blanket-tax of two dollars collected from each mem- ber of the Smith Academy Athletic Association. This is not a satisfactory source of income.


The basketball season, now well under way, presented. nu- merous difficulties, namely the lack of a home floor and inade- quate transportation facilities. The home floor problem has been solved through the courtesy of Dr. Loomis of Smith's Agricul- tural School. Dr. Loomis has offered us the Smith School gym for our home games and two hours a week for practice purposes. Transportation has been secured through the use of private cars. Through this report I express my thanks and appreciation to the parents of the players for their generosity in loaning their cars.


I would like to see the program of athletics broadened to include athletic facilities for the girls through the introduction of field hockey or some similar game.


I suggest the installation of a shower-bath in the boys' room for the use of the baseball and soccer teams.


In closing, I wish to thank the teachers and the superin- tendent for their co-operation in my efforts to become familiar with the situation at Smith Academy and in developing my pol- icies wherever changes seemed necessary. Except in a few items the customary routine of the school has been continued.


Respectfully submitted,


RICHARD O. BURRILL, Principal.


60


Music Supervisor


Music is not for a few but for many. It has often been said that there are three classes of musicians, the very few who create music, a larger number who perform it, and the very great class who listen to it. Thus we endeavor to give each child in our public schools a technical foundation which will aid in the fur- ther study of music, such training as to enable the pupil to in- terpret, and listen to good music intelligently.


Music is based on tone. Our consistent aim, therefore be- ing to develop on "ear" for a pure, beautiful tone. A series of tones heard successively forms a melody which is the chief char- acteristic of music.


Rote song singing which begins the training of the ear, voice and memory, awakens and stimulates emotion, and instills a sense of rhythm.


Rhythm is the most universal of the elements that consti- tute music and is quickly absorbed by the child.


The third element is harmony which consists of tones heard in combination.


The detail work of these three elements, melody, rhythm and harmony, is presented according to the grade and under- standing of the child.


We are enlarging each year on our appreciation course. In March, Ginn & Co., of Boston sent a representative to visit our classes. Miss Bunting expressed herself as being much pleased with the progress the pupils were making in this work. We cannot give this branch the time we would wish to as the work in sight reading, word reading, chorus singing and theory must have a large proportion of our time.


The musical organizations of Smith Academy, girls and boys


61


glee clubs, chorus and orchestra have taken an active part in school affairs.


As in former years the children of all the schools of the town including Smith Academy furnished the chorus singing at the Memorial Day exercises. Although this means some sacri- fice on the part of the teachers, it is certainly a splendid bit of training in patriotism and unselfishness for our youth.


I wish to express my hearty appreciation to the school of- ficials and to those teachers who give their sincerest efforts to the cultivation of music in our children.


MAUDE E. BOYLE.


>


62


Supervisor of Penmanship and Drawing


The aim of the penmanship work is to teach pupils to write easily and well, and to establish habits of good penmanship.


The habit of writing well is equally as important as the ability to write well. The time of habit formation is during the "carry over" work. All written work should be required to meet a definite standard. I think we. have gone a good way towards that end this year. The "carry over" work has been much bet- ter. The work in the lower grades has been of unusually high grade.


We have done some work with the victrola during the year. The children enjoy it, and it is a means of securing rhythm and freedom of movement in the writing.


Mrs. Griffin, visiting supervisor from the A. N. Palmer Co., was well pleased with the work here.


The little booklet "Teacher's Handbook of Methods in Penmanship Instruction," introduced in the schools a year ago, has been very helpful to many of the teachers. It states the aims and methods of penmanship in a very concise manner. It also gives the requirements of each grade, month by month, throughout the school year.


We were late in sending our examinations for pins and cer- tificates this year, and for that reason we may not have so many as in former years. The following is the number of rewards re- ceived: gold star 80; silver star 20; Palmer pins 96; final cer- tificates 22; business certificates 5; teachers 1.


But few changes have taken place during the past year in the drawing work. We have followed the same outline as in former years. Nature claims our attention in September and


63


October. Color follows for the November work and continues in December as a means for design on Christmas cards and gifts. In our midwinter work, we take up perspective and foreshorten- ing. Paper cutting finds a place in all grades through the year. There is no medium better suited for teaching form. By its use. detail is omitted, mass form is emphasized, design units are quickly made, etc.


Cut paper forms are used very effectively in our poster work. Each grade during the year has a poster problem. There are few phases of school drawing that offer more interesting as well as more practical training, than making posters. The age in which we live is one of extensive advertising. a field in which posters hold a prominent part.


The success of the work is due to the interest, cooperation and untiring efforts of Mr. Morton, principals, and teachers, and I take this opportunity of thanking them.


BERNICE B. ORMOND.


64


Supervisor of Health Education


To the Superintendent of Schools and Members of the School Committee, this report is respectfully submitted.


The Aim of Health Education-


To instruct children and youth so that they may conserve and improve their own health. To establish in them the habits and principles of living which throughout their school life will assure vigor and vitality, which provide the basis for health and service.


Heatlh Education is concerned primarily with positive con- structive health building, secondly the removal of physical de- fects interfering with the proper functioning of mental and phys- ical faculties.


A healthy child is largely unconscious of his body, it is only when ill or in pain is he impatient to get well. The idea of keeping well is more or less remote from the child's plan of things, and therefore must be taught. The teaching must neces- sarily be along practical lines and within the limit of the child's comprehension. The determination of what is a healthy way of living is based on scientific truths, even the simplest health habit, has its scientific basis.


The correlation of health habit teaching with reading, spell- ing and poster making was well carried out in the Primary grades. The upper grades had daily morning inspection as well as a self check up on routine as outlined in the Health Crusade. In the intermediate and grammar rooms a more scientific method was used.


A survey of general health habits and fitness according to the child's own knowledge was made of 800 children in the Union. 350 were from the Hatfield schools, including children of the 5th grade and the High School.


The result of that study is given below:


10% were below normal average weight, although many of this group are active and in good health.


65


20% had dental defects corrected during the year (the pupils of the Bradstreet, West and North, Hill and School Street rate about 50%)


20% do not drink milk but use tea and coffee.


30% sleep in closed rooms without open windows during cold weather.


20% omit the weekly bath except in the summer time.


10% get insufficient sleep and rest.


2% use tobacco (grammar grades).


The progress of the child at school depends considerably on health habits, the irritability and lack of attention on part of individual pupils match up very closely with their routine of living.


In the matter of Nutrition a group of 13 children between the ages of 10 and 12 were selected by the report given on their questionnaire, they represented four nationalities, and all dif- ferent sizes of about the same age. The group was brought before the representative of the State Department of Nutrition andt hey made such a good appearance they will be used as models for one year, each child being as much as possible re- sponsible for their own health habits. Their general health to be under the supervision of school health department.


During the summer of 1927 three children had the opportu- nity to spend three weeks at the Hampshire County Health camp in Leeds,this summer four children will spend four weeks at the health camp.


This camp is under the direction of the Hampshire County Public Health Association, maintained by that association and the various organizations of the county.


The correction of physical defects goes on throughout the year. The eyes receiving first attention. As many of the chil- dren have glasses only


8 had eye defects corrected.


10 had enlarged tonsils removed.


249 had dental work done.


66


The Red Cross Dental Clinic operated at the North Hatfield school the children from West Hatfield school were transported for dental care. Also at the Bradstreet school. In placing the clinic directly in the school more children received treatment and the children soon lost all fear of the dental chair, and much time was saved. At the Centre school the children were transported from the Hill school, but time did not allow for all the work signed up at the Centre school. Effort was made to do everything possible for the smaller children and save the teeth, and in the future the clinic will care for the lower grades only except when a child is in distress. It was found that about 50% of the dent- al work done was on teeth that should have been cared for when in the 2nd and 3rd grade by the time they reached the 4th and 5th grade the tooth had to be extracted.


The following data shows the work done at the clinic:


No. examined


640 Fillings 303


No. not needing care


121


Extractions 254


Cleaning 29


Treated 8


Total number of operations 594


With the exception of a mild epidemic of measles and an occasional case of mumps the general health of the children was good. The greater number of days lost apart from isolation was caused by sore throat. A number of children need tonsils cared for badly.


The school physicians apart from their regular inspection gave freely of their time in advising children brought to them from time to time all during the year and to the physicians, su- perintendent and teachers I am deeply indebted and appreciate their help sincerely.


MARIAN HOLMES, R. N.


67


.


Teachers and Enrollment, October 1928


SCHOOLS


TEACHERS


HOME ADDRESS


Salary


Pupils by Grades


Smith Academy


Richard O. Burrill


Hatfield


$2400


John R. Kalloch


Holyoke


1600


Edward J. Burke


Holyoke


2600*


Mary E. Ryan


Hatfield


1400


Alice M. Brockway


So. Hadley


1400


Ebba E. Ekberg


Dedham


1400


Center School


Clarence J. Larkin


Haydenville


1800


30


30


Margaret A. Ryan


Hatfield


1000


41


41


Sarah V. Kiley


Hatfield


1000


39


39


Anna C. Donnis


Hatfield


900


35


35


Mrs. Grace W. Bardwell


Hatfield


1000


32


32


Catherine T. Shea


Holyoke


1000


35


35


Mary E. Fenton


Lawrence


1000


36


35


Hatfield


900


36


36


Marie A. Proulx


Hatfield


1000


29


29


Mrs. Lena P. Fitzgerald


Hatfield


1000


22


44


Mrs. Constance B. Mullany


Hatfield


1000


12


27


39


Eleanor B. Whalen


Hatfield


1000


18


12


30


West Hatfield Sch.


66


Anna Osley.


W. Hatfield


8


6


7| 6


10 10


6 4


Bradstreet School


Mrs. Mary E. Farley **


Amherst


1100


Ellen O'Hara


Greenfield


1000


Kathleen Connelly


N. Hatfield


1000


Maude E. Boyle


Hatfield


1000


Supr. Draw. & Pen. " of Health Ed.


Mrs. Bernice B. Ormond


Hatfield


850


Northampton


1000


** Substitute


* Includes traveling expenses


Total


67 79 82 105 95 110 58 45 32 25 22 | 8 728


-


-


--


4


25


North Hatfield Sch. Mary C. Kelly


-


Mrs. Mary D. Donelson


N. Hatfield


1000


4 13


9


12


17


8 7


32


15


9


24


15|


14 10


39


Supr. Music


Harold L. Ford


Greenfield


1200


9


9


3


27 30


Holyoke


1000


22


Hill School


66


Rose C. Finn


Holyoke


1000


32 25 22 8 87


Totals ৳


66


66


Katherine Hayes


900


38


Marian Holmes


1|2 |3|4 5 6 7 8 9|10|11|12


Hatfield Schools for School Year 1927-1928


SCHOOLS


TEACHER


Grade I.


Grade II.


Grade III.


Grade IV.


Grade V.


Grade VI.


Grade VII.


Grade VIII.


Freshmen


Sophmores


5|Juniors


5|Seniors


~|Membership


Membership


8 |Attendance


Attendance


Per Cent.


Smith Academy


«


Harry E. Rollins


Edward J. Burke


Mary E. Ryan


Alice E. Brockway


Ebba E. Ekberg


33


32


29


91


Margaret A. Ryan


37


35 32


92


46


39


37


35


94


Grace W. Bardwell


39


36


35


33 95


Catherine T. Shea


36


33


32


30


94


Margaret O'Donnell


41


39


37 94


Anna M. O'Neill


36


36


35


96


36


34


34


32


95


..


34


33


33


31


94


Hill Grammar


9


31


35


35


33


93


Hill Primary


23


12


27


23


21


92


West Grammar


Harold L. Ford


9


7


7


9 12


10


6


7


4


39


37


36


96


13


10


13


8


11


7


26


25


24 94


Bradstreet Gram.


Catherine B. Harris Ellen O'Hara


14


15


41


37


34


93


Bradstreet Primary Supr. of Music


Kathleen Connelly


19


13


9


Maude E. Boyle


" of Draw. & Pen. " of Health Ed.


Bernice B. Ormond Marian Holmes


Totals


97 85 96 109 111 63 61 51 38


33 |10 |12 |766 729|684 94


3


6


32


28


26 93


West Primary


Margaret B. Kroll


North Grammar


Mary C. Kelly


36


35


33


95


North Primary


Mary D. Donelson


29


29


27 94


Bradstreet Inter.


Lena P. Fitzgerald


33


40


38


36


95


Constance B. Mullany


Eleanor R. Whalen


11


33


Hatfield Center


Clarence J. Larkin


37


Rose C. Finn


46


44 42 94


Sarah V. Kiley


33


41


Mary E. Fenton Hilda V. Corman


38


33


10


12


Total


co Average


Average


92


Flavel M. Gifford


7


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE


TOWN OFFICERS OF THE


TOWN of HATFIELD


For the Year Ending DECEMBER 3I


1929


HATFIELD


1676


INDUSTRY


PROSPERITY


Metcalf Printing & Publishing Co., Northampton, Mass.


3


Selectmen's Warrant For Town Meeting, February 3, 1930


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


Hampshire, ss.


To A. R. Breor, one of the Constables of the Town of Hatfield in said County, Greetings :-


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Hatfield qualified to vote in elections and town affairs to meet in Smith Academy Hall in said Hat- field on Monday, the 3rd day of February, next at ten o'oclock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the fol- . lowing articles to wit .:


Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers for the ensuing year; Moderator, Town Clerk, Three Select- men, One Assessor for 3 years, One Water Commissioner for 3 years, One member of the School Committee for 3 years, Town Treasurer, One Trustee of the Public Library for 3 years, Tree Warden, Elector under the Will of Oliver Smith, Tax Collector, Farm Bureau Director, Six Con- stables, all the foregoing to be voted for on one ballot.


The Polls will be open at ten o'clock in the forenoon and be kept open at least four hours, and for such longer time as the majority of the voters present shall direct but in no case will they be kept open after the hour of eight o'clock in the evening.


Article 2. To hear the report of the various town officers.


Article 3. To receive and pass on town accounts.


Article 4. To take action in relation to the payment of the School House Note No. 30 and interest $2,315.00


Article 5. To see if the town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 81 of the General Laws and raise and appropriate money for same. Amount recommended $6,900.00


Article 6. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the maintenance of ordinary repairs on highways, sewers, bridges and sidewalks. Amount recommended $3,400.00


Article 7. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the payment of the bonds of town officers. Amount recommended $220.00


Article 8. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money to defray the expense of Dickinson Memorial Hall for the ensuing year. Amount recommended $250.00


Article 9. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the inspection of barns, animals and slaughtering. Amount recommended $300.00


Article 10. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for Tree Warden and Moth Work.


Amount recommended for Tree Warden $600.0 for Moth Work 400.00


Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the maintenance of the Fire De- partment. Amount recommended $1,300.00


Article 12. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for insurance. Amount recommended $2,050.00


Article 13. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for unclassified expenses. Amount recom- mended $800.00


5


Article 14. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the care of the poor for the ensuing year. Amount recommended $2,500.00


Article 15. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for interest. Amount recommended $200.00


Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the following amounts for salaries and expenses of town officers for the ensuing year :


Salaries, Selectmen $300.00


Expenses $100.00


Salary, Town Treasurer


600.00


Expenses


20.00


Salary, Town Clerk


500.00


Expenses 90.00


Salary, Clerk Board, Selectmen 100.00


Salary, Town Accountant 800.00


Salary, Tax Collector 1% of entire levy estimated at 750.00


Expenses


80.00


Salary, Assessors


850.00


Expenses


25.00


Salary, Sealer of Weights and Measures


150.00


Expenses


50.00


Salary, Election Officers and Registration


180.00


Expenses


30.00


Expenses of the Safety Committee


300.00


Amount recommended for salaries $4,230.00, Epx. $695.00


Article 17. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the maintenance of the schools for the ensuing year. Amount recommended .. .....


...... $54,000.00


Article 18. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the employment of one or more school psysicians for the ensuing year. Amount recommended


$200.00


Article 19. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the care of the cemeteries. Amount rec- ommended $100.00


Article 20. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for Memorial Day. Amount recommended


$125.00


.


6


Article 21. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the Public Library. Amount recommend- ed $1,100.00


Article 22. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the payment of the tuition of Hatfield students at Smith's Agricultural School. Amount recom- mended $700.00


Article 23. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for police protection. Amount recom- mended $2,800.00


Article 24. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for street lights. Amount recommended


Article 25. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for reserve fund. Amounte recommended $500.00


$4,586.00


Article 26. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for fighting forest fires. Amount recommended $150.00


Article 27. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the improvement of the Bradstreet De- pot Road from the foot of Brennans Hill, Eastward to Edwin Fields corner, the amount recommended is two thousand dollars to be used with like amounts to be con- tributed by the State and County. $2,000.00


Total amount recommended .. $92,431.00


The Finance Committee wish to state in regard to the various requests asked for in the way of improvements in various parts of the town, all of these can be taken care of without making special appropriations, if the town will vote to accept Article 5 of this warrant. We also find that the financial condition of the town has never been in better condition than at the present time, and they wish to recom-


7


mend the building of a New Memorial Town Hall, and they feel that it can be financed without raising the present tax rate.


JOHN C. RYAN, ROBERT L. BELDEN, WM. H. DICKINSON, Finance Committee.


Article 28. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the installing of Commercial Course in the High School. Amount asked for $1,500.00


Article 29. To see if the town will vote to authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to bor- row money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.


Article 30. To revise and accept the list of Jurors reported by the Selectmen.


Article 31. To see if the town will vote to abolish the office of Town Auditor.


Article 32, To see if the town will vote to change the time of holding the Annual Town Meeting to later date.




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