USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1925-1935 > Part 21
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Holy Trinity Cemetery
3,500.00
Smith Academy
66,000.00
ADDITIONAL ASSESSMENTS
1 Poll at $2.00
$2.00
1 Old Age Assistance Tax at $1.00
1.00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN R. MCGRATH, JOHN E. RAFFA, ADOLPH M. TOCZKO.
32
Town Clerk's Report
VITAL STATISTICS 1932
BIRTHS TO HATFIELD PARENTS BY MONTHS
Male
Female
January
2
0
February
1
0
March.
4
3
April
2
3
May
0
1
June
0
0
July.
0
3
August .
0
2
September
0
0
October
1
1
November
1
1
December
2
4
Total
13
18
BIRTH PLACE OF PARENTS
Fathers
Mothers
United States
22
24
Poland .
7
6
Czecho-Slovakia
1
0
Nova Scotia
0
1
Total
30
31
BIRTHS FOR FIVE PRECEDING YEARS
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
47
54
35
40
28
33
MARRIAGES BY MONTHS-1932
January . 1
First marriage of both .
22
February
1
Second of Groom
3
March 0
Second of Bride.
2
April.
Youngest Groom
20
May
1
Oldest Groom.
68
June. 3
Youngest Bride
18
July. 0
Oldest Bride.
51
August.
Birthplace
Groom
Bride
September . .
in
United States.
25
25
October. ..
2
Poland.
2
1
November . .
4
Czecko Slovakia
0
1
December. . .
1
-
Total
27
27
27
NAMES OF PERSONS DECEASED
1932
Kovalski, Edward A.
Boyle, Mary A.
Carey, David
Zapka, Paul
Morton. Albert W.
Lynch, William E.
Domardzki. Michael
Archer. Annie
Wickels, Sadie Smith
Galinski, Walter
Billings, Samuel F.
Celatka, Julia N.
Billings, Gordon
Kukucka. Karl R.
Fortsch, John
Burda.
Powers, Mary A.
Raffa, Michael J.
Fralick Barnabus
Ziezulewicz, Chester
Schwarting, William
Oldest person (male) 81 years.
34
DOGS LICENSED 1932
131 Males @ $2.00 each .
$262.00
10 Females @ $5.00 each
50.00
Balance from 1931.
3.00
$315.00
Less 141 fees @ 20 cents each .
28.20
$286.80
Paid County and Town Treasurer
286.80
V. H. KELLER,
Town Clerk.
35
Report of Librarian
To the Trustees of the Public Library and the Citizens of Hatfield:
The year 1932 has shown a steady growth in the library.
With more leisure and less money at their disposal, people have naturally done more reading, thus increasing our regis- tration from 461 to 627, and the circulation from 15,270 to 20,412, a gain of 33%.
Through the Division of Public Libraries of Boston we are able to have Polish books always available. During the year we have also had two loans of Slovak books and three loans of non-fiction, in our own tongue-all from the same source.
The regulation of leaving Thursday evenings for the con- venience of working people, (tried out in 1931, with such success) was again enforced with the opening of school in September.
We had to choose between having our library a quiet, orderly place where one could spend a pleasant hour at the reading table, or a rendezvous for the young people. I wish to thank the parents for their co-operation.
I want to take this opportunity to express my apprecia- tion for my very efficient assistant Miss Gertrude Boyle.
Respectfully submitted,
MARGARET A. MULLANY, Librarian.
36
Tax Collector's Report
1929 POLL AND PROPERTY TAXES
Outstanding December 31, 1931 $512.63 Payments to Treasurer $493.87
By Abatements 18.76
$512.63
1930 POLL AND PROPERTY TAXES
Outstanding December 31, 1931 $4,832.69
Cash on hand December 31, 1931 660.75
Payments to treasurer. 3,532.08
Overpayments to Treasurer .34
Outstanding December 31, 1932
$1,961.02
1931 POLL AND PROPERTY TAXES
Outstanding December 31, 1931 . $33,136.62
Cash on hand December 31, 1931 324.41
Payments to Treasurer 15,095.23
By Abatements 23.85
Outstanding December 31, 1932.
$17,693.31
1932 POLL AND PROPERTY TAXES
Commitment per Warrant. $76,652.06
Payments to Treasurer $33,262.31
By Abatements 86.32
Outstanding December 31, 1932 $4,303.43
37
1929 MOTOR VEHICLE TAX
Cash on hand. $.28
Outstanding none
1930 MOTOR VEHICLE TAX
Outstanding December 31, 1931 $110.87
Payments to Treasurer $13.97
By Abatements.
4.37
Error in Refunds 11.82
Outstanding December 31, 1932 89.45
1931 MOTOR VEHICLE TAX
Outstanding December 31, 1931
$582.49
Payments to Treasurer $199.88
By Abatements. 4.15
Outstanding December 31, 1932 $378.46
1932 MOTOR VEHICLE TAX
Commitment per Warrant. $4,000.65
Payments to Treasurer. $2,249.67
By Abatements 136.12
Outstanding December 31, 1932
$1,614.86
1931 OLD AGE ASSISTANCE TAX
Outstanding December 31, 1931.
$154.00
Payments to Treasurer $38.00
By Abatements 15.00
Cash on hand. 3.00
Outstanding December 31, 1931 . $98.00
38
1932 OLD AGE ASSISTANCE TAX
Commitment per Warrant $691.00 Payments to Treasurer $428.00
Outstanding December 31, 1931
$263.00
JOSEPH YARROWS, Tax Collector.
39
Police Report
Hatfield, Mass., December 31, 1932.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The report of the Police Department for the year ending December 31, 1932, is herewith respectfully submitted.
Drunkenness .
12
Automobile Violations
15
Breaking and Entering
6
Assault and Battery.
5
Assault with Dangerous Weapon
1
Lewdness
1
Larceny .
10
Liquor Violations .
1
Bastardy .
4
Committed to State Farm
2
Vagrancy .
5
Neglect of Wife
2
64
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR R. BREOR, Chief of Police.
40
LIST OF JURORS SUBMITTED BY THE SELECTMEN OF HATFIELD FOR 1933
John B. Bitner
Fred T. Bardwell
George Betsold
James F. Donlin
John Donnis Scott Harris
Michael Hayes
Ercent Godin
Harry F. Graves
Richard F. Fitzgerald
Charles Klekot
Henry Kugler
Joseph Liebl
David Mullaney
Stanley Rogalewski
John Stoddard
Arthur Proulx
Wm. P. Connelly
Daniel P. Sheehan
John F. Sheehan
John L. Stenglein
Joseph Slussars
George A. Deinlein
James L. McGrath
Charles Pfiffer
Leonard Vollinger
Michael Yarrows
John M. Wentzel
James W. Kiley
41
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee .
OF THE
Town of Hatfield
FOR THE
Year Ending Dec. 31, 1932
School Organization
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Joseph F. Chandler, Chairman. Term expires, 1933
J. Henry Charlesbois, Secretary Term expires, 1934
Arthur C. Bardwell. Term expires, 1935
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
William E. Hebard
72 Ridgewood Terrace, Northampton
Telephone 1088
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
A. J. Bonneville, M. D.
C. A. Byrnes, M. D.
ATTENDANCE OFFICER Chief Arthur R. Breor
SCHOOL CENSUS As of October 1, 1932
Boys
Girls
Total
Between 5 and 7 years
53
32
85
Between 7 and 14 years
220
221
441
Between 14 and 16 years
83
72
125
356
325
681
Note-There were 49 fewer pupils in 1932 than in 1931.
45
SCHOOL CALENDAR-1933
SMITH ACADEMY
First Winter Term Opened January 3, 1933
Closes February 24, 1933
Second Winter Term . Opens March 6, 1933
Closes April 28, 1933
Spring Term.
. Opens May 8, 1933 Closes June 16, 1933
Fall Term
Opens September 5, 1933
Closes December 22, 1933
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The present term commenced January 3rd, and the elemen- tary schools will continue without vacation until about April first when ten days will be allowed for vacation and crop plant- ing. The schools will close for the summer June 16th.
Fall Term. . Opens September 5, 1933 Closes December 22, 1933
HOLIDAY NOTES
There will be no sessions of schools on holidays nor on Good Friday.
Schools will close Wednesday at noon before Thanksgiving for the rest of that week.
The following days are legal holidays for the Common- wealth:
January 1st April 19th July 4th October 12th Thanksgiving and
February 22nd May 30th Labor Day November 11th
Christmas
46
Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of Hatfield:
Your committee have maintained the same number of schools-six-with the same number of teachers-twenty- seven-as for the previous year.
By vote of the joint committee of this school union as a measure of economy the position of supervisor of drawing and penmanship was discontinued. In making this action the com- mittee decided to retain that position in which was the super- visor of longer experience. The joint committee also reduced the salary of the union school nurse by ten per cent.
The local committee arranged for reductions in the wages of the janitorships about the town. The attendance officer also accepted a reduction of twenty per cent.
The committee would propose for your consideration the following estimate of expenditures for the present fiscal year. Instruction.
$33,200.00
Administration
2,645.00
Books and Supplies
2,500.00
Transportation
1,824.00*
Fuel and Janitors
6,450.00
Repairs.
250.00
Miscellaneous
100.00
$46,969.00
* Of this amount $984 cannot be reduced under present ar- ranged agreements.
The foregoing estimate is $5,531 less than a year ago and we assure the voters if ways and means of consolidation can be made without educational detriment to our boys and girls we shall work to that end in the interest of town betterment.
Respectfully submitted,
Hatfield, Mass. January 20, 1933.
JOSEPH F. CHANDLER, J. HENRY CHARLEBOIS, ARTHUR C. BARDWELL.
47
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and Citizens of Hatfield :
Herewith is my second annual report as superintendent of your schools which will be followed with reports from im- portant divisions of school activity.
Whereas the financial aspect of your schools is evidently of primary interest that phase will be considered at the outset. It is very true that the expense of education is a large item of municipal cost and for that reason more than any other there is a general desire for a revision and curtailment of expensive educational departments. In some respects there may be a similarity between industry and educational activity as to methods of reduction. When the demand for any commodity ceases the manufacturer can easily close his shop. Likewise when the need for any classroom ceases the small group of pupils can be consolidated with some other classroom and the extra teacher discharged. However the entire teaching force cannot be discharged as long as there are any pupils to be instructed. An agricultural crop is planted in April and har- vested in the early autumn and the entire activity has not ex- ceeded six months. Now consider the spread of school planning. The pupils at present in Grade I were born six years ago and those who complete the eight elementary grades and four years in the Academy will be in process of instruction for the next twelve years-surely a greater spread of activity than any agricultural crop and many manufactured products. This is a reason why our present educational system cannot be imme- diately revised and halted without more future social disturb- ance than present financial distress.
There is no general rule which can be applied in making reductions. There are local conditions which affect schools just as there are local peculiarities which govern the growing
48
of your agricultural crops even about this one town. The same yardstick which was applied to Fall River would not fit Hatfield for the conditions in your schools are different. There is a greater percentage of your population in school than in most of the cities and towns of the state. The following percentages are based on figures from the annual state report for the school year which ended in June, 1932, for the public schools of the state.
Hadley 32.9%
Greenfield 21%
Deerfield 29
Whately 20
HATFIELD 28
Entire State
18
Sunderland 25
Conway.
18
Williamsburg 25
Chicopee. 16
Amherst . 23
Northampton 14
There is another field of comparison in the comparative cost per pupil from these same places which show again how certain factors vary within this very Connecticut Valley. The cost per pupil for support and outlay for:
Conway .
$135.82
Chicopee. $85.72
Entire State
112.44
Williamsburg 85.61
Amherst.
104.16
Whately 84.72
Greenfield
99.95
Sunderland . 75.64
Deerfield
98.40
HATFIELD 71.11
Northampton
89.67
Hadley 68.68
Incidentally there were only 14 other cities or towns with a lower cost per pupil than Hatfield. The evident and natural inference to be drawn from the foregoing comparisons is that, notwithstanding the large expense for educational purposes within your town, your committee members now and in the immediate past have maintained your schools at a very reason- able per pupil cost. Give them the credit for careful adminis- tration. The thoughtful citizen in good faith cannot accuse them of careless spending.
From the acquaintance of the past fourteen months with your schools and pupil enrollment I offer the following possible economies for which adjustment can be made after the close of
49
schools in June. I do not think any of them would harm the educational process of any pupil. The order in which they are given does not necessarily indicate the order in which they could be placed in operation.
1-Close the two rooms at the West Hatfield School in June. Transfer the pupils to the Hill and Center Schools.
2-Close the Grammar Room at Bradstreet and bring the pupils to the Center School where now the rooms for Grades VII and VIII are not filled to capacity. The same transportation as now carries the high school pupils could include the elemen- tary pupils.
3-If the West Hatfield School is closed combine the trans- portation of those pupils with the Elm Street transportation. Perhaps the driver could also do part time janitor work.
4-Remove the telephones from the schools and superin- tendent's office.
5-A lower price for fuel might result if bids were not restricted to residents of Hatfield. (Hadley is getting coal nearly two dollars per ton less than Hatfield.)
6-Limit the Academy athletic program to the possibili- ties of the game receipts. Physical Education is required by law but its extent is not. definitely regulated.
7-Change the customary school terms and have the long vacation in the winter. This will obviously reduce the fuel bills. In my experience I have had schools in Maine in session in July and August which were closed in February and March. Even nearer in our Berkshire Hills are towns which begin their schools early in August.
There are four other possibilities which I shall mention but I do not endorse them.
1-For the present discontinue the special helping. teacher at the Center School. The present State Law requires a special class for backward children if there are ten of them three or more years behind grade. I believe that Miss Ryan's work does away with that possible requirement.
2-Insist that all teachers live in town during the week. Perhaps some of the higher priced teachers would resign.
50
3-Raise the entrance age to six years as of entrance in September. For one year only there would be a smaller first grade and besides the trend in school census indicates a smaller first grade in the near future.
4-Require all pupils over sixteen years of age beyond which school attendance is not required to maintain a passing average in their studies or drop out of school. Obviously the police department will question the wisdom of this idea.
1 do NOT reommend the discontinuance of the present vocational courses in Smith Academy and my resaons are wholly aside from the applied merits of the courses. The men and housewives are in a better position to evaluate this side of the case than I am. If there were no vocational divisions in English and mathematics and science then the pupils now in them would become members of regular classes. These regular classes would be larger and naturally the instruction would be spread thinner which is a distinct loss in scholarship. The financial return is greater than for the straight academic teach- ers.
The enrollment in the grades of the schools at the close of the past term is shown herewith:
Grades I II III IV V VI VII V III Fr. So. Jr. Sr. Pupils 54 53 66 77 55 79 65 77 40 49 25 19-659 This represents a drop of thirty-four pupils since a year ago.
1 am satisfied from personal observation and as well from standard tests that all of the pupils have made progress in keep- ing with the individual ability during the past school year.
In conclusion I wish to thank all who by word and deed have contributed to the progress of education in Hatfield and especially members of the committee for their cordial co- operation.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM E. HEBARD, Superintendent of Schools for Hadley and Hatfield.
January 16, 1933.
51
Principal of Smith Academy
To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Committee of Hatfeld:
I hereby submit my third annual report as Principal of Smith Academy. The opening registration was 139, divided as follows: Seniors, 19; Juniors, 28; Sophomores, 52; Freshmen, 40. Since that time 9 have left school and 4 have entered. The present enrollment is 134, 71 girls, 63 boys. The opening reg- istration in 1931 was 137.
The percentage of attendance to date of 94.5% is the same as last year and approximates closely the average attendance figures for High Schools of the state. Under the present curri- culum Smith Academy is able to prepare capable and willing pupils for any higher institution of learning. This does not, of course, mean that everyone registered in the classical or scienti- fic course will be eligible for admission to college after graduation The individual student can maintain college preparatory stand- ards in this school as in any other, only by hard, conscientious and continued efforts. For those not preparing for college the school continues to offer general and vocational courses, all of these interpreting the pupils' present problems by developing skills that will be most needed in the future.
Extra-curricular activities continue to have an important place in the school organization. These activities, when prop- erly organized and directed, are instruments of education by no means inferior to many phases of work included within the curriculum proper. Among these activities three may be men- tioned, as these events took place in Hatfield during the year. The annual banquet of the Hampshire County Basketball League was held March 17, with 60 guests present. On May 21 the Annual Spring Conference of Pro Merito Chapters of Western Massachusetts was held with 185 members present,
52
representing 13 High Schools. On November 4, the Western Massachusetts League of School Publications were guests of the Smith Academy "Purple and White" Echo staff. The local staff members entertained 160 delegates from 14 schools. The girls of the Household Arts department, under the supervision of their instructor, Marion D. Glasheen, prepared and served the luncheon for these three meetings.
Athletics continue to have an important place in the school program. Last season under the able guidance of Coach John R. Kalloch the basketball team won the Tri-County League Championship and placed second in the Hampshire League, a creditable showing indeed. Soccer and baseball complete the athletic program for the boys. The girls show an increased interest in basketball and have scheduled games with the leading school teams in this vicinity. A continued effort is being made to broaden the athletic programs for the boys and girls who are not now doing any work along physical education lines. The spirit of the student body is commendable. For the most part, the pupils are industrious and co-operative.
I wish to thank members of the faculty for their continued and hearty co-operation in all activities of the school.
The most pressing needs of the school are to my mind as follows:
1-A school library and study hall should be established on the third floor of the Academy. Under present conditions pupils are spending their study periods in rooms where recita- tions are being held. This is not a satisfactory condition.
2-Some sort of a ventilation system should be installed as the only fresh air intake now possible is by means of the open windows. During the colder months this condition is not a satisfactory one either from the physical or financial standpoint.
Finally, I wish to express my appreciation of the loyal sup- port and co-operation of the Superintendent, members of the School Committee and Board of Trustees of Smith Academy.
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD J. BURKE, Principal.
53
Supervisor of Health Education 1932
To the Superintendent and Members of the School Committee, Town of Hatfield, Massachusetts:
At this time the entire world is deeply concerned about the welfare of the children. Shortage of all commodities react on the health of the citizens, adult and child unless careful con- sideration is given to details by every one connected with civic affairs. Sometimes lack of spending money is a good thing for children. less candy and cake more good bread and apples. less amusement more relaxation and sleep. Growth and devel- opment of the child depend on several important factors; the immediate hereditary influences of growth organism: the nutritional factor. suitable food supply: the health factor, freedom from disease which arrest the growth. Even with proper nutrition and good health individuals grow at different rates and attain different statures.
Good nutrition does not mean weight only. To be well nourished one must look well. feel well, act well, resist disease and recover from illness quickly, but growth in weight and height combined with the other factors is a good indication of good health.
Apart from a small epidemic of measles in the North and Hill School and few sporadic cases here and there sickness was not a drawback to school attendance, in fact, so careful were the teachers and children in the North School contagion did not spread from the primary to the grammar room. Several cases of mumps in the High School latter part of the year were evident but no epidemic.
54
In order to assure the good health of the school children a survey in growth was made as follows:
Grade 8 29 boys gain in height 63 in., av. 1 in to 4 in. Grade 8 31 girls gain in height 58 in., av. 1 in to 3 in.
Grade 7 31 boys gain in height 70 in., av. 2 in to 3 in. Grade 7 28 girls gain in height 73 in., av. 1 in. to 3 in.
Grade 6 44 boys gain in height 74 in., av. 0 in. to 3.5 in.
Grade 6 28 girls
gain in height 69 in., av. 1.5 to 3 in.
Grade 8 29 boys gained in weight 274 lbs., av. 4 lbs. to 15 lbs. Grade 7 31 boys gained in weight 298 lbs., av. 3 lbs. to 12 lbs. Grade 6 44 boys gained in weight 318 lbs., av. 5 lbs. to 8 lbs. Grade 8 31 girls gained in weight 216 lbs., av. 5 lbs. to 12 lbs. Grade 7 28 girls gained in weight 328 lbs., av. 6 lbs. to 15 lbs. Grade 6 28 girls gained in weight 318 lbs., av. 6 lbs. to 10 lbs.
This survey covered a period of 10 mos. to 12 mos. Age of children from 12 yrs. to 14 yrs. The average of 8 to 10.5 in 12 mos. or less surely should prove some comfort as regard the welfare of the school child.
The most important part of the health work of the school year was the Chadwick Clinic for detection and prevention of tuberculosis.
I herewith present, in condensed form, the report as sub- mitted to the Board of Health and Board of Education.
Total school population-High School. 139
Total given tuberculin test. 106
Total school population, Grade Schools 519
Total given tuberculin test. 348
Total given tuberculin test, pre-school. 2
456
Number of reactors to tuberculin test, High 46
Number of reactors to tuberculin test, Grades 34
Number of reactors to tuberculin test, Pre-school 0
- 80
Number of students X-rayed, High. 46
Number of students X-rayed, Grade 34
- 80
55
Number negative X-rays, High . 35
Number negative X-rays, Grade 21
57
Number given physical examination, High 10
Number given physical examination, Grade 13
-- 23
Number showing Positive or Latent Pul., T. B 0
Number showing Positive or Latent Hilum T. B. 0
Number showing Latent Hilum T. B. 2
Number classified as suspects for further exam 12
Number discharged from clinic 9
- 23
Number of malnutrition cases found 456 examined 0
The group of 14 will be re-examined next year, '33 and kept under supervision as long as any suspicion of trouble remains. In the meantime careful directions and advice has been given by the examining physician and nutritionist con- nected with the clinic.
This type of tuberculosis is not in any way infectious and need not interfere with the regular life of the child, except closer attention to good health habits and much rest.
The physical examination of the school population show defects, as usual. Notwithstanding the splendid work of the dental clinic last year many dental defects are noted and the Red Cross offers the use of the Hampshire County Dental Service to the schools supplementing the health work at the expense of 60 cents per operation.
The second serious defect is faulty vision. Correction of this defect is more or less expensive. To offset part of this expense frames for glasses have been donated to the school welfare department. This contribution is very much appre- ciated and cuts down the expense from 30%-50%. More frames could be used at once as several children are badly in need of vision correction.
Correction of defects go on steadily, 14 children have had vision defects corrected, 20 dental work by private dentists, 10 diseased tonsils were removed, 30 show improved nutrition.
56
The Health Teaching in the High School is one of the most important parts of the health work because of the far reaching effect. To help and teach some one to help themselves and others is constructive activity, to help people to do things they can do themselves is wasteful activity in any sphere of action, never more so than in health work. The classes carried on throughout the school year count up when reckoned in hours but reckoned in purpose and effect only thinking people can estimate the value.
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