USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Hatfield > Hatfield Annual Town Report 1936-1944 > Part 20
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An improvement has been made in the vocational rooms in the School Street building and the members are making now strong efforts to secure the necessary equip- ment to open a Farm Repairs course for adult farmers.
The budget was discussed in our December and Janu- ary meetings and is shown within the superintendent's re- port.
We ask your consideration of the entire report.
Respectfully submitted, S. G. CARL, G. H. HOWARD, A. E. CELATKA.
62
TEACHER STATISTICS
Smith Academy
Total
and in Experience Hatfield
Teachers
Clarence J. Larkin, Principal, Amherst A.B., Harvard (2), Hyannis (2), West- field (2), Massachusetts State (10) 23 20 John C. Jakobek, Massachusetts State College, A.B., 1940, M.S. in Ed. in 1941 0 0
Gilbert D. Bristol, Massachusetts State
College, B.V.A., Massachusetts State (3)
5
0
Mary E. Ryan, Smith College, A.B., North Adams Teachers' College
23
22
Pauline R. Lyons, New Rochelle, A.B., Foreign travel, Europe 2 summers, Mexico 1 summer
8
6
Margaret E. Stoddard, McCarthy's Busi- ness College
6
6
Margaret L. Connelly, Worcester Domes- tic School, and correlated commercial business, 12 years
5
0
Bridget O'Neill, Northampton Commercial College, New York University (5) 15
0
Elementary Schools
Raymond N. Jenness, Principal, Bridge- water Teachers' College, B.S. in Ed., Massachusetts State College, M.S., in Ed., Adult Education Extension Courses Lena P. Fitzgerald, North Adams Normal School, Extension (2)
11 6
28
28
Mary D. Donelson, Framingham Normal School, Extension (2) 27 25
63
Sarah V. Kiley, Westfield Normal School,
North Adams (1), Extension Courses (5)
35
35
Jennie T. Kempisty, Westfield Teachers' College, B.S. in Ed., McCarthy's Busi- ness College, Extension (1)
4 4
Helen J. Donnis, North Adams Teachers' College, B.S. in Ed., McCarthy's Busi- ness College
2
2
Constance B. Mullany, Smith Academy, Extension Courses (10), Northampton Business College
26
26
Katherine I. Hayes, North Adams Normal School, North Adams (1), Extension Courses (6)
14
14
Dorothy Boyle, Bridgewater Teachers' College, B.S. in Ed., Extension Courses (10)
2
2
Martha K. Pelissier, North Adams Normal School, North Adams, B.C., (1), Mc- Carthy's, B.C. (1)
14
5
Marie A. Proulx, North Adams Normal School, Extension Courses (6)
15
14
Stephen G. Maniatty, Massachusetts School of Art and Commercial Art Serv- ice
8
3
Maude E. Boyle, Northampton School of Music, Skidmore (1), summer courses and private study 16 15
64
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee and Citizens of Hatfield :
This is my twelfth report as superintendent of your schools and in the spirit of the national conditions it will be concise.
After several years of a firmly established corps of teachers this year has seen six changes among the teach- ers and all changes can be rather directly attributable to wartime influence. John P. Carroll left the agricultural position and went directly into military service. Four women teachers left their Hatfield positions to accept bet- ter salaried positions in other towns or in the industrial field. One teacher was married.
The committee on two different sessions have made changes upward in the salary scale for the teachers, and I firmly believe that they gave serious consideration. Ever since the days of the Indians this area has been an agricultural community from which the general livelihood of the town has depended with all the ups and downs. On the other hand teacher salaries reflect the wages paid in wartime industries and the number of unemployed teach- ers. With the prevailing wage and salary rate in business on the upswing teacher salaries may be expected to follow except in some towns without adequate rail and bus con- nections.
During the summer the committee gave the better part of two meetings to a consideration of new bus trans- portation and pupil consolidation. It was voted to close the two remaining classrooms at Bradstreet and North
65
Hatfield and transport all pupils into the central area. There would have had to be a change in some part of the former bus schedule and additional mileage anyway. The frequency of bus stops and the intervening intervals and distance from school are now all a part of ODT regulations. We have tried to make the stops for the advantage of the smaller pupils.
The single line of figures now shows your elementary enrollment in the center schools. The total comparative figures are for all the classrooms used during the stated year.
Central Crassrooms
I
II
III
IV
V VI VII VIII
1943-1942-1941
32
27
24
33
23 38 32 36
245 264 279
I think that there will be little change during the next fiscal year in the grades.
The following charts will show the distribution and origin of the transportation furnished to the pupils of Smith Academy and the center elementary classrooms. About 35% of all pupils come within the scope of trans- portation.
Smith Academy
Elm Street
W. Hatfield
N. Hatfield
Brad- street
Total
Seniors
2
0
3
4
9
Juniors
0
1
1
3
5
Sophomores
2
3
2
4
11
Freshmen
5
4
4
5
16
66
Center Elementary
Grades
VIII
0
2
5
2
9
VII
3
1
3
7
14
VI
5
3
6
5
19
V
0
3
4
2
9
IV
4
5
2
3
14
III
2
2
1
3
8
II
1
2
2
3
8
I
1
7
5
1
14
16
25
28
26
95
Section
-
-
-
-
Total
25
33
38
42
138
1942
Total
30
29
27
38
124
At our present contract transportation rate the cost per individual pupil is less than nine cents per day, and this is very much less than the per capita cost of a small classroom when not only teaching salary but janitor wages, fuel and electricity aggregate a pupil cost of roughly forty cents.
The noonday lunch project has continued in the Town Hall and a larger average number of pupils have been served, but with no larger group of women to prepare and serve the meals. We have the assurance of the U. S. De- partment of Agriculture that it is their policy to continue school lunches as a part of its program. We are also as- sured of many basic commodities available until June 30th. The worth of the school lunch over these two years and more should be evident to many who were doubtful. To cover increasing costs of materials as well as the chang- ing of helpers from a Federal status to a local rating there was a raise in the pupil costs in September. So long as
67
the receipts from the pupils who patronize the lunch fa- cilities exceeds the total costs as well as a town appropria- tion then there will result no repercussion in the tax rate for any given year. I think plans can be arranged to make some use of the Household Arts department in co- ordination with local paid workers to continue the project should Federal financial assistance be entirely removed.
Herewith I shall present a detailed computation of the school budget needs for 1943 and show as well the re- lation of the forecast and actual expenditures for the past fiscal year.
HATFIELD SCHOOLS
Budget Outline for 1943
1942
Forecast
Cost $1,600.00
Administration
1943 Forescast
$1,700.00
Supt. of Schools, Salary
$1,700.00
235.00
186.26
Transp., Supt. and Academy
200.00
120.00
101.12
Telephones, 3
120.00
35.00
42.28
Pstg., Prtg.,
Stationery
35.00
25.00
25.00
Census Taking
25.00
75.00
75.00
Attendance Officer
75.00
900.00
883.32
School Nurse
900.00
$3,090.00
$2,906.98
$3,055.00
Instruction, Teaching
$9,945.00
$9,876.40
Academic
$10,000.00
3,700.00
3,352.16
Vocational
3,600.00
15,600.00
14,829.32
Elementary
14,000.00
1,100.00
1,040.80
Music and Drawing
1,100.00
$30,345.00
$29,098.68
$28,700.00
68
Instruction, Books and Supplies
$1,500.00
933.70 Academic
$1,000.00
350.00
365.83
Vocational 400.00
1,150.00
1,127.83
Elementary
1,200.00
150.00
37.53
Health and Phys. Education 200.00
$2,800.00
$2,464.89
$2,800.00
Janitor Service
$1,100.00
$1054.00
Academy and Vocational
$1,250.00
1,400.00
1,227.92
Elementary 1,150.00
300.00
579.63
Supplies, Cleaning and Sanitary
200.00
$2,800.00
$2,861.58
$2,600.00
Transportation
$1,600.00
$1,626.21
180 days at $12
$2,160.00
Heat, Light, Power
$900.00
$795.50
Academy and Vocational $900.00
2,250.00
1,754.68
Elementary
1,950.00
$3,150.00
$2,550.18
$2,850.00
$600.00
$438.67
Elementary Repairs
$800.00
400.00
373.45
Playground Upkeep
400.00
$1,000.00
$812.12
$1,200.00
$140.00
$81.25
Miscellaneous
$85.00
$44,500.00
$42,401.86
$43,450.00
Industrial Education
Smith's Agricultural School, Perhaps 12 boys at $130.00 $1,560.00
69
SCHOOL LUNCH PROJECT ACCOUNT
To equal the receipts from an average of 250 pupils for 170 days at 10ยข per pupil $4,250.00
There are some readers of a town report who may think that all moneys for school purposes come from the regular February appropriation. For this reason I would report that as a result of school expenditures within the past school and fiscal years the following sums should come into the local treasury either as designated items or in combination with other returns.
General School Fund-Part I $3,730.00
Part II 4,630.61
Vocational or Industrial Accounts
2,549.40
Federal Funds
607.16
Acct., Supt. of Schools
926.74
State Wards
114.00
City of Northampton
148.72
$12,706.63
This total represents about thirty percent local schools and the Smith's Agricultural School tuition costs.
All of the classrooms in various ways are giving at- tention to a prosecution of the wartime effort. Mr. Larkin gives some details for the secondary years. In the Center School Miss Kempisty and her history classes have made a creditable showing. Drawing and mathematics classes are the type of instruction which in our schools are more easily turned directly toward a war slant.
This year I have included a report from our agricul- tural instructor for I believe that this may be one way greater emphasis may be given this worthwhile course. The residents of this town for the most part have always gained their livelihood from the labors of the soil and will
70
long after present individuals rest from labors. Hence I believe more effort should be made to make the Agricul- ture course the best course for most boys, as well as the Household Arts the most desirable course for every girl.
Again it has been a pleasant year in my association with the elected officials, teachers, pupils and townsfolk.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM E. HEBARD, Superintendent of Schools, Hadley and Hatfield.
71
Principal of Smith Academy
To the Superintendent of Schools and the School Commit- tee of Hatfield :
I hereby submit my fourth annual report as Principal of Smith Academy.
In September 115 pupils were enrolled. Twelve pupils had left school by the end of December. We now have 40 Freshmen, 28 Sophomores, 16 Juniors and 19 Seniors. Thirty-six of our students are boys.
Our year was marked most noticeably by the resig- nations of half of our faculty. The first came in the spring when Mr. John P. Carroll, the agriculture instructor, volunteered for service in the Medical Corps. At present he is an officer candidate at Camp Davis, N. C. His place was filled temporarily by a senior from Massachusetts State College, Mr. Haig Koobation, who had already been accepted as an aviation cadet in the army. He left us August first and is now at Fort Riddle, Florida, training for his "wings". Our present agriculture instructor, Mr. Gilbert Bristol, came to us after three years' teaching at Sanderson Academy in Ashfield. He is a graduate of Massachusetts State College.
In the last month of the calendar year three more teachers moved on to better things. Mr. John R. Kalloch, our coach and our science and social studies teacher, ac- cepted a position in the physical education department at Technical High School in Springfield. Mr. Kalloch had been here for 14 years and had endeared himself to all of us. He will be particularly remembered for his excellent success with his athletic teams, having kept us athletically
72
abreast many of the local schools, all of which had larger enrollments than our own.
Mrs. Frances Celatka, a graduate of Massachusetts State College, took over Mr. Kalloch's teaching duties un- til the arrival of our new coach, Mr. John Jakobek of Had- ley. Mr. Jakobek received his B.A. and his M.S. degrees from Massachusetts State College, where he played both soccer and basketball.
Miss Dorothy Allaire, our household arts instructor, was married to Mr. Paul Shea of Indian Orchard on Thanksgiving Day. Miss Margaret Connelly, a graduate of the Worcester Domestic Science School, and with an ex- cellent background of practical experience in work cor- related to her department, makes a worthy successor to Mrs. Shea, who had done much to build a strong home- making department.
Miss Alice Cullinan, who taught Business English and commercial subjects, resigned in December to accept a similar position at South Hadley High School. Her place has been filled by Mrs. Bridget O'Neill of Northampton. Mrs. O'Neill was graduated from Northampton Commer- cial College and attended New York University while she was teaching in New York City for five years. Besides practical experience in the commercial field she has also taught 10 years at Easthampton High School.
You, Mr. Superintendent and School Committeemen, are to be congratulated on your election of such excellent teachers, especially when others are finding such difficulty in filling vacancies.
In January of the last academic year a Wednesday afternoon club period was inaugurated, during which the most effective work was done by a First Aid group under the direction of Miss Marion Holmes, R. N., with Miss Allaire and Mr. Carroll as assistants. Forty-three of this group earned Red Cross certificates. Another new group meeting at this time was the I Am an American Club in-
73
augurated by a progressive group of Freshmen with Misses Lyons and Cullinan as advisors. This club rolled band- ages, sent books to soldiers and collected old paper which was much in demand at that time. This fall their time has been devoted to the sale of War Stamps and Bonds. Mises Ryan and Stoddard were the advisors to the school paper staff that put out bimonthly issues of the Purple and White Echo, and also the second edition of our year book.
The changer schedule of hours at the academy, which I recommended to you in my last report, has worked out very favorably. All of our bus pupils are now home be- fore three o'clock. This should be a decided advantage to some during the planting season. No classes have had to be 'cut' to play our three o'clock afternoon league games. Anotherby-product of this scheme has been the separation of the age groups on the bus. Our early closing has made available to the grade school the use of our assembly at the end of their school day. Most of the movies that we have are repeated at 2:15 for the children of the Center School. Not all the pictures are suitable for showing to younger children. Although the free movies, which we have been showing and which are put out as subtle ad- vertisements by large companies or indoctrinations by our government agencies, are generally very good educational- ly, I feel we should soon go in for a better class of pictures. This can be financed easily if you will permit us to accept small donations from those children who wish to contribute to the fund.
The only change in our course of study has been the elimination of the Ancient History course in favor of one on World History. This course has the advantage of covering the more salient topics of ancient history and bridging the period covered by modern European history which had not been included in the offerings of the history department.
74
During the latter half of the last academic year a Unit Course in Potato Growing was offered evenings to commercial potato growers. Seventeen men, including some from Whately and Northampton were enrolled in this course under the direction of our agriculture instruc- tor John P. Carroll.
The Smith Academy trustees have redecorated the Agriculture class room and a new work has been fitted up in the farm shop under the direction of our new agricul- ture instructor, Mr. Bristol. Although supplementary shop teachers were discontinued in the agriculture depart- ment last January, many large pieces of farm equipment were reconditioned in the farm shop last winter.
Out of 30 students who entered Smith Academy in 1938, eighteen were presented diplomas in June, 1942 by the President of the Board of Trustees William H. Dickin- son. So that a list of the graduates of Smith Academy may be officially tabulated in the town records, I shall in- augurate the practice of including their names in the prin- cipal's annual report.
The graduates of Smith Academy in 1942 were: Jennie Kuzontkoski, Lucille Majesky, Joyce Belden, Lucy Blyda, Bernard Donnis, Edna Karpinski, Frances Kostek, Melchior Kuleza, Stanley Macioroski, Thomas Mullins, Vera Pashek, Eugene Proulx, Stanley Prucnal, Marguerite Richards, Gertrude Wright, Alice Yarrows, Helen Za- wacki, Laura Zawacki.
Eugene Proulx has enlisted in the Military Service and is now an Aviation Cadet, U. S. N. R. at Colby College, Maine.
Respectfully submitted,
CLARENCE J. LARKIN,
Principal.
75
Agriculture Report
Mr. William E. Hebard, Superintendent of Schools, Hatfield, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
The annual report concerning the activities of the de- partment of vocational agriculture at the Smith Academy follows :
GENERAL STATEMENT
Since your present instructor began his services on August 1, 1942, it must be borne in mind that a consider- able portion of this report will of necessity be in prospect rather than in retropsect.
To continue the agricultural department as an in- tegral part of the high school course of study, a certain re-organization of the existing facilities, teaching methods and principles is deemed necessary. Such is the sanction of the School Committee of Hatfield, Superintendent Hebard, and Principal Larkin. Under such cooperation and leadership, the re-organization is under way.
The reconstruction in its final stages will take into consideration the opinion of the advisory committee, a group representative of local agricultural interests, and others interested in the welfare of our school system.
In regard to the program of instruction there will be three aims: the first is to fit the program to the needs of a democracy at war, the second is to fit the program to the needs of the pupils, and the third is to fit the program to the needs of this community.
76
DEPARTMENT STATISTICS
The school year 1941-42 started with an enrollment of twenty-three boys. Of this number, nine boys were dropped because of graduation or working certificate, leav- ing a total of fourteen boys on the register at the writing of this report.
Projects consisting of six "Victory Gardens" (29,028 sq. ft.), three poultry projects (138 birds), one tobacco project (4 acres) and one dairy heifer netted their owners total labor incomes of $157.22, $160.49, $1,608.00 and $177.00 respectively.
In place of the projects or in addition to them the boys did "Other Supervised Agricultural Work" to the ex- tent of 8,194.25 hours for which they received in cash $4,863.28, and they worked 433.5 hours to gain additional skill for the unpaid value of $86.70.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Since the opening of school on September 8, 1942, we have assisted Mr. Arthur C. Bardwell in a survey of the available scrap iron on farms, and we helped in blood-test- ing for "Pullorum Disease" on the farm of Mr. William Cutter. We expect to be engaged in some farm construc- tion work on the poultry farm of Mr. Dickinson of North Hatfield, shortly.
We welcome practical work on local farms when such work has an educational value for our pupils, and when it is not merely a repetition of skills they already possess. However, it should be distinctly understood that we stand ready to assist in all war emergencies, regardless of the repetition. This idea is fundamental to the existence of any institution during a war.
77
COURSE OF STUDY IN AGRICULTURE
Considerable confusion exists in the public mind re- garding just what is taught and accomplished in this course.
For the purpose of enlightenment. I shall devote a large part of my next annual report to an explanation of our courses. In the interim I invite, with Principal Larkin's permission, anyone who is interested to visit my classes at any time during the school year. An old New England axiom in applicable, that is, "The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
THE CLASSROOM
The classroom has been thoroughly renovated and painted. The addition of a number of bookcases and cup- boards has facilitated greatly the re-arrangement of all of the teaching material.
All of the reference materials including books, bulle- tins, and other publications have been placed where pupils can make use of them.
THE FARM SHOP
As in the case of the classroom, the shop is being changed and enlarged. It is being changed to make more efficient use of the space we already have, and it is being enlarged in order that we may increase the scope of our instruction.
A small room inside of the school has been arranged with a blower unit to heat it and will serve as space for small woodworking and mechanical drawing.
The large room outside of the brick grammar school will be heated from the central heating plant and will serve for instruction in the care and repair of farm machinery and implements.
78
Hatfield school officials, upon completion of work on the shop, are hoping to be in' a position to offer an eve- ning school course in the care and repair of farm ma- chinery and implements. This course, if offered, will be in line with the government program to conserve our pres- ent farm machinery.
Any person interested in such a course, who is over eighteen years of age and out of school, should write or phone Mr. Larkin at the Smith Academy office.
CONCLUDING STATEMENT
I wish to thank the School Committee of Hatfield, Superintendent Hebard, and Principal Larkin for their ad- vice and assistance in organizing my work.
I hope that local farmers and others interested in our department will offer constructive criticisms from time to time in order that our program of instruction may ever be increasing in its values to our country, to our pupils, and to this fine community.
Very truly yours, GILBERT D. BRISTOL,
Teacher of Agriculturt.
79
School Health Report
To the Superintendent and Members of the School Committee, Hatfield, Mass.
The interest in health today is very great. In pro- portion to its importance and in relation to past apprecia- tion, health is not over-valued. The promotion and con- servation of health is not only a personal responsibility but a social, economic, and patriotic duty in view on the pres- ent day situation. The decreased public facilities relating to ehalth as medical, dental, and hospital services empha- size the importance of early and prompt attention to any condition tending to impair the health and general welfare of all, especially of children.
All available means of prevention against disease or accident should be utilized, such as correction of remedial defects, immunization against communicable diseases, iso- lation of infected persons, a work knowledge of accident prevention and first aid care of injuries, regular physical examination by family physician, especially pre-school children, and a well balanced routine of every day living. From a broad standpoint the greatest resource of the na- tion is the health of the people.
The thorough physical examination by the school physicians of all the student and follow-up correction of defects show results in the High School group. In con- nection with the regular physical examination, the X-ray of two classes each year of the High School group and all contacts in the lower grades as well as any follow-up cases gives the student a fair idea of his o rher background as related to health standards. The town of Hatfield is especially favored by having excellent transportation for
80
the pupils and a hot mid-day lunch for all that come from outside or any student of the town.
The warm, well selected food daintly served is an im- portant factor in the general good health of the schools. The Diphtheria Immunization Clinic will be in service May, 1943 and parents of pre-school children not previously im- munized should see that the children receive this protec- tion.
Report of Physical Defects Correction-
Students having dental defects corrected 265
Students having visual defects corrected 18
Students having nose and throat defects corrected 6
Hearing defects improved 4
Under supervision Orthopedic Clinics 5
Discharged from Clinic
1
Shriner's Hospital supervision
2
High School X-rays, neg.
45
High School follow-up
4
Elementary and Grammar school, neg. 8
Pre-school, neg. 1
Adults, neg.
6
Children attending Health Camp, four weeks 3
Health Teaching Report-
First Aid and Safety.
Personal Hygiene and Sanitation.
Child Care and Home Nursing.
Junior and Senior classes.
Freshmen, Home Economics.
Sophomore, Home Economics.
To the teachers, parents, local and state departments connected with 'Child Health and Youth Fitness for Serv- ice' program I extend my sincere appreciation.
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