USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1904-1907 > Part 44
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N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co., freight charges, 17 68
Adams Express Co., express charges, 70
National Meter Co., meter repairs, 1 00
M. Drummey, labor and materials,
I 75
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. CO., freight
charges paid on account, J. F. Langford, S2 43
John Foley, labor, new services,
110 00
John Foley, labor, renewals,
201 00
John Foley, labor, lining pipe,
9 00
Coleman Norton, labor, new services,
IOS 00
Coleman Norton, labor, renewals,
213 00
Coleman Norton, labor, lining pipe,
7 00
Michael Curran, labor, new services,
24 00
Michael Curran, labor, renewals,
108 00
Michael Curran, labor, lining pipe,
7 00
James Connelley, labor, new services,
15 00
James Connelley, labor, renewals,
98 00
Amounts carried forward,
$4,076 95 $18,555 39
25
Amounts brought forward, $4,076 95 $18,555 39
James Connelley, lining pipe, 2 00
Martin Lyden, labor, new services, 16 00
Martin Lyden, labor, renewals, 5 00
Michael Hopkins, labor, new services, 6 00
Michael Hopkins, labor, renewals, 84 00
Patrick Welch, labor, new services,
8 00
Patrick Welch, labor, renewals,
14 00
Andrew Curran, labor, new services,
8 00
Andrew Curran, labor, renewals, 10 00
John Donahue, labor, new services, 12 00
John Donahue, labor, renewals,
2 00
Martin Curran, labor, new services, 20 00
Martin Curran, labor, renewals, S4 00
4,347 95
REBATES.
Estate E. C. Day, on service No, 275, I 50
John Hogan, on service No. 201, 2 75
Jeremiah Donovan, on service No. 631, 3 50
Robert Cuthbertson, on service No. 294, I 50
William Allen, on service No. 523, I 50
C. E. Webb, on service No. 34, 3 00
W. F. Tilton, on service No. 1,053, 4 16
J. J. Bayer, on service No. 206, I 00
George H. Smith, on 553 lbs. old lead,
22 12
E. W. Ellis, on 247 lbs. old lead,
9 88
Isaac Ellis, on 272 lbs. old lead, IO 88
Mrs. M. Callahan, on 103 lbs. old lead, 4 12
William Williamson, on 155 lbs. old lead, 6 20
Edgar F. Roby, on service No. 856, 6 00
78 II
Total orders drawn,
$22,981 45
Balance in treasury, 3,194 67
$26,176 12
26
RECAPITULATION.
By sinking fund requirements, $4,200 00
Interest, 2,96 00
Pumping station note dve Dec. I, 1905,
2,960 00
1,000 00
Interest on pumping station notes, Maintenance,
210 00
5,467 61
Repairs, 189 19
Plant account, new pump,
1,029 84
Plant account, new test wells,
1,058 33
Plant account, extensions,
2,414 61
Plant account, stock,
25 81
Construction,
4,347. 95
Rebates,
78 II
$22,981 45
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This is to certify that we have examined the accounts of the ; Water Commissioners and find the same correct and properly kept and vouched.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, FRANCIS J. SQUIRES, ELTON O. CLARK,
Auditors.
February 8, 1906,
27
COST OF PLANT.
January 1, 1905,
$186,190 24
EXTENSIONS.
Lincoln street, from Winter to Pros- pect street,
$683 58
Fulton street, from Railroad avenue,
201 30
Everett avenue, from Hoyle street, 211 05
Bond street, from Walpole street,
738 31
Savin avenue from end of pipe,
455 37
Johnson court, from Savin avenue,
125 00
Pumping station improvements,
1,029 84
New test wells,
1,058 33
For stock, gate boxes and specials,
25 81
4,528 59
CONSTRUCTION ACCOUNT.
Service pipe, labor and materials,
$4,347 95
Less sales of meters, etc., 945 46
3,402 49
$194,121 32
28
CHARLES T. WHEELOCK, TREASURER OF NORWOOD, in
1905.
DR.
Feb. I. To Balance in Treasury, $6,006 58 Received from E. F. Roby, Collector, 20,169 54
$26,176 12
1
-
29
account with the WATER COMMISSIONERS.
1 905.
CR. Feb. 1. By Water Commissioner's orders paid, $22,981 45 Balance in Treasury, 3,194 67
1
$26,176 12
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Water Commissioners with the Town Treasurer, and find the same correctly stated and properly vouched.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, ELTON O. CLARK, FRANCIS J. SQUIRES,
February S, 1906.
Auditors.
ยท
-
THIRTY-FOURTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS,
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1906.
1
ORGANIZATION, 1905-1906.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Clifford B. Sanborn, 444 Washington St., term expires March, 1906.
Mary J. Alden, 402 Washington St., term expires March, 1906.
George H. Smith, 193 Walpole St., term expires March, 1907
Cornelius M. Callahan, 23 Railroad Ave., term expires March, 1907.
Edward W. Jewett, 140 Vernon St., term expires March, 1908.
Harriet W. Lane, 296 Walpole St., term expires March, 1908.
CLIFFORD B. SANBORN, Chairman. WILLIAM C. HOBBS, Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
Finance, Accounts, and Claims-Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan.
Text books and Supplies-Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan.
Teachers and Instruction-Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Jewett, Mrs. Alden.
Janitors, Schoolhouses, and Grounds-Mr. Jewett, Mr. Smith.
4
Fuel and Heating Apparatus-Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan. Music, Drawing, etc .- Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Alden.
Sewing, Physical Culture, etc .- Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Lane.
LOCAL COMMITTEES.
High School-Mr. Sanborn, Mr. Smith, Mr. Callahan.
Everett-Mr. Jewett, Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Lane.
Guild-Mrs. Alden, Mr. Jewett, Mr. Callahan.
Shattuck-Mr. Jewett, Mrs. Lane, Mr. Smith.
East-Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Alden.
West-Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lane.
Balch-Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lane.
WILLIAM C. HOBBS, Superintendent, 21 Maple St.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the office of the Superintendent at 8 p. m. on the first Thursday of each month.
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE.
The office of the Superintendent is at Everett school. Of- fice hours, when schools are in session : 8.30 to 9 a. m .; 3.30 to 4 p. m., daily.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1906.
Winter term : January 2, 1906, to March 30, 1906.
Spring term : April 10 to June 22, 1906.
Fall term : September 10 to December 21, 1906.
Winter term will begin January 1, 1907.
HOLIDAYS.
Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, February 22, April 19, May 30, June 17.
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
In grammar and primary schools : 9 a. m. to 11.45 a. m .; 1.30 p. m. to 3.30 p. m. The first grade schools close at II a. m. and 3 p. m.
In High School : 8 a.m. to I p.m.
NO SESSION.
The signal for no session is given on the fire alarm at 7.30 a. m. for a suspension of the morning session of all schools. An alarm at 8 a. m. (when none has been given at 7.30) indicates no session in all grades below the High School. An alarm at 12.45 indicates a suspension of the afternoon session.
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1
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF NORWOOD :
The members of the School Committee respectfully sub- mit their report for the financial year ending January 31, 1906. Accompanying this report will be found the report of the Su- perintendent of Schools, to which you are referred for inform- ation concerning the work of the schools.
FINANCIAL.
The receipts and expenditures of the department were as follows:
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$38,100 00
Received from sale of junk,
10 00
Received from tuition,
35 50
$38,145 50
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers,
$26,683 75
Janitors, Sweepers and Truant Officer,
$2,734 30
School books and supplies,
$2,573 72
Incidentals and repairs,
$3,304 94
Heating and lighting,
2,843 30
$38,140 OI
TEACHERS.
There have been seven changes in the corps of teachers during the last fiscal year, four of which were in the High school. Miss Chandler, much to the regret of the committee,
7
was obliged on account of ill health to give up her school work before the end of the spring term. Miss Warren resigned to. accept a better position in one of the high schools of Provi- dence, her home city. Miss Draper resigned on account of her approaching marriage, and Mr. Winslow announced his inten- tion of resuming his studies at Brown University, and tendered his resignation. No change occurred in the Guild, East, West and Balch schools, the remaining changes being due to the res- ignation of Miss Ferguson and Miss Moore of the Everett school, and the acceptance of Miss Fales of a position at her home in Westboro. One additional teacher was added to the corps as an assistant to the principal of the Everett school. The gradual increase in salaries during the past few years has, to a marked extent, prevented frequent changes in the corps of teachers, and has enabled the town to retain the services of its best teachers, notwithstanding frequent offers made to them from the larger and wealthier communities.
BUILDINGS.
In our report of a year ago we urged the necessity of ad- ditional school accommodations, and recommended the imme- diate erection of an eight room building. The prompt action of the town in securing a schoolhouse site, and proceeding with the erection of a school building in accordance with that rec- ommendation, has been highly gratifying to this board, and we trust that a strong effort will be made by the Building Com- mittee to have the schoolhouse ready for occupancy at the opening of the fall term. As no more than three additional rooms will probably be occupied on the completion of the building, it may be advisable to transfer the pupils now attend- ing the West school and close the latter building until all other rooms are fully occupied. The saving in heating, jani- tor service, and other expenses may make that course expedi- ent. As regards repairs, it has been the policy of this board
8
to keep all school buildings in good condition, and such is now the case. The interior of the high school, to which little has been done for a number of years was revarnished and tinted throughout. The walls of the Shattuck school have likewise been tinted, so that with the pictures and statuary generously donated by Mrs. Edmund J. Shattuck, the interior of the building presents an extremely attractive appearance. The regrading of Fulton street and the construction of a neat re- taining wall in front of the Shattuck school lot, has greatly im- proved the appearance of the school grounds. The proposed street, however, abutting the school grounds on the south, pre- sents an unsightly appearance, and we would recommend that the town purchase the land now laid out as a street, together with the lot fronting on Fulton street lying immediately south of the proposed street. This could all be graded by the town at a very small expense, the appearance of the school would be greatly benefited, and an excellent playground would thus be made in a section of the town where one would be of value.
In accordance with the recommendation of the committee which investigated the town water, the lead services at the various school buildings were taken out and tin lined pipe sub- stituted therefor, at a cost of about $475. This unexpected expenditure was not anticipated in our estimate of a year ago, and could only be partially met from that appropriation. The balance, amounting to about $400, must be provided for in the appropriation of the coming year, and is included in the esti- mate we have made.
In submitting the following estimate we might state here that the increase of $2100 over the amount appropriated last year is the estimated cost of occupying the new building. We recommend the following appropriations for next year :
Teachers,
$28,200 00
Heat and light, 2,900 00
Books and supplies, 3,000 00
9
Incidentals and repairs, Janitors, sweepers and truant officer,
3,000 00
3,100 00
$40,200 00
Respectfully submitted, CLIFFORD B. SANBORN,
HARRIET W. LANE, MARY J. ALDEN, GEORGE H. SMITH,
EDWARD W. JEWETT,
CORNELIUS M. CALLAHAN.
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
In accordance with the custom of previous years, I here- with present my second annual report. This is the thirty- fourth in the series of reports relating to the public schools of the town.
Your attention is called first to the statistics relating to school attendance. It will be noted that in all the items there- of, including enrollment, average membership, and average at- tendance, there is a substantial increase in totals in the school year of 1904 and '05 over the previous year. But as the pe- riods during which these figures apply are somewhat remote, they are valuable simply as history, as showing the trend of affairs : they do not elucidate especially the conditions existing at present, and it would not be worth while to explain in detail in this report the changes in the different buildings. It should be said, however, that the opening of the Edmund J. Shattuck School in the fall of 1903 resulted in a transfer of pupils from the south part of the town. As they were enrolled where they began the year, this fact explains why the enrollment in the Balch and the West schools was so large, comparatively, for the year ending June, 1904.
The figures following the table of comparative statistics indicate in general the conditions during the first five months of the present school year. The enrollment will continue to increase through the rest of the year ; the other two items will probably decrease a little, notwithstanding the accessions from other towns.
II
That the current conditions may be still more evident, the average membership for December, 1904, is compared by buildings with that of the same month in 1905 :
AVERAGE MEMBERSHIP.
Dec. 1904. Dec. 1905.
High,
142 20
140 IO
Everett,
220 65
267 02
Guild,
488 80
510 36
Shattuck,
312 98
303 26
East,
84 50
72 32
West,
76 15
81 80
Balch,
66 97
80 91
1,392 25
1,455 77
The average for December, 1904, differs from the average for the whole year, 1904 and '05, by only .02; it may therefore be safe to predict that the difference in the figures for Decem- ber in the two years will approximate the difference in the av- erage membership for the two whole years.
The increase in the Everett, West, and Balch schools is significant, likewise the large number in the Guild building, es- pecially when considered with reference to the slight decrease in the Shattuck and East schools.
I. The increase has been confined to the south part of the town, where the new building is to be erected. The north and east sections of the town are amply provided for.
2. The increase in the Everett is 46.37, equal to a whole large school. The accommodation of this large increase was made possible by consolidating the two rather small eighth grades of last year into one ninth grade for this year, and em- ploying an assistant, although the prospect was that this school would number about 60. It opened in September with 57 pu- pils.
I2
It was fortunate that this plan of consolidation happened to be feasible this year; it saved one room in the Everett and serious congestion in the Guild, where otherwise it would have been necessary to place an additional seventh grade school, and where already most of the schools are large, averaging 43 pu- pils each.
Next year an altogether different condition of affairs will exist. Instead of one ninth grade, there will be three ninth grade schools in the Everett building. If the grading in this building next year should be in other respects the same as at present, two schools would be unprovided for.
WITHOUT THE /NEW BUILDING.
To meet this exigency, the two seventh grade schools which are usually promoted to the Everett building-one from the Guild, the other from the Shattuck-must be retained in their respective buildings, unless the new building is finished and ready for occupancy when schools open next September.
Without the additional school, the Guild building would have four or five schools numbering over 50 pupils ; with this school, beside those containing over 50 children, the first and second grade schools would probably have over sixty. This would necessitate having assistant teachers and additional fur- niture. Such a condition is manifestly intolerable, but might be endured possibly while the finishing touches are put upon the new building, if not wholly completed when schools begin.
At the Shattuck building the additional school would cause overcrowding in the primary grades, where consolida- tion would be effected to meet the problem.
NEW BUILDING.
It is very gratifying to record here that on Nov. I, 1905, the town took action to prepare for this emergency by voting unanimously to raise and appropriate $38,000 for the erection
13
of an eight room brick, or concrete, building on a fine lot of. land in the section where it is most needed, on Chapel street, sit- uated between Cedar street on the one side and Winslow ave- nue on the other. A more convenient site or one better adapt- ed to school purposes could hardly be desired.
It may not be impertinent to express the hope right here that the town, at its next annual meeting, will vote to grade Winslow avenue and make a good street of it all the way from Hoyle street to Chapel street. This will be the main thorough- fare for many, perhaps hundreds of children on their way to school. It will be so convenient for this purpose that the fact will undoubtedly enhance the value of the property in that re- gion.
It is gratifying also that such an important enterprise has been intrusted to such a competent committee, a committee whose members have large business capacity, the opportunity and the interest to devote their time and talents to the service of the children.
This building should contain all the primary and interme- diate grades. It will thus serve the same purpose for the south section of the town that the Edmund J. Shattuck does for the north. By that plan we shall not depart from the es- tablished policy of concentrating the grammar grades in the center, the wisdom of which cannot be questioned.
When the schools open in the fall, with the usual promo- tions from the Balch and the West schools, if the new build- ing is not completed, the Guild will have about 200 pupils who would naturally attend the new building. When these are transferred and the seventh grade brought down from the Shattuck, eleven rooms will be occupied in the Guild, thus leaving one room vacant. No district lines have been estab- lished yet between the Guild and the Chapel street schools. When that is done, the above arrangement may be modified somewhat in detail.
14
Now I would unhesitatingly recommend that all the chil- dren of the West school, also, be transferred to the new build- ing, and the former closed until needed. This will result in occupying six rooms of the new building, after making some adjustments between it and the Guild.
I make this recommendation because the new building can easily accommodate all these children ; because it will provide them better privileges ; because the distances will be inconven- ient to none, the West school being only more convenient to a very few ; because it would be better business, more economi- cal, to have all the children in one plant, and better pedagogy to have them under one system of supervision, under one prin- cipal, thus unifying operations in two important directions.
I have, for practical considerations, refrained hitherto from stating publicly that the West school needs renovation in several important particulars. In the last report I did men- tion its need in the way of ventilation. But both rooms are fundamentally wrong in construction with reference to light- ing, and this has caused a good deal of annoyance and incon- venience, as any one well acquainted with the circumstances can testify. Before reoccupation, remodeling can be effected in these respects and the grounds improved ; the building will then be available and serviceable for the emergencies of future growth.
SCHOOL GROUNDS AND WALKS.
Reference was made in the last annual report to the mat- ter of beautifying the school grounds. During the ensuing ' year a beginning should be made in this direction.
In the consideration of this subject we must not lose sight of the fact that, while lawns are desirable, playgrounds are necessary ; to secure the former, we must not sacrifice the lat- ter. But no sacrifice needs to be made to accomplish the im- provements desired. As President Whedon suggested in his inaugural before the Business Men's Association and Board of
15
Trade, the grounds in front of the buildings can be converted into lawns. Ample space will then be left for playgrounds in most cases. In one or two instances a departure from the principle would be simply a matter of detail.
A lawn in front of the Guild building would not only im- prove the appearance of the property, but would also furnish a more healthful surface for the air to traverse, which is utilized for the ventilation of the primary section of the building.
If no lawn is made at present for the Everett grounds, at least considerable grading should be done there to prevent the accumulation of mud and water which is now well-nigh intol- erable much of the time.
There is pressing need of a concrete sidewalk on the south side of Guild street, along the whole length of the Everett grounds. This would be a great boon for the hundreds of children and the teachers who are obliged to walk there four times a day. As these children represent families from all sections of the town, the citizens must regard this as a practi- cal suggestion.
The sidewalk on the south side of Fulton street should be extended from the grounds of the Edmund J. Shattuck school to Nahatan street, and the sidewalk on the side of the street between these points should be covered with gravel. Consid- erable gravel should be placed in the rear of the school build- ing. The mud in this vicinity has been a source of great an- noyance to all concerned and especially discouraging to the janitor and the teachers.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The High school has enrolled since September 151 pupils and has at present a membership of 135. The members in each class are as follows :
16
Enrollment.
Present Membership.
Seniors,
I3
I3
Juniors,
34
30
Sophomores,
51
46
Freshmen,
53
46
Totals,
15I
I35
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They are divided among the different courses as follows :
Enrollment.
Present Membership.
Classical,
14
14
Scientific,
73
67
General,
18
16
Commercial,
4I
33
Special,
I
H I
Post-graduates, I year,
2
2
Post-graduates, 2 years,
2
2
-
Totals,
15I
I35
Last year's graduating class numbered 22. It may be of interest to note how they are occupied this year.
Entered college,
2
Entered Mass. Inst. of Technology,
* I
Entered Normal schools,
3
Entered Normal School of Gymnastics,
I
Taking post-graduate course,
I
Other fields,
14
-
22
* Has taken examinations, but will not begin work until Septem- ber, 1906.
17
There is an earnest endeavor to raise the standard of the college preparatory work. The teachers are taking a lively and determined interest in it. The courses of study will be modified to meet more fully the demands of the colleges, which have been growing more and more exacting. Though these requirements are severe, they constitute our problem. Many schools fail to reach the requisite standard, but others do not ; it is better for us to emulate the successes of the latter than the failures of the former.
Any improvement in the college preparatory work will have a desirable effect in other lines. The intellectual atmos- phere in the whole school will be toned up. To this end it will probably be necessary to make the requirements more rigid for the pupils to pass from one class to the next higher. This may seem, somewhat of a hardship at first, but the proper ad- justments will soon be made and the results will justify the means. The effect will be salutary upon the students for them to feel that they must exert themselves to their full capacity in order to succeed. Why will not the objective in this intel- lectual work possess the merits claimed for athletics, where the thought and energies of the contestants are fused and focussed upon the coveted goal-victory? Of course, there should be due regard for the slow and the physically weak, and this ele- ment of the problem will be recognized.
The athletics of the school should contribute to its suc- cess, not detract from it. With football, baseball, girls' basket- ball, and boys' basket-ball in full operation, there should be a pretty clear definition of the relation of these sports to the principal aim and function of the school-intellectual and moral training. Athletics are unquestionably valuable as di- verting recreation, developing physical strength and prowess, and creating a school consciousness, an esprit de corps ; still they are subordinate to the main purpose of the school. To keep them properly related to the intellectual work, I should
18
favor a scholarship qualification as a condition for admission to the teams. I speak of this as a precaution against a danger that may arise more than as an assumption of one that already exists.
The school greatly needs better laboratory facilities for science work. There is one room for this purpose and that is adapted almost exclusively for chemistry. The inconvenience which results has been considered such that physics and chem- istry have each been taken in alternate years by two classes simultaneously, and they constitute practically the only scien- tific work done in the school. The important department of science, therefore, is not properly co-ordinated with the other departments ; it holds a very obscure place in the activities of the school, whereas' it ought to be prominent, as it is in the ac- tivities of the world at the present time.
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