USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1908-1911 > Part 14
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offensive. In view of the fact that this process involves the life of multitudes of minute organisms, it is obvious that some care should be exercised in the treatment of the filters so as not to produce conditions unfavorable to their development and work. As the name of the process implies, the sewage should be applied to the filters intermittently, and great care should be exercised not to overdose them. It is also necessary to remove the accumulated sewage matters from the filters at frequent intervals, and to prepare the surface of the sand for winter work in order to minimize the effect of snow and cold weather. It is difficult to lay down precise rules for the opera- tion of sewage filters, but a careful study should be made of the local conditions and the action of the bed under varying circumstances. In view of the nature of the work involved in the proper care of a sewage disposal plant, it is of great val- ue to have its operation properly supervised. I am, therefore, of the opinion that it would be wise to secure the services of your engineer upon this branch of your work for a time, at least.
In conclusion I would state that through the untiring ef- forts of your engineer, and the conscientious work done by his assistants, together with the co-operation of the contractor, I believe that the system of sewers and the sewage disposal plant thus far constructed are well designed and thoroughly built. The freedom from leakage of ground water into the sewer is an important factor in the success of the sewage disposal plant, and great care should be taken in making the house connections that the quality of workmanship shall be main- tained at a high standard.
It is a pleasure at this time to acknowledge the uniformly courteous attention of the commissioners, who have throughout the year shown a lively interest in securing the best results for the town.
Respectfully submitted, HARRISON P. EDDY, Consulting Engineer.
35
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF SEWER DEPARTMENT.
RECEIPTS.
Balance in treasury Feb. 1, 1907, $ 1,387 95
From sale of bonds, 80,684 44
Interest on deposit, Norwood Nat. B'nk, 743 03 I. S. Fogg, treasurer, advance for pur- chase of land, 177 32
$82,992 74
EXPENDITURES.
ADMINISTRATION.
E. L. Fetting, lettering signs, $ I· SO
G. E. Sanborn, rent of office, 151 27
Norwood Gas Light Co., lighting, I 40
C. B. Sanborn, postage and expense, 3 79
George E. Sanborn, safe and supplies,
38 50
W. C. Fuller, moving safe,
12 00
Ambrose Bros., printing,
17 00
M. F. Hobbs, painting office,
IO 75
I. S. Fogg, expense, 4 44
$240 95
CONSTRUCTION.
FILTER BEDS.
Festus Lydon, labor, $115 IO
John Kennedy, labor, 3 10
John Conley, labor, 4 00
36
John Folan, labor,
$86 00
Patrick Naughton, labor,
4 00
Owen McNulty, labor, 4 00
Coleman Flaherty, labor, 4 00
N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. Co., freight,
313 17
M. H. Howard, boards and stakes, 13 00
. George E. Sanborn, vitrified pipe,
3,331 97
Coleman Curran, labor,
2 00
Peter Curran, labor,
2 00
James Clancy, labor,
2 00
Edward Morrissey, labor,
5 00
Thomas Conley, labor,
2 00
Alpha Portland Cement Co., cement,
764 41
Michael McDonough, acct. contract,
10,807 92
Coffin Valve Co., sluice gates,
354 15
Harold L. Bond Co., sulphur,
12 40
L. M. Ham & Co., iron beams,
35 15
R. J. Joyce, cotton cloth,
20 20
Peter Gerry, labor,
45 56 .
F. A. Fales & Co., cement,
535 00
Pacific Flush Tank Co., siphon,
414 60
W. D. Huntoon, labor,
19 45
John Nugent, teaming,
90 06
J. E. Plimpton & Co., labor,
II 66
$17,004 90
PIPE LINE:
Warren F. & M. Co., iron pipe, $7,435 55
George E. Sanborn, vitrified pipe, 5,241 27
Ludlow Valve Mfg. Co., valves,
83 90
N. Y., N. H. & H. R.R. Co., freight,
141 87
Michael Thornton, labor,
4 00
Peter Gerry, labor,
54 87
James Costello, labor,
2 00
John Nugent, teaming,
531 87
Sessions Foundry Co., iron work,
304 68
37
Michael McDonough, acct. contract, $18,930 27
Davis & Farnum Co., hatch box, 84 00
Builders' Iron Foundry, plugs, 116 50
Harold L. Bond Co., sulphur, 22 50
J. E. Plimpton & Co., labor,
4 00
T. B. Mulvehill, team,
5 25
Lewis Bayer, labor,
2 00
C. H. Carter, cotton cloth,
4 94
Alpha Portland Cement Co., cement,
337 37
L. Herman Beaver, cement,
100 00
R. J. Joyce, cotton cloth,
18 72
A. Olive Hill, cotton cloth, ›
4 86
Charles H. Douglass, labor,
IO 61
$33,441 03
MISCELLANEOUS.
LAND, AND LAND DAMAGE.
Nancy M. Page, land, $1,500 00
Mary E. Woods, land, 760 00
Michael Tobin, damage,
225 00
John Moynihan, damage,
15 00
Erick Sundquest, damage,
75 00
Mrs. Alvin Fuller, damage,
30 00
$2,605 00
ENGINEERING.
Harrison P. Eddy, services,
$385 60
Lewis D. Thorpe, services,
545 82
Lewis D. Thorpe, services,
5,500 00
$6,431 42
INCIDENTALS.
Harry M. King, distributing reports,
$ 12 00
W. C. Hall, carriage hire, 2 00
C. B. Horgan, carriage hire,
52 00
38
Ambrose Bros., printing, $22 00
I. S. Fogg, Treas., money advanced, 177 32
Ropes, Gray & Gorham, legal services, 100 00
City Trust Co., preparing bonds, 150 00
H. A. Morse & Co., lumber,
27 00
Nellie A. Dexter, typewriting,
5 00
William C. Breen, labor,
258 00
Francis J. Squires, legal services,
64 38
Charles H. Douglass, labor,
II 40
$881 10
Total receipts,
$82,992 74
Total expenditures,
Balance in treasury Feb. 1, 1908,
60,604 40 -- $22,388 34
February 15, 1907.
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Board of Sewer Commissioners, and find the same correctly stated and the vouchers properly kept.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST, ELTON O. CLARK, GEORGE H. O'BRIEN, Auditors.
1
THIRTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31, 1908.
ORGANIZATION, 1907-1908.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Edward W. Jewett, 49 Nichols street, term expires March, 1908.
Harriet W. Lane, 296 Walpole street, term expires March, 9 1908.
Alfred N. Ambrose, 12 Vernon street, term expires March, 1909.
Mary J. Alden, 402 Washington street, term expires March, 1909.
George H. Smith, 193 Walpole street, term expires March, 1910.
Cornelius M. Callahan, 23 Railroad avenue, term expires -
March, 1910.
William C. Hobbs, Secretary.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
Text-books, Supplies and Courses of Study-Mrs. Lane, Mr. Smith, Mr. Ambrose.
Finance, Accounts and Claims-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Smith, Mr. Jewett.
Teachers and Instruction - Mrs. Alden, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Jewett.
Janitors, Schoolhouses and Grounds-Mr. Jewett, Mr. Smith.
Fuel and Heating Apparatus-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Ambrose.
Music, Drawing, Penmanship, Attendance-Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Lane.
Physical and Manual Training and Sewing-Mrs. Lane, Mrs. Alden.
Medical Inspection and Transportation-Mr. Jewett, Mrs. Lane.
4
LOCAL COMMITTEES.
High School-Mrs. Lane, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Jewett.
Everett-Mrs. Alden, Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lane.
Guild-Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Alden, Mr. Ambrose. Shattuck-Mr. Jewett, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Smith.
East-Mr. Callahan, Mrs. Alden.
West-Mrs. Alden, Mrs. Lane.
Balch-Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Smith.
Winslow-Mrs. Lane, Mr. Jewett, Mr. Smith.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at their rooms, 22 Sanborn Block, at 8 p. m., on the first Thursday of each month. Office hours of the chairman, 7 to 8 p. m. Saturdays.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
William C. Hobbs, 106 Walpole street.
The office of the Superintendent is at 22 Sanborn Block. Office hours : 8 to 9 a. m. ; 4 to 5 p. m. ; on school days.
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1908.
Winter term : Tuesday, December 31 to March 27.
Spring term : Tuesday, April 7 to June 19.
Fall term : Wednesday, September 9 to December 18.
Winter term : Begins Tuesday, December 29.
HOLIDAYS.
Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday, February 22, Good Friday, 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.
NO SESSION SIGNALS.
The hours at which the signals will be given for no session of the schools in stormy weather are at 7.30, 8, and 8.20 a. m. ; 12.30 and 12.50 p. m.
A signal at 7.30 indicates no forenoon session of any schools. B
A signal at S a. m. indicates no forenoon session of any grades below the High School.
A signal at 8.20 a. m. indicates that there will be a fore- noon session in all the schools excepting the primary grades (first three grades ).
A signal at 12.30 p. m. indicates no afternoon session of any schools.
A signal at 12.50 p. m. indicates that all schools will be in session excepting the three primary grades.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF NORWOOD :
The School Committee herewith submit their report for the year ending January 31, 1908.
The receipts and expenditures for the year have been as follows :
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$41,200 00
Received for tuition,
172 00
$41,372 00
.
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers,
$28,040 96
Janitors and sweepers,
3,246 43
School-books and supplies,
2,682 35
Incidentals and repairs,
3,461 73
Heating and lighting,
3,151 17
School tickets,
551 75
School physician,
160 00
$41,294 39
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Furnishing Winslow School,
$2,000 00
High School sanitation,
2,000 00
$4,000 00
EXPENDITURES.
Furnishing Winslow School,
$2,717 21
High School sanitation,
2,103 29
$4,820 50
-
7
There were three items of expense for which special appro- priations were made : (1) renovation of the sanitary system at the High School, (2) furnishing the Winslow School, (3) grading the grounds of the Winslow School.
HIGH SCHOOL SANITATION.
At the last annual town meeting an appropriation of $2,000 was made for installing a new system of sanitation in the High School in accordance with the recommendation contained in our last annual report.
This work was begun immediately after the close of school in June and fully completed before the opening in September. As a result the sanitary conditions are greatly improved.
The total cost of this work amounted to $2, 103.29.
THE WINSLOW SCHOOL.
Two thousand dollars was also appropriated for furnishing the Winslow School. It was difficult to estimate the cost of this equipment. The policy of the committee was to provide · good, substantial furniture that would be both durable and at- tractive. The expense was somewhat in excess of $2,700. A portion of the total cost was paid from the appropriation for in- cidentals and repairs.
The grading of the grounds should properly have come un- der the jurisdiction of the building committee. But on the com- pletion of the building no funds were available for this purpose. The work was finally turned over to the School Committee. As the schools were soon to open, the committee decided, after consultation with the Selectmen, to presume on an appropria- tion by the town and to begin the work of grading at once. It has been done in such a way that the grounds are attractive ; they are in keeping with the general character of the building and are a credit to the town as public property. The town has since appropriated $1,650 for this purpose.
When the schools opened in September, the grading was well underway, the building was wholly completed and
8
thoroughly equipped with all things necessary for the con- venience, comfort and efficiency of both pupils and teachers. The determination of the district lines and the grading of the pupils had been done so thoroughly before the close of the last school year that, on the opening day in September, every pupil was in the right room and in his seat at one minute past nine. We are occupying six rooms this year with the prospect of opening another next September.
In consequence of the new building the West School is closed. Good care is taken of it, however, as it is evident that within two or three years, if not sooner, it will be necessary to utilize it again.
DISTRICT LINES.
In the early part of the fall term the committee fixed, with a good deal of care, the boundaries of the different school districts. It was then voted that all children should attend school within the districts in which they live. It is found here and elsewhere that a strict enforcement of such a regulation gives, in the long run, the best satisfaction to all concerned.
Maps on which the boundaries of all the school districts have been, clearly marked, may be found in the post-office, in the school buildings, and in the rooms of the School Committee, where they are easily accessible to the public.
TELEPHONES.
Telephones have been installed in the distant school build- ings including the Shattuck, the Winslow, the East, and the Balch schools. This is in line with the progress and practice in other places and will increase the efficiency of the administration of the schools.
TEACHERS' SALARIES.
It is generally acknowledged that teachers are an underpaid class of people for the services they render to a community. The consequence is that many intelligent young men and women hesitate to enter the profession. Already it is true that teachers
9
of marked ability do not equal in number the demand for them.
Towns and cities all over the country are raising the salar- ies of teachers, as a practical method of securing and retaining the grade of service desired.
The cost of living has greatly increased, likewise the ex- pense involved in securing the education and professional train- ing now required to meet the demands of public education. In other words, the public demands more of its teachers, charges more for their support, but pays them no more than formerly when all these elements of expense were materially less than at - present.
As a matter of justice to the teachers and as a protection against the competition of other places, we unhesitatingly recommend that the maximum salary for every successful grade teacher be $600 instead of $550 ; that $Soo be the maximum for assistants in the High School.
HIGH SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
It is probable that the High School will number about 200 pupils next year. This number will intensify the in- convenience already experienced there. The principal draw- back is the small size of the recitation rooms in the old part of the building. The laboratory facilities also are inadequate.
These facts and the present rapid growth of the school sug- gest to us a problem which we must soon face-the erection of a first class, up-to-date high school building. The committee will defer this burden as long as it will be wise to do so, but we respectfully remind the citizens that this is a question which must in the near future be taken into serious consideration.
IN GENERAL.
The floors of the East School are in bad condition and the furniture there is antequated. We recommend that, during the ensuing summer, modern seats and desks be installed in this building and that both rooms be refloored.
The painting of the High and the Guild Schools, the
.
IO
shingling of the West School, the exchange of old for modern furniture in the Guild School, are other matters which need the attention of the committee.
With these exceptions the general condition of the build- ings is good. They are otherwise in good repair and are kept in such a manner as to promote the health and comfort of teach- ers and children.
The work in the schools is very satisfactory ; it will com- pare favorably with that of surrounding places, and, we believe, it is advancing along right lines. The teachers are interested in their work, and the results of their efforts are duly appreciated.
We recommend the following appropriations for next year :
Teachers,
$31,500 00
Janitors and sweepers, 3,800 00
School-books and supplies, 3,000 00
Incidentals and repairs, 4,000 00
Heating and lighting,
3,500 00
School tickets, 700 00
School physician,
200 00
$46,700 00
EDWARD W. JEWETT, HARRIET W. LANE,
ALFRED N. AMBROSE,
MARY J. ALDEN,
GEORGE H. SMITH,
CORNELIUS M. CALLAHAN.
1
THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
I herewith present to you my fourth annual report, it being the thirty-sixth school report since the incorporation of the town, Feb. 23, 1872.
The large table in the appendix, as usual gives the statistics for the whole school year, 1906-07. Following this table will be found comparative statistics by buildings for the last four years. In all these statistics the figures cover a year as the unit. But in addition to these are given two other tables : one having a single month, that of January ; the other having a day, January 31, as the unit. The last table is interesting from the fact that it shows the actual conditions of a single day, Jan. 31, for every school in town in every year since 1905. If the other tables are generalized too much to be easily comprehended, this one is concrete enough for any one readily to understand the numerical condition of our schools as they have developed from year to year.
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS.
Next year we shall be obliged to provide for two and pos- sibly three more schools than at present. This will result from the necessity of having only six grades in the Shattuck School next year and transferring the seventh to the Guild building. It will be necessary also to retain the present fifth grade pupils at the Winslow, thus providing for six grades there, as at the Shattuck.
The possibility of the third additional school arises from the fact that the Balch is likely to have so many pupils that the transfer of the third grade to the Winslow may be required.
I 2
The Guild building contains ten schools, as indicated in the tables found in the appendix. Next year by the transfer of the seventh grade from the Shattuck, it will have eleven. It will probably be advisable also to have four primary grades in this building instead of three, but this will be offset by the fact that there will be only one exclusively sixth grade there instead of two as at present. There are twelve rooms in the building. One of the extra rooms has been utilized during the past year for the manual training work of the sixth and seventh grades. There has been therefore one vacant room.
In the Winslow School six of the eight rooms have been occupied. The total number of pupils enrolled has been 228, which is essentially the number predicted in the last report. By the retention of the sixth grade, seven rooms will be used next year, and if the third grade at the Balch be transferred to this building, the eight rooms would then be occupied.
When schools opened in September, it was found that there were too many pupils in the East School. It was decided, there- fore, to transfer the fourth grade to the Guild building, thus making the East a strictly primary school, like the West and the Balch. The fourth grade in the Guild was materially en- larged by this procedure, but the overflow were placed in the special school, where they have had the advantage of more individual attention than could have been possible in any other school. This arrangement has greatly benefited the East School. Each room has now a reasonable number of pupils and each child can receive the attention he needs and deserves.
From the foregoing it will be seen that all the rooms of all buildings are likely to be used next year, leaving only the West building to provide for the future growth of the town.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School opened in September with only one change in the teaching force. Miss Mary W. Cross had re- signed in June, and Miss Adelaide M. Lakin was appointed in her place.
13
The entering class this year was unusually large, numbering 85 These with those who are repeating the year's work make the freshman class constitute over half the school. Several of the future entering classes will be about as large as this, and within a few years they will be larger. So the growth of the school is sure to be rapid. Three years from now the school will be an altogether different problem from what it is at present. It will have approximately 300 pupils. What shall we do with them ?
There are at present 208 seats and desks in the four rooms where pupils can sit and study. A few can be added by taking advantage of available space in each of these rooms. This space, however, should not be taken ; additional seats and desks would crowd the rooms. Ventilation would thus become a problem, and other questions relating to hygiene and health would be likely to arise.
The remedy is suggested in the report of the School Com- mittee - a new building. It is with some reluctance that this idea is expressed so soon after the completion of the Winslow School, and when it is generally recognized that a new grammar school is a continuing need, not so much on account of numbers as in the interest of comfort and efficiency.
We believe that good substantial work is done in the school, that the teachers are capable, faithful, and devoted to the inter- ests of the pupils. We believe, also, that pupils and parents on the whole appreciate their privileges and the interest taken in them by their teachers. The large entering class is a good indication of the confidence of the public in the High School.
A liberal equipment has been furnished in the way of books, scientific appliances, and other material necessary to the accomplishment of successful work.
Those who are preparing for college have three ways by which they can satisfy the college authorities that they possess the requisite qualifications for admission :
1. By certificate to the colleges within the jurisdiction of the New England College Entrance Certificate Board.
.
14
2. By the examinations held at the individual colleges.
3. By the examinations of the College Entrance Examina- tion Board.
Admission by certificate places the responsibility for the students' preparation directly upon the school. The poor work of a single student in college is likely to jeopardize the reputa- tion of the school and cause a forfeiture of the certificate privi- lege. Our students have undertaken for several years the exam- inations of the College Entrance Examination Board, which 'have been held in our own high school building. They, how- ever, are so severe that only a small per cent. of the students are able to pass them without conditions. Nevertheless the others, as a rule, have been successful in the examinations given by the colleges and have sustained themselves and the reputation of the school in their college work. Thus the conclusion is legitimate that good, sterling work is done. It is a privilege for any boy or girl, well prepared, to become a member of the High School.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL INSPECTION.
This is a subject of great importance to our schools and community. Massachusetts has taken a leading place in the country in its legislation in this direction, and we have endeav- ored to keep pace with the movement of the times.
Since our last report, in which this matter was considered quite fully, Dr. Arthur S. Hartwell has been appointed school physician. His intelligent and tactful service in the schools has been of great assistance to the teachers in their relations to problems of school hygiene. For a detailed statement of his work reference is made to his report in the appendix.
In the last school report may be found a table showing the comparative number of contagious diseases .during the first half year, from September to February I, for every year since 1904, as reported to this department by the Board of Health. That is of sufficient interest and importance to be repeated. It is there- fore subjoined with the data for the same period this year in addition :
Rx
15
1904-05.
1905-06.
1906-07.
1907-8.
Scarlet fever,
I4
33
II
I
Diphtheria,
2I
S
O
3
Measles,
I
16
* I
3
Typhoid Fever,
2
I
4
O
I
Tuberculosis,
O
I
16
8
38
59
Are not these figures significant? We respectfully submit them to the consideration of the committee and the public and inquire whether we are not justified in concluding that the means taken to promote health and prevent disease have been effective.
Among the steps taken to secure these ends have been, quoting partially from the last report, a thorough system for the exclusion of children having or exposed to contagious disease, installing additional windows and careful manipulation of cur- tains, changing seats and desks so that the light would come from the left, clearing and cleaning fresh air rooms, increasing the quantity of fresh air admitted to the school rooms, outdoor re- cesses, examination of children's sight and hearing, instruction and requirements of the pupils as regards cleanliness, the ap- pointment of a school physician, etc.
These precautions have produced favorable response in the homes. Let cleanliness prevail in every home, let abundance of fresh air sweep through the house every day and all night, as much light as possible be admitted, and these contagious diseases will be driven to the wall, practically wiped out of existence. These precautions disregarded, every home thus neglected, is exposed to the insidious attacks of disease. Nature has pro- vided more effective means for prevention than for cure, it is simply necessary to co-operate with her.
SPECIAL DEPARTMENTS.
For detailed information in regard to the departments of
*A high school teacher.
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