USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1915-1922 > Part 69
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$1.21
$27,005.78
$1.69
$27,977.62
$1.77
Highways:
General,
26,791.63
1.56
38,593.00
2.35
35,420.78
2.21
38,530.11
2.43
Ash Removal,
200.00
.01
Notes, Interest,
18,800.00
1.07
22,386.38
1.37
23,000.00
1.44
12,000.00
.76
2,937.20
.19
3,459.50
.21
2,982.00
. 19
1,840.00
.12
Parks,
375.00
.02
Total,
4
$48,528.83
$2.83
$64,438.88
$3.93
$61,402.78
$3.84
$52,945.11
$3.34
/
159
-
Schools:
General,
$79,850.00 7,900.00
$4.69
$88,700.00
$5.41
$105,550.00 6,100.00 12,692.34
.79
16,835.00
1.09
$90,742.75
5.33
$99,965.50
$6.10
$124,342.34
$7.77
$160,210.00 $10.00
Abatement of Taxes,
5,666.00
.33
2,500.00
.15
500.00
.03
Overlay,
2,689.11
.16
6,437.46
.39
3,433.37
2.15
3,581.44
22
State Tax,
28,252.09
1.65
38,940.00
2.38
39,940.00
2.43
44,806.27
2.78
County Tax,
13,127.18
.77
15,270.59
.93
15,733.33
.98
21,316.09
1.39
Police Department: General,
7,300.00
.43
10,300.00
.63
11,804.00
.74
14,673.03
92
Total,
$7,300.00
$.43
$10,300.00
$.63
$11,804.00
$.74
$14,673.03
.92
Fire Department:
General,
11,764.00
.69
9,750.00
.60
9,420.00
.59
9,019.51
.57
Gypsy Moth: General,
3,400.00
.20
2,600.00
3,109.00
.19
2,500.00
.16
Shade Trees,
200.00
.01
700.00
.04
600.00
.04
825.00
.06
Board of Health,
3,500.00
.20
4,500.00
.28
9,300.00
.58
6,100.00
.38
Sewers:
General,
9,810.00
57
4,275.00
.26
1,025.48
.065
3,496.47
.22
Notes,
3,700.00
.23
10,000.00
. 61
8,500.00
.53
7,000.00
. 44
Interest,
8,493.50
. 49
8,023.00
. 49
3,836.02
.24
7,280.00
. 46
$22,003.50
$1.29
$22,298.00
$1.36
$13,361.50
$.835
$17,776.47
$1.12
County T. B. Hospital,
5,337.50
.34
Interest,
675.00
.04
Main Drains,
450.00
.03
Board of Relief (this includes Town Physician and Soldiers' Benefits),
11,400.00
67
10,500.00
.64
15,200.00
.95
14,600.00
. 92
. 46
6,100.00
.37
.38
29,700.00
1.87
2,992.75
.18
5,165.50
.32
$6.60
$113,675.00
$7.07
Notes, Interest
160
.
Care in Hospitals,
2,000.00
.12
APPORTIONMENT OF TAX RATE - Continued.
1916
1917
1918
1919
Library,
$3,900.00 2,100.00
$ .23
$4,766.50 2,400.00
$ .29
$4,974.12 2,470.00
$ .31 155
$5,366.00 1,785.00 6,300.00
.11
Notes (not applicable to any department),
1,877.93
.11
2,000.00
12
2,000.00
125
4,000.00
.25
Interest (not applicable to any department),
3,480.00
.20
3,422.00
.21
4,120.00
257
5,605.00
35
Contingent Fund, Engineering,
1,000.00
.06
1,000.00
.06
521.00
.033
338.68
.02
1,200.00
.07
2,400.00
. 145
2,400.00
. 15
2,708.53
. 17
Band Concerts,
500.00
.03
Total,
$279,393.99 $16.36
$324,176.43 $19.78 $350,637.22 $21.91
$411,396.05 $25.83
LESS CREDITS,
Poll Tax,
$ 6,972.00
$ .40
$ 7,564.00
$ .46
$ 7,632.00
$ . 48
$ 7,620.00
$.48
Excess and Deficiency,
29,166.00
1.71
18,000.00
1.10
13,907.28
.87
31,512.99
1.98
Bank and Corporation Returns,
24,700.00
1.45
34,000.00
2.07
40,000.00
2.50
60,000.00
3.76
Income Tax Distribution Returns,
36,261.00
2.21
40,663.86
2.54
38,317.24
2.42
Excise Tax
1,809.29
.11
1,323.12
085
Dog Licenses,
766.50
.05
729.12
.45
516.00
.03
Available Receipts Treas.
7,830.00
. 48
12,679.00
.79
16,391.66
1.02
Note Premium Receipts,
2,211.14
. 14
Total,
$60,838.00
$3.56
$106,230.79
$6.48
$116,934.38
$7.31
$156,569.03
$9.83
Tax Levy on Property,
$218,555.99
$217,945.64
$262,551.22
$254,827.02
Tax Rate,
$12.80
$13.30
$14.60
$16.00
Valuation,
$17,074,710.00
$16,386,634.00
$16,005,607.00
$15,926,689.00
$ .34
Cemetery,
.12
.145
Street Lighting,
.40
161
162
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE MORRILL MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
The total circulation for the year 1919 was 50,160 volumes against 44,776 for 1918. The largest monthly circulation for the year was in March when 5486 volumes were given out; the largest daily circulation was 391 volumes. There are at present 5090 borrowers.
No books were given out from January 4 to 15 during the return of the influenza epidemic.
The Library is acting as a clearing house for the collection of magazines from the citizens of the Town and the sending of the same to the Norfolk Hospital for the use of convalescent soldiers.
The cooperation between the Library and the public schools has been extended the past year to include classes from the High School under the supervision of Miss Webb, teacher of English, for morning instruction in the Library as to the use of magazine indices and reference books. This will be further amplified during the coming year through the efforts of the superintendent of schools, Mr. Dalrymple, in making it a part of the High School curriculum that freshmen will be required to take six periods a year on the use of reference books at the Library under the instruction of the librarian, Miss Hewett.
As with all other public institutions the question of salaries, in order to retain the operative staff, is a vital and pressing one and the Trustees have been forced to give this serious consideration in making up their budget for 1920. This, with the increased cost of books, binding and sup- plies of all kinds, in order to maintain the Library at its present efficiency, will demand a minium of $6,500. besides the dog tax.
Six years ago the Trustees, in order to accommodate the growth of the Library, were obliged to install new stacks in every available place. The time has arrived when some action must again be taken to provide for the immediate future.
The Library capacity can be extended in three ways - by building a stack room in the rear, using the present stack room for a children's room; by putting a second tier of stacks above the present ones, with a glass floor between and a staircase and balcony; by using the library hall for a children's room.
Of the three plans mentioned the Trustees are unanimously agreed upon the latter on account of not only the lesser expense incurred, but also the fact that the hall is immediately available and can be fitted up for use at an expense of not over $2500. This appropriation we are asking from the citizens at the coming Town Meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
DR. I. S. FOGG, Chairman, A. AGNES CURTIN, Secretary, WILLIAM T. WHEDON, MARIA E. COLBURN, MAUDE A. SHATTUCK, WALTER BLAIR.
163
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT
To the Board of Trustees:
The following is a report of the Morrill Memorial Library :
Circulation
Number of days library was open .
292
Total issuc. .
50,160 volumes
Average daily issue.
172 volumes
Largest issue, April 26.
391 volumes
Smallest issue, November 5.
65 volumes
Percent of Circulation
Class
Adult
Juvenile
Gencral works
.8
.9
Philosophy .
.8
.2
Religion .
4
.5
Sociology (includes fairy tales)
1.4
11.5
Philology.
.1
.1
Natural science
.6
3.1
Useful arts .
1.2
1.7
Fine arts
.8
2.1
Literature
2.4
3.1
History .
6.4
3.6:
Travel and description
1.5
4.1
Biography
1.2
1.4
Fiction .
82.4
67.7
Of Total Circulation
Adult.
61 percent
Juvenile .
39 percent
Registration
Number of names registered January 1, 1919.
4697
Number of new borrowers.
532
Number of names withdrawn
139
Net gain .
393
Number of names registered January 1, 1920.
5090
Gifts
Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Jr. .
1 pamphlet.
Bankers' Trust Company of New York
1 volume
E. S. and E. M. Balch .
1 volume
Mrs. Lewis C. Marshall
14 volumes
Edmund Ossianson
1 volume
Mrs. C. C. Jack .
2 volumes 30 pamphlets
United States .
2 volumes
7 pamphlets.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
12 volumes
Respectfully submitted,
JANE A. HEWETT, Librarian.
.
164
REPORT OF THE FIRE ENGINEERS.
The Board of Selectmen,
Norwood, Mass.
Gentlemen: -
The Board of Fire Engineers respectfully submit herewith their annual report for the year 1919:
Ninety-seven alarms were sounded during the year, of which forty- seven were for grass or brush fires, thirty-five for buildings, thirteen false, one to search for an old lady lost in the woods, and one was a request for assistance from the Town of Medfield.
The risk involved and loss resulting from fires were as follows: Risk involved, Buildings and Contents. . $200,393.00
Insurance carried, Buildings and Contents. 180,100.00
Total fire damage 23,285.00
Total insurance paid
20,130.00 3,155.00
Total fire loss.
The call for assistance from Medfield was for a serious fire which could not be handled by the local department when their apparatus went out of commission. The Combination pumper was sent over and the fire was ex- tinguished in about an hour after its arrival.
A test of the Combination pumper was made during the fall and dis- closed the fact that repairs were needed if the apparatus was to be kept up to standard efficiency. A further examination was made after which it was decided to have the engine and pump thoroughly overhauled and the truck varnished. The work has been done and the piece of apparatus is in first class condition and should need very little attention for some time to come.
We again beg to call to your attention the practice of sending this piece of apparatus to brush fires, and feel that $2000.00 invested for a piece of light apparatus would be money well spent.
The upper rooms and corridor of the fire department were thoroughly cleaned and painted, and we hope to be able to do the lower room and out- side woodwork during the coming year.
Salaries of all members of the department were increased 25 per cent to 33 1-3 per cent during the year.
Respectfully submitted,
J. FRED BOYDEN, FRANK W. TALBOT, WILLIAM P. HAMMERSLEY, Board of Fire Engineers.
165
REPORT OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL.
Under authority given by the Town at a Town Meeting held November 11, 1915, we were authorized to negotiate for the purchase of land on Washington Street opposite the Civic Association as a site for the erection of a new High School Building, and also to procure plans and estimates for a suitable building.
On March 16, 1916, at a later Town Meeting (adjourned from February 20th), we made a report which was accepted by the Town, and in accordance with our recommendation, it was voted to purchase the land recommended by the Town Planning Committee, opposite the Civic Association, as a site for the new High School Building, and the sum of $23,400 was appropria- ated to pay for the same. At the same time the sum of $400 was appro- priated for the expenses of the Committee. Of this amount $169.15 was expended in visiting other towns and cities, inspecting some of the newest school buildings and obtaining other information of value.
The land being secured, the Committee next gave their attention to the selection of an architect and the preparations of plans and estimates. Through the generosity of Mr. George F. Willett the Committee were en- abled to arrange for an architect's competition held under the rules of the Boston Society of Architects. This resulted in the selection of Mr. James H. Ritchie of Boston as the architect of the building. The Committee also selected the firm of R. D. Kimball Company as the Heating and Venti- lating Engineers to prepare the plans for heating and ventilating in co- operation with the architect. Suitable plans and estimates were prepared, and the Committee at a Town Meeting held January 30, 1917, made a report recommending that the general plan of a school building including an auditorum as prepared by the architect, Mr. James H. Ritchie, be adopted, but that only the High School section and basement of the whole building together with the shell of the Grade Section, viz., walls, roof and flooring, be erected now, reserving the building of the auditorum until a later date. This report was accepted, and the Town appropriated the sum of $250,000 and authorized our continuance as a Building Commit- tee, the funds to be expended under our direction.
From January 30, 1917, to June, 1918, was taken up in preparing de- tailed plans and specifications under which bids were invited for the con- struction of the building. These specifications were divided into four parts: First, the General Building Contract; second, the Heating and Ventilating Contract; third, the Electrical Contract; fourth, the Plumbing Contract.
Proposals were invited by the Committee in these specifications, and early in June, 1917, bids were received by the Committee from a large number of selected firms. On opening the bids, it was found that the lowest one offered was about $40,000 more than the estimates of archi- tect and builders obtainable at the time we received our appropriation in January. This was largely due to the constantly advancing cost of everything entering into building construction between that time and June, the earliest period in which it was possible to have detailed plans, working drawings and specifications made, and bids received from Contractors.
In order to obtain acceptance of the lowest offer it was necessary to decide the matter within a very few days, as otherwise the option on build- ing material would expire and the bids would be withdrawn. After giving this careful consideration, with the best advice obtainable, we decided to accept the lowest bid offered. After some revisions were made in the
166
plans and specifications, contracts were awarded to the C. S. Cunningham & Sons Construction Company for the General Building Contract; J. J. Hurley & Company, Heating and Ventilating; Pierce & Cox, Plumbing, and James Wilkinson Company, electrical work, and early in July, 1918, ground was broken for the new building.
On September 4th, 1918, an additional appropriation of $40,000 was made by the Town to cover the increased cost of construction.
On November 27, 1918, the cornerstone was laid and appropriate exer- cises in connection with the same were held. The building was completed in accordance with the plans and specifications and accepted by the com- mittee in May, 1919, and sessions of the High School were held for the first time in the new building at about that time.
Three floors in the south side of the building, affording room for nine more school rooms, are still unfinished, and will require further appro- priations from the Town to complete same.
In accordance with the general plan, the construction of the building has been so adapted that when in future years the auditorum is added. it will be possible to do this at a minimum of expense and inconvenience, The architectual appearance of the building will also be much improved, as this part of the general plan will greatly add to the whole appearance of the building.
In addition to the amounts thus far appropriated which were expended by our Committee:
$10,000 was appropriated March 6, 1919, for the furnishings of the build- ings. This was expended by the School Committee and on October 28, 1919, $6500 was appropriated for grading, which has to be expended by the Se- lectmen. These amounts added to the amounts expended by our Com- mittee, make a total cost for land, building, furnishings and grading to date of $329,304.62, leaving a balance on hand December 31, 1919, of $998.38.
We feel that the Town has received full value in its new building, con- sidering the greatly increased costs of materials and labor, and when the nine school rooms in the south side of the building are finished and the auditorium built, we will have one of the finest buildings for school pur- poses in the State.
It must also be remembered that the building is so planned that exten- sions can be easily added in future years, to both north and south wings of the building, running back toward Walpole Street, which will provide for a largely increased number of pupils.
The Committee, Architect and Contractors have worked harmoniously together to obtain the best possible results for the Town. We feel confi- dent that the verdict of the future will be that the work has been well planned and adapted to the demands of the Town for increased School accommodations as they arise.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE HARDING SMITH, Chairman, ALFRED N. AMBROSE, JOHN E. FOLAN, GEORGE F. BAGLEY, HENRY CROSBY.
167
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ORGANIZATION 1919
School Committee.
Harriet W. Lane, 296 Walpole Street, term expires 1920.
Julia R. O'Brien, 4 Railroad Avenue, term expires January, 1920. Alfred N. Ambrose,12 Vernon Street, term expires January, 1921. Henry Crosby, 20 Douglass Avenue, term expires January, 1921. Cornelius M. Callahan, 59 Winslow Avenue, term expires January, 1922. Henry I. Everett, 9 Morse Avenue, term expires January, 1922. (Resigned.)
*Brainard A. Rowe, 28 Florence Avenue, term expires January, 1922. Mildred F. Metcalf, Clerk.
Standing Committees.
Schoolbooks and supplies-Mr. Everett, Mrs. Lane, Miss O'Brien. Finance, accounts and claims-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Everett. Janitors, schoolhouses and grounds-Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Crosby, Mr. Callahan.
Fuel-Mr. Crosby, Mrs. Lane, Mr. Callahan.
Committee Meetings.
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the School Committee room, Beacon School, at 8 p. m., on the first Thursday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools.
Charles O. Dalrymple, Talbot Block.
Telephone number, Norwood 358-W.
The office of the Superintendent is at the Beacon School, and is open from 8 a. m. until 12 m., and from 1 p. m. until 5 p. m., on school days; and from 8 a. m. until 12 m. on Saturdays. Also Monday nights from 7 until 8. Telephone number, Norwood 133.
*Mr. Rowe was elected January 19, 1920, to take the place of Mr. Everett, who resigned, to complete the term ending January, 1922.
MEMBERSHIP OF SCHOOLS.
The following table gives the membership of the schools over a period of ten years:
Year
High
Grades
Total
1909-10
169
1364
1533
1910-11
179
1402
1581
1911-12
162
1452
1614
1912-13.
155
1552
1707
1913-14.
165
1674
1839
1914-15
215
1775
1990
1915-16.
248
1849
2097
1916-17.
252
1911
2163
1917-18.
304
1946
2250
1918-19.
402
2035
2437
168
THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.
The erection of the New High School Building introduces a new and im- portant chapter in the history of the Norwood schools, the building itself embodying the most modern hygienic features with respect to lighting, heating, ventilation and sanitation. This building meets every require- ment of modern secondary education; located on its spacious site on Wash- ington Street, it makes one of the finest high school plants to be found in New England. The citizens of Norwood are to be congratulated on the completion of this building. Failure of this building with proper equip- ment to meet the most exacting demands of secondary education will rest upon the school organization and not upon the people of Norwood.
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
One of the most striking developments in recent educational history is the rapid change that has taken place in the prevailing conceptions of the purposes of high school education. The old idea that a high school was to function only as a college preparatory school was autocratic.
Courses for the college preparatory students should be organized that will give complete training, answer all college entrance requirements, and give admittance privileges without the customary college entrance examina- tions. Since all colleges do not grant the certificate privileges, students should prepare for those which do, at least, until a more fair and standard method of grading has been derived by both the high school and colleges.
In the last few years there has been developed a strong tendency among high school administrations to formulate aims and organize courses of study in the high school for the large number of children who do not expect to go to college.
So strong has this movement become that the leading universities of the country in recognition of the reasonableness of this policy have so changed their entrance requirements as to permit practically any high school grad- uate of any well organized and well conducted high school to enter its fresh- man class.
A high school should give a broad training to which students go perma- nently for the same reason as they go to the elementary school, namcly, to secure training that will prepare them directly for more effective partici- pation in the life of the community in which they live and society as a whole.
The high school should differ from the elementary school only in the age of its children. While the high school should not primarily function as a college preparatory school, neither should the elementary school lead only to the high school. A school system organized along modern lines will not drive any child from school because a square mentality will not plug a round hole. A school system should be broad enough to encourage and find a proper groove for each child. The responsibility for children leav- ing school, in a big majority of cases, rests not on the children, but rather on the school system.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
The elementary schools have been unfortunate in not having a definite written program of studies to follow. At the present timc each school has its own system which does not necessarily correlate with the systems used in other schools.
A program is in the process of construction which will show more or less in detail the subject matter by topics, in each of the elementary grades,
169
as well as the text books and supplementary books to be used. The amount of work covered and methods used should be standard for each grade.
The standing of our elementary schools will remain low until we are able to remedy the present situation where we are forced to put many of the first and second grades on part time. This gives us a poorly prepared child for the third grade and reduces the general standard of the school for the following grades. If children are to held back and retarded in the very beginning of their school life, we certainly cannot expect them to spring up to standard as soon as promoted to another grade.
Size of Classes.
It is generally recommended by people in authority that the maximum number of students for the first, second and third grades should be thirty and on full time; for the fourth and sixth grades, thirty-five; and for the seventh and eighth, forty.
ESTIMATED CONDITION IN OUR SCHOOLS, SEPTEMBER, 1920.
Grades
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Rooms
Balch
*56
*46
33
39
37
12
*46
*56
32
47
37
*55
*45
32
Winslow
*40
36
31
39
41
39
39
8
Guild
*50
*36
*48
47
44
36
12
*37
*4S
48
42
38
35
Shattuck
*60
32
36
49
44
43
44
9
Beacon
22
30
42
6
35
40
39
33
33
6
Everett
33
33
33
33
East
33
33
2
West
26
26
2
26
32
32
36
*Represents grades on part time.
The effects of this condition upon the educational system in Norwood do not require any further discussing.
PERSONNEL OF THE PRESENT TEACHING FORCE.
After our entrance into the World War, most schools were compelled to lower their standards because many teachers left the profession to accept more lucrative positions. Their places could not be filled with teachers
170
of equal qualifications. The larger cities drew on the smaller cities, and the smaller cities in turn on the villages and still smaller schools. The lowering of standards came so quickly that the public was scarcely aware of the fact that the schools were depreciating. The following table shows the condition in the state normal schools during the past school years:
School
1916-17 Membership
1918-19 Membership
Per cent. decrease from 1916-17 thru 1918-19
(small increase)
Bridgewater
409
430
38.1
Fitchburg
396
245
13.2
Framingham
425
369
58.9
Hyannis:
73
30
21.1
Lowell
227
179
53.2
North Adams
156
73
29.0
Salem. .
197
99
49.7
Worcester
255
116
54.5
Normal Art.
314
237
24.5
The general effect of this economic condition on the schools in Norwood can be easily seen by the following table: 1
Total number of teachers and supervisors in Norwood. .
.86
Total number of teachers without any teaching experience prior to September, 1919.
.7
Total number of new teachers in Norwood, September, 1919
26
Total number who have taught in Norwood more than one
17
Total number who have taught in Norwood more than two
8
years and less than three years .
IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHERS.
A teacher who continues in the service year after year and makes no effort to improve herself professionally, should be discharged by the School Committee. Educational standards and methods of teaching are chang- ing so rapidly that only the wide-awake teacher can expect to keep up with the procession.
Teachers in Norwood have' excellent facilities to improve themselves professionally.
EXAMINATION.
The first of October scientific measuring tests were given from this office in all but the first two grades of the elementary schools. The following tests were given:
Language Scale Trabne
Addition Scale Woody
Subtraction Scale Woody
Multiplication Scale Woody
Division Scale
Woody
Reading Scale
Thorndike
Reasoning Scale Stone
The examination papers of each child are available at the Superindent's office for examination by the parents.
410
291
Westfield.
year and less than two years. .
1
171
EVENING SCHOOL
The varied courses offered in the evening school afford the means of acquiring an education extending from simple elementary subjects to special- ized instruction in Typewriting, Stenography, Bookkeeping, Cooking, Millincry, Carpentry, Spanish, English and Americanization. The aver- age attendance each evening is about one hundred pupils.
At the present time the evening school is one of the strongest mediums we have to check the radical movement among the foreign population of this country, which is generally due to a lack of understanding, on the part of the foreigner, of our language and customs. As a result, poorly educated, hardworking, easily excited foreigners furnish a most admirable field for certain agitators to exploit. There is only one remedy for this cvil and that is education, and in the majority of cases this must come from the evening schools.
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