Norwood annual report 1927-1929, Part 49

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1927
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1016


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1927-1929 > Part 49


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Balance January 1, 1927


S 7.02


Deposits


9,568.83


$ 9,575.85


Transfer to town for charges


$ 7,544.80


Refunds of deposits


1,624.44


Balance December 31, 1927


406.61


$ 9,575.85


Balance January 1, 1928


$ 406.61


Deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928


2,318.87


$ 2,725.48


Transfer to town for charges, January 1 to September 4, 1928


$ 1,721.44


Refunds of deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928 Balance September 4, 1928


274.94


729.10


$ 2,725.48


GUARANTY DEPOSITS Drains


Deposits 1927


$ 293.42


Transfer to town for charges


$ 140.62


Refunds of deposits


152.80


$ 293.42


GUARANTY DEPOSITS Sewer Construction


$ 312.62


Transfer to town for charges


$ 294.95


Refunds of deposits


17.67


$ 312.62


Deposits


193


GUARANTY DEPOSITS Sidewalks


Balance January 1, 1927


$ 1,170.96


Deposits


929.56


$ 2,100.52


Transfer to town for charges


S 1,113.83


Refunds of deposits


57.13


Balance December 31. 1927


929.56


$ 2,100.52


Balance January 1, 1928


$ 929.56


Deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928


195.38


$ 1,124.94


Transfer to unapportioned sidewalks


$ 60.31


Transfer to town for charges January 1 to September 4, 1928


786.21


Balance September 4, 1928


278.42


$ 1,124.94


GUARANTY DEPOSITS Water


Balanee January 1, 1927


$ 108.70


Deposits


14,762.29


$ 14,870.99


Transfer to town for charges


$ 13,039.28


Refunds of deposits


1,661.70


Balanee December 31, 1927


170.01


$ 14,870.99


Balance January 1, 1928


$ 170.01


Deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928


3,728.40


$ 3,898.41


Transfer to town for charges January 1 to September 4, 1928 $ 2,262.86


Refunds of deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928


260.30


Balance September 4, 1928


1.336.49


Due from treasurer September 4, 1928 de- posit not on books


38.76


$ 3,898.41


GUARANTY DEPOSITS Cemetery


Balanee January 1, 1927


5.00


Deposits


654.00


$ 659.00


194


Transfer to town for charges Refunds of deposits


$ 601.25


42.58


Balance December 31, 1927


15.17


$ 659.00


Balance January 1, 1928


$ 15.17


Deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928


453.00


$ 468.17


Transfer to town for charges January 1 to September 4, 1928


$ 425.81


Refunds of deposits January 1 to September 4, 1928 Balance September 4, 1928


22.17


20.19


468.17 $


HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH PRIZE FUND


Securities Par


Value


Total


On hand at beginning of year 1927


$500.00


$500.00


On hand at end of year 1927


$500.00


$500.00


On hand September 4, 1928


$500.00


$500.00


Receipts


Payments


Income


$21.25 Transferred to town


$ 21.25


ALICE H. PLIMPTON LIBRARY FUND


Securities


Saving's


Par


Deposits


Value


Total


On hand at beginning of year 1927


$ 6,819.18


$50,550.00


$57,369.18


On hand at end of year 1927


$14,166.51


$45,550.00


$59,716.51


On hand September 4, 1928


$15,420.98


$15,000.00


$30,420.98


Receipts


Payments Added to savings de- posits $7,347.33


value)


$5,000.00


Income


2,347.33


$7,347.33


$7,347.33


January 1 to September 4, 1928


Sale of securities (par value) $30,550.00


Added to savings de- posits $1,254.47


Premium on securities sold 63.88


Discount on securities sold 100.00


Income


1,441.12


Transferred to town Ex-


30,695.53


penses, insurance and postage 5.00


$32.055.00


$32,055.00


Sale of securities (par


195


CUDWORTH LIBRARY FUND


Cash


Savings Deposits


Total


On hand at beginning of year 1927


-


On hand at end of year 1927


*$500.00


-


On hand September 4, 1928 Receipts


Payments


1927


Bequest


$500.00


Cash on hand Decem- ber 31, 1927


*$500.00


January 1 to September 4, 1928


Income


Cash on hand January


1,1928


*500.00


$505.00


$505.00


$505.00


*In general cash.


CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS


Securities


Cash


Savings Deposits


Par


Value


Total


On hand at beginning of


year 1927


*$3,350.00


$2,150.32


$17,900.00


$23,400.32


On hand at end of year 1927


*$4,400.00


$2,237.18


$17,900.00


$24,537.18


On hand September 4,


1928


*$5,450.00


$2,281.92 $17,900.00 Payments


$25,631.92


Receipts


Income


$847.58


Added to savings deposits


$ 86.86


Bequests


1,050.00


Transfer to town


760.72


Cash on hand at begin-


Cash on hand at end of


ning of year


*3,350.00


year


*4,400.00


$5,247.58


$5,247.58


January 1 to September 4, 1928


Income


$384.74 Added to savings de- posits


$44.74


Cash on hand at begin-


Transfer to town


340.00


ning of year


*4,400.00


Cash on hand at end of year


*5,450.00


$5,834.74


$5,834.74


*In general cash.


Bequests


1,050.00


$505.00


$500.00 $505.00


$5.00 Deposited in savings bank, savings de- partment,


TOWN OF NORWOOD BALANCE SHEET, SEPTEMBER 4, 1928 GENERAL ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities


Cash:


In Banks and Office


$ 79,434.48


Temporary Loans: In Anticipation of Revenue


$ 525,000.00


Accounts Receivable:


19,706.43


Taxes:


244.64


Levy of 1923


$ 723.17


Cemetery Perpetual Care Bequests


5,450,00


Levy of 1924


209.07


Levy of 1925


1,203.13


Levy of 1926


9,233.40


Premium on Loans Reserved for


Levy of 1927


45,805.78


Payment of Debt


607.13


Levy of 1928, Polls 609.00


Guaranty Deposits:


Special Assessments:


Sidewalks


278.42


Moth 1923


8.80


Ash Removal


650.16


Moth 1924


6.90


Water Services 1,375.25


Moth 1925


8.50


Moth 1926


31.69


Moth 1927


64.10


Appropriation Balances Sewer Assessments Receipts


5,485.96


Apportioned Sewer 1923


22.03


Overlays-Reserved for Abatements:


Apportioned Sewer 1924


8.36


Levy of 1925 458.73


Apportioned Sewer 1925


23.65


Levy of 1927 620.98


Apportioned Sewer 1926


190.39


1,079.71


Apportioned Sewer 1927


366.80


Special Assessment Revenue


19,973.22


Unapportioned Sewer


5,871.59


Departmental Revenue


14,918.94


196


57,783.55


Particular Sewers 729.10


Cemetery 20.19


3,053.12 782,491.05


119.99


Warrants Payable Tailings


Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund Income 340.00


Unapportioned Sidewalk Unapportioned Street Betterment, Unapportioned Park Betterment Committed Interest:


6,482.82


Revenue Reserved when Collected:


1,865.14


Electric Light Revenue 45,558.96


6.930.41


Water Revenue


17,309.91


4,350.00


Cemetery Revenue 4,986.98


67,855.85 $72,988.18


Sewer Assessments 1923


11.23


Surplus Revenue


Sewer Assessments 1924 4.77


Sewer Assessments 1925 5.31


Sewer Assessments 1926


47.61


Sewer Assessments 1927 62.68


131.60


Tax Titles


$31,279.90


Departmental Bills:


General Government


16.45


Treasurer and Collector


17.25


Town Clerk and Accountant


44.38


Licenses, Permits and Recording


227.00


Police


488.68


Fire


302.75


Moth


29.52


Care of Trees


106.00


Health


5,518.92


Particular Scwers


1,857.73


Drain Construction


139.20


Main Drain Maintenance


73.02


Highways


494.67


Granolithic Sidewalks


185.94


Public Welfare


4,253.69


School


864.03


Parks


29.59


Public Works-Overhead


43.77


197


TOWN OF NORWOOD BALANCE SHEET, SEPTEMBER 4, 1928 GENERAL ACCOUNTS-Continued


Liabilities


Assets


School-Balch Building


23.84


Real Estate-Rent


90.00


Real Estate-Sales


112.51


$14,918.94


Electric Light:


Light and Power:


F. S. Barton, Collector


$ 41,503.76


H. W. Gay, Collector 3,840.81


$ 45,344.57


Miscellaneous


214.39


Water Rates


15,126.33


Water Services and Material


2,183.58


Cemetery


4,986.98


Town Clerk and Accountant


922.49


Appropriation from Alice M. Plimpton Library Fund


29,020.98


Appropriations from Receipts:


Electric Light Department


36,186.35


Water Department


30,387.42


Cemetery Department



5,581.55


Revenue 1928


950,922.04


Less collections of estimated


receipts 45,020.48


Loans Authorized Overdrawn Accounts: Overlay 1923 1,540.66


$905,901.56 223,000.00


198


Overlay 1924 1,875.60


Overlay 1926 2,542.47


Veterans' Exemptions (1927)


111.48


General Government Incidentals (1927) 22.62


Police Department Incidentals (1927)


106.48


Fire Department Incidentals (1927) 9.09


Sealer of Weights and Measures (1927) 10.87


Trees-Care


and Planting (1927)


5.50


Town Dump (1927)


86.10


Sewer Construction (1927)


17.58


Main Drains-Maintenance


(1927)


751.38


Morrill


Memorial Library (1927)


68.59


Interest (1927)


1,007.17


General Overhead


43.47


General Government Inciden- tals


99.48


Highway Maintenance and Equipment


6,771.30


Operation of Crusher 146.88


Crusher Operation


19.35


199


TOWN OF NORWOOD BALANCE SHEET, SEPTEMBER 4, 1928 GENERAL ACCOUNTS-Continued.


Assets


Liabilities


Snow and Ice Removal


12.30


Public Works Overhead


292.45


Town Dump


131.48


Further Improvement of School Grounds


492.23


Parks and Recreation


82.37


Memorial Day Observanee


14.99


Account Payable (1927)


70.00


New Senior High School Build- ing


709.31


$ 17,041.20


$1,519,194.23


$1,519,194.23


DEFERRED REVENUE ACCOUNTS


Assets


Liabilities


Apportioned Sewer Assessments, not due $ 11,523.40


Apportioned Sidewalk Assessments, not due


634.60


Apportioned Sewer Assessment Revenue, Duc 1928 to 1937


$ 11,523.40


Apportioned Sidewalk Assessment Revenue, Due 1928 to 1937 634.60


Apportioned Street Betterment Assessment Revenue, Due 1928 to 1937 23,857.50


Apportioned Park Betterment Assessment


Revenue, Due 1928 to 1937 6,087.00


$42,102.50


$ 42,102.50


200


Apportioned Street Betterment Assessments, not due 23,857.50


Apportioned Park Betterment Assessments, not due


6,087.00


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


DEBT ACCOUNTS $1,181,600.00 Municipal Memorial Building


$267,000.00


Sewers


148,000.00


Highways 24,000.00


Schools


647,600.00


Memorial Park


20,000.00


Electric Light Water


10,000.00


65,000.00


$1,181,600.00


$1,181,600.00


$1,181,600.00


Trust Funds-Cash and Securities


TRUST ACCOUNTS


$ 51,607.90 High School English Prize Fund $ 500.00 30,420.98 Alice H. Plimpton Library Fund Cudworth Library Fund 505.00


Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds


20,181.92


$ 51,607.90


51,607.90


$ 51,607.90


201


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


OF THE


TOWN OF NOR WOOD Massachusetts


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1929


205


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE School Committee 1929


Frederick A. Cleveland, Pleasant Street, term expires 1930.


Arthur S. Hartwell, 90 Winter Street, term expires, 1930.


John J. Riley, 66 Prospect Avenue term expires 1931.


Charles J. Rich, 67 Beech Street, term expires 1931.


Christine L. Probert, 11 Marion Avenue, term expires 1932.


Julia R. O'Brien, 4 Railroad Avenue, term expires 1932.


Organization


Dr. Frederick A. Cleveland Chairman


Miss Julia R. O'Brien Acting-Chairman Secretary


Elizabeth Zurba


Standing Committees


Education Program Committee: Dr. Cleveland, Miss O'Brien, Dr. Hartwell.


Finance Committee: Mr. Rich, Mr. Riley, Mrs. Probert.


Janitors, Schoolhouses and Grounds: Mr. Riley, Mr. Rich.


Fuel, School Books and Supplies: Mrs. Probert.


Appointments: Mrs. Probert, Miss O'Brien.


Committee Meetings


The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the School Committee Rooms, Junior High School, at eight o'clock p. m., on the second Thursday of each month.


Superintendent of Schools


Leonard W. Grant, 155 Winslow Avenue. Telephone, Norwood 1266.


The office of the Superintendent of Schools is at the Junior High School, and is open from 8:00 a. m. until 5:00 p. m. every day except Saturday, when it is open from 8:00 a. m. until 12:00 m. Telephone, Norwood 0133.


Clerks


Elizabeth Zurba, 49 Saunders Road, Telephone Norwood 1155-W.


Mabel H. Newark, 36 Berwick Road, Telephone Norwood 0103-M.


206


SCHOOL CALENDAR 1929-1930


First term begins September 10, 1929, ends December 20, 1929 15 weeks Second term begins January 2, 1930, ends February 21,1930 7 weeks


Third term begins March 3, 1930, ends April 17, 1930 7 weeks Fourth term begins April 28, 1930, ends June 20, 1930 8 weeks


First term begins September 3, 1930, ends December 23, 1930 16 weeks


Holidays


October 25, Norfolk County Teachers' Association Convention


November 11, Armistice Day


November 28 and 29, Thanksgiving recess


April 18, Good Friday


May 30, Memorial Day


June 17, Bunker Hill Day


No School Signal 2-2


Repeated at 7:15 a. m. No forenoon session for any school


Repeated at 7:45 a. m. No forenoon session for first six grades.


Repeated at 12:15 p m. No afternoon session for any grades below the Senior High School.


Repeated at 12:30 p. m. No afternoon session for first six grades.


Repeated at 6:15 p. m. No session for evening school.


207


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


The School Committee, during the past fiscal year, has held a total of twenty-seven meetings, fifteen of which have been special meetings. Many of the special meetings have been necessary because of the building situa- tion and the extra study required in solving the housing situation. The School Committee believes that wooden school buildings should be elini- inated as soon as the Town can possibly provide appropriations to sup- plant them with modern, fire-proof structures. With the elimination of the East and Everett buildings and the burning of the Guild School, only two wooden structures remain in Norwood-the Beacon School and the two room West School.


Tables I and II- Enrollment


In studying school enrollment, Table I should not be confused with Table II. Table I shows the average day school membership and not the enrollment of any specified date. The figures given are the results of averages computed in June for the State report with the exception of the figures for 1929 and 1930 which are the exact enrollment figures taken for September of that year.


In studying enrollment for the purpose of drawing conclusions as to the school housing and fore-casting requirements, Table II should be largely used with a study of Table IIA which shows the divisions of the elementary school enrollment. The figures in Table II are taken from the enrollment of December 1, and show the following:


a. That the high school enrollment for December 1, 1929 is practically the same as that of a year ago.


b. That the junior high school has gained thirty-one in enrollment.


c. That the elementary schools, including the special classes, have lost 112 as compared with the enrollment of December 1, 1928.


The falling off in clementary school enrollment is duc chiefly to two causes:


a. A smaller first grade entering the Balch School.


b. The number of children enrolling in St. Catherine's Parochial School.


Examination of the column for December 1, 1929 shows that the first four grades are all below 300 while grades five to eight inclusive, are all well over 300 with the exception of grade five which is 293. The smallest grade of the first nine is the present second grade which totals but 245. It is quite apparent that there will be a falling off in the first six grades of the system for the next two ycars providing there is no unusual growth in


208


town and the usual number enter the first grade at St. Catherine's School. The census taken this year shows only a few over 200 prospective first grade pupils for entrance in September, 1930.


Table I. Average Day-School Membership for Senior High, Junior High and Elementary, 1912-29


Year


Elemen- tary Grade


Junior High Grades


Senior High Grades


Total


Average Attend- ance


Popula- tion


1912-13


1341


261


105


1707


1618


9,793


1913-14


1447


319


103


1869


1760


1914-15


1484


387


118


1989


1886


1915-16


1543


406


148


2097


1984


10,977


1916-17


1573


376


153


2163


2036


1917-18


1718


374


158


2250


2096


1918-19


1631*


519*


188


2338


2202


1919-20


1727


536


198


2461


2329


12,627


1920-21


1872


503


254


2629


2510


1921-22


1826


577


278


2681


2550


1922-23


1902


611


300


2813


2672


1923-24


1975


682


310


2967


2852


1924-25


1985


745


341


3071


2901


14,151


1925-26


2063


802


394


3259


3099


1926-27


2063


803


394


3259


3098


1927-28


1974


816


488


3278


3123


1928-29


1828


886


493


3208


3060


15,000 +


1929-10-31 .


1707


930


513


3150±


Increase in


percentages


35.6


239.5


. 369.5


88


89


1912-29


* 9th grade abolished.


¡ Estimate.


# Enrollment.


The conclusion may also be reached from the study of this same column that the Junior High School will be amply able to provide for entering groups from the elementary schools in Norwood, including St. Catherine's School, providing these pupils are at any time sent to any grade of the Junior High School group, grades seven, eight, and nine.


A study of this column serves to prove that the high school accomoda- tions for September 1931 will be far inadequate as is explained under a special heading of this report.


Table II. Showing Enrollment by Grades and Losses from Year to Year in Going from Grade to Grade


Grade


Enrollment


Losses Between Grades


Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1 Dec. 1


1921


11922


1923


1924


1925


1926


1927


1928


1929


1922


1923


1924


1925


1926


1927


1928


1929


Senior High


283


307


319


353


409


444


499


515


513


57


55


83


69


119


56


96


144


12


67*


91*


74*


97


103


111


128


138


136


11


13


10


10


13


7


31


24


11


102*


87*


107


113


124


135


169


160


139


27


22


25


19


47


29


42


78


10


114*


129


138


143


182


198


202


217


238


19


20


48


40


59


20


23


42


Junior High


579


628


693


763


821


821


832


901


932


71


70


36


22


77


53


73


15


9


148


158


191


222


257


222


240


280


247


33


28


10


7


44


26


36


10


S


191


219


232


264


266


266


316


257


359


21


19


6


11


32


17


19


5


7


240


251


270


277


298


333


276


364


326


17


23


20


4


1


10


18


30


Elementary


1826


1902


1969


2021


2039


2023


1991


1834


1712


23


6


24


11


10


11


18


24


6 3 2 1000 +0100


268


293


297


302


334


382


356


339


7+


1


10 10₸


2 12+


18 ** 42+ 20


16 31 20


26₸


IT


295


321


326


292±


356


350


321


292


285


13


11


26


21


334


337


318+


354


370


341


319


290


254


14


32+


21


41


41


6


24


351


286±


350


368


337


315


296


278


245


6


17


3


16


12


17


1


292


367


366


340


331


308


295


243


258


Special Classes


18


29


27


25


25


28


38


11}


2


2


0


3+


10+


* Small numbers probably due to withdrawals for war industries during years 1916 to 1918.


¡ Increases.


# Membership reduced by increasing entrance age.


** Due to double promotion of bright group at Balch School.


209


31


8


286


298


312


336


304±


353


347


293


3


9


286 398


27


5


41 2


210


Table IIA. Elementary School Enrollment by Districts, 1929


Enrollment by Grades


School


1


2


3


4


5


6


Special Class


Total


Balch


97


85


112


103


122


107


23


649


Beacon


18


30


21


32


25


27


15


168


Guild


30


34


30


53


61


89


297


Shattuck


30


26


36


21


31


61


205


East


29


19


48


Winslow


31


20


55


76


54


55


291


West


23


31


54


Totals


258


245


254


285


293


339


38


1712


Everett School


The School Committee, following the completion of the new elementary school, should be able to abandon use of the Everctt School. At present this school is being completely occupied by foriner Guild School pupils and a janitor has been placed on full time service in this building as a precautionary measure. Formerly the time of one janitor was divided between the Everett and Beacon Schools.


Providing the Everett School is finally abandoned, it is the purpose of the School Committee to surrender the building and the site for such disposal as the Town may vote.


East School


The two room East School building which at present houses a first and second grade, will be closed and pupils enrolled there sent to the new elementary east side school. It is probable that the School Committee will retain this building and site until it is definitely known that all pupils may be accommodated. In order to make use of the East School for the present school year much repair work has been necessary. A new boiler has been recently installed, stairways and floors have been repaired, weatherstrips have been installed for the windows and a considerable amount of smaller repairs has been necessary.


Senior High School


The Committee wishes once more to go on record in regard to the addi- tional accommodations in the way of classrooms which will be needed for the Senior High School for occupancy in September, 1931. At present, with an enrollment of 525, all available home room and special classroom


SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL


212


seating capacity is being used. Graduation in June, 1930, should number 136 and the number entering the tenth grade from the Junior High School will total approximately 245.


It will be only with inconvenience to pupils and teachers, resulting in an uncomfortably crowded school, that a program can be arranged for the school year 1930-31. Classes have been made as large as the seating capacity of the school rooms will permit and every classroom, including shops, gymnasia, science rooms and other special rooms, are in use every period of the day. Unfortunately, the purpose of the library has been partially cast aside through the need of using that room for study hall purposes and direct classroom groups.


Failure to provide at least eight additional classrooms, as indicated in the accompanying print, will mean a double session school in the senior high beginning in September, 1931. When plans are made for an addition to the Senior High School, consideration should be given to the provision of a music room. What little music work is being done in the Senior High School is for the most part being done after school hours. This is due to the fact that the gymnasia are in use practically all periods of the week which allows no elasticity in the program of other large group classes. Furthermore, the gymnasia are not adapted to musical study and a room which will seat at least 125 pupils and provide adequate space for orchestra rehearsals is a vital necessity for the high school. This room could be put to many other uses when not employed for musical recitations. It would provide study hall space, be excellent for debating and dramatics, and suitable for sectional school meetings.


Loss of Guild School


The loss of the Guild School by fire on April 21, 1929, deprived the school department of twelve elementary classrooms. Pupils were distributed throughout other schools-six grades being placed in the old Everett building. The Committee, after reviewing the situation, voted that the Guild School site was no longer of value as a school site and that the re- maining portions of the structure should be torn down and the land sur- rendered by school authorities for such uses as the Town might decide.


Loss of Elementary School Rooms


With the construction of the new school on the Fisher lot which will supply ten rooms, the number of elementary school rooms in Town will be reduced by four. This reduction is brought about by the loss of two rooms in the Guild School and two rooms in the closing of the East School, which is practically decided upon. It is believed that by redistricting the Shattuck and Beacon territories it will be possible, for the present at least, to accommodate all elementary pupils with the facilities at hand.


New Elementary School Accommodations


The School Committec employed Professor Jesse B. Davis to study the situation created by the loss of the Guild School and make recommenda-


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tions as to the location of new school accommodations. Professor Davis reported as follows:


"To the School Committee,


Norwood, Mass.


As requested through Superintendent, Mr. L. W. Grant, I herewith submit the following report regarding the school building situation re- sulting from the burning of the Guild School.


In the survey of the Norwood school buildings found on page 34 of the Annual Report for 1927, the following statement is made with respect to the Guild building. "This building is of wood construction, poorly planned for school purposes. The lighting is very bad for the eyes of the children. The toilets are of an ancient type, ill smelling and are none too sanitary. This building should soon be discarded with the other frame structures."


The accident of fire has brought about the necessity of facing this prob- lem of replacement at once. Again referring to the Annual Report of 1927, page 35, it will be found that of the 410 pupils enrolled in the Guild School at that time, 267, or more than one-half, lived east of the railroad. These pupils were compelled to cross the railroad through the underpass and by busy thoroughfares. This was not only dangerous, but it forced them to go distances unreasonable for children in the first six grades. \


The great need resulting from this fire is to provide now for the pupils of the Guild School in the best manner possible in line with the future building needs of Norwood. This situation should be faced squarely in the interests of the pupils concerned.


The Problem of the East Side


Attention is called to the map studies of the home locations of the pupils of grades 1-6 found in the 1927 report, pages 38 and 39. It can fairly be assumed that the home locations have not changed materially since these studies were made.


A study of the home locations of the elementary school pupils living east of the railroad tracks and north of the Neponset river shows a total of approximately. 388 pupils in grades one to six. The geographic center of this district is also not far from the school population center. The geographic center is found very near to the comer of Pleasant and East Cross Streets. By drawing a line east and west through this point we find 165 pupils living south of the line and 223 pupils living north of the line. Of this number, forty-six are now in the East School, leaving 177 pupils in the district to be housed. This total of 342 pupils includes those who attended the Guild School and a few more from the East side who are now crossing the railroad to attend the Balch School. Practically all of these pupils now live within a radius of five-sixths (5/6) of a mile from · the suggested center.


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The advantages of a school at this center would include the following points:


1. It places an elementary school for children of the ages from six to twelve in the approximate center of the residential district.


2. This not only brings the school nearer to the homes of these small children, but it has the great advantage of keeping them away from the dangerous highways and from crossing the railroad.




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