USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 36
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254,999
256,658
247,560
248,626
.0883
Janitors
21,055
21,550
22,800
24,230
24,455
23,525
22,375
22,155
.0522
Health
5,905
6,140
6,200
6,200
6,100
5,800
5,940
6,110
.0347
Total
$262,718
$270,096
$281,695
$290,725
$293,552
$294,087
$284,075
$285,091
.0852
300
Table Ic. Entire Budget Appropriation Comparisons-1927-1934
1927 $327,753
1928 $338,931
1929 $348,230
1930 $349,863
1931 $349,188
1932 $343,387
1933 $324,897
1934 $324,590
Per Cent of Decrease Since 1927 .0096
Table Ib. Appropriation Comparisons-1927-1934
Budget Sub-Heading
Appropriated
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
Per Cent of Reductions Since 1927
Census
$
100
$ 100
100
$ 100
$ 100
$ 100
100
$ 100
Telephone
750
750
750
725
725
700
652
700
0666
Stationery and Printing
600
600
700
675
675
675
600
600
Superintendent's Expense
650
650
700
700
800
800
700
500
.2307
Other Expense, Supt. Office
100
100
100
100
100
100
75
75
.25
Textbooks
6,900
7,650
7,350
7,000
6,060
5,650
5,000
5,450
.2101
Instruction Supplies
9,055
10,305
9,915
9,194
8,505
7,850
6,636
6,034
.3336
Fuel
10,750
10,750
10,850
10,300
9,700
8,965
8,265
8,565
2032
Power
1,700
1,250
1,050
1,150
1,175
1,150
1,115
1,115
.3441
Light
1,400
1,350
1,650
1,600
1,700
1,620
1,395
1,595
1392*
Water
1,900
1,700
2,200
2,820
2,820
2,745
2,525
2,525
.3289*
Ash Removal
200
200
300
200
250
250
50
1.0000
Janitors' Supplies
2,000
2,000
1,900
1,650
1,350
1,125
750
750
.625
Operation Truck
300
200
200
200
200
200
175
175
.4166
Repairs and Replacements
12,360
11,860
11,550
8,150
8,402
7,710
6,400
5,100
.5873
Nurses' Supplies
300
300
300
300
250
250
125
125
.5833
Library
640
640
640
825
800
575
400
400
.375
Transportation
2,200
2,600
2,600
4,150
4,150
4,150
4,044
4,190
.9045*
Lunch Supervision
180
180
180
325
450
350
180
180
Grounds
800
2,300
2,300
2,300
3,000
1,000
New Equipment
1,800
2,950
1,800
3,924
3,024
2,035
1,635
1,300
.2777
Total
$54,685
$58,435
$57,135
$56,388
$54,236
$48,000
$40,822
$39,479
2781
301
-
-
1.0000
* Increase.
302
But thrce items in Table Ib show increases. A small increase in the appropriation for lighting due to the large number of rentals in the Junior High School and for water a rather sharp increase of 32% plus due to required shower baths for every pupil in the Junior High School and im- proved facilities for obtaining drinking water in all buildings.
The sharp increase in transportation of 90% which began in 1930 was due to the ruling of the State Department of Education that transporta- tion must be furnished Senior High School pupils who lived two miles or more from the High School building.
Table Ic (page 300) shows a decreased budget by 1% since 1927, show- ing that while school costs were allowed to increase during the years of 1928 to 1931, a corresponding decrease has taken place from 1932 to 1934.
Conclusions
The School Committee believes that the appropriation for maintenance of schools cannot be further reduced in any particular which is shown in Table Ib. This table, as has been pointed out, contains all items which are required for operating of schools except that of paying salaries.
The School Committee has, therefore, only two other means of reducing school expenditures-(1) that of cutting the salaries of school employees; (2) that of eliminating school activities which are now a part of the school program and discharging the employees hired to operate these activities. The School Committee takes the position that they do not recommend cutting salaries and are not in favor of further reducing the school pro- gram in any particular at the present time.
Table II. Enrollment for Ten Year Period-1922-23 to 1932-33 Enrollment
Year
Elementary
Junior High
Senior High
Total
1922-1923
1902
611
300
2813
1923-1924
1975
682
310
2852
1924-1925
1985
745
341
3071
1925-1926
2063
S02
394
3259
1926-1927
2063
803
394
3260
1927-192S
1974
S16
4SS
3278
1928-1929
1828
SS6
493
3208
1929-1930
1707
930
513
3150
1930-1931
1570
980
573
3123
1931-1932
1502
937
709
3148
1932-1933
1473
907
747
3127
% of increase
10 year period
48.44
149.
11.16
% of decrease
10 year period
22.55
303
The High School enrollment shows an increase of thirty-eight while the Junior High School and elementary school divisions show reductions totalling fifty-nine, making a net decrease for the entire school system of twenty-onc. This small decrease would necessarily have no effect upon school costs since it is a widely scattered one with a few in each elementary school and thirty in the Junior High School. One teaching position was actually dropped in the Junior High School, thirty pupils being almost the equivalent of one home room assignment.
Table III. Teachers Employed
School
1930-31
1931-32
1932-33
1933-34
Senior High
26
31
31
31
Junior High
30
31
28
28
Elementary
59
57
53
53
Specials
23
23
20
20
Total
138
142
132
132
Eliminations in Educational Program 1931-1934
a. Teaching positions eliminated:
1. Teacher of shop work, grades 5 and 6.
2. Teacher of sewing, grades 5 and 6.
3. Junior High School librarian.
4. Four teaching positions in the Junior High School.
5. Four teaching positions in the elementary schools.
b. School activities suspended or eliminated :
1. Beacon School closed.
2. Adult cvening vocational classes suspended.
3. Summer school sessions decreased.
4. Supervision of lunch periods by teachers discontinued except in the Junior High School.
School Grounds
It should be noted in Table Ic that no request is being made to cover expenditures on improvement or care of grounds. Extensive improve- ments have been scheduled for yards at the Callahan School, Shattuck School and Winslow School and a C. W. A. project for improving the Balch School yard has been submitted and is awaiting possible approval. The School Committee believes that if the projects as started cannot be completed as C. W. A. work, that the matter should be brought to the attention of the Town in a special article, seeking an appropriation sufficient to complete such work and that moncy so expended should not be raised in the regular school budget.
Permission to rcsurface and make extensive improvements to the Calla- han School yard was requested by the Selectmen and this permission was
304
granted by the School Committee. The work on the Shattuck School and Winslow School yards was requested by the School Committee. At the present time the school yards at these three buildings and also at the Balch School, are in such poor condition that unless the final steps are taken in the resurfacing, it will not be possible to allow school children to use these play spaces while school is in session. School Cominittee mem- bers hope that the projects started as C. W. A. work may be completed under that agency, thereby relieving the Town of any responsibility.
School Department Salary Contributions
Beginning January 1, 1933, every member of the School Department signed an agreement to contribute a portion of his salary to the Town. The donation was accepted at the Annual Town Meeting of 1933 and the vote taken to apply such donations to the Public Welfare Department for use. The total made available by School Department employees was $28,699.25.
School Department Receipts Table IV. Anticipated Receipts-1934
Anticipated 1933
Received 1933
Anticipated 1934
Tuition-State Wards .
$ 1,200
$ 1,339.88
$ 1,350
Tuition-City of Boston Wards.
1,200
1,220.71
1,200
Tuition-Day School .
2,400
2,542.11
2,500
Tuition-Vocational.
800
725.66
1,000
State Reimbursement-Americani- zation .
2,000
1,815.00
1,945
State
Reimbursement-Teachers' Salaries
26,400
26,803.75
26,800
Manual Arts
200
155.23
160
Rentals.
300
311.50
300
Telephone.
25
14.05
15
Sale and breakage of supplies, text- books, etc.
60
52.05
60
$34,585
$34,979.94
$35,330
In the 1932 School Committee report, estimated receipts on account of schools were listed. The above table shows this estimate for 1933 with the actual receipts for that year and the anticipated receipts for 1934. Such receipts are paid directly into the Town treasury and not credited to schools or the School Department budget. A subtraction, however, of this amount received in 1933 from the amount appropriated by the Town which was $324,897.20, shows a net cost for schools of $289,917.26.
305
Conclusion
We must be convinced that Education is a living, growing part of our social structure. The opportunities which we may have had in school are not adequate to meet the needs of our pupils in the environment in which they live. Likewise the social order of tomorrow will differ entirely when our pupils take over their responsibilities as adults.
Such a conviction on our part helps us to change our point of view with respect to the purposes of the schools. It helps us to shift the focus of our attention in the curriculum from things and outside standards, to the pupils and their adjustments to a changing world. We must change our center of interest in the past experiences of the race to its future possi- bilities. We will then be better able to help the parents and taxpayers of today to realize that our public schools are only trying to meet the de- mands of society and the obligations forced upon its members.
Resolution
Upon the retirement of Mr. George W. Allen, who has served the Town for twenty-three years, the School Committee passed the following resolu- tion :
George W. Allen, capable school administrator, inspiring leader in the field of education, friend of teacher and pupil alike, from 1910 to 1919 Principal of the Shattuck School, from 1919 to 1921 Principal of the Shattuck and Beacon Schools, and from 1921 to 1933 Principal of the Junior High School,
Resolved that on this, the occasion of your retirement from active ser- vice, the School Committee expresses its regret at the loss of your valued services, and extends to you the sincere thanks of the Committee and the Town for your faithful and untiring efforts. Under your leadership and guidance the Junior High School has been organized and developed into an effective unit in the Norwood school system. You take with you the good wishes of all with whom you have been associated.
Norwood School Committee
(Signed) JOHN J. CONLEY, EUGENE L. CONNOLLY, JOSEPHINE A. CHANDLER, GLADWIN M. NEAD, CHRISTINE L. PROBERT, HAROLD E. SHAW.
306
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
I submit herewith my seventh annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
Comments on School Finances
Continuing my explanation of school cost analyses as shown in the School Department report for 1932, I shall use the same series of tables as found in that report.
Table I-Cost Analysis School Budget Subdivisions for 1934
Allowed in Budget $248,626
Per Cent of Budget
Salaries-Instruction
76.60
Janitors
22,155
6.83
General Control and Health.
14,310
4.4
Total for Salaries
$285,091
87.83
Other Expense of General Control.
1,975
.6
Textbooks
5,450
1.67
Instruction Supplies
6,034
1.85
Fuel, Water, Light and Power
13,800
4.28
Other Expense of Operation
925
.28
Repairs and Replacements
5,100
1.57
Transportation
4,190
1.3
Other Auxiliary Agencies
725
.22
New Equipment.
1,300
.4
$324,590
100.
a. Nearly 88% of the entire proposed budget is shown to be alloted for salaries of School Department employees.
b. All other functions of the School Department outside of salaries show a total estimated requirement of only $39,499, a decrease of $3,662 from the 1933 budget.
c. For the maintenance of approximately $1,300,000 worth of school property, only $5,100 is being requested for repairs and replacements.
d. The budget shows only $1,300 for new equipment, about forty cents per pupil, and nothing to be expended for grounds.
Table II. Per Pupil Cost-School Year 1932-33
School
Year
Month
Week
Day
Hour
Senior High School
$157.11
$17.4566
$4.3388
$.8677
$.1735
Junior High School
106.52
11.8355
2.9588
.5917
.1183
Elementary
86.24
9.5822
2.1177
.4235
.0847
307
Estimated Per Pupil Cost-Fiscal Year 1934
School
Year
Month
Week
Day $.7805
Hour
Senior High School.
$140.50
$15.61
$3.9028
$.1561
Junior High School
116.46
12.94
3.235
.647
.129
Elementary .
92.35
10.2611
2.5652
.5130
1026
Table III. Distribution of Costs Per Pupil-Fiscal Year 1934
School
Teachers' Salaries
Other Salaries
Books and Supplies
Heat, Light, Power and Water
Other Expense
Pupil
Senior High School
$110.60
$13.34
$6.02
$6.22
$4.32
$140.50
Junior High School
85.67
13.68
4.46
6.75
5.90
116.46
Elementary
70.83
11.49
2.50
2.86
4.68
92.35
The figures as presented in the School Report for 1933 show per capita cost estimates as follows for the year:
Senior High School
$135.81
Junior High School .
94.21
Elementary Schools
78.53
a. These estimates were based upon the actual budget as presented with the knowledge that salary contributions were to be made on the basis of ten per cent for all employees getting less than $3,000 and fifteen per cent for employees getting $3,000 or more. These donations were voted at a Town Meeting for application to Public Welfare and were not used for reducing school expenditures, therefore, the actual per capita cost based on school expenditures for 1933 are shown as considerably higher in Table II in the 1933 report.
b. Table III shows a sharp reduction in the per capita cost of High School education for Norwood and an increase for Junior High School and elementary schools per capita. The decrease for Senior High School is due to an increased enrollment, with very little teacher-time added to the force employed there, while a decreased enrollment is shown in Table II of the School Committee report for Junior High School and elementary schools and no appreciable decrease in the teaching force in these divisions of the school system.
Total Cost
Per
308
Table IV. Special Department Costs-1934
Per Cent of
Department
Supplies Equipment
Total Cost
School Budget
* Americanization
Salaries $ 2,740
$ 100
$ 2,840
.87
Drawing .
4,200
700
4,900
1.51
Health
6,110
125
6,235
1.92
Home Economics
8,940
450
9,390
2.89
Manual Arts
10,270
1,600
11,870
3.66
Music.
4,220
4,220
1.3
Physical Education
11,430
225
11,655
3.59
Totals
$47,910
$3,200
$51,110
15.74
The State reimburses the Town for one-half of this amount.
Please refer to comments in the Report for 1932 for information relative to items in this table. It should be noted that all salary items are included in this table under their separate headings and that for all of these special departments only 15.74 per cent is required for operation and maintenance.
These are the headings which people talk about eliminating, little realiz- ing how much benefit is given boys and girls who come in contact with the activities which are included in the courses of studies available. It is probable that the average layman does not realize the very small amount which these so-called "fads" cost the Town and how small an effect any one of them would have upon the tax rate if eliminated. We feel very proud that Norwood has not taken the radical steps which have been resorted to in some towns where entire school systems have been disrupted and opportunities denied boys and girls through unwise and unstudicd cconomy.
Faculty Changes
Resignations
George W. Allen, Principal, Junior High School, retired.
Helen G. Osborn, Physical Education Department, to be married. Barbara Ballard, Balch School, Grade 1, to teach,elsewhere.
Josephine McCabe, Balch School, Grade 1, to be married.
Edna S. Leonard, Winslow School, Grade 6, to be married.
Deaths
Julia I. Drummy, Principal of Callahan School.
Vina G. Frecman, Callahan School, Grade 6.
New Teachers
Louise Libbey; Junior High School. Nora R. Barry, Callahan School, Grade 6.
309
Helen T. Blair, Balch School, Unassigned position.
Margaret E. Thornton, Balch School, Grade 1.
Flora Verderber, Winslow School, Grade 6 (substitute teacher).
Positions Eliminated
One ninth grade position at the Junior High School.
Transfers and Promotions
Lincoln D. Lynch from Senior High School Submaster to Junior High School Principal.
Charles A. Hayden to Submaster of Senior High School.
Margaret Nicholson from Junior High School to Senior High School English Department.
James J. Gormley to Faculty Manager of Athletics at Senior High School.
Part-time Positions (September through December, 1933 only)
Mary F. Houghton, Music Department-3 days per week.
Dorothy R. Benson, Physical Education Department-3 days per week.
Civil Works Administration Program
The School Department has benefited in a large measure through the opportunity established under the C. W. A. program for improvement of school buildings and grounds. A total of 5456 hours and the employment, part or full time, of 48 men has been possible through approval of projects originated in the School Department. The chief projects which have been completed or are now being worked upon are as follows:
Carpentry
Balch School
1. Wall radiators tightened in four rooms.
2. Stair treads repaired.
3. Partition placed in basement for Nursery School.
4. Repairs to beads on all windows and moulding moved to make windows tight.
5. Window cords replaced.
6. Door checks refilled.
7. Cold air boxes and smoke doors repaired and tightened.
Callahan School
1. Screens made for windows in auditorium and lunch room.
2. Steps made from floor to stage in auditorium.
Shattuck School
1. New treads on all stairs above basement.
2. Repairs to three doors and locks.
310
Winslow School
1. Screens made for five windows in attic.
2. Repaired gutters over front entrance.
Junior High School
1. Repairs to stage scenery.
2. Repairs to locks.
3. Back wall of gymnasium covered with sheathing and celotex.
Senior High School
1. Library shelves re-located.
2. Moulding chair rail placed in room 104.
3. Track corners for running.
Electricity
1. Six lights installed and one conduit pipe in Balch School.
2. Three lights installed in Callahan School.
3. Six lights and two base plugs installed in Shattuck School.
4. Eight lights, one buzzer, one extension bell and one switch installed in Winslow School.
5. Six lights and one switch installed in Junior High School.
Painting
1. Thirteen classrooms, one hall, two dressing rooms and all radiators painted in Balch School.
2. Boiler room painted at Callahan School.
3. Two classrooms, boiler room and four dressing rooms painted at Shattuck School.
4. Thirty-one classrooms, four halls, six dressing rooms, Superintendent's office and all radiators painted at Junior High School.
5. Four classrooms, three halls and eight dressing rooms painted at Winslow School.
6. Twelve classrooms painted and tables and desks refinished in five rooms at Senior High School.
Plumbing
Balch School
1. Seven flush boxes refastened to wall.
2. Two water boxcs relined.
3. Valve replaced in water box.
Shattuck School
1. Radiator changed from first to second floor.
2. Boilers recovered.
311
Winslow School
1. One sink installed.
Junior High School
1. Stcam return line re-located.
2. Sink installed in manual training room.
3. Steam return line in Superintendent's office changed.
4. Smoke pipc in work shop refinished.
Senior High School
1. Uni-vents repaired.
Miscellaneous
1. Twenty lockers repaired at Senior High School.
2. Six tennis nets repaired at Senior High School.
3. Two ceilings plastered at Shattuck School.
Most of the items of work which are listed above could not have been donc out of the current budget for 1933 or the requested budget for 1934. Reference to the budget tables contained in this report show that only $6400 was requested for maintenance of buildings for 1933 and but $5100 for the same purpose for 1934. The Town of Norwood, therefore, through the C. W. A. program in the School Department gains approximately $6095.64 of work.
I believe I am justified in saying that school buildings, due to the in- sistence which this program has provided, are in better condition than they have been for ten years. There is the added satisfaction to be felt that through devising the school projects a great many Norwood men have been able to obtain several wecks of employment.
Salary Contributions
The School Department employecs signed the agreement presented by the Town Finance Commission for contributing a percentage of salary to the Town for the fiscal year of 1933. The total of these contributions reached the sum of $28,699.25.
Cooperative Group Plan
The Cooperative Group Plan for elementary schools established orig- inally for Norwood in the Balch School, has now been adopted in whole or part in the Callahan, Shattuck and Winslow Schools. This plan per- mits children to receive advantages, after reaching the fifth grade and in some cases the third grade, of having more than one teacher for their day's prograin of instruction. It is assumed that every teacher is particularly strong in certain subjects or groups of subjects and that possibly every teacher has certain weaknesses when she is required to teach everything in the day's program. The Cooperative Group Plan so arranges the day's
312
schedule that teachers are assigned the subjects which they feel most qualified to specialize in and pupils are sent to possibly three or more rooms for their instruction.
Vocational Training at the Senior High School
I believe it necessary to repeat again that the opportunities for voca- tional training as now offered in the Senior High School are not adequate to meet the demands of our boys and girls. Recent studies as prepared in the Senior High School show that in the election of studies there is a decided lean toward the vocational subjects. There is a large increase in the number of girls participating in home economics courses, the com- mercial department now enrolls over half of the school, and the boys' activities in manual arts and mechanical drawing are over-crowded to the extent that many applicants for this work have had to be denied the privilege.
The situation as existing now is more favorable to the girls than to the boys as broader facilities and room space exists for the courses offered to girls. An extension of the shop facilities at the Senior High School are badly nceded as is shown by the fact that over sixty boys had to be denied the privilege of participating in some of this work. There has not been, in recent years, a strong trend toward the classical and academic courses in the Norwood High School and a very small demand for preparation for the strictly academic colleges. In the past four years, including the de- pression years, this demand has been even less. Pupils scem to wish to take something which may prepare them to some degree to earn a living after they get out of high school and those who prepare for advanced cducation are looking more and more toward the specialized schools and colleges.
It would indeed be a matter of great bencfit to the Town if the Henry O. Peabody School fund could be uscd at this time to make possible an extension of vocational activities for girls. The establishment of such a school would liberate somc room facilities at the high school which could be used for an extension of the boys' work which is now pushed into but two rooms for the entire school.
I wish to speak with much regret of the resignation of George W. Allen, Junior High School Principal. Mr. Allen has served for twenty-three years in principalship capacity of the Norwood schools and for the past twelve ycars as Principal of the Junior High School. His work with pupils and teachers has been appreciated and we wish him good health and happi- ncss in his retirement.
The entire teaching force and hundreds of children and parents were saddened by the deaths of Miss Julia I. Drummy, Principal of the Callahan School and Mrs. Vina Freeman, sixth grade teacher in that school. In their passing the children have lost genuine friends and helpers and two
-
313
faithful teachers who have been interested in the good of Norwood boys and girls for many years.
Other Matters Important to Schools
1. Change of the shorthand system in the Senior High School from Chandler to Gregg. After having used the Chandler system for nearly twenty years, this change became necessary chiefly because of the in- ability to obtain suitable Chandler teachers to fill vacancies when replace- ments were needed.
2. Establishment of the Chadwick Clinic in Norwood. Nearly all boys and girls were examined under the Chadwick Clinic established by the State Department of Health for possible strains of Tuberculosis. Teachers were also given the privilege of this examination.
3. Establishment for a period of sixteen weeks of classes for unemployed in the Junior High School. Some of these classes were:
Art
Home Economics
Aeronautics
Journalism
Chemistry
Personality and the Well Groomed Girl
Commercial Subjects
Physical Education
Draftsmanship
Radio
4. Extensive repairs required for the Junior High School boilers because of a breakdown. It was necessary to expend for unanticipated repairs the sum of $2,481.53.
5. Classes for grades eight and nine have been eliminated from the sum- mer school. This elimination was effected partially for the saving of expense, but more to discourage the impression of some eighth and ninth grade pupils that they may do mediocre work, and in some cases failing work, during the year and make it up in summer school.
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