Norwood annual report 1932-1935, Part 36

Author: Norwood (Mass.)
Publication date: 1932
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 1450


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1932-1935 > Part 36


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93


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.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.