USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wayland > Official reports of the town of Wayland 1939-1941 > Part 17
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The grounds about the High School building were greatly improved this year through the generosity of the Wayland Gar-
165
den Club. The Club, closely following the plan for landscaping the High School grounds as drawn by Mr. Shurcliff, purchased a number of trees and had them planted. The Committee wishes to thank the Garden Club again for its very thoughtful gift to the school, and for a very splendid piece of work. The High School building has been painted and the drive repaired.
Two additional teachers were employed this year to take care of our increasing school registration ,one in the High School, and one in the Cochituate school. An extra teacher is now needed in the Wayland Center school to assist with the large classes by caring for those pupils who need additional help with their studies.
Many of the townspeople attended the two school exhibi- tions. The High School girls, under the direction of the teacher of Physical Education, gave an exhibition of their gymnasium work in April; and the Wayland Center school gave an exhibi- tion of the class room work of the grade pupils in June. The Committee appreciates the great amount of work required of the teachers and pupils to prepare for these exhibitions, and wishes to thank them all.
The School Committee wishes to thank Mr. Morrissey for so kindly arranging to transport the school children who are at- tending a series of youth concerts at Symphony Hall, Boston.
The Finance Committee has placed the supervision of the District Nurse and her work under the School Committee. When the Town last year assumed the whole support and super- vision of the District Nurse, the Finance Committee felt, that as long as the District and School Nurse was one and the same person, it was better to put all her work under the same Com- mittee. The rules for the District Nursing work and the col- lection of the fees remain the same as they were under the Dis- trict Nursing Association.
CORNELIUS J. MAGUIRE, DOROTHY C. STONE, DOROTHY S. DAMON.
166
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Salaries
Mary Kerr
$1,530.00
Eleanor Partridge
1,305.00
Evelyn L. Martin
1,236.75
Doris Currier
1,305.00
Edith Lindsey
1,067.50
Marjorie M. Lareau
1,117.50
Jane Noel Campbell
1,274.13
Ethelyn Morrill
1,303.00
Edwina Lareau
597.50
Sulo A. Kempainen
1,500.00
Joseph A. Daniels
1,035.00
Virginia A. Robbins
780.00
Helen D. Pearson
350.32
Mabel S. Draper
1,305.00
Elizabeth Smith
1,298.13
Dorothy M. Falvey
967.50
Gertrude Macdonald
1,305.00
Doris Litchfield
1,117.50
Ernest W. Schleicher
360.00
Marguerite E. Peaslee
668.00
David J. Allen
2,700.00
A. Marion Simpson
1,530.00
Maude E. Merrithew
1,530.00
Mildred A. Henderson
1,530.00
Francis R. Gladu
1,800.00
Margaret C. Robbins
1,274.00
Eugene G. Pare
1,270.00
Janie C. Foster
1,485.00
Genevieve Connors
1,024.50
Robert C. Orr
350.00
Frank H. Benedict
1,744.75
Mary E. McNeil
100.00
Mary E. McNeil
112.50
Substitutes :
Patricia Benedict
4.00
167
Evelyn A. Mantyla Mabel Hammond Edwina Lareau
5.00
25.00
18.00
Leonice Beatson
38.00
Dorothy S. Walsh
2.00
Mary Garvey Patnode
4.00
Eleanor Marston Dudley
32.00
Ellen Ferguson
52.00
$38,053.58
Janitors :
Thomas Metcalf
$1,080.00
Frederick H. Perry
1,200.00
George F. Dickey
1,245.76
John Linnehan
4.00
3,529.76
Transportation :
William H. Morrissey
$5,402.44
George N. Sherman
1,121.00
Everett Bigwood
456.00
Helen Carter Wheeler
380.00
Fuel
2,103.71
Grounds
416.57
Building Alterations
300.69
Repairs, Replacements
1,853.11
New Equipment
461.29
Miscellaneous Expenses of Operation
1,228.63
Miscellaneous
303.53
General Control
160.56
Principal's Office
29.93
Supplies
1,819.21
Health Supplies
6.77
Physical Education
518.51
Books
1,104.22
Library
94.96
Grand Total for Support
$59,344.46
1940 Appropriation
Town Grant
$58,350.00
Dog Licenses
379.03
Transfer from Finance Committee
500.00
168
7,359.44
Transfer from Finance Committee Credit, Nurse's Salary
25.43 90.00
$59,344.46
Refunds
From the State :
General School Fund, Part I
$4,978.50
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards 895.16
$5,873.66
Telephone Re-imbursements
3.13
Total Refunds
$5,876.79
Special Appropriations
Town Grant
$135.00
Expended : E. E. Sparks, M. D.
135.00
DENTAL CLINIC
Town Grant
$350.00
Transfer from Finance Committee
38.56
Total
$388.56
Expended :
$388.56
VOCATIONAL TUITION
Expended :
$963.56
Reimbursement from State ---
one-half expenditure of 1939
$571.94
Income from Donation Fund
Income
$5.77
Expended : J. L. Hammett Company,
Penmanship Charts $5.77
169
The following report of the Superintendent of Schools was not accepted by the School Committee, which Committee as- sumes no responsibility for the information or opinions ex- pressed.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Wayland School Committee :
In submitting my thirtieth annual report, my thirty-ninth as a Superintendent of Schools, I am offering a short history of this Superintendency Union, some recommendations for the future, a few comments relative to my many years of service in the work and in the Union, and the usual reports and statistics.
THE PAST
At the annual March meeting, 1895, Wayland voted to form a Supervisory District under the permissive act of the General Court for so doing, the State to bear a large percentage of the expenses for maintenance of the Office. Fourteen neigh- boring town were mentioned in the vote as desirable towns for such a District. None of the fourteen mentioned were as pro- gressive as Wayland educationally, so the Wayland School Committee enlarged the territory of desirables and finally united with West Boylston, West Boylston agreeing to 3/5 of the time and Wayland the other 2/5.
The Joint Committee of this newly formed District met and elected Mr. J. A. Pitman who served about two years and then went to Marlborough and thence on to his very long and able service as Principal of Salem Normal School, now State Teachers College at Salem. A Mr. Howard and a Mr. Stone were each elected to succeed Mr. Pitman but declined. Mr. Fairfield Whitney who made an enviable record in his life time as a Superintendent of Schools finally came to the Office.
In 1898 the Union of West Boylston and Wayland was dissolved as a law had become effective making it obligatory upon all towns of two and a half million dollars valuation and less to become members of the Superintendency Unions.
Under direction and advice of the State Board of Educa-
170
tion, the committees of Dover, Wayland, and Sudbury met in Joint Convention. This Joint Committee voted to form a District and elected Mr. Rufus E. Corlew on April 27, 1898. Mr. Rufus E. Corlew was succeeded by his father, Mr. J. T. Corlew. The succession thereafter is Mr. S. C. Hutchinson, who served about two years, Mr. C. F. Prior, who served for about two years, and the present incumbent who came to the Union on November 1, 1910.
The following table is of interest :
1898
1910
1940
Registration
448
370
782
Number of Teachers
13
14
27
Valuation
1,527,205
2,840,162
5,559,712.50
Expenditures
6,200
15,818.81
59,344.46
Teachers were paid around $11.00 per week, but of course living expenses were relatively low in 1898.
The Center building was completed and occupied in 1898 at a cost of $17,000.00 to the Town. Mr. Francis Shaw is re- corded as having paid toward its construction $4,569.35. More than half of the second floor was devoted to an attractive little hall. Some thought in those days that the town had a white elephant on its hands, that the building would never be filled. One room was not fully furnished for a number of years and one of the smaller rooms was not finished until after 1910.
It is always difficult for a town to apraise the future as to school population.
Thirty years ago the Cochituate elementary children were in the old three story building which stood directly back of the present attractive building which was in the process of con- struction and planned for ten rooms, six only being erected at the time. The Lokerville building was still standing. Children were conveyed to and from school by horse drawn vehicles and the electric cars. As indicated in the foregoing table, there were 14 full time teachers and 3 part time teachers employed then against the 27 full time and 2 part time teachers today.
The school service to the children has been enriched by the employment of a nurse, physician, dentist, and maintenance of other health clinics. We have established a vigorous course in physical education and may well find satisfaction in the major sports as now carried on for both boys and girls in the high school.
171
Two of the buildings have a luncheon service that is ade- quate and milk is served at the other building.
The method of transportation has changed radically. Wayland should be well pleased with the service the School Committee has purchased with the money appropriated for this purpose. Nearly 121/2% of the appropriation for education is expended for transportation. This is the price we have to pay for the privileges of rural residence in a town that is long and narrow, about 712 miles by 312 miles, and for educational ad- vantages to our children equivalent to those of larger towns or more thickly populated centers. It seems worth the price to me.
Beginning April 1, 1940, by decree of the Commissioner of Education, by consent of the towns of Dover, Sudbury, and Wayland, through their Committees, the town of Sherborn was added to the Union.
Thus has Father Time brought about and wrought many changes in the Union and in the town of Wayland especially.
The burden of work has increased in Wayland directly as indicated and indirectly through many State requirements not heretofore carried on by the State in connection with towns. The number of teachers and other educational offerings have also increased in the other towns of the Union. Consequently it seems desirable to have a Union covering less territory or an experienced and able full time clerk.
It may not be tactful for me to discuss this matter, but as I am anxious to see a solution of the problem made for the well being of the children of these towns and for the towns them- selves I offer three solutions for Wayland.
Wayland may well consider the employment of a full time Superintendent. This will aid considerably to the expenses and involve a high priced employee in much clerical work that can be done better by some one less expensive and better trained for the service.
Wayland may well consider uniting with one of the towns, presumably Sudbury, the most naturally located geographically, and so be able to have clerical assistance for the Central Office, and much desirable clerical help for both towns.
The present four town Union may not be desirable but a three town union with clerical help makes a strong unit for ser- vice that can be efficient and modernly powerful for preparing our youth for a changed and ever rapidly changing world.
172
THE FUTURE
Those of my generation did our studying by the light of a kerosene lamp. Our eyes were adjusted to such light for all non-daylight work and entertainment. Times have changed. Much study has been made of late as to lighting, its efficiency, and to fatigue resulting from poor or improper lighting. Con- sequently it is my earnest hope that the proposed rewiring of the Cochituate School for better lighting and with the most modern lamps may meet with the approval of the town. This to me is a matter of health, enjoyment of study, and success in school as well as one of preservation of eyesight, important as that is.
I also recommend that each year from now on rooms be furnished with the best type of lamp on the market until all rooms in the three buildings are scientifically lighted.
The Cochituate grounds need attention. Some day in the near future a septic tank will have to be installed to replace the one now 30 years in service. The outside needs painting very, very much as a matter of economy, and the fire escape should be re-leaded and painted again. A room or two should be re-decorated. Shades will have to be renewed from time to time very soon. Stair tread and certain portions of the hall floors need attention.
The Center Elementary building needs painting without. The shingles have been on a good many years and if not treated soon, since they have never had any care heretofore, will have to be replaced if neglected much longer. Some of the smaller room need re-decorating, especially the Office. The floors in this building will need attention also before long.
The high school building will soon begin to show a need for a beginning of re-decorating of walls and varnishing of the wood work.
Changes will need to be made in courses of study and other educational procedures. However, I wish to call to your attention the fact that a course in Biology should be of- fered in the High School and to emphasize the fact that in order to do a real fine piece of work in the Physical Sciences an investment of $1,500.00 to $2,000.00 is needed, especially if Biology is offered.
Wayland is paying the school physician $135.00. He ex- amines approximately 750 children each year as well as being
173
on call for other service and for advice at all times. This sum for the examinations alone gives an allowance of $0.18 per examination. Certainly the town is getting a deal of service for eighteen cents. I recommend a larger investment for medi- cal service that a more extensive examination may be given.
Further time of a dentist can be used to great advantage.
Seniors and Juniors in high school need to be assigned a great deal of research work if they qualify for many walks of life today. This means library facilities. Our high school has a very limited number of reference books and practically no space for them. Our town library is near the school, it has a wealth of material, our children are scattered over much terri- tory, the days and hours the library is open debars all use of same. Teachers may not make assignments that require re- search and be justified in demanding the work be done with- out library facilities. In order to have the Wayland Library serve the young people of the school it should be open at such times as will make its service to the school possible.
The driveway to the high school should have follow up work during the next two years to insure retention of the fine foundation now finished.
The Superintendent should have a properly heated office. My residence has been the office during each winter for thirty years.
Some attention should be given before another winter to improving the heating of two rooms at the high school.
RECENT SATISFYING ACCOMPLISHMENTS
The long talked of and much begged for drainage system for the Cochituate School, together with the filter bed and the renovating of the basement so that it is highly satisfactory, and the fine work done in renovating and modernizing the Center School basement, are accomplishments long sought and needed much. They bring the writer great satisfaction.
REGRETS
I am sorry not to have done many things I should have done and might have done during these 30 years. I regret things I have done that had better been left undone and the things I have said that a better understanding and a more generous, kindlier spirit would have left unspoken.
It is with regret that I view the attractive high school build-
174
ing in its impressive setting and realize that school officials did not have the influence, the salesmanship, to secure for the town a building of sufficient proportions to carry on school accommo- dations much longer than the present building can, especially since the elementary buildings are now practically at capacity. School officials and students of the future for Wayland saw the need that would surely arise.
Deploring the things of yesterday is valueless. I find satisfaction in the belief that perhaps in the long run it is well for the town not to have bought the more commodious building. When the time is sufficiently urgent to demand immediate further schoolhouse building, Wayland will be in a position to change from the less desirable 8-4 plan of organization to the modern and much better plan of organization : namely, a 6-year elementary organization in two buildings, a Senior High School and a Junior High School in separate buildings. This will make it possible to erect a building with gymnasium-auditorium to serve the thickly populated southerly section of the town, edu- cationally better because of the great need of recreation facili- ties such a building will afford the community. In all proba- bility study of the situation will bring the Senior high school to the proposed building since a very large percentage of Senior High School students will as at present attend Senior high from the southerly districts of the town.
COMPLIMENTARY
School Committee service requires the highest type of of- ficial art. My fifty years in school service have brought me into contact quite intimately with many town officials. Con- sequently I entertain certain opinions in regard to official service, and especially to the services of school committees that are facts or very closely allied to facts. Business, parent- hood, educational experience, professional occupation and other experiences in life do not assure voters that high grade school committee service will result from their selection of a com- mittee member. Men are no more likely to succeed than are women. Those who do not have children may be more con- siderate executives than are those with children. But the man or woman who possesses a keen analytic mind, supported by a forward looking imagination, who is kindly of heart, fearless in spirit, impartial in judging, makes firm kindly decisions, and above all is altruistic and public spirited will surely serve the schools most highly.
175
In passing, without intentionally offending anyone, I wish to express my appreciation of the years of service Mr. Llewellyn Mills gave to the schools of Wayland. We worked together for more than 20 years most intimately and cordially for the welfare of boys and girls of Wayland. In all those years the Town, the teachers, the boys and girls, and all other connected with the schools received highly unselfish, able, and aggressive service of a co-worker I honor and esteem beyond words to express.
Dr. Ernest E. Sparks has given ten years of school com- mittee service and many more as school physician. I appreciate his loyalty to the schools, his excellent judgment at all times, and his firm intention to serve all without prejudice.
Frank C. Remick, Richard Ames, and Mrs. Grace Loker Bond served with distinction, rated by the test of great interest in the welfare of young people.
THE TEACHER
Long years ago, at the early age of four years, I entered a large village school among Vermont's beautiful hills, a school that enrolled all grades and ages from four years to twenty. Miss Susan Walker was the teacher. Ever since that early ex- perience I have had visions of a teacher who gave more than the traditional lessons found in books. And again a vigorous young man came one winter to us whom I shall never forget. His instruction carried us beyond the hilltops and out into the eternity of years.
The superior teacher gives the unmeasurable and non- definable, that which lasts as an influence long after many of the other lessons have faded from memory.
May I mention a few of the many who have worked in Wayland with me during my long term of service? Miss Agnes E. Boland, Mr. L. K. Houghton, Sr., Miss Elizabeth Hodge, Mrs. Grace Loker Bond, Mrs. Sarah Caldwell, Miss Sylvia E. Prescott, Mrs. Janet M. MacNamara. Miss Mabel Whitten, Miss Marie L. Leach, and a Miss Rose who was with me only a few weeks are remembered cordially for the things they stood for in school life for children. Mr. Herbert Moore, Miss Alice Molloy, and Miss Elizabeth Shea gave freely of their visions for life to the children.
In closing this report I thank you as a Committee for all
176
kindnesses and consideration granted me. I am grateful to the good people of Wayland for the fine educational advantages given my three boys, the cordial friendly consideration of my shortcomings, and for the fine reception given us as neighbors and co-workers in that part of Wayland known as Cochituate wherein we have been most intimately associated and occupied as citizens.
Yours truly, FRANK H. BENEDICT.
177
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Superintendent Frank H. Benedict,
Cochituate, Mass.
Dear Mr. Benedict :
I herewith submit to you my twenty-third annual report as Principal of the Wayland High School.
The maximum enrollment is 188 students-89 boys and 99 girls.
The present enrollment is 167 students-79 boys and 88 girls.
The present enrollment is distributed to courses as shown in the following tabulation :
Freshman Class
Sophomore Class
Junior Class
Senior Class
Postgraduate Students
Totals
Course
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
Boys
Girls
College
5 10
4
2
4
4
2
2 10
16 18
Commercial
11 19
2
7
2
4 7
3 5
9
1 00 20
45 31
Home Economics
0
1
0
2
0
2
0
3 00
0 8
Totals
30 36
17 20
19 17
10 15
30
79 88
The present enrollment of students is attending classes as follows :
English 1
55
English 2
47
English 3
40
18 31
General
14
6
11
9
13
178
English 4
28
French 2
56
French 3
16
French 4
4
Latin 1
31
Latin 2
9
Latin 3-4
4
Ancient History 1
21
U. S. History 4
26
Algebra 1
39
Algebra 3
14
Plane Geometry
16
Physics 3-4
17
General Science 1
24
Arithmetic 1
14
Bookkeeping 1
56
Bookkeeping 2
27
Bookkeeping 3-4
16
Busines Training 1
45
Commercial Geography 2
14
Commercial Law and Economics 3
33
Typewriting 2
38
Typewriting 3
17
Salesmanship 3
14
Stenography 3
15
Stenography 4
5
Business Practice 4
16
Domestic Science 1
14
Domestic Science 2
9
Home Management 3
6
Home Management 4
5
Drawing
11
Physical Education, Boys
35
Physical Education, Girls
57
Sincerely yours,
DAVID J. ALLEN,
Wayland, Mass., January 9, 1941.
179
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Frank H. Benedict,
Superintendent of Wayland Schools,
Cochituate, Mass.
Dear Mr. Benedict :
I hereby have the honor of submitting my sixteenth report as School Physician of Wayland Schools.
Each student was given individual attention and his or her defects, if any, were noted. As in previous years the foot- ball candidates were given test exercises to determine their heart tolerance and inspected for any other physical weakness.
The following defects were found in the grades and a comparison is here given with last year :
1939
1940
Defective tonsils
133
85
Defective glands
19
12
Defective posture
60
49
Defective teeth
130
90
Defective adenoids
57
22
Defective heart
1
0
There has been a marked reduction in the number of cer- vical glands during the last two years which I believe is due to benefit derived from the dental clinic.
Many of the students have fallen victims to Whooping cough, Chicken-pox, and Measles during the last year.
Impetigo, Scabies, and Pediculosis have been well under control.
May I once more express my thanks to everyone con- nected with Wayland Schools.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST E. SPARKS, M. D.
December 31, 1940.
180
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Frank H. Benedict,
Wayland, Mass.
Dear Sir :
During the year I have had 14 cases of questionable ab- sences reported to me.
Number having no excuse 8 Truants accompanied to school 5
For my report of the School Census, I refer you to the figures on the following page.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. McNEIL, Supervisor of Attendance.
181
CENSUS RETURNS October 1, 1940
Number of boys five years of age and under seven 58
Number of girls five years of age and under seven 62
Total 120
Number of boys seven years of age and under sixteen 308
Number of girls seven years of age and under sixteen 273
Total 581
Number of Children Not Attending School
Five years old and under seven
Boys
23
Girls
24
Total 47
Number of Children Attending Local Private Schools
Five years old and under seven
Boys
2
Girls
4
-
Total 6
Seven years old and under sixteen
Boys
Girls
0 0 00
Total 0
182
Number of Children Attending Private or Out of Town Public Schools
Five years old and under seven Boys Girls
1
1
Total 2
Seven years old and under sixteen
Boys
8
Girls
9
Total
17
Number of Illiterate
O 0
Number of Physically Handicapped Children Instructed at Home
Seven to sixteen years old
Boys
0
Girls
2
Total 2
183
CURRENT REGISTRATION September to December
School
Room
Grade
Number in Grade
Building Total
Cochituate
1
I
42
2
II
33
3
III
37
4
IV
37
5
V
37
6
VI
32
7
VII
35
8
VIII
32
306
Center
1
I
39
2
II
40
3
III
34
4
IV
43
5
V
36
6
VI
37
7
VII
35
8
VIII
24
288
Total in Elementary Schools
594
High School Freshmen
70
Sophomores
47
Juniors
40
Seniors
27
Post Graduates
4
188
Cochituate Overflow Grade I
9
II
12
21
Total Registration
782
184
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE OCTOBER 1, 1940
BOYS
Age
Grade 5 6 7 8
9 10
11
12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Totals
1
10 26 6
1
43
2
11 23 7 4
45
3
4 12 7
3 4
30
4
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