USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Plainville > Plainville, Massachusetts annual reports 1951-1959 > Part 10
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
Daniel R. Foley, Priest
June
20-Albert J. Beyesdorfer, Plainville, Mass. Elizabeth G. Gaskin, North Attleboro, Mass. Rev. Charles L. Berkey, Clergyman
25-George Pentleton, Plainville, Mass. Maude (Beam) Cheever, Plainville, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
28-James Arthur Card, Plainville, Mass. Agnes Estella (Dakin) Gilbert, Lansborough, Mass. Christian B. Jensen, Minister
28-Aime C. Hebert, North Attleboro, Mass. Lucy I. Sharron, Plainville, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
July
5-William Paul Dittrich, Plainville, Mass. Elizabeth Jensen, Plainville, Mass.
John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
16-Robert Walter Chace, Attleboro, Mass. Beverly Claire O'Brien, Plainville, Mass. Charles B. Mclaughlin, Justice of the Peace
19-Joseph William Fish, Plainville, Mass. Mary Josephine McDonald, Boston, Mass. James J. Scally, Priest
August
16-Foster Hopkins Burlin, North Attleboro, Mass. Esther Anne Clentimack, Plainville, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
23-John E. Rioux, North Attleboro, Mass. Nancy Jane Rogers, Plainville, Mass. Rev. Edward J. Keating, S. J., Priest
30-Thomas Joseph Santos, Attleboro, Mass. Jeanine Bertha Theriault. Plainville, Mass. Rev. Edgar A. Therriault, S.M., Priest
September
1-Richard A. Peterson, Plainville, Mass. Lorraine Beatrice Plante, North Attleboro, Mass. Edmund L. Dickinson, Priest
6-James Bernard Power, Jr., Plainville, Mass. Joan Frances McQuade, Plainville, Mass.
John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
52
ANNUAL REPORT
13-Roy Emerson Morse, Mansfied, Mass. Gladys Miriam Cook, Plainville, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
13-Daniel Charles Freitas, Valley Falls, R. I. Jacqueline DesJardins, Plainville, Mass. Jerimiah J. Collins, Priest
27-Alden Ballou Franklin, Plainville, Mass. Barbara Theta Martin, Plainville, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
October
4-Dean Lovell Clark, Attleboro, Mass. Ruth Shirley Adams, Plainville, Mass.
John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
18-Frank M. Sharron, Plainville, Mass. Ruth E. Mckenzie, Taunton, Mass. Clement Boesflug, M.M., Priest
25-Benjamin A. Lambert, Jr., Saylesville, R. I. Jean Dorothy Childs, Plainville, Mass. Robert S. Beecher, Rector
November
8-Chester E. Tracy, Jr., Stamford, Conn. Mildred R. Lingquist, Plainville, Mass. Russell E. Gundlach, Clergyman
8-Robert G. Cooper, Mansfield, Mass. Elizabeth A. Rowe, Plainville, Mass.
Thomas P. Fallon, Priest
15-Herbert Eugene Thompson, Plainville, Mass. Caroline Ralston, North Attleboro, Mass. Robert S. Beecher, Rector
27-Philip Cunningham, Foxboro, Mass. Pauline Thibodeau, Brockton, Mass. John M. Bowmar, Clergyman
A true copy. Attest:
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Town Clerk
DEATHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE DURING 1952
Date
Name
Yrs.
Mo. Day
Cause of Death
Non-Resident
Feb. 18, 1952-Beulah Edwards (Cook)
83
Mar. 29, 1952-Emma A. Wilson (Pierce)
79
4
5
Mar. 30, 1952-Jennie McCarthy
90
Apr. 3, 1952-John Henry Hattman
88
11
23
Apr. 16, 1952-Joseph Marcus Dohr
84
11
21
Cerebral Hemorrhage
May 21, 1952-Jennie Emily Nestor (Aldrich)
75
7
23
May 28, 1952-Catherine Slattery
85
June 1, 1952-Kate Cohen (Berman)
63
8
17
Accident, compound fractured skull, internal injuries
June 21, 1952-Lydia Eliza Harlow
83
8
3
Cerebral Hemorrhage Coronary Thrombosis
Aug. 31, 1952-Ralph Henry Dyer
75
2
11
Dec. 14, 1952-Ellen Ward Greene
87
9
1
Resident
Jan. 7, 1952-Edwin William Pink
70
6
18
Cerebral Thrombosis
Jan. 19, 1952-Eugene Dennett
55
7
0
Heart Disease
Feb. 15, 1952-Norman Odell Stoddard
43
5
11
Mar. 3, 1952-Frances L. Walden (Young)
89
Acute Nephritis
Mar. 8, 1952-George Chabot
47
7
2
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Mar. 14, 1952-Barbara Fields-Klebes (Hackett)
91
10
19
Arterio-Sclerotic, Heart Disease
Mar. 14, 1952-Elizabeth May Cleveland (Marble)
65
4
25
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Apr. 6, 1952-Napoleon Charest
56
10
10
Hypostatic Broncho-pneumonia
Apr. 26, 1952-Agnes M. Russell
54
2
Cerbral Thrombosis
Cerebral Hemorrhage Cerebral Hemorrhage Myocardial Heart Disease Chronic Cardio-Reval Vascular Disease
Myocardial Heart Disease Chronic Myocarditis
Aug. 23, 1952-Sophie King Lovely
86
Chronic Myocarditis Arterio Sclerosis
Hypertensive Heart Disease
DEATHS RECORDED IN PLAINVILLE DURING 1952-Continued
Date
Name
Yrs.
Mo.
Day
Cause of Death
May
8, 1952-Joseph Francis McQuade
55
3
13
Hypertensive Heart Disease
May 11, 1952-Stillborn
May 18, 1952-Morey G. Day
69
6
29
Cancer of the rectum
May 20, 1952-Stillborn
June 2, 1952-Hope Ashley Robinson (Williams)
85
3
26
Coronory Thrombosis
June 26, 1952-Jacob Engelbert
77
5
10
Cerebral Hemorrhage
June 27, 1952-Annabelle Crotty Read
79
10
Diabetes Mellitus
July 2, 1952-Harriette Louise Hartman (Greenley)
63
3
8
July 14, 1952-Gilbert Wayne Schofield
5
4
Chronic Myocarditis Accident-Ruptured spleen and stomach
July 22, 1952-Philip Albert Bennett
73
18
Acute Coronory Thrombosis
Sept. 11, 1952-Arthur Beauchaine
56
6
18
Arterio sclerotic, Heart disease
Sept. 13, 1952-Emily Clark
73
4
13
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Sept. 18, 1952-Charles E. Works
61
3
18
Carcinoma of rectum
Sept. 20, 1952-Alice Maude Jane Welch
90
6
25
Arterio sclerotic, Heart Disease
Oct. 14, 1952-Ethel Maude Shepardson (Angell)
73
9
22
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Oct. 18, 1952-Wilhelmina Stephen (Sharp)
88
3
16
Bronchopneumonia
Oct. 30, 1952-Stillborn
Oct. 31, 1952-George Prentice Falk
63
2
4
Acute Myocardial Infarction
Nov. 11, 1952-Wyman I. Bartlett
90
2
Cerebral Hemorrhage
Nov. 20, 1952-Joseph Everton, Sr.
59
10
1
Bronchia-genic carcinoma
Metastases to Liver
A true copy. Attest:
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN, Town Clerk
ANNUAL REPORT
55
LICENSE FEES RECEIVED BY TOWN CLERK
Number of Dog Licenses: 269
$631.00
6 Kennel Licenses
@
$10.00
60.00
2 Kennel Licenses
@
25.00
50.00
1 Kennel License @
50.00
50.00
$791.00
Less fees:
55.60
$735.40
10 Common Victuallers
@
$3.00
30.00
7 Lord's Day
@
3.00
21.00
1 Lord's Day (Part of year)
@
1.00
1.00
10 Sale of Gasoline
@
1.00
10.00
3 Week Day Amusement
@
1.00
3.00
1 Used Car Junk III
@
25.00
25.00
2 Auctioneers
@
2.00
4.00
1 Auctioneer
@
5.00
5.00
1 Junk
@
25.00
25.00
1 Dynamite
@
1.00
1.00
1 Manicuring
@
1.00
1.00
9 Wood Alcohol
@
1.00
9.00
4 Over Night Cabins
@
.50
2.00
1 Over Night Cabins applic.
@
3.00
3.00
2 Piggeries
@
1.00
2.00
2 Garbage
a
1.00
2.00
2 Manufacture of
Frozen Dessert
@
5.00
10.00
2 Rooming House
@
1.00
2.00
1 Slaughtering
@
1.00
1.00
1 Manufacture of
Sausage Meat
@
3.00
3.00
1 Sale of Firearms
@
5.00
5.00
1 Poultry Slaughter House
@
5.00
5.00
22 One Day Beer
@
1.00
22.00
1 Sunday Permit to Work
@
1.00
1.00
6 Business Certificates
@
1.00
6.00
2 Kindergarten Permits
@
1.00
2.00
1 Swedish Massage
(part year)
@
3.00
3.00
$204.00
56
ANNUAL REPORT
1 All Alcoholic Restaurant 500.00
1 All Alcoholic Club (part of year) 300.00
1 All Alcoholic Package Store 250.00
1 Beer & Wine Restaurant 100.00
1,150.00
1953 Licenses Paid in 1952:
5 Common Victuallers
@
3.00
15.00
1 Inn Holder
@
5.00
5.00
6 Week Day Amusement
@
1.00
6.00
2 Beer & Wine
Package Store
@
100.00
200.00
1 Beer & Wine Restaurant
@
200.00
200.00
3 All Alcoholic Restaurant @
500.00
1,500.00
2 All Alcoholic Club
@
500.00
1,000.00
2,926.00
Paid to Town Treasurer:
$5,015.40
Fishing Licenses
415
Hunting Licenses
231
Sporting Licenses
145
Minor Fishing
36
Female Fishing
81
Minor Trapping
2
Citizen Trapping
10
Special Fishing
2
Non Resident Minor Fishing
13
Non Resident Citizen Fishing
3
Non Resident Citizen Hunting
10
Duplicate licenses
4
Non Resident Military Sporting
4
Resident Citizen Sporting, Free
25
Resident Citizen Military Sporting, free 24 Resident Citizens Old Age, or Blind, Free 11
1016
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Town Clerk
ANNUAL REPORT
57
APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT TOWN CLERK
Plainville, Mass. March 13, 1952
To Charles S. Cobb of said Plainville:
Sir:
By virtue of the authority in me vested, with full power of revocation, I do hereby appoint you Assistant Town Clerk of said Plainville, with all powers, duties and authority apper- taining to said office.
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN
Town Clerk
REPORT OF TOWN CLERK'S EXPENSES
For Year Ending December 31, 1952
Arthur W. Washburn, Vital Statistics
$106.00
Walter F. Costello, Law Digest
3.00
Typing
4.00
Mass. Town Clerk's Assoc. dues
5.00
Postage
25.00
Binding Records
41.00
Miscellaneous Supplies
5.85
Arthur W. Washburn, Salary
300.00
Appropriation
$500.00
Expended
489.85
$ 10.15
$489.85
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Town Clerk
58
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF BOARD OF REGISTRARS EXPENSES
Frank King, Salary
150.00
Harold Anderson, Salary
150.00
Dacia Anderson, Salary
150.00
Arthur W. Washburn, Salary
150.00
Typing, Street Lists
17.00
Hobbs & Warren, Inc., listing cards
9.90
Supplies
12.15
$639.05
Appropriation
$650.00
Expended
639.05
Balance
$ 10.95
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Clerk of Board
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report as Tree Warden for the year ending December 31, 1952.
Appropriation
$300.00
Labor:
Trimming Trees and Cutting Brush
$296.30
Balance
$3.70
Respectfully submitted,
ALEC FREDRICKSON,
Tree Warden
59
ANNUAL REPORT
JURY LIST
Town of Plainville, Massachusetts
July 1952 - July 1953
Name Address Occupation
MEN
Ballou, George W., Hancock Street Carpenter, Lawrence H., Lincoln Avenue Callahan, James A., Hillcrest Drive Cobb, Richard M., West Bacon Street Coles, Chester E., Warren Street Fanning, Frank W., School Street Grocut, William S., Jr., Hillcrest Drive Henrich, Frank V., Bacon Square Hooker, Miles E., High Street Jensen, Lloyd A., Washington Street O'Neil, Edward J., East Bacon Street Parker, Clarence P., Jr., South Street Renner, Eric F., Berry Street Reynolds, Frederick C., South Street Sweeting, Fred, Witherell Place
Steelworker
Accountant
Office Manager
Engineer
Toolmaker
Machinist
Salesman Jeweler
Insurance Salesman Cabin Proprietor Accountant
Heating Engineer
Polisher
Office Clerk Toolmaker
WOMEN
Clarke, Viola L., South Street
Jeweler
Johnson, Barbara L., South Street
Housewife
King, Maida L., South Street Clerk
ARTHUR W. WASHBURN,
Town Clerk
60
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I submit herewith my report of the Moth Department for the year ending December 31, 1952.
Appropriation
$800.00
State Tree Expert Company and
Labor and Material
$738.00
Truck Hire
$54.50
Total Expenditures
$792.50
Balance
$7.50
Respectfully submitted,
ALEC FREDRICKSON,
Moth Superintendent
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the year ending December 31, 1952.
All cattle brought in from out of state were identified by ear tag and released.
The fall inspection asked for by the State has been com- pleted.
Respectfully submitted,
EARL B. THOMPSON,
Inspector of Animals
ANNUAL REPORT
of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
of
PLAINVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
PLAN
VILL
MASS.
COLONY
28
E. MASS.
WREN-
THAM
1673
.1905
PLAIN
.
VILLE
INCOR
19
OS.
19
4.
OR
APRIL
TED
For Year Ending December 31, 1952
NMOL
-1664;
..
62
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL OFFICIALS
School Committee
CLINTON E. BARTON, Chairman Term Expires 1955 Telephone North Attleboro 8-0214-W
MRS. RAYMOND SMITH, Secretary Term Expires 1954 Telephone North Attleboro 8-0653
EDWARD H. HEMMINGSEN Term Expires 1953 Telephone North Attleboro 8-1391-R
Meeting of the School Committee is held in the Library of the Plainville Elementary School on the third Tuesday of each month.
Union Superintendent of Schools, Norton and Plainville LAURENCE G. NOURSE Residence Telephone, Norton 5-7952 School Telephone, North Attleboro 8-1166
Superintendent may be reached at the office in the Plain- ville Elementary School every Tuesday, and other days by appointment.
AUTHORIZED TO ISSUE WORK CERTIFICATES
ROLAND L. WOLCOTT, Principal Telephone, North Attleboro 8-0146 or 8-1166
School Physician DR. JOHN T. COTTER Telephone, North Attleboro 8-0204
School Nurse MRS. JANET W. CLAUDY Telephone, North Attleboro 8-0678-M
Attendance Officer
ELMER C. PEASE
63
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR-1952-1953
Elementary and High Schools:
First term opens September 8, 1952 First term closes December 23, 1952 Second term opens January 5, 1953 Second term closes February 20, 1953 Third term opens March 2, 1953 Third term closes April 17, 1953 Fourth term opens April 27, 1953 Fourth term closes:
Elementary School June 12, 1953 High School June 19, 1953
Holidays for all Schools:
October 13, Columbus Day
October 31, County Convention
November 11, Armistice Day November 26, 1/2 day Elem. November 27-28, Thanksgiving
December 23, 1/2 day Elem.
April 3, 1953, Good Friday
School Sessions:
High School: Regular session 8:30 to 2:30 Elementary School: 8:45 to 2:45
No School Signals:
7:30 A.M .- Three double blasts on fire alarm system signifies no school for all pupils for the day.
7:45 A.M .- Same signal signifies no school for Ele- mentary pupils.
11:30 A.M .- Same signal signifies no school in the afternoon and Elementary pupils will stay in school until 1 P.M.
Plainville NO SCHOOL signals are broadcast over station WARA 7:00 A.M., 7:30 A.M., 8:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M.
64
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Plainville:
We feel that the year 1952 has been another successful step forward in education in the Plainville Schools. Although having a large turn-over of teachers we have been able to secure one of the best teaching staffs in many years. Because of the increased enrollment in our Elementary School we have added two additional teachers-Miss Mary H. Zajac, as teacher of the additional first grade-Miss Jeanne A. Santos, teacher of the combined second and third grade. Miss Mary T. Donovan was elected to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Mrs. Drusilla G. Lyford, and Mr. Chester T. Pawlowski as teacher of grade 8, replacing Mr. Thomas Green. In the High School, Mrs. Mildred Wallace replaced Mr. Wil- liam J. Longridge, as teacher of English; Mr. Thomas Murphy was secured as Coach and Commercial Teacher, replacing Miss Thelma Edmunds who resigned. Mrs. Kathleen M. Crafts was elected to teach Latin and French.
We wish to bring to your attention the need for additional landscaping and grading of the grounds at the Elementary School, and hope that the townspeople will cooperate with us in our plans.
We are again faced with the problem of increased enroll- ments in our schools, and feel that in the near future addi- tional space will be required for more classrooms.
Our sincere thanks to Superintendent Laurence G. Nourse, Principal Roland L. Wolcott and the entire teaching staff for their cooperation during the past year.
Careful study and consideration should be given to our financial statement and reports by the Superintendent and Principal.
Respectfully submitted,
CLINTON E. BARTON, Chairman HELEN A. SMITH, Secretary EDWARD H. HEMMINGSEN
65
ANNUAL REPORT
MONEY AVAILABLE FOR SCHOOLS IN 1952
Appropriation
$68,726.00
Refund
7.00
Interest on Town School Fund
14.54
$68,747.54
Expenses
General Expenses
School Committee
$ 120.00
Superintendent's Salary
2,460.00
School Union Travel
240.00
Clerk's Salary
562.25
Miscellaneous Expenses
205.48
Expenses of Instruction
Salaries
43,847.48
Books and Supplies
3,278.94
Operation of School Plant
Janitors
5,300.00
Fuel
3,611.02
Miscellaneous
2,509.21
Maintenance
545.19
Health
946.12
Transportation
4,270.00
New Equipment
683.95
Driver Education
130.58
Total
$68,710.22
Balance
$ 37.32
66
ANNUAL REPORT
THE TOWN RECEIVED FROM THE STATE ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS
1950
1951
1952
Chapter 643 State Aid
$13,546.49
$14,001.49
$14,811.80
For Superintendent
1,417,84
1,458.60
1,493.33
For School Bus Transportation 1,462.36
2,305.86
2,136.89
From Tuition
Youth Service Board
574.03
787.36
State
225.00
184.14
17.10
Private
100.00
75.00
100.00
$17,325.72
$18,025.09
$19,346.48
Total Expenditures
$53,959.55
$62,769.06
$68,710.22
Receipts from outside sources 17,325.72
18,025.09
19,346.48
Expenditure by the Town of
Plainville
$36,633.83
$44,743.97
$49,363.74
1953 ESTIMATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 643, 1948
Chapter 643 State Aid
$17,686.81
For Superintendent
1,493.33
For Transportation
2,136.89
For Trade School Tuition
350.00
For Youth Service Board
600.00
$22,267.03
Additional Receipts-1952
1. Rental
$155.00
2. Cash for damages
8.62
3. Sale of Old Equipment
125.80
$289.42
PLAINVILLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE BUDGET 1953
Budget 1953
Expended 1952
Expended 1951
Expended 1950
School Committee
$187.00
$120.00
$120.00
120.00
Superintendent Salary
2,560.00
2,460.00
2,360.00
2,079.96
School Union
240.00
240.00
240.00
240.00
Clerk
504.00
562.25
447.86
624.57
Miscellaneous
180.00
205.48
233.81
Teachers' Salaries
50,300.00
43,847.48
39,218.94
34,708.35
Books & Supplies
3,650.00
3,278.94
3,216.23
3,003.86
Operation of School Plant
Janitors
5,404.00
5,300.00
3,699.97
2,491.20
Fuel
3,673.00
3,611.02
4,149.29
2,894.62
Miscellaneous
2,250.00
2,509.21
1,477.60
1,044.35
Maintenance
850.00
545.19
955.75
871.33
Health
1,145.00
946.12
644.33
618.59
Transportation
4,650.00
4,270.00
4,251.75
3,710.43
Tuition
875.00
683.95
538.77
393.50
Town Hall
739.76
575.74
Driver Education
175.00
130.58
157.27
156.69
Total Reimbursements (Est.)
$76,643.00
$68,710.22
$62,769.06
$53,959.55
22,267.03
19,346.48
18,025.09
17,325.72
Net Expenditures (Est.)
$54,375.97
$49,363.74
$44,743.97
$36,633.83
317.73
426.56
New Equipment
68
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Plainville School Committee:
I have the honor of submitting to you my twenty-ninth annual report and the forty-sixth in the series of reports. I shall report on a few major activities of the Plainville Schools during the past year, and its current needs.
Need for Enlarged School Facilities
When the new Elementary School was planned, it was felt that the new school would take care of the elementary grades for a long time. In order to have a complete solution, further developments would be necessary to meet the High School problem-Grades 7-12. A Special Committee to study this problem was appointed by the Town. It was the under- standing with the Building Committee that before the new school should become over-crowded that some plan for meeting the secondary school problem in Plainville would be made and this would take the seventh and eighth grade pupils out of the present building. Whether such a solution is building a Regional School or a local school in the form of an addition to the present High School, or addition to the Elementary School (such addition was allowed for in the original plans), serious consideration and early action must be taken by the Town of Plainville.
There has been, according to the Town Clerk, Arthur W. Washburn, an average of fifty births each year for the past three years. This would indicate a need for two first grades entering each year and progressively each grade will shortly need two rooms if there are no changes in the present con- ditions. The only other possibility is having certain rooms with combined classes and also over-sized classrooms. This situation has existed in the past in Plainville and is most undesirable. No teacher can produce satifactory results under such conditions. I wish to emphasize that this is an immediate problem. There will be, under current plans in September 1953, three rooms with combined classes and four classrooms will have thirty-five pupils or over. The standard, recom- mended, approved size of class for elementary school is 27 pupils per room. The present teacher-pupil ratio is 29.3 pupils
69
ANNUAL REPORT
per teacher in the elementary school. With one additional teacher in September, 1953, this ratio will be 29. In September, 1953, this ratio, unless further increase is made in the Staff, will be 30.6 pupils per teacher. Substantial increase in the school enrollment is indicated in the following tabulation of probable school enrollments based on the present population and the current birth rate:
Plainville School Enrollment Data
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
Grade 1
51
48
48
52
56
60
Grade 2
40
50
46
46
50
54
Grade 3
34
40
50
46
46
50
Grade 4
42
34
40
50
46
46
Grade 5
40
42
34
40
50
46
Grade 6
36
40
42
34
40
50
Grade 7
28
36
40
42
34
40
Grade 8
22
28
36
40
42
34
293
318
336
350
364
380
High School
9
24
20
24
30
35
37
High School 10
30
24
30
24
30
33
High School 11
24
28
22
18
22
30
High School 12
15
21
26
20
18
20
93
93
92
92
105
120
Totals
386
411
428
442
469
500
September, 1955 must see a permanent solution of this problem.
Professional Activities of the School Staff
At the same time that much attention and effort have been given, through the pressing necessity for it, to the problem of school accommodations, real educational activities have been going on in the Plainville schools. Many efforts are being made by all members of the school staff to increase their service in behalf of the educational life of the school pupils. School facilities and equipment are essential to achieve the best results, but the training, ability and devotion of the teacher in the classroom is the greatest element in the success of our educational endeavors.
70
ANNUAL REPORT
Art Workshop
On March 5, 6, and 7, 1952, an Art Workshop was held for all Plainville and Norton teachers in the Norton Ele- mentary School. This program was carried on from 3:00 to 6:00 in the afternoon and 7:00 to 9:00 in the evening for all three days. This workshop was designed not only to increase the effectiveness of the instruction in the field of Art, but also to make Art work available as a medium of learning in the conventional instruction in all fields and all levels of school work. The program was under the direction of Miss Wilma F. Geer, a graduate of Columbia University. A very effec- tive program was carried on. Thirty-five Principals, Teachers and substitute Teachers in Norton received certificates for completion of the program. Nine Teachers from Plainville and seven from Foxboro also won certificates in this Workshop.
Norton-Plainville School Opening Conference
This conference was held for three days, September 3, 4, 5. On the first afternoon, a joint meeting of all staff members was held. At this, the Superintendent outlined some of the general plans and objectives for the school year. Mrs. Lucille Zwicker, Secretary of the Norton School Com- mittee, and Mrs. Helen Smith, Secretary of the Plainville School Committee, each brought a greeting and message from the School Committees to the conference. Thursday was given in both towns to meetings with the Principals in each build- ing, giving opportunity for the teacher to prepare lesson plans and equip her classroom for the opening day of school. On the third day, a full program for all teachers was held. A committee prepared "A Teaching Aids Handbook". An ex- tensive presentation of the educational opportunities with teaching aids was given the conference. This was followed by an exhibit and demonstration in the Visual Aids room. A careful program for conference of all teachers with the special Supervisors, Miss Spier in Art; Mr. Gillespie in Music; and Mr. Gleason in Physical Education; was scheduled. The first two are Supervisors for both Norton and Plainville. The afternoon program consisted of a most stimulating and valu- able lecture on "Teaching the Language Arts" by Dr. Alice Crossley, Professor of Education at Boston University. This pre-school conference was such a success that it is hoped that it will be possible to continue the plan which was initi- ated this year.
1
71
ANNUAL REPORT
In The Field of Adult Education
A start was made in the Fall term. Both the ability and professional interest of the High School teachers in carrying on this enterprise under the able leadership of the Principal, Mr. Roland Wolcott, deserves the appreciation of all. It is hoped that this program may continue and its scope of work be enlarged.
Professional Course by Professor Worcester Warren of B.U.
For the first time, a University Extension Course has been offered in these schools. Professor Worcester Warren of Boston University is conducting a Course on "Home and School Relations". This course consists of practical means for promoting the partnership of home and school in the functioning of a coordinated program for guiding child growth. Approximately thirty teachers from Norton and Plainville and other towns are participating in this professional training.
Your Superintendent has been honored by being appointed to several committees of professional activities on the state level. As a member of the State Teachers College Curriculum Study Committee, he was appointed to study the curriculum of the State Teachers College at Bridgewater. It is recognized generally that there is a great need for increasing the effec- tiveness of our State Teachers Colleges. This committee is continuing its endeavors. Your Superintendent has been a member or Chairman of the Steering Committee for the Preparation of the Curriculum Guide in the Primary Grades and in the Intermediate Grades. This investigation is being extended to the much-needed field of secondary education under the direction of our State Commissioner of Education, Dr. John J. Desmond, Jr. The first meeting was held on September 22, 1952 and your Superintendent has been asked to work also in this new study. Several different approaches to improving or enlarging the subject offerings of the High School are currently being studied. This is a committee of educators covering a wide field of interests working with sev- eral citizens of outstanding ability and interest in the field of Education.
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.