Report of the city of Somerville 1942, Part 7

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1942
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 430


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1942 > Part 7


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


From this partial list of the activities of the schools in the participation of the pupils in the war effort, it is quite evident that those charged with the administration and supervision of the work of the schools have been alert, energetic, ambitious, and active. The community can surely be proud of the attain- ment of its school system in this respect.


While the teaching force has worked diligently and nobly at the task before it, some members of our instructional corps and some members of our school legislative body, the School Committee, have seen their duty to the war effort in another direction. Up to the time of writing this report, thirty-nine


119


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


men and two women teachers have become associated with the armed forces of our country. These persons have left their . homes, their families and friends, and their chosen life work, to expend their energies and perhaps their lives in active par- ticipation in the terrible business and dangerous pursuit of winning the war. Four members of the School Committee have in like manner laid down their civilian and public duties to enter active military service. Our highest terms of commen- dation are here expressed to them, our best wishes for speedy culmination of their tasks go to them, and our ardent prayers for a safe return cannot be answered too quickly.


The following represents the Honor Roll of the Educators of the Somerville School System :


SOMERVILLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Mayor JOHN M. LYNCH Chairman WILLIAM J. KOEN Former Chairman WILLIAM F. CHISHOLM


CHARLES P. O'RIORDAN


INSTRUCTIONAL FORCE


Robert E. Ball, Jr.


Arthur Kelleher


Edward J. Berra


John C. Kelly


Paul L. Broderick


Leo Lapidus


Gertrude Burns


James C. Marchant


Anthony C. Calabro


Frank Martin


John W. Casey


Joseph B. McCabe


John J. Collins


M. Paul McSweeney


James H. Cosgrove


James J. Mooney


John J. Costello


John L. Murphy


Francis C. Crotty


James J. Noonan Thomas F. O'Brien


John E. Flynn


Francis G. Parker


Francis X. Foley


Wilbur E. Parker


Edward, G. Giroux


Dorothy T. Rice


Terence M. Griffin


John J. St. Angelo


Edward A. Guazzaloca


Thomas Scott


Robert Healey


J. Edward Sharkey Harold Sullivan .


Richard Hegarty


Thomas J. D. Horne


Joseph M. Thornton


James Keefe


Daniel M. Twomey


Albert C. Williamson


Commendable as was the patriotic action of these men and women, the exodus from the educational service of so many


1


William A. Duffy, Jr.


120


ANNUAL REPORTS


teachers caused the School Committee to be confronted by serious problems in order to maintain as nearly as possible the high standards of our system. The magnitude of the problem was impossible of anticipation when, in 1941, provision was made for those school teachers who entered the service of the armed forces to be granted leaves of absence for the duration of their service and to be given assurance of reinstatement im- mediately upon their return. This prevented any action other than the filling of their positions by temporary appointees. The available lists apparently were sufficient for all anticipated needs.


Early in 1942, however, it was discovered that there was a shrinkage of the available persons upon the eligible lists due to Selective Service and further enlistments, coupled with offers of high salaries in federal clerical positions for female workers, and in plants doing 'national defense work for both men and women. This situation was further complicated by the rules of the School Committee with reference to the prohibition of employment of married women as teachers, and serious consid- eration had to be given to the formulation of necessary modifica- tions of the rules for the duration of the emergency.


A first step, which seemed at the time to be sufficient with- out interfering with the operation of the married woman rule, gave authorization to the Superintendent to reemploy, after resignation due to marriage, those married women at their cur- rent salaries and in their same positions, who had married members of the armed forces whose ratings were less than that of a commissioned officer. The financial and economic status of the married woman was a major factor in arriving at this solution of the problem of shortage of available teachers.


Soon it became evident that this move was far from ade- quate. Because of the exhaustion of the lists of candidates available, on a temporary basis, for teaching in particular fields, such as mathematics, science, and commercial, further modification was necessary. A second step authorized the Superintendent to re-employ any teachers who had married members of the armed forces (regardless of rank) or who had married men who within thirty days after marriage became members of the armed forces.


At this time it seems quite necessary to make a further mod- ification. Maintaining standards and making provision for the


121


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


successful fulfillment of the extra preinduction instruction, which has become almost a mandatory situation, requires much from the teacher which can only be accomplished by those who through previous experience need no probationary practice period for successful teaching. However, such persons are either occupied by home duties or are employed in clerical or industrial activities at salaries higher than usually paid to a substitute teacher. Consequently, action is now under consid- eration which will, if approved, authorize the Superintendent to employ former teachers with five years or more of experience for the duration at a wage approximately halfway between that of a substitute and that of a regular teacher on maximum salary.


The Community Service phase of the War Effort has called for the performance of strenuous and arduous activity on the part of those citizens who have not yet been called upon to shoulder the combatant burden. The teachers, because of their abilities and training, and because of their well organized per- sonnel, were drafted for service in performing the most enor- mous tasks ever undertaken by unpaid volunteers. To register the entire population of the United States in a period of four days was a monstrous undertaking, and yet the teachers of our public schools gave of their time and energy, without stint, in addition to their regular hours of duty, and efficiently and effectively accomplished the registration of the entire country's population for sugar rationing. Two registrations for gasoline rationing and the much more complicated rationing of fuel oil were effected without complaint, and excellently done.


The five projects made necessary by the provisions of the Selective Service Act, which registered every male citizen in the country between the ages of eighteen and sixty-five, were completed with speed and accuracy by the teachers in conjunc- tion with the members of the Selective Service Boards and their Advisory Boards.


Many of our teachers of both sexes have played particularly important roles in the work of organizing and training for Civil Defense. Some prepared themselves to act as instructors and leaders in this work, while many more spent hours and hours in lecture rooms, laboratories, and classrooms learning the functions and practical applications of the duties of work- ing participants. They became Air Raid Wardens, members of the 'Massachusetts Women's Defense Corps, Auxiliary Police, and Auxiliary Firemen.


122


ANNUAL REPORTS


This accounting points out very effectively the fact that all persons associated with our educational system in Somerville have accepted responsibility as necessary participants in the war effort, have prepared themselves for the best possible per- formance for the tasks for which they are best fitted, and have the will, spirit, and determination to do their best to bring about the proper and speedy culmination of this total war, to, the end that an everlasting peace will result.


The everlasting peace, however, is not the end so far as Education is concerned. The type and kind of peace which is to result is of extreme importance. What kind of a government is to be established to maintain the peace ? What implications for education will such a government call forth? What kind of an educational system will be required ? What shall be done to establish the necessary system of education ?


All of these questions and many more must be studied with the utmost care by those having the educational system in charge. This program of study cannot be started after the war is concluded. It must be started now and modified and im- proved continually so that when the time arrives for the plan to become operative no delays which might be disastrous will be encountered.


Such a program needs the wholehearted support and en- dorsement of all other agencies of the country. The import of this terrible war situation has made such an indelible impres- sion on the minds and lives of every American citizen that the problem of providing the proper type of government and the proper amount and kind of education will be a serious chal- lenge to all thinking people. All must put their shoulders to the wheel, determined that right must prevail, and demand and obtain that right.


While it is apparent from the preceding paragraphs that the School Committee of 1942 has given freely of its time and energy to the consideration of the problems confronting its educational system from the point of view of keeping the Som- erville schools abreast of the times with reference to aims, cur- ricula, and accomplishments, it can also be stated that the financial aspect of the situation has been given serious atten- tion.


When in the early part of 1942, the Board of Aldermen saw fit to reduce the appropriation for School Teachers Salaries by


123


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


an amount of approximately $35,000, the School Committee set about in the interest of the taxpayers to do its utmost, without curtailing activities, to maintain an efficient school system, al- though at less expense. The effect of such a situation could and would have caused a retardation of the educational process. This retardation has been obscured by the exigencies of the war to the extent that it has been noted only by those in charge of education. Many hours of longsighted and far-reaching deliber- ation on the part of the members of the School Committee, coupled with the savings made possible by the necessary em- ployment of less experienced teachers whose salaries were much less than those of the experienced teachers now in the armed service whom they replaced, have for a time at least deferred serious impairment. By such cooperative attitudes toward the taxpayer by the School Committee, some moneys have even been made available to the city government to alleviate shortages in the appropriations of other departments.


Our school teachers have been hampered by increased taxes, by increased cost of living (now 59% above normal), and by their desire to aid the government in its war effort by the pur- chase of war bonds and the making of contributions to all of the worthy emergency calls. Their situation has been aggra- vated by the upward surge of wages in industry. Yet they have continued to do their instructional tasks ably and well.


It seems only just and proper that consideration should be given to their predicament. Even if only an adjusted compensa- tion be granted for the duration of the emergency to meet the increase in cost of living, it would be a well deserved gesture toward the alleviation of a serious danger of losing many of our well trained, experienced, and able teachers. Other persons who have become affiliated with our instructional organization, who were well trained but lacked the experience of our per- . manent force, have at very meager wages given loyal and de- voted substitute and temporary service.


These situations emphasize what has been stated in previous reports, that there have for some time been many inequities and inequalities in our salary schedule. A special committee of the School Committee gave much time and thought to the formula- tion of a new salary schedule which does not raise salaries gen- erally, but attempts to correct inconsistencies. Such a schedule was finally adopted at a meeting held December 11 and will be effective for those entering the system for the first time on January 1, 1943.


124


ANNUAL REPORTS


Without making a complete detailed statement concerning the financial situation of the Somerville schools, as has been made in each of the three preceding reports, it would appear that the following statement would suffice to justify any ad- justed compensation plan which may be formulated and made effective.


The program of education offered the Somerville children is full and complete, and includes all of the well recognized elements which such a program should contain. Such a pro- gram is operated by Somerville, the seventh largest city in pop- ulation in the Commonwealth, having the fourth largest school population in the State, at a per capita cost of $100.88, rank- ing twenty-third in this respect among the thirty-nine cities of the state. This rating is attained in face of the fact that the seventh largest city in the state from the population stand- point ranks twenty-ninth in assessed valuation supporting each school child. In this connection, it also should be noted that the per capita cost and its rating has been bettered in spite of the following facts concerning membership.


The public school membership as of December 1, 1942, was 14,787. In comparison with the membership of the correspond- ing date of the previous year, 15,492, there has been a decrease of 705. Decreases of 417 in the High School, 65 in the Voca- tional School, 25 in the Junior Vocational School, 240 in the elementary schools, and an increase of 42 in the junior high schools combined to make this figure. This decrease of 705 is but a reflection of the decrease of over 28,000 in the school population of the Commonwealth.


CHANGES IN PERSONNEL


Earlier in this report, reference was made to the large con- tingent of teachers, men and women, who have temporarily left the service of the public school system to take their parts in the active service in connection with the war effort. Even such a temporary absence will leave its effect upon the attainment of the schools for a time, but not to the same degree that per- manent retirements and resignations will be effective. During the year 1942, in addition to the suspension of the services of thirty-nine men and two women who are in the armed forces, the children of the schools and the community have been de- prived of the active service and the influence for good of thirty


125


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


other persons who have been associated with our instructional corps for periods of from two years to fifty-two years.


Of the thirty, all of whom had served faithfully and de- votedly and had been commended by letters of appreciation by the School Committee, three were taken from service by death, thirteen resigned to be married, ten retired under the provi- sions of the Teachers Retirement Act, two resigned because of disability, and two went to another field of activity.


In addition to these thirty, ten resigned because of mar- riage to members of the armed forces, but by authorization given to the Superintendent they were re-employed for the dura- tion of the emergency and continued in service.


' Among those who left the public service of the community, there were four from among the administrative and super- visory force, namely, Catherine E. Sweeney, Supervising Prin- cipal of the Knapp, Perry, and Baxter Schools, and Frank W. Seabury, Supervising Principal of the Morse, Burns, and Proc- tor Schools, who served the children of our community for forty-one and thirty-one years respectively, and Harriette C. Hamilton, Master's Assistant at the Morse School, and Mary T. Ford, Master's Assistant at the Brown School, who taught for periods of forty-two years and forty-one years respectively. Among the teachers whose terms of service were exceptionally long were Clara B. Parkhurst, fifty-two years; Katherine E. Hourahan, forty-nine years; Clara L. Griffiths, forty years ; Minnie A. Holden, thirty-six years; Amy F. Woodbury, thirty- one years; Benjamin C. Bowman and Ella W. Burnham, twenty-three years : and Helen G. Leitch, twenty years.


RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS


Due to the very serious conflict in which this country, and in fact the whole world, is involved, the indefiniteness of the length of the combat, and the uncertainty of the extent to which the necessary reorganization of government and society after the war will prescribe revisións and modifications of the educational program, it seems inadvisable at this time to make recommendations with relation to situations calling for long- term planning.


Attention should be given to situations at hand and having to do with the task, in which education is doing its share, of


126


ANNUAL REPORTS


winning the war and the peace which is to follow. The present accommodations and equipment cannot be allowed to dete- riorate without seriously crippling the efficiency of our product, the future citizens of our city, state, and nation.


Before closing this report, attention must again be called to the necessity of replacing the present Prescott School Build- ing. Its condition has been reported year after year without more attention being given than the making of some minor repairs. Immediate attention to this replacement is strongly urged before other buildings, erected in Civil War days, call for the expenditure of moneys for extensive repairs or replace- ment.


Continued expansion and acceleration of the offerings of our Vocational Schools are a necessity. It is quite advisable that temporary arrangements be made for the entrance into defense industries of seventeen and eighteen-year-old girls by setting up courses for them in shop work. It is also recom- mended that steps be taken anew to provide equipment to allow for training in welding.


In concluding his fifteenth annual report, the Superin- tendent offers hearty and sincere appreciation and commenda- tion to the masters, supervisors, and teachers for their as- sistance and cooperation in making 1942 a year of success and progress. Their loyalty and devoted effort in pursuit of their regular tasks and obligations have been splendid, but further expressions of gratitude and appreciation are made for the masterly manner in which they handled the rationing and Se- lective Service projects, and the modifications and revisions of curricula and courses of study in preparation for the added. tasks of the schools.


May we all look forward to continued success and progress in the work of the schools during 1943. The Superintendent pledges to continue his best efforts towards this end.


EVERETT W. IRELAND, Superintendent of Schools


127


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Number of Pupils by Subjects December, 1942


English


2990


Physical Education


2057


United States History


799


English History


77


Modern European History


358


Early European History


230


Ancient History


209


Economic & Civic Problems


150


Latin


392


Greek


11


French


521


Spanish


352


Italian


109


German


86


Chemistry


443


Physics


149


Physiology


185


Biology


639


Astronomy & Geology


10


Mathematics Beta


52


Mathematics Gamma


83


General Mathematics


355


Geometry


359


Algebra


394


Secretarial Training


50


Transcription


50


Stenography


314


Typewriting


1237


Bookkeeping


364


Arithmetic


139


Clerical Practice


748


Office Machines


55


Business Organization


340


Business Science


86


Salesmanship


124


Commercial Law


472


Commerce & Industry


686


Occupations


904


Household Arts


238


Freehand Drawing


256


Graphics


212


Arts & Crafts


75


Manual Training


113


Musical Theory


133


Music Appreciation


242


Choral Practice


335


Student Activities


December, 1942


Orchestra


Band 75


60


.


128


ANNUAL REPORTS


Girls' Bugle & Drum Corps


70


Girls' Glee Club


82


Boys' Glee Club


86


Student Council


34


School Paper


125


National Honor Society


22


Traffic Squad


58


Webster Debating Society


26


Portia Debating Society


35


Players' Club


50


Symphony Guild


64


Girls' Athletics


200


Boys' Athletics


356


Cheer Leaders


45


Junior Red Cross


2300


SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL


Students entering Higher Institutions in September, 1942


State Teachers Colleges


12


Bridgewater


1


Lowell


2


Massachusetts School of Art


4


Salem


4


Farmington, Maine


1


Colleges and Engineering Schools


82


Bates


1


Boston College


College of Liberal Arts


4


College of Business Administration


1


Boston University


College of Business Administration


3


College, of Liberal Arts


10


College of Practical Arts and Letters


1


Emmanuel


3


Colby


1


Bowdoin


1


Harvard


3


Jackson


3


Massachusetts College of Pharmacy


3


Massachusetts School of Optometry


2


Michigan State University


1


Northeastern


17


New York State University


1


Norwich


2


Simmons


4


Suffolk


2


Syracuse


2


Tufts


College of Liberal Arts


9


Engineering School


5


University of Connecticut


1


University of Michigan


1


Wellesley


1


Other Institutions


58


Bentley


16


Bryant and Stratton


23


1


129


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Burdett


3


Kathleen Dell


3


Fisher Business


10


Katherine Gibbs


1


Wentworth Institute


2


Hospital Training Schools


18


Boston City Hospital


1


Boston Dispensary


1


Cambridge


4


Carney


1


Lawrence Memorial


1


Somerville


10


.


Summary


State Teachers Colleges


12


Colleges and Universities


82


Other Institutions


58


Hospital Training Schools


18


Total


170


SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION


Report of the Treasurer, January 1, 1942 to January 1, 1943


Receipts


Balance in Treasury January 1, 1942


$462.43


Basketball games


997.50


Baseball games


136.91


Football games


3,089.73


Hockey games


9.35


Miscellaneous


131.25


$4,827.17


Expenditures


Athletic supplies


$1,383.78


Medical supplies


118.10


Paid visiting teams


258.18


Officials


422.00


Policing


291.00


Assistance at games


203.00


Postage


4.54


Printing


61.25


Physician's Salary


725.00


Telephone


9.65


Transportation


206.40


Dues


8.75


Entry fees


11.25


Orchestra


230.00


Federal Taxes


215.52


Miscellaneous


207.35


$4,355.77


$471.40


Balance in Treasury, January 1, 1943


130


ANNUAL REPORTS


SOMERVILLE TEACHERS' CLUB Officers, 1942-1943 President, MARY A. ROONEY


S ANNE DEE Vice-Presidents HELEN O'BRIEN


Recording Secretary, PHILOMENA LOMBARDI


Corresponding Secretary, WINIFRED M. FORD


Treasurer, MARGARET BROWN Auditor, JULIA CONNOR


OBJECT


The object shall be to secure a close union among the women teachers in Somerville; to promote the spirit of mutual helpfulness; to advance professional interests; to create a deeper sense of the dignity of the profession ; to unite the inter- est of the home and school.


PROGRAM


October 3-Formal Dance at Parker House, Boston- Guests, Army and Navy Officers.


October 20-Supper, Hotel Woodbridge. Speaker: Miss Mar- garet Brine. Subject: "Our Southern Neighbors".


October 31-Hallowe'en Dance at Parker House, Boston. Guests, Servicemen of All Ranks. Benefit of Scholarship Fund.


December 16-Christmas Tea, Unitarian Hall. Reader and musical Selections.


March 31-Testimonial Dinner by the Associated Teacher Organizations, Hotel Woodbridge. Speaker: Ray Kierman. Entertainment: Selections by the Viking Choral Group and Cavicchio Brothers.


May 12 -- Annual Meeting. Election of Officers. Reports of Committees.


131


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


In Memoriam


JOHN J. ANDERSON


Northeastern Junior High School Died May 19, 1942


JOHN J. CARROLL Northeastern Junior High School Died May 14, 1942


MILDRED D. DEWIRE Knapp School Died March 30, 1942


MARY T. SHANAHAN Edgerly School Died November 5, 1942


132


ANNUAL REPORTS


CONTENTS OF APPENDIX


SUMMARY OF STATISTICS


Population and school census. School buildings.


Teachers.


Attendance for year.


Cost of school maintenance.


Teachers' salaries.


MISCELLANEOUS TALBES CONCERNING FINANCE


No. of Table


1. Schedule of school property.


2. Cost of maintaining schools, school year 1941-1942.


3. Cost per capita of maintaining schools, school year 1941-1942.


4. Cost of maintaining schools for a series of years.


5. Cost per capita for maintaining schools for a series of years.


6. Amount spent annually for new school buildings and for repairs for a series of years.


CONCERNING PUPILS


7. Population and school registration.


8. Attendance, etc., of the schools for school year 1941-1942.


9. Statistics of the high school for school year 1941-1942.


10. Pupils by grades, June 1942.


11. Separate statistics for high, junior high, elementary and voca- tional schools, for school year 1941-1942.


12. Admission to first grade in September, 1942.


13. Number of junior high school graduates, 1942.


14. Truant statistics for a series of years.


15. Evening school statistics, 1941-1942.


16. Elementary school promotees for a series of years.


17. Attendance statistics of all schools for a series of years.


18. Statistics of the high school for a series of years.


19. Promotions, junior high schools, 1942.


19a. Promotions, elementary schools, 1942.


. CONCERNING TEACHERS


20. Resignations of teachers, 1942.


21. Teachers elected in 1942.


22. Leave of absence of teachers.


23. Transfers of teachers.




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.