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