USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1945 > Part 6
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The number of permits issued for elec-
trical installations 3937
Permits issued to Boston Edison Co 2136
Total fees collected for permits $1,735.00
106
ANNUAL REPORTS
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A complete new set of batteries has been installed. These batteries are our secondary source of current, and automati- cally supply energy to the system if and when the primary source is disrupted.
The purchase of an additional independent auxiliary power supply to augment the above is recommended.
It is hoped that during the coming year definite steps can be taken to correct the tower striker situation as recommended in previous reports.
Number of Boxes in service 206
Number of maintenance calls of all types. 258
Accident damage to Fire and Police Signal Boxes
$473.25
ALARMS RECEIVED AND TRANSMITTED
First Alarms 964
Second Alarms
13
Third Alarms 2
A. D. T. Alarms 17
996
Still Alarms
765
Mutual Aid
260
1025
Total 2021
The Central Office equipment consists of the following :
2- 6 circuit operating boards.
1- 5 circuit tapper board.
1- 5 circuit gong board.
2-16 circuit storage battery charging boards.
1-32 circuit protective board.
1- 4 circuit punching register and take up reel.
2- 5 circuit punching registers and take up reels.
13- 1 circuit punching registers and take up reels.
2 Automotive time and date stamps.
1- 4 dial manual transmitter.
1- masterclock.
1- local telephone used on still alarm system.
531- cells storage battery.
3- 10 foot 4 shelf battery racks.
32- low rate rectifiers.
5- metropolitan tappers and gongs. 1- high rate rectifier.
107
ELECTRIC LINES AND LIGHTS
Apparatus outside the central office :
66 Gardner Type Fire Alarm Boxes.
79 Ideal Type Fire Alarm Boxes.
30 Peerless Type Fire Alarm Boxes.
2 Ideal Master Boxes with remote control.
29 Peerless Master Boxes with remote control and equipped with auxiliary stations located in various private and public buildings.
1 new box was added during the year.
7 Tower strikers (only 3 in service).
25 cable terminal boxes.
9 punching registers.
28 closed circuit tappers and 5 open circuit tappers.
8 closed circuit tappers (secondary ).
13 still alarm bells-local house system.
7 local telephones used as a company service system.
2 private interior telephones consisting of 12 stations.
4 traffic sirens.
11 house call bells.
POLICE SIGNAL EQUIPMENT
This system is in good operating condition despite the age of much of our street equipment. However by regular and careful maintenance many defect calls have been eliminated.
Number of Wagon calls 626
Number of Telephone calls
62041
Number of Duty calls 227274
Total 289941
Number maintenance calls
269
Number Police Signal Boxes
93
Value of Police Signal System
$100,000.00
Police Headquarters signal equipment consists of the following :
1 Type "C" Police Signal Desk.
3-5 circuit Registers.
35 Secondary Batteries.
1 Charging Panel.
2 Automatic time and date stamps.
2 Takeup Reels.
6 Official Phones connected with police desk.
The Police Radio System consists of the following :
1 Central Station Transmitter and Receiver.
3 Remote Central Stations.
1 Vertical Antenna.
1 Lampkin frequency monitor.
1 Tuning meter.
12 F.M. 2-way mobile radio telephone units.
108
ANNUAL REPORTS
TRAFFIC SIGNALS
There are 31 intersections controlled by traffic signals, 15 of which are equipped with pedestrian push buttons.
With the return to normal production it is urged that the 1945 recommendations as regards purchase of new controller equipment be adopted. This is necessary due to age and obso- lescence of much of the equipment, and in order to meet the requirements of the State Department of Public Works.
Number of accidents to traffic signals 17
Cost of damage $1,251.54
Approximate value of system 50,000.00 Number maintenance calls 341
STREET LIGHTING
The installation of the new street lighting on Beacon Street has proved most beneficial. Night accidents, both of pedestrian and motorists have been reduced, as well as the increased ease of property protection. It is beyond doubt that modern street lighting is an asset to the life of our citizens in the furthering of traffic safety, crime prevention, and municipal development. A continuation of modernization of our street lighting system is recommended.
Beacon Street:
Old equipment 4- 800 Lumen lamps 17- 6,000 Lumen lamps
New equipment 24-10,000 Lumen lamps
23- 6,000 Lumen lamps
The number of street lights December 31, 1945 are as follows :
5-15,000 Lumen lamps 396-10,000 Lumen lamps 519- 6,000 Lumen lamps 36- 2,500 Lumen lamps 198- 1,000 Lumen lamps
1021- 800 Lumen lamps
I desire to express my appreciation to His Honor the Mayor, the members of the Board of Aldermen, and the several department heads, for their co-operation and many courtesies received.
Respectfully submitted JAMES J. CUDDIHY, Commissioner Electric Lines and Lights
109
LAW DEPARTMENT
REPORT OF THE LAW DEPARTMENT
April 22, 1946
To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen
Gentlemen :
The annual report of the Law Department for the year 1945 is herewith respectfully submitted.
During the past year a considerable amount of time was spent in preparing for trial the important legal questions in- volved in the suits instituted by the seven married women who were employed by the City of Somerville under the civil ser- vice laws, and who were discharged in 1938 by the then mayor, John M. Lynch, and who were later ordered reinstated by the Supreme Judicial Court of the Commonwealth in 1944 on the conclusion by said Supreme Court that they had been wrong- fully discharged. The women in question were reinstated by his Honor, Mayor G. Edward Bradley, and are presently work- ing in the employ of the city. Following their reinstatement the said women brought civil actions against the city in Mid- dlesex Superior Court for back pay from the date of their discharge in 1938 to the date of their reinstatement in 1944, alleging a sum total damage of about $90,000.
These cases are scheduled to be heard sometime during the first part of 1946. The city will contend that by way of mitigation of damages it should be allowed to set off any amounts of money the women earned from the date of their discharge to the date of their reinstatement. This is a point of law which must be adjudicated in Court
This department was represented at a number of hearings before the various legislative committees on proposed bills which concerned the city. Among the bills enacted by the Leg- islature was one authorizing the Metropolitan District Com-
110
ANNUAL REPORTS
mission to dredge the Alewife Brook and to grade the property adjacent to said brook together with other improvements, and as a health measure, the Metropolitan District Commission was authorized to construct adequate sewerage disposal sta- tions along the Alewife Brook. Appearances were also made before the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission whenever the city's interest warranted, and also before other state commis- sions.
The interpretation of legislation affecting the rights of war veterans and their families was also a part of the solici- tor's duties.
Cases which have been brought by taxpayers to the Ap- pellate Tax Board, as in the past, have been settled on an equitable basis by our Assessors whenever possible, and those not settled were later adjudicated by the tax board.
Tax title foreclosures entered in the Land Court, which were filed after it was certain that the taxes on the property involved would not be paid, were brought to a close, and the final decree entered whenever possible. The properties thus taken over by the city were sold at public auction and the money turned over to the City Treasurer.
I wish to express my gratitude to my able assistant, Ashelen P. Senopoulos, for his conscientious and tireless ap- plication to his various duties and to the splendid manner with which he has conducted himself and the results obtained, and 10 claims inspector and my personal friend, Charles Shepherd, I take this opportunity of commending him for the efficient, businesslike and conscientious manner in which he has per- formed his duties. I also wish to express my gratitude to his Honor, the Mayor, the Board of Aldermen, and to the var- ious department heads for their kind cooperation in connec- tion with the work of this department.
Respectfully submitted,
ANTHONY DICECCA, City Solicitor
111
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
CITY OF SOMERVILLE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 2, 1946
SCHOOL COMMITTEE ROOMS
Ordered, that the Annual Report of the Superintendent of Schools be adopted as the Annual Report of the Board of School Committee, it being understood that such adoption does not commit the board to the opinions or recommendations made therein ; that it be incorporated in the reports of the City Officers ; and that six hundred copies be printed separately.
EVERETT W. IRELAND,
Secretary of School Board.
112
ANNUAL REPORTS
SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1945
THOMAS J. BURKE
Chairman
NELSON W. IRVING
Vice-Chairman
Members
EX-OFFICIIS
G. EDWARD BRADLEY 29 Cambria Street JOSEPH F. MCEVOY, Jr., President Board of Aldermen 210 Powder House Boulevard
WARD ONE
FREDERICK J. RYAN
27 Austin Street
WARD TWO
FRANCIS H. BROWN
34 Bow Street
WARD THREE
*ARTHUR P. FITZGERALD .
.
¡ELIZABETH M. FITZGERALD .
WARD FOUR
WILLIAM B. BAILEY
224 School Street
WARD FIVE
WILLIAM J. SHEA
.
WARD SIX
NELSON W. IRVING
. .
24 Cutter Avenue
WARD SEVEN
38 Burnham Street
Superintendent of Schools EVERETT W. IRELAND
Office: West Building, High School, Highland Avenue Residence: 18 Day Street
The Superintendent's Office will be open on school days from 8:00 to 5:00; Saturdays, 8:00 to 10:00 A. M. His office hour is 4:00 on school days and 8:30 on Saturdays.
Assistant Superintendent of Schools
LEO C. DONAHUE 383 Broadway
Superintendent's Office Force
Mary A. Clark, 156 Summer Street Marion E. Marshall, 30 Gilman Street Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Aevnue Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street Virginia V. Hender, 202 School Street
.
.
60· Atherton Street 60 Atherton Street
THOMAS J. BURKE
* Leave of absence-Armed Forces.
7 Military Substitute.
10 Aberdeen Road
113
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Standing Committees
NOTE: The member first named is Chairman; the second, Vice- Chairman.
TEACHERS
Brown, Ryan
FINANCE
Irving, Burke
CURRICULUMS AND INSTRUCTION Ryan, Bailey HEALTH, PHYSICAL TRAINING, AND ATHLETICS . Shea, Brown
INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION. Fitzgerald, Shea
SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
Burke, Fitzgerald
RULES AND REGULATIONS
Bailey, Irving
Board Meetings
January 1
September 24
January 29
April 30 May 28
October 22
February 26
June 25
November 26.
March 26
December 26
114
ANNUAL REPORTS
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
MRS. FITZGERALD AND GENTLEMEN :
In accordance with the provisions of the Rules and Regula- tions of the Somerville School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools has prepared and submits herewith his eighteenth annual report, which is the seventy-fourth in a series of annual reports of the Somerville Public Schools, and covers the calen- dar year 1945.
This document is prepared in three sections, Part I of which is the report of the Superintendent of Schools to the School Committee, comprising a discussion of (1) the mat- ters involved in the outstanding activities of the School Com- mittee, and (2) the conditions of the schools with respect to changes, improvements, and progress, which includes state- ments regarding personnel, membership, and buildings, with recommendations concerning the immediate and necessary needs of our educational system.
Part II is prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens and consists of (1) a description of the school property, . (2) statistical tables which set forth comparative figures covering a period of years concerning enrollment,.mem- bership, attendance, cost of instruction and maintenance, and other matters of organization, and (3) tables showing statis- tics, not necessary for comparison, covering the last fiscal year.
Part III presents the organization of the school system at the close of the year 1945 and the lists of graduates of this year from the secondary schools, the evening high school, and the vocational schools.
Respectfully Submitted,
EVERETT W. IRELAND,
Superintendent of Schools
January 2, 1946
115
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
PART I REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1945
"These are the times that try men's souls," wrote Thomas Paine, to whom history gives credit of being an important factor in the winning of America's freedom in the days of the American Revolution. He continued, "The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
Paine wrote with vigor, for he was seeking to rally the Americans to a unified and aggressive effort at one of the most critical points in the Revolution. Such critical times needed drastic methods to break the apathy developed by the laggard consciences of his day.
Likewise, during the past six years, not only America but the whole world has faced and will continue to face for some years a critical period, probably, because of its global extent, the most serious in world history. This crisis has presented two paramount issues to the American people, name- ly, how to win the war most quickly and effectively, and how to reconstruct and adjust American life during the postwar period to the end that a permanent and lasting peace will be devel- oped and maintained, so that we can live in harmony with all the peoples of the world.
Education has taken its proper place and accepted its responsibility in making its contribution in connection with the first issue. Realizing that the second issue would of ne- cessity follow the first, and realizing as well that its place in the responsibility of solving that second issue would be of extreme importance, for some time Education has given serious attention to its anticipated problem. It now follows that the place assumed by Education and the task it performs during
116
ANNUAL REPORTS
this postwar period will determine in no small degree the role of America in the future of the world. P
The foundation of American life,-effective citizenship, worthy home and community participation, individual health and happiness, educational opportunity, and vocational effi- ciency, - can be maintained only through a program of edu- cation that is efficient in organization, modern in method, adequate in financial support, and forward looking and far reaching in purpose. Along these lines much has been done, but much more needs to be done.
This report is not written by Thomas Paine, nor is it written to help gain a freedom of Revolutionary Days, but it is written to the public of the City of Somervile to record the stewardship of those charged with the responsibility of es- tablishing and maintaining the educational system of our community, during the years of the crisis, particularly during the calendar year 1945, so that it will be known that Somer- ville's schools have well carried out their responsibilities dur- ing the days and years of terrible warfare. The further pur- pose of this report is to develop through suggestion and recom- inendation the role which should be played by our educational system in the postwar period so that the schools will continue to provide the best opportunities for the youth of our city, in keeping with the disposition of the people and their will to support.
Throughout the period of the six years of the crisis, as has been reported in detail through previous annual reports of the Superintendent of Schools, sight has never been lost of the primary purposes of our schools in spite of the fact that in time of war the programs and the activities of the schools had of necessity to be related directly to the war effort. The School Committee, administrators, supervisors, teachers, and even the children, cognizant of the importance of the undertaking, ac- cepted wholeheartedly and with an eager, cooperative, and loyal willingness, the responsibilities necessary to the war effort and speedily and successfully carried out their increased duties and the necessary tasks involved.
Unfortunately. the eyes of the public have not been so definitely focused on the activities of its schools, for while it has not been forgotten that the schools are the people's schools, the anxiety over the safety of husbands, children, and loved
117
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
ones in the armed forces diverted attention from the details of changing methods and increased activities and accomplish- ments.
Now that the actual fighting days are over and the year 1945 has witnessed the joyous accomplishment of suppressing the active warfare on V-E Day and V-J Day, it is fitting that the public, now awaiting with eager anticipation the homecom- ing of those of their loved ones who were fortunate enough to withstand the atrocities and guns of our enemies, should be- come interested in a brief resume of the activities of their schools during the periods of preparation for and participa- tion in the actual hostilities.
During the year 1940, while the whole world was anxiously concerned over the struggle between democratic and totalitar- · ian ideas and ideals, the School Committee, in common with other like organizations and all educators of the country, agreed that the struggle could not be avoided or ignored, and determined to accept the challenge to improve its institutions so that they would be adequate for whatever should come in a changing world, for not only those who were in the schoolrooms during the day, but for all the citizens.
The problem confronting the schools was summed up in . this manner,-(1) training must be given for complex issues of citizenship by making the school system not merely for the children but for all young people and adults, and school build- ings must be used more and more hours to prepare men and women efficiently to function vocationally, avocationally, and civically, (2) the educational system must be organized in re- lation to the changing nature of the community in this tech- nical civilization, (3) practical means must be provided to en- able some students to receive or pursue specialized education, (4) very serious consideration must be given to the proposition of combining study and work in proper correlation through cooperative schooling, and (5) training must be given in the art of making profitable use of leisure time.
The facilities of the Vocational School were immediately made available, in preparation for opportunities in connection with governmental work, to those who wanted pre-employment instruction in machine shop work, to those who needed refresh- er courses to prepare them to re-enter the machine industry, and to those who needed advanced instruction in modern
118
ANNUAL REPORTS
methods of this vocation to be foremen. This program was carried on in cooperation with the Federal Government. Som- erville furnished the building and the use of its equipment, while the federal authorities provided the power, the instruc- tors, and all the expenses of instruction and materials.
In the conventional schools, revision was made in the courses of study in Social Studies so that there would be a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of citi- zenship in order to make the information more applicable to the problems of the day. Provision was also made for increasing the scope of the work in Education for adults, with relation to the development of the work along the lines of better training in citizenship.
During the early part of 1941, improvements were continu- ally being made in the program of the previous year, which centered mainly in preparing for the skilled trades, and also classes were meeting regularly in the school buildings to learn to be the leaders of our citizenry in case of emergency, such as the necessary home defense in case of attacks by air raids. An exceptionally well prepared force for whatever problem might confront us was the result. The police and fire departments were also taking their part in the plan of the home defense educational program by organizing auxiliary forces of private citizens.
Immediately upon our entrance into war, by action of Congress on December 8, 1941, following the dastardly attacks upon our Pacific Ocean possessions, the process of preparing for National Defense was quickened. Practical organization be- came an immediate necessity, and the educational program for the conduct of our children and the general public was greatly accelerated. Air Raid Units in the schools were at once organized, with each master assuming the responsibility of Air Raid Warden for his school or district. Every teacher became a part of these necessary units, and plans for the proper and safe care of the children were formulated, well defined, and all children were instructed concerning signals and their proper conduct in case of any emergency.
The necessary elements of moral, spiritual, and citizenship preparedness were not ignored. Morale, the will, and the spirit to enable our citizens to face unflinchingly the exigen- cies of the days of stress and strain which were to come, werc
119
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
given the proper attention. Outstanding instances of the good citizenship attitudes of our children during this year should be mentioned here. They were highly commended for their ready and generous response of time, effort, and money to such activities as Junior Red Cross, Brockton Firemen's Relief, Salvation Army Drive, Mile of Pennies for the Somerville Christmas Basket Fund, Southern Middlesex Health Associa- tion, U. S. S. Massachusetts Gift Fund, and the Greater Boston Community Fund.
Provision was made by the School Committee for those of our school teachers who were members of Reserve Units or were eligible for selective service to be granted leaves of absence from their school duties to participate in the prepara- tion for the emergencies of the world conflict. Assurance was given that their positions would be filled by temporary ap- pointees only, and that reinstatement would be effective im- mediately upon their return from active service with the armed forces, and further assurance was given that their absence in the war effort would in no way interfere with their status, their opportuity for advancemnet, or their salary increases.
The year 1942, during which it had been anticipated that all activities of the Somerville schools were to be focused upon the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Somer- ville as a separate political unit, and the seventieth anniversary of the establishment of Somerville as a city, found our atten- tion diverted therefrom because of the serious and immediate problems presented to the schools by the world conflict. We were at war! Our vulnerability, the menace of a totalitarian conquest, and a possibility even that we might lose the war, caused us to hasten our plans and to prepare with all possible speed for the task ahead. Preparation for National Defense became preparation for Total War.
Attention had to be and was directed quickly and surely towards a program which would accelerate the attainment of preparation in (1) a courageous and cooperative morale, (2) better physical and mental health, (3) education geared to the necessary production for the benefit of the war effort, and (4) an appreciation of and emphasis on the problems and experi- ences of everyday living.
On the secondary school level the curriculum was analyzed and revised so that the emphasis was placed on those principles
120
ANNUAL REPORTS
of science and mathematics, social studies and the commercial fields which would best and most quickly prepare for advau- tage to the war effort. Attention was given to a rearrangement of program and subject assignments, to the end that essentials of the war effort would take precedence over nonessentials, and that work experiences for all boys and girls would be an element of the program.
A federal agency, after careful study during the summer of 1942 of the general problem of wartime Service Organiza- tions in Secondary Schools, came to the conclusion that a plan should be formulated for the creation of a national framework into which all schools might fit their already existing local activities, thus giving ample scope for local initiative and vi- sion. This framework developed an organization entitled "High School Victory Corps" which was designed to mobilize second- ary school students for more effective preparation for and participation in wartime service. The Victory Corps was ciemocratic and voluntary in character, it stimulated and chan- neled youth's enthusiasm, and it involved practically all secondary school students. It was exceedingly successful in the accomplishment of its purpose in our High and Vocational schools.
Students in our secondary and vocational schools received much commendation and were awarded Certificates of Merit, carrying conferred honorary commissions in the United States Navy, Bureau of Aeronautics, for their accomplishments in making model airplanes, both American and foreign, for use in our country's aviation training centers.
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