Report of the city of Somerville 1947, Part 6

Author: Somerville (Mass.)
Publication date: 1947
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 434


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Somerville > Report of the city of Somerville 1947 > Part 6


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


Personal $100,000.00 2,500.00 6,500.00


Totals $237,000.00 28,000.00 49,100.00


99


CITY AUDITOR


FORECLOSED PROPERTY 1947


Land and Buildings


Personal


Totals


6 Abdell Street Pt. lot 7


$3,700.00


$3,700.00


(7-8) Bean Terrace


700.00


700.00


Bennett Street, part lot 8


200.00


200.00


17 Bow Street Place, Reg. lot


2,200.00


2,200.00


(3) Chestnut St. Block


300.00


300.00


Cottage Place, Reg. lot


700.00


700.00


Cross St., Flint St. Pt. lot 3


1,600.00


1,600.00


12 Cross St. East


3,500.00


3,500.00


5 Cross St. Place


2,500.00


2,500.00


Cutler St. lots 28 & 29


600.00


600.00


Endicott Ave. lot 76


800.00


800.00


Fellsway 5" strip & rear lot


500.00


................


500.00


10 Flint St. lot 5


1,100.00


1,100.00


Flint St. pt. lot 18


300.00


300.00


Franklin Avenue


600.00


600.00


Franklin Avenue


500.00


500.00


Franklin Avenue


300.00


300.00


Fremont St. lot 35


500.00


500.00


22 Glen St. pt. lots 30 & 47


1,500.00


1,500.00


(30-28) Lincoln Ave. pt. lot 3


1,000.00


1,000.00


Lincoln Parkway, lot 14


1,100.00


1,100.00


26-30 Linden Ave. lots 18-20


5,100.00


5,100.00


Line St. 2 parcels


700.00


700.00


2 Congress Place & 44 Linwood St.


800.00


800.00


Oak St. part lot 3


1,700.00


1,700.00


Perkins St. lot 3


1,000.00


1,000.00


Perkins St. lot 1


1,100.00


1,100.00


Perkins St. lot 2


1,000.00


1,000.00


Prospect St. part lot 15


3,200.00


3,200.00


Puritan Road lot 244


1,000.00


1,000.00


Royce Place


500.00


500.00


Stone Pl. & 8-10 Sanborn Court


2,100.00


2,100.00


(12) Sanborn Court


1,500.00


1,500.00


Skehan Street


1,500.00


1,500.00


Spring St. lots 2 & 3


1,200.00


1,200.00


Thurston St. part lot 5


1,000.00


1,000.00


(52) Tufts St. lot B


1,200.00


1,200.00


Vernon St. lot C


800.00


800.00


Total


$49,600.00


........


$49,600.00


..


...


.....


..


..


..


..


......


......


......


..


..


...


100


ANNUAL REPORTS


Parks and Playgrounds


Land and Buildings $421,200.00


Personal


Totals


Saxon C. Foss Park


......


$421,200.00


Central Hill


475,000.00


475,000.00


Lincoln


87,500.00


4,000.00


91,500.00


Prospect Hill


69,800.00


69,800.00


Tufts


123,000.00


123,000.00


Paul Revere


1,000.00


1,000.00


Trum Playground


98,600.00


98,600.00


Glen Street


39,000.00


39,000.00


O'Callahan Playground


6,300.00


6,300.00


Dilboy Field


167,400.00


167,400.00


John M. Woods Playground


35,000.00


35,000.00


Walter E. Shaw Playground


65,000.00


65,000.00


Cesare Marchi Playground


10,900.00


10,900.00


E. W. Bailey Playground


5,100.00


5,100.00


Dickerman Playground


4,400.00


4,400.00


George F. Conway


59,000.00


59,000.00


Total


$1,668,200.00


$4,000.00 $1,672,200.00


Summary


School Buildings


$4,652,000.00


$309,500.00 $4,961,500.00


Fire Buildings


311,300.00


270,500.00


581,800.00


Libraries


205,100.00


109,000.00


314,100.00


Miscellaneous Buildings


1,146,100.00


389,200.00


1,535,300.00


Foreclosed Property


49,600.00


49,600.00


Parks and Playgrounds


1,668,200.00


4,000.00


1,672,200.00


Miscellaneous Land


16,200.00


16,200.00


Total


$8,048,500.00 $1,082,200.00 $9,130,700.00


1,976,176.42


Sewers (Cost)


1,793,614.46


Water Works (Cost)


Total Value of Public Property


$12,900,490.88


101


TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES


REPORT OF THE TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES


Somerville, Massachusetts June 3, 1948


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville :


Gentlemen :


I herewith present the annual report of the City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for the year 1947.


Respectfully submitted, WALTER E. COLLINS,


City Treasurer and Collector of Taxes


102


ANNUAL REPORTS


CASH STATEMENT


RECEIPTS


$14,659,723.78


Balance January 1, 1947


796,587.61


$15,456,311.39


PAYMENTS


$15,112,973.56


Balance December 31, 1947


343,337.83


$15,456,311.39


103


TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES


The Assessors' Warrants for the tax levy, assessed upon polls and property for the year 1947, and the Motor Vehicle Excise amounted to $6,155,396.15.


Real Estate Valuation:


Land


Buildings


$35,621,950.00 89,139,250.00


Personal Valuation


$124,761,200.00 9,214,750.00


$133,975,950.00


At the rate of $43.90 per $1,000


5,881,544.21


Polls-34,216 at $2.00


68,432.00


Assessments


Motor Vehicle Excise:


Commitment No. 1


$6,143.36


„,


"


3


28,514.98


"


4.


4,721.91


5


16,650.56


6


72,339.31


7


49,598.13


8.


4,205.73


$205,419.94


Total Commitment by Assessors


$6,155,396.15


2


23,245.96


104


ANNUAL REPORTS


TEMPORARY LOANS, 1947, IN ANTICIPATION OF TAXES


Balance from 1946


$400,000.00


Dated


Due


Rate %


Amount


Feb.


6, 1947


Nov.


6, 1947


.58


500,000.00


Mar. 12, 1947


Nov.


6, 1947


.60


500,000.00


Apr.


10, 1947


Nov. 17, 1947


.60


500,000.00


May 27, 1947


Dec. 19, 1947


.582


500,000.00


July


11, 1947


Nov. 25, 1947


.573


500,000.00


Dec.


10, 1947


Oct. 5, 1948


.75


660,000.00


Dec.


31, 1947


Jan. 30, 1948


1.00


40,000.00


3,200,000.00


3,200,000.00


3,600,000.00


Notes paid in 1947


2,900,000.00


Balance to 1948


700,000.00


105


TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES


FUNDED DEBT AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1947


Rate


Date of Issue


Due


Amount


Lowell St. Bridge


31/2


Apr.


1, 1909


1949


$2,000.00


Water Loan


31/2


July


2, 1934


1949


4,000.00


Water Loan


21/4


Apr.


1, 1938


1953


30,000.00


Water Loan


11/2


Apr.


1, 1940


1955


40,000.00


Water Loan


11/4


Apr.


1, 1941


1951


20,000.00


Water Loan


11/2


Jan.


1, 1942


1952


25,000.00


Sewer


23/4


Oct.


1, 1937


1956


35,000.00


Sewer


3 3/4


Jul.


2, 1934


1964


17,000.00


Sewer


21/2


Jan.


1, 1939


1969


68,000.00


Sewer


1 34


Oct.


2, 1939


1957


50,000.00


High School


4


Jul.


1, 1928


1948


11,000.00


Veterans' House.


11/2


Jul.


1, 1947


1962


500,000.00


Macadam Pave.


11/4


Apr.


1, 1947


1952


450,000.00


School & Bldg.


11/4


Apr.


1, 1947


1957


750,000.00


So. Jr.


4


Jul.


1, 1930


1950


69,000.00


So. Jr.


31/2


Apr.


1, 1931


1951


7,000.00


W. Jr.


4


Oct.


1, 1930


1950


45,000.00


W. Jr.


31/2


Apr.


1, 1931


1951


12,000.00


School


31/2


Jul.


2, 1934


1954


105,000.00


Garage


4 3/4


Jan.


1, 1932


1952


10,000.00


Emer. Storm. Dam.


21/4


Oct.


2. 1939


1949


10,000.00


Defense


11/4


Apr.


1, 1943


1948


2,000.00


Defense


1


Jul.


1, 1943


1948


2,000.00


Municipal Relief


1


Jul.


1, 1946


1951


185,000.00


Municipal Relief


21/2


Apr.


1, 1938


1948


15,000.00


Municipal Relief


2


Jul.


1, 1938


1948


17,000.00


Municipal Relief


1 3/4


Jul.


1, 1938


1948


12,000.00


Municipal Relief


2


Oct.


1, 1938


1948


5,000.00


Municipal Relief


1 3/4


Oct.


1, 1938


1948


9,000.00


Municipal Relief


13/4


Apr.


1, 1939


1949


20,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Jul.


1, 1939


1949


30,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/2


Jul.


1, 1939


1949


20,000.00


Municipal Relief


21/4


Oct.


2, 1939


1949


12,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/2


Oct.


2, 1939


1949


12,000.00


Municipal Relief


13/4


Oct.


2, 1939


1949


22,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Apr.


1, 1940


1950


45,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/2


Jul.


1, 1940


1950


30,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Oct.


1, 1940


1950


60,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Oct.


1, 1940


1950


15,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Apr.


1, 1941


1951


105,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Oct.


1, 1941


1951


12,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Apr.


1, 1942


1952


100,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Jul.


1, 1942


1952


70,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Oct.


1, 1942


1952


33,000.00


Municipal Relief


11/4


Oct.


1, 1942


1952


19,000.00


Municipal Relief


1


Jul.


1, 1947


1948


75,000.00


Municipal Relief


1


Jul.


1, 1947


1949


70,000.00


Jul.


1, 1941


1951


100,000.00


Municipal Relief


2


$3,357,000.00


106


ANNUAL REPORTS


YEARLY BOND MATURITIES WITH INTEREST


Municipal Relief Loans


Year Due


Principal


Interest


Total


1948


$391,000.00


$12,132.50


$403,132.50


1949


327,000.00


7,766.25


334,766.25


1950


199,000.00


4,163.75


203,163.75


1951


133,000.00


1,847.50


134,847.50


1952


43,000.00


412.50


43,412.50


$1,093,000.00


$26,322.50 $1,119,322.50


All Other Loans


1948


$115,000.00


$15,992.50


$130,992.50


1949


100,000.00


12,382.50


112,382.50


1950


91,000.00


9,275.00


100,275.00


1951


52,000.00


6,397.50


58,397.50


1952


133,000.00


5,721.25


138,721.25


1953


36,000.00


4,106.25


40,106.25


1954


31,000.00


3,195.00


34,195.00


1955


16,000.00


2,340.00


18,340.00


1956


11,000.00


2,047.50


13,047.50


1957


11,000.00


1,792.50


12,792.50


1958


6,000.00


1,537.50


7,537.50


1959


6,000.00


1,370.00


7,370.00


1960


6,000.00


1,202.50


7,202.50


1961


6,000.00


1,035.00


7,035.00


1962


6,000.00


867.50


6,867.50


1963


5,000.00


700.00


5,700.00


1964


5,000.00


560.00


5,560.00


1965


4,000.00


420.00


4,420.00


1966


4,000.00


317.50


4,317.50


1967


4,000.00


215.00


4,215.00


1968


3,000.00


112.50


3,112.50


1969


3,000.00


37.50


3,037.50


$651,000.00


$70,654.80


$721,654.80


BONDS DUE IN 1948


January


April $1,000.00


July


October


Total $1,000.00


Sewer


.. $4,000.00 5,000.00


$1,000.00


$7,000.00


12,000.00


Water


15,000.00


2,000.00 23,000.00


25,000.00


W. Jr.


3,000.00


15,000.00


18,000.00


School


15,000.00


15,000.00


Garage


2,000.00


2,000.00


Emer. Storm Damage


5,000.00


5,000.00


Defense


2,000.00


2,000.00


4,000.00


Maca. Pave


90,000.00


90,000.00


Sch. & Mun. Bldg.


75,000.00


75,000.00


High ..


11,000.00


11,000.00


Vet. House.


35,000.00


35,000.00


Mun. Relief


87,000.00


228,000.00


76,000.00


391,000.00


...


...


$11,000.00


275,000.00


317,000.00


103,000.00


706,000.00


..


...


...


...


...


...


..


..


..


.......


..


..


TREASURER AND COLLECTOR OF TAXES


..


...


107


Bridge


22,000.00


So. Jr.


2,000.00


108


INTEREST DUE IN 1948


January


April


July


October


Total $52.50


Sewer


$1,168.75


918.75


1,118.75


918.75


4,125.00


Water


257.50


762.50


220.00


637.50


1,877.50


So. Jr.


1,380.00


122.50


1,380.00


87.50


2,970.00


W. Jr.


1,110.00


1,057.50


2,167.50


School


1,837.50


1,837.50


3,675.00


Garage


237.50


190.00


427.50


Emer. Storm Damage


112.50


112.50


225.00


Defense ..


10.00


12.50


10.00


32.50


Mac. Pave.


2,812.50


2,250.00


5,062.50


Sch. & Mun. Bldg.


4,687.50


4,218.75


8,906.25


High


220.00


220.00


440.00


Vet. Hous.


3,750.00


3,750.00


7,500.00


Mun. Relief


3,550.00


3,385.00


3,550.00


2,722.50


13,207.50


$12,411.25


13,958.75


12,276.25


12,022.50


50,668.75


..


..


...


..


.........


ANNUAL REPORTS


Bridge


$35.00


$17.50


109)


.


BOARD OF APPEAL


REPORT OF THE BOARD OF APPEAL


January 31, 1948.


To the Honorable the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville,


Gentlemen :


The Board of Appeal of the City of Somerville respectfully submits the following report of its activities during the year ending December 31, 1947.


The marked activity manifested by the Board of Appeal this past year was due primarily to the change from war-time- conditions, when difficulties of construction were aggravated by restrictions and inability to obtain necessary materials and skilled workmen, to the present peace-time status when un- trammelled depreciation and housing shortages became an acute national problem whereby immediate replacements be- came imperative.


During the past year, the Board of Appeal, ever cognizant of the housing problem has at all times attempted to be instru- mental in obtaining decent and adequate shelter for the citi- zens of our city. The board has also encouraged both small and large enterprises seeking locations within our bounds because it realizes that industry not only pays taxes and increases our- valuation but it also employes hundreds of our citizens.


In the preceding year the Board of Appeal has held hear- ings on applications submitted by fifty-five appellants, of which forty-eight were granted, six refused and one carried over to 1948. All of these appeals have been taken from decisions of the Commissioner of Public Buildings refusing to grant permits on applications not in accordance with the Zoning, Building or Fire District Ordinances.


The Board has endeavored to consider and decide the many petitions which have come before it conscientiously, without bias and in a practical manner. In all cases it has tried to ex-


110


ANNUAL REPORTS


tend to both appellant and opponent the courtesy and time to which they are entitled as property owners in the City of Som- erville.


It has been impossible to grant relief in all cases of appeal. The evidence however has been carefully considered and the members of the Board have made personal views of the prem- ises in most cases before arriving at a decision.


The powers of the Board of Appeal are regulated by statute and favorable decisions may only be made by a unanimous vote of the Board when in its judgment there is a practical difficulty and unnecessary hardship. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the individual members of the Board to become thoroughly familiar with the facts in every case. This we have endeavored to do before forming our opinions and giving decisions. After favor- able decisions have been rendered, it is then the duty of the Building Department to enforce the conditions as stated and it is a pleasure to report that the fullest co-operation has been re- ceived from all members of the Building Department.


The Board wishes to express its most sincere appreciation and gratitude to Building Commissioner John F. Kennedy, City Solicitor Anthony W. Di Cecca and Fire Chief McNally for their assistance and co-operation whenever called upon during the past year.


Respectfully submitted,


(signed) DR. S. G. ZAHAROOLIS, Chairman ANTHONY C. ROSELLI, Secretary EDGAR J. GERRIOR JAMES DANGORA CHARLES NOBILIO


111


VETERANS GRAVES REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT


REPORT OF VETERANS GRAVES REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT


April 5, 1948.


To the Honorable, the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen of the City of Somerville.


Gentlemen :


I am submitting the annual report of the Veterans Graves Registration Department for the period beginning September 1st to December 31st, 1947.


This department was formed on September 1, 1947 under Chapter 584, Section 9 of the General Laws which reads that every veteran's grave within this city be suitably kept and cared for. This department will also register the graves of Somerville veterans of all wars as required information be- comes available.


An appropriation amounting to $300.00 for ordinary main- tenance was made to this department for the above period of time. $293.70 was expended during these four months.


Through the efforts of this department, an appropriation was made to the Engineering Department to repair and make suitable, the catacomb vault in the Somerville Avenue Cemetery for the temporary reception of the repatriated dead of World War II who are to be buried in the proposed cemetery at Clar- endon Hill. The capacity of this vault is figured at ten bodies.


The first of the Somerville dead arrived in this country in October. Up to December 31st, eight bodies were returned; three were placed in the vault and five were buried in family lots. It is possible that during 1948, forty to fifty of Somer- ville's four hundred dead will be returned to this country under the Government's five year repatriation program.


112


ANNUAL REPORTS


On the recommendation of Mayor Bradley, the Board of Aldermen caused to be set aside, a plot of land situated be- tween the former Contagious Hospital and the City Infirmary for a cemetery to be restricted to the burial of the repatriated dead of World War II. This tract of land has a frontage of 160 feet and a depth of 225 feet, a total of 40,800 square feet. Provision has been made for 232 graves. It is planned that this cemetery is to be beautifully landscaped and maintained as a shrine to the World War II dead. Mayor Bradley plans that a suitable memorial to these heroes will in the near future, be constructed on this site.


In submitting this report I wish to state that every service has been given by this department to the next of kin to expe- diate the return of their dead.


With a representative of the Mayor and a military delega- tion, the body of each returned hero has been escorted to this city from the South Station and also to the final place of burial.


Respectfully submitted,


MAURICE F. CAMERA, Graves Registration Officer


113


· SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


CITY OF SOMERVILLE REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


December 29, 1947.


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 Of- ficers ; and that six hundred copies be printed separately.


EVERETT W. IRELAND,


Secretary of School Board.


114


ANNUAL REPORTS


SCHOOL COMMITTEE 1947


WILLIAM J. SHEA


Chairman


JOHN F. FITZGERALD


.


Vice Chairman


Members


EX-OFFICIIS


G. EDWARD BRADLEY, Mayor


RAYMOND I. REYNOLDS


President, Board of Aldermen


WARD ONE


MARY E. WHOLEY


WARD TWO


FRANCIS H. BROWN


34 Bow St.


JOSEPH J. GALVIN


.


34 Central St.


WARD FOUR


72r Marshall St.


WILLIAM J. SHEA


. .


10 Aberdeen Rd.


V. THERESA MORRISSEY . .


17 Warner St.


JOHN F. FITZGERALD


86 Yorktown St


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 108 Summer Street


Superintendent's Office Force


Marion E. Marshall, 62 Highland Avenue Regina Truelson, 38 Rogers Avenue Margaret R. O'Connor, 2 Adrian Street Frances C. Geaton, 29 Tennyson Street William E. Hogan, 23 Calvin Street Mary P. Brady, 164 Washington Street


40 Benton Rd. 32 Walker St.


191 Broadway


WARD THREE


EARL W. LANDRY


WARD FIVE


WARD SIX


WARD SEVEN


.


115


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Standing Committee of the Whole


with Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen designated to act during such times as the matters set opposite their names are under discussion:


TEACHERS


FINANCE


Fitzgerald, Brown Landry, Shea


CURRICULUMS AND INSTRUCTION


Brown, Morrissey HEALTH, PHYSICAL TRAINING AND ATHLETICS . Galvin, Wholey INDUSTRIAL EDUCATION Wholey, Landry


SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS Morrissey, Galvin


RULES AND REGULATIONS


Shea, Fitzgerald


Board Meetings


January 6 January 27 February 24 March 31


April 28 May 26 June 30 September 29


October 27 November 24 December 29


116


ANNUAL REPORTS


TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL COMMITTEE SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS


LADIES 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 twentieth an- nual report, which is the seventy-eight in a series of annual re- ports of the Somerville Public Schools, and covers the calendar year 1947.


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 matters involved in the outstanding activities of the School committee, and (2) the condition of the schools with respect to changes, improvements, and progress, which includes statements regard- ing personnel, membership, and buildings, with recommenda- tions concerning the immediate and necessary needs of our ed- ucational system.


Part II is prepared as a report of the School Committee to the citizens and consists of (1) a description of the school prop- erty, (2) statistical tables which set forth comparative figures covering a period of years concerning enrollment, membership, attendance, cost of instruction and maintenance, and other mat- ters of organization, and (3) tables showing statistics, not necessary for comparison covering the last fiscal year.


Part III presents the organization of the school system at the close of the year 1947 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


December 29, 1947.


117


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


PART I REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1947


With the closing of the year 1947, it again becomes the responsibility of the Superintendent of Schools, in accordance with the provisions of the statutes of the Commonwealth and the Rules and Regulations of the School Committee of Somer- ville, to record the growth, progress, and accomplishments of the educational system of the community and to report to the citizens upon the second year of stewardship of the School Committee which took up its task in January of 1946 as the legislative and policy making directorate of the Somerville school system.


Secretary of State Marshall has recently called the atten- tion of the citizens of the United States to the fact that the people of the world must learn to live together. He insists that the evils of ignorance must be countered by knowledge, sus- picion must be offset by trust, and jealousy by mutual respect, in order to resolve the misunderstandings, the fears, and the suspicions now so prevalent among the peoples of the world.


The Preamble to the Constitution of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization sets forth a similar important prescription for a World Peace, as follows:


THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE STATES, PARTIES TO THIS CONSTITUTION ON BEHALF OF THEIR PEOPLES, DECLARE


that since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be con- structed ;


that ignorance of each other's ways and lives has been a common cause, throughout the history of mankind,


118


ANNUAL REPORTS


of that suspicion and mistrust between the peoples of the world through which their differences have all too often broken into war;


that the great and terrible war which has now ended was a war made possible by the denial of the demo- cratic principles of the dignity, equality and mutual respect of men, and by the propagation, in their place, through ignorance and prejudice, of the doctrine of the inequality of men and races ;


that the wide diffusion of culture, and the education of humanity for justice and liberty and peace are indis- pensable to the dignity of man and constitute a sacred duty which all the nations must fulfill in a spirit of mutual assistance and concern ;


that a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.


Every individual in the world has a direct relationship with the problem of peace. The aforementioned United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, now com- monly known as UNESCO, is the instrument by which the peo- ple of thirty-one nations can give life to this obligation of man- kind. Its object is to direct the abilities and everyday acts of all the citizens everywhere towards the greatest adventure of our century, the building of a new, safer, and more prosperous world.


UNESCO sets forth a Six-Point Program to further the fulfillment of its objectives through the acts of the individuals of the world, as follows :


Point 1: You can help by aiding the educational recon- struction of war-devastated countries, UNESCO's top priority project for 1947.


Point 2: You can help by making your personal opinion felt in your community, among your friends, in your organizations, and in the local and national press and radio.


119


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Point 3: You can help by arranging or helping to arrange local exhibits and other programs that will dramatize UNESCO aims, projects, and prin- ciples for your community.


Point 4: You can help by taking an active part in train- ing the young generation for peace.


Point 5 : You can help by joining personally in the contin- uing adventure of adult education, especially in UNESCO's fields of interest.


Point 6: You can help by promoting personally the good will and understanding among the racial and re- ligious groups in your community.


The foregoing program sets forth important implications for Education, and the schools are obligated to perform the tasks necessary to accomplish their proper functions.


The tremendous expenditure of human and material wealth, of human talents and skills, and the loss of large num- bers of business and professional leaders, during the war, and the staggering national debt, can be compensated for only by the development of those skills which have been and are now being fully evolved through education. This requires, without question, an improvement in the schools, for it is obvious that restoring and maintaining what was certainly cannot be the goal. The goal must be the building of a new, safer, better, and more prosperous world. The attainment of this goal will depend upon the product of an adequate educational opportu- nity for all.


The kind and quality of the opportunity offered will re- flect and express the aspirations of the citizens for the welfare of their children and for the future of our community, our na- tion, and the world. Such an offering requires that a modern, adequate, thorough, and complete curriculum be provided for all the children of all of the people, conducted by well trained, qualified, competent teachers, provided with the necessary modern equipment, textbooks, and supplies, in educational structures, properly and artistically designed for modern needs. well ventilated, well heated, and well lighted, and with proper provisions for the health and safety of the students.


120


ANNUAL REPORTS


It was pointed out a year ago that in spite of the fact that five of the members of the School Committee had had no prev- ious experience in the duties and responsibilities of public of- fice, all recognized the importance of the obligations which they had assumed and had spent considerable time prior to assum- ing their offices in preparing themselves for the successful per- formance of their duties by investigating the scope of their functions and the task to be done. As a result, they conceived well defined ideas of what should require their attention and brought about actions which, formulated during the first year of stewardship, brought forth some interesting and important results during the year 1947.




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.