USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1919 > Part 8
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Office expenses, fuel, etc ...
225.00
246.41
225.00
21.41
Expenses out of town
125.00
106.26
125.00
18.74
Automobile.
300.00
300.00
300.00
$4,220.00
$4,096.35
$5,350.00
$1,253.65
Instruction
Teachers' salaries ..
$95,680.00
$95,787.58 $143,313.00
$47,525.42
Text-books, supplies
6,400.00
6,065.29
6,000.00
-65.29
Domestic science
200.00
338.79
300.00
-38.79
Manual training and
sewing.
400.00
261.94
400.00
13806
$102,680.00
$102,453.60
$150,013.00 $47,559.40
Operating School Plant
Janitors
$12,332.00
$12,640.38
$15,709.00
$3,068.62
Fuel.
10,400.00
10,124.48
14,420.00
4,295.52
Water.
700.00
649.29
700.00
50.71
Janitors' supplies, etc
500.00
678.51
600.00
-78.51
Power
200.00
295.02
350.00
54.98
Lights.
300.00
502.32
500.00
-2.32
Towels.
170.00
175.49
200.00
24.51
$24,602.00
$25,065.49
$32,479.00
$7,413.51
Maintaining School Plant
Repairs.
$7,000.00
$6,972.12
$10,000.00
$3,027.88
Furniture
250.00
249.11
250.00
.89
Flags
100.00
88.80
125.00
36.20
Care of grounds.
50.00
4.03
50.00
45.97
$7,400.00
$7,314.06
$10,425.00
$3,110.94
Auxiliary Agencies
Health-
School Physicians ..
$500.00
$500.00
1,200.00
$700.00
School Nurse
940.00
962.50
1,200.00
327.50
Equipment
200.00
200.00
Transportation
4,925.00
4,800.65
6,110.00
1,309.35
ยท
$6,365.00
$6,263.15
$8,710.00
$2,446.85
and care of organs ....
107
ANNUAL REPORT
Miscellaneous
Appropriated 1919
Expended 1919
Estimated 1920
Increase or Decrease
Tuition
$50.00
$43.72
$50.00
$6.28
Graduations
200.00
137.91
200.00
62.09
Insurance.
1,361.00
1,292.85
2,523.00
1,230.15
Express
35.00
32.45
35.00
2.55
Sundries
100.00
164.25
100.00
-64.25
$1,746.00
1,671.18
2,908.00
1,236.82
Evening Schools
$1,276.25
$1,247.57
1,000.00
-247.57
$151,049.25 $150,670.71
$213,842.00 $63,171.29
SUMMARY OF ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR 1920 Compared with Expenditures for 1919.
General Control
1. School Committee.
$2,760.00
$2,559.31
$2,957.00
$397.69
2. Superintendence.
4,220.00
4,096.35
5,350.00
1,253.65
Instruction
102,680.00
102,453.60
150,013.00
47,559.40
Operating School Plant. .
24,602.00
25,065.49
32,479.00
7,413.51
Maintaining School Plant
7,400.00
7,314.06
10,425.00
3,110.94
Auxiliary Agencies.
6,365.00
6,263.15
8,710.00
2,446.85
Miscellaneous.
1,746.00
1,671.18
2,908.00
1,236.82
Evening Schools.
1,276.25
1,247.57
1,000.00
-247.57
$151,049.25 $150,670.71
$213,842.00
$63,171.29
TABLE SHOWING EXPENDITURES.
For the Public Schools for the past three years with estimate for 1920.
General Control
1917
1919
Estimate 1920
School Committee
$2,046.38
1918 $2,392.36 4,053.73
$2,559.31 4,096.35 102,453.60
5,350.00
Instruction
80,602.80
88,092.16
150,013.00
Operating School Plant. .
22,801.85
23,635.95
25,065.49 7,314.06
32,479.00
Maintaining School Plant
5,144.88
5,126.30
10,425.00
Auxiliary Agencies.
4,455.00
5,616.50
6,263.15
8,710.00
Miscellaneous
1,162.91
3,401.22 499.06
1,671.18
2,908.00
Evening Schools.
913.73
1,247.57
1,000.00
$120,733.56 $132,817.28 $150,670.71 $213,842.00
Increase over
previous
$63,171.29 year. $6,162.37 $17,853.43
$12,083.72
$2,957.00
Superintendence.
3,606.01
108
ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS. Plans and Specifications for School Buildings.
Dr.
Appropriation.
$250.00
Cr.
Charles F. Robinson, Level at Bliss School
$4.00
Balance.
246.00*
$250.00
*By vote of the City Council this balance was transferred for plans and specifications for Junior High School.
ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL-STATE AIDED VOCATIONAL SCHOOL-AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Dr.
Appropriation
$1,200.00
Cr.
Dexter E. Coggeshall, Instructor-Salary May 1 to July 15. . .. $393.75
E. C. Macomber, Assigning gardens 30.00
$423.75
Balance.
776.25
$1,200.00
WASHINGTON SCHOOL ADDITION.
Dr.
Appropriation
$35,000.00
Cr.
American Seating Company, Kindergarten Chairs.
23.75
R. B. Magaveny, Freight and cartage .
5.04
R. C. N. Monahan, Architect
656.61
James A. Munroe, Contractor.
10,187.00
James S. Palmer, Insurance.
20.00
O. P. Richardson & Sons, Insurance.
18.00
Sun Publishing Co., Advertising for bids.
6.90
$10,917.30
Balance
24,082.70
$35,000.00.
109
ANNUAL REPORT
Sanford Street Sanitaries, Grammar Building. Dr.
Appropriation.
$2,500.00
Olstin M. Higgins, Plans, specifications and details. 106.32
Frank H. Davis, Cementing 65.00
$171.32
Balance
2,328.68
Sanford Street Sanitaries, Middle Building.
Dr.
Appropriation.
$4,500.00
Cr.
Olstin M. Higgins, plans, specifications and details. 259.20
Sun Publishing Co., advertising for bids. 7.50
$266.70
Balance
$4,233.30
$4,500.00
Pleasant Street Portable Building. Dr.
Appropriation.
$3,000.00
Cr.
Edward E. Babb & Company, blackboard.
16.20
D. T. Burnett, desk.
26.63
Lewis A. Fales, express on moulding.
1.04
J. L. Hammett Co., moulding.
72.90
Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Co., furniture.
356.70
E. F. Hodgson Company, portable building.
2,465.00
Mackinnon, & Nicholson, labor and material.
20.25
R. B. Magaveny, freight and cartage.
8.73
$2,967.45
Balance.
32.55
$3,000.00
Richardson School Portable Building.
Dr.
Appropriation.
$3,000.00
Cr.
American Seating Co., furniture.
335.88
Edward E. Babb & Co., blackboard.
16.20
Lewis A. Fales, express on moulding.
1.04
J. L. Hammett Co., moulding.
56.98
Olstin M. Higgins, plans and specifications, So. Main St.
88.80
E. F. Hodgson Co., portable building.
2,465.00
R. B. Magaveny, freight and carting.
18.59
$2,982.49
Balance
17.51
$3,000.00
Cr.
$2,500.00
110
ANNUAL REPORT
BLISS SCHOOL ADDITION.
Dr.
Appropriation
$100,000.00
Cr.
Fred E. Briggs, Insurance.
17.00
Frank Irving Cooper Corporation, Architects.
3,704.53
Electric Shop, temporary lights. 8.83
Frank C. Estes, Insurance.
18.00
William N. Goff, Insurance.
20.00
S. M. Holman, Insurance. .
20.00
R. B. Magaveny, freight and cartage on chairs.
2.02
James S. Palmer, Insurance.
20.00
John B. Pinault, Insurance
20.00
Pope & Read, labor and material.
15.54
Charles C. Rockwood, helper for extra night work.
42.00
Stone-Underhill Heating & Ventilating Co
9,707.00
Sun Publishing Co., advertising for bids 6.00
Everett C. Dexter, General Contractor. 28,012.30
$41,613.22
Balance.
58,386.78
$100,000.00
111
ANNUAL REPORT
BENJAMIN P. KING
Member of School Committee since 1897 Chairman of School Committee since 1914
"In the passing of Mr. Benjamin P. King, the School Committee of the city of Attleboro mourns the loss of a staunch and valued member, an associate of kindly nature and genuine friendliness.
During a period of twenty-two years Mr. King has contributed much of his time, energy and ability towards the upbuilding of the public schools giving evidence at all times of an intelligent estimate of their needs.
We herewith record our deep appreciation of his long and faithful service, his sound judgment and his gracious cooperation.
To the bereaved wife and family we extend our deepest sympathy and ex- press to them our appreciation of Mr. King as a Christian gentleman, a loyal citizen and a faithful public servant"
Records of School Committee. June 16, 1919.
112
ANNUAL REPORT
Voted:
To accept the report of the Superintendent of Schools and to adopt the same as the Annual Report of the School Committee for the year 1919.
R. P. Dakin,
January 6, 1920.
Secretary of the School Committee.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Attleboro:
I submit herewith my fifteenth annual report as Superintendent of Schools, this being the thirty-sixth in the series of superintendents' reports. The attendance statistics are for the school year from September, 1918, to June, 1919. The financial statistics are for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1919.
STATISTICS
1
Population, Census, 1915 18,480
11-School Census
Number of children between 5 and 7.
791
Number of children between 7 and 14.
2,471
Number of children between 14 and 16.
502
Total
3,764
111-Attendance
Statistics for the school year from September 1918 to June 1919:
Number of different pupils enrolled.
3,275
Average daily membership.
2,962
Average daily attendance.
2,757
Per cent of attendance.
93
Table showing the average membership and per cent of attendance for the last ten years:
Average Membership
Gain over previous year attendance
Per cent of
1908-1909
2,351
144
94
1909-1910.
2,213
-138
93
1910-1911
2,317
104
93
1911-1912.
2,302
15
95
1912-1913.
2,407
105
95
1913-1914
2,586
179
95
1914-1915.
2,669
83
95
1915-1916.
2,742
73
94
1916-1917.
2,770
28
94
1917-1918.
2,882
112
94
1918-1919.
2,962
80
93
113
ANNUAL REPORT
Fall Term
Average membership
Per cent of attendance
September.
3,213
96
October.
3,277
95
November
3,270
94
December
3,248
The average membership for December 1918 was 2,998; for December 1919 it is 3248. That means that there are 250 more pupils in school this year than there were a year ago. In five years the school membership has increased 600 pupils. As a result of this large increase many of the rooms are badly overcrowded. Out of 30 rooms in the Sanford Street, Bliss and Richardson schools, 18 have an enrollment ranging from 45 to 54. At the Washington school the first and second grades enroll 55. The additions to the Bliss and Washington schools, which will be ready for occupancy in September, will re- lieve the overcrowding and give good working conditions.
At the Bliss School six of the new rooms will be used for regular grade work, one for a kindergarten and one for an open air school. By transferring from Sanford Street School to the Bliss School all pupils now attending Sanford Street who live in the Pleasant Street and Holman sections, the number of pupils in both schools will be reduced to less then 40 pupils per room.
The Bank Street School, however, promises to be crowded next year with an eighth grade of about 250 pupils. Under the present plan and course of study 200 is all that the school can accommodate well. An additional teach- er will be needed if the enrollment reaches 250.
This year two portable buildings were bought to relieve the Richardson and Pleasant Street schools. These buildings are satisfactory for temporary re- lief but are not intended to be used permanently. Additional school buildings will certainly be required in two or three years to keep pace with the constantly increasing school membership.
The proposed new junior high school would afford accommodations for the seventh and eighth grades and thus make available several rooms for the lower grades. If this building, however, could be ready for use in September 1921 it would probably postpone for awhile further additions to present buildings.
Two legislative acts of 1919 will tend to increase the school attendance. The first is the law requiring all pupils under sixteen years of age to remain in school till they have finished the sixth grade. Under the old law minors over fourteen could leave school if they had completed the fourth grade. The new law makes the completion of the sixth grade the educational requirement, and compels school attendance of all under sixteen who have not completed this grade. This law will keep in school probably fifty pupils who have hitherto left school as soon as they became fourteen.
The second act that will increase school attendance is the act relating to continuation schools for employed minors. By the provisions of this act em- ployed minors under sixteen must attend school four hours a week; if unem- ployed they must attend school twenty hours a week. A special course of study adapted to the needs of these minors will be followed, and the State will reimburse the City for one half the expense. This act was accepted by Attleboro at the State election in November by a vote of 1424 to 189.
IV-School Buildings
Number of school buildings, September, 1919. 20
Number of school rooms (High 25, grades 78) 103
Number of schools room in use. . 94
114
ANNUAL REPORT
V-Teachers
Total number of teachers and supervisors now employed.
108
Number of teachers in High School.
19
Number of teachers in grades I-VIII 78
Number of teachers in kindergarten.
2
Number of teachers for individual instruction. Number of special teachers and supervisors.
4
Number of permanent substitutes. .
1
During the year the following resignations have occurred:
Date Teacher
School
Cause of resignation
Jan. 23 Carrie M. Durgin
Bliss
To teach in Framingham
Jan. 27 Clara E. Flint
Tiffany
To teach in Mansfield
Mar. 6 Helen P. Bullard
Asst. Draw. Sup. To be married
Mar. 31 Charles J. Peterson
Prin. High
To teach in Wakefield
Apr. 1 Gladys M. Greene
High School
To be married
Apr. 28 Roxie M. Taylor
Bliss
To be married
May 8 Flora H. Allison
Dodgeville
To be at home
May 23 Mary L. Chapman
Richardson
To teach in Wellesley
May 15 Anna I. Dearborn
Briggs Corner
To be married
June 2 Helen I. Fraser
Richardson
To teach in Bridgeport
June 19 Helen C. Clark
Man'l Training
To teach in California
July 21 E. Lucille Pierce
High School
To be married
July 26 Florence M. Lillibridge
Richardson
To be at home
July 30 Marion G. Cronin
High School
Commercial position
Aug. 18 Frederick Smith
High
To teach in Easton
Aug. 4 Doris M. Sears
Bliss
To be at home
Oct. 24 Mary F. Wade
Tiffany
To teach in Newton
Oct. 28 Lydia C. Jillson
Tiffany
To be married
Nov. 19 R. Alida Lalanne
Richardson
To be married
Of the eighteen teachers who have resigned during the year only seven have resigned to accept better teaching positions. All the others, except one, have resigned to be married or to be at home.
During the past three years seventy-five new teachers have been employed out of a present corps of one hundred eight. These figures give some idea of the constant changes that are taking place in the teaching force, and of the difficulty of maintaining educational standards with so many changes taking place. There are two factors which will greatly improve the efficiency of the schools in the immediate future. The first of these, additional school accomo- dations, has already been referred to. The second is increasing teachers' sal- aries. One effect of the war has been to bring people to a sudden realization of the fact that teachers have long been seriously underpaid, and that in order to keep teachers from leaving their schools to accept better paying business positions and at the same time enable them to live respectably under the pre- sent conditions, teachers' salaries must be materially increased. Since Sept- ember 1914, the maximum salary for Attleboro teachers has been increased $250. That this increase was not sufficient is shown by the large number of resignations during the years 1917 and 1918. To provide a salary commen- surate with the increased cost of living and to compare favorably with that paid in other cities and towns the maximum salaries should be still further. increased by not less than $400. The committee has already voted an in- crease of $200, effective January 1, 1920. A further increase in the maximum of at least $200 should be provided for the following September. Only by pay- ing adequate salaries can Attleboro hope to attract and hold competent teach- ers. I believe Attleboro wants good schools and has both the wealth and the will to pay the cost.
4
115
ANNUAL REPORT
VI-Cost of Instruction
Valuation of the City of Attleboro, 1919.
$21,952,630.00
Total raised by taxation. 488,733.33
Total raised for support of schools
151,049.25
Total net expenditures for schools excluding evening school ..
149,038.85
Average membership of day schools, September 1918 to June 1919. .
2,962.00
Amount expended per pupil based on average member- ship.
50.32
Cost of books and supplies per pupil based on average membership. 2.19
High School
Total amount expended for High School including High School share of general expense. $34,454.54
Average membership of High School, 1918-1919
402
Average cost per pupil, based on average membership. 85.71
Cost of books and supplies per pupil. 7.37
Elementary Schools
Total amount expended for elementary schools.
$114,584.31
Average membership of elementary schools for the year 1918-1919.
2,560
Cost per pupil, based on average membership.
44.76
Cost of books and supplies per pupil.
1.38
Medical Inspection
Dr. W. E. Rounseville, who had served very efficiently as school physician for the last six years, resigned his position October 1. The Committee very reluctantly accepted his resignation. His duties were immediately taken over by Dr. Jesse W. Battershall who has been associated with Dr. Rounse- ville as school physician the past year and who is very much interested in heal- th work among the pupils. To promote the general health of the pupils it is planned as soon as possible to establish a new system for examining the pupils, so that the examination will be much more thorough, the records kept up to date and everything done that can be done to improve the health of the pupils and indirectly of the community. The work done by the school physician and the school nurse is of great importance, especially in cases of threatened epi- demics such as we have just experienced, and any action extending the scope of their work and rendering it more efficient should be gladly taken.
Physical Training
Another step that has been taken to improve the health of the pupils has been the introduction of physical exercise into the upper grades. The plan followed is similar to the one used in Somerville where group leaders, chosen on account of their ability, conduct the exercises, the teachers being respon- sible for the order and discipline of the pupils and the leaders for the manner in which the exercises are carried out. Mr. H. H. Reinhardt, physical director of the Y. M. C. A., who has had experience in public school work offered to introduce the system and his offer was gladly accepted. The seventh and eighth grades in the center of the city are now having the exercises daily, and the work will be extended to lower grades as rapidly as possible. No one can
116
ANNUAL REPORT
doubt the value of such exercises in improving the physical and mental con- dition of the pupils. Massachusetts as a state has too long neglected this work, as the results of the physical examinations for the draft army too plainly show- ed. A physical director to devote his entire time to the work and to have charge of athletics at the High School would do much to improve the general tone of the schools and at the same time provide a permanent coach at the High School.
Evening School and Americanization
Sessions of the evening school were held for five weeks in January this year to complete the term for 1918-1919, and for ten weeks this fall from October to December. In January there was a general falling off in attendance in all classes except the class in naturalization, which continued eight weeks after the other classes closed. This fall the subjects offered have included type- writing, bookkeeping, mechanical drawing, cooking and naturalization in addi- tion to the regular school subjects. The class in naturalization, under the direction of Mr. A. I. Studley, principal of the Sanford Street School, has shown great interest, the attendance has been large and the men have greatly appreciated the opportunity to learn something of the government of our country, important men and events in its history, and their rights and duties as citizens. Yet this class is very small conipared with the number who should take advantage of its benefits. There are in Attleboro 5,792 men against whom a poll tax is assessed. Of this number only 3,292 are registered voters. Two thousand five hundred men in Attleboro are not registered voters. For every eleven men who vote there are eight who do not vote. Probably half of this number need to learn the English language and all of them need to be encouraged to become citizens and to participate in municipal, state and na- tional affairs. The evening school exists to help all these if they will but avail themselves of the opportunity.
It may be that there are men who would like to become citizens but who cannot conveniently attend evening school. Arrangements can be made to give instruction in any suitable place if the request is made by a group suffi- ciently large. Classes can be held in shops and factories if enough men are interested. Out of 2,500 non-voters it should be possible to organize several such classes. The school department will gladly welcome an opportunity to be of help to such a group.
Community Center at Hebronville
I have mentioned in previous reports the social work done in Hebronville by Miss Roberts, principal of the Hebronville School. Much has been said about making the school the social center of the community. Miss Roberts has done this in large measures for Hebronville and has many plans for en- larging this work in the future. I have asked her to write briefly of her work and her report follows.
"The Community Center activities of the Hebronville School began on October 15th of this year. They are organized as follows,
1st and 3rd weeks of each month
Tuesday 4:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Branch of Public Library
Wednesday 2:30 to 4:00
Baby Clinic-With Miss Mc- Kinnon, Child Welfare Nurse
Wednesday 6:20 to 8:20
Senior School Girls Club
2nd and 4th weeks of each month
Monday 3:45 to 5:00 p.m.
Junior Boys Club
Monday
6:20 to 8:20 p.m.
Senior Boys Club
Tuesday 4:00 to 8:30 p.m. Library
Wednesday 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Baby Clinic
Wednesday 3:45 to 5:00 p.m. Junior Girls Club
Wednesday 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Working Girls Club
117
ANNUAL REPORT
Miss Mckinnon has also given health talks to the girls and Mr. Studley has given a talk illustrated with stereopticon slides.
Beginning with the first week in January, through the courtesy of the Red Cross, Miss Mckinnon will give one morning in each week to weighing the children, each child in the building to be weighed once each month. To follow this weighing up, we are to serve penny lunches twice each day, cocoa and crackers or soup and crackers. The plan is for the Red Cross to start us with the necessary apparatus, then we are to make the scheme self supporting.
The Mothers' Club has been abandoned and in its place we are having Moth- ers' 'Afternoons the last Friday in each month.
In addition to these activities our teachers have aRound Table twice each week at which we discuss the book that we are reading in the Teachers' Read- ing Club.
From October 15 to December 22, thirty-four extra school activities were held at the Hebronville School".
Teachers' Professional Improvement.
I am pleased to mention in this report the two reading clubs that have been formed among the teachers for professional study and improvement. This is the fourth year for such a club for the grade teachers and the second for the teachers at the High School. Meetings are held every two weeks, the atten- dance is excellent although voluntary, many profitable discussions are enjoyed, and a higher and keener professional spirit is cultivated. Teachers also be- come better acquainted with each other and an excellent esprit de corps is built up. Many teachers have found the work of the club of great help to them after leaving Attleboro, and have been glad to express their appreciation of its benefits. Moore says that "by far the most important thing about a teacher is the kind of philosophy of education which he carries about with him". The reading clubs are doing much to keep fresh in the teachers' minds educa- tional aims and methods and to establish the right kind of philosophy of educa- tion.
Several teachers each year attend summer school and return to work in the fall with fresh enthusiasm and inspiration. The results of this study are so beneficial to the schools and so helpful to the whole teaching body that these teachers deserve some recognition. I recommend that an allowance of fifty dollars be made to any teacher attending summer school.
Needs of the Schools
Attleboro is growing. Since 1897 the school membership has doubled. In the last ten years it has increased 1,000 pupils. To-day there are 250 more pupils in school than there were a year ago. This growth is bound to con- tinue. New school buildings will be needed. A higher educational standard must be maintained. Newer and better methods of teaching and better equipment must be used to make the schools more efficient. The best teachers must be secured. Education is more important to-day than ever before. Upon the school rests the responsiblilty for properly preparing the boys and girls of to-day for the great tasks that lie before them. The great war has left many problems for the future to solve. Whether they are solved wisely and justly will depend in large measure on the kind of education the public schools provide. I believe Attleboro wishes to give her boys and girls as good an education as can be obtained in any other city or town in the state. I believe she wants to see the teachers well paid, the buildings well kept, the equipment
118
ANNUAL REPORT
up-to-date, and the right conditions for producing good results. I believe Attleboro is willing to pay for any improvements in the school system that will result in a better education for the pupils in her schools. A new Junior High School, the extension of manual training in the High School, pre- vocational work for boys under sixteen, an industrial school to fit workers for the jewelry industry, and special classes for defective children, are all needed and should be planned for as soon as possible.
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