USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1931 > Part 15
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Apportioned Curbing-1931. 176.04
Apportioned Granolithic Walk-1930 16.19
Apportioned Granolithic Walk-1931 66.35
Apportioned Sewer-1930. 87.92
Apportioned Sewer-1931. 57.20 $ 467.41
Transferred to Tax Titles Apportioned Granolithic Walk-1931 1.41
Outstanding December 31, 1931 Apportioned Curbing-1931. $107.20
Apportioned Granolithic Walk-1931 . 31.23
Apportioned Sewer-1931. 72.83 211.26
680.08
APPORTIONED BETTERMENTS PAID IN ADVANCE-1931
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 Curbing.
53.59
Sewer
46.71 $ 100.30
INTEREST, COSTS AND FEES
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931. $ 9,289.27
DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTS
Department of Public Welfare
Outstanding January 1, 1931 $ 11,548.43
$ 43,564.02 Committed, 1931. 32,015.59
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 $ 19,507.33
Outstanding December 31, 1931 . 24,056.69
$ 43,564.02
Electrical Branch-Fire Department
Committed, 1931
$ 6.00
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931
6.00
Fishing Permits-Orr's Pond
Committed, 1931 $ 42.00 Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 42.00
172
ANNUAL REPORT
Health Department
Outstanding January 1, 1931
$ 1,576.68 2,541.32 $ 4,118.00
Committed, 1931.
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 $ 1,724.10
Abated, 1931 .
278.80
Outstanding December 31, 1931
2,115.10 $ 4,118.00
Highway Department
$ 36.05
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931.
36.05
Motor Vehicle License
Committed, 1931.
$ 130.00
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931
130.00
Motor Vehicle Operators License
Committed, 1931
$ 21.00
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931.
21.00
Police Department
Committed, 1931.
$ 3.50
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931.
3.50
Public Property
Committed, 1931.
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931
$ 1,244.00
Outstanding December 31, 1931
192.00
$ 1,436.00
School Department
Outstanding January 1, 1931.
$ 84.00
Committed, 1931.
1,169.88
$ 1,253.88
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931. $ 1,179.88
74.00
$ 1,253.88
Water Rates-1929
Outstanding January 1, 1931
$ 37.60
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 $ 13.17
16.43
Abated, 1931 Outstanding December 31, 1931
8.00
$ 37.60
Paid direct to Treasurer (Oct. 4, 1930)
$ 1,436.00
Committed, 1931
173
ANNUAL REPORT
Water Rates. 1930
Outstanding January 1, 1931 Refunds, 1931
$ 2,944.57 3.18 $ 2,947.75
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 $ 2,907.34
Abated, 1931 .
15.37
Outstanding December 31, 1931.
25.04 $ 2,947.75
Water Rates-1931
Committed, 1931
$104,585.62
Refunds, 1931
15.74
Adjustment .
.10
$104,601.46
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931.
$ 99,284.49
Abated, 1931 .
158.86
Outstanding December 31, 1931 .
5,158.11
$104,601.46
Pipe and Labor-1927
Outstanding January 1, 1931.
$ 15.30
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931 .
15.30
Pipe and Labor-1929
Outstanding January 1, 1931 .
$ 82.16
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931
.$ 12.69
Abated, 1931 .
69.09
Outstanding December 31, 1931
.38
$ 82.16
Pipe and Labor-1930
Outstanding January 1, 1931
$ 835.02
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931
$ 540.10
Abated, 1931
1.06
Outstanding December 31, 1931.
293.86
$ 835.02
Pipe and Labor-1931
Committed, 1931
$ 4,512.16
Collected and paid Treasurer, 1931.
$ 3,253.16
Abated, 1931
3.41
Outstanding December 31, 1931
1,255.59 $ 4,512.16
The total amount paid over to the Treasurer in 1931 as shown in the above accounts is $1,052,502.73.
Respectfully submitted,
F. F. BLACKINTON, City Collector.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
CITY OF ATTLEBORO
FOR THE YEAR 1931
176
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1931
Edwin F. Thayer, 17 Mechanic Street. Telephone 468 M
Term Expires January 1933
Mrs. Margaret Conro, 26 Dean Street. Telephone 1047 J
1933
Joseph Finberg, 24 John Street. Telephone 981-R
1933
George E. Nerney, 204 North Main Street. 1933
Telephone 1101-W
Dr. Reginald P. Dakin, 63 North Main Street
1935
Telephone 279
Mrs. Lida M. Holbrook, 28 Peck Street.
1935
Telephone 1227 J
Leonard I. Lamb, 191 South Main Street. 1935
Telephone 971-W
Mrs. Alice Stobbs, 63 Bank Street
1935
Telephone 931-J
Mrs. Rena Rounseville, 141 South Main Street.
Telephone 956-J
1935
Organization
Edwin F. Thayer.
Chairman
Dr. Reginald P. Dakin
Secretary
Edwin F. Thayer.
Representative before
Municipal
Council
STANDING COMMITTEES
Teachers and Course of Study
Mr. Thayer
Mrs. Holbrook Mrs. Conro
Text Books and Supplies
Dr. Dakin
Mrs. Holbrook
Mrs. Stobbs
Buildings
Mr. Finberg
Mr. Nerney Mrs. Rounseville
Finance
Mr. Thayer Mr. Lamb Dr. Dakin
Regular meetings, first and third Mondays of each month at 7:30 o'clock P. M.
Bills are paid on the fifteenth of each month.
All bills to be acted on must be submitted in duplicate, and be in the hands of the clerk of the committee, Superintendent's office, on the 26th of each month.
177
ANNUAL REPORT
Superintendent of Schools LEWIS A. FALES
Office Sanford Street School. . Telephone 12 Residence 22 Mechanic Street. Telephone 22
The Superintendent's office is open on school days from 8:30 to 5:00, Satur- day, 8:30 to 11:30. The Superintendent's office hours on school days are from 8:30 to 9:00; 4:00 to 5:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 7:00 to 8:00 Monday evening.
Superintendent's Secretary
Alice I. Wetherell, Telephone 1235 J 32 Sanford Street
Clerks
Hilda R. LaPalme. . 61 Hebron Avenue 84 Knight Avenue
Edna I. Gagner
School Physician
Dr. Jesse W. Battershall, Telephone 284
18 North Main Street
School Nurse
Mrs. Dorothy B. Wendell, R. N., Telephone 940 W 90 Locust Street
Office hours: Sanford Street School, 4 to 4:30 on school days. Lincoln School, 1:30 to 3:00 on Wednesday.
Attendance Officer
Charles T. Crossman. 32 Benefit Street
Telephones: Home 670 .M; Office 670 R
Office hours on school days: 8:45 to 9:30 A. M. daily at the office of the Superintendent.
School Calendar
Fall Term-Thursday, Sept. 10 to Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1931.
Winter Term-Monday, Jan. 4 to Friday, Feb. 19, 1932.
Spring Term-Monday, Feb. 29 to Friday, April 15, 1932.
Summer Term-Monday, April 25 to Wednesday, June 29, 1932.
School Sessions
High School-One session, from 8:15 to 1:40, with a recess of fifteen minutes. Bank Street-One session, from 8:15 to 1:15.
Briggs Corner-8:35 A. M. to 2:20 P. M. with a noon intermission from 11:35 to 12:20.
Lincoln and South Attleboro-8:45 to 11:45 and 1:00 to 3:00.
Grammar and Primary Schools-Morning session from 9:00 to 11:45. Afternoon session from 1:15 to 3:30. Grade I closes fifteen minutes earlier than the other grades.
178
ANNUAL REPORT
No School Signals Adopted March 5, 1928
Four double strokes on the Fire Alarm 2-2-2-2
7:15 A. M .- Postponement of the opening of the High and Bank Street Schools till 9 o'clock.
8:00 A. M .- No morning session except for the High and Bank Street Schools. If signal has sounded at 7:15, no session for the High and Bank Street Schools.
8:15 A. M .- No morning session for grades one, two and three. Afternoon session for all grades unless the signal is repeated at 12:15 or 12:30.
11:15 A. M .- One session. Grades one, two and three will close for the day at 12 M. All higher grades then in session, except the High and Bank Street Schools, will close for the day at 1:00 P. M.
12:15 P. M .- No afternoon session for all grades below the High School.
12:30 P. M .- No afternoon session for grades one, two and three.
6:50 P. M .- No session for evening schools.
The signal will be given at 8:00 A. M. and 12:15 P .M. only in very severe weather.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
General Statement, 1931
Gross Cost of Schools.
$353,856.99
Received from State
Reimbursement Teachers' Salaries. $ 30,782.80
Reimbursement Americanization. 427.41
Reimbursement Tuition and Transportation of
State Wards 326.21
Reimbursement Continuation School, 1929-1930 4,647.27
Received Tuition. 201.00
Received Smith Hughes Fund and Interest
628.87
Received for use of School Buildings
193.00
Received Cash, Pooks, Supplies, etc.
455.12
Received Cash, Continuation School Supplies 4.55
37,666.23
Net Cost of Schools to City
$316,190.76
RECEIPTS, 1931
Appropriation-Salaries
$299,076.48
Other Expenses.
55,040.00
N. E. A. Expenses
100.00
Smith Hughes Fund and Interest 628.87
$354,845.35
179
ANNUAL REPORT
EXPENDITURES, 1931
General Account
High School
Elementary School
Total
1. General Control
Clerks.
$
3,729.91
$
$
$ 3,729.91
Telephones.
77.70
53.05
458.12
588.87
Census Enumerator
250.00
250.00
Office Expenses .
140.50
140.50
Superintendence :
Superintendent .
4,200.00
4,200.00
Attendance Officer and Custodian of Build- ings
1,500.00
1,500.00
Office Expenses .
211.97
211.97
Expenses Out of Town
29.82
29.82
Expenses-N. E. A. Meeting
89.44
89.44
Automobiles
600.06
600.06
2. Instruction
Teachers
64,036.00
183,172.95
247,208.95
Supervisors
2,905.00
5,135.00
8,040.00
Books
2,414.48
2,485.29
4,899.77
Supplies
1,429.17
4,429.91
5,859.08
Cooking
277.46
184.62
462.08
Manual Training
377.27
458.95
836.22
Sewing
21.02
21.02
3. Operating School Plant
Janitors.
3,562.90
17,954.60
21,517.50
Fuel
1,004.21
9,477.86
10,482.07
Water.
84.72
655.46
740.18
Janitors' Supplies
103.70
696.86
800.56
Lights-Electricity
553.61
932.62
1,486.23
Power
252.00
163.08
415.08
Towels
25.50
250.75
276.25
4. Maintaining School Plant
Repairs.
867.94
7,042.60
7,910.54
Equipment, repairs and replacement .
378.03
531.42
909.45
Flags. Care of Grounds.
76.10
76.10
5. Auxiliary Agencies
Health-Salaries
75.00
2,636.25
2,711.25
Auto
200.00
200.00
Transportation .
1,873.86
9,979.62
11,853.48
6. Miscellaneous
Tuition
150.00
651.72
801.72
Graduations.
112.10
141.83
253.93
Sundries
7.20
166.43
173.63
Express
75.79
75.79
Insurance
968.00
2,429.63
3,397.63
10,829.40
81,511.20
250,476.43
342,817.03
67.95
67.95
180
ANNUAL REPORT
7. Outlay
New Equipment
374.00
39.32
413.32
10,829.40
81,885.20
250,515.75
343,230.35
8. Evening School
Teachers' Salaries
1,778.75
Books
18.48
Janitors
239.00
Lights
117.35
Sundries, printed
forms, postage, etc .. .
28.95
2,182.53
9. Continuation School
Salaries.
6,667.21
Salaries from Smith-
Hughes Fund. 628.87
Maintenance
Transportation
190.41
Gas.
21.11
Electricity
45.43
Fuel
329.05
Telephone.
16.17
Supplies
250.71
Sundries
95.15
948.03
8,244.11
10. Reserve Fund for 1931 Bills
200.00
Total Expended
$353,856.99
Balance
S 988.36
SUMMARY OF EXPENDITURES
General Control
School Committee
S 4,709.28
Superintendence
6,631.29
Instruction
267,327.12
Operating School Plant
35,717.87
Maintaining School Plant
8,964.04
Auxiliary Agencies.
14,764.73
Miscellaneous
4,702.70
Evening School Expenses
2,182.53
Continuation School Expenses.
8,244.11
Outlay
413.32
$353,656.99
Reserve Fund for 1931 Bills.
200.00
$353,856.99
$ 988.36
Balance
$353,656.99
181
ANNUAL REPORT
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS
Salaries.
Expended $297,592.57
$ 683.91
Other Expenses.
55,435.55 628.87
504.45
Smith-Hughes Fund.
$353,656.99
$ 1,188.36
Reserve Fund 1931
200.00
-200.00
Total
$353,856.99
$ 988.36
Paid in 1932 from Reserve Fund for 1931 Bills:
Feb. 5, 1932 Esther Kingman.
$ .57
Feb. 5, 1932 New England Tel. & Tel. Co.
14.28
Feb. 5, 1932 R. I. Roofing Company .
119.60
April 5, 1932 Peerless Unit Ventilation Co.
40.00
April 5, 1932 Cotton's Market
2.20
$ 176.65
Balance.
23.35
$ 200.00
Total Balance for Entire Appropriation.
$
1,011.71
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS High School Repairs-Refinishing Rooms
Appropriation
$ 1,500.00
Expenditures
M. F. Ashley Company
$ 25.36
Atherton Furniture Company
4.40
George L. Claflin Company
19.60
Frank H. Davis. .
87.40
A. S. Ingraham Company
511.22
James W. Johnson. .
742.75
E. C. Newman Company
20.00
J. Gilbert Thompson.
89.20
$ 1,499.93
Balance.
.07
Finberg School
Balance of Appropriation from 1930 $ 8,648.02
Expenditures
M. F. Ashley Company . $ 4.74
184.85
Atherton Furniture Company . Edward E. Babb & Company
9.00
Balance
12
ANNUAL REPORT
Brady Electric Company.
992.24
Callender, Mc Auslan & Troupe
2.53
Edward M. Corbett. 153.27
Denover-Geppert Company
96.48
P. Derby Company.
421.50
Electric Shop
1,100.00
William F. Flynn & Son
86.40
A. S. Ingraham Company
4.98
Johnson Decorating Company .
2.10
Alexander MacLeod
33.55
Massachusetts Department of Correction
16.42
Morse Sand & Gravel Company .
842.00
W. R. Park & Son
117.00
O. J. Senecal
1.75
Sun Publishing Company .
7.02
Wright & Ditson
9.95
$ 4 085.78
Balance.
4,562.24
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Attleboro:
I submit herewith my twenty seventh annual report, it being the forty- seventh in the series of Superintendents' Reports. The attendance statistics are for the school year from September, 1930, to June, 1931. The financial report is for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1931.
STATISTICS
I-Population
Census, 1930. 21,777
II School Census, October, 1931
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 7. 863
Number of children between the ages of 7 and 14. 2,854
Number of children between the ages of 14 and 16. 756
III-Attendance, September, 1930, to June, 1931
Total number of different pupils enrolled. 4,280
Average daily membership 4,026
Average daily attendance. 3.825
Per cent of attendance. 95
Table showing the average membership and per cent of attendance for the last ten years.
183
ANNUAL REPORT
Membership
Gain Over Previous Year
Per Cent of Attend . ance
1921 1922
.3,623
124
94
1922 1923
3,544
Loss
-79
95
1923 1924
3,692
148
94
1921 1925
3,782
90
95
1925 1926
3,791
9
94
1926 -1927
3,860
69
95
1927 1928
3,877
17
95
1928 1929
3,873
Loss
-4
93
1929 1930
3,908
33
95
1930 1931
4,026
120
95
Attendance for Fall Term, 1931
Average
Gain Over
Membership
1930
September
. 4,173
104
October
4,207
127
November
4,197
116
December
4,150
76
For the school year 1929-1930, the schools showed a gain of 33 over the previous year. The elementary schools showed a gain of 47, the High School a loss of 14, making a net gain of 33.
For the school year 1930 1931, the elementary schools showed a gain over the previous year of 92 and the High School a gain of 28, making a net gain of 120.
Comparing the four months of the school year 1931-1932, September, October, November and December, with the same months of the school year 1930 1931, the elementary schools show a loss in average membership of 26, the High School a gain of 132, making a net gain of 106.
This gain in attendance at the High School has caused a crowded condition which is a serious handicap to the administration of the schools and is likely to hinder the educational progress of the pupils. Two rooms are being used as class rooms that were never intended for this purpose, there are not typewriters enough to provide for all who wish to take typewriting and no room to place more type- writers if they could be brought, there is a serious lack of lockers, accommoda- tions for serving lunch are entirely inadequate according to modern standards of serving lunches in high schools, and in various ways this crowded condition is felt in the administration of the school. A few of the classes are larger than they should be, but every class room is used to capacity and more classes cannot be cared for. Possibly some subjects in which the classes are small could be elimi- nated and thus the number of classes be reduced.
In the elementary schools, comparing the average membership for the fall term of 1930 with the average membership for the fall term 1931, the center schools show a loss of 49, South Attleboro a gain of 28, and Briggs Corner, Dodge- ville and Hebronville a gain of 15, making a net loss of 26 for the elementary schools this year.
I doubt if the increase in the enrollment at the High School will be perma- nent. High schools everywhere are crowded on account of industrial conditions. Because there is no work, boys and girls are going to school. If business should start up, there would be a great exodus of boys and girls from school. Mean- while, we are doing our best to give them the kind of education they desire. The High School is crowded and as soon as there are any signs of returning prosperity, some attention must be given this matter. The report of the build- ing survey, made in 1930, has not been printed because of lack of funds but it is ready for consideration as soon as a favorable time occurs.
184
ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of School Buildings 27
Number of Class Rooms (H. S. 25; Grades 105). 130
Number of Rooms in Use 128
TEACHERS
Number of Teachers and Supervisors, December 1931 158
Number of Teachers in High School .
33
Number of Teachers in Grades I-VIII
111
Number of Teachers in Kindergartens
4
Number of Special Teachers. 7
Number of Teachers in Continuation School
3
COST OF INSTRUCTION-1931
Valuation of Attleboro, 1931 $25,489,070.00
Expended for Support of schools, excluding Evening and Con-
tinuation Schools 343,430.35
Average membership of day schools, September, 1930 to June,
1931. 4,026.00
Expended per pupil based on average membership 85.30
Cost of books and supplies per pupil 2.67
High School
Total expended for High School, including High School share of general expense . $ 83,845.80
Average membership of High School, 1930-1931
693
Cost per pupil . 120.99
Cost of books and supplies per pupil.
5.55
Elementary Schools
Grades I-VIII
Expended for Elementary Schools. S 259,584.55
Average membership 1930-1931 3333
Cost per pupil 77.88
Cost of books and supplies per pupil
2.07
In an attempt to lessen school expenditures and to conform to the appro- priation granted by the City Council the teaching force was somewhat reduced and several lines of work were discontinued. Individual instruction at the Bliss School was dropped and the instructor transferred to the seventh grade.
The Open Air Room at the Richardson School was closed, and the teacher given a sixth grade.
One teacher was dropped at the Continuation School.
The teacher of physical education for girls at the High School resigned and her place was not filled.
The vacation schools at Dodgeville and Hebronville were maintained, but only through the generosity of Miss Roberts and Miss Gilles who freely gave their services to keep the school open. There was no expense to the city.
185
ANNUAL REPORT
The work of the Director of Americanization in helping aliens to become naturalized, work done outside of his regular school hours, was discontinued, but the regular evening school classes in Americanization were held as usual.
Not so many vacancies as usual occurred during the summer but whenever a vacancy did occur, it was filled at as low a salary as possible.
A vacancy in a janitor's position was left unfilled for several weeks during the summer to save the janitor's salary for that time.
As a result of all these attempts to economize a saving of $1,500 was made for 1931, and the pay roll of the department for January 1, 1932, is over $10,000 less than it was January 1, 1931.
COST OF THE SCHOOLS
In attempting to reduce expenditures in the school department two factors are to be considered: 1. the quality of the schools; 2. the ability of the city to pay.
Attleboro has for years had the reputation of having good schools. The City has always been proud of its schools and has always generously supported them. But the quality of the schools, in the final analysis, depends on the kind of teacher employed, The teacher still makes the school, and the kind of education a boy or girl receives depends in large measure on the teacher in the class room; and the kind of teacher one is able to secure still depends on the salary to be paid. We hear a great deal, lately, about the surplus of teachers but I have been told repeatedly that good teachers are as scarce as ever and that the only surplus is in candidates without experience, or those with inadequate training or doubtful records. It is just as difficult to discover a first class teacher as it ever has been. Any saving in school expenditures that contemplates the employment of any but first class teachers is not to be given a moment's consideration.
The second factor to be considered in reducing expenditures is the financial ability of the city to maintain schools at the standard it desires. The valuation of the city and the number of pupils to be educated determine the amount which the city can afford to spend on schools. If the city has a high valuation per pupil the school tax will be low and the city can afford to spend liberally. If the valuation per pupil is low, then the tax rate for schools will be high if the standard is to be maintained, or less money may be spent and the standard lowered. Few people realize the change that has taken place in Attleboro in the last 15 years. In that time the population has increased 17%, the valuation has increased 15%, the number of pupils has increased 45%, the valuation per pupil has decreased 21%, and the cost per pupil has more than doubled. The number of pupils has increased faster than the valuation, and this, together with the increased cost of educating them, has meant a large increase in the tax rate for schools. How much can the city afford to spend for education? That must be answered by those who have children to be educated. The cost per pupil in Attleboro, compared with the average cost for the cities of the state, or for the State as a whole, has never been high. Out of 355 cities and towns in the State, 249 spent more per pupil in 1930, according to the State Report, than Attleboro. America has accepted the idea of education for all, and most parents prefer to have good schools even if they go without some other things they would like to have.
VISUAL EDUCATION
One phase of education that is being stressed today is visual education By means of stereographs, lantern slides, motion pictures, sound films, and discs synchronized with the films, education is being made much more real than it was ten years ago. Attleboro has as fine an equipment for visual education as any city in the state, with the exception of a few of the large ones. We now have a
186
ANNUAL REPORT
motion picture machine for each of the schools that have seventh or eighth grade. We are showing for the fifth year the complete set of fifteen Chronicles of America Photodramas. These are shown to each seventh grade in the city. There is no better way to teach history. Each building of more than two rooms is supplied with or has access to a daylight lantern for showing lantern slides and there are 1.300 slides available in the Superintendent's Office. These slides can be used to teach history, geography, industries and occupations, manners of living, etc., and are of great help in helping pupils to visualize the pages of the textbooks With each slide is an accompanying stereograph and the schools are sup- plied with a set of stereoscopes for using them. This places in the child's hands and immediately before his eyes a picture like the one he saw on the screen and he can study it more carefully. This results in pupils taking greater interest in their work and having a correspondingly better under- standing of the subject studied.
We have recently added a set of forty colored slides for use in teaching art appreciation in grades one to eight. The picture thus thrown on the screen stands out so clearly and beautifully, that pupils are sure to carry with them a much more accurate and lasting image of the original painting than they could get in any other way.
All this advance in visual education is due in very large measure to the Trustees of the Richardson School Fund, who have supplied nearly all of the equipment and have provided the Chronicles of America films. As has been stated so often, the Attleboro schools are indebted to the Trustees for many progressive steps.
TESTS
For the past three years standard tests in the fundamental school subjects have been given in various grades. In October, 1930, tests were given as follows :
Reading-grades III to VIII Arithmetic Computation-grades V to VIII Arithmetic Reasoning-grades VII and VIII Language Usage-grades V to VIII Grammar-grades VII and VIII Spelling-grades V to VIII
Similar tests were given in May, 1931, and the results compared. All the tests but two showed the expected gain in accomplishment from October to May, and in some subjects the gain was much more than expected. The fourth and fifth grades showed no gain in reading, but did not show a loss. These tests are stimulating to pupils and teachers because the work of the year is definitely measured, the report placed in the hands of each teacher, and teachers and pupils may know just how they compare with others in the same grade. The tests also show that judged by the standards of the tests, the Attleboro schools are doing good work.
PENMANSHIP
For three years we have been emphasizing penmanship. The results show in the daily work of the pupils, and in the excellence of the papers submitted to the Palmer Company for penmanship awards. In the school year from September 1929, to June, 1930, 3,27 pupils received 4,245 awards. This was an unusual record. The record for 1930 1931 is just as satisfactory. Not so many awards were earned because of the large number attained the preceding year, but 3671 pupils received 3,402 awards. Our standard at present is that 75% of the pupils in each grade shall earn the award for that grade. We are not only approaching this standard but we are steadily improving our penmanship.
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