USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1932 > Part 6
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Maintaining School Plant.
5,774.00
Axuiliary Agencies
14,647.45
Miscellaneous
4,929.98
Evening School Expenses
816.61
Continuation School Expenses.
5,582.36
Outlay
960.24
Balance
$329,829.11 $ 1,363.29
SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTS
Salaries.
$283,289.93
Other Expenses. 45,709.78
Smith-Hughes Fund.
829.40
$329,829.11
83
ANNUAL REPORT
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS New Hebronville School (Finberg School)
Balance of Appropriation from 1931. $ 4,562.24
Expenditures $ 290.00
Anchor Post Fence Co.
M. F. Ashley Co.
4.74
A. I. Atwell
10.00
George Doucette.
165.00
Filing Equipment Bureau.
52.20
William F. Flynn & Son
17.69
Morse Sand & Gravel.
29.36
Rhode Island Roofing Co.
111.05
Swan Company.
58.80
738.84
Balance
$ 3,823. 4
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Attleboro:
I submit herewith my twenty-eighth annual report, it being the forty-eighth in the series of Superintendents' Reports. The attendance statistics are for the school year from September, 1931, to June, 1932. The financial report is for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1932.
STATISTICS I-Population
Census, 1930
21,777
II-School Census, October, 1932
Number of children between the ages of 5 and 7.
724
Number of children between the ages of 7 and 14
2872
Number of children between the ages of 14 and 16.
806
III-Attendance, September, 1931 to June, 1932
4,399
Average daily membership
4,125
Average daily attendance.
3,922
Per cent of attendance.
95
TABLE I Showing average membership of the High and elementary schools for the last ten years. High
Elem. Schools
All Schools
ยท Av.
Memb. Gain
Av. Memb.
Gain
Av. Memb. 3623
Gain
1921-1922
549
3074
1922-1923
577
28
2967
107
3544
-79
1923-1924
600
23
3092
125
3692
148
1924-1925
646
46
3136
44
3782
90
1925-1926
676
30
3115
-21
3791
9
1926-1927
697
21
3164
49
3861
70
1927-1928
706
9
3171
7
3877
16
1928-1929
679
-27
3194
23
3873
-4
1929-1930
665
-14
3241
47
3906
33
1930-1931
693
28
3333
92
4026
120
1931-1932
823
130
3302
-31
4125
99
Gain in 10 years
274-50%
228-7.4%
502-14%
Total number of different pupils enrolled
84
ANNUAL REPORT
Fall Term, Sept .- Dec., 1932
Av.
Memb.
High Gain over 1931
Elem. Schools Gain Av. Memb. over 1931
All Schools
Av. Memb.
Gain over 1931
September
958
105
3360
40
4318
145
October
950
102
3372
13
4322
115
November.
940
102
3374
15
4314
117
December
926
97
3358
37
4284
134
Average
943
3366
4309
TABLE II
Showing gain in average membership by districts at 5 year intervals.
Av.
Av. Av.
Av.
Av.
Av.
Av.
Mem. Mem. Mem. Mem. Mem. Mem. Mem.
Gain in
1901
1906
1911
1916 1917
1921 1922
1926 1927
1931 1932
years
years
High.
136
228
277
388
549
697
823 687-505% 435-112%
Bank Street
172
198
185
175
Bliss.
323
309
603
531
488
Richardson .391
417
378
347
420
488
473
Sanf. St ..
480
528
460
402
365
346
347
Tiffany
243
305
272
325
Farmers.
86
94
105
93
101
96
107
Capron
76
81
80
86
73
68
64
Carp. St. . ..
87
96
53
69
68
60
63
Pleas. St ..
78
88
68
77
76
66
70
So. Main
40
32
Total.
1238 1336 1467 1798 2209 2112 2112 874-70% 314-17%
Brgs. Cor.
50
72
77
92
92
97
99
Dodge
151
125
89
86
153
112
123
Hebron
147
144
126
133
188
198
214
Perry
17
Total
365
341
292
311
433
407
436 71-19%
125-40%
Washington
138
142
251
329
333
City
98
91
112
106
150
97
93
Plat.
14
82
16
25
31
62
49
Turner St ...
53
Total
209
204
266
273
432
645 754 545-260% 481-176%
. .
South Attleboro
Lincoln .
157
279
Robinson.
44
31
Grand Total
.1948 2109 2302 2770 3623 3861 4125 2177-112% 1355-50%
Table I shows an increase of 50% in the High School in 10 years. An in- crease of 130 pupils was made in 1931-1932, compared with 144 in the other nine years of the ten-year period. The attendance this fall shows an increase of over 100 as compared with the same months of 1931. Every inch of space has been utilized in an attempt to provide for these pupils. Extra seats have been placed
Center of the city
B.C., D., &
Heb.
1902
1907
1912
Gain in 30
last 15
85
ANNUAL REPORT
in rooms not intended to be used as class rooms, and classes have increased 35% in two years. This means that the teaching load has also been increased in the same ratio, all teachers having a much heavier program than was the case two years ago. By using the stage as a study room, the use of portable school build- ings has been avoided. It now looks as if the number of pupils for next Septem- ber would be about the same as it was this year.
There are 26 pupils who have graduated from high school but who have returned to school for further study. The most of these pupils are doing satis- factory work. If there is room for such pupils, I believe they should be allowed to attend school. In case, however, the school is overcrowded next year, I believe the undergraduates should have the first chance for an education. and I suggest that all graduates who wish to attend school in September, 1933, be admitted conditionally, the understanding being that unless they can be easily provided for, they may be asked to withdraw from the school.
Table II gives interesting figures regarding the growth of the schools in 30 years. Below the High School, growth is shown by districts:
1. The center of the town.
2. Briggs Corner, Dodgeville and Hebronville.
3. South Attleboro.
The High School has practically doubled in ten year intervals. The Center grew rapidly from 1901-1902 to 1921-1922, but since that time has shown a loss. Briggs Corner, Dodgeville and Hebronville show a loss from 1901-1902 to 1916- 1917, and a decided gain since then.
South Attleboro shows a steady gain from 1901-1902 to 1916-1917, and a phenomenal growth since that time.
In the last 15 years, the membership of all the schools has increased 1355 pupils divided as follows:
High School. 435 32%
District 1 Center of City 314 23%
District 2 B. C., D. and H. 125- 9%
District 3 South Attleboro 481- 36%
Total. 1355-100%
In the elementary schools, District 3, South Attleboro, increased 481, which is more than the combined increases of districts 1 and 2, 439; and districts 2 and 3 show an increase of 606 which is nearly double the increase of 314 in the center of the city. This accounts for the new buildings erected in these districts in the last 15 years.
Table II also shows the distribution of pupils for 1931-1932. By districts the pupils in the elementary schools are divided as follows:
District 1 2,112 -- 64%
District 2 436- 13%
District 3 754- 23%
Total 3,302-100%
The High School serves the entire city. In October 133 pupils were attend- ing High School from South Attleboro.
In 1916-1917 the membership figures for the same districts were:
District 1 1,798- 76%
District 2 311- 13%
District 3 273- 11%
Total. . . .2,382-100%
86
ANNUAL REPORT
Pecause few people realize the changes that have been taking place in the schools in the last 15 years, I present a study of the growth of the curriculum as determined by law, the growth of the Attleboro schools, and what measures have been taken to curtail expenses in the last two years.
THE CURRICULUM
Education in Massachusetts faces the gravest situation that has occurred since Horace Mann revolutionized the educational system in 1837. Everywhere there is general criticism of the cost of the schools, together with the feeling that much could be eliminated from the curriculum of the schools without impairing their value. Many people do not realize just how the present school program came into existence, nor why school costs have increased so rapidly in Attleboro in the last fifteen years. In order that there may be more general information on these points I should like to trace briefly the growth of the school curriculum from the settlement of Boston in 1630 to the present time, to present figures showing the very rapid increase in school membership in the last fifteen years, to describe how Attleboro provided for these pupils, and to tell what has been done to reduce expenditures in the last two years.
In the history of our country, the population never as a class has been so highly educated as during the first half-century of the Massachusetts settle- ments. One man in 250 was a graduate of an English University, and both clergy and laity had enviable reputations for service in church and college. These people were very anxious that education and religion should not die in the colony. This is evidenced by the early establishment of schools, and the constant passage of laws requiring children to be educated. The Dame School-taught by a widow or a spinster in her home-with the hornbook and the New England Primer as textbooks, was set up with the church as a part of the secure foundation of the colony. The New England Primer was for 200 years after 1660 the princi- pal textbook of the schools.
In 1635, five years after the founding of Boston, the Boston Latin School, the first public school in America, was established. This school was necessary to preserve the educational standards of the professions, and fitted for Harvard College which was founded in 1636.
A glance at the laws passed by the General Court shows the attitude of the State regarding education:
In 1642 a law was passed requiring teaching in the home, but this did not accomplish much.
In 1647 was framed what was perhaps the most important school law in our whole history. It marked a tremendous step forward. It was in fact so long a step that in two hundred years communities had hardly caught up with it Yet this law of 1647 may be taken as the mother of all our school laws. This law required towns of fifty families to maintain an elementary school, the teacher to be appointed by the people, to be paid for by the people, and to teach "all such pupils as shall resort to him to read and write." This law was not simply permissive, it was mandatory and a fine of five pounds was placed on towns failing to comply with the law. Towns of one hundred families were to maintain a grammar school. This happened in 1647, seventeen years after the founding of Boston. The curriculum was simple reading and writing.
In 1789, the district system was legalized. English language and grammar, arithmetic, orthography and decent behavior were added to the curriculum and it was required that all teachers should be college graduates. Other subjects were added from time to time, first being permissive, then required. The date and the subjects added are as follows:
1827, Geography required in towns of 500 families and in 1839 required in all towns.
87
ANNUAL REPORT
1860, Vocal music made permissive.
1870, Drawing required and mechanical drawing for persons over fifteen in towns of more than 10,000 inhabitants.
1885, Physiology and Hygiene required including instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks, and of stimulants and narcotics on the human system.
1894, Manual Training required in High Schools in towns and cities of 20,000 inhabitants, and in 1898 required in the elementary schools of the same towns and cities.
1898, Such other subjects as the school committee may decm expedient, may be taught in the public schools.
1908, Instruction required regarding tuberculosis and its prevention.
1917, Instruction required in the duties of citizenship.
1920, The study of civics required in all elementary and High schools.
1923, A study of the Constitution of the United States in all schools.
1919, Household arts required in all elementary and High schools in all towns and cities of 20,000 inhabitants.
1921, Instruction required in indoor and outdoor games and athletic exercises.
1919, By a vote of 1424 to 180 the city voted to establish a continuation school for employed minors between the ages of 14 and 16. The school was opened in September, 1920. The State pays half the cost of maintaining this school.
1922, Special classes for pupils more than three years mentally retarded required, if there are ten or more such pupils in the community.
1930, Instruction at home for crippled children required if there are five or more such children in the community.
1852, A compulsory school attendance law was passed requiring pupils to attend school.
As a matter of interest but not connected with the curriculum, it is noted that,
1915, When Attleboro became a city all janitors, clerks and the attendance officer were placed under civil service.
1921. The appointment of a school physician and a school nurse were re- quired, both to be under civil service.
Thus has the curriculum of the elementary schools expanded from reading and writing to the comprehensive list of subjects we now have, and children be- tween the ages of 7 and 14 are obliged to attend school every day the schools are in session. Unless emploved, minors between the ages of 14 and 16 are also obliged to attend school.
Let us now glance briefly at the development of the high school. The Boston Latin School was established in 1635. This was the first grammar school, and prepared its pupils for the university. Latin and Greek were the principal subjects taught. The grammar school continued in the colony for nearly one hundred twenty-five years.
Gradually there arose a feeling, however, that something should be done for those not going to college, and in response to this demand academies sprang up. Dummer Academy was started at Byfield in 1763. Phillips Andover was founded in 1778 and Phillips Exeter at about the same time. The academies offered a broader curriculum than the grammar schools and became very popular. Their numbers increased rapidly. Finally, however, complaint was made that they were too aristocratic and provided only for those who could pay fees and in 1821 Boston established the English High School for boys not going to college. This school offered a much broader curriculum than the grammar school and became the forerunner of the present high school. In the last forty years the growth of the high school has been remarkable and the program of studies has been greatly expanded.
SS
ANNUAL REPORT
Massachusetts thus early recognized that secondary education as well as elementary education is a function of the state and that such education ought to be free and convenient of access to all boys and girls who are able to profit by it.
GROWTH
Having traced the development of the curriculum let us now consider two factors that have caused a steady increase in the expenditures for schools. The first of these is the remarkable increase in the school membership. For the year 1900-1901 the total membership of the schools was 1,869. For 1915-1916 the membership was 2,742, an increase of 873 pupils, or 47%. For 1930-1931 the membership was 4,026, a gain in 15 years of 1284, or 47%. For the year 1931- 1932 there was a still further increase of 99 pupils, making a total of 4,125 and another increase this fall of 115 compared with the same month of last year. Simply to give some idea as to what the increase of 1,284 pupils represents, the total membership of the North Attleboro schools for 1930-1931 was 1,287 pupils. In 30 years the schools have more than doubled and since 1915 have increased in membership equivalent to the total membership of the North Attle- boro schools.
The High School, for 1899-1900 had an average membership of 113 pupils. For 1906-1907, this had doubled to 228 pupils. For 1920-1921, this again had doubled to 453 pupils; and in October 1932 had doubled to 950 pupils. Since 1915-1916, the increase in the High School has been 558 pupils, equal to 142%.
While this increase in the number of pupils was taking place, the population increased from 11,335 in 1900, to 18,480 in 1915, a gain of 63% in 15 years, and to 21,769 in 1930, a gain of 18% from 1915 to 1930. The valuation in 1900 was $7,086,790. In 1915, the valuation was $22,374,610, an increase of 216%. This unusual increase in valuation previous to 1915 resulted in a low tax rate for the town, $19.20 in 1915, of which a correspondingly low part, 24%, was expended for schools. But in 1930 the valuation was $25,574,785, an increase in fifteen years of only $3,200,175, equal to 14.3%. Between 1915 and 1930, the school membership increased 47%, the population 18%, and the valuation 14.3%.
It can readily be seen that with the number of pupils increasing faster than the valuation, the valuation per pupil decreased and the tax rate for schools in- creased. This had to be so if the same standards in the schools were to be main- tained.
To care for this ever increasing number of children the city was continually buying lots and erecting buildings. Not to go back too far, but far enough to get a comprehensive view of the whole situation, the Robinson School, a small two-room building on Robinson Avenue and Brown Street, erected in 1902, was burned January 15, 1908. Following the burning of the Robinson School, school buildings were erected in rapid succession:
1908-Washington School, 4 rooms, $15,000.
1909-The Turner Street School moved to the Plat.
1909-Bliss School, 8 rooms and hall. $55,000.
1912-Tiffany School, 8 rooms, $35,000.
1914-High School, to accommodate 600 pupils, $175,000.
1919-Washington School Addition, 4 rooms, $35,000.
1919-Bliss School Addition, 8 rooms, $100,000.
1919-Portable school building for Pleasant St. School, $3,000.
1919-Portable for Richardson School, $3,000.
1920-Portable for Tiffany School, $3,750.
1920-Portable for Hebronville, $3,750.
1923-Portable for Hebronville, $2,600.
1924-Richardson School Addition, 8 rooms, $106,000.
1925-Lincoln School, 10 rooms and hall, $175.000.
1929-Finberg School, 9 rooms and hall, $150,000.
89
ANNUAL REPORT
For the five years ending June, 1922, the increase in pupils was 855, and 661 of these came in three years. In September, 1919, 14 new school rooms were opened with a consequent increase in school expenses
Astonishing as was this increase in pupils in 15 years, the remarkable thing is that the growth did not stop. Because there was no work, pupils continued in school, with the result that the High School in October, 1931, showed an in- crease of 133 over 1930, and in October, 1932, an increase of 101 over 1931. The October enrollment this year was 957, in a building intended for 600 pupils. In South Attleboro also there is continuous growth, the district showing a gain in October this year of 34 pupils over last year.
As school buildings were opened, additional teachers were required, and each year saw the number increasing. In 1900 there were 58 teachers, in 1915, 91, and in 1930, 157. This number includes all teachers and supervisors and the teachers in the continuation school. Not only were the needs of the regular pupils in the High School and the grades taken care of, but teachers were added for an expanded program, partly to meet the requirements of the law and partly to satisfy the wishes of the community. The continuation school was opened in 1920, requiring 4 teachers. A special room for ungraded pupils was opened at Sanford Street School in 1924, followed by similar rooms at the Lincoln and the Finberg Schools in 1930. A kindergarten was opened in the Washington School in 1921, and in the Richardson School in 1925. An open air room for pupils pre-disposed to Tuberculosis was opened in 1925. Manual training and cooking were provided for pupils in the seventh and eighth grades, and also instruction given in outdoor and indoor sports and games and athletic exercises in both the high and elementary schools. Thus the number of teachers increased, to fill regular teaching positions and to extend further the school program.
The second contributing factor that caused a large increase in school ex- penditures was the increases in teachers' salaries. Between 1900 and 1915, while the valuation increased 216%, the number of pupils 47%, and the number of teachers 57%, salaries increased only 48%. The salary of a grade teacher in 1900 was $440; in 1915, $650. But during the war teachers were scarce, they found they could make more money in other occupations, and it was very difficult to secure competent teachers at the salaries paid. At this time also there were few local teachers available for positions, so that the towns and cities paying low salaries were at a great disadvantage in competing in the open market for the services of satisfactory teachers. This was the case in Attleboro, and to meet competition and to place salaries in Attleboro on a level with other places of our size, salaries were raised in 1919, 1920 and 1921 to their present standard. A teacher receiving $650 in 1915, received $1500 in 1921, an increase of 130%. For the most part these were flat increases, each teacher receiving the same amount of increase. The exception to this rule was made in applying the state reimbursement for teachers salaries, equal to $100, $150 or $200 for each teacher employed, the amount returned for each teacher depending on her preparation and experience. In 1931 the amount received from the state for reimbursement on teachers' salaries was $30,782.
While this increase for salaries was large, it was necessary at the time in order to maintain the standards of the schools. It did, however, increase sub- stantially the total school expense and added materially to the tax rate. Had the schools not grown so fast, had they not increased faster than the valuation. I doubt if any complaint against the cost of schools in Attleboro would be heard.
RETRENCHMENT
The year 1930 found the schools carrying on as usual, with an extended program, with the pupils and teachers increasing in numbers, and the regular salary schedule being maintained. We were told that the depression was only temporary, that prosperity was just around the corner, and that so far as possible business was to go on as usual. By 1931, however, it was evident that the depres-
90
ANNUAL REPORT
sion was to last longer than was expected, and that retrenchment was in order. Teachers are engaged for the school year from September to June so that changes to effect economies in teachers' salaries began in September of that year. After careful consideration by the School Committee, the following changes were put into effect in September, 1931:
1. The Open-air Room at the Richardson School was closed and the teacher transferred to a regular position at a total yearly saving of $2100.
2. The academic teacher at the Continuation School was dropped and classes combined, at a yearly saving of $2300.
3. The teacher for physical education for girls at the High School resigned and her place was not filled. Yearly saving, $960.
4. Vacation schools were maintained at Dodgeville and Hebronville through kindness of Miss Roberts and Miss Gilles but at no expense to the city. Saving $400.
5. The position of director of Americanization was abolished at an annual saving of $340.
6. A teacher for individual instruction was transferred to a regular position, and her former position abolished. Yearly saving, $1400.
7. Positions were filled when vacancies occurred at as low a salary as possible.
8. A janitor's position was left unfilled several weeks in the summer, saving the janitor's salary for that time.
The room for ungraded pupils at the Lincoln School was taken for regular grades. The saving in salary was not much but the educational opportunity for the pupils in that room was thus curtailed.
As a result of these economies a saving was made of $2500 for 1931, and the payroll reduced for January 1, 1932, $7460 as compared with the payroll of January 1, 1931.
September, 1932, saw still further economies and curtailment of the school program.
1. A teacher resigned at the High School and her place was not filled Annual saving $1750.
2. The shop and academic teacher for boys at the Continuation School was released. Annual saving $2060.
3. Academic teacher for girls in the Continuation School was released. Annual saving, $840.
4. A teacher for individual instruction retired, and her position was not filled. Annual saving, $1400.
5. Another room for ungraded pupils was closed. Annual saving, $1600.
6. The usual allowance for the absence of teachers on account of illness was suspended February 29, 1932.
7. The automobile allowance for superintendent, custodian of buildings and school nurse was cut to 6 cents a mile.
8. The evening schools have been reduced to two, one school of two teachers at Sanford Street School and two teachers at the Washington School. These classes are for non-English speaking adults and for those seeking citizenship.
9. Classes at the High School have been increased 35% in two years.
10. Classes have been combined and the salary of two teachers saved.
Appropriations for repairs, books and supplies and other items in the school budget have been greatly reduced.
The payroll was cut more than $5000 in September, 1932, which will mean that the payroll for January 1, 1933, will be more than $7000 less than it was for January 1, 1932. The total appropriation for schools was $25,000 less for 1932 than it was for 1930, with the prospect of a further considerable reduction in 1933.
91
ANNUAL REPORT
The employees of the school department like the rest of the city employees are contributing 5% of their salaries to the welfare department. For the year 1932 this contribution will amount to something like $9000. For 1933 it should be $12,000. The State reimbursement on teachers' salaries for 1932 is $30,410. Other receipts from the State and other sources will probably bring the receipts of this department up to $35,000 for the year.
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