USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Attleboro > Reports of town officers of the town of Attleborough 1932 > Part 7
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That the administration of the schools is economical may be seen by a comparison of the per pupil costs of Attleboro and Fall River. That city has been held up as a fine example of what can be accomplished when expenditures are cut to the limit, but for 1931-1932, according to the State Report, the cost per pupil in Fall River was $88.32, while in Attleboro it was $83.58. The cost per pupil in Attleboro was $4.74 less than it was in Fall River. If Attleboro had spent per pupil as much as was spent in Fall River, the total appropriation would have been increased $19,500.
We have seen how the school program came into existence, how the Attleboro schools have grown in 15 years, how the expenses for the school department have increased, and what steps have been taken in the last two years to reduce ex- penditures. If further economies have to be made next year they will probably include the three kindergartens which cost about $5600 for salaries, and the omission of some subjects now required by law.
But after all is said and done, the education of the child should be our first consideration. I can not believe that the educational policy of Massachusetts has been wrong for 300 years. That policy demands equal educational oppor- tunity for all children, and before any further curtailments are made in the school program, the effect on the education of the pupils should be carefully considered.
Two things the schools must have if they are to be efficient: good teachers and a sufficient supply of books and materials with which to work. Too much economy in books and materials result in a waste of time and effort, and a lack of efficiency in school work. Repairs may be postponed but the time for each boy and girl-your boy and girl-to get his or her education is now, and only by giving good teachers good tools to work with can this be accomplished. The schools are maintained to give the pupils some training for the duties of citizen- ship they are later in life to assume, and in so far as they fail to do this, they have not fulfilled their purpose. Instead of allowing the work of years to be reck- lessly destroyed, it would seem, in times like these, that the schools should do more work rather than less, and that every effort should be made to give each child a better education than usual to counteract in some measure the depressing moral and spiritual influence of the times in which we live.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of School Buildings. . 24
Number of Class Rooms (H. S., 25; Grades, 105) 130
Number of Rooms in Use. 126
TEACHERS
Number of Teachers and Supervisors, December, 1932 151
Number of Teachers in High School . 32
Number of Teachers in Grades I-VIII 108
Number of Teachers in Kindergartens
4
Number of Special Teachers. . 7
Number of Teachers in Continuation School (part time)
3
COST OF INSTRUCTION-1932
Valuation of Attleboro, 1932
$25,493,735.00
Tax rate per $1,000, 1932. 38.90
92
ANNUAL REPORT
Expended for support of schools, excluding Evening and Con- tinuation Schools.
323,430.14
Average membership of day schools, September, 1931, to June, 1932 4125
Expended per pupil based on average membership. 78.41
Cost of books and supplies per pupil 1.85
High School
Total expended for High School, including High School share of general expense $ 82,268.34
Average membership of High School, 1931-1932.
823
Cost per pupil
99.96
Cost of books and supplies per pupil.
3.55
Elementary Schools
Total expended .
$ 241,161.80
Average membership 1931-1932. 3302
Cost per pupil . 73.04
Cost of books and supplies per pupil
1.43
VISUAL EDUCATION
We are continuing for the sixth year to study American history through the Chronicles of America Photodramas furnished by the trustees of the Richardson School Fund. The motion pictures portray the history of our country from the discovery by Columbus to the time of the Civil War, and give the pupils a much finer conception of certain phases of American history than they could get in any other way. We also show every other week educational and industrial films from the Y. M. C. A. Bureau in New York.
Supplementing the textbook in geography we have slides and stereographs for class room use, and these are entensively used in many schools. Attleboro has as fine an equipment for visual education as any place in the state outside the largest cities. For this equipment we are indebted in large measure to the Trustees of the Richardson School Fund, who have consistently tried to keep the Attleboro schools in the front ranks of progressive school systems.
STANDARD TESTS
We have continued the testing program begun in October 1930. Each year tests have been given in October and May in reading, arithmetic computation, arithmetic reasoning, language usage, grammar and spelling. Results are com- pared and progress measured. The Attleboro schools have always reached or exceeded the standards for the tests set up by the publishers, and judged by the results of these tests the schools are in good condition.
PENMANSHIP
We are proud of our record in penmanship. For four years we have been trying to have each pupil win the award for the grade offered by the Palmer Company. That we are succeeding is shown by the following table showing the awards earned in 1931-1932, compared with the awards of previous years. As a result of all this work the penmanship of the schools is decidedly better than it was four years ago.
93
ANNUAL REPORT
SUMMARY OF PENMANSHIP AWARDS 1931-1932
High
Bank St.
Bliss .
46
44
50
62
58
55
91
45
451
463
Briggs Cor
19
23
26
24
18
13
4
127
108
Capron .
25
44
20
89
78
Carpenter St .
31
29
60
64
Dodgeville
29
29
23
29
25
20
13
1
169
164
Farmers
16
22
17
25
23
19
9
1
132
101
Finberg.
28
26
21
15
25
36
9
4
164
172
Lincoln
20
35
51
53
30
77
32
298
189
Plat .
15
8
10
5
6
44
51
Pleasant St. .
49
25
17
91
62
Richardson .. .
35
39
99
120
83
85
79
58
598
517
Sanford St ..
29
44
111
93
83
43
42
445
365
S. Attleboro
39
21
24
10
1
95
76
Tiffany .
44
57
54
65
50
41
34
24
369
350
Washington
91
54
77
62
55
37
30
6
412
317
Totals
467
470
528
590
511
437
456
307
3766
1930-1931
433
460
535
526
485
277
363
323
3402
1931-1932
3,330 pupils earned 3,766 awards.
1930-1931
3,671 pupils earned 3,402 awards.
1929-1930
3,279 pupils earned 4,433 awards.
RESIGNATION OF TEACHERS
1932
Resignations
School
Reason
April 15
Madalene A. Hodges
Dodgeville
To be married
May 6
Marjorie C. Heywood
Finberg
To be married
May 18
Marion L. Dunham
Briggs Corner
To be married
May 19
Frances Riddell
High
To be married
June 7
Leda A. Renaud
Richardson
To be married
June 23
Bertha L. Mowry
Sanford Street
To be married
July 1
Florence Carleton
Richardson
Retired
July 1
Eliza Wales
Richardson
Retired
July 19
Jennie S. Pierce
Finberg
Health
Aug. 2
Cecelia McBride
Richardson
To be married
S. S.
Button
G. S.
Button
Palmer
ANButton
Merit
Button
Prog.
Pin
Imp.
Cert.
toStud.
Cert.
H. S.
Cert.
1931-1932
-1930-1931
Total
5
10
13
38
26
96
141
6
11
68
126
Total
Only ten teachers resigned during the year, none to accept positions else- where. Only seven new teachers were employed, one position being abolished, one left unfilled, and one filled by transfer of teacher, available because three classes were reduced to two classes. This is the smallest number of changes in the teaching force on record.
TRANSPORTATION
The amount expended for transportation continues large. This is due largely to the increasing number of pupils attending High School from South Attleboro. This number has doubled in two years, as is shown by the following figures.
94
ANNUAL REPORT
Pupils attending High School from South Attleboro in October of each year:
1928
1929
1930
1931 114
134
Out of $2,395.28 expended for transportation of High School pupils in 1932, $1,851.24 was for pupils from South Attleboro, $336.84 for pupils from Hebron- ville, and $207.20 for pupils from Briggs Corner. Out of a total of $6,703.93 expended for car tickets in 1932, $3,101.43 was for pupils in South Attleboro.
There was expended for school buses in 1932, $5,219.60. Of this amount $855.60 was expended for the school bus on Read and County Streets. This makes a total of $3,957.03 expended for transportation for South Attleboro pupils, out of a total expenditure of $11,923.53, which is equivalent to 33.2%.
Expenditures for Transportation
Buses
Expended 1930 .$ 6,021.50
Expended 1931 $ 5,651.25
Expended 1932 $ 5,219.60
Car Tickets
High
$ 1,553.23
$ 1,873.86
$ 2,395.28
Elementary
4,265.41
4,328.37
4,226.81
Continuation
138.49
190.41
179.00
$ 5,957.13
$ 6,392.64
$ 6,801.09
Total
$11,978.63
$12,043.89
$12,020.69
Estimate for 1933
Buses .
$ 5,351
Tickets
High
$ 2,395
Elementary.
4,227
Continuation
179
6,801
Total.
$12,152
THE SCHOOL SAVINGS BANK Statement December 31, 1932
Dr.
Balance on deposit January 1, 1932, including int. (1099.23) . .. $ 4,009.58
Deposits in First National Bank from January 1, 1932 to December
31, 1932.
5,165.36
Interest from November, 1931, to November, 1932.
116.12
$ 9,291.06
Cr.
Transferred to pupils' individual accounts, Jan. 1, 1932 to Jan. 1, 1933 Withdrawn, 1932, from interest to cover expenses.
5.518.75
38.07
Balance on deposit December 31, 1932 including int. (1177.28).
3,734.24
$ 9,291.06
1932
59
69
69
95
ANNUAL REPORT
Total amount deposited since October, 1908 $154,747.01
Number of individual accounts opened at First National Bank from 5,670
October, 1908 to January , 1932. January, 1932 to January, 1933 152
Total 5,822
Number of pupils depositing in the school bank Jan. 1, 1933. .1,544 (est.) Deposits Since the Establishment of the Bank in 1908:
Year
Deposits
1908-1921 (inclusive).
$ 69,138.14
1922
6,902.89
1923
8,271.24
1924.
7,849.22
1925
8,459.52
1926
7,366.52
1927
8,374.95
1928.
8,752.85
1929
8,586.30
1930
7,853.17
1931
8,026.85
1932.
5,165.36
$154,747.01
In spite of the trying times through which we are passing, notwithstanding the rumors that have been constantly in circulation regarding salary cuts and decreased personnel in the department, the teachers have maintained a wonderful spirit. They cheerfully contributed 5% of their salary to the welfare department, subscribed liberally to the Community Chest, and at all times have tried to keep the school work steadily moving forward. I was glad to commend them in June for the results attained. A more sincere and loyal group of teachers would be hard to find, and they deserve the thanks of the School Committee and the community for what has been accomplished.
Respectfully submitted,
Lewis A. Fales.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Lewis a Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit, with pleasure, my second annual report under the follow- ing headings and tables.
I Congestion
If we were crowded with 853 (average membership, September, 1931) pupils last year, we have been overcrowded this year with 958 (average membership, September, 1932). We are getting along as well as we can. It would seem as though a level should be reached at which our enrollment will not increase. Prophecies are uncertain concerning registration because of business conditions. I just dare to guess that our registration will be slightly greater next year.
Sixty (60) tablet armchairs have been added to our equipment as well as 7 sections of book lockers (each with 30 spaces). One hundred thirty-seven (137) coat lockers have been added in order that every pupil may have a place for his coat. We now have sufficient lockers-one for every two pupils. To reduce expenses the boys of the Manual Training Department assembled these coat lockers.
96
ANNUAL REPORT
It should be recognized that the size of classes has been increased. This year (1932-1933) we have one less teacher than last year (1931-1932) and ap- proximately 100 more pupils. Compared with the year before last (1930-1931), we have approximately 250 more pupils and two less teachers.
II Scholarship
A year ago a new report card was made; this was sent out every two months, five times a year instead of four times a year. This gave a scholarship and attitude report in each subject. We feel this method has been most satisfactory.
With the report cards to parents also goes a Principal's Bulletin attempting to keep parents in closer touch with the school. This practice is continued this year. Bulletins have presented the following: explanation of report card, how to study, attitude, attendance, character, failures, selection of studies, Senior Class Finance, athletics and handbook.
Each term studies have been made to get more closely in touch with pupils and parents. The past term a comparison was made of the Grade VIII ranks and the September-October ranks as Freshmen. Those who did better work than in Grade VIII were commended and parents notified. Those who did poorer work were questioned and parents notified.
As a follow-up of the "D" used in continuous subjects, and written up at length in last year's annual report, see one of tables at end of this report.
III Extra Classroom Activities
The Hi-Y Club again helped to put out the Blue and White Handbook. This year, however, it was ready for distribution the first day of school to the entire student body.
Athletics are on a firm financial basis, although we have no great surplus. Sportsmanship of the right kind is fostered and a goodly number of games has been won. Raymond H. Grayson is the coach; George Spatcher is faculty manager; and Miss L. Frances Farr is the girls' basketball coach. In basketball we are planning to put bleachers at one end of the gym. This will shorten the playing surface.
Assemblies are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays for the three upper classes which number 650. On Wednesdays and Fridays we have the assembly for freshmen. The total is too great a number to try to crowd into one assembly.
Class Socials continue to be bright spots in the student life of the school. On February 17, 1932, the Senior Class put on the play "Milestones." This was ably coached by Miss Smith. librarian.
Clubs and organizations in the high school are as follows: The Blue Owl, Orchestra, Glee Club, Le Cercle Francais, Footlight Club, Radio Club, Debating Club, Hi-Y Club, Torch Club, Music Appreciation Club, and Varsity Club. Musical organizations will doubtless be covered by Mr. Gibb in his report. The Tattletale Edition of the Blue Owl was dedicated to Mr. Eastwood, a very appropriate act by the Class of 1932.
IV Miscellaneous
An average of 21% of graduates in the last seven years have gone to college. (See Table.) Our school continues on the approved list of the New England College Certificate Board, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and is in Class A for Normal Schools. It should be continually borne in mind, however, that 80% (far more than a majority) do not go to college. Primarily, therefore, the high school training stands for life.
It has seemed strange to me that there is no scholarship available for Attle- boro High School graduates. At present the Joseph Finberg Fund is the only means open to the needy but deserving graduates.
Manual training classes under the expert supervision of Mr. Spatcher have accomplished some worthwhile projects. They put up the new bleachers at Hayward Field and saved the city money by assembling new lockers. They also helped us to put a stop to petty thievery, by putting glass cases in the lunch room.
97
ANNUAL REPORT
At last we have a band, uniformed, organized and drilled. The expression formerly at the annual North game, "why can't Attleboro High School have a band?" can now become ancient history. Credit should be given to Mr. Gibb, Mr. Spatcher and to Joseph Murphy, a post-graduate, for drilling the band.
Last year the high school sold children's flyers sponsored by the Mayor's Relief Committee, raising nearly $400. Also last year's football squad conducted a tag day for the Mayor's Relief Committee, raising nearly $500. We have supplied students who have helped on several occasions for the Chamber of Commerce and American Red Cross Unit.
Post graduate students poured in this year, as in high schools all over the country. We have 24 now and have had as many as 28. If the number of pupils next year increases, it may be wise to make some restrictions as regards post- graduates. (See table for summary of ranks of post-graduates, September- October, 1932.)
More and more books are being used in the Library. This is true because of increased enrollment; also new methods of teaching are established, and pupils recognize the need of additional facts or other viewpoints than those in their text books. Even with the greater call for help in reference work, our librarian carries a teaching load of two classes a day, where previous to this year, her work has been entirely in the library.
V Recommendations
It is gratifying that several of last year's recommendations have been followed out, namely: the improvement of lighting and ventilation of certain rooms now necessary as classrooms, and the addition of lockers and tablet armchairs.
Whether the High School will be compelled to resort to "portables," is a question that must be faced later. The decision must come in May, or as soon as the selection of study cards give us next year's possible total. We now house more pupils in the building than would have been deemed possible ten years ago. Our standards as to capacity have changed. To "stretch" the building any more seems impossible.
Typewriting presents the most complicated academic problem at present. Some take first year typewriting three times a week and others two times a week. Another year will find this condition worse. Another room (where?) and more typewriters should be available. There are 32 typewriters and only 7 periods in the day. (See table showing number of pupils taking typewriting.)
It is a question as to how much can be done in improving bus service. South Attleboro students repeatedly complain of being crowded, and complications have occurred causing tardiness. There has been an increase in the number of free car tickets on account of the greater number of students transported.
TABLES Total Enrollment for Three Months Ending November 28, 1932
Class
Boys
Girls
Total
Left
Total
P. G ..
16
8
24
4
28
1933-Seniors.
63
74
137
2
139
1934-Juniors.
78
103
181
5
186
1935-Sophomores
154
163
317
17
334
1936-Freshmen
149
142
291
23
314
Total
460
490
950
51
1001
(979 is the largest number at any one time.)
98
ANNUAL REPORT
Graduates of Past Seven Years
Year
Number Graduates
Attending State
Teachers' Col.
Attending
College
Attending
Bus. School
Training in
Hospital
ยท Attending
Spec. School
Division of Pupils by Curriculums As Planned From Selection of Study Cards, May 26, 1932 1932-1933
Class
College Technical Commercial General
Manual Arts
Domestic Arts
Total
P. G.
3
3
1933
32
24
38
24
3
121
1934
33
21
92
63
11
9
229
1935
74
29
133
32
22
16
306
1936
68
19
129
1
40
15
272
Total
207
93
392
123
73
43
931
5
4.
13
10.6
11
9.8
15
12.
5
4.
1931
114
4
3.4
24
21.
5
4.3
13
11.4
12
10.5
1930.
123
2
1.6
17
13.8
15
12.2
12
9.8
10
8.1
1929
129
4
3.5
33
25.5
9
7.
192
135
3
2.2
31
23.
4
3.
6
4.4
1927
122
18
6.5
34
27.9
6
4.9
5
4.
1926.
101
12
11.8
24
23.4
10
9.8
No.
%
No.
%
No.
%
No. %
No. %
1932
122
Distribution of Pupils by Subjects November 1, 1932.
Class
Number of Divisions
Number of Pupils
English IV .
5
173
English III
6
196
English II
9
297
English I.
9
284
French III
2
57
French II
4
116
French I.
.6
192
German III
1
35
German II
2
47
German I
3
104
Chemistry
4
106
Physics
2
30
El. Physics
2
70
Biol. Science
4
139
El. Science
.5
193
Latin IV
1
17
Latin III
1
27
Latin II
3
78
Latin I
3
101
U. S. History
5
167
Mod. I'istory
. 3
93
.
.
.
.
.
99
ANNUAL REPORT
Anc. History
3
99
Civics. .
6
185
Sol. Geometry
1
21
Int. Algebra.
2
57
Plane Geometry
4
135
El. Algebra.
4
131
Penmanship
4
73
Spelling
4
132
Arithmetic
5
154
Type. III
1
31
Type. II
3
81
Type I.
3
140
Sten. II
1
31
Sten. I.
2
67
Geography
4
153
Book. II
2
56
Book. I
4
134
Accountancy
1
14
Economics
1
35
Com'l Law
1
39
Summary and Follow-up of "D's" in Continuing Subjects 1930-1931
(A pupil receiving "D" in a continuing subject may take the subject the following year on eight week's trial. If he received a "D" for the first quarter, he must drop the subject. If he receives a "C" or higher for the year, he will receive full credit for the previous year's work.)
Sept .- Oct., 1931
Ranks of the 50 end of 1931-1932
No. Cases 64
Passing 50
Failures
Passing 36
Failures 10
4
Of the original 64 allowed to continue because of "D" at end of 1930-1931, 36 had passed at end of 1931-1932, or 56%.
Conclusion: Slightly over one-half of those allowed to take the following year of the continuing subject made good, therefore the process is entirely justified as reducing retardation.
Ranks (Sept .- Oct., 1932) of P. G.'s (not including Conduct) A B
C D F Inc.
29 31
15
3
3
81 (Number of Subjects taken by P. G.'s.)
VI In Conclusion
The esprit de corps is excellent at Attleboro High School for which due thanks are in order to our School Committee, our Superintendent, our faculty and our students.
Respectfully submitted,
Alfred R. Mack, Principal.
Left
14
100
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Lewis A. Fales, Superintendent of Schools:
The High School Orchestra
The orchestra plays while the pupils march in and out of the Hall at the assemblies and also provides accompaniment to the school singing.
The orchestra provided incidental music for the school play, the Teachers' Play, and any special school exercise where music is needed.
This year we entered the All New England Orchestra Contest which was held at Norwood in May. We were fortunate to win second place. The prize, a silver cup, has been suitably engraved and placed in the center of the stage in the High School Hall. The transportation expenses to Norwood for the orchestra contest were defrayed by the proceeds from the annual concert.
The Orchestra and Glee Club concert was successful artistically and financial- ly and many favorable comments were heard from the musical people of the city to whom this type of music makes its best appeal.
A novel experience for the orchestra this year was its first outdoor concert given at Capron Park the last Sunday in June. The Park Commissioners arranged to have us play at the Pavilion and supplied a piano and chairs. Our program was made up from the popular classics and seemed to give unusual pleasure to the large and enthusiastic audience, many of whom had never heard the High School Orchestra play.
The Band
It was a very simple matter after all to uniform the players of the wind instruments of the orchestra and form them into a band. The Athletic Association of the High School supplied the uniforms. A drill master was secured in the person of Joseph Murphy, post graduate, who has had two or three summer terms at the C. M. T. C. and was familiar with the manual of marching. William Cooney was chosen drum major and Albert Blank student leader.
The band made two appearances in uniform at the football games this fall and created a fine impression. It will be a great pleasure to build up this band to play well, and with the addition of a few more brass instruments it is hoped that our band will improve so that Attleboro High School may be represented at Band conclaves in the future. In the meantime the band will play at the games of the school or wherever the Athletic Association may wish.
The Home Music Course
The Home Music Course is proving a great help to the music pupils who are anxious to keep their music work going during their High School year. Monthly reports are required and a playing test is given at the end of the year.
Music Appreciation Class
The appreciation class is a new music club that is organized with Anna Sanborn, President; Pauline LaCroix, Secretary. The object of the club is to study the lives and music of the Master Composers and to discuss the musical events of the present day.
The Singing Class
The first period on Monday morning has for many years been called the Singing Period. It is open without examination to all the pupils of the High School.
101
ANNUAL REPORT
It provides an opportunity for those who love singing to come together for the practice of four part singing. There are three hundred and fifty pupils in this class. The four parts are well sustained and the result from a musical standpoint is quite commendable.
The Glee Club
There are sixty-five members in the Glee Club. This added opportunity to study part singing is very much appreciated by the pupils. At our Annual Concert the Glee Club shares honors with the Orchestra.
This year our Glee Club was invited to send representatives to the All New England High School Chorus which met in Providence. Annette Briggs, Alberta Gibbs, Anna Sanborn and Virginia Nerney were chosen and their experience in a chorus composed of the best High School singers, under the best directors in New England was very inspirational. They acquitted themselves well and were a credit to our Glee Club.
The Grades
The musical life of our pupils in our grade schools in one of healthy growth in the knowledge and love of music. We aim to teach music reading and train the pupils to use their voices in the proper manner in singing. Part singing follows in the natural order and every effort is made to advance the pupils in music appreciation.
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