USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1920 > Part 3
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$1,406 00
Health,
$185 00
Sundries,
15 50
New equipment,
161 00
$361 50
Expenses, total,
$19,256 40
Credits, total,
5,217 98
Net expense from town taxes,
$14,038 42
Overdrawn,
26 40
MONTHLY PAYROLL, JANUARY, 1921.
Herman N. Knox, superintendent,
$52 08.
Aubrey W. Taber, prin. high school, $180 00
Margaret Lee, assistant,
70 00
Mary Kauffmann, assistant,
100 00
Eleanor Durkee, assistant,
84 00
434 00
Rachael Muffin, Grade 8,
$90 00
Maude I. Bushee, Grade 7,
85 00
Ella Willis, Grade 6,
90 00
Esther N. Kimball, Grade 5,
75 00
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SCHOOL REPORT
Ruth M. Furlong, Grade 4, 75 00
Ethel Smith, Grade 3, 85 00
Helen O. Kennett, Grade 2,
85 00
Anne E. Friend, Grade 1,
75 00
Mrs. Annie Sargent, Port school,
85 00
Alice M. Genthner, music, 20 00
Ann Louise Davis, drawing, 25 00
45 00
Mrs. F. H. Trefethen, janitor high school, 35 00
Ralph Sargent, janitor Central school, 35 00
Ralph Sargent, janitor Prospect school, 10 00
J. Coleman, janitor Port school, 10 00
90 00
Gilbert G. Davis, transportation, 84 00
Ralph Sargent, transportation, 40 00
124 00
Total regular salaries for one month, $1,690 08
Total of regular salaries for ten month school
year,
16,900 80
ESTIMATES.
School Committee :
Law and supt.,
$1,000 00
Teachers' Salaries :
High school,
$5,000 00
Grade and specials,
8,500 00
13,500 00
Books and supplies,
1,200 00
Janitors, fuel and supplies,
2,800 00
Repairs,
1,000 00
Tuition,
250 00
Transportation,
1,500 00
Health,
250 00
Sundries and improvements,
500 00
$22,000 00
1
945 00
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SCHOOL REPORT
Estimated Receipts :
Part 2, school fund, $2,273 27
Part 1, school fund, 1,975 00
Supt. of schools, 450 00
Dog tax, miscellaneous and tuition, 301 73
5,000 00
$17,000 00
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Merrimac:
Gentlemen : Allow me to present a few words as a. report from the superintendent of schools.
The past year has been a very trying one. The high prices of books and supplies as well as the scarcity and high cost of available candidates to fill the vacancies that have occurred in our list of teachers since January 1st, 1920 have been perplexing problems. None of the high and only five of the grade teachers who began the year- 1920 in our schools are now with us. To fill these eight positions, four in the high and four in the grades, to- gether with the special teacher of drawing at salaries. within the appropriations has limited the choice of can- didates chiefly to those without any previous experience and to residents of nearby communities. These young and new teachers are all earnest and faithful; they de- serve as a whole our confidence and support. They are getting reasonable results when all factors are con- sidered.
In general there has been a slight improvement in the matter of school attendance but the record of some. pupils is still frightfully bad.
In another important matter, that of discipline, I feel that conditions in the grades have improved some- what over those of last year. I think this is especially true of the Central School.
A bill is before the legislature to amend the General School Fund act so as to give greater aid to small towns. This act if it passes will fix $800, $900 and $1,000 for teachers of the same training and experience as in the present law are fixed at $650, $750 and $850. The reim- bursement is now $100, $150 and $200 while in the pro- posed law it is made $250, $300 and $350. This bill if
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SCHOOL REPORT
passed will at least double the amount received from the state in November, 1921, and March, 1922, which are the dates when the two claims for reimbursement from the state for the teachers' salaries during the school year from September, 1920, to June, 1921, and for general sup- port during the town financial year 1921 will be paid.
BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.
In the use of books and supplies, I have requested the teachers to use the utmost care and economy. This policy has been followed for several years with the result that we are rather scantily equipped with supplementary and reference books, maps and charts and aids for teach- ers. Furthermore, I feel, that we should probably wait six months or a year more before making any radical change in this policy. While I do not expect many marked changes in the price of books in the coming year, I am hoping that within the next six months we may get some relief in regard to paper, pencils, erasers, ink, pens and most of the staple school room supplies.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The situation here as regards the Eighth Grade, I feel is the same as last year. If we expect to develop a good four year senior high school with a commercial department, the eighth grade should be removed from the high school building. From a better understanding of the location of the children's homes, however, I now feel that to locate two lower grades as the third and fourth in the Prospect School would work better than the seventh and eighth grades as proposed last year. This would put the arrangement of grades back again where they were several years ago.
Without marked increases in salaries of our high school teachers we probably face the prospect of another shift in the teaching force involving most if not all of the present corps. The general tendency of salaries in schools of our class range from $2,000 to $2,400 for principal and from $1,100 to $1,600 for assistants. Hence we must of necessity seek for our teachers in the bargain basement
9
SCHOOL REPORT
class of those with unsuccessful or no experience and fre. quently among those having had incomplete training.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
If we are not to improve and strengthen our present four year high school until the accomplishment and morale of both teachers and pupils reach a more ef- ficient standard, then I feel sure the educational as well as the financial interests of the town would be much bet- ter by sending all our pupils in the junior and senior. classes of the high school to an out of town high school, either Amesbury or Haverhill. Having arranged for the two upper classes which usually are the small ones of the school, then organize in our present high school building a junior high of four years. This would bring together. under one organization the seventh grade from the Pros- pect School, the eighth grade and the two lower classes of the present high school. Some expenses would be saved such as the salary of one or two teachers together. with janitor service, fuel and upkeep of the Prospect. School. The average age of this group by classes or grades would be about 12, 13, 14 and 15 years. It covers. a critical period in the lives of most children and they need to be under teachers of strong character and of un -. questioned ability not alone to impart knowledge but io. inspire their pupils to zealous effort and worthy am- bitions. It would be much better to do the work well up. to this point than to attempt the more ambitious project of a really strong four year senior high and let matters. drift as they have been doing for several years. It will take more money to build up a good junior high but not as much as it will to develop good conditions in the senior- high.
Under such a program as proposed by the payment. of the tuition and transportation of a relatively small number the town could be relieved of the requirement that towns with five hundred or more families must main- tain a four year senior high school.
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Miss Anna Burckes, teacher of drawing, resigned to,
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SCHOOL REPORT
take effect on February 1st, 1920. She accepted a po- sition to teach in a junior high school in New Britian, Conn. with a net salary increase of several hundred dol- lars. In September Miss Ann Louise Davis, a recent grad- uate of the Normal Art School took up this work again.
Miss Alice M. Genthner, special teacher of music, has been in charge of this branch of instruction for sev- eral years. She reports good progress in the regular work and that the usual parts in entertainments, special day programs and graduations have been given so we have had a chance to know something of the results of her work.
I append the report of the high school principal but this year as last have omitted the special teachers' re- ports, which have been made to me from time to time more informally. I append also a table of attendance data, lists of graduates for both the high and grammar school, honor and commendable lists for good attendance to which I invite your attention.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN N. KNOX, Superintendent of Schools.
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Merrimac, Mass., January, 1921.
To. Mr. H. N. Knox, Superintendent, and the mem- bers of the School Board.
Dear Sirs: The following is a brief report as to the Merrimac High School :
The membership of the school in June, 1920, was : 8th Grade 35
Freshmen 18
making a total of
Sophomores 14 57 in the H. S.
Juniors 13 35 in the 8th
Seniors 12 92 in all
The membership of the school in September was :
8th Grade 49
Freshmen 26
making a total of
Sophomores 17 60 in the H. S.
Juniors 9 49 in the 8th
Seniors 8 109 in all
Of the 1920 class, 58.3% have continued their edu- cation in other schools; such as, in post-graduate work, business college, normal school, or technical school. This is an increase of about 25% over the preceding class. We are trying to have this percentage constantly increase.
The attendance this year is much better than the first part of my regime. With the exception of less than half a dozen, the fall term attendance has been excellent; and in fact the percentage of attendance in the high school is a little above 96% for that period.
During the past year the following school activities have been in operation : Publication of a school paper, an orchestra, debating club; at the Christmas entertainment, two playlets (Bird's "Christmas Carol" and Dickens' Christmas Carol) were well presented by members of the lower classes. Other activities of equal importance are being formulated.
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SCHOOL REPORT
The high school is in Class A, approved by the State Board of Education : and our certificate is accepted by the colleges of the New England Entrance Certificate. Board.
During my conferences with parents, I have found a readiness on their part to cooperate with the teachers. for the benefit and advantage of their boy or girl. I wish, nevertheless, that more of the parents would keep. in closer touch with the school work of their children. Our responsibility ends after they leave the school build- ing.
All the teachers have handed in reports of the work completed in the fall term. The commercial department. this year has been standardized so as to give it a much higher value than heretofore. Taking everything into- consideration, the teachers are to be commended on the. good standing of the school.
Although, at present, it may sound impracticable, I would like to make a suggestion, which I believe would help materially in building up the school. The high: school has no athletic field. The large tract of land west. of the building could be drained, filled in with gravel,. and graded to make an admirable playground and ath- letic field. It could then be used advantageously by both the boys and girls for gymnastic exercises, football, bas- ketball, baseball, etc. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
In closing my report, I wish to thank the superin- tendent and the members of the School Board for their hearty cooperation, advice, and help in carrying on the school work.
Respectfully submitted,
AUBREY W. TABOR, Principal of the High School.
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SCHOOL REPORT
ATTENDANCE DATA, YEAR 1919-1920.
Schools
Total.
Membership
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Percent of
Attendance
High School
71
61.1
56.1
91.9
Eighth Grade
37
32.7
27.3
83.5
Prospect School
33
31.1
28.7
92.3
Central School :
Grade VI
32
30.2
27.4
90.7
Grade V
34
29.2
26.9
92.1
Grade IV
43
40.0
31.9
79.6
Grade III
34
26.7
24.8
93.3
Grade II
35
30.6
27.
88.4
Grade I
41
27.9
26.1
83.7
Merrimacport
25
19.8
18.1
91.2
Totals
385
329.3
294.3
89.4
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SCHOOL REPORT
GRADUATES OF THE MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL 1920
George Thomas Berry Edward Warren Heath
Melissa Winifred Condon
Eleanor Harvey Preble Helen Elizabeth Dwinnells Hazel Georgina Reynolds James Philip Flynn Donald Grouse Schwab
James Sarsfield Gilmore
Bernard Colman Goodwin
Lora Elizabeth Tuckwell Certificate, Florence Johnson
MERRIMAC GRAMMAR SCHOOL, CLASS OF 1920. Mathew George Bailey Louisa Marion Greeley * Helen Little Hammond Dorothy Rose Haskell Elsie Leilla Kierstead Jane Louise Liberty Constance Wiley Tasker Raymond Waldo Goodwin Merle Harlan Lamb Thomas Moore Norman George Paine George Richard Sampson Wallace Vinton Trefethen Ruth Ada Trull Bertha Esther Beauvais Christine Grace Condon Grace Lillian Earl
Persis Ruth Waterhouse Minerva Hayes Wood May Smithers
Dorothy Howe Cunningham
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SCHOOL REPORT
1
HONOR LIST.
Pupils Not Absent for School Year, 1919-1920.
Ada F. Davis
Gordon K. Bailey
Marion A. Dickey
Helen L. Hammond
Pearl C. Bishop
Claire L. Kierstead
Marion B. Heath
Velma Gibbs
Ella J. Porter
Henry Ellis
COMMENDABLE ATTENDANCE LIST. Pupils Not Absent Over Five Days for School Year, 1919-1920.
Melissa W. Condon
Marion Flanders
Bernand Goodwin
Marjorie Jewell
Elenor H. Preble
Fred Manning Merle Lamb
Hazel Reynolds Ruth A. MacDougall
Norman G. Paine
Marion Waterhouse
Christine G. Condon
Helen L. Clarke Hilda G. Linden May L. Lord Velma G. Palmer Ruth C. Tuckwell
Ruth A. Trull
Persis R. Waterhouse
Minerva H. Wood
Marguerite Deminie
Merrill Goldsmith Warren Heath George Reynolds Jeanette Adams
Edith Kierstead
Doris Waterhouse
Adelbert Buzzle
Robert Casazza
Robert H. Carter
Leonard Connor
Arthur Carroll Nellie Bennett
Donna Hall
Irene C. Gilman
Myrtle Earle
Mildred Connor Evelyn Kierstead Margaret Sullivan Edith Wood Pauline Brown Lillian Carter Gerard Clement Priscilla Donovan Pearle Smith
Dorothy H. Cunningham
Grace L. Earle
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