USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1921 > Part 3
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By reason of the increased appropriation, the Com- mittee was successful in retaining for the present school year, the services of seven of the thirteen teachers who were employed during the preceding year. In addition to this with one exception all of the successors of the teach- ers who did not return have had previous experience. As a result, the Committee feels that the schools are today in a much more satisfactory condition than they have been for some time past, although there is still consider- able to be desired in this respect. As in any business or profession, the quality of service obtained is largely governed by the amount of funds available to procure it, and we can hope to improve the standard of education only through an increased appropriation.
The unexpended balance of $1671.26 for the year just passed is accounted for by the fact that in view of the prevailing high rates of interest which the town would
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SCHOOL REPORT
have been obliged to pay on this amount, as well as the current prices of textbooks, school supplies and fuel, the Committee believed it advisable to await an anticipated drop in these prices and refrained from purchasing the usual amount of supplies, etc. It follows that in pur- suance of this policy of buying only as occasion required we have not secured the amount of supplies necessary for the remainder of the school year and which under ordi- nary circumstances we should now have on hand ; but that such a course was justified is evident from the very ma- terial reductions which have been made in several items since the beginning of the year 1922. In this connection attention is also called to the fact that the increased salary schedule for teachers and the marked increased cost of transportation did not become effective until the opening of the fall term in September, and hence these two. addi- tional, substantial items as yet have been paid but four of the ten months in the school calendar; the difference arising from the fact that the fiscal year of the town ends December 31st, whereas that of the School Commit- tee ends the following March.
It will be noted that while an appropriation of $500 in excess of that of last year is requested, the total esti- mated refund from the State more than exceeds this sum.
During the past several years so few students at the High School have expressed a desire to take a course in Chemistry that the subject has not been taught alternately with Physics as formerly, but the Principal reports that approximately twenty pupils have significd their intention of studying the subject next Fall. This will doubtlessly prove the largest class in some years, and in order to pro- vide the additional facilities for experimental work for so large a number, a considerable expenditure must be made for this purpose.
In agreement with the suggestion contained in last year's report by Principal Tabor, the Committee is of the opinion that the High School students should be provided with an athletic field and while we believe that the present is an inopportune time in which to request an appropri-
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¿ tion for this purpose, we feel that a long stride toward its accomplishment may be made if all citizens who have ashes or refuse of an unobjectionable nature would ar- "ange to have them transported to the field west of the High School Building which the town owns, to be used as filling.
F. LESLIE VICCARO. F. E. SWEETSIR, M. D. WILLARD T. KELLY
SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL CALENDAR
High School and Grade Eight 1922 Winter Term-January 3d to March 24th, 12 weeks.
Spring Term-April 3d to June 23d, 12 weeks.
Fall Term-Sept. 5th to Dec. 22d, 16 weeks.
1923 Winter Term-January 2d to March 23d, 12 weeks.
Grades One to Seven 1922
Winter Term-January 3d to February 24th, 8 weeks Spring Term-March 6th to April 28th, 8 weeks.
Summer Term-May 8th to June 23d, 7 weeks.
Fall Term-September 5th to December 22d, 16 weeks.
1923 Winter Term-January 2d to March 23d, 12 weeks.
SCHOOL REPORT
RECEIPTS FOR 1921.
Total of town's appropriation at the annual meeting,
$23,500 00.
CREDIT RECEIPTS FOR SCHOOLS, 1921.
State School Fund, Part 1, $2,273 27
State School Fund, Part 2, 1,965 00
State tuition and trans. of wards, 747 25
State on account Supt. of Schools, 450 00
Oscar T. Gove, rebate, 2 00
H. N. Knox, sale of supplies,
5 30
Geo. L. Aldrich, for sale of grass,
1 00
F. M. Gill, sale old typewriters,
31 00
County dog tax,
91 20
Bal. unexpended to town treasury,
1,671 26
Total credits, $7,237 28,
Balance, net cost to town for 1921,
$16,262 72
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES, 1921. GENERAL CONTROL.
School Committee, salary of Superintendent of Schools, expenses, and enforcement of laws, $909 95.
COST OF INSTRUCTION.
Special teachers,
$472 50
High school teachers,
5,179 00
Elementary teachers,
8,355 64
High school books,
149 85
Elementary books,
348 58
High school supplies,
341 96
Elementary supplies,
485 74
15,333 27
·
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SCHOOL REPORT
COST OF SCHOOL HOUSES.
High school janitor,
$367 50
Elementary janitor,
577 50
High school fuel,
675 61
Elementary fuel,
912 67
High school janitor's supplies,
79 62
Elementary janitor's supplies,
128 08
2,740 98
REPAIRS.
High school,
$188 29
Elementary schools,
217 32
405 61
Health,
142 00
Transportation,
1,769 00
Tuition,
125 00
High school sundries,
$10 30
Elementary sundries,
43 13
53 43
New equipment,
349 50
Total expense,
$21,828 74
SEMI-MONTHLY PAYROLL, JANUARY, 1922.
Herman N. Knox, superintendent, $26 04
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS.
A. W. Taber, principal, $95 00
Alice V. LaRocque, 60 00
Elinor F. Leahy,
55 00
Eleanor Durkee,
50 00 '
260 00
GRADE TEACHERS.
Pearl C. Van Houten, Grade 8, $50 00
Elizabeth Collins, Grade 7, 47 50
Ella Willis, Grade 6, 47. 50
Sarah Titcomb, Grade 5, 47 50
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SCHOOL REPORT
Ruth Furlong, Grade 4, 42 50
Ethel Davis, Grade 3, 47 50
Clara Twombly, Grade 2,
47 50
Katherine Collins, Grade 1,
45 00
Annie Sargent, Port,
47 50
422 50
SPECIAL TEACHERS.
Alice Genthner, Music, . $10 00
Grace Robbins, Drawing,
12 50
Marion Manague, Nurse, 12 50
35 00
JANITORS.
Kate Trefethen, High School, $17 50
R. H. Sargent, Center School, 17 50
R. II. Sargent, Prospect School, 5 00
J. Coleman, Port, 5 00
45 00
TRANSPORTATION.
G. G. Davis,
$80 00
R. H. Sargent, 20 00
100 00
Total,
888 54
Total of twenty payrolls,
$17,770 08
ESTIMATES FOR 1922.
GENERAL CONTROL.
School Committee,salaries, $175 00
School Committee, expenses, 25 00
Superintendent, salary, 625 00
Superintendent, expenses, 125 00
Enforcement of law and supplies, 50 00
$1,000 00
SALARIES.
High school, Grade and specials,
$5,500 00
9,250 00
14,750 00
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SCHOOL REPORT
Books and supplies, 1,200 00
Extra supplies for chemistry, 500 00
1,700 00
CARE OF BUILDINGS.
Janitors' salaries, $900 00
Fuel,
1,600 00
Janitors' supplies and cleaning, 300 00
2,800 00
Repairs,
800 00
Transportation,
2,100 00
Health,
300 00
Sundries,
50 00
New equipment,
500 00
Total,
$24,000 00
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS.
State School Fund, Part 2, $2,716 85
State School Fund, Part 1,
2,320 00
State grant for superintendent, 483 33
State tuition of State wards, 500 00
Dog tax and miscellaneous,
104 82
Total,
$6,125. 00
Estimated balance to be raised by town taxes, 17,875 00
Total,
$24,000 00
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of Merrimac :
Gentlemen :- It gives me pleasure to present a brief annual report as superintendent of your schools. This is the third' of such reports from me in the time that I have served as superintendent of your schools. The first was made within a few months of the beginning of my work with your town.
GENERAL CONDITIONS.
The discipline and attendance in our schools have improved materially in the past two years although there is still room for more improvement. For the school years 1919-1920 and 1920-1921, it has been possible to keep the schools open for the full time planned in the calendar. This is helpful in trying to improve conditions brought about in part by the enforced breaks for the three or four years preceding 1919. In the school year 1919-1920, three regular teachers and the special teacher of drawing changed during the year and then six more left at the end of the year. During the past school year seven reg- ular teachers and the special teacher of drawing left our service, however there was only one change in term time. A change in the long vacation is much less liable to injure the progress of a school than it is when the change occurs in the middle of the year. We have not only gained in this respect but also in the total number of changes as there has been only 54 per cent. against 69 per cent. of changes in regular full time teachers for the preceding school year. The situation as related to experience of the new teachers is very much in favor the past year's list. This year five have had experience as regular teachers and only two were without previous experienec. This year's new teacher of drawing had had a year's experience. Last year only one teacher hed had a
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SCHOOL REPORT
year's experience and the high school principal five years' experience, all other new teachers in 1919-1920 were beginners. The names of the teachers resigning and the appointments to fill the vacancies are given in the fol- lowing table.
CHANGES OF TEACHERS.
Resignations School
Appointments
Margaret Lee High School Alice V. LaRocque
Mary Kauffmann High School Elinor F. Leahy
Rachel Muffin Grade 8
Mrs. P. C. Van Houten
Maude T. Bushee Grade 7 Esther N. Kimball Grade 5 Sarah B. Titcomb
Elizabeth Collins ·
Helen O. Kennett Grade 2
Mrs. Clara Twombly
Anne E. Friend ' Grade 1 Katherine Collins
Ann Louise Davis Drawing
Grace A. Robbins
ATTENDANCE.
The attendance data tables for the school years end- ing respectively in June 1920 and in June 1921 show some hopeful and encouraging facts. The total membership for the past school year was 399, a gain of 14 while the average attendance was 335 a gain of 41 over the previous year. The per cent. of attendance was 93.1 to 89.4 for the previous year. There also has been a gain in number of pupils' names on the honor and commendable attendance lists. The past year the honor list was 4.7 per cent. and the commendable 20.8 per cent. of the average member- ship against 3 per cent. and 14 per cent. respectively for the preceding school year. These figures however ought to be doubled to indicate a reasonably satisfactory condi- tion of school attendance. The days of absence for the last school year totaled 4,4231/2, or enough to form a school of 25 pupils daily for the year. According to the estimates of the best experts, the future financial loss to these young people amounts to more than $44,000, or a sum more than twice what the town spent on all its schools.
According to the last census the population of Mer-
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SCHOOL REPORT
rimac is 2,173. Therefore we ought to have at least 435 pupils enrolled in our public schools, or one-fifth of the population. From such an enrollment we reasonably could expect an average membership of 400 or over. Our valuation last April was $1,778,110 which divided by 400 would give a valuation per pupil of only $4,445. This would entitle the town to supplementary state aid of $100 for each regular teacher or $1,300. In other words the indifference of some of our young people towards the educational opportunities of our school is not only re- ducing their future earning capacity by many thousands of dollars but is also annually subjecting the taxpayers of the town to a loss of $1,300.
GENERAL SCHOOL FUND.
The last year's session of the legislature amended this law, making changes on the whole to the advantage of the small towns. A minimum salary of $750 is now fixed by law. The graded schedule was raised to $750, $850 and $950 on which the reimbursements from the state for properly qualified teachers are $100, $150 and $200 respectively. The following table shows how this . law has helped the town since its passage by the legis- lature of 1919 :
Year
Part I
Part II
Total
1919
$ 555.00
0*
$ 555.00
1920
$1,648.75
$2,094.10
$3,742.85
1921
$1,965.00
$2,273.27
$4,238.27
1922
$2,320.00
$2,716.85
$5,036.85
* Part II in a sense continues the old state school fund of which the last payment made in 1919 was $815.30. The figures in table above for 1922 are estimates.
STATE WARDS.
The law has been changed finally in the matter of the tuition and transportation of state wards so that the actual expenses will be returned to the town instead of a fixed rate of 75 cents per week for tuition. The time of settlement has been moved forward to July 1st from
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SCHOOL REPORT
April Ist. Hence our next claim will cover the period from April 1st, 1921 to July 1st, 1922.
HIGH SCHOOL.
The situation here has been improved materially since last year in regard to salaries of teachers. In January of last year the average salary of assistants in the High School was $53 below that in any other high school in the state. While we have increased our average by $253 since then, yet last January there were 196 out of the 221 high schools of the state in which the women teach- crs were then paid as high or a higher average salary than we are now paying. So that the probabilities are that we are among the lowest twenty towns of the state in average salary paid to high school women teachers. '
The removal of the eighth grade from the high school building is one of two things most needed to put our high school on a good working basis. In two former reports I have suggested this. Specifically in a previous report I have mentioned the commercial department, and now with the prospect of a large class next year which ought to have a suitable course in chemistry a bad situation exists in regard to the science work. We have been for several years alternating in teaching of several subjects. Among these physics and chemistry were included. A year ago last September physics was substituted for chemistry because of a preferance of the larger number of pupils.
However I believe that a gain has been made in the efficiency of our high school. As one indication of this, the following is of interest: For the school year 1919- 1920 there were 2,180 days of absence in an average mem- bership of 94 in eighth grade and high school while in 1920-1921 there were only 1,422 days of absence from an average membership of 102 in the same grades.
GRADES SEVEN AND EIGHT.
Our low salaries have brought about in the past four or five years especially a constant succession of teachers mostly without experience and some times without suf-
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SCHOOL REPORT
ficient education and training for upper grade work. The salaries for these two grades ought to be made high- er so that we might have less frequent changes and less practice teaching in these grades.
SCHOOL NURSE.
The law now requires us to have a school nurse. We: are fortunate to have an experienced public health nurse located in town whom we can employ on part time. Miss. Moody whom we employed last year with other towns did excellent work with the children. Miss Manague, lo- cated in town in the employ of the local Red Cross as a public health nurse, promises to continue this important work in a most efficient manner. She finds as did Miss Moody a large percentage of children who are more or less under weight.
MUSIC.
Miss Alice M. Genthuer for several years has con- tinued for an extremely low salary to render us most excellent music as supervisor of music. From her re- port to me let me quote the following: "We are giving more attention to individual and group singing this year, that the pupils may gain the self-confidence to express themselves in the language of music."
The two-part and three-part work in the upper grades. shows a marked improvement over the past two years, which fact would indicate that the technical training in the lower grades has been efficient.
The high school chorus is working with good spirit, gaining in volume of tone and ability to interpret. A new collection of songs has added to the interest of the pupils and with the kind assistance of Miss LaRocque, we should accomplish much before the year's end.
A musical program by the grades was given before the Parent-Teachers' Association last spring and, as usual, each grade furnished a musical number for the Memorial Day exercises.
The interest of the pupils and the splendid co-oper- ation of the teachers are all that could be desired. T
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SCHOOL REPORT
wish to thank the teachers, superintendent and commit- tee for their helpful attitude in the work.
DRAWING.
Drawing was made a required subject to be taught in the public schools of this state about fifty years ago. Last year we had a special teacher of drawing Miss Ann L. Davis, graduate of Massachusetts Normal Art School in 1920. She worked with us one year on part time at the rate of $1,000 per year until June 1921 when she re- signed to become supervisor of drawing at Palmer at $1,500 per year.
To continue her work we were very fortunate to se- cure Miss Grace Robbins of Bradford, Mass., a graduate of Massachusetts Normal Art in 1920 who had had a year's experience as assistant supervisor in Lynn where she took the place of a teacher on leave of absence. We pay her for one day a week $250. Her combined salary in all the towns she has is $1,350. She is the most suc- cessful and original teacher of drawing that we have had for a number of years.
In closing I wish to express my appreciation of the faithful work of our teachers and other employees of the school department and of the co-operation and support of the school committee.
Respectfully submitted,
HERMAN N. KNOX,
Superintendent of Schools.
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SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Merrimac, Mass., January, 1922.
To Mr. H. N. Knox, Superintendent, and the mem- bers of the School Board.
Dear Sirs: My report of the Merrimac High School is as follows :
The membership of the. school in September, 1920,
was :
8th Grade 49
Freshmen 26
making a total of
Sophomores 17 60 in the High School
Juniors 9 49 in the 8th
Seniors 8 109 in the building
The membership of the school in September, 1921,
was :
8th Grade 31
Freshmen 36
making a total of
Sophomores 21 80 in the High School
Juniors 17 31 in the 8th
Seniors 6 111 in the building
These figures show an increase of only two in the building, but an increase of 20 in the high school, which is an encouraging sign. If a similar increase occurs next September, as is now apparent, more room than the pres- ent situation allows, would be more satisfactory.
Of the 1921 class, 71.4 per cent. have continued their education in various colleges. This is an increase of about 13 per cent. over the 1920 class and an advance of about 35 per cent. to 40 per cent. in the last two years.
Although the attendance for the fall term is over 95 per cent., there is plenty of room for improvement. I wish that the parents and townspeople would realize that regular attendance means a vast improvement in scholarly attainment, and, therefore, would cooperate to
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SCHOOL REPORT
the best of their ability. We desire to have our high school the best in the state.
The following activities have been carried on during the past year: Orchestra, debating club, publication of a school paper, and a Senior play.
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.
I believe that the teaching force is stronger and bet- ter than the previous year, and because of that our high school is much better than it was a year ago. When we have good teachers, it is essential that they be retained in order to keep up the standard of the school.
If chemistry is to be taught next year, and that is the year for it, it seems to me that there ought to be con- siderable renovating done to our present laboratory. Up- on inquiry, twenty pupils have expressed their intention of electing chemistry for next year. The laboratory needs at least five more sinks with corresponding table room to accommodate a class of that size. From a study of the latest catalogs, I find that the cost for material, ap- paratus, supplies, etc., will amount to about $500 (sup- plies for ten pupils, i. e., by having two students work to- gether). The cost of material on hand will not amount 10 more than $100, making a total cost of $400.
A change in the laboratory for chemistry will mean the procuring of another room to be used as the type- writing room ; which leads to a question of the value of our commercial department. A few more' typewriters should be obtained to produce the results we ought to be getting in that branch of the work. A good duplicator or mimeograph would be an excellent, office appliance for our commercial students to understand.
I realize the handicapped circumstances under which you gentlemen are working, but I hope that you may see your way clear to do as much as possible in the way of the foregoing improvements, which are only actual neces- sities.
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SCHOOL REPORT
Again, I wish to thank the superintendent and the members of the School Board for their strong backing and cooperation 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 1920-1921.
Schools
Total
SMembership
„Membership Average
Average
Attendance
Percent.
Attendance
High School
55.3
52.4
94.7
546
Grade 8
49
46.7
41.4
88.7
876
Grade 7
36
31.7
30.0
94.5
311
Grade 6
32
28.9
26.9
92.8
358
Grade 5
48
44.7
42.0
93.8
498
Grade 4
37
32.9
31.2
94.9
3491/5
Grade 3
38
33.2
31.1
93.9
387
Grade 2
38
30.8
28.2
91.5
4611/2
Grade 1
35
33.0
30.0
91.0
463
Port
26
22.8
21.8
95.6
1731/2
Totals 1920-1921
399
360.0
335.0
93.1
44231/2
Totals year 1919-1920
385
329.3
294.3
89.4
7308
Gain
14
30.7
40.7
3.7
28841/2
Absence
"Days
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SCHOOL REPORT
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES, 1921.
Ruth Katherine Crouse
Ruth Alexandra MacDougall
Ada Frances Davis
Zilphie Marston Smith
Agnes May Haskell Carrie Ames Spencer Benjamin Brown Bailey
HONOR LIST. Pupils Not Absent for the School Year 1920-1921.
A. Frances Davis
Doris MacGarvey
Helen E. Clark
Pauline Brown
Frederick Manning
Henry Ellis
Pearl E. Bishop
Gerard Clement
Mathew Bailey Hortense Bunker
Elsie Kierstead
Dona Hall
Helen Hammond Lawrence Colman
Louise Tucker
Olga Tankuns
Charles L. Whitcomb
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SCHOOL REPORT
COMMENDABLE ATTENDANCE LIST. Pupils Not Absent Over Five Days for School Year, 1920-1921.
High School
Ruth K. Crouse
M. Esther Morrison
Marion A. Dickey
Velma G. Palmer
Grace L. Earl
Ella G. Porter
Marion E. Flanders
Lucy M. Stanton
Marion B. Heath
Ruth C. Tuckwell
Minnie H. Horsford
Muriel Wallace
Marjorie Jewell
Merle H. Lamb
Mary E. Kourian
Norman G. Paine
Mae L. Lord
Walter H. Sargent
Grade 8
Jeanette M. Adams
Warren F. Heath
Merrill Follansbee
Evelyn E. Kierstead
Margaret A. Sullivan
Lona A. C. Tankuns
Lila M. Woodbury
Enola Stanton
Pearl Smith
Grade 6 Stacy Ellis Albert Lord
Grade 7 · ·
Walker Colman
Walker Crowell
Robert Gillen
Merrill Goldsmith
Priscilla Donovan Hazel Jenness Doris Ordway
Dorothy Wright
Jamie Clement May Hammond Edith Kierstead Brooks Gilmore Allen Manning
Grade 5
Edmund Staples Ruth Odiorne Evelyn Pettegrew Beatrice Smith Frederick Sweetsir Ellsworth Tucker
Velma Gibbs
Fred H. Hargraves
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SCHOOL REPORT
Grade 4
Theron Condon Antonia Godin Normand Gregoire
Chester Howieson Sherman Mccutcheon Lois Schultz Theresa Sloban
Frank Arthur Arthur Carroll Paul Schultz
Grade 3 Edith Crofut Helen Franklin Frances Gilmore May Shackleton
Harriet Laskey
Grade 2 George Sutherland
Elden Kingsbury
Grade 1 Francis Sloban
Port
Andrew Mader G. Roy Sande Henry B. Whitcomb
Dorothy R. Eastman Dorothy Larioes Rose Mader
Nordis M. A. Sande
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