USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1931 > Part 7
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"Mr. Newell, State Director of Drawing says that drawing should not be tied up in a bundle by itself, but should enrich the other school subjects. We have found several opportunities recently to prove this true.
"At the high school several students entered a contest to design a school seal. By vote of the students the design made by John Walker was chosen, and has been reproduced and used in many ways. Members of the drawing class are furnishing cartoons and headings for the Jamaco Journal.
"At the junior high school a health project sponsored by Mrs. Badashaw, Public Health Nurse, was worked out with posters and exhibits for store windows. Several business men of the town very kindly lent their windows and furnished goods for the exhibits. Mrs. Badashaw and I greatly appreciated their interest and assistance.
"In the grades at Christmas time our aim was to produce the most useful attractive gifts at least cost. Many children carried out the same ideas at home.
"The co-operation of the librarians at the Public Library had made it possible for exhibits of work in the various schools to be held during the year."
(9) GENERAL
One tuition pupil is in Rocks Village School, and another is expected; the tuition is $60 apiece.
One pupil is continuing in the Haverhill Trade School; the tuition of vocational pupils in not paid from the school appropriation.
On March 20 Merrimac teachers visited other schools.
On March 24 Mr. Ralph P. Robinson, formerly with MacMillan, lectured to the children on the far north.
123
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
On May 12 Officers Andrews and Keegan conducted a campaign in the schools for safety on the highways.
On May 29 the schools held appropriate exercises for Memorial Day.
On October 8, Fire Prevention Day, Chief Aaron A. Hume, together with Mr. Bridges and Mr. Bailey, accepted the invitation to inspect the schools, wit- ness fire drills, and make suggestion for reducing fire hazards. The high school was cleared in 35 seconds.
During the year there have been get-togethers which have helped the spirit of school unity. Among these were the social at Centre School on January 14, and the supper and evening at the Old Sawyer House on October 22.
(10) UNION PROJECTS
In 1931, as in 1930 and 1929, union teacher meetings have been held in the Merrimac High School, the Woodbridge School, Newbury, the Central School, West Newbury, the Spalding School, Salisbury, and the Byfield School. On the same afternoon there has been a meeting of the teachers club of the district, under the presidency of Mr. MacKay. On May 27 a banquet was held for a retiring teacher, and on September 24 a get-acquainted meeting and luncheon in Parker Hall, Newbury.
At the regular meetings in the spring of 1931, the West Newbury supervisor specialists presented to the rest of the teachers of the union, for oral and written criticism, and subsequent revision, the courses of study within their fields which they had worked out in conjunction with the room teachers for the first six grades. On April 6, the first and second grade teachers of the district, together with teach- ers from Amesbury, who were invited, discussed with Professor Florence M. Fisher of Burlington, Vermont, certain problems of beginners in reading. Wher- ever funds have permitted, standardized achievement tests have been given spring and fall throughout the district. Comparisons have been made. Standardized tests are accompanied by data which show what has been the normal achieve- ment in the country at large for each subject in each grade.
(11) PLAYGROUND
It is fitting in a school report for 1931 that members of the Lions Club and all others who have aided in bringing the playground situation to the present point should receive a hearty note of thanks. The next move awaits the will of the citizens of the town. In general, a school committee is not in a position, finan- cially or otherwise, to administer a public playnogrund not connected with a school building. Whether citizens desire to appoint a playground commission, or whether they wish to foster temporary administration of a playground by an or- ganization, or whether they desire that the land rest in state for the present, they should in all events take no action or be party to any document, which could cause entanglements later in case they desire to build a school house upon it. Public playgrounds and school grounds are separate concepts in municipal administration, and must not be confused. School departments are interested in playground projects, however, because playground commissions and other administrators are usually willing to co-operate by setting aside liberal periods for use by school children.
(12) HEALTH
During February and March the work at Centre School was interrupted by a mild epidemic of chicken pox; as many as 20 were out at a time in the first grade. In the fall there were a few bad interruptions of work in individual cases by im- petigo.
On May 7, at both the Centre School and the Port, Health Day was celebrated by a series of plays which dramatized the principles involved. Out of doors, behind the Central School, visitors came; there were likewise visitors at the Port.
124
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
Throughout the year the health work in the school was aided by the health readers purchased in 1929, and was hindered by the lack of a playground, the lack of a physical instructor, and the lack of a school dentist. Merrimac remains the only town in the district without a school dentist.
During 1931 Minimum Quarantine Regulations, as outlined by the Massa- chusetts Department of Public Health, were adopted by the Merrimac Board of Health for the local schools. A feature during the year was the diphtheria pre- vention clinic in May.
Herewith follows the December school report of Mrs. Jean Badashaw, Pub- lic Health Nurse:
Children visited in their homes. 270
School visits.
Pupils enrolled in four schools. 312
456.
Pupils examined by Doctor, nurse assisting . 320
Pupils examined by nurse
456.
Number of pupils with defects: teeth, 132; corrections 98;
vision 14; corrections 4
Contagious diseases.
27
On May 8, 15, 22, we had 3 clinics giving toxin anti-toxin to 129 children, pre-school and school ages. Treatment was given by Dr. Archibald of the State Department and Dr. Sweetsir.
On June 25 the pre-school clinic was held at Centre School. 20 children attended and were given physical examination by school physician to find out if they were physically fit to enter school.
(13) PATRONS
During the spring the Red Cross sponsored a program of Pasteurized milk for underweight children. 120 half-pint bottles were on hand daily.
Miss Eva Hoyt, in behalf of the Woman's Relief Corps of the G. A. R., has been very helpful in respect to classroom flags.
The Merrimac Grange, No. 171, P. of H., gave a reception on September 16 to the teachers, school committee, and friends of the school. Mr. Carl L. Schrader, State Supervisor of Physical Education, spoke on the creed of absorbing the in- terest of youth by proper recreation facilities.
Throughout the year the Merrimac Parent Teachers Association has taken a keen and helpful interest in the schools. At a meeting on September 17 each teacher in the system told the parents present certain phases of school work. At the end of the year the P. T. A. offered to frame for the several school rooms the congressional pictures of George Washington, in anticipation of the coming bi- centennial celebration.
Merrimac schools need patrons,-helpful, interested patrons. Every citizen should be no less.
Honors, and attendance and other data, will be found elsewhere.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN C. PAGE, Ed.D.,
Superintendent.
125
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Doctor J. C. Page, Superintendent of Schools and Members of the School Board:
Gentlemen :
I herewith tender my fourth annual report of progress of the Merrimac High School.
The total enrollment this year is 107, the largest for the past four years. This number is distributed as follows:
Enrollment
Gen.
Coll. Prep.
Sc. Prep.
Norm.
Comm.
Total Girls
Total Boys
Total No. Students
Seniors : Girls.
5
3
1
3
12
20
Boys. .
1
2
5
8
Juniors: Girls.
2
1
1
10
14
21
Boys. .
1
3
1
2
7
Sophomores: Girls.
3
2
3
11
19
34
Boys. .
3
6
1
5
15
Freshmen: Girls. .
2
2
1
13
18
32
Boys.
2
2
1
9
14
19
10
11
14
53
63
44
107
Perhaps one of the outstanding things noticeable in the high school this year is an improvement in the general attitude and spirit of the student body. Al- though not lacking in this respect in the past, a finer sense of co-operation pre- vails among the students. It is difficult to account for this improvement. It may be the reaction due to a more competent faculty; it may be the fruits of student government just becoming evident; it may be the combined result of several in- fluences. At any rate such an improvement deserves commendation for its re- sults are far reaching and everything which the student body attempts must there- by benefit.
The high school maintains, as in the past, college entrance standards in all relative subjects. An unusual large percentage of graduates go on to higher in- stitutions of learning for various professions and vocations.
The Jamaco Journal has to this writing been tremendously successful in its reception by the students and the townspeople. A novel idea was conceived to include town news with the school news in order to expand the circulation of the paper. This has not only helped to place more abundantly the activities of the school before the townspeople, but has made it possible to publish an eight page newspaper for a much reduced price.
Noteworthy in athletics is the football team which the high school sponsored this year for the first time. Largely through the before mentioned school spirit, the boys played through an undefeated season even though they played much more experienced teams. Although the team suffered no serious injuries, two
126
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
members received painful injuries which crippled the team and made it necessary to play two less games than were planned.
Interclass games in both boys' and girls' basketball have aroused more en- thusiasm than ever before. In this way a large percentage of the students are induced to participate in athletic games. It is interesting to note that many townspeople have attended these games and have taken a lively interest in them. We trust that in the near future it will be possible to conduct games in the out-of- doors on a suitable playground.
For the first time in the history of the high school the Senior Class wore caps and gowns at their graduation. The material from which these gowns were made was gray which differentiated them from the regailia of the college graduate. The advantages of this practice seem varied. The students rent the gowns for two dollars each for a week. Thus they may wear them during Baccalaureate Sunday, during the last week in school, and at the Commencement exercises. Not only is the class uniformly dressed in the world wide dignified, recognized symbol of the graduate, but such a procedure does away with the necessity of new clothes for the students for Baccalaureate and for Commencement, an advantage which many parents will appreciate. If they so desire, the students may still dress more lavishly at the class reception. The choice of clothes for graduation has al- ways been left to the class. Perhaps the use of caps and gowns at graduation will be adopted more often in the future when the advantages are more commonly understood.
Appended to this report are the following: High School Graudates, 1931, Junior High School Graduates, 1931, High School Scholarship Honors, Com- mencement Program, Prizes awarded at Commencement Exercises, High School Athletic Data, and the School Curriculum.
I thank Doctor Page and the School Committee for their kind consideration and support.
Respectfully submitted,
C. D. MACKAY,
Principal.
127
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
HIGH GRADUATES-1931
Evelyn Hope Beloff-General Marian Lucille Howe-General
Grace Eglantine Chaput-Commercial Alice Elizabeth Doust-Commercial
Wilfred George Journeay-General
Gertrude Catherine McCarron-Normal
Dorothy Rose Eastman-Commercial
Elizabeth Arlene Merrill-General
Kenneth Gordon Fowle-Scientific Prep. Pearl Morgan-Commercial
Frances Lucia Gilmore-Normal Helen Adele Peaslee-College Prep'tory Nordis Mae Annette Sande-Comm'cial
George Larkin Trefethen-Scientific Preparatory
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES-1931
Francis Bailey Margaret Dow
Marjorie Odiorne
*Inez Blackden Harlan Blaisdell
Phyllis Harvey
Pearl Robinson
*Arlene Hirst Roland Roy
*Bessie M. Bond
*James Liberty
Hortense Sande
Sophie A. Bushong
Elinor MacDonald
Richard Calnan
Norma Mader
*Lucille Schiavoni John Sloban
Natalie Carroll Muriel Corney
*Howard L. Delong, Jr.
*Paul E. Morgan
Chester Streeter Virginia Streeter Ida Thornton
*Honor Pupil
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP HONORS
High school honors are arranged in order of rank, but an asterisk (*) or a (t) means a tie. All honors are for the school year ending June, 1931. For high honor the year's average must be 90% or over; for honor from 85% to 90%. The highest on the list has a year's average of 9314%.
High Honor
Norma Goodwin, '34 Kenneth Fowle, '31 Ada Lawrence, '34 *Jennie Joudrey, '33
Phyllis Colby, '32
Charlotte Franklin, '32
Charles Whitcomb, '32 *Willard Kelly, '34
Iva Sylvester, '33
Honor
Rosella Lawrence, '32
Charlotte Haskell, '32 ¡Dorothy Eastman, '31
Marie Busch, '34
George Trefethen, '31 Arthur Hoyt, '33
John Walker, '32 ¡Irene Hargraves, '34 Eleanor Archibald, '32
COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM-1931
1. March
Rev. Fr. John Killion
2. Invocation
3. Salutatory Dorothy R. Eastman
4. Prayer of Thanksgiving School Chorus
5. Class History Helen A. Peaslee
6. Class Will Pearl Morgan
7. Class Prophecy Yvonne E. Hardy
8. Country Gardens-Moonlight and Starlight School Chorus
9. Class Gifts George L. Trefethen
Virginia Harrison, '34
*Helen Sanuk, '34
*Elbert McConnell
Ruth E. Metcalf
Yvonne Estelle Hardy-Commercial
128
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
10. Class Poem Wilfred Journeay
11. Fair Cuba School Chorus
12. Address Frank Robinson
13. O Sole Mio School Chorus
14. Valedictory Kenneth Fowle
15. Presentation of Medals and Awards
Washington and Franklin Medal - Presented by
Typewriting Awards
Shorthand Awards
{c. D. Mackay, Principal
Balfour Award
16. Presentation of Diplomas
Harry A. Pease
17. "Star Spangled Banner"
18. Benediction
Prizes Awarded at Commencement Exercises
Name of Award Winner
Washington-Franklin Medal Kenneth Fowle
(Awarded for excellence in the study of American History)
Balfour Award Kenneth Fowle
(Given to student highest in scholarship, loyalty and achievement)
Attendance Grace Chaput
(Not absent for 9 consectuive years)
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC DATA-1930-31
Boys who earned a Letter in Basketball-
Captain Wilfred Journeay, '31, Manager Irving Blake, '33, John Lancaster, '32, George Trefethen, '31, Charles Whitcomb, '32, Ronald Sarasin, '33.
Girls who earned a Letter in Basketball-
Captain Charlotte Haskell, '32, Manager Yvonne Hardy, '31, Char- lotte Franklin, '32, Pearl Morgan, '31, Esther Sargent, '32, Arlene Smith, '32, Ruth Sheldon, '33.
Boys who earned a Letter in Baseball- Captain Charles Whitcomb, '32, Manager Kenneth Fowle, '31, Wilfred Journeay, '31, Ronald Sarasin, '33, George Trefethen, '31, Leon Dow, '34, Roland Roy, '35, Arthur Hoyt, '33, Bernard Ca- sazza, '33, Harold Smith, '34.
Boys who earned a Letter in Football-
Captain Charles Whitcomb, '32, Manager Daniel Hargraves, '34, Andrew Marshall, '32, John Lancaster, '32, Arthur Hoyt, '33, William Calnan, '34, Ernest Preble, '34, Eugene Deminie, '34, George Bacon, '34, Leon Dow, '34, Harold Smith, '34, Cary Rey- nolds, '34, George Merritt, '35, Clarence Darby, '36.
Those earning a Letter for Cheer leading-
Myrtle Reynolds, '33, Cary Reynolds, '34.
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
College Preparatory
Units
Scientific Preparatory
Units
Normal
Units
Commercial
Units
General
Units
English 1 Ancient History Algebra Latin 1
1
English 1
1 1/2
English 1 Ancient History General Science Biology Algebra
1
Introductory. Business
1
French 1
Introductory Bus-
iness or Latin 1 Ancient History
English 2
1
English 2
1
English 2
1
English 2
1
Modern History
1
Geometry
1
Geometry
1
Modern History
1
Modern History
1
Electives
2
Latin 2
1
French 1
1
French 1
1 Bookkeeping 1
3/5
Geometry
French 1
1
Modern History
1
Geometry or Latin
1
French 2
1
1 or (Bookkeep-
ing & Typewrit- ing) French 2
Latin 1
English 3
1
English 3
1
English 3
1
English 3
1
English 3
1
.
1
General Science Biology
1/2
1
General Science Biology
1/2
Algebra
1
1/2
Biology
1/2 1/2
Electives Algebra
2
American History
1
English 1 French 1 General Science
1
English 1
1
1
1
1/2
1/2
1
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
English 2
1
Typewriting
2/5 Latin 2, French
.
129
1
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM-(Concluded)
College Preparatory
Units
Scientific Preparatory
Units
Normal
Units
Commercial
Units
General
Units
Latin 3 French 2 American History
1
Review Mathe- matics
1
American History French 2 Electives Rev. Math. Latin 2
1
American History Shorthand 1
1
2
1
Physics or Chemistry
1
French 2
1
American History
1
Physics or Chemistry
writing 2 Latin 2 Latin 3
English 4
1
English 4
1
English 4
1
English 4
1 English 4 1
Review Mathe- ematics French 3
1
Advance Math- ematics
1
Economics
1/2
Economics 1/2 yr. Civics 1/2 yr. Shorthand 2
1/2
Economics 1/2 yr.
1/2
1
Physics or
Electives
2
1
Electives
2
Latin 4
1
1
French 3
Typewriting 3
1/2 French 3 or
1
Adv. Math.
Stenog. 2 Latin 3 or
Typewriting 3
Review Math.
Physics
Advanced Math.
130
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
1
1
1
Typewriting 2 Bookkeeping 2
1/2
1
American History Electives French 2 or Bookkeeping 2 Review Math. or Stenog. 1 Physics (Chemis- try) or Type-
Civics
12
1/2
Civics 1/2 yr. 1/2
Chemistry French 3
Physics or Chemistry Latin 3 Rev. Math.
1
1
131
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ATTENDANCE HONOR ROLL
Not Absent for 9 Years, Setpember 1922 to June 1931 Grace Chaput Not Absent for 5 Years, September 1926 to June 1931 Donald DeLong
Not Absent for 4 Years, September 1927 to June 1931 Margaret Dow John Franklin
Not Absent for 3 Years, September 1928 to June 1931
Leona Noone Allegra Spinney
Not Absent for 2 Years, September 1929 to June 1931
Ansel Clark George Clark, Jr.
Frederick Kennett Shirley Lord Pearl Robinson
Helen Kennett Ransford Spinney
Not Absent for 1 Year, September 1930 to June 1931
Eugene Deminie
High School Lucille Godin
Helen How
Barbara Beloff James How Phyllis Hoyt
Winnifred Reardon Hazel Zinck
Hortense Sande Lucille Schiavoni
Centre School
Robert Adams John Burgess
Grade VI Mythel Collins Arlene Hazeltine
Leon Smith Dorothy Urquhart
Gertrude Bacon
Grade V Philip Earle Sylvia Tammik
Jack Sargent
Grade IV
Elaine Noone
Bernice Trefethen
Grade III None
Grade II
Edith Thornton
Joseph Sloban
Grade I None
Merrimacport School
Grade VI
Frances Plona
Lillian Sande
Grade V None
Grade IV None
Grade III None
Grade II None
Grade I Eugene Pierce
Harrison DeLong
Junior High School Flora Belle Joudrey
Natalie Carroll
132
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
COMMENDABLE ATTENDANCE LIST
High School
Virginia Harrison
Beatrice Hazeltine
Janice Howe
Helen Sanuk
George Busch
Arthur Hoyt
Nordis Sanuk
William Calnan
Margaret Hoyt
Esther Sargent
Everett Carroll
Flora Hutchins
Arlene Smith
Lorin Clark
Jennie Joudrey
Harold Smith
Alice Doust
Willard Kelly, Jr.
John Tammik George Trefethen
Evelyn Gilmore
Edward Larivee
John Walker
Frances Gilmore
John McCarron
Charles Whitcomb
William McCarron
Bradford Whittier
Elizabeth Merrill
Beatrice Urquhart
Junior High School
Arlene Hirst Elbert McConnell
Ruth Metcalf
Paul Morgan
Chester Streeter
Virginia Streeter Glenna Blackden Helen Brady Robert Calnan Harriet Hutchins
Mabel Urquhart
Centre School
Grade VI Raymond McConnell George Odiorne Roland Roberge Gladys Robinson
George Sargent Ralph Sargent George Stevens John Thornton
Grade V
Robert Hoyt Alcha Huntress Roger Knight
Arthur Lockwood Alfred Merritt Berdina Schiavoni
Natalie Merritt John Munroe Arthur Ollis Ida Zinck
Leo Busch Ruth Donahue
Grade III Ellen Flynn Thomas Jones Helen Tammik
Grade II Eva Heath Winifred Hutchins
John MacMahon Reed Manning Albert Zinck
James Christie Eleanor DeLong Clayton Metcalf
Grade I Ruth Franklin John Hutchins
Myrna Lavalley Dorothy McCarron Ruth Staples
Inez Blackden Harlan Blaisdell Sophie Bushong Richard Calnan Howard DeLong
Mary Plona
Melnott Connor Harold Fitzgerald
Arnold Hargraves Frances Hutchins
Robert Burbeck Karl Busch Clyde Frost
Marjorie Fowle Isabelle Heath Mary Hutchins
Anna Sargent
Grade IV Thomas Lally Forrest Lavalley Frank Merritt
Winifred McCarron Rachel Munroe
Raymond Anderson Everett Fowle Francis Noone
Elsie Pease Constanti Sanuk
Eleanor Archibald Mary Bacon Herman Beloff
Charlotte Franklin
Ada Lawrence
Yvonne Hardy Daniel Hargraves
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
133
Merrimacport School Grade VI
Sylva Clark
Marion Harvey
Grade V Bertha Clark
Norman Deminie
Grade IV Marjorie How Catherine McMaster
Grade III
Catherine Clark
Charlotte Pierce
Grade II Clinton Piper
Grade I Verna Piper
134
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
ATTENDANCE DATA September 1930 to June 1931
School and Grade
Average Membership
Percent of Attendance
HIGH
91.36
95.88
JUNIOR HIGH:
Grade 8.
26.48
97.25
Grade 7 .
37.97
94.98
Total Junior High
64.45
96.12
CENTRE
Grade 6
40.98
95.65
Grade 5
30.58
94.62
Grade 4
31.95
95.59
Grade 3
29.4
92.27
Grade 2
44.89
93.45
Grade 1
....
46.56
91.14
Total Centre.
224.36
93.79
MERRIMACPORT
Grades 4-6.
15.34
94.53
Grades 1-3.
15.97
94.61
Total Port.
31.31
94.57
Total for town.
411.48
95.09
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Appropriations Made in 1931.
6
Appropriations Recommended for 1932. Jury List.
9
14
Town Officers.
3
Reports of ---
Assessors
32
Audit of Accounts
Fire Engineers
Inspector of Wires.
Janitor of Sargent Hall.
Municipal Light Board.
Police Department
Public Health Nurse.
Public Library
Sealer of Weights and Measures.
Selectmen and Overseers of Poor
Tax Collector
Town Accountant
Town Clerk.
Town Forest.
Town Treasurer.
Trustees Kimball Park.
Water Commissioners.
29
School Committees Report
109
Calendar.
111
Staff Directory.
112 114
School Committee
Superintendent of Schools
117
High School Principal. 125
Curriculum for 1932-33. 129
86 25 36 36 27 22 39 37 34 12 77 40 15 35 76 38
18000
2
5
17
23
230
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