USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1932 > Part 5
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157.51
Haswell Land Co.
4.70
Head, Natt.
87.60
Heath, Alvin F.
3.00
Heath, Fred L.
83.15
Heath, Warren H.
151.30
Henry, Carmille J
10.52
Herbert, Victor.
26.50
Herbert, Victor, Jr.
3.00
Hildebrand, George T.
3.00
Hoar, Margaret E
1.41
Holmes, Ralph L. and Jean A.
23.50
Hopkinson, Fred T
215.97
Houle, Raymond.
3.00
How, J. Duncan.
76.35
Howe, Clifford R. and Clara B
141.90
Howe, Raymond B.
3.00
Howeison, Rufus E., bal.
4.50
Hoyt, Eva L.
118.91
Hoyt, Horace W .
81.80
Hall, Fred K.
3.00
Hughes, Charles E and Elizabeth, bal.
11.10
Hughes, John H ..
3.00
Hughes, Mary A. Heirs .
94.00
Hull, James H. and Alice M .
62.22
Hume, Aaron A .
73.50
Humphrey, James
59.46
Huntington, Nathan
86.01
Huley, Annie. .
138.95
Hutchins, John A.
ยท .
.
3.00
.
.
87
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Jones, J. Thomas.
$3.00
Jonah & George
299.86
Jones, W. E.
3.00
Joudrey, Angus
3.00
Joudrey, Arnold.
3.00
Joudrey, Carl L
3.00
Kelly, Heman and Susan P. Heirs
98.70
Kelly, Willard B
136.95
Kendrick, Sarah F. Heirs.
70.75
Kidston, Colin J. .
3.00
Kidston, John C. and Anna C., bal.
48.00
King, Benjamin W.
4.70
Kingsbury, Ella E. Heirs
98.70
Knapp, Carroll S.
2.35
Kilbourne, Maude T.
58.75
Kotzebue, Paul.
54.70
Lajoie, Elodie.
2.35
Lamb, Harold C.
3.00
Lamb, William J .
3.00
Lamb, William H.
72.85
Lamie, Charles Z.
63.45
Lancaster, Charles A., bal
273.79
Lancaster, Charles L.
3.00
Langdo, Edward.
3.00
Laravee, Rudolph .
149.64
Laurendeau, Alfred G. and Rose A.
341.40
La Valley, Wilfred .
45.30
La Valley, Joseph W
82.25
Lawrence, Luther D. and Emma A
115.80
Letter, Elzo B
10.34
Libby, William V.
73.16
Liberty, Sarah I. H. Heirs
522.70
Litchfield, W. W. and G. L
212.90
Lord, Albert
3.00
Lyons, William.
7.05
MacDougall, William J
38.25
McRae, Duncan .
164.50
Mader, Andrew, bal.
20.80
Maguire, Frank M.
3.00
Marshall, John and Jennie M .
139.55
Marshall, Perry
21.15
Mass. Mortge Co.
470.00
McCarron, Peter .
64.10
Mccutcheon, Thomas and Margaret ..
.
108.75
McInnis, George A
141.00
Merrill, Moses B., bal
37.55
Merrimac Body Co
775.50
Maggi, Ellen M .
77.80
Manning, Catherine C.
7.05
Marcus, Isreal.
930.60
88
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
Mears, Arthur L.
$9.87
Mappleback, R. E. Heirs
1.88
Marston, Aldena .
2.82
Merrimac Motor Sales
32.90
Matthews, Frank F
3.76
McAuliffe, John J
3.76
McLain, Minnie.
2.35
McLaughlin, Caroline H.
2.35
Merrimac Sweet Shop.
84.60
Merritt, William O
3.00
Messier, Edward G
3.00
Messier, Joseph N
34.96
Metcalf, Edgar L.
3.00
Miller, Ernest H.
32.90
Miner, Charles A .
3.00
Miner, Francis H. Gertrude M
50.00
Miner, Louise J. .
61.10
Mooney, Sarah F., bal
12.60
Moore, John J.
3.00
Moore, Thomas.
108.10
Moreau, Albert.
3.00
Morgan, Harry A.
3.00
Morgan, Roy E. .
3.00
Morris, Angie E. F
3.29
Munroe, John.
108.10
Murphy, Olive.
9.40
Murray, M. Elizabeth
36.66
Murray, Susan V.
2.82
Mustonen, Henry H. and Matilda
121.75
Naismith, James B.
197.40
Nason, Elbert I. and Hattie E
77.55
Newhall, Nellie E.
94.00
Nichols, George P
14.10
Neilson, Albert. .
14.10
Odiorne, Charles T.
3.00
O'Keefe, Edward J
3.00
Olivera, John B
2.35
Ollis, J. Henry.
104.05
Ouellette, Ludger A., bal
30.00
Owens, Ralph E. .
3.00
Packard, Reginald.
3.00
Palmer, Arthur B. and Mildred A
85.25
Paige, Nelson .
2.82
Paradis, Henry C ..
5.64
Parenteau, Oliver O.
70.50
Parker, Grace M
71.75
Pease, James F.
130.80
Pease, Mattie .
18.80
Peaslee, H. Fred.
47.65
Peaslee, J. William.
3.76
.
.
89
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES
Peaslee, Randolph .
$3.00
Peavey, Albert W .
3.00
Pedrick, Lincoln, bal.
37.60
Perkins, John F. and Mildred P
85.84
Perkins, Walter E
3.00
Picard, Ludger
47.65
Picone, Kate. .
9.40
Plouff, Ernest L.
3.00
Prescott, Charles W
3.00
Prince, George E
49.35
Purdy, George B
82.90
Quimby, Phillip
101.05
Rand, Frank N. and Fannie B.
395.45
Rand, Howard B.
3.00
Randall, Emma L
55.46
Raymond, Carl ..
3.00
Reardon, Fred A. and Eva E.
117.50
Reynolds, Elizabeth, bal.
30.00
Richard, Joseph .
28.85
Richard, Marie L.
56.40
Richardson, W. C
2.35
Richmond, Fred .
1.88
Riley, William J.
3.00
Ring, David W.
25.85
Roberts, Walter .
2.35
Robinson, Barney L. and Georgianna .
118.15
Robinson, Charles W
1.41
Rolfe, Robert O
44.65
Ross, Lincoln M.
3.00
Roy, David J., Gdn.
16.45
Russell, Lillian A .
2.82
Russell, W. C. and A. B. Heirs
455.90
Ryerson, Harry E
3.00
Sande, Charles and Helen K
105.46
Sande, Gunner M.
3.00
Sande, Lester .
3.00
Sanuk, Powell and Alexandria.
122.85
Sarasin, Trefley
3.00
Sargent, B. Frank
9.40
Sargent, Charles. .
3.00
Sargent, E. O. Heirs.
23.50
Sargent, John K. and S. Bixby
297.51
Sargent, Mary W.
72.85
Sargent, M. Heirs.
453.55
Sargent, Orlando M.
79.14
Sargent, Ralph H.
212.50
Sargent, Ralph H. Jr.
3.00
Sargent, Sally E. W. Heirs.
32.90
Sargent, W. I. and E. F
117.50
Sawyer, Harland Heirs
5.64
.
.
90
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
Scherbon, Samuel S.
$101.05
Schiavoni, Antonio.
14.10
Senee, Adolphus D.
37.60
Sequin, Alfred H
44.83
Seymour, John J.
3.00
Sheldon, Franklin W
3.00
Sheldon, Guy E
3.00
Shute, Jasper
3.00
Sloban, Thomas.
111.10
Sloban, Thomas V
3.00
Smith, Albert B
148.70
Smith, A. Burton, Jr.
3.00
Smith, George P.
42.95
Smith, Hiram P., bal.
68.43
Smithers, Frank
3.00
Snow, Charles.
4.70
Society, Polish Falcon
32.90
Soper, Emma J.
73.70
Soule, Ossian M.
3.00
Spinney, Harry L ..
3.00
Spinney, Harry L. Jr.
3.00
Spinney, Waldo B.
3.00
Spinney, William H.
3.00
Stacy, Myra L.
32.90
Staples, Ruth E.
329.15
Steeler, William M. Jr
165.15
Stevens, George V
3.00
Stewart, Arthur.
3.00
Stewart, Benjamin F.
3.00
Stewart, Charles W
75.85
Stewart, Robert H. .
3.00
Stickney, Adeline W
14.10
Straub, Joseph .
3.00
Streeter, Chester W
44.65
Streeter, Harriett.
1.41
Streeter, Josephine C. and Wm. C.
211.46
Streeter, Wm. F.
3.00
Stuart, James H.
1.00
Sweeney, Harry
12.40
Sweet, Frank A. and Mary J.
8.99
Sweet, Frank D ..
3.00
Sylvester, Arthur C. and Iva L.
128.05
Tammik, Henry C.
64.75
Tammik, Prudu
17.10
Thomas, Nettie M., bal
56.40
Thompson, John S. .
14.75
Thorne, Emma, etals.
9.40
Travers, Albert M .
3.00
Travers, Michael J. and Sarah J.
50.00
Trefethen, Annie
71.00
.
REPORT OF COLLECTOR OF TAXES 91
Trefethen, Arthur G.
$3.00
Trenholm, Stephen R. and Hattie V
73.50
Trull, Herbert A.
87.60
Tucker, Edgar R
3.00
Turner, Homer R. .
3.00
Urquhart, George A.
3.00
Valleries, Joseph I
194.29
Walker, Edson C
311.44
Wallace, Earle G. and Altha G.
120.50
Wallace, Loren H.
61.75
Wallace, Ray .
3.00
Walton T. Parker.
3.00
Ward, Edward, etals
6.58
Ward, Harry.
1.88
Wasilhak, Stephen.
2.82
Waterhouse, Isabelle N
419.71
Watson, Merle V
82.90
Weiner, Samuel
367.07
Wells, Frank H.
. 1.88
Wentworth, Chester
3.00
West, Katherine B., etals.
72.85
Wheeler, Everett .
3.00
Wheeler, Jefferson M.
47.30
Wheeler, Reginald .
3.00
Whitcomb, George H., bal
25.00
Whitcomb, Henry B.
3.00
Whitcomb, Lorena B., bal
130.00
Whiting, Herbert E.
3.00
Whiting, Mary N., etals.
105.75
Whitman, John R.
56.40
Whittier, J. Lowell, bal.
76.90
Wildes, Martin R.
5.64
Winfield, George.
1.88
Wonson, Frank C ..
3.76
Woodman, Mary C
98.70
Worcester, Edward H
54.70
Woyvoda, Frank.
3.00
Woyvoda, Rudolph
3.00
Wright Garage Co
474.70
Yorkovitch, Stephen
3.00
York, Joseph W
3.00
Young, Jesse C.
3.76
Young, Samuel. .
3.00
Zinck, Charles R.
17.10
Taxes to be abated.
23.56
Late Assessments.
98.40
Total
$30,603.61
A. RAYMOND WATERHOUSE,
Collector of Taxes.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1932
1
To the Citizens of the Town of Merrimac:
In accordance with custom and with the acts of the General Court, 1859, Chapter 57, we herewith submit to you the 63rd Annual School Report.
ANNIE W. HOYT, Chairman, HOWARD L. DeLONG, Secretary, WILLARD T. KELLY, School Committee.
MERRIMAC SCHOOL CALENDAR (Continued from Calendar in 1932 Town report) March 1933 to March 1934
February 27, 1933-All schools open for third term.
April 14, 1933-All schools close for spring vacation.
April
24, 1933-All schools open for spring term.
May
30, 1933-Memorial Day, all schools close.
June 16, 1933-Elementary schools close.
June
20, 1933-Junior High School graduation.
June 22, 1933-Senior High School graduation.
September 5, 1933-Parents' day, registration of all entering pupils.
September 6, 1933-All schools open for fall term.
October
12, 1933-Columbus Day, all schools close.
November 11, 1933-Armistice Day, all schools close.
November 23 and 24, 1933-Thanksgiving recess, all schools close.
December 15, 1933-Grades 1, 2 and 3 close.
December 22, 1933-High Schools and Grades 4, 5 and 6 close for Christmas vacation.
January 2, 1934-All schools open for winter term.
February 16, 1934-All schools close for Washington's birthday vacation.
February 26, 1934-All schools open for third term.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Forenoon-7.30 A. M .- No school in grades only-11-11-long pause-1. 7.30 A. M .- No school in high schools, and grades 11-11-11.
Same signal at 12.30 P. M .- No school in afternoon.
Same signal at 11.30 P. M .- One session.
SCHOOL OFFICERS
John C. Page Ed.D., Superintendent Address: West Newbury Tel: W. N. 52
Margaret R. Sawyer, Secretary Address: West Newbury
Tel. W. N. 52
Alexander Sullivan, Supervisor of Attendance Address: Locust Street
Tel. 238
F. E. Sweetsir, M. D., School Physician Address: 19 Main Street Tel. 49
Jean Badashaw, R. N., School Nurse Address: 29 Mill Street
Tel. 52-11
96
DIRECTORY OF THE SCHOOL STAFF-SEPTEMBER 1932
Position
Training
Total Years experience
Years in Merrimac
HIGH SCHOOL
Prin., math., science. French and Latin ..
Chauncey D. MacKay Barbara Morrell Ruth E. MacDuffee Roberta C. Annon Jeanne Dozois
B. S. E., B. U. School of Education, 1924
9
4
A. B., Bates 1915
10
6
English. .
A. B., Tufts 1931 B. S., University of N. H., 1931
1
1
Commercial ..
B. S. in Ed., Salem Normal, 1930
2
2
JUNIOR HIGH Prin., social science. .
Howard G. Patchett
B. A., Union College, 1914 M. A., Clark University, 1926 A. B., Tufts, 1929
10
1
English and Math.
Lydia Risi
2
11/2
CENTRE SCHOOL Prin., Grade 6.
Wilma B. Kingsbury
Castine Normal, 1896 1 summer Hyannis Normal 1 summer North Adams Normal 1 summer Fitchburg Normal 1 summer University of Maine
18
8
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
1
1
History. .
DIRECTORY OF THE SCHOOL STAFF-(Concluded)
Position
Training
Total years experience
Years in Merrimac
CENTRE SCHOOL Grade 5. .
Sarah E. Briggs
New Bedford H. S., 1905
10
2
Grade 4.
Theresa Kondrat
1 summer Hyannis Normal Lowell Normal 1926 2 summers B. U. School Education Salem Normal, 1905 Bridgewater Normal, 1918
51/2
2
Grade 3.
Sarah B. Titcomb
1812
11
Grade 2.
Helen O. Manning
7
51/2
Grade 1.
Helen J. Kennedy
Lesley Normal, 1927
312
2
MERRIMACPORT SCHOOL Grades 1-3.
M. Ethel Davis
Salem Normal, 1914
17
13
Drawing Supervisor ..
Annie A. Kelly
Mass. School of Art, 1906 1 summer N. E. School of Design
241/2
6
Music Supervisor. . .
Doris C. Currier
2 summers private instruction Institute of Music Pedagogy
101/2
1
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
97
98
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Throughout 1932 as much was done in the way of upkeep as the budget allowed.
At the High School the outside bell was repaired, 40 feet of 3-inch water pipe in the basement were replaced, the electric wiring was adjusted to meet the needs of the inspector, and a rain leak in the upper hall on the Walnut Street side was tended to. With the assistance of Mr. DeLong an auto-horn fire signal was installed in order that the sound of the fire alarm might be distinctive from that of the signal for the passing of classes. The latter is used at least 28 times a day. In the commercial room the old desk table was draped with cretonne to avoid the purchase of a new desk.
At the Junior High School on Prospect Street, during the spring, a much- needed closet was built in the basement, a bookshelf was placed in the eighth grade room, a lock on the door of this room, and repairs were made on the front- door and on the porch. During the summer a front post and the lattice work beneath were repaired; inside, the seats were screwed down securely and sheets of steel were placed beneath six of the seats in the eighth grade room, so shattery was the wood of the floor. Upstairs, zinc, extending to the front, was placed beneath the stove, and a lock was added on this door also. In the fall a netting was placed on the southwest window downstairs, to avoid breakage during ball playing, and a plain table for science demonstrations was placed in the down- stairs room.
At the Centre School during the summer an electric light was added at the top of the stairs going to the boys' basement, the furnace funnel was cleaned and cared for, a new supply pipe to the boiler was installed, which necessitated the digging up of the cement floor, a new steam gauge was added, the chimney ventilator was repaired and placed, bulletin boards were put up, the sixth grade table was repaired, and seats were rearranged so that the second and third grade rooms might be exchanged, on account of comparative size of classes. In the fall the front slate boards in the middle downstairs room then used for second grade were lowered to be in range of the pupils, and shelves were added near the back of this room. In the sixth grade room a base plug was added for a. principal's desk lamp. The new Weil-Mclain steam boiler, added at the be- ginning of 1932, was given a three-year $5,000 coverage of public liability in- cluding employee, property damage, and crackage.
The needs at Centre School are too numerous to mention. Besides the need of painting, which could be done now at a saving, sash bottoms are falling out, a new door is needed on the North side and the back steps need new top boards. A roof should be built in back to keep the water from entering the cellar. Here the doors drag and often ice has to be chopped.
At the Merrimacport School four inside partition windows were hinged in June. During the summer the stove hole in the upstairs room was closed against further use, as a fire precaution. In the fall, the attic was cleaned out, new boards were added on the front steps on the Broad Street side, and preliminary precautions were taken against the repetition of leaks such as those which oc- curred when the rain of November 1 beat in on the southeast or Merrimack River side. Among the needs at the Port School are gravel for filling the muddy spots, and the development of some sort of Port School Playground. The latter project would be a good one for some organization. Even the seesaw needs re- newal or repair.
Throughout the schools during 1932 new inexpensive automatic shut-off bubblers have been purchased, to replace the old ones from which water was wasted by the hour. At Centre an extra bubbler was added to prevent con- gestion and long waits at recesses.
TEACHERS
During the entire calendar year 1932 Merrimac retained the same staff of teachers in all its schools as in the fall of 1931. It is a staff of which Merri-
99
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
mac may well be proud; loyal, interested, co-operative and one year older in experience and wisdom. Retaining the staff has meant, of course, that we shall receive added state reimbusements to the town, not to mention the still better service the teachers have been able to give. Citizens who talk in terms of pay cuts had best first compare Merrimac salaries with those in towns where cuts have been given. During the long period of price inflation Merrimac did not adopt the policy, as many towns did, of measuring teachers' salaries in terms of purchasing power. $45,390.53 is the latest average school expenditure of all towns in the two thousand population class which maintain their own high schools. When this average is compared to $29,848.48, Merrimac's 1932 school expenditure, or to $27,935.00, Merrimac's 1933 requested appropriation, it can be understood more readily what the latest state report (Nov. 30, 1932) means when it says that Merrimac's school expenditure per pupil is 97th among the 117 towns in its class, at the same time that the tax rate is 5th from the top.
HIGH SCHOOL
Of the 465 pupils enrolled in the Merrimac public schools in September 1932, 112 were registered at the high school, 6 of these being postgraduates. The postgraduates are Robert Carter, Phyllis Colby, Charlotte Franklin, John Lancaster, Rosella Lawrence, and Arlene Smith. Of the remaining 11 graduates of the class of 1932, John Walker is attending the State College at Amherst Charles Whitcomb the Teachers' College at Bridgewater, and the others are variously distributed.
A continued feature at the high school has been the offering of college pre- para tion for those who have the determination and the ability to pursue the re- quired subjects to an A or B grade. Any student who has the necessary quali- fications to be a good investment risk of parental funds for a college education, should be able to prepare at our high school.
In shorthand and typewriting, too, the commercial department has been showing results through the year. In the spring Ruth Eastman attained an official speed of 100 words a minute in Gregg. Rose Mader 80 words, and Eleanor Archibald 60 words; this fall already Elsie Pease, Evelyn Gilmore, and Alice Thorne have attained 80 words a minute, and in typewriting this fall Elsie Pease has attained an official record of 61 words a minute for ten minutes.
A feature during the year has been the Friday morning assemblies with outside speakers. Athletics have thrived, but the raising of funds for athletics has been a problem. Extra curriculum activities, the Jamaco Journal, and social gatherings have had their place during the year. On April 8 the Stunt Night at Grange Hall, on May 6 the Junior Prom, on May 27 the Senior Prom, and on November 3 the informal reception to the freshmen by the Student Council.
Early in the year the seal designed by John O. Walker was officially adopted for the Merrimac High School.
In the fall a telephone was installed.
During December Mr. Ralph C. Taylor of Melrose, a Brown graduate, 1927, with A. M., 1931, was engaged for the English department during the leave of absence through illness of Miss Ruth E. MacDuffee.
Further facts will be found elsewhere, in the report of the high school princi- pal, and in data following.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
During 1932 a policy was adopted in respect to eighth grade pupils who had not earned by June the right to a diploma, but who, nevertheless, might have been considered as candidates for trial promotion if a diploma were not in ques- tion. Such pupils were allowed, if they and their parents desired, to take ex- aminations in September in the subjects in which they had failed to attain an average of C for the year. If these examinations were passed they were allowed to try the high school work until Christmas. If they had by then attained an
100
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
average of C in three of their four major high school subjects, they were allowed to continue as regular freshmen and were entitled to a junior high school diploma on or before the end of the school year. In each of such cases, in 1932, Mr. Patchett visited a parent to discuss the child.
At the end of 1932 Mr. Patchett reports:
"The past year has been one of interest to all connected with the Junior High School. While we have endeavored to strengthen each branch of school work, special attention has been given to the school library and to adding equipment for science work.
"During May the senior class made a profitable trip to Boston, visiting several places of historical interest.
"In addition to our regular school work, a keen interest has been shown in the extra curricula activities. These comprised the monthly issues of a school paper, the French club, the Audubon society, and work in dramatics.
"The latter part of the year a few of the boys were organized into a repair squad. This group of boys enlarged and rewired the system of bells, repaired breakage, and did other minor jobs about the premises.
"In 1933 we hope to be able to give more attention to the formation of a manual training club."
On June 9 the high school principal made the annual visit for the purpose of guiding freshmen in the selection of high school subjects and courses. Parents of eighth grade pupils should attend these annual contact meetings, especially in a town in which junior and senior high schools are separate.
On June 17, the annual Class Day was held with the planting of ivy. The response of parents and friends was excellent.
On the evening of June 21 at Sargent Hall, 25 pupils graduated from the Junior High School, 4 boys and 21 girls. The diplomas were presented by Mr. Howard L. DeLong. Leonora Child was valedictorian and Elizabeth Water- house salutatorian. The diplomas were lettered by Miss Florence Hargraves of Merrimac.
In September the school opened with an enrollment of 83, of which 37 were in the 7th grade and 46 in the 8th. Features of the fall have been the definite scheduling of periods for character education by Mr. Patchett, the continually increasing interest in elementary science, and the very manifest desire of the pupils to do things for their school. As an instance of the latter, a leather cover was made for the dictionary by John Smith. Again, the pupils are endeavoring to raise funds for the purchase of a loose-leaf encyclopaedia.
In the opinion of Mr. Patchett, the basement, at little cost, could be made into a room suitable for drawing and other activities.
CENTRE SCHOOL
In September, 1932, Centre School had an enrollment of 250, distributed as follows: Grade 1-37, II-36, III-51, IV-48, V-38, VI-41. The size of the third grade precluded the use of the middle room of the first floor, as in recent years, so the second grade pupils of June returned to the same room in September, and the third grade teacher moved in. One child cried, thinking she had not been promoted under these conditions. The fourth grade pupils of June likewise returned to their room in September, while the fifth grade teacher moved in; the incoming fourth grade was too large for the middle room of the upper floor. The grades, therefore, in September were located in rooms as follows: first floor, street front to back, contains the fourth, second, and first grades, in order; second floor, street front to back, contains the sixth, fifth and third, in order.
Again in 1932 children who were slightly below age were admitted to the first grade, at the request of their parents, after it was determined that the num-
101
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
ber of children who had attained the age of five on or before April 1 would still leave the necessary seats to make this possible. At present the age limit of such candidates is set at June 1.
The present location of the second grade on the first floor has certain ad- vantages in its own right, particularly during fire drills. Even pupils of the third grade, a year older, are somewhat timid about using the fire escape in back.
The school morale has been excellent; frequent social gatherings have helped to foster this. Mrs. Kingsbury, in her year-end report, writes: "The same help- ful co-operative spirit even with a pupil load of fifty or more has prevailed through- out the year." And the third grade teacher proffers remarks upon the excellent discipline of the class as a whole which she received in the fall, much to the credit of the first and second grade teachers.
The pupils of the school have been working on a project for raising funds for buying a lens for the school stereoptican. This lens was lost during the summer; the stereoptican was bought by funds raised in the school in 1929.
One of the needs of the school is base plugs and desk lamps for the teachers' desks; this would be an enonomy in the end, from many angles.
MERRIMACPORT SCHOOL
The Port School is very grateful indeed for its gift on May 2 of a piano from the American Legion.
In September the school opened with an enrollment of 20, 6 in the first grade, 9 in the second, and 5 in the third. Both teacher and pupils have seemed to enjoy the new material of the Cordts reading system, which runs parallel to that now in the Centre School. The charts are placed on an old Aldine stand rejuvenated by Mr. DeLong. The music in the school has shown a marked improvement. A movable blackboard was added to the equipment during the year.
For the school year beginning in September, Mr. Fred O. Bailey was elected janitor of the Port School.
OTHER PUPILS
Merrimac has one vocational pupil in the printing department of the Haver- hill Trade School, and three tuition pupils in the Rocks Village School, for which tuition is paid to the city of Haverhill.
DRAWING
Miss Kelly, in the fall of 1932, submitted, through the superintendent's office, a most interesting and comprehensive outline for her drawing work in Merrimac. The following words are from her seventh year-end report:
"Two principal aims this year are:
"For Economy and Thrift-To reveal to the children opportunities for making useful and beautiful articles from common materials which are thrown away every day.
"For Co-operation-In teaching the principles of art, to enrich such subjects as history, geography, language, spelling and health, by con- struction of objects, use of sand table, maps, note books and posters, proving that drawing is a means of expression and education as well as writing, speaking and singing.
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