USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1939 > Part 6
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14
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
At the High School the classes are as large as can be accom- modated, including handicraft, fashion illustration, commercial art and mechanical drawing. I am pleased to show the work of these classes, from time to time at the Public Library. Draw- ings from the grades and Junior High School have also been shown there. Christmas work of Grade VII, gourd strings, and trays made of native clay, painted and shellacked, were displayed in the window of the Heath Insurance Company.
The lessons at the Industrial Arts School are whatever is most helpful. Some of their accomplishments are-enlarging by squaring, painting silhouettes on glass, lettering, and the use of the mechanical drawing board. Art can help greatly in this school, and the pupils have all shown great progress.
It has been a very satisfactory and interesting year and I deeply appreciate the co-operation of all teachers who made it so, as well as the encouragement and interest of the superin- tendent.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE A. KELLY,
Art Supervisor.
REPORT OF PROSPECT STREET SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools:
The following is a general report of the Prospect Street School.
On January 19, 1939, the Parent Teachers' Association held its meeting at the Prospect Street School. Mr. Herbert Cassilly, Probation Officer of Haverhill, spoke on the work of the Juvenile Court.
The boys' and girls' basketball teams enjoyed games with the Spalding School of Salisbury. These games were played at the Amesbury Junior High School gymnasium. Many inter-class games were played at the Town Hall, also.
15
SCHOOL REPORT
A seventh grade Aeroplane Club was attempted with many plane models resulting.
The spring sports season was opened with the organizing of baseball teams for girls as well as for the boys. Games were played with nearby schools and with the High School teams.
The seventh grade went to Canobie Lake for a picnic as their Class Day outing.
A historical trip was made to Boston by the eighth grade. Places visited were: Bunker Hill, Charlestown Navy Yard, Aquarium, State House, Franklin Park, Harvard University, Boston Common, Museum of Fine Arts, Maparium in the Chris- tian Science Publishing House, and Lexington and Concord. A local bus was used for transportation.
Twenty-four pupils were graduated in June. Exercises were held at Sargents' Hall.
Boys' basketball is being held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. The boys are drilling with the hope that a strong team will result. Girls have access to the hall on Friday after- noons.
Christmas parties were enjoyed by seventh and eighth grade pupils. Each grade had its own tree and games.
On December 14, a Christmas play was presented by the pu- pils for the pleasure of the Parent Teachers' Association. The play was "Father Christmas and His Family."
A series of lectures is being given on Social Hygiene. Dr. McGillicuddy is speaking to the seventh and eighth grade boys while Dr. Mendenhall is lecturing to the girls. Both doctors are experienced speakers from the Massachusetts Society for Social Hygiene.
Ice and other winter sports activities have been planned by the eighth grade under the direction of President Frederick Noone.
It is hoped that an adequate heating system will be installed so that proper use can be made of a dark closet, which is located
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
in the basement. A Camera Club has been tentatively organized if satisfactory conditions can be provided.
The teachers of the Prospect Street School thank Dr. Page and the School Board for their consideration and assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH V. MURRAY, Principal.
GRADUATES OF EIGHTH GRADE, JUNE, 1939
Anna Gertrude Anderson, Shirley Ethel Bailey, *Eleanor Louise Brown, *Harriett Elizabeth Child, Barbara Jane Cho- quette, Norma Edith Crosby, *Jean Dorothy Manning, Barbara Eleanor Mears, Verna Jane Piper, Eleanor Madelyn Urquhart, Norman Charles Bishop, Paul George Denault, Elmer Thomas Grant, Jr., Gerald McLain Hargraves, *Richard Morse Harri- son, James Munroe Hartwell, Chauncey Depew MacKay, Jr., John Frank Mader, John Miliotes, Jr., *Benjamin Louis Patten, Carmen Joseph Pesce, Jr., *Willis Alfred Soper, Jr., John Ed- ward Starbird, Wilbur Eugene Wallace. Effective December 1939: Lucille Antoinette Bouffard, Catherine Dorothy Hutchins, Sybil Ruth Raymond, Anna Louise Smith, Alden Bertram Speed.
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To Doctor J. C. Page, Superintendent of Schools, and Members of the School Committee:
I herewith submit the annual report of the Merrimac High School for the year 1938-39.
Following is a table showing facts which may be most con- cisely presented in this form.
*Scholastic Honors.
17
SCHOOL REPORT
Total Total Stu-
Enrollment
Col. Sc. Gen. Prep. Prep. Norm. Comm. Girls
Boys dents
Seniors
Girls .
2
2
0 0
9
13
24
Boys.
5
1
2
0
3
11
Juniors
Girls.
1
0 0
5
9
15
Boys.
7
1
1
0
£
3
12
27
Sophomores
Girls .
4
3
0
3
12
22
Boys.
2
0
7
0
1
10
32
Freshmen
Girls.
5
0
0 3
14
22
Boys.
16
1
4
0
1
22
44
42
8
14
11
52
72
55
127
There have been three outstanding and conspicuous reor- ganizations carried on in the high school during the past year. Most important is that of the reorganization of curricula, which to the writing of this report has reached an advanced stage.
Changes in society constantly going on, must be met by compensating changes in the schools in order that the schools may more efficiently meet the altered demands made on them. This is no new conception, and has been just as true in the past as it is today. The introduction of commercial subjects, domestic science, shop work, etc. was made largely because of their functional value, the practical use to which a high school gradu- ate could put them. Methods of teaching these and other sub- jects, and the content or material to be taught have changed from year to year. Once Pitman Shorthand was taught, now Gregg is almost universally used and as a consequence has re- placed the former. Likewise, methods of teaching subjects have been revised.
A concentrated study was made in all departments during the past year, to compare the curricula in the high school with present practices and trends. These were determined from various reports, surveys, studies, and books, written during the past
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
several years. At several teachers' meetings, summaries were read and discussed. Each teacher then made recommendations as to what changes should be made, if any, in the high school curricula in his or her department.
At the writing of this report, these recommendations have not yet been presented to the School Committee. This will be done. Recommendations which the School Committee sanction will be put into effect as soon as is practicable, probably over a period of two or three years. Similar study and reorganization must be made in any school which endeavors to keep abreast of the times.
A list of the names of some thirty clubs was distributed to the students in order to determine in which ones they were most interested. This survey was made in anticipation of a so- called Activity Period, during which time extra-curricular ac- tivities are carried on. The following activities were elected by the students: Dramatic Club, Glee Club, Home-planning Club, Rod and Gun Club, Shop Club, and Stamp Club. It is planned that these activities will meet once-a-week, and that all students and teachers will participate. Students may choose an activity concerning which they wish to learn more, or one in which they are well informed and wish to continue as a hobby. In this way, girls who have no opportunity to study meal plan- ning or child care may learn something of these and of related activities in the Home-planning Club, while boys who have no knowledge of tools and their use may have the opportunity to learn more about them in the Shop Club.
The alphabetical arrangement of the names of students on the honor roll has been tried and will probably be adopted. Formerly the names were arranged according to percentages. Often a difference of only a few hundredths of a percent caused the name of one student to be placed ahead of another. The im- possibility of accurately determining a student's average as close as this is well recognized by educators, consequently it seems fairer to arrange the names alphabetically, awarding High Honor to those obtaining an average of 90% or above, and Honor to those obtaining an average of 85% and up to but not including 90%.
19
SCHOOL REPORT
The School Committee requested the writer of this report to make arrangements for a talk or talks on social hygiene for the students of the Prospect Street School and for the High School. The services of Doctors Mendenhall and McGillicuddy from the Massachusetts Society of Social Hygiene were obtained. They have each had years of experience in talking to boys and girls on this subject, and know the best approach to a subject which many parents may neglect in adequately informing their child- ren. Dr. Mendenhall speaks to the girls, dividing the grades into seventh and eighth, ninth and tenth, eleventh and twelfth Dr. McGillicuddy speaks to the boys under a similar arrange- ment. Attendance by all students in those grades is compulsory unless the parent requests a student be excused. Up to the writ- ing of this report, a splendid introductory talk has been given. The schedule includes further three-quarter-hour talks on Janu- ary 12, 19, 26, and a Question and Answer Period on February 2. These talks are given free of charge except for travelling ex- penses.
For the first time, awards were given in each subject to the student obtaining the highest average, and to the student show- ing the greatest improvement for the year. These awards were given by the Hi-Y Club and consisted of a blue felt seal with white lettering for the highest average, and a white seal with blue lettering for the greatest improvement. Each award was accompanied by a suitable certificate, and they were distributed during an assembly in June. A list of these awards is appended to this report.
Soccer was introduced as a Fall sport for the boys. Most of the smaller high schools in this vicinity have adopted this sport, consequently there was sufficient competition for a com- plete schedule of games in an out-of-door sport which seldom results in serious injury to the players. The boys showed but little interest at the beginning of the season in this sport in which they knew little or nothing, but as the season progressed their enthusiasm for it increased. It is likely that it will be con- tinued.
Acknowledgment is made to Mr. Irving Blake for the volume, "Journalism for High Schools," which he presented to the high school.
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TOWN OF MERRIMAC
As a result of the American Legion Auxiliary Essay Contest on the subject "What Adequate National Defense Means to American Youth," Catherine Clark won first prize in the local contest, Shirley Whiting, second prize, and Charlotte Sande, third prize. Catherine Clark also won the County contest. Stanley Whiting was awarded a one-year subscription to the Reader's Digest by the publishers of that periodical, as he was valedictorian of his class. Arthur Lockwood, Jr. won the essay contest for his essay on "What the Holyoke Conference Meant to Me," sponsored by the Essex County Committee for boys in Essex County who attended the Hi-Y Conference at Holyoke, Mass. Alan Remick was elected secretary of the Eighteenth Annual Essex County Older Boys' Conference, held April 1, at Hathorne, Massachusetts. Shirley Whiting won the five dollars awarded for the highest average in English for the school year, given by the Merrimac Womens' Club. Armond Vallieres won the bronze medal given by Jostens, for the best essay in the high school on "Art in My Community."
It is impossible to more than mention in passing the dozens of social and atheletic activities sponsored by the high school. The Father and Son Banquet sponsored by the Hi-Y Club was en- thusiastically received. The English Club, Inter-class basketball games, dances after basketball games, the Senior Play "Robin- son Crusoe," The Athletic Association Play "Young Lincoln," sponsored by the English Club, the baseball season, the Hi-Y Conference at Worcester, Mass., attended by twelve boys, Class dances, special assemblies, speakers, all contribute to a well rounded social life for young people of the high school age.
There were fifteen in the graduating class. The class parts were awarded as follows: Valedictory-Stanley Elwin Whiting, Salutatory-Elaine Patricia Noone, Class History-Gladys Alberta Bowser, Class Will-Helena Beatrice MacDougall, Class Prophecy-Olive Elizabeth Sullivan, Class Gifts-Thelma Lillian Clark, Class Poem-Anna Elizabeth Sargent.
Appended to this report are the following: Class 1939; Special Awards; Honor Roll; Girls Awarded Letters in Basketball; Boys Awarded Letters in Basketball; Boys Awarded Letters in Baseball; Students Awarded Journal Pins; Awards for Highest
21
SCHOOL REPORT
Average, and Greatest Improvement, for Each Subject; and Perfect Attendance.
I express my appreciation to Dr. Page and to the School Committee for their continued support and interest.
Respectfully yours,
C. D. MacKAY,
Principal.
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL Class 1939
Name Course
Gladys Alberta Bowser General
Wallace Spoffard Carter Jr. General
Thelma Lillian Clark. Commercial
Harrison Stuart DeLong . Commercial
Isabelle Elsie Heath. Commercial
Marjorie Illsley How Commercial
Helena Beatrice MacDougall Commercial
Catherine Martha McMaster Commercial
Elaine Patricia Noone
General
J. Arthur Ollis Jr.
General
Elsa Charlotte Sande Commercial
Anna Elizabeth Sargent
General
Olive Elizabeth Sullivan.
College Preparatory
Stanley Elwin Whiting Scientific Preparatory
Florence Edith Worcester
. Commercial
Special Awards
Balfour Award (for scholarship, loyalty and achievement) Stanley Elwin Whiting.
Washington & Franklin Medal (for excellence in the study of United States History) Helena Beatrice MacDougall.
D.A.R. Good Citizenship Medal-Elsa Charlotte Sande.
22
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL
Honor Roll 1938-39
High Honors (Names alphabetically arranged)
Buzzell, Winifred; Clark, Catherine; Lowd, Hilda; Piper, Clinton; Vallieres, Armand; Whiting, Natalie; Whiting, Shirley; Wilde, Marcia.
Honors (Names alphabetically arranged)
Connor, Judith; Crosby, Alice; DeLong, Eleanor; Flynn, Doro- thy; Franklin, Ruth; MacDougall, Helena; Manning, Reed; McMahon, John; Savoy, Marjorie; Sullivan, Barbara; Sullivan, Olive; Whiting, Mary; Whiting, Stanley; York, Marjorie.
Girls Awarded Letters in Basketball
Eleanor Chase, Captain
Marcia Wilde
Elaine Noone, Manager
Sadie Benjamin
Olive Sullivan
Helen Tammik
Anna Sargent
Frances Weeks
Barbara Sullivan
Priscilla Choquette
Boys Awarded Letters in Basketball
James Hume, Captain
Thomas Lally Wallace Carter
Arnold Connor, Manager Stanley Whiting Arthur Ollis
Howard Lafaver
Boys Awarded Letters in Baseball
Stanley Whiting, Captain Wentworth Clark, Manager
George Stevens
Wallace Carter
Forrest Lavalley Dudley Ellenwood
Arthur Ollis Howard Lafaver
Leslie Flato
23
SCHOOL REPORT
The following were awarded Journal Pins in recognition of faithful service on the Journal Staff during 1938-39.
Armand Vallieres
Stanley Whiting Shirley Whiting
Charlotte Sande Catherine Clark Forrest Lavalley Barbara Sullivan Phyllis Foisy
Patricia Doyle Anna Sargent Olive Sullivan Reed Manning Helena MacDougall
Helen Tammik Elaine Noone Arthur Ollis
Marjorie How Arnold Connor
The following students were awarded, for the highest average in each subject, a blue, felt high school Seal with white lettering; and for the greatest improvement, a white felt seal with blue lettering. A certificate suitable for framing accompanied each award. These awards were sponsored by the Hi-Y Club.
Subject
Typewriting I Typewriting II
Highest Average for Year Shirley Whiting Robert Streeter
Greatest Improvement
Raymond Anderson Ruth Donahue
Typewriting III
Helena MacDougall
Harrison DeLong Robert Streeter
Marjorie How
Bookkeeping I
Bookkeeping II
Dorothy Flynn Anna Sargent Armand Vallieres
Wallace Carter
Howard Lafaver Olive Sullivan James Mader
Robert MacDougall
Raymond Anderson Carleton Emery John Hutchins Perley Hargraves
Raymond Anderson Clifford Wallace
English IV Biology
Almeda Chase
General Science
Clayton Metcalf Ruth Clark
French I
Armand Vallieres Armand Vallieres Hilda Lowd Clinton Piper Armand Vallieres Raymond Anderson Marcia Wilde Eleanor DeLong Hilda Lowd Clinton Piper Shirley Whiting Helena MacDougall Marjorie Savoy Perley Hargraves Armand Vallieres
Elaine Noone
Stenography I Stenography II Gladys Bowser
Solid Geometry
Trigonometry Chemistry Algebra Geometry American History
Modern History Ancient History Introductory Business English I English II English III
Catherine McMasters Kenneth MacDonald Alan Remick
24
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
Subject French II Latin I
Highest Average for Year Catherine Clark Hilda Lowd
Greatest Improvement
Charlotte MacDougall Virginia Peaslee
MERRIMAC HIGH SCHOOL for 1938-39
Perfect Attendance
Busch, Leo; Vallieres, Armond; Wallace, Clifford; Piper, Clinton; Bailey, Elmer; Hargraves, Perley Jr .; Heath, Russell; Clark, Ruth; Crosby, Alice; Franklin, Ruth; O'Keefe, Elsie.
ATTENDANCE HONOR ROLL, 1939
Not absent for FIVE years, September 1934 to June 1339: Frederick Noone.
Not absent for FOUR years, September 1935 to June 1939: Jean Manning, Elsie O'Keefe, Harold Wallace.
Not absent for THREE years, September 1936 to June 1939:
Leo Busch, Elmer Bailey, Ruth Clark, Alice Crosby, Ruth Franklin, Clifford Wallace.
Not absent for ONE year, September 1938 to June 1939:
High School :- Elmer Bailey, Leo Busch, Ruth Clark, Alice Crosby, Ruth Franklin, Perley Hargraves, Jr., Russell Heath, Elsie O'Keefe, Clinton Piper, Armond Vallieres, Clifford Wallace.
Prospect Street School-Shirley Breed, Loretta Clark, John Mader, Jean Manning, Frederick Noone, Alden Speed.
Centre School-Grade 6-Fred Anderson; Grade 5-Thomas McKenna; Grade 4-George Buzzell; Grade 3-Roland Bisson, Eleanor Craig; Grade 2-Arthur Bisson, Manford Palmer; Grade 1-none.
Merrimacport School-Harold Wallace.
25
SCHOOL REPORT
1939 FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Regular school appropriation $28,250.00
Refunded dog tax. 147.50
Total available for schools $28,397.50
Total expenditures 28,397.01
Balance. $0.49
Reimbursements :
Superintendent of Schools $483.34
Gen. School Fund, Part I. 4,825.00
Gen. School Fund, Part II 3,841.47
Tuition & Transp. State Wards. 135.54
Tuition local schools.
180.00
Total. $9,465.35
Total expenditures $28,397.01
Total reimbursements 9,465.35
Total expended from local taxation in 1939
$18,931.66
Summary of Expenses
General Control:
School committee expenses.
$34.94
Supt. School's salary
850.00
Secretary's salary .
262.50
Office supplies and travel expense. . 224.97
Law enforcement .
140.75
$1,513.16
Cost of Instruction :
Teachers' salaries
$17,570.00
Substitutes.
73.50
Supervisors' salaries.
800.00
Text books.
605.10
Supplies
941.91
$19,990.51
26
TOWN OF MERRIMAC 1
Cost of Operation :
Janitors' salaries.
$1,550.00
Fuel. .
1,743.43
Janitors' supplies
187.32
$3,480.75
Repairs
958.76
Health
325.68
Transportation
2,037.50
Equipment.
36.75
Miscellaneous .
53.90
Total.
$28,397.01
1940 FINANCIAL ESTIMATES
General Control:
School committee expenses $25.00
Supt. Schools' salary 850.00
Secretary's salary . 262.50
Office supplies and travel expenses . 225.00
Law enforcement .
90.00
$1,452.50
Cost of Instruction :
Teachers' salaries $17,780.00
Substitutes. 150.00
Supervisors' salaries.
800.00
Text books.
750.00
Supplies
975.00
$20,455.00
Cost of Operation :
Janitors' salaries
$1,550.00
Fuel.
1,500.00
Jan. supplies, cleaning, etc . 200.00
$3,250.00
900.00
Repairs. Health . 325.00
27
SCHOOL REPORT
Transportation
$2,030.00
Equipment.
37.50
Miscellaneous
50.00
Total. $28,500.00
Estimated 1940 Reimbursements:
Supt. Schools.
$483.33
Gen. School Fund, Part I.
4,975.00
Gen. School Fund, Part II.
3,693.77
Tuition local schools
90.00
Total. . $9,242.10
Total estimated expenses for 1940. $28,500.00
Total estimated reimbursement for 1940. 9,242.10
Estimated total from local taxation in 1940. . . $19,257.90
TABLE OF CONTENTS
١٠
Appropriations Made 1939
16
Fire Alarm.
24
Jury List.
Receipts-General Revenue
3
Town Warrant
93
Reports of-
Assessors .
28
Board of Public Welfare.
9
Bureau of Old Age Assistance
11
Cemetery Trustees.
Dog Officer .
Finance Committee
Fire Engineers
Inspector of Wires
Inspector of Milk, Animals and Slaughtering.
Municipal Light Board .
Playground Commissioners.
Police Department.
Public Health Nurse
25
Public Library.
48
Relief Projects Co-Ordinator
12
School Committee
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Selectmen.
Tax Collector
Town Accountant.
50 37
Town Forest.
46 39
Town Treasurer
47
Water Commissioners
42
In Memoriam .
15
Vote for Town Officers March 7, 1939.
102
26 44 99 23 50 36 39 45 18
105 21 7 30
Town Clerk.
Trustees of Kimball Park
27 51 Town Officers.
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