USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1943 > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Dr.
Cr.
Recommitment $31.85 Abatements
$31.85
1928 Property
Dr.
Cr.
Recommitment
$48.40 Abatements $48.40
VOTE FOR OFFICERS, ANNUAL ELECTION
March 1, 1943
Votes Cast (405 Men, 393 Women), Total 798
Moderator, for one year
Clifford R. Howe, Forest St. 614
Carlton C. Witham, Grove St. 123 Blanks 61
Town Clerk, for one year :
C. Howard Phillips, Church St.
655
Blanks 143
Selectmen, for one year:
Ralph L. Buzzell, School St. 427
George D. Currier, Prospect Hill 237
Hazen M. Emery, Judkins Ct . 445
Arthur D. Lockwood, Main St. 342
John K. Sargent, Merrimac St. 268
George E. Smith, Broad St. 225
Blanks . 450
Dr. Recommitment $4.00 Cash to Town Treas. Abatement 2.00
88
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
Board of Public Welfare, for one year :
Harriett F. Bigelow, Merrimac St. 387
Francis E. Bishop, Lake Attitash. 166
Lillian M. Chase, Church St. 268
Hazen M. Emery, Judkins Ct.
497
Ellen M. Wallace, Central St. Blanks. 633
Assessor, for three years:
Roscoe Child, Currier Ave.
587
Carlton C. Witham, Grove St.
156
Blanks . 55
Treasurer, for one year :
Roy C. Journeay, Prospect St.
681
Blanks . 117
Collector of Taxes, for one year :
Wilfred G. Journeay, Fairfield Ave. 491
Burton C. Lafaver, Lincoln St. 293
Blanks. 14
School Committee, for three years:
Willard T. Kelly, Birch Meadow Rd. 462
Nella B. Sweeney, Church St. 270
Blanks. 66
Trustee of Cemeteries, for three years :
Cecil E. Welch, Middle St.
610
Blanks 188
Trustee of Kimball Park, for three years:
Arthur D. Lockwood, Main St. 492
Arthur Stewart, Grove St. 187
Blanks . 119
Library Trustees, for three years:
Alvin F. Heath, Grove St. 578
557
Chester E. Whiting, Main St.
Blanks 461
Library Trustee, for one year (unexpired term of Isaiah Chase)
Barbara N. Adams, Church St. 397
Gertrude L. Kelly, Birch Meadow Rd. 289
Blanks 112
443
89
MERRIMAC TOWN REPORT
Light Commissioner, for three years :
Dale W. Blackden, Sawyer St. 387
John Marshall, Main St. 356
Blanks 55
Water Commissioner, for three years:
Dale W. Blackden, Sawyer St. 378
John Marshall, Main St. 360
Blanks. 60
Constables, for one year :
Leon L. Dow, Mechanic St. 663
George W. Goldsmith, School St. 588
Edward J. O'Keefe, School St. 577
Blanks. 566
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark, for one year :
Ralph L. Buzzell, School St. 501
George R. Hoyt, Birch Meadow Rd. 525
Edson C. Walker, Birch Meadow Rd 566
Blanks
802
Tree Warden, for one year:
Samuel C. Doust, Church St.
597
Blanks. . . . . . 201
.
Playground Commission, for five years :
Howard W. Hall, Sawyer St.
331
Edgar P. Sargent, Jr., Bear Hill Road.
343
Blanks 124
Playground Commission, for two years, (unexpired term of Arthur W. Hoyt:
Clifton V. Bixby, High St. 232
Theodore R. Chase, Church St. 408
Blanks 158
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
1943
ER
F
O
TOWN
MASS
INCOR
1876.
ORATED
SCHOOL REPORT
In accordance with custom and with the Acts of the General Court, 1859, Chapter 57, we herewith submit to you the 74th an- nual printed school report.
HOWARD L. DeLONG, Chairman, WILLARD T. KELLY, Secretary, ANNIE L. TUCKER,
School Committee.
SCHOOL CALENDAR (Continued from 1942 Town Report) All Dates Inclusive
Winter term: January 3, 1944 to February 18, 1944-7 weeks.
Third term: February 28, 1944 to April 28, 1944-9 weeks. Spring term : May 8, 1944 to June 16, 1944 (Centre, Port)-7 weeks. Prospect Street School graduation, Tuesday evening, June 20, 1944. Merrimac High School graduation, Thursday evening, June 22, 1944. September 5, 1944-Registration Day for all entering pupils.
Fall term: September 6, 1944 to December 15, 1944 (Centre, Port) -15 weeks.
September 6, 1944 to December 22, 1944 (Prospect, High) 16 weeks.
Winter term: January 3, 1945 to March 2, 1945-9 weeks.
Schools also close on the following days: Patriots' Day, April 19; Memorial Day, May 30; Columbus Day, October 12; Essex County Teachers' Association, November 3; Thanksgiving recess, November 23 and 24.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
7:15 a.m. 11-11 long pause 1 7:15 a.m. 11-11-11 11:20 a.m. Same signal 12:30 p.m. Same signal No school in afternoon.
No school in grades only. No school in all schools. One session.
Also announced over Station WLAW.
4
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
SCHOOL OFFICERS
John C. Page, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools Address: West Newbury
Tel. W. N. 52
Margaret R. Sawyer, Secretary Address: West Newbury
Roscoe Child, Supervisor of Attendance Address: 22 Union Street
A. Frances Davis, M.D., School Physician Address: 16 Main Street
Ramona H. Hewson, R.N., School Nurse Address: 10 Woodland Street
DIRECTORY OF SCHOOL STAFF-OCTOBER, 1943
Position
Training
Total years Experience
Years in Merrimac
High School
Prin., science, math. .
Chauncey D. Mackay.
Boston Univ., B.S.E. '24, Ed.M. '43.
19
15
English .
Isabelle M. Phelan. .
Tufts, B.S. in Ed. 1941.
. 6
. 6
French and Latin .. .
Dorothy Kyros . .
Boston Univ., B.S. in P.A.L. 1942.
0
0
History
Roberta C. Annon. .
Univ. N. H., B.S. 1931.
12
12
Commercial.
Jeannette E. Bedard.
Salem Teachers, B.S. in Ed. 1942.
1
1
Prospect Street School
Prin., Grade 8 ..
Helen H. Donaghue Ruth L. Irwin
Bridgewater, 1929 Regis, A.B. 1941
.5
.5
Center School
Grade 6, Prin.
Angeline C. Shaheen. .
North Adams Normal, 1926.
14
3.5
Grade 5.
Marion E. Journey .
Portsmouth Training School, '12.
30
6
Grade 4.
Mary C. Burns.
Lowell Teachers, B.S.E. 1943 .
0
0
Grade 3.
Sarah B. Titcomb .
Salem Normal, 1905.
29.5
22
Grade 2.
Helen K. Manning .
Bridgewater Normal, 1918.
19
16.5
Grade 1.
Elaine W. Blackden
Aroostook Normal, 1923
17
7
Grade 1 (assistant) .
Mildred E. Ingalls .
Newburyport Training School, '13.
9
0
Merrimacport School Ind. Arts Class. . .
Howard G. Patchett.
Union, B.A. '14; Clark, M.A. '26
21
12
Drawing Teacher. .
Annie A. Kelly .. .
Mass. School of Art, 1906.
33.5
17
Music Teacher.
Doris M. Currier.
Institute of Music Pedagogy.
21.5
12
.
.
S
1.2
Grade 7.
.
SCHOOL REPORT
.
5
6
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS
There have been two major problems in continuing the schools of Merrimac since the summer of 1943. The first is the problem at the Centre School of housing seven teachers and seven classes in only six classrooms and the second is the problem of hiring teachers or retaining the teaching staff in a salary market which has gone up $200. The first problem arose because of a first-grade enrollment which required two teachers and two classrooms to do justice by the pupils; it was temporarily and unsatisfactorily solved by the shifting of several classrooms and the placing of the fifth grade in the same room with the sixth grade. It is difficult to see how Centre School can do with less than seven classrooms in the fall of 1944; it should have them at once. The second problem arose through the passing by the state legislature of Chapter 494 of the Acts of 1943. This act further amends section forty of chapter seventy-one of the General Laws to set a minimum salary of twelve hundred dollars for teachers, except that it may be one thousand in towns of less than two million five hundred thousand dollars valuation. Its practical effect during a record teacher shortage has already been to raise by two hundred dollars the minimum figure at which teachers can be secured. As recently as 1941 the minimum legal salary was seven hundred fifty dollars, and many prepared teachers were available. In 1943 many municipalities with adequate salary scales are temporarily suspending experience requirements and thus draining the sources of teacher supply of the small towns. Both of these major problems await solution by the town: Centre School needs another classroom and the school appropriation should cover funds for an added teacher and for a raise of the present staff by two hundred dollars each.
WORKING CERTIFICATES AND THE LABOR SHORTAGE
Due to the acute labor shortage, throughout 1943 school officers have been urged through official channels to help in all ways pos- sible without causing undue educational harm to the child. Beyond the sixteenth birthday the responsibility as to whether a child is to work rests squarely with the parent, although educational certifi- cates are required for most kinds of employment except work on a farm. Between the fourteenth and sixteenth birthdays it is the sole responsibility of the school to determine whether the signed appli- cation of a parent for an employment certificate shall be granted. The basis of the judgment must be the educational welfare of the child. This means, in effect, that the application for an employment certificate or a home employment permit may be granted to a child who is between the fourteenth and sixteenth birthdays and who has completed the sixth grade, if the teachers of the child report that he or she does not seem to be promising satisfactory progress in
7
SCHOOL REPORT
school work. Or it may mean that an application for part-time em- ployment may be granted for an accelerated child who, in the opinion of the school, may be able also to keep up in his school work without undue strain. By authority of Chapter 382 of the Acts of 1943 the state has granted emergency period concessions and sus- pensions of labor laws relative to issuing working certificates to minors, but the responsibility aforementioned still applies for all who have not reached their sixteenth birthday. To the end of 1943 the suspensions and concessions specifically concern work for bowl- ing alleys, department stores (15), hospitals, laundries and dry cleaners, motion picture theatres (15), parks and beaches, pharma- cies, restaurants, retail grocery stores, retail dry goods stores, and beyond the sixteenth birthday, bakeries, soft drink dispensaries and motor vehicle operators. Mrs. Annie L. Tucker continues to be the Merrimac agent under Chapter 149, Section 87, for making out employment and educational certificates.
In Merrimac the following numbers of working certificates were issued in recent years: 1940, 44; 1941, 111; 1942, 177; 1943, 199. About three percent of the certificates issued, on the average, have been for children between the fourteenth and sixteenth birthdays.
On March 31 Mr. Byron E. Colby came from Hathorne for the purpose of organizing 1943 Victory Gardens, and on May 13 Mr. William P. Scott, farm labor coordinator, to help with the problem of recruiting and placing farm labor in Essex County.
SCHOOL BUS TRANSPORTATION SURVEY FOR O.D.T.
On March 20, 1943 the Office of Defense Transportation, through the state department, required the school department to file for approval a scaled map of Merrimac showing the location of the schools, the garage location of the school buses, the proposed routing of each bus from garage to garage, and each proposed stop with the number of pupils that were to be loaded or unloaded at that stop. O.D.T. rules were received,-rules for reducing when possible the total mileage, as well as the number of bus stops.
MILITARY CREDIT FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Standards for high school graduation for boys or girls who enter the armed services of the United States before they have completed the regular number of units required for graduation were further amended and extended in 1943 by adopting the essential factors of the program recommended by the National Committee for Secon- dary Schools of the National Eudcation Association. These factors include (1) the granting of two units to any candidate for graduation who is a member of the armed forces, and (2) the arrangement for granting further credit to those who enroll for certain courses given
8
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
under the auspices of the armed forces. Such courses for the army are outlined in a government booklet entitled "Army Institute Catalogue"; other branches of the service offer acceptable genera- lized or specialized courses. If credit for these courses is to be given towards a Merrimac High School diploma, application before en- rolling for credit work should be made for such credit by consulting or writing the high school principal. The courses to be credited must not be repetitions of courses the candidate has already taken for credit. The amount of credit granted towards graduation will de- pend upon the amount of work done and passed, as indicated by the subsequently submitted record. The granting of two units (i.e., one- half year's credit) for membership in the armed forces standardizes the feature already adopted the preceding year, while the granting of further earned credits extends the opportunity for completing the number of units required for a graduation diploma if the pupil needs them and desires it.
SALE OF HIGH SCHOOL TYPEWRITERS
In March, four of the newest typewriters of the commercial de- partment were sold to the United States Government at its urgent request and at its stated prices. The sales were voted by the school committee and were in accordance with Article 28 at the annual town meeting.
WAR STAMP AND BOND SALES WITHIN THE SCHOOLS
In 1943 the war stamp and bond sales made directly through the Merrimac schools to pupils and teachers amounted to $3,601.55. The months of the highest percent of pupil participation at the four schools were as follows: At High School, 86% in September; at Prospect Street School, 66% in January; at Centre School, 811/2%in February; at Merrimacport School, 56% in December. In Centre School alone, from Sept. to end of Dec., over $1,000 worth were bought by pupils and teachers.
OTHER CONTACTS WITH THE WAR EFFORT
The high school course in Pre-Flight Aeronautics which was con- tinued through June was followed in September by a half-year course in the Fundamentals of Machines, to be followed beginning in February, 1944, by the Basic Radio Code, an authorized Pre- Induction Code of the U. S. Signal Corps. Mrs. Hewson, school nurse, has continued in the fall the junior-senior course in home- nursing. In the social science department the World News Map of the Week has been continued in order to give geographical under- standing to the discussion of problems in the changing world pic- ture. The Prospect Street School received a letter of commendation
9
SCHOOL REPORT
for its work in the Paper Scrap Drive. On the week of February 22 the school staff issued War Ration Book II, and on October 25, 26, and 27, Book IV.
On November 1 the time for the morning opening of schools was moved, by vote of the school committee, to fifteen minutes later, on account of the winter morning darkness under Eastern War Time.
A ruling of the attorney general sent out by the state department under the date of December 9, 1943, interpreted Chapter 419 of the Acts of 1943 to mean that pension deductions of teachers who re- signed or left to join the armed services of the United States under the conditions of Chapter 708 of the Acts of 1941 must be paid by the municipalities on whose teaching staffs they served. In Merrimac there are two whose pension fees must be added to the budget.
The lowered enrollment at the high school occasioned some drop- ping of reimbursement below estimate.
CHANGE IN FLAG SALUTE
In the spring of 1943 the state department sent the following communication :
"The most recent form of the flag salute is incorporated in Public Law 829, 77th Congress, approved December 22, 1942, in the first sentence of section 7, which is as follows :-
" 'SEC. 7. That the pledge of allegiance to the flag, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," be rendered with the right hand over the heart ."
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
Furnaces at both the Merrimacport School and at the High School needed attention during 1943. At the Port School the fire box had burned through and a new one was installed at the end of January; the sheet metal jacket was also repaired. At the High School a new fire box was purchased at the year-end.
In January Mr. Fred O. Bailey died; he had been the janitor at Merrimacport School for many years. The work has been taken over by Mr. Sheldon J. McGown.
In the spring a teachers desk was bought for the first grade room at Centre School.
On Thursday, October 7, during Fire Prevention Week, the Mer- rimac fire department, represented by Mr. Hume and Mr. Bridges, responded to the invitation to make its annual inspection.
10
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
ENROLLMENT
On the first of October the enrollment of the Merrimac public schools was 367, distributed as follows: At Centre 208, at Prospect Street 63, at Merrimacport (special) 17, at High School 79. Further distribution was: At Centre, Mrs. Blackden and Mrs. Ingalls, (Grade I) 48; Mrs. Manning (Gr. II) 36; Miss Titcomb (Gr. III) 28; Miss Burns (Gr. IV) 33; Mrs. Journeay (Gr. V) 32; Mrs. Sha- heen (Gr. VI) 31. At Prospect Street, Miss Irwin (Gr. VII) 35; Mrs. Donaghue (Gr. VIII) 28. At High School, (Gr. IX) 27; (Gr. X) 23; (Gr. XI )20; (Gr. XII) 9.
TEACHING STAFF
At the High School, following the resignation of Mrs. Mary A. Cummings in June, Miss Dorothy Kyros of Lynn took over the de- partment of French and Latin. Miss Kyros is a graduate of the Lynn Classical High School, 1938, and of Boston University, 1942, with the bachelor's degree and majors in the languages, English and education. Her practice teaching was in the Lynn Classical High School, in French, Latin and English. In the English department Miss Isabel M. Phelan took over her duties at the beginning of January, 1943; her record is in last year's report inasmuch as her appointment occurred towards the end of 1942. In the commercial department Miss Jeanette E. Bedard resigned at the end of De- cember to accept a position in Exeter, New Hampshire. For the commercial work to begin in January, 1944, Mrs. Muriel A. Mac- Kay of Merrimac was appointed. Mrs. MacKay is a graduate of the Girls' High School, Boston, 1918, and of Boston University, 1923, with the bachelor's degree and practice teaching in commer- cial work under Professor Mechler. During the year following her college graduation, she taught commercial work at East Providence High School during the days and at Bryant and Stratton Commer- cial College evenings the last half of the year.
At the Prospect Street School, Miss Ruth L. Erwin of Wollaston took over the seventh grade on February 1, following Mrs. Harry S. Lowd who taught to the end of January. Miss Irwin is a graduate of Thayer Academy, and of Regis College, 1941, with the bachelor's degree. Her observation work was at Framingham and Wellesley.
At the Centre School, Miss Edith A. Gillen left on February 12 to become Mrs. Charles E. Preble. The fourth grade work was taken over by Mrs. Martha Coburn until April 9 and then for the rest of the school year by Mrs. Ethel Whiting. For September the fourth grade position was filled by the election of Miss Mary C. Burns of Lowell. Miss Burns is a graduate of Lowell High School, 1939, and of Lowell Teachers' College, 1943, with the bachelor's degree. Her practice teaching was in the Washington and Green Schools, Lowell. In the third grade the class was taken over during January, 1943, by Mrs. Coburn while Miss Titcomb was absent.
11
SCHOOL REPORT
In the fifth grade, during the absence of Mrs. Journeay from May 10 to the end of the school year, the work was taken over by Miss Grace Norton of Lawrence. In the first grade, as an assistant to Mrs. Blackden, Mrs. Mildred E. Ingalls began her work on Sep- tember 13. Mrs Ingalls (nee Miss Mildred Stevens), after graduating from the Newburyport Training School in 1913, taught the first and second grades for nine years in Newbury,-two years at the Byfield School and seven years at the Woodbridge School.
GRADUATIONS
On Tuesday evening, June 22, at Sargent Hall, a class of 26 pupils, consisting of 11 boys and 15 girls, graduated from the eighth grade. The farewell was by Onni Mustonen and the welcome by Barbara Greeley. Other honor pupils were Claire Denault, Judith Flynn, Carlene Goodwin, Evelyn Nicol, and Violet Yurkovitch. Diplomas were presented by Mr. Willard T. Kelly. A feature was an illus- tration, by members of the graduating class, of proper flag display.
On Thursday evening, June 24, at Sargent Hall, a class of 20 pupils, consisting of 11 boys and 9 girls, graduated from the Merri- mac High School. Five of the eleven boys were in active service and graduated in absentia: Norman Bishop, Gerald Hargraves, Carmen Pesce, Jr., John Starbird, and Wilbur Wallace. The vale- dictory was by Chauncey MacKay, Jr., and the salutatory by Jean Manning. The diplomas were presented by Mr. Howard L. DeLong. High School honors and awards, as well as a list of graduates and their courses, will be found in the principal's report.
GENERAL SCHOOL NOTES
On February 4 Inspector William F. Higgins of North Andover showed films on safety to the pupils throughout the schools. The Port pupils joined the Centre School group at Sargent Hall.
On March 25 Mr. Cameron Beck under the auspices of the Y. M. C. A. spoke to a high school assembly on "Building a Better To-morrow."
On Tuesday, May 11, the annual standardized achievement tests were given to the grades in the elementary schools for the purpose of determining the amount of school progress in the various subjects and comparing it with the median national achievement in the grades in question.
On Friday, May 28, at 10.30 a. m., all Merrimac schools joined at Sargent Hall in Memorial Day exercises.
During the winter and spring there were several art projects in the schools, such as the war savings lettering at Prospect Street and the tables illustrating westward expansion in the fifth grade and illustrating Eskimo life in the fourth.
12
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
In the fall Mr. Roscoe Child assumed the duties of supervisor of attendance.
A tuition pupil from Newton, New Hampshire, entered the high school in September.
The location of the rooms at Centre School, after the shift for accommodating two sections of the first grade, is as follows: First floor,-front room, grades five and six; middle, a first grade section; rear, another first grade section. Second floor,-front room, grade four; middle, grade three; rear, grade two.
TRANSPORTATION
On the first of October, 124 of the 367 Merrimac school pupils (or about one-third) were transported regularly by the Massachu- setts Northeastern Transportation Company. This included 20 of the 79 High School pupils, 19 of the 63 Prospect Street pupils, 69 of the 208 Centre School pupils, and 16 of the 17 Port School pupils. From Birchmeadow there were 36, from Bear Hill and Lake Atti- tash 55, and from the Port 33.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools:
Dear Sir:
My report is herewith submitted, dating from January 1, 1943 to December 31, 1943.
Number of School visits. 117
Number of Home visits. 72
Number of Children weighed and measured. 368
Number of Children examined by Dr. Davis (annual physical examination) nurse assisting (September) . 368
Number of Children with defective vision (Parents notified) .. 25
Through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary I. Gove, R.N. of Newbury, the hearing test was given with the Audiometer on November 19, 1943. All pupils above the second grade were tested.
Number tested. 283
Number retested (Nov. 23) 21
Number with hearing loss (Parents notified) 14
Number of First Aid Treatments . 105
On April 22, May 13, and June 2, 1943 the Toxoid clinics were held at the Center School, to immunize children for the prevention of Diphtheria. These treatments were given by Dr. Davis, nurse assisting.
Number of Pre-School children receiving Toxoid 42
Number of School children receiving Toxoid. 52
Number receiving Toxin Anti Toxin. 3
13
SCHOOL REPORT
The Pre-School Clinic was held at the Center School, May 27, 1943 under the direction of Dr. Davis.
Number attending.
24
The T. B. Clinic was held at the High School May 24, 1943, under the direction of Dr. Davis, nurse assisting. The Volmer Patch test was used. The readings were taken by Dr. Davis, May 26, and May 28, 1943.
Number of Pupils attending Clinic. 112
Number of pupils having a Positive reaction 17
All those having a Positive reaction, with the exception of one pupil, were X-Rayed by Mr. Wilson of the Essex Sanatorium.
The Home Nursing Class began in September for girls of the Senior Class at the High School and the class was taught one (1) period a week for the entire school year. The girls having the re- quired number of hours and successfully passing the examination were awarded Red Cross Home Nursing Certificates and Pins.
Respectfully submitted,
RAMONA H. HEWSON, R. N., School Nurse.
REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC
The report of the School Dental Clinic from January 6, 1943 to December 15, 1943 is as follows :-
198 Examinations
29 Cleanings
69 Cement fillings
67 Silver fillings
33 Extractions
27 Certificates given to pupils having their work done and completed at the School Dental Clinic.
Respectfully submitted, -
DR. W. A. CLEARY, Dental Director.
Per Clara T. Anderson and Ethel Whiting, Assistants.
REPORT OF ART SUPERVISOR
Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools:
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.