USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1949 > Part 5
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Supt. of Schools
$ 787.50
Chap. 679, Acts of 1947
1,055.00
Chap. 643, Acts 1948
18,924.04
$20,766.54
Total estimated expenditures
$63,290.00
Total estimated reimbursements
20,766.54
Estimated total from taxation in 1950
$42,523.46
FUTURE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
Merrimac elementary school enrollment of 380 on October 1st is the largest during the twenty-one years that your present superintendent has observed and recorded elementary enrollments in Merrimac. It is more than it was during the spurt of the late twenties and early thirties; - at that time the second floor of the Port School was also opened up as a classroom. The ele- mentary enrollment figures for the last five years are : 1945; 276, 1946; 294, 1947; 309, 1948; 340, 1949; 380.
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In the first grade alone the enrollment for the last three years was 177 as compared to 124 in the three preceding years.
What of the future? Is the increase going to continue or is it going to taper off as it did rather consistently from a peak in 1932 when the birthdate was down, to a low in 1944-45 ? The best guess comes from a study of birth- rates, both locally and nationally. The two are usually related. There is positive correlation between birthrates and enrollments about ten or twelve years later of elementary schools. There is also a positive correlation between birthrates and first grade enrollments five or six years later, but it is not so large a positive correlation be- cause of failures of promotion, and other factors.
Merrimac's recorded births for the five-year period from 1935 to 1939 were 140, for the next five-year period from 1940 to 1944 were 168, and for five years just ending, 1945 to 1949, were 252, -first an increase of 20 % then of 80%, from the 1935-1939 base. The figures do not point to tapering off. National studies, however, have in- dicated that there was a birthdate decline during the latter part of the war and early post-war which is likely to be followed by a drop in first-grade enrollments for the next year or two, to be followed by the biggest spurt ever. In- cidentally, the 175 children recorded in Merrimac birth statistics during the last three years is 2.3 times the 76 re- corded in the three years from 1932 to 1934. Looking back to that time the increment in birthrates would be: about 130%.
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ENROLLMENTS
On the first of October the enrollment of the Merri- mac public schools was 479, distributed as follows: At
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SCHOOL REPORT
Port 85, at Centre 196, at Lancaster Court 15, at Prospect 84, at High 99. Further distribution was- At Port: Grade I, 29, Mrs. Whiting; Grade II, 29, Mrs. Davis, Acting Principal; Grade III, 10, and IV, 17, Mrs. Dowd. At Centre: Grade I, 32, Mrs. Manning; Grade II, 34, Mrs. Verrette; Grade III, 30, Mrs. O'Connor; Grade IV, 34, Mrs. Felch, Principal; Grade V, 31, Mrs. Journeay; Grade VI, 35, Mrs. Hume. At Prospect: Grade VII, 50, Mrs. Wolfe; Grade VIII, 34, Mrs. Donag- hue, Principal. At High School: Grades IX, 33, X, 30, XI, 19, XII, 16, P. G. 1, Principal Boak, Miss Phelan, Miss Trigilio, Miss Beaubien, Mr. MacAusland.
MORE CLASSROOMS
The October 1 total enrollment of 479 is an increase of 45 over that of 1948, of 87 over that of 1947, and of 108 over that of 1946. The small junior and senior classes at high school which enter into the total 1949 count were themselves small classes when they entered the first grade. The present second grade of 63 is the largest second grade ever. It was necessary to have a full-time second-grade teacher at the Port in addition to the full two teachers for the first grade. This meant another teacher and an extra classroom at the Port to take care of the overflow of grades three and four. For the extra classroom the up- stairs room at the Port was renovated, re-floored, and equipped with desks. This room had not been used as a classroom since June, 1931, when Miss Sarah Carpen- ter taught there the overflow of grades four, five, and six.
But even this extra classroom and teacher (in ad- dition to the extra classroom and teacher of last year) were not enough. As late as July 5, following a report of the spring clinic and a conference with the state su-
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pervisor of special classes, a Crafts Class was mandated under Chapter 71, Section 46. This was opened in the building back of the fire station, approached by Lancas- ter Court. Toilets and running water were installed. Considerable expense was involved, as well as a second additional teacher.
In August fifty wooden second-hand arm-chair desks (Moulthrop Units) were bought from the city of Newton, Massachusetts. They were used mostly in the sixth-grade room; the older seats of this sixth-grade room were dis- tributed elsewhere as needed.
TEACHING STAFF
In the high school in the fall of 1949 there were a number of changes in teaching staff and subject-matter assignments. During the summer Mr. Isaiah Chase re- signed as principal and language teacher to accept the principalship of Westwood (Mass.) High School. Mr. Chase had taught fourteen years at Merrimac High School. Since the fall of 1945 he had been principal. At the end of the school year in June Mr. Edward Morrow, high school athletic coach for the boys, and teacher of science, was granted a year's leave of absence in order to study for his Master's degree under the G. I. Bill, and Mr. Howard G. Patchett, certified by the State for teaching of special classes under Chapter 71, Section 46, was transferred to the newly mandated Crafts Class in Lancaster Court. Mr. Patchett had taught a Crafts Class at Merrimacport from 1938 to 1945.
As principal and teacher of mathematics and ad- vanced science at Merrimac High School Mr. Edward K. Boak was elected, to begin at the opening of school in September. Mr. Boak is a man of many years experience in school administration and high school teaching. He
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SCHOOL REPORT
is a graduate of Deering High School, Portland, with a bachelor's degree from Bates (honors in Chemistry) and a Master's degree from Columbia (Education). He has attended summer school at Cornell, Middlebury, Univer- sity of Vermont, and Cambridge, England. From 1935 to 1949 he was superintendent of schools in the Wind- ham Southwest District, Wilmington, Vermont. His pres- ent home is at York village, Maine.
As teacher of Latin and French Miss Alice Beaubien of Millers Falls, Massachusetts, was elected. Miss Beau- bien has taught Latin and French at Oakley Hall School, Allendale, New Jersey, and in the high school and acad- emy at West Lebanon, New Hampshire. She is a grad- uate of Turners Falls (Mass.) High School, with a bach- elor's degree from Rivier College, Nashua (N. H.) and summer courses at Fitchburg State Teachers College.
As teacher of social sciences and coach of boys ath- letics, Mr. Donald MacAusland of Lowell was elected. He taught during the fall of 1948 in the Emerson School for Boys, Exeter, New Hampshire. Mr. MacAusland is a graduate of Lowell High School, with the batchelor's degree from the University of New Hampshire and special summer work in guidance, counseling, and in the phi- losophy of education.
From November 23 to the end of December, while Mr. Boak was absent because of illness, Miss Isabelle M. Phelan was acting principal. During this period Mr. Daniel C. Leary of West Newbury, a graduate of Notre Dame, served as a substitute.
One might almost list under "teaching staff" the Div- ision of University Extension which, under the auspices of the high school during the school year beginning in the fal', is giving three courses for credit to two pupils in solid geometry and one in United States History and Government. These were very small needed classes which could not be worked into the fall schedule.
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On December 24 Miss F. Antoinette Trigilio, Com- mercial teacher, became Mrs. Salvatore John Salerno.
At the Merrimacport School, for the overflow of grades three and four in the newly renovated upstairs room, Mrs. Gertrude A. Dowd of Lowell was elected. Mrs. Dowd is a graduate of Lowell High School with the bachelor of science degree in education from Lowell Teachers College. For six years Mrs. Dowd was a sub- stitute teacher in the Lowell public schools.
At both the Centre School and the Prospect Street School the regular teaching staff remained the same in the fall of 1949 as it was in the fall of 1948, except that Mrs. Angeline C. Shaheen, who was principal of the Centre School on a leave of absence, resigned to accept a position in Amesbury. The principalship at Centre School was filled by the election of Mrs. Miriam M. Felch.
Among special Merrimac teachers there have been three changes in 1949. In art Miss Effie M. Knapp re- signed in June, after four years. As art supervisor be- ginning in September for Merrimac and the rest of the district Mr. Richard J. Herman of Charlestown and pleas- ant Valley, Amesbury, was elected. Mr. Herman, who has moved to Merrimac with Mrs. Herman, is a graduate of Charlestown High School and has the degree of bach- elor of science in education from Massachusetts School of Art, 1949. His practice teaching was in Malden, Need- ham, and Everett. As supervisor of nature study and conservation in the fifth grade, every other Wednesday at 1:30, the Audubon Society replaced Miss Dorothy Sny- der by Mr. Harry Levi of Brookline. During July and August Mr. Levi was at the Natural History Day Camp for children at Moose Hill Sanctuary at Sharron. He has studied at the Audubon Natural History Workshop at Barre. Mr. Levi has joined all his predecessors in giving high praise to Mrs. Journeay for the spirit of sci-
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SCHOOL REPORT
entific inquiry and class cooperation in learning that she has succeeded in fostering. In elementary physical ed- ucation, Miss Mary E. Walker resigned as supervisor at the end of December, after more than four years in Mer- rimac, to accept a position in Haverhill. No successor has yet been chosen; there is great difficulty in finding proper indoor space for elementary physical education during bad weather or footing.
GRADUATIONS
On Monday evening, June 20, at Sargent Hall, a class of twenty-six pupils, consisting of ten boys and sixteen girls, graduated from the eighth grade. Twelve were honor pupils: Gary Bertram, Beverly Blackden, Natalie Haskell, Stephen Hoppe, Marie Jaques, Joan Keller, Helen Knight, Ruth Lord, Bethel Nichol, Joanne Perreault, Edgar Sargent, and Elizabeth Weigel. The class gift, a picture, was pre- sented by Lawrence Hardy and accepted by Richard Kim- ball. The class song, written by the class to the Hawaiian tune "Island Flower", was sung by the school. The class motto, "The Doors of Wisdom are Never Closed", was the title of the closing talk by Eliztbeth Weigel of the graduat- ing class. Diplomas were presented, with remarks, by Mr. Edwin E. Leidlich.
On Wednesday evening, June 22, at Sargent Hall, a class of seventeen pupils, consisting of six boys and eleven girls, graduated from the Merrimac High School. The valedictory was by Virginia Gleed and the salutatory by Helen Rines. The award for excellence in history and the Readers Digest Award went to Virginia Gleed, and the D. A. R. Good Citizenship Award to Nancy Hanson. Diplomas were presented by Mr. Howard L. DeLong. Further details concerning this class will be found in the report of the high school principal.
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CHANGE IN ENTERING AGE
Beginning in September, 1950, a child to enter the first grade must have attained the age of five on or before the January 1 which precedes the fall that he enters. In other words, in 1950, the child's fifth birthday must be not later than January 1, 1949. A local entrance age is a permissive regulation ; no parent is obliged to enter a child in the first grade unless the child will reach his seventh birthday during the year that he enters. A survey made sometime ago by the Department of Education showed that only twelve municipalities in the state admitted pupils to first grade younger than Merrimac. With Merrimac's change, voted by the school committee on September 14, the schools of all four towns of this district will have the same age for entering the first grade in the fall of 1950.
GENERAL SCHOOL NOTES
The annual standardized achievement tests in the various school subjects for all grades above the first grade were given on May 10. In the fall, teachers were given sheets showing how each subject in the class they were receiving stood in respect to the national median of achieve- ment, and therefore which subject or subjects in their grades needed the most attention and should be given somewhat more than the average amount of time allotted to that subject in that grade. It is gratifying to report that the eighth grade official median of achievement was ten months in advance of the national median of achievement. Eighth grade final achievement is the end result, as it were, of the cumulative efforts throughout the grades in a school system of eight grades. If a class has an enrollment of thirty-one, for instance, the median child is the sixteenth, that is, fifteen children attained higher scores than the median child and fifteen made lower scores than the
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SCHOOL REPORT
median child. This is true both locally and nationally. A standardized achievement test is a test which is given to many thousands of children. There are no percentage results as there are in tests given by teachers. The ques- tions in each subject start as easy questions and get pro- gressively harder until the pupil has reached the limit of his knowlege or achievement in the subject. If the achieve- ment of a child who is in the ninth month of the eighth grade should reach its limit when he has done as much as the median child did nationally in the eighth month of the seventh grade, for instance, he would be recorded as eleven months retarded in that subject. Unopened printed stan- dardized tests are delivered to the principals on the day preceding the day they are to be given; the packages are not allowed to be opened until all pupils have left the building. The printed instructions are then read and time schedules are arranged for the following day. It must be remembered that half a class is always below the median. Results can be judged properly only by class medians. Teachers marks are not based upon these tests; these tests are independent checks.
Under Chapter 423 of the Acts of 1941 pertaining to religious instruction, seventy-two pupils were excused from school for one hour on Mondays during the school year beginning in the fall, at the written requests of their parents. The numbers were, by grade: GradeV-15 (1-2 p. m.), VI-18 (2-3 p. m.), VII-27 (10-11 a. m.), VIII- (11-12 p. m.). Of the forgoing seventy-two boys and girls, thirty attended instruction furnished by the Church of the Nativity. Altogether there were forty-two boys and thirty girls.
Throughout 1949 Type "C" milk program of the National School Lunch was continued. Of course Type "A" program, or at least some school provision for a balanced hot meal, is desirable. Under Type "A" the serving of a balanced hot meal is required. Much free food is obtainable for such a program, from surplus com-
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modities. Type "A" also provides a government subsidy of usually nine cents a child for each day. At a cost to the parent of from twenty to twenty five cents a day the child is provided a Type "A" lunch. With an interested and act- ive school lunch committee the program can be financially self-sustaining after the initial cost. Many towns, including West Newbury and Salisbury in this district, have a Type "A" school lunch program. A new school building should make provision for the kitchen, food storage, and lunch room necessary for such a program.
During the year there were too many school events of interest (not to mention the athletic) to report more than a very few of them. January 14 was celebrated as Good Government Day at the high school. Beginning March 3 the pupils of first, fourth, and eighth grades were given the Massachusetts Vision Test (now the official test) . The materials were loaned by the state. In April the superintendency union at its annual meeting voted to buy a Vision Test set for just the four towns including Merri- mac. The evening of March 30 was Open House for all Merrimac schools. On May 12 and 14, H. M. S. Pinafore was presented for the benefit of the school building fund by the Merrimac High School, under the direction of Mrs. Doris C. Currier, with stage decorations done or supervised by Miss Effie M. Knapp. Also May 12 was Career Day at A. H. S. for high school juniors and seniors. In May Inspec- tor William F. Higgins from the Registry of Motor Vehicles showed by films the usual sources of danger to children on the highways. During the summer the chalkboards in grade. one at Centre School were treated with the new green re-surfacer, Endur 2-24. Principal Chase reported again in 1949 the usual receipt of renewal of Class A rating of high school. On September 15 the P. T. A. re- ceived the teachers, new parents, and school officials at the Merrimac Fire Station Hall. Beginning the middle of November the noon hour in elementary schools was shor- tened by thirty minutes. On Nevember 30 Mr. John E.
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SCHOOL REPORT
Marshall, administrator of the School Building Assistance Commission, spoke at Town Hall under the auspices of the Merrimac School Building Committee. The senior play, "Those Websters" is in the principal's report.
A school orchestra played at graduations under the direction of Mrs. Doris C. Currier. Early in the year seven- teen pupils were studying musical instruments during school hours in the Centre School office. Seven were study- ing clarinet and saxaphone with Mr. Henry LaJoie of Haverhill, six violin with Mrs. Printon of Salisbury, and three cornet (plus one trombone) with Mr. Howard Rowell of Haverhill. In the fall seven violins were continuing on Wednesdays, and more orchestral instrument study was. in store.
The school department expresses its appreciation to. the P. T. A. and to Mrs. Gleed for the cleaning and reno- vation of the Centre School Office, which is also the nurse's room.
It is hoped in 1950 to get some of the textbook sets that are needed. To that end an added five hundred dollars was placed on the textbook budget. In 1949 the larger classes absorbed most of the available funds in buying enough extra books to go around. Forced economy may thus perpetuate older copyrights. Some newer sets, already started in grades that needed them most, need funds for completion into other grades. It would have taken a thou- sand dollars more in books in 1949 to extend or buy the desirable newer sets of textbooks in reading, spelling, geography, history, science, music, and other subjects, plus desirable new sets at high school, such as those for- first-year French.
TRANSPORTATION
On the first of October, 169 of the 479 Merrimac' public school pupils (35.2% ) were transported regularly by the Massachusetts Northeastern Transportation Com --
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pany. 95 rode an average of at least one and one-half miles each way each school day. The 169 transported included 31 of the 99 "high school pupils, 28 of the 84 Prospect Street School pupils, 46 of the 196 Centre School pupils, 8 of the 15 Lancaster Court School pupils, and 56 of the 85 Port School pupils. From Birchmeadow there were 44, from Bear Hill and Lake Attitash 70, and from the Port 31.
It has been necessary to use three school buses in- stead of two, to avoid overcrowding.
Bus contracts drawn up or extended in the future are subject to the provisions of Chapter 754 of the Acts of 1949.
VOCATIONAL
On October 1, five boys were enrolled for vocational training at the Charles W. Arnold Trade School in Haver- hill. One was in the ninth grade, two in the eleventh, and two in the twelfth. Each boy was taking a different course : Electrical, Machine, Printing, Sheet Metal, and Upho !- stery. At the Essex County School at Hathorne, four were registered, three boys and one girl. One was in the tenth grade, one in the eleventh, and two were post-graduates.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools, and Members of School Committee.
The following is the report of the School Nurse, dating from Jan. 1, 1949 to Dec. 31, 1949.
Number of School Visits 195
Number of Home Visits 62
Number of Pupils examined by Dr. Davis, (an- 479
nual physical examination) nurse assisting
The Toxoid Clinics were held March 21st, April 11th,
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SCHOOL REPORT
May 2nd, and May 23rd at the Centre School under the direction of Dr. Davis to immunize children against diph- theria. Booster innoculations were also given at this time. Number receiving the 3 innoculations of Toxoid 36 Number receiving Booster innoculations of
Toxoid (1 dose) 34
The Pre-School Clinic and Registration for first grade was held May 9th at the Centre School by Dr. Davis.
The Clinic was for all children who would be entering the first grade in September and was held for the purpose of giving a Physical Examination to each child, so that any physical defect which was found could be corrected during the summer months.
These children were registered for the first grade by the teachers at the same time instead of having Registra- tion Day in September.
Number attending
Respectfully submitted, 42
Annie L. Gleed
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DENTAL CLINIC
Examinations 450
Dental Certificates 148
The dental certificates were given to each pupil need- ing no dental work at the time of the examination.
A report was sent home to the parents stating the con- dition of each child's teeth.
Respectfully submitted, Clara T. Anderson, Dental Assistant
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ART
Grades one through six have made seasonal holi- day decorations. Grades three through six have made art
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folders in which to keep their work. Grade six has made posters for the prevention of cruelty to animals annual contest.
Grade one and two have worked in clay and water color, besides crayon. Grade three, four and five have worked with clay, cut colored paper and crayon.
Grade six has worked in available materials and has done remarkably well with whatever challenges their abilities, be it Halloween masks, Thanksgiving place cards, or Christmas decorating in the room.
The Junior High classes have made colorful folders and decorative seasonal holiday displays.
In the High School a corridor mural is in the planning stage. It will depict school activities and symbols of the various subjects.
Individual projects, in the line of crafts, as well as drawing and painting, are in progress.
Richard J. Herman
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF ELEMENTARY PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Since general education is concerned with all aspects of life, physical education does not limit itself entirely to muscular responses but also provides opportunity for intel- lectual social and emotional responses. In keeping with other phases of the educational program, physical educa- tion will only result in desirable outcomes when the learn- ing activities are properly organized and conducted. Boys and girls need instruction in how to play. They cannot participate in plays and games with profit merely through being provided with facilities and equipment. For the vast majority of our youth, skillful instruction and guidance will be necessary if desirable outcomes are to accrue from participation in a program of physical education.
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SCHOOL REPORT
In this respect, more emphasis is being placed upon teaching boys and girls through their participation in basketball, tennis etc., rather than just teaching basket- ball or tennis.
In keeping with the purposes of education, physical education is giving more attention to the development of those boys and girls who are sometimes referred to as "physical morons" or physical illiterates."
In the past these individuals have received little or no instruction while the favored few on the varsity teams received all the benefits.
During the past year I have attempted to keep the thoughts in the above paragraph in mind. In addition the program has been conducted on grade level with rhythmic activities and games varying according to grade.
The girls and boys of grade six participated in games with teams from the towns of Salisbury and West New- bury.
The girls of the Junior High School formed a soft- ball team and played the seventh and eighth grade girls from Salisbury.
The annual field day for the Elementary Grades was held last May at the town field.
At this time I would like to express my thanks to the school committee, superintendent, teachers, children, and parents for the splendid cooperation given me during my stay in Merrimac.
Mary Elizabeth Walker
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Dr. John C. Page, Superintendent of Schools and Members of the School Committee:
The promotion of former Principal Isaiah Chase to the principalship of the larger school at Westwood, Mass.,
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