USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Merrimac > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Merrimac 1957 > Part 6
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MERRIMAC PUBLIC SCHOOLS Merrimac, Massachusetts
PROJECTION OF SCHOOL POPULATION BASED ON OCTOBER 1 ENROLLMENTS
BIRTHS
School
GRADES
Total
GRADES
Total Total
7-
1-
Year No.
Year
1
2
3
4
5
6
1-6
7
8
9
10
11
12
12
12
1942
29
1948
66
44
49
40
35
45
279
34
27
40
22
13
19
155
434
1943
43
1949
61
63
40
51
31
35
281
50
34
33
30
19
16
182
463
1944
28
1950
43
64
58
43
56
36
300
36
39
35
29
25
14
178
478
1945
32
1951
57
41
56
61
51
50
316
44
34
33
31
23
23
188
504
1946
45
1952
69
51
41
56
60
46
323
53
36
30
29
25
22
195
518
1947
62
1953
74
59
48
50
54
60
345
48
46
34
23
26
22
199
544
1948
50
1954
69
67
54
39
51
47
327
55
43
42
27
21
23
211
538
1949
63
1955
75
56
64
50
40
58
333
49
58
36
27
21
18
209
542
1950
48
1956
75
60
63
67
54
37
356
48
49
54
26
24
21
222
578
1951
44
1957
71
60
68
62
66
54
381
44
47
46
51
28
21
237
618
8
SCHOOL
REPORT
FIGURES ABOVE ARE THE ACTUAL COUNT
FIGURES BELOW ARE PROJECTED FIGURES
+1952 64
1958
99
63
59
69
63
65
418
56
41
45
37
44
26
249
667
1953
61
1959
94
88
62
60
70
62
436
68
52
39
36
32
40
267
703
1954
49
1960
76
34
86
63
61
69
439
64
63
50
35
31
29
272
711
1955
51
1961
79
67
82
88
64
60
440
72
60
60
40
30
29
291
731
1956
77
1962 119
70
66
84
89
63
491
62
67
58
48
35
28
298
789
*1957 59
1963
91 106
69
67
85
88
506
66
58
64
46
42
32
308
814
*1958 58
1964
90
81 104
70
68
83
496
92
61
56
51
40
39
339
835
*1959 57
1965
88
80
79 106
71
67
491
86
86
59
45
44
37
357
848
*1960 56
1966
87
78
76
81 107
70
499
70
80
83
47
39
40
359
858
*1961 55
1967
85
77 76
78
82 106
504
73
65
77
66
41
36
358
862
Index Number :-
1.55 .89
.98 1.02 1.02
.98
1.04
.93 .96 .80 .87
.92
Private Schools- 1957 only
1
1
4
2
1 3 3
15
16
+Births from 1952 to 1956 Averaged 60
* = decline in births estimated at 1% of last five year average
TOWN OF
MERRIMAC
9
10
SCHOOL REPORT
FUTURE HOUSING
This Committee and community must face the situat- ion which is developing with this increasing enrollment. This Committee has studied this situation. In view of the fact that our present elementary population will require two additional classrooms and more than a 30% increase is expected in a few years, this Committee has sponsored an article in the Annual Town Warrant to establish a School Building Needs Committee to study this situation and report their recommendations back to the towns- people.
To illustrate the gravity of our present dilemma, the elementary school population in 1958 will require four- teen classrooms, although there are only twelve classrooms in the Elementary Building. To provide these two addit- ional classrooms, it will be necessary to divide the audit- orium to house two classrooms in the fall. Although this will provide adequate space for these children, this ar- rangement is not conducive to education. This, we emphasize, is but a temporary solution to a grave problem.
The problems of this arrangement stem from the uses of the gymnasium and its construction. During the two-hour lunch-serving period at least one of the class- rooms will have to be vacated to seat and serve the pupils. This area is also inadequately ventilated, inadequately lighted, inadequately heated and not particularly conduc- ive to carrying on classroom instruction.
This Committee, therefore, has requested that a com- mittee be empowered to investigate the solution, to our elementary school housing needs and report back to the community.
11
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
PERSONNEL CHANGES
A complete list of the school personnel will be found in another section of this report and therefore all the changes will not be repeated here. In reviewing the teach- ing staff situation we find that 1957 was another discon- certing year. Seven changes in the junior and senior high school and four in the elementary school indicate an extremely high turnover which is not desirable. Education is a continuous and continuing social institution. Stability of personnel is desirable. Although great strides have been made in making our salary schedule attractive, too many other communities offer additional inducements. We hope to stabilize the local elementary staff changes this coming year and the Regional School intends to do the same.
SALARIES
In endeavoring to maintain and acquire competent teachers for your children, your committee has again re- vised its salary schedule to conform with present needs. With the increasing demand for competent teachers, the schedule adopted for the 1958-59 school year has been re- vised to meet the inexorable law of supply and demand.
Since an adequate salary schedule is the most influ- ential factor in retaining trained teachers, and teachers more than other school factors affect the progress of your children, increased emphasis is being placed on this factor. We are faced not only with a constant turnover but also
12
SCHOOL REPORT
the loss of people that have succeeded in classroom teach- ing. Since the educational welfare and the future happi- ness and success of your child is intertwined in this matter of proper education, this committee feels that further salary adjustments must be expected.
A brief resume of the revised salary schedule is pre- sented below. Although the details of our schedule are not presented at this time, it can be said that our schedule combines professional preparation, professional com- petence, professional improvement and length of service.
Step
Non-Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's plus 18
Master's Degree
1
$3,500
$3,800
$3,900
$4,100
2
3,650
4,000
4,100
4,300
3
3,800
4,200
4,300
4,500
4
3,950
4,400
4,500
4,700
5
4,100
4,600
4,700
4,900
6
4,250
4,800
4,900
5,100
7
4,400
5,000
5,100
5,300
8
4,550
5,200
5,300
5,500
9
5,400
5,500
5,700
The annual step-rate increases of each teacher are dependent upon continued satisfactory service and upon the earning by her of at least four semester hours of approved professional credit before crossing training bars. This credit must be earned before the teacher will be ad- vanced across a training bar as shown between steps 2 and 3; steps 5 and 6.
13
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
ENTRANCE AGE
1
The entrance age for children to be enrolled in the first grade in September, 1958 is five years and eight months as of the first of September. This means that children wishing to enter grade one must have been born before January 1, 1953.
REIMBURSEMENTS
Although the operation of the Merrimac schools cost the town $127,382.58, of which $127,129.88 was approp- riated and $252.70 was used for educational purposes from the dog tax, the total cost to the town after reim- bursements and income from other sources was only $83,632.58, which is, if anything, a small price to pay for the education of 618 pupils. Reimbursements received by the Town Treasurer or certified to this office as having been forwarded to the Town Treasurer amounted to $43,750.00. These amounts were from the following sources :
General School Fund $ 30,999.04
Union Superintendent 1,255.96
Transportation 7,070.00
State Wards 3,387.00
Tuition pupils 1,038.00
This total of $43,750.00 is more than 34% of the annual town appropriation.
Additional income for school purposes in 1957 was as follows:
Vocational Tuition & Transportation .$ 1,378.39
Construction (Elementary) 10,992.71
School Lunch 19,125.28
14
SCHOOL REPORT
PENTUCKET REGIONAL SCHOOL
With the opening of the Pentucket Regional School, of which a report will be found elsewhere, children in grades seven through twelve from this town will be educat- ed in conjunction with the children from the other towns of the region. The members of this Committee serve as the representatives of this community on the Regional School Committee. We commend to your attention the report of the Regional Committee. Details of the Regional School not in this year's report can be found in previous reports of the Regional Committee. Future developments regard- ing the opening of the school will be released to the in- habitants of each town as 1958 progresses.
In reviewing 1957 it is obvious that any success your schools may have attained in providing the type of educat- ion which the townspeople want is due to the interest shown in your schools. Schools reflect community interest more than any other single contributing factor.
Your Committee desires that your schools become a vital force in the growth of the community and that the community become a vital force in the development and maintenance of an adequate school program.
This Committee approves the report of the Super- intendent of Schools and hereby incorporates it as part of its own report.
Respectfully submitted, VIRGINIA H. WEBSTER, Chairman KENNETH G. FOWLE, Secretary CARL G. OLSON IRVING A. BLAKE FREDERICK N. SWEETSIR, M. D.
School Committee
15
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
ANNUAL REPORT 1957
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Merrimac :
The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools for 1957 contains several general comments relative to your schools during the past year and other matters of current or future interest to this community. There is no end to the pertinent topics of interest to the citizens of any community. The following topics have been chosen for their timeliness and importance.
This report, then, deals with these specific arears: educational program, teacher salaries, and State Aid for education.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
In reviewing the educational program of the Elemen- tary School it may be said that concentrated efforts have been made to teach the tools of learning to our children. We recognize that the 3 R's are important. We also recognize that other aspects of public education such as health, citizenship, understanding of people and our democracy attitudes and appreciations are important and must be taught.
Your schools realize that children with varying abilities may learn at different rates. We recognize that there are individual differences in mental, social and physi- cal traits, as well as in others. Because each child is different and each group of children different from any other group, the role of the teacher is challenged.
16
SCHOOL REPORT
In order to have each child learn as much as he or she can, teachers separate pupils into groups. Each group is then taught at its own level. This is a concept which has often been maligned by some and misunder- stood by others. This concept is not difficult to understand. Children entering school for the first time have not the same ability. Some of them can read simple words, some recognize the letters of the alphabet, some recognize a few letters, others practically none. Many children can name all the primary colors, others can not.
This situation is not unusual; in fact, it is the preval- ent thing. These children do not come to us with equal training, nor ability to learn, nor desire to learn. The teacher must accept this disparity and teach the children the things they need to know. This range of differences in ability actually increases as the group continues in school. And it may be stated without reservation that the better the teaching, the greater the spread in achieve- ment from the less academic student to the superior learn- er, and this spread increases as the group continues its education.
TEACHERS' SALARIES
The report of your School Committee contains the local salary schedule for the teachers in the Elementary School for 1958. Since the teacher is the most vital factor in the success of an educational program, every effort must be made to retain qualified and competent teachers. You want good teachers for your children. Your children deserve good teachers.
Good teachers do cost more, but the difference in cost between competent and trained personnel is but a few
17
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
dollars per pupil per year. Good teachers are a good investment. Because teachers are not adept at extolling their virtues or the quality of their service is no reason to deny them a living wage. We cannot continue to permit the recognition of teaching services to be a posthumous reward.
The salary schedule for the 1958-59 school year has been adjusted in keeping with our needs and today's competition. We believe that an adequate salary schedule is the most influential factor in retaining successful teach- ers and securing competent new ones. Education is faced with a critical shortage of trained teachers - we are faced with the same problem. Basic adjustments in salaries for teachers are being constantly revised throughout this area and the competition for trained personnel is increas- ing.
STATE AID FOR EDUCATION
Although the American way is individualistic and we pride ourselves on our resourcefulness, we must be mindful of changes bearing on our lives. In the infancy of this land of ours, the American people turned to financing the schools by property taxation. At that time wealth was fairly evenly distributed, since our way of life was prim- arily agrarian. At that time our wealth was in tangible form and financing our schools by property taxation was only sensible. The pace of our increased educational demands has outstripped this sole reliance on local prop- erty taxes as the only means of support. This situation has led to the growing recognition and acceptance of the principle that the wealth of the State should be taxed to educate the children of the State. In view of the fact that education is a State function entrusted to the local com- munities for management, this acceptance is natural.
18
SCHOOL REPORT
Every factual analysis dealing with the financing of public education in this State shows that the Common- wealth should bear a greater share of the financial respon- sibility. This principle is not new; in 1948 a revision of previous statutes on this topic set up a new program and represented a real step forward. Since then, however, inflation has erased much of the gains made by this legislation. The increasing school population, increased educational services, increased educational costs and in- flation have made imperative the need for additional financial assistance.
The form of this assistance should be substantially equivalent to the present formula which is based upon "equalization of educational opportunity" and "equali- zation of burden".
A state-wide foundation program erected on a defen- sible educational program must be the basis for this aid program. Equalization of educational opportunity, the first condition of State Aid, will provide the defensible foundation level for each community. The second condi- tion will equalize the burden of education. One of our wealthy communities need increase its tax levy but $4.00 per $1,000 valuation to provide a $100.00 expenditure per child, whereas there are others requiring a levy of $20.00 per $1,000 valuation to provide this same $100.00 expenditure per child. If we are going to equalize educa- tional opportunity, the more prosperous communities must bear more burden than those of lesser ability.
State Aid to Education, to summarize, is defensible because Education is a State responsibility. State Aid to Education is defensible because local property taxation alone should not support Education, since properties are not uniformly available to communities. State Aid to Education is defensible because neither good district or- ganization nor perfect servicing of the property tax will solve the problem of adequate funds.
19
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
In reviewing 1957 as a school year we would acknow- ledge a growing interest in the type of education being provided locally. This is desirable, for in the final analyis schools reflect the community interest in education more than any other single contributing factor. Your schools should be a vital force in the growth of this town, and the town should be a vital force in the development and main- tenance of a good school program.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN C. JAKOBEK
Superintendent of Schools
SCHOOL CENSUS as of October 1, 1957
Boys
Girls
Total
From 5 to 7
70
56
126
From 7 to 16
256
275
531
326
331
657
Comparative Totals for 6 Year Period
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
From 5 to 7
73
141
120
116
131
126
From 7 to 16
415
419
447
504
481
531
488
560
567
620
612
657
20
SCHOOL REPORT
1957 - 1958 SCHOOL CALENDAR MERRIMAC
1957
September 4, 5, 6, Teachers' Workshop
September 9, Monday All schools open
October 9, Wednesday Teachers' Convention - Schools closed
November 11, Monday Schools closed - Veterans' Day
November 27, Wednesday Schools close at end of school day for Thanksgiving holiday
December 2, Monday Schools open
December 20, Friday Schools close for Christmas holidays 1958
January 2, Thursday Schools open
February 14, Friday Schools close for winter vacation
February 24, Monday Schools open
April 4, Friday Schools closed - Good Friday
April 25, Friday Schools close - beginning of spring vacation
May 5, Monday Schools open
May 30, Friday Schools closed - Memorial Day
June 13, Friday High School graduation
June 19, Thursday Junior High School graduation
June 20, Friday
All schools close
181 days
Approved April 24, 1957
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
NO SCHOOL announcements will be made over Stations WBZ and WHAV after 7 o'clock in the morning. 6:30 A. M. £ 11-11-11 No school, all grades.
11:30 A. M. 11-11-11 No school, grades 7 & 8
21
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
SCHOOL ENROLLMENT BY GRADES October 1, 1957
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1956
1957
Readiness Group
75
71
Adjustment Group
60
60
Mixed Level Group
63
68
Grade 4
67
62
Grade 5
.54.
66
Grade 6
37
54
356
381
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
1956
1957
Grade 7
48
44
Grade 8
49
47
97
91
HIGH SCHOOL
1956
1957
Freshman
54
46
Sophomore
26
51
Junior
24
28
Senior
21
21
125
146
VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS
Gr. 9 Gr. 10 Gr. 11 Gr. 12 Total
Haverhill Trade School
1
7 2
2
12
Essex Co. Agricultural
2
1
2
5
Haverhill Trade Extension
2
Haverhill Evening Apprenticeship
1
22
SCHOOL REPORT
1958 BUDGET MERRIMAC SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
Appropriated
1957
Expended 1957
Requested 1958
GENERAL CONTROL
$
50.00
$ 94.60
School Committee Expense
$ 100.00
2,722.22
2,722.22
Supt. Schools Salary
2,888.88
1,000.00
1,044.23
Secretary & Office Expense
1,000.00
300.00
363.32
Transportation & Expense
200.00
350.00
354.94
Law Enforcement
225.00
COST OF INSTRUCTION
$ 94,207.66
$ 95,198.61
Teachers' Salaries
$ 93,493.33
2,500.00
1,751,56
Textbooks
2,000.00
3,000.00
3,884.35
Supplies
1,600.00
COST OF OPERATION
$ 5,500.00
$ 5,125.86
Janitors' Salaries
$ 5,500.00
2,600.00
2,622.35
Fuel
2,500.00
700.00
896.77
Janitorial Supplies
600.00
1,000.00
489.30
Maintenance
5,100.00
500.00
640.00
Athletics
300.00
400.00
62.29
Libraries
400.00
1,400.00
1,443.90
Health
1,150.00
10,000.00
10,123.25
Transportation
10,000.00
500.00
115.04
New Equipment
200.00
400.00
449.99
Telephone & All Other
300.00
$127,129.88
$ 347.86 Dog Tax
$127,477.74
$127,382.58
$ 4,500.00 $ 4,305.69
Vocational Appropriation
$127,557.21 $ 4,000.00
23
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
REPORT OF THE MERRIMAC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
As our secondary schools in Merrimac reach the end of another period of physical and educational growth, let us look briefly in retrospect over the past decade of our junior high school history.
A strong foundation for a good education was laid in Merrimac long before the writer of this report came to join your teaching staff. Through the years up to the present, with perhaps temporary lapses, those in administ-' rative positions and in control of the schools have worked hard to maintain and improve these high standards from the first grade through the twelfth grade.
Our young adolescents have had much adjusting to do as they moved from our two-room Plains School on Pros- pect Street, to our four-room unit in the New Elementary School, and then again to our afternoon platooning in the High School Building. Now it is most encouraging to see the citizens of Merrimac along with your school administ- ration and staffs looking forward to our next big move into the new Pentucket Regional School. With us will go our basic policy, "How can we best educate our youth ?"
My Staff is constantly re-examining curriculum and re- porting significant accomplishments. In our testing pro- gram, our children show a wide range in grade placement. A constant study of the teaching techniques and the cur- riculum is necessary to meet the problems arising from this program. Our junior high school philosophy is quality, not quantity; to this end we like to have our students carry perhaps fewer subjects but study them for a longer time. From this broader study they develop a better foundation and a greater desire to carry the sub- jects on to a higher level. To better facilitate this goal
24
SCHOOL REPORT
we have done considerable classroom work on an individ- ual and group basis. Also this year the eighth grade has been divided according to grade achievements, I. Q.'s and potential abilities. The results have been most enlighten- ing and gratifying.
Our first week of the fall term was set aside for a teachers' workshop. The benefits derived from this week of orientation were threefold:
1. Our staff and especially the new teachers, three in number, were enabled to become familiar with our school philosophy, policies, and functional program.
2. Several school problems of import were studied by a representative committee of parents and teachers.
3. Mrs. Ruth McCarthy of the Northeastern Essex Mental Health Child Guidance Association, Inc. led a round table discussion on adolescent problems and how to meet them.
I wish to take this opportunity to thank those respon- sible for this week of study. It was most beneficial to all concerned.
Before each marking period a J. H. S. Parents' Night is held. In January Mr. Jakobek outlined the curriculum, courses of study and extracurricular activities of our new regional school for us and then answered questions from the floor. In April, at the request of parents, four panel discussion groups were planned with a parent and a teach- er in charge of each group. Daily problems met by both parents and teachers of this age level were the topics for discussion. In November parents followed their son's or daughter's program through a current school day. Each teacher briefly outlined for them the course of study, materials used, and goals and objectives in each respective
25
TOWN OF MERRIMAC
subject. These meetings are of definite value to each individual child, since from them has arisen a closer bond between the home and school and a greater understanding and working basis between our parents and teachers.
In its broader sense, education for our children is of the highest importance in a democracy. A people in a democracy who are not trained to think for themselves and by themselves are headed for trouble. Nothing is more important than to develop the body, intellect and spirit of our children. But only when our community, school and home climate are conducive to study, hard study on the part of the pupils, will our town reap the full benefits of its investment.
Our students are subjected to many pressures outside of school. Social, economic, athletic, out-of-school activit- ies take up much of the waking hours of the modern ad- olescent. Unless the community as a whole sets the pattern for scholastic accomplishment first, and other worthwhile activities second, the school is almost helpless to give the community the end results demanded with relation to the maximum a pupil should receive. Only through struggle, perserverance, self-denial and, at times, sacrifice, can any- thing worthwhile and enduring to the individual child be accomplished.
Man survives in the modern world only as he grasps and can communicate to others the heritage of the past in its various forms of language, mathematics, science and history. Just as the grade schools are committed to teach- ing the fundamentals in these subjects, so the secondary schools are committed to carry these fundamentals on to higher levels of accomplishment. We must keep abreast of the times and anticipate the needs of society as we develop our programs of study. Then we must prepare our youth for his role in this society.
26
SCHOOL REPORT
Our students, as they move from the elementary to the junior high school, meet in their new school environment a great physical, academic and social change. With these young people approaching adulthood their program re- quires greater independence. Physical education, group guidance, art and music are offered to them along with their four basic subjects.
LANGUAGE ARTS
Careful articulation should be made between the elementary school program and the junior high school grades. Continuity in all aspects of the language arts program is very essential. Using language effectively to meet the maturing needs and interests of our adolescents and to develop in them a confidence in their growing power to read, write, listen and speak is our foremost concern.
The teaching of reading does not stop with the sixth grade. The scope of reading materials is wide and varied and our junior high students continue to read at their own levels. Here a genuine enjoyment of reading, extended interests and improved tastes should develop. Stress in all classes is placed on speed and comprehension of the written word. Developing an interest in words, under- standing sentence and paragraph structure, summarizing, and topical reading are correlated into our reading pro- gram.
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