USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1916-1917 > Part 8
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One of the ideas that will commend itself to the teachers and mothers is the idea of a wardrobe in connection with each classroom. This allows the teacher to have control of all the garments of her pupils, and keeps the various classes in their separate units when the school is being dismissed. These wardrobes are heated by direct steam and are venti- lated through grilles placed at floor and ceiling. This al- lows all clothing to be well dried and warmed and no foul odors will penetrate the building.
The heating and ventilating system is a problem on which the committee has spent considerable time and thought. It is anticipated that classroom for classroom, as good results will be obtained from this system as are being obtained in similar schools elsewhere, and at a considerably lass cost for installation, and with a slightly less cost for maintenance. This expectation is based on the well-bal- anced system as a whole, as well as on the skilful manner in which the various portions were constructed and in- stalled. The heating and ventilating of any school building constructed under Massachusetts laws is a complex affair and the problem becomes greater and greater as the num- ber of rooms increases. It costs money to furnish thirty cubic feet of heated fresh air per minute to each pupil, but it is obvious that it will be cheaper to furnish this amount of air per pupil in one building and by one heating and ven- tilating system, simplified like this system, than it would be to furnish the same amount of air in separate buildings.
The plumbing is another problem in the construction of a modern school building, and the committee went into this matter very thoroughly. and the results indicate that a very satisfactory system has been installed. The water
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closets are on direct pressure and future trouble from leak- ing tanks has been thus eliminated.
A vacuum cleaning system has been installed and this feature together with the elaborate lighting lay-out are in- ovations in school-house architecture in Milford, and are along the modern lines of construction that have been in- corporated throughout this building.
A clock system has been installed and will undoubtedly prove to be of great value and convenience.
The inside of the building has been treated along simple lines and all unnecessary woodwork has been omitted. The standing finish is brown ash treated in the natural. The walls and ceilings have been tinted with oil paint and the corridors and stairwells have dadoes of selected burlap. The floors are maple and have been treated with a new high- grade floor dressing that will preserve the wood and is fire resisting in contradistinction to ordinary floor dressings. A rest-room has been provided which will give much comfort to those who are compelled to lay aside their duties for a time.
The office of the committee and superintendent of schools will be on the first floor and the present office in High school building will be devoted to school purposes. .
The school committee, as a whole, and the various special sub-committees on construction and furnishing, have devoted much time and thought to the new school and, in the judgment of the writer, the committee, architects and contractors are to be congratulated on the successful com- pletion of a long and arduous task and Milford should be proud of the result, a fifteen-room school, largely fireproof, of Milford granite, finished in first-class materials, with fire- proof stairwells, and independent wardrobes for all the school rooms but two ; the site purchased and the building built and the lot graded, within the appropriation : the whole equipped and furnished at a total cost of about $6000 a room.
The plans are by Messrs. Walter L. Collins and Wen-
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dell T. Phillips, associate architects; Dillon Bros. are the contractors; the Webb Pink Granite Co. furnished the stone; heating and plumbing contractor, J. S. Ranahan. The pupils' seats and desks are of the single spindle, hy- gienic type, by Kenney Bros. & Wolkins of Boston. They have lifting lids and are High school size, 21x26 inch tops. The teachers' desks are of Badger manufacture, furnished by the Avery & Woodbury Co. An American Radiator Company heating system is used. The plumbing is by Crane & Co. A list of other important contractors follows :
Electric wiring-Barnes & Pope Co .. Boston.
Galvanized iron work in the heating system-The Southbridge Roofing Co.
Roofing contract-Barnard & Co .. Worcester.
Plastering contract (Sackett Board and United States Gypsum Plaster)-Crowley & McFarland.
Interior decoration contract-Eldredge & Son, Milford Filling contract-J. B. Henderson and Hugh Ray. Grading contract-Luchini & Manzani.
The Stacy school will probably be open for classes Monday, March 5. 1917, with the following organiza- tion: Principal, Mr. Thomas J. Quirk; ninth grades, resident in the Stacy school, with High school teachers ; eighth grades, Miss M. F. Devine, Mrs. K. E. Edwards, and Miss Anna Clancy : seventh grades, Misses Mary E. Kelly, Helen W. Kiley. M. H. McConnachie, M. T. McGrail. and Margaret McNamara. The principal, high school teachers, and High school pupils will begin work at.8 A.M .; grades 7 and 8 will begin work at 9 A.M., all classes will run on High school time until 12 M. when the morning session for grades 7 and 8 ends. The High school pupils and teachers will remain until 1 P.M. when their session ends for the day. The session for grades 7 and 8 will begin at 1.30 P.M. and end at 3.30 P.M. as at present.
EVENING SCHOOL
In last year's report the needs of the evening school-
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if any attempt was to be made to co-operate with other agencies in dealing with illiterate immigrants-were clearly outlined, and financial provision was made for such co-opera- tion. High school work was offered ; a course in civics was arranged, and a letter was written to every illiterate for- eigner on our lists. There was a large response to the com- mercial courses offered, but there was almost no response to our appeal to the immigrants. This effort should not be abandoned, however. Attention is called to Principal Moore's report of the evening school farther on.
MILFORD TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
Since February of 1916, the following meetings of the Milford Teachers' Association have been held :
March 27, 1916. Lecture: "Everyday Problems in Teaching and the Teacher's Relation to Them," Hon. Joseph G. Edgerly, Fitchburg.
April 27, 1916. Annual Banquet. U. S. Marshal John Mitchell and Dr. G. H. Derry; special guests.
May 8, 1916. Illustrated Lecture: "What the Birds Have Done for Us and What We Can Do for Them," Mr. E. H. Forbush, State Ornithologist.
October 2, 1916. Concert and Dancing Party. Apollo Quartet of Boston. Mrs. Ernestine Harding Wilcox, so- prano.
October 27. 1916. Whist Party.
November 9, 1916. Lecture: "Music in the Public Schools." Mr. R. W. Newton of Boston. Miss Helen Lea- vitt at the piano.
December 15, 1916. Lecture : "The Teaching of Sales- manship in the Boston Schools," Miss Isabel Craig Bacon, Acting Director of Salesmanship in schools of Boston.
January 8, 1917. Dramatic Reading : "David Garrick," Mr. Phidelah Rice. Leland Powers School of Boston.
The officers of the Association for the year 1916-1917 are : President. Miss Marion Aylward Ryan ; vice-president, Miss Mary F. Devine ; secretary, Miss Margaret Davoren ; treasurer. Miss Mary E. Mullane.
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CHANGES IN TEACHERS HIGH SCHOOL
We were very sorry to lose the services of Miss Mary Larkin, for two years teacher of English and History in the High school. Miss Larkin came to the school well trained and with valuable experience, and in her brief term of ser- vice here made a record of intelligent, efficient service pro- fessionally, and gained a host of friends socially.
At the beginning of the present school year Miss Anne C. Donlan a graduate of Smith College, 1913, a teacher of successful experience, and Miss Sadie E. O'Connell of Mil- ford, a graduate of Milford High school, 1911, and of the Emerson College of Oratory, Boston, 1915, were added to the faculty of the High school.
GRADES
LEFT THE SERVICE-
Miss Hannah M. Broderick, for many years a faith- ful teacher in the public schools of Milford, lately in charge of Grade VIII at the Park school, retired at the end of the school year 1915-1916, with a record of conscientious, effi- cient work.
Miss Agatha D. Moore, substitute for Miss Mary H. McDermott during the latter's leave of absence, left the service in June, 1916, to become a Sister of St. Joseph.
Miss Catherine G. McCool, in charge of the sixth grade at the Park school, resigned her position early in the pres- ent month, to accept a similar position in the Malden, Mass., public schools. Excellent work has been done in Miss Mc- Cool's room.
Miss Margaret E. Sullivan, Grade VIII at the South school, has been granted a leave of absence for the remainder of the year, on account of ill health.
ENTERED THE SERVICE-
Miss Mary H. McDermott has resumed her duties as teacher of the third grade at the Oliver Street school, after a leave of absence.
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Miss Margaret McNamara, M. H. S., succeeded Miss H. M. Broderick at the Park, in September.
Misses Finnigan, Keany, McCarthy and Walker, special teachers last year are now permanent teachers, Misses Fin- nigan, McCarthy and Walker at the Plains Primary school and Miss Keany at the South school.
Other new teachers have entered the service a's follows : Miss Gertrude E. Kirby, M. H. S., 1912, Framingham, 1914, assigned to Bear Hill; Miss Viola Leland, M. H. S., Fram- ingham, 1904, assigned to the Park school; Miss Ada M. Melvin, M. H. S., 1912, Framingham, 1914, assigned to Park school; Miss Helen M. Quirk, St. Mary's, 1914, Framing- ham, 1916, assigned to South school.
Finally, Mr. Thomas J. Quirk, Milford High school, 1910, Holy Cross College, 1915, comes to us as Principal of the George E. Stacy school. Mr. Quirk has made a fine record in school and college, and has had valuable training as a teacher in La Salle Academy. Providence, R. I.
CHANGES IN JANITORS
It was with a feeling of real regret that we were com- pelled to part with the services of Mr. William H. Carbary at the South End schools. Mr. Carbary retired last sum- mer, owing to failing health, leaving an unusual record of faithfulness and efficiency. Mr. William H. Forbes has had charge of these schools for the most part since Mr. Car- bary's retirement. .
Early in the present year, Mr. Samuel Sharpe succeeded Mr. P. J. Duddy and again became janitor at the Park and portable schools.
Mr. Frank Cahill assumed his duties at the George E. Stacy school January 15, 1917.
TEXT BOOKS
Hessler's "The First Year of Science," Benj. H. San- born & Co .; Bierman & Frank's "Conversational French Reader," Allyn & Bacon, for the High school.
The "James Otis Books," American Book Co .; "Little:
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People Everywhere," Little, Brown & Co .; The "Twins" series, Houghton Mifflin Co .- for the grades room libraries.
Lister's Primary Writing, The A. N. Palmer Co.
SPELLING
The new system of spelling, from typewriting minimum lists, is proving very successful in the schools. As the re- sult of an oral test in spelling that the writer gave through- out the schools last spring. The average rank, for all grades, was 91%.
THE DRAWING DEPARTMENT
The drawing department has enjoyed a busy and suc- cessful year. Miss Toohey's report speaks of more problems in applied art, emphasizing the application of art-training to every-day life.
Problems by grades have been :-
Primary grades-Original designs for children's cos- tumes.
V. and VI :- Interior decorating. (Miniature rooms were constructed and designs made for the treatment of walls, floors, rugs and furniture.)
VII and VIII .- Made and decorated patterns for vases. The usual Christmas gifts were made.
High school-(Besides the regular work.) An Art club was formed, to study the history of architecture and painting. Boston Art Museum, Public Library and the State House were visited and their treasures studied.
The character of the work in drawing is well illustrated by the cover design and inserts in this report.
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS
In her report this year the music supervisor discusses "The Practical Value of Music." Quoting the Chief In- spector of Music of England, Froebel, and U. S. Commis- sioner Claxton, Miss McNamara presents a clear argument for the practical value of music (1) from a religious stand- point (as an aid to the service) ; (2) from the social stand-
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point (the success of any social meeting depends largely upon the musical entertainment offered) ; (3) for its mental training and discipline (it trains the eye, ear, memory and faculty of discrimination) ; (4) for its culture value (the music of the post reveals the characters, ideas and ideals of the peoples of the post.)
Miss McNamara notes the Glee Club Concert of last April, that netted $20, and the children's concert of last June, from which $15.00 was contributed to the Purchase Grammar School victrola fund.
The report contains a suggestion of the need of a piano . for the Stacy school.
PENMANSHIP IN THE GRADES
The adoption of the Palmer Writing has been com- pleted in the grades. A Palmer instructor has made several visits to Milford, visited the rooms, worked with the teach- ers, and held institutes in the late afternoon. Practically all the teachers are taking the correspondence course, to se- cure a Palmer diploma, and there is improvement in the in- terest among the teachers and in the results among the pupils.
In addition to the High school gifts enumerated in Principal FitzGerald's report, there have been gifts to other schools as follows: -
GIFTS DURING THE YEAR
Mrs. Mary Walker presented to the pupils of the eighth grade in the Park school "The International Library of Fa- mous Literature," in twenty volumes. (Royale Edition DeLuxe.)
Miss Elizabeth McNamara, supervisor of music, pre- sented to the sixth grade of the Park school a beautiful framed picture, "The Race of Atalanta," as a reward for having sold the largest number of tickets for the children's concert.
The pupils of Miss Harrington, fourth grade at the Plains primary school, raised money and presented the framed picture, "The Gleaners."
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The pupils of Miss Lally's school-Fountain Street- presented their school with a handsome quartered oak book- case.
The pupils of the Purchase grammar school, through their own efforts, supplemented by a substantial sum from the school children's concert, have presented their school with a victrola.
Mr. H. H. Lent has made and presented grade six at the South school a model of one cubic foot, in wood. Also Miss Mary E. Knight has presented this school two vol- umes of "National Portrait Gallery of Eminent Americans."
The school children in each of the six rooms in the Claflin school have presented their room with a substantial bookcase.
GENERAL REPAIRS CARPENTER WORK
The roof of the older half of the Plains Primary build- ing was reshingled with asphalt shingles; a new four-and- one-half-foot fence was built around the Braggville lot and the outbuilding rebuilt; fences were repaired at the West St. and Plains district ; other usual minor repairs.
PAINTING
The Oliver Street, Hoboken and Braggville schools were painted one coat outside ; fences were painted at West Street, Plains and Braggville schools; interiors were re- decorated at Chapin Street, Plains, Grammar, Park Street and Spruce Street (basement) ; the High school assembly hall was redecorated and the outside trim repainted.
PLUMBING AND HEATING
Stoves and furnaces were overhauled and the usual minor repairs made. A new iron pipe fence was placed above the bank wall at the Park school.
SPECIAL HEATING INSTALLATIONS
The old furnaces at the Park school, which have been a source of annoyance and expense for some years, have. finally been replaced by new furnaces and the heating prob-
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1em of this building would seem to be solved for some years to come. Staples & Gould, contractors.
The two downstairs rooms in the Plains Grammar school have been equipped with Cole's Sanitary Schools Heating and Ventillating System, a separate hot-air furnace for each room, which gives at a minimum expense for first cost and subsequent up-keep, fresh, warm air in adequate amount.
So far the new heaters seem to be an unqualified suc- cess, and I recommend that such installations be made in the same building, Plains Annex, and the Chapin Street school.
Clark Ellis & Sons, contractors.
RELOCATION OF HIGH SCHOOL TRANSFORMERS
In the secretary's report there appears an item of $214.35 for rewiring the transformers at the High school. This occurred as the result of an inspection of the High school premises by the local wire chief.
C. W. Tewksbury, contractor.
"SAFETY FIRST"
The Building Inspection Department of the District Police are conducting a state-wide campaign of public build- ing inspection and are making large demands on town and city departments in the interest of greater protection from danger by fire. The following letter is to the point :
"THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Building Inspection Dept. of the
District Police
Boston, November 29, 1916.
In Re: Milford Schools, Milford Chairman and Members of the School Committee,
Milford, Mass.
Gentlemen :-
In addition to the orders issued by me on the public. school buildings of Milford, the following requirements are
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applicable to all school buildings, and should receive im- mediate attention.
That the egresses from all school buildings be desig- nated by the word "Exit," the letters of the same to be not less than five (5) inches in height ;
That a gong be provided (in every building having a basement or more than one story in height) of sufficient size to be heard in all parts of the building, with stations on each floor and in the basement, and distinctly marked "Fire Alarm";
That the heaters of all buildings located in the base- ment (where the same is used for other purposes) be en- closed in fire proof walls, with fire door, arranged with a positive self-closing device. The ceiling to be covered with metal lath and three-fourth (34) inch of hard plaster. When the basement is used for the heating plant only, it is recom- mended that the entire ceiling be covered with metal lath and three-fourth (34) inch of hard plaster, and that entrance to the same be provided from the outside; all doors and stairs from corridors to be removed.
Respectfully yours, WM. J. M'KEEVER, State Building Inspector."
This letter was accompanied by individual letters with specific demands for every school building in town. The analysis of these individual letters shows: Twenty-six exit signs demanded, 18 chemical fire extinguishers; seat strips in High school assembly hall; eleven gongs with stations ; 33 new lock sets ; eight enclosed fire rooms ; additional stair rails in five buildings; additional means of egress in four buildings ; new top-and-bottom surface bolts with T-handles on outside doors of one building; additional egress door from each schoolroom either into hall or directly outdoors, and rearrange foul air ducts so that they will run through roof at one school ; connect two small rooms with door-cut door from large room to corridor in one building ; rearrange
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back stairs and cut door from south room on ground floor to hall in one school.
The estimated cost of the above changes is about $4000. These are the state department's demands. The school department must meet them.
LABOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED
During 1916. To Jan. 1, 1917
Employment certificates
171
41.5
Home permits
0
11
Educational certificates, literate .
218
1084
Educational certificates, illiterate
34
190
Total
423
1700
RECOMMENDATIONS
I .- RENEWED
1. a. That the Stacy graduates be awarded certificates on completion of the third year's work; that they have- graduation exercises and a suitable speaker.
b. That we do away with the commencement exercises at future High school graduations and have a worthy address by a suitable speaker.
2. That in the partial appropriation for repairs, provision be- made for :
a. Painting
Portables-outside walls and roof.
Purchase Grammar-inside.
Claflin-outside.
Oliver St .- redecorated inside.
b. Carpenter Work.
New floor at West St. school.
c. Heating.
Installation of new type hot-air heaters in the two. remaining rooms at the Plains Grammar, both rooms at Plains annex ; and at the Chapin St. school.
3. That steps be taken to form a district nurse association and to employ a district nurse.
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4. That your committee undertake a thorough-going scheme of improvements of the buildings in the Plains district, to be undertaken next summer.
II .- NEW
1. That your committee consider closing at least two of the outside schools and transporting pupils.
2. a. That one of the basement rooms in the Stacy school be equipped as a sewing labratory now.
b. That a basement room in the Stacy school be equipped for wood work for boys in September.
In conclusion :- I cordially thank your committee for unfailing courtesy and patience during the year under re- view-a year unusually filled with extra work and more or less vexatious problems for us all-and I thank the princi- pals and teachers for the sincere spirit of co-operation that has marked the past year.
All of which is respectively submitted.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Milford, Mass., Jan. 29, 1917.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Milford High School, Milford, Mass., Jan. 19, 1917.
Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools, Milford, Mass.
Dear Sir :-
In accordance with your request, I herewith submit my third annual report of the Milford High school, together with such suggestions for the improvement of conditions as at this time seem pertinent.
During the summer of 1916, Miss Mary E. Larkin, teacher of English and History since September, 1914, re- signed to take a similar position in the Commercial High school of Springfield. This vacancy was filled through the election of Miss Anne C. Donlan, a classmate of Miss Larkin at Smith College. Miss Sadie A. O'Connell was added to the faculty to teach English and Declamation. The faculty now numbers thirteen-equivalent, however, to but twelve, since Miss Gay and I teach half-time. The enrollment at the present time is fifty more than twelve months ago, and we have added but one teacher. Consequently, some of our classes, notably in the Science and Commercial depart- ments, are very large; also, we have not been able to pro- vide the very necessary supervision for the typewriting classes. For our present enrollment we should have at least one more teacher, and in September, 1917, we should have still another to take care of the inevitable increase in numbers.
The maximum enrollment in September was 365, an
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increase of fifty-seven over that of September, 1915. At present there are 146 boys and 210 girls enrolled.
The only change in the curriculum is that, acting upon my recommendation of a year ago, the school committee have added military drill for the boys. Officers for the companies have been elected, and it is expected that by the time this report is published drill will have been actually begun. The school has been very fortunate in that Captain Pond has generously volunteered to give his valuable time to the instruction of the young cadets. Now that the boys of the school are provided for, I propose to introduce some sort of physical training for the girls. Two minor changes in the graduation requirements have been adopted, with the object of holding pupils more closely to a well-defined course. Through one of these changes one of the "points" in a first year language course is withheld until the com- pletion of a second year's work in the same language. Through the other, a pupil is required to select at least twenty elective points of the thirty necessary for graduation from one of the four "Suggested Courses." A new French reader, and a new text in Elementary Science have been the only changes in text-books. A new system of school records has been introduced to replace the unsatisfactory card system.
Forty-one young ladies and gentlemen received diplo- mas in June, 1916. Of these thirteen entered colleges or technical schools, ten entered normal schools, four entered business schools, and the remainder are either in business or employed in their homes. The graduation program and list of graduates will be found elsewhere in this report. On the evening of graduation two Underwood diplomas were awarded to members of the senior class for proficiency in typewriting. The first prize in the Patrick Peace Prize Con- test was awarded to John Murphy of the graduating class, and the second to Miss Esther Haskard of the sophomore class. This contest is open each year to the students of
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the Milford and neighboring High schools. John Murphy also received a gold medal for the best essay on the Ameri- can Merchant Marine submitted from Milford High school. This was in connection with a state-wide contest conducted by the Quincy board of trade.
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