USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1917 > Part 8
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Entered the Service, High School :-
Miss Marcella M. Dignan, A. B., Hunter College, suc- ceeded Miss Donlan.
Miss Katherine A. Power of Worcester (A. B., Trinity College, Washington, 1917) succeeded Miss Whittemore. Left the Service, Grades :-
Miss Margaret E. Sullivan, teacher of Grade VIII at the South School, passed away in May, 1917, after a lingering illness. Miss Sullivan was an alert, wide-awake teacher, and, during her short period of service, endeared herself to all her pupils and fellow teachers.
Entered the Service, Grades :-
In September, 1917, Misses Mary C. Edwards, Mar-
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garet E. Roche and Mabel A. Kenney of Milford were ap- pointed teachers and were assigned :-- Miss Edwards to Braggville, Miss Roche to Bear Hill, and Miss Kenney to Hoboken.
GIFTS TO THE SCHOOLS DURING THE YEAR.
In addition to the gifts to the High School, enumer- ated in Principal Quirk's report, the following gifts have been received during the year :-
George E. Stacy/ School :-
A silk flag, by the Woman's Relief Corps.
A life-size photograph of Mr. George E. Stacy, by the Milford Teachers' Association. (The glass was coll- tributed by Eldredge & Son, and the frame by a friend.)
Carbon photograph, "Reading from Homer,"_pupils of the Stacy School.
Seven Elson Carbon photographs :- "Tomb of the Pharaohs," "Pyramids and the Sphinx," "Shakspeare Room in Stratford," "Roman Forum," "Laocoon," "Hadrian's Tomb," modern photograph of the Whittier House at Hampton Falls, N. H.
Spruce Street School :-
Two pictures, "The Foundling Girls," and "The Chorister Boys," from Mrs. A. J. George.
Picture, "The Sistine Madonna," to Miss Gallagher's second grade, by children of that grade.
Park School :-
Picture, to Grade VI, Miss Mullane, by pupils of the room.
Picture, to Grade VI, by a friend.
Pictures, to Grades V and VI, Miss Leland, by the pupils of the room.
Picture, to Grades V and VI, by a friend.
Picture to Grade V, Miss Melvin, by pupils of the room.
Oliver Street School :-
Picture, "The Shepherdess," to Grade III, Miss Mc- Dermott, by the Quinshipaug Woman's Club.
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Chapin Street School : -
Picture, "Awaiting His Share," to Grade II, Miss Dea vine, by the Quinshipaug Woman's Club.
Purchase Grammar School :-
A silk flag, by the Woman's Relief Corps.
Three books, by the Quinshipaug Woman's Club.
Victrola records, by a number of friends of the schoot. Purchase Primary School :-
Framed picture, "The Fog Warning," and six library books, by the Social Service Department of the Quinshipaug Woman's Club.
STATE-ORDERED REPAIRS.
The repairs and alterations ordered by the State In< spector of Buildings were made last summer. The follow- ing work was done by Waters & Hynes, for $4,360.00- they being the lowest bidders,-under the direction of Mr. W. T. Phillips, architect :-
Plains Primary School :- New hardware on all ex- terior and interior basement doors, so that doors swing outward; new handrail on wall side of north stairway.
Spruce Street School :- All exterior doors made to swing outward.
Bear Hill School :- New outside doors, including hardware, to swing outward.
Hoboken School :- New outside doors, including hard- ware, to swing outward.
Purchase Grammar School :- New front doors, includ- ing hardware, to swing outward .. Rear door fitted with new hardware, so as to swing outward.
Fountain Street School :- New front doors (with hard- ware) to swing outward.
Braggville School :- New hardware, so that front doors swing outward.
Purchase Primary School :- New front door (with hardware) and new side exit door (with hardware) both to swing outward. Concrete step at new side door. (This
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step should be continued beyond the embankment, to the ground.)
Park School :- Boiler room ceiling plastered. Twc hand rails on rear stairs and one on front stairs. New hardware sets on all outside doors, so as to swing outward.
Oliver Street School :- Basement doors made to swing outward (with new hardware). Boiler room enclosed in brick walls with metal covered doors.
Chapin Street School :- New lock sets on outside doors. Second door installed, leading from boys' room into corridor. Door cut between two small school rooms.
Plains Grammar School :- Four outside doors, includ- ing hardware (three doors replaced, and one new door cut through). Four new inside corridor doors. New outside cement steps. Two new hand-rails on rear stairs. .
South School :- New lock sets on front outside doors. New first floor corridor door, including hardware. New exit from first floor corridor. New rear door, with hard- ware, at present first floor rear exit. New cement steps at rear entrance. Old basement stairs removed. One story brick bulkhead built in rear of school. Basement ceiling plastered. Two hand rails on rear stairs and one on front stairs.
Plains Annex :- Fire escapes on rear end of building with exits from first and second floors.
Claflin School :- Fire escapes on rear of building, with exits from first and second floors. Old door to basement closed. One story bulkhead erected in rear of building.
To Be Done.
Spruce Street School :- Heaters to be enclosed by brick walls.
High School :- Mortised floor slats, for seating. to be installed.
Various Schools :- Soda-type fire extinguishers to be installed.
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ORDINARY REPAIRS.
Owing to the lack of money no general plan of sum- mer repairs was undertaken. On the surface, it would ap- pear drom the financial sheet for the year that we had saved nearly $1,300.00, and we have saved a considerable portion of that sum. On the principle, however, that the longer needed repairs are put off the more they cost, we have saved only a portion of $1,300. This would be true in ordinary times, and with a stationary market for labor and materials. In war times, with the labor and materials market constantly climbing, the real saving is much smaller, in comparison with the apparent one.
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES.
The office of the Superintendent of Schools will open for the purpose of issuing Employment Certificates at the following hours, until further notice :-- Mondays, Wednes- days and Thursdays, 8-9 A.M .; and 4 to 5.30 P.M .; Thursday evenings, 7.30 to 8.30.
It does not seem to be generally understood, either by the employers or employed, that, (1) with the advent of the present labor legislation the amount of clerica! work involved in issuing the certificates was increased sev- eral fold, and the entire burden laid upon the shoulders of officials already overworked in many cases; (2) the off- cial certificating minors must not merely write the cards, but keep the duplicates on file, instantly accessible; (3) As the cards of the minors whose employment has ceased are sent back to the office, they must be clipped on with duplicates and re-filed. in a "not employed" file. (4) D11 plicate files of index cards must be kept.
In order that the school authorities may keep track of minors 14-16 years of age (who must be in school when not at work) and of illiterate minors over 16-who must attend evening school as a condition of their employment, employers are required by law to "return the cards to the office of the Superintendent of Schools within 48 hours after the employment ceases." The majority of factories
.
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co-operate helpfully in this and other ways, but there are a few factories that seem to wait till a goodly pile of cards have accumulated, and then send them in, anywhere from three days to three months overdue.
LABOR CERTIFICATES ISSUED.
During 1917. To Jan. 1, 1918.
Employment certificates
184
599
Home permits
0
11
Educational certificates, literate
331
1415
Educational certificates, illiterate
42
232
Summer vacation certificates .
26
26
Total
583
2283
CO-OPERATING ACTIVITIES, Summer Playgrounds.
Playgrounds were conducted in the Plains district and at the Town Park under the auspices of the Social Service Department of the Quinshipaug Woman's Club. Miss Deborah Clancy was supervisor of both playgrounds with two experienced assistants at the Plains and one experi- enced and one new assistant at the Park. A young man was put in charge of the boys at each playground. The av- erage attendance at the Plains. was 126; at the Park, 103. The term was six weeks. Folk-dancing, games, apparatus. work, sewing, mat-weaving and crocheting (by the girls) were the lines of work followed. The value of the move- ment was evident, particularly at the Plains district, in the marked improvement in mental alertness of the young peo- ple of the Plains as compared with the attitude of the same young people in previous years.
Junior Town.
The Junior Town, which meets once a month in the High School Assembly Hall, under the supervision of Miss Dorothy Powell, has continued its work in practical Civics.
A mayor, a town-clerk, and four commissions were.
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elected by the members, and each commission, in turn, conducted a meeting and undertook some special line of work.
The Law-and-Order Commission introduced sys- tematic playing and games in some of the school-yards, the Make Good Commission collected and sold old news- papers for the Playground Fund, making $32 in this way; the Clean-up Commission secured trash-cans for the dif- ferent schools and assisted in the Clean-up Week, and the Health Commission, as well as all the members of Junior Town, sold 4544 Red Cross Seals in 1916 and twice that number in 1917.
In the spring and summer, a bird club was formed, under the direction of Mrs. George Billings, and good work was done in that line.
At the close of the year a very successful play, "The Piper," was given, and a large and enthusiastic audience showed their appreciation of the work of Junior Town by their attendance.
LOST SESSIONS OF SCHOOL.
The coal shortage has affected Milford in common with other cities and towns. We have lost two weeks out of our winter term. This was unavoidable.
We have also lost twenty-one sessions in four school buildings, which might, perhaps, have been avoided. It is a travesty on fuel economy to burn a little less and lose the sessions, rather than burn the necessary amount, and save the sessions, as long as the school's are nominally open.
RECOMMENDATIONS. More Room.
It takes five or six years to get a new school building. The writer began seven years ago to call attention to 'he needs in the Plains district. Three years ago two schools were installed in the basement of the Primary School.
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Last year a portable was located there. The attendance forecast for September follows :-
Grades VI-VII to Stacy School releases 2 rooms
Grades V-VI requires 2 rooms
Grades IV-V requires 2 rooms
Grades III-IV-IV-V requires 1 room
Grades III-IV requires
2 rooms
Grades II-III requires 3 rooms
Grades I-II requires 4 rooms
Grade I Beginners requires 4 rooms
Total rooms required 18
Rooms available (including one portable and
two basements) 17
Classes without a room 1
At the South School, also, steps should be taken, at no distant date, to ascertain whether, by addition and remodeling, a satisfactory eight-room building may not be secured at an outlay far below the cost for new construc- tion. Many sessions were lost, the present winter, at this school, on account of cold schoolrooms. A modern heating and ventilating system could be included in the suggested remodeling. From present indications an extra room (more than we have) will be needed at this school next September.
Graduations.
That the graduates of the George E. Stacy School be awarded certificates on completion of the third year's work; that they have graduation exercises and a suitable speaker.
That we do away with the commencement exercises at future High School graduations and have. a worthy address by a suitable speaker.
School Nurse.
In the report of the school physician will be found suggestion that a school nurse is urgently needed. The writer heartily concurs in this recommendation.
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Repairs.
Last year, owing to the lack of money, we spent less than $1,500 for repairs. There is no question that it is better business to make repairs when they are needed, than to wait. £ In the partial appropriation for repairs. therefore, provision should be made for :
Carpenter Work :- New floors at West Street School; shingling the Oliver Street School; repairing the roof of the High School; tightening the windows at the South School.
Painting :- Portables; Hoboken, Claflin, outside ; Pur- chase Grammar, Oliver Street and Bear Hill, inside.
Mason Work :- Cement platform at the Braggville School and the side steps at the Purchase Primary School carried to the lower level.
Heating Flants :- The installation of new type hot- air heaters in the two remaining rooms at the Plains Grammar, both rooms at the Plains Annex, and at the Chapin Street School.
Transportation.
That you close two of the outside schools and trans- port the pupils.
Manual Training.
That the Manual Training rooms in the Stacy School be opened in September.
In conclusion, permit me, for myself and on behalf of my associates, cordially to thank your committee, for your spirit of patience and understanding, during the past year, especially during the recent months, when, in addition to various adverse conditions, there have been laid upon us all many extra demands. I am grateful, also, to principals and teachers for their co-operation during the year.
All of which is respectfully submitted.
ALMORIN O. CASWELL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Milford. Mass., February 1, 1918.
REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
The High School, Milford, Mass, Jan. 11, 1918.
Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools, Milford, Mass.
Dear Mr. Caswell :--
Since the last annual report of the principal of the High School was submitted to you, many changes have taken place in our faculty and in the membership of our student body.
Mr. C. A. Fitzgerald, who spent four years as principal of the High School, resigned on October 5th, to take his place among the soldiers of the United States. Mr. Fitzgerald met with great success as principal of the High School. The same earnestness which entered into all of his school work and made every enterprise a success manifested itself at the time when he was called to 10 whatever his country might demand of him. On his de- parture, Mr. Fitzgerald was well remembered with gifts by the student body and the teachers. Miss Florence M. Whittemore, a teacher in Freshman subjects, tendered her resignation last June, to accept a position in the Quincy schools. Miss Katharine A. Power, a graduate of Trinity College, Washington, D. C., took up Miss Whittemore's duties. Mr. John B. O'Leary, a graduate of Holy Cross. 1915, was added to the Stacy School faculty and became Principal of the Stacy School in the middle of October. At that time I was transferred to the High School. The High School faculty consists of thirteen members. All
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teach full time with the exception of Miss Inez L. Gay and myself.
An enrollment of 371 pupils made up the membership of the High School in September. The Freshman class, now located in the Stacy School, was made up of 98 members, a decrease of 50 pupils from last year's entering class. The Senior class, however, is very large and this brought up the total membership to that of the previous year. During the last six or seven weeks many pupils have left school. I am sorry to see this decided dropping off, but I think its explanation is due to prevailing economic conditions. At the present time there are 206 girls and 155 boys enrolled.
About the last of October, Military Drill was again taken up under the supervision of Mr. William S. Clarke. One hour and a half per week is devoted to this drill. It is my plan to have girls of the upper classes spend this hour and a half in sewing for the Red Cross. The girls in the Sophomore and Freshman classes will spend the corre- sponding time in physical exercise. There have been no changes in the number points required for graduation.
It is my plan that all pupils know by the last of Apr:' whether or not graduation is possible for them. This will do away with the hard feeling which formerly arose in certain cases between the parent and teacher in June. I have noticed. in the course of studies for the Milford High School, that the courses are divided into College, Technical, Business and Normal courses. I would suggest that the pupils follow one of these courses.
Forty- two students received their diplomas in June, 1917. Of these, eight entered college and three have gone to business schools. The program for the graduation and the names of the graduates will be found in another part of this report. On graduation night five Underwood diplomas were awarded to members of the Senior class for proficiency in typewriting. The Gallagher Gold Medal presented by Dr. John V. Gallagher, an alumnus of the
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Milford High School, was awarded to Charles Vesperi. This medal is awarded at graduation to that pupil who, having earned his "letter" (according to the regulations of the M. H. S. A. A.) at least three times, has received the highest general average (at least 70% ) up to the close of his senior year. Each time in excess of three that the pupil has earned his letter shall have the effect, in determining the recipient of this prize, of adding three points to his general average. No pupil is eligible for this prize unless he has been a member of the Milford High School at least two school years. Mr. Joseph C. Bruce won the second prize in the Patrick Prize Essay Contest. Mr. Francis Gaffney won the third prize.
Nine boys from Milford High School willingly took up work on the farms in this vicinity during the past summer. The requirements for that particular work were rather severe, to be sure-these boys worked for at least six weeks eight hours per day at practical farming with great credit to themselves and their school. The following students made up the Reserve :
George W. Casey, '18 Raymond H. Grayson, '19
Arnold R. Davis, '18 Bennie Kurlansky, '20
Marshall M. Day, '18 Abraham Kurlansky, '20
Raymond I. Thomas, '18 Henry J. Larkin, '20 John J. Kelly, '18
The above named boys have received an honorable discharge and at the time of this report we were about to receive their badges-denoting honorable work.
During the last year the Senior Class conducted two successful dances in the Town Hall. On April 20, the Milford High School Senior Class presented "She Stoops to Conquer," by Oliver Goldsmith. The play was held in the Milford Opera House and the participants had as Milford High School faculty. Too much praise cannot be their able director Miss S. A. O'Connell, a member of the given to the members of the cast for their thorough work. Never in the history of the school has an entertainment met with such a marked degree of financial success. The
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Opera House was taxed to its capacity and over $200 was netted. Twenty-five dollars was donated to the Co. M Relief Fund. From the proceeds of the dances and the play a $200 Liberty Bond was purchased. The Bond was bought in the name of the Trustee of the class of 1917,. Milford High School fund. This trustee, at present," is Joseph C. Bruce, '17. The Bond is registered and: is deposited for safe-keeping in the Milford National Bank. This Bond is to constitute a permanent fund, the annual' proceeds of which will be used to provide a book prize for the member of the graduating class making the best record' in classical studies during his four years in Milford High School. A pupil coming to the Milford High School from another High School shall not be considered for this prize, unless he has spent at least two years in the Milford High School.
On December 20, a Service Flag was presented to the school by the student body to show their pride in having the following men in the service :
Maj. Stuart C. Godfrey, ex-1903, U. S. A. Engineers, Fort .
Leavenworth, Kansas.
Capt. W. G. Pond, 1892, Acting Judge Advocate, Camp Greene.
Lieut. Frank Caldicott, 1908, U. S. Medical Corps.
Lieut. Elmer E. Thomas, 1903, U. S. Medical Corps.
Lieut. Gilbert Eastman, 1899, U. S. Engineers, Fort Mead, Wash.
Lieut. Harold S. Whitney, 1914. U. S. Dental Corps.
Sergt. Phillip J. Callery, 1911, 104th Regiment in France.
John S. Conway, 1913, Camp Johnston, Fla.
Edward Duggan, 1912, Ensign's School, Annapolis.
Forrest Gravson, 1914, Camp Devens, Ayer. Stephen C. Jackson. 1913. Yeoman, U. S. N., Boston.
Carl Kennedy, 1912, Aviation School Princeton, N. J.
John Keane, 1912, Me lical Reserve Forces.
Joseph Lang, 1913. Camp Johnston. Fla. James Luchini, 1910, Sergt .. Camp Devens.
Austin E. Livingston. 1907, Aviation School, Ohio.
James F. Quirk 1912. Yeoman. Savantum, Mass.
Sergt. Luigi O. SanClemente 1013. Fort lav. N. Y.
Musician Paul Bragg, 1914, Watertown, N. Y.
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Musician Ralph Luce, 1913, U. S. Marines.
John O'Reilly, 1915, Signal Corps, in France. Allen Kennedy, 1913, Drafted Army.
Roy Mckenzie, 1915, Naval Reserve.
henry Shultz, 1914, 101st Signal Corps, France.
Ralph Bragg, 1909, Engineers, Annapolis, Md.
William J. Maloney, 1912, Camp Devens.
Fred E. Nealon, 1912, Camp Devens.
Cergt. C. A. Fitzgerald, Principal, 1917, Officers' School, Camp Devens.
Elmer Nelson, ex-1918, 101st Engineers, France.
William Sprague, ex-1918, 101st Engineers, France.
William J. Gilmore, 1908, Fort Banks, Winthrop, Mass. Corp. Forrest Tower, ex-1912, 104th Regiment, France. Lawrence Woodbrey, ex-1910 ..
Eugene Marino, ex-1913, Camp Devens.
Bernard Thatcher, ex-1908, Cook, 104th Regiment, France. Arthur Ewing, 1907.
George Grayson, 1913, Camp Devens.
Robert Kinney, ex-1904, U. S. Ordnance Department.
Ralph Ward, 1914, U. S. Medical Reserve Corps.
Elwood Ward, ex-1910, Camp Devens.
Herman Dillingham. 1905.
Carlton Scott, ex-1915, U. S. Medical Corps.
James Casey, 1900, 104th Regiment, France.
Fben Baker, 1914.
George Bruce, ex-1918, Co. M, 6th Regiment Infantry.
About the first of December. Christmas boxes were sent to Elmer Nelson and William Sprague, who were members of this year's senior class, and are now with the 101st Engineers in France. Rhetoricals have been taken up in all classes. On December 22nd, there was a Prize Speaking Contest between the members of the two upper classes. This contest was well up to the standard of thos- held in former years. The winners of this contest were Miss Anna Calabrese, '18, and James Catusi, '18. Miss Hazel Austin, '18, and Marshall Day, '18, received honor- able mention. The winners were awarded five dollar, gold pieces. The contest was in charge of Miss S. A. O'Connell.
During the Christmas vacation, Arnold Davis '18,
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Chester Avery '18, Warren Chilson '18, and James Zurlo '18, received the information of their successful admission to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. These four boys have done excellent work during their career at the Milford High School. There is a new plan at the Massa- chusetts Institute of Technology whereby graduates of High Schools and members of the senior classes are admitted to the Institute on February 4 and at the time become Freshmen ready to pursue the four year course at M. I. T. The pupils admitted do not take examinations, the only requisite being the recommendation of the local High School Principal. When these pupils enter the Institute they are working on probation, that is, their success or failure at the Institute depends upon their scholastic standing during the first ten weeks. This is a great time saving plan, for, under normal conditions, these students would not enter until September.
I wish sincerely to thank the superintendent of schools, the members of the school committee, the teachers, the alumni, the parents of the pupils and all friends of the school for their kind assistance during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS JOSEPH QUIRK, Principal.
REPORT OF THE EVENING SCHOOL.
Milford, Mass., Jan. 8, 1918.
Mr. Almorin O. Caswell,
Superintendent of Schools, Milford, Mass. Dear Sir :
I herewith submit the report of the Evening School for the past year.
The studies offered were the same as last year with the exception of High School courses; these it was found necessary to discontinue this year.
There was a seeming lack of co-operation on the part of certain employers with regard to the attendance of minors in their employ ; unusual business activities may have been the cause; but never were evening schools so necessary, nor their work so important, as during these stirring times when there is need of true and loyal citizens ; all could well assist in aiding those of foreign birth to realize the opportunity presented by the evening school, helping them to become better Americans. I trust in the future that all will co-operate.
Thanking you and the teachers for your assistance.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM J. MOORE, Principal.
Evening school opened-October 8, 1917. Closed-December 19, 1917. Length of term-Eleven weeks.
Total enrollment-115.
Average membership-72.7.
Average attendance-58.6.
Per cent of attendance-81.
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Statistics.
Minors
79 Females 33
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