USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1929 > Part 6
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NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL. 3 repeated four times on the fire alarm.
At 7.15 a. m -No morning session for all schools, including the High School.
At 7.45 a. m. - No morning session below the High School.
At 11.45 a. m .- No afternoon session for all schools, including the High School.
At 12 m. - No afternoon session for grades below the High School.
At 6.30 p. m .- No session for the evening school.
When the no-school signal is sounded in the morn- ing and not repeated for the afternoon, there will be an afternoon session.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MILFORD : -
In the following pages will be found the annual report o f your school board, including the report of the Superintend- ent of Schools, for all of which the committee asks your thoughtful consideration, As in previous years, we are obliged to call attention to continued overcrowding. Double platooning still exists in High school and grades. The com- mittee hopes that this year the voters will end this disastrous condition.
The committee has given careful consideration to the finances of its department and recommends the following budget as necessary for the coming year:
BUDGET FOR 1930.
Teachers' Salaries
.
$150,855 00
Fuel .
9,000 00
Supplies
10,000 00
Care (Janitors' salaries)
9,800 00
Supervision (Salaries of Superintendent,
clerk and attendance officer)
5,800 00
Incidentals
Tuition- Worcester Evening Trade School
500 00
Health (Salaries of School Physicians, Nurse and supplies) .
2,500 00
Repairs
,
6,500 00
Transporaation of Pupils
.
.
5,700 00
'Transportation of Teachers
1,100 00
Night School
500 00
Continuation School
4,000 00
Total
.
$211,755 00
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN C. LYNCUI,
For the Committee.
.
.
5,500 00
Summary of Statistics.
1928-1929 Jan. 1, 1930
Public schools
72
69
School buildings
21
21
Teachers employed
100
100
High school
22
23*
Grades
72
711
Special
4
41
Continuation
2
2§
*3 men and 20 women (including one part-time tempo- rary substitute.)
11 man and 70 women (including one substitute. )
¿Teaching supervisors (one man and three women.)
SOne man and one woman.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE-1928-1929
High
Total enrollment
School
Grades
Total
Boys
265
1269
1534
Girls
268
1151
1419
Total
533
2420
2953
'Average Membership
489
2423
2912
Average Attendance
463.29
2306.69
2766.98
Percentage of Attendance
91.7
94.8
COST ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS (For the last three fiscal years)
1927
1928
1929
Salaries
70.43
69.87
71.16
Fuel
3.82
4.56
4.51
Supplies
5.19
5.73
4.45
Care
4.78
4.91
4.84
Supervision
2.90
2.95
2.75
9
Incidentals
3.03
3.03
2.72
Health
1.27
1.25
1.22
Repairs
3.45
2.71
2.93
Transportation of Pupils
2.63
2.70
2.77
Transportation of Teachers
.47
.32
.54
Night School
.25
.27
.24
Continuation School
1.78
1.70
1.87
100.00
100.00
100.00
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
TO THE HONORABLE SCHOOL
COMMITTEE OF THE TOWN OF MILFORD,
Gentlemen :---
I herewith present my 19th annual report, the 52nd of such reports in the history of the town.
The most significant fact of the school year and fiscal year under review is the continued overcrowding. The enrollment figures for October 1, 1929 showed the High school membership in excess of that of a year ago* and only a slight falling off in the enrollment of the grades, accounted for by a turn on the part of a few minors from school to industry. If Continuation school figures were in- cluded in the comparison, there would be no recession in enrollment at all, as the names of those minors 14 to 16 years of age disappearing from the pages of the regular registers would all reappear in the register of the Contin- uation schools.
The High school is double platooned now for the sixth year and there are still fifteen half day classes in the grades.
*High school enrollment Oct. 28, 1929, 533, equal to the enroll- ment for the entire school year, 1928-1929.
A NEW HIGH SCHOOL
The enrollment of the High school as of January 1, 1918, was 347. There were High school divisions resident in the Stacy school from the very date of the opening of that school-March 1, 1917.
Crowded conditions at the High and Stacy schools were definitely pointed out in the school report for 1920-1921, with a definite recommendation by the undersigned- "More room for the High school."
"More room must be provided in the central part of the
11
town, and, make what haste we may, we shall hardly es- cape a transition period of temporary quarters and ar- rangements most difficult and unsatisfactory always."
We have had from ten to sixteen double platoons in the grades for the last eight or nine years and the High school has been double platooned for the last six years.
The warning was renewed in the report for 1922- 1923 :-
"For the last two years, the problem (of overcrowd- ing) has only been handled at all by vastly overcrowding the school rooms that we had. As one year ago in the High school, there are home rooms in the library and two laboratories and classes in the assembly hall, besides classes in three rooms in the Stacy school. Furthermore, the Stacy school, driven out of three of its own rooms, is using the sewing room and Portable No. 2."
"There can be but one result of such educational mal- practice, worn-out teachers, half-trained pupils and exces- sive numbers found below grade."
A TRUSTWORTHY WARNING IN 1922; A DISASTROUS FACT IN 1929.
Definite steps were taken in 1924 and the first of three definite plans that have been proposed in the last five years,-hence often referred to as Plan No. 1,-was an- nounced. This was a proposed addition built on in front of the present High school according to plans, specifica- tions and description by Mr. Robert Allen Cook, Archi- tect, published in the school report for 1923-1924.
This plan failed and at the town meeting in March, 1925, a committee on school accommodations, comprising the School Board, Board of Selectmen and two citizens was appointed to recanvass the entire matter.
The committee on school accommodations already re- ferred to had several meetings during 1926 and Messrs. Robert A. Cook and Wendell T. Phillips associated them- selves and presented plans for a modern High school unit to accommodate 500 pupils, to be located at the corner
12
of Spruce and School streets, to be connected with the George E. Stacy school by an enclosed portico, providing for immediate needs of the High school and so arranged that by overflowing into the Stacy building, with which it would be connected, the future expansion of the High school would be taken care of for the next ten years.
The above plan, No. 2 in the series referred to, at the town meeting in March, 1926, met the fate of its predeces- sor. As appears in the school report for 1926-1927, the committee on school accommodations, after a number of meetings, reported at the next town meeting plans for a new High school unit with elevation, plans and descrip- tive matter by the architects, Messrs. Robert Allen Cook and Wendell T. Phillips, Associated, for a new High school to be located in the rear of the present building, extending over into the park and connected to the present building by a closed corridor, two stories and basement in height.
To realize plan No. 3, referred to above, it was neces- sary to secure legislative permission to take a small sec- tion of the town park. Owing to certain phrases incor- porated in the report of the legislative committee recom- mending such enabling act, whereby (1) the entire pro- posal must be submitted to a referendum and (2) the project could only be taken up at a regular annual town meeting and, furthermore, owing to the fact that the act was not reported back as passed and signed by the Gov- ernor until after the regular annual town meeting of 1927 was over, the whole matter was lost for one year. Mean- while there has existed for six years a situation of ex- treme overcrowding of our educational system at the top where demands on the students are the most severe- many of these demands fixed by outside authorities, de- mands in the fixing of which we have no control-and this situation has constantly grown worse until it has been definitely established that under present conditions our young people have an unfair and unnecessary difficulty
1
13
in coping with the entrance examination requirements for the higher institutions of learning.
The hour has struck when Milford must decide whether she will provide the plant and equipment for a real High school or continue a policy of inadequate quarters, short- ened sessions and lack of equipment calculated to wear out teachers, defraud and discourage students and end in disaster. Fortunately, there are many signs of a general realization of present conditions and the urgency of the need. Attention is called to a recent pronouncement of the Board of Selectmen recommending the expenditure of from $300,000 to $400,000 for more school room. I sub- mit :- there has been ample discussion, there have been full explanations, there has been sufficient argument; and I appeal, that by enlightened, forward-looking action in the coming town meeting, an end be made of this situa- tion.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS
High school
ENTERED THE SERVICE
Miss Josephine Calarese as a part-time substitute in the Commercial department.
Grades
LEFT THE SERVICE
November 15, 1929, Miss Helen M. Quirk, a strong teacher in the schools since 1917 and in recent years a teacher of Mathematics in the Stacy school, resigned to accept a position in the schools of Framingham.
Miss Grace B. Higgiston, an excellent teacher in the schools since 1908, resigned October 25, 1929, to become Mrs. Arthur Sprague.
At the close of the Fall term, Miss Teresa K. Julian, teacher of the afternoon platoon at the Fountain Street school, resigned to become Mrs. Elmer K. Trask.
ENTERED THE SERVICE
Miss Margaret M. Gilroy, Milford High School, 1925, Framingham Normal School, 1927, was elected. late in
14
November and assigned to succeed Miss Quirk in the Stacy school.
Miss M. Avis Moran, Framingham Normal School, 1927; assigned to special class Claflin school.
Miss Lillian M. Bellofatto, Milford High School, 1925, Framingham Normal School, 1927, assigned to special sixth grade, Plains Primary school.
TRANSFERS
Miss Isabelle MacLachlan, (with class) from a High school portable to the Plains Primary school.
Miss Rita J. Edwards from Grade III-IV, Plains Pri- mary school to the afternoon platoon, Grade I, at the West Street school.
Miss Regina M. Swift from Grade II, Claflin school to the afternoon platoon, Grade II, West Street school.
Miss Flora M. Youngson from the afternoon platoon, Grade IV, Claflin school to the afternoon platoon, Grade III, Oliver Street school.
Miss Esther L. Gagliardi (with class) from a High school portable to the Claflin school; Claflin school to the afternoon platoon, grades III-IV succeeding Miss Julian, resigned.
Miss Florentia Sennott from Grade V-VI, Plains Pri- mary school to the third special class at the High school portable.
CHANGES IN TEXT BOOKS
Formerly adopted, and introduced during the year: Barber's Junior High School Mathematics, Seventh Grade, (adoption completed) ; Barber's Junior High School Mathematics, Eighth Grade, (adoption com- pleted) .
HIGH SCHOOL
For the sixth year, the High school is double platooned, in antequated, inadequate quarters, without assembly hall, library, gymnasium, lunch room or sufficient labora-
15
tories. Principal Thomas J. Quirk's report is as fol- lows :-
"On October 28, 1929, 240 boys and 293 girls were at- tending the High School.
"The only change in the personnel of the faculty dur- ing the year was the addition of Miss Josephine Calarese, a graduate of our school, and a graduate of Bay Path Institute, as a part time substitute teacher in the Com- mercial Department.
"Several changes have been made in home room as- signments and a new physical laboratory has been pro- vided by remodeling the old sewing room of the Stacy School. Some alterations were made in the chemical lab- oratory which have greatly assisted us in our laboratory work. In September, cooking was elected by 24 pupils who are taking the subject in the Continuation School cooking room. The instructors, student teachers from Framingham Normal school, are doing excellent work.
"The commencement exercises in June were excellent. A complete list of the graduates and the program will be found in this report. As usual, Miss Dorcas Whipple, Supervisor of Art, had charge of the beautiful decora- tions at the Town Hall and Miss Helena F. Swift, Super- visor of Music, conducted the excellent musical program. Hon. John C. Lynch, the genial chairman of the School Board, presented the diplomas to the graduates and spoke impressively on Education. The following awards were made near the close of the exercises :
"The four Patrick Peace Prizes, offered by Mrs. Cora Cushman of Hopedale, daughter of the late Henry L. Patrick, were won by students of our High school. The subject this year was "The Kellogg Peace Pact-A Guar- anty of World Peace." As usual the students from Men- don, Hopedale and Milford High schools competed. The first prize of $25 in gold was awarded to Gordon A. Shaw, president of the Senior Class; the second prize, $20 in gold to Pearl W. Rose, '29; the third prize, $15 in gold to
16
Anthony Ferrucci, president of the Junior Class; the fourth prize, $10 in gold to Evelyn Merrilees, '29.
"The Dr. John V. Gallagher medal, given annually to the student in the Senior Class who earns his letter in Athletics at least. three times and obtains the highest scholastic average of those eligible for the prize was won by James A. Sibson, captain of the football team and a member of the baseball team.
"The Washington and Franklin medal, given for excel- lence in the study of U. S. History, was awarded to J. Russell Brown. This medal is given annually by the Massachusetts Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
"Two medals, given annually by the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution awarded on the basis of dependability, co-operation, leadership, personal conduct and patriotism as evidenced by loyalty to and the knowl- edge of the Preamble of the Constitution were awarded to Anna C. Boyle representing the girls and Laurence F. Granger, representing the boys. These medals were pre- sented to the school by a member of the W. R. C., No. 72. The winners of these medals in addition to eight others submitted essays on the subject "The Hall Mark of a Real Citizen" and a prize of $10 in gold, given by this same friend of the school, was awarded to Laurence F. Gran- ger.
"The book prize given by the Class of 1917 to the mem- ber of the graduating class having the best record in the classical subjects of History, Latin and English was won by Pearl W. Rose. Raymond Peterson ranked second and was awarded a book-the gift of a friend of the school.
"The book prize given by the David Garrick Dramatic Club to the senior who rendered the most faithful service during his two years membership was won by Charles L. McGee.
"The Posture medal, given annually by Miss Sadie A. O'Connell, teacher of Expression, to the student of the Expression Class who has shown, by the end of the year,
-
SGLAS
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ILFO
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MIL FORD
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MIL FOR
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MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM, 1929.
MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL TEAM, 1929.
17
the greatest development in posture was presented to Lily E. Lawson.
"Another beautiful prize was added to our Commence- ment awards when Mr. John E. Swift, a member of our school committee and a graduate of our school informed me that he planned to present annually a gold medal for excellence in oratory. In order to award the Swift Medal an oratorical contest was held in the Assembly Hall in June and seven students took part. At its close three non-resident judges unanimously awarded the medal to Paul J. Apicella, '29. This oratorical contest, in the future, will be held annually in February and the medal will be awarded at the commencement exercises the fol- lowing June. As time goes on a great deal of interest in oratory is sure to be stimulated.
"The awarding of medals and prizes at commencement time arouses much interest in the various branches in which the awards are made and I hope other public- spirited people in Milford will offer prizes for Excellence in the different branches of learning.
"The class of 1930 conducted its Junior Prom in the Red Men's Hall early in 1929 and the party was a great success. Several small dances and the annual May dance were held under the auspices of the Senior class. The receipts of the dances were placed in the class treasuries,
"A debating club was formed in the Freshman class last year and has been functioning well under the guid- ance of Miss Inez SanClemente. Several debates were held during the year and it is hoped that a Sophomore vs. Freshman debate can be held during the middle of April.
"The annual issue of the Oak, Lily and Ivy was pub- lished in June. As usual, Miss Marion A. Ryan of the English department directed the literary work and i - Lillian L. Egan had charge of the advertising. Sweaters were purchased for those who earned their letter during the school year 1928-1929 from the receipts of the pub- lication.
"The David Garrick Dramatic Club had a number of
18
very successful meetings during the year and presented to the public on May 27, three plays, "The Unseen," "Mani- kin and Minikin" and "The Three Gifts." To Miss O'Con- nell, director of the club and those who took part in the plays, I extend my congratulations for their excellent work.
"One of our Seniors was awarded one of the ten main prizes in the Boston Traveler Short Story Contest, open to students of the High Schools of New England. The tenth prize, $5 in gold was won by J. Russell Brown with his story "The Gold Star". "Laughs" by Miss Lily Lawson was one of the "Stories of Distinction" and Miss Grace Oliveri's story "The Miser's Fate", was printed in The Traveler. I am very much pleased at the success of these students and I wish to compliment Miss Ryan.
"Early in the year a French Club was organized by Miss Margaret Pianca, teacher of French and German. This club meets weekly. Much extra reading in French is done and the results of this club are most satisfactory.
"The year 1929 has been most eventful for our Athle- tic teams. Our third baseball pennant in four years was captured by the baseball team and our first Midland League football pennant in a quarter of a century was won by the football team. The whole baseball season was very successful and the football team was one of the best that has represented the school in years. The team won eight of its ten games. The baseball pennant was pre- sented to the school in November by Mr. Alfred J. Riani, secretary of the Midland League and was accepted by the principal of the school. At the assembly, Superintendent Caswell. Coach Riopel and sub-master Berry spoke. The 1929 football pennant will be presented to the school early in January. To Mr. Albert D. Riopel, physical instructor in our schools, I extend my congratulations and to the boys who represented our school on the diamond and the gridiron I offer the highest praise. Miss Agnes R. Lynch of the Commercial Department has faithfully served as
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assistant treasurer of the Athletic Association during the past year.
"The following gifts were received during the year : Class of 1929-$22.71 (added to the Honor Roll Fund) . Mr. Herbert L. Holmes a graduate of our school in the class of 1871,-ten volumes of "Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War", one volume of "Putnam's Archaeological Exploration in Tennessee", one volume of "Walks and Talks in the Geological Field", one volume of "Panama Canal" and one volume of "Pictures of Famous Scenes, Cities and Paintings."
"In last year's Town Report mention was made that a number of volumes were presented to the High School Library by Miss Eurania A. Lawrence. It should have been reported that these volumes were the gift of Miss Nettie E. Day, class of 1875.
"I cannot too strongly impress upon parents the need of a stronger co-operation between the home and the school. I have found that in a number of cases parents are careless about the attendance of their children at school. In many instances I have learned that very little or no home study is done. Finally, it should also be men- tioned that a closer vigilance over the progress of your sons and daughters would be very helpful to their progress in school. There is very little or no time in school for the preparation of lessons because of our crowded conditions. Indifference about attendance in school usually brings about failure.
"I should like to recommend that a Summer School of six wecks be established. Such a school would offer to'the students of the first and second year classes an oppor- tunity to make up deficiencies and to take one semester's work in an advanced subject.
"During the past year our janitor M. Marcus Moran passed away after a faithful service of a quarter of a century and his loss was keenly felt by the faculty and the students."
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GEORGE E. STACY SCHOOL
On the year's work of the Stacy school, Principal Davo- ren comments as follows :-
"The only major change made in the administration of the Stacy school during the past year has been the in- stallation of a system of permanent records. This system provides a complete history of the child's scholarship, health, and social record during attendance at the school and his industrial career after leaving.
"The Mothercraft class, sponsored by Quinshipaug Woman's Club and taught by Mrs. William E. Sherborne, has maintained its popularity as an elective course and should prove a valuable training for the girls who re- ceive its benefits.
"The trustees of Milford Public Library have provided a mimeographed list containing the titles and authors of over 1,000 books for our library reading course. This list was prepared by the teachers, in co-operation with Miss Blake and contains only such books as are considered sufficiently valuable to be used in conjunction with our reading and literature courses.
"All rooms are now provided with the recently adopted "Barber Junior High School Mathematics" and the eighth grade algebra classes are using the Johnson and Belcher Algebra text.
"Through Mr. Quirk's kindness in arranging his sched- ules we have been allowed the use of the High school as- sembly hall. This overcomes one of the chief difficulties the Stacy school has had to contend with :- the lack of a suitable meeting place for the presentation of special programs. The first assembly was in the nature of a Thanksgiving program and other programs are in process of preparation.
"Medals, offered by the D. A. R. for good scholarship and school citizenship, were won by Mary Deletti, Law- rence Doyle, Pia Canal, Biagio Tomaso, Lena Ramelli, Arnoldo Tedeschi, Alyce Youngson, Joseph Alberto,
21
Harold Mattson, Catherine Iacovelli, William Grillo, and Elsie Lamborghini.
"Lawrence Doyle and Mary Deletti were awarded American Legion citizenship medals at the Memorial Day exercises held in the Town Hall. These medals are awarded annually to the boy and girl in the graduating class who best typify prescribed standards of character and scholarship,
"Miss Catherine Naughton was the winner of the five dollar gold piece presented by Principal John L. Davoren for the best book report written during the year. Miss Ethelwyn Blake was chairman of the committee of judges which chose Miss Naughton's report on 'Captain s Cour- ageous' as worthy of the prize."
GIFTS DURING THE YEAR
In addition to High school gifts already ,enumerated there were gifts to grade schools during the year as fol- lows :
Park school: A window box from the Quinshipaug Woman's Club.
Spruce Street school: A Columbia grafonola and records from Mr. Henry L. Schultz; Grade IV, 1929, do- nated 84 books for a school library (64 of the above were from Miss Florence Cenedella ) .
Oliver Street school: From the teachers of the school, furnishings for a rest room-couch, table, chairs, a pic- ture, a rug and draperies, Grade IV presented a picture for their room.
Purchase Grammar school: A silk flag by the Women's Relief Corps.
CONTINUATION SCHOOLS GIRLS' SCHOOL
From Miss Quirk's report of the school, I quote :-
"Sixty-three pupils were enrolled in the girls' continua- tion school during the first week of school and at present, eighty-three pupils are enrolled. The total enrollment is about twice that of last year.
22
"In the academic classes, instruction is given in Eng- lish, Hygiene, Citizenship and Arithmetic. Much interest is shown in the Foods and Clothing classes. The choice, care, preparation and serving of health-giving and body- building foods and the making, care and repair of cloth- ing are taken up in these classes. This year many attrac- tive and useful Christmas gifts were made. The girls are encouraged to plan and to make clothing for the younger members of their families as well as for themselves."
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