USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Milford > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Milford, Massachusetts 1934 > Part 7
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"Resolved: That we extend to the be- reaved family our sincerest sympathy, hoping that their grief may be mitigated by submission to the Divine Will, and by the sure knowledge of that eternal happiness which is the reward of a pure and beautiful life.
"Resolved: That these resolutions be inscribed on our records, and that a copy be presented to the family of the deceased."
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HIGH LIGHTS OF 1934
HEALTH
1. Anti-diphtheria immunization continued.
2. Still further increase in the percentage of nor- mals. (See the Report of the School Physicians). SAFETY
3. Attention paid to fire escapes, fire drills, fire ex- tinguishers. (Four new Badger type extinguish- ers, etc., purchased to replace defective ones. ) EDUCATIONAL
5. On the 13th year of double platooning at the High School, but the school is still in Class A.
5. New High School addition begun.
6. Milford High School students won the first and. third Patrick Peace Prize essays.
7. The school children saved, during the year, under the leadership of the Milford Savings Bank, $10,- 517.38,-$1,916.01 more than during the previous year. Furthermore, Milford secured an honorable mention with a record of 85% of her school chil- dren saving.
IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PLANT
8. Braggville School modernized; cement concrete. sidewalks built in front of the Stacy School, and. walks and granite steps built in the Stacy front yard (C.W.A.); two buildings electrically equipped; several buildings redecorated inside, (C.W.A .- E.R.A. wholly or in part-see section on repairs).
VOCATIONAL PROGRESS
9. A new vocational class of girls in cooperation with the State Board of Education, has been started in the George E. Stacy School. (See report of the Stacy School.)
ATHLETICS
10. The baseball team of 1934 won 13 games out of 15 games played, with a long and fairly heavy schedule.
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MILFORD HIGH SCHOOL-CLASS OF 1934.
School Calendar.
Term.
School. All.
Began. Sept. 10, 1934.
Length of Term.
15 weeks.
Closed. Dec. 21, 1934. Closes. Feb. 15, 1935. April 12, 1935. June 27, 1935. June 14, 1935.
Length of Vacation. I week.
Winter, 1935.
All.
Begins. Jan. 2, 1935.
7 weeks.
I week. I week. 5
Spring, 1935.
All.
Feb. 25, 1935.
7 weeks.
Summer, 1935. High.
April 22, 1935 ..
10 weeks.
Grades.
April 22, 1935.
8 weeks.
Holidays occuring in term time :-
1934 .- Columbus Day. Friday. October 12. exercises in the schools, Thursday, October 11: Armistice Day, Monday, Novem- ber 12, exercises in the schools, Friday. November 9; Thanksgiving Day recess, November 29 and 30, exercises in 'the schools, Wednesday, November 28.
1935 .- Lincoln's Birthday. Tuesday, February 12, exercises in the schools; Memorial Day, Thursday, May 30, exercises in the schools Wednesday, May 29.
Fall, 1934.
School Committee.
PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION.
Name.
Member of Committee on
Business Address.
Tel.
Residence. Tel.
Term Expires
Alfred B. Cenedella, Esq., Ch. Care of Buildings,
Green Block. 1070.
175 Congress St.
1936. .
George F. Grayson.
Westcott Co.
884-W. 16 Elm St.
I545. 489-M. 1936.
William J. Moore, Esq.
Care of Buildings. Teachers and Salaries. Rules and Regulations. Finance. Books and Supplies. Teachers and Salaries.
Spindleville. Washington Blk. I267. 25₺ Grove St.
731-J.
1937.
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Charles F. Curtin.
Rules and Regulations. Finance.
16 Parker Hill Av. 122.
1935.
Nathan Rosenfeld, Esq.
Books and Supplies. Teachers and Salaries.
189 Main St.
1625.
40 Cedar St. I299.
1935.
SUB-COMMITTEES.
. Rules and Regulations, Finance,
.
Mr. Moore, Mr. Curtin.
Mr. Moore, Mr. Curtin.
Care of Buildings, .
Books and Supplies, .
.
.
.
Mr. Cenedella, Mr. Grayson. Mr. Rosenfeld,
Teachers and Salaries, .
.
Mr. Rosenfeld, Mr. Grayson.
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SUPERINTENDENT, SECRETARY, DIRECTOR OF CONTINUATION SCHOOL. ALMORIN O. CASWELL.
The superintendent is a member of each sub-commit- tee, ex-officio.
Superintendent's office and Committee Room, Ex- change Building, 197 Main St., Rooms ) and 3. Tele- phone 505. Office hours, 8 to 9 a. m. and 4 to 5.30 p. m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Thursday even- ing, 7.30 to 8.30.
Residence, 89 Congress St. Telephone 646.
CLERK.
Miss Margaret C. Dillon. Residence, Highland St. Telephone 537-W.
CLERK OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE HIGH SCHOOL.
Miss Evelyn Moore, 16t Congress street.
Telephones: High School, 18, Residence, 534-R.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
The regular meetings of the committee are held on the first Friday of each month in the committee room.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
John M. French, M. D. Office and residence, 2 South Main street. Tel. 38.
John V. Gallagher, M. D. Office, 224 Main street. Telephone 127-W. Residence, 9 State street. Telephone 127-Y.
SCHOOL NURSE.
Mrs. Mary E. Naughton, R. N. Office, Room 1, 197 Main Street.
Telephone 505.
Residence, 31 Forest street, Milford, Mass. Telephone 763-W.
DENTAL CLINIC. (Operated by the Board of Health.) Office, Room 11, 224 Main street.
CLINICIAN.
William J. Clancy, D. M. D.
Residence, 40 High street. Telephone 566-R.
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS.
Raphael Marino.
Office, 144 Main street. Residence, 17 Court street. Telephone 804-M.
Almorin O. Caswell. Office, Exchange Building, 197 Main St .; Rooms I and 3. Telephone 505. Residence, Sy Congress street. Telephone 646.
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TUITION RATES.
High School, $2.00 per week, Grades, $1.55 per week? payable four weeks in advance.
SCHOOL SESSIONS.
High School-
Morning session, 8.00 a. m. to 12.50 p. m. Afternoon session, 1.00 p. m. to 4.57 p. m.
George E. Stacy School-
9.00 a. m. to 11.45 m., and 1.20 p. m. to 3.30 p. m.
Town Grade School ?-
8.45 a. m. to 11.45 a. m. and 1.30 p, m. to 3.30 p. m.
Spruce St. School, Grade IV.
Oliver St. School, Grades III. and IV .; (Double Platoon) - Morning session, 8.30 a. m. to 12.30 p. m.
Afternoon session, 12.30 p. m. to 4.30 p. m.
Claflin School, Grade II .-
Morning session. 8.30 a. m. to 11.45 p. m
Afternoon session, 12.15 p. m. to 3.30 p. m.
Fountain Street School-
Grades I. and II .. 8.30 a. m. to 11.45 a. m.
Grades III. and IV., 12.15 p. m. to 4.30 p. m.
Special Class (in High School Portable)-
I to 5 p. m.
Country Schools-
9.00 a. m. to 12.00 m., 1.00 p. m. to 3.00 p. m.
Continuation School-
Girls-1.15 p. m. to 5.15 p. m .. Thursday and Friday.
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 :-
Again we invite your careful consideration of the following report of the School Department for 1934.
The story of the school physicians and nurse shows a still further advance in the health conditions of the school children.
An addition to the present High School building that, when completed, will furnish a handsome, com- modious, modern High School plant, is well under way, It is hoped to realize and return to a single session for all the High School students early next Fall.
The Braggville School has been completely modern- ized, duplicating the plan at the Fountain Street (C.W.A.) and extensive improvements (also C.W.A .- E.R.A.) have been made to a number of the school plants, a more complete story of which will be found in the sections on repairs in the Superintendent's re- port, as well as recommendations for a further mod- ernizing of the school plant as a whole.
It is with feelings of keen regret that this depart- ment loses the wise counsel, aggressive service and loyalty to principle that were characteristic of Mr. Carroll A. Cole. a member of the School Committee since 1931, who resigned from this committee about November 1, 1934, having transferred his residence to Framingham.
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BUDGET FOR 1935
Teachers' Salaries
$152,086.00
Fuel
8,000.00
Supplies
7,000.00
Care (Janitors' Salaries)
13,014.00
Supervision
(Salaries of the Superintendent, Clerk
and Supervisor of Attendance)
6,400.00
Incidentals
6,000.00
Tuition (Worcester Trade School)
2,000.00
Health (Salaries of the School Physicians and Nurse, and Supplies)
2,600.00
Repairs
4,000.00
Transportation of Pupils
4,400.00
Transportation of Teachers
1,100.00
Vocational
Continuation School
1,200.00
Vocational Class
1,200.00
$209,000.00
ALFRED B. CENEDELLA, For the Committee.
Summary of Statistics.
1933-34
Jan. 1, 1935
Public Schools
68
63
School Buildings
20
20
Teachers Employed
102*
104*
High School
29a
29b
Grades
68c
69c
Specials
4d
4đ
+
Continuation School
1e
1e
Vocational School
1f
*Includes one part-time woman and one man count- ed twice.
aSeven men and 22 women, including one part- time woman and one man counted twice.
bEight men and 21 women, including one part-time woman and one more counted twice.
cOne man, the remainder women, including three teachers of atypical classes.
dTeaching Supervisors (one man and three women)} eOne woman.
fOne woman.
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SCHOOL ATTENDANCE 1933-1934
Total Enrollment :
High School 329
Grades 1,174
Total 1,503
Boys
Girls
377
1,053
1,430
Totals
706
2,227
2,933
Average Membership
660
2,158
2,818
Average Attendance
620
2,052
2,672
Percentage of Attendance
94%
95%
94.8%)
Net School Costs for 1934.
The net school costs in Milford for 1934 were $179, 369.89, as shown by the following table :-
STATEMENT OF NET SCHOOL COSTS Gross Expenditures $204,786.31
Receipts :
Public School Fund
$19,549.80
Tuition :
Individuals
20.25
State Wards
2,294.56
Boston Wards
936.99
1
Bellingham Wards
1,459.70
Miscellaneous Receipts
34.27
Reimbursements :
4
2
Worcester Trade School
816.72
Continuation Sshool
304.13
25,416.42
Net Cost to Milford
$179,369.89
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Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the Honorable School Committee of the Town of Milford :-
Gentlemen :
I herewith present my 24th annual report, the 56th of such reports in Milford.
THERE ARE STILL PLATOONS
There are still ten double platoons (half-day ses- sions) in the public schools in Milford. I recommend that on the completion of the High School addition, the portables now in the High School yard be taken down, transferred to the Oliver Street yard and erect- ed there, where they will serve the double purpose of housing pupils now platooned and affording a con- venient polling place for Ward No. 4, equipped as they are with movable desk-chair units.
GIFTS DURING THE YEAR
The thanks and appreciation of this department are due, and are heartily extended, to the Milford Lions' Club, for repeating their splendid charity of a year ago and furnishing milk to all the first graders in the public schools.
Two beautiful flags were presented to the sixth- grade rooms, at the South School, by the Woman's Relief Corps.
Mrs. Frances Sherman presented the second grade, at the Chapin Street School, a Victrola and records, that are much enjoyed. Miss Ida LaRoque presented to the first grade a collection of records for the Vic- trola.
HEALTH
The report of the School Physicians reveals the fact that a higher percentage of Normals was found among
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the school children in 1934 than the high percentage found in 1933.
PERCENTAGES OF NORMALS IN 1933 AND 1934.
1933
1934
Increase in Points
Primary Schools
34%
37 %
3
Grammar Schools
50%
53%
3
High School
60%
67%
7
All the Schools
46 %
50%
4
The following table is interesting and significant :-
The following table shows percentage of Normals, year by year :
PERCENTAGE OF NORMALS FROM 1911 TO 1934 INCLUSIVE
1907
Not Given
First Period
1908
For the first 4 years no rec-
1909
ord was preserved
1910
66
1911
9 percent
1912
12
1913
13
66
1915
12
1916
12
Second Period
1917
12
1918
15
66
9 to 15%
1920
12
66
1921
12
Average 12+
1922
10
1923
14
66
1924
22
66
1925
28
66
1926
26
1927
24
1928
23
Third Period
1929
25
66
22 to 36%
1930
31
1931
33
66
Average 28 % +
1932
36
1933
46
66
Fourth Period
1934
50
66
46 to 50%. Average 48 % .
1914
11
For the years 1911 to 1923, inclusive, the proportion of normals varied from 9 to 15 %
1919
14
For the years from 1924 to 1934, inclusive, it varies from 22% to 36 %
15
The third period, during which the average percent- age of Normals increased from 12% to 28%, began soon after the securing of the present school nurse, and is due in considerable measure to her skill, promptness, tireless efforts and cooperation with the school physicians, to whom also much credit is due. Also the period under discussion began in the same year that a director of physical education was appointed in Milford. Again, praise is due the State Board of Health, for their wise and progressive lead- ership. Finally full recognition is due, and is hereby extended, to the teachers, for their whole-hearted cooperation with this leadership.
CHANGES IN TEACHERS
High School-Left the Service
Miss May A. Comba, for fifteen years a teacher in the High School, retired from the service on Novem- ber 24, 1934, to become Mrs. Frank Curtin of North Abington. The best wishes of a host of friends go with Dr. and Mrs. Curtin.
Miss Lillian L. Egan, a Commercial teacher since 1924, resigned at the end of the summer term, to be- come Mrs. John T. O'Brien of Milford.
Miss M. Gertrude Cahill, a teacher in the High School since 1927, retired at the end of the school year to become Mrs. George Gallagher of Clinton.
Miss Rita Kellett, a teacher in the High School since 1931, left the service at the end of June, 1934, to be- come Mrs. William Hanlon of Milford.
Entered the Service
Miss Mary Burns, Milford High School, '28; A.B., B. U., '32.
Miss Florence Snow, Milford High School, '28; S.B., B. U., '31.
Miss Lucy Iacovelli, Milford High School, '28; A.B., B. U., '32.
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Miss Eva Burns (made a full time Commercial teacher) .
Miss Ida Kurlansky, Milford High School, '26; fitted at Bay Path (half time Commercial teacher).
Mr. Robert Cenedella, Milford High School, '28; Williston Academy, '29; A.B., Colgate University, '33.
Grades-Left the Service
Miss Alice Birmingham, a teacher in the public schools since 1925, resigned at the end of the spring term to become Mrs. Walter Mahoney of Framing- ham.
Miss Mary E. Finnegan of the South School, a teach- er since 1915, resigned October 24, 1934, to become Mrs. Charles B. Mulcahy of Woonsocket.
Miss Irene Hogan of Grade V, Plains Grammar School, a teacher since 1912, resigned at the end of the school year to become Mrs. John Williams of Hope- dale.
RETIREMENT OF MISS AMES
Miss Alice M. Ames, Principal of the Chapin Street School, retired at the end of the school year, 1933- 1934, rounding out a service period of 46 years! Miss Ames was always fair, patient and considerate of the children, and, naturally moved among them in an at- mosphere of confidence and happiness. Miss Ames received suitable recognition from her fellow teachers.
DEATH OF MISS KENNEY
This department as well as the community at large was shocked at the untimely death on December 10, 1934, after a short illness, of Miss Mabel A. Kenney of the Oliver Street School, a teacher in the service since 1917. (See Page 3.)
Grades- Entered the Service
Miss Anne Gillon, Milford High School, '26, Fram- ingham Normal School, '28, assigned to Grade IV, Spruce Street School.
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Miss Mary K. Downey, St. Mary's, '27, Framingham Normal School, '29, with three years' experience in North Brookfield, was assigned to Grade V, South School.
Miss Rita Mawn, Milford High School, '26, Fram- ingham Normal School, '28, with five years' experi- ence in Holliston, was assigned to the sixth grade, South School.
Miss Vera O'Neil, Milford High School, '27, Fram- ingham Normal School, '29, assigned to the up-town special class.
Miss Cecilia Apicella, Milford High 'School, '26, Framingham Normal School, '28, with five years' ex- perience in Upton, was assigned to the Stacy voca- tional class.
Miss Grace Connolly, Milford High School, '27, Framingham Normal School, '29, was assigned to sec- ond grade at the Oliver Street School.
Transfers
Miss Grace Brown, from fifth grade, Park School, to fifth grade, Claflin School.
THE OUTLOOK
The committee and the citizens of Milford are to be felicitated upon the fact that the new High School plant promises adequate accommodations for a few years ahead of the need-that your committee has not made the mistake-all too common-of building to date, or even less than that!
If the changes in the Federal Government's plans of relief, recently suggested, are followed, there would be an excellent opportunity to improve the de- partment's heating plants in several districts, secure improved janitor service and, at the same time, furnish employment. Definite recommendations along this line will be found at the close of this report.
The above is in no way a reflection on our janitors, but a recognition of, and calling the public's attention to, the
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fact that all our school-janitor units are undermanned and underpaid, for the work that has to be done !
HIGH SCHOOL .
The work on the new High School addition is well under way and the happy ending of the unfortunate conditions of thirteen years' standing is in sight. Great credit is due to the High School faculty that our High School has maintained class A rank all this time. It is a pleasure to give this recognition. Mr. Berry's re- port follows :-
Milford High School opened on Monday, September tenth, with a prospective enrollment of seven hundred and forty-six. This was the largest enrollment in the history of the schoool. By the second week of school, the actual membership was seven hundred and twenty. Each clas; showed an increased membership over the previous year.
Every room in the building, including the Teachers' room, is in constant use throughout the day. The as- sembly hall is now being used as a study room, which allows for fewer distractions in the class room, since but a few classes have any study pupils.
Work on the new addition to the High School has already begun, and no longer is it necessary to inform the voters of the town about the crowded conditions. The children of Milford need no longer be deprived of their educational rights.
The practice started last year of having a teachers' meeting each month was again carried out. These meetings are helpful to the teachers because a free discussion of problems is a regular order of procedure. They are a help to the students because students and their cases are taken up individually.
The school committee further proved their co-opera- tion in June when they issued the so-called partial diploma certificate. No pupil should leave High School until properly graduated, but since the value
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of this procedure is not clearly understood at times, parents and guardians, misled by the child himself, have caused embarrassment to the school department by their insistence on some evidence that the child has finished four years in attendance at High School. The partial diploma takes care of this attendance and no more. The regular diploma is the only evidence of satisfactory completion of the work demanded during the years of attendance. The regular diploma is the only evidence that can be used as a recommendation for future schooling or work. Parents should heed this warning and insist that, unless their child can complete the work required in a satisfactory way, he must return for another year to earn his diploma. A regular diploma shows something which has been earned through hard work; a partial diploma is no more than mute evidence of time wasted, because all who apply themselves are capable of earning a regu- lar, much to be prized, High School diploma.
It seems pertinent at this time to mention the selec- tion of courses to be taken by the students. Any child who shows scholastic ability should prepare himself for future schooling. It is a sad thing to find a boy or girl in the last year suddenly waking up to the fact that the course chosen does not fit him or her for the work planned. Parents should seek advice and help from the school authorities, who are not only willing but anxious to help at all times. Parents are too ready to request the dropping of a subject because their child complains that the subject is too difficult for him. No child should be allowed to drop any subject until his parents have first seen the Principal of the School. The courses offered in the Milford High School compare most favorably with any other school, be it in city or town.
During the year there were four additions and three resignations in the High School faculty. Miss Eva Burns, Miss Mary L. Burns, Mr. Robert Cenedella, and
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Miss Florence Snow are now regular members of car faculty. Miss Ida Kurlansky is a part-time member of the faculty. Miss Lillian L. Egan, Miss Rita Kellett, Miss May A. Comba, and Miss Gertrude Cahill re- signed during the year. (See "Changes in Teachers".) Junior Science Club-
The Junior Science Club reorganized in October. This is the fifth year of the Club, the object of which is to develop an interest in Science in general. The membership is limited to those Juniors and Seniors who have had one year of some science.
David Garrick Dramatic Club-
Another school year finds the David Garrick Dram- atic Club still endeavoring to give its members some information as to what goes on behind the footlights on the professional stage and to get them interested in good plays by producing and attending such whenever. possible. With over one hundred seemingly vitally enthusiastic members, the Garrick Club is looking for- ward to a year of great activity.
Freshman Debating and Public Speaking Club-
The Freshman Debating and Public Speaking Club now has a membership of ninety. The purposes of this Club are to assist pupils in overcoming self-conscious- ness, and to foster and develop the ability to express one's thoughts clearly and convincingly. Members are drilled not only in platform manners, but are assisted in acquiring the poise and self-confidence which is too often lacking.
Senior Glee Club-
Miss Helena F. Swift, supervisor of music, has or- ganized a Glee Club from the members of the Senior class. She plans to have this Club render programs for the school at various times during the year. The first was given before Christmas, and was not only appropriate but most interesting to all the teachers
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and students who were fortunate enough to be able to hear it.
Dante Club-
The Dante Club was organized in 1933,, by Mr. James V. Zurlo, for the purpose of taking up outside of the class room, subjects dealing with Italian life, history, and traditions. The enrollment for the pres- ent year is made up of eighty-four members of the Italian classes, and meetings are held on every other Friday evening in the assembly hall of the High School.
Milford High School Orchestra-
The Milford High School Orchestra reorganized this year with an increased membership. It is ably direct- ed by Mr. Ben C. Lancisi.
GEORGE E. STACY SCHOOL
The chief change in the administration of the Stacy School during the year 1934 was the introduction of new courses in Home Economics. In previous reports I referred to the need of special provision for. those girls who did not plan to enter High School and these new courses were added to meet their needs ..
Miss Beatrice J. Fleming was in charge of the new department and the best tribute I can pay to the suc- cess of her work is to say that the field supervisor of the Massachusetts Department of Education has ac- cepted her courses as a component part of the new Vocational Department, which will be instituted here on January 2, 1935.
This new Vocational Department should prove ex- tremely valuable and it is to the credit of the Milford School Department that this town is one of the first in the state to qualify under the recent statute which authorizes state reimbursement for vocational courses which meet the rigid standards set up by the Depart- ment of Education.
In fact, Milford anticipated a situation. which has
22
since become state-wide when the enriched Household Arts curriculum was instituted, in April, 1934. The new Vocational Department simply means that the academic work taken by the girls who elect the new courses will be revised in the direction of laboratory work in Cooking, Sewing, Home Management, Home Decorating, etc. In Arithmetic, for example, the fund- amental processes will be taught as usual, but the prob- lems will apply to the work which the girls are doing in their other courses.
The field of Education is undergoing a revision which could not be prophesied a decade ago. All adults realize that many of the subjects which they studied at school had no practical value or were taught in a way which defied practical application. Edu- cators were prone to plead the "theory of mental dis- cipline", which has since been disproved, as an excuse for the retention of subjects which were traditional, although they had long outlived any practical value. Research has at last given Education a scientific basis upon which to proceed and we may expect future classroom changes in the direction of preparing the child for the problems which he will really face rather than forcing every child through a stereotyped course originally designed to prepare students for an acad- emic college.
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