USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1921 > Part 5
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Article 66. To see if the town will construct a sewer in High Street in the Village of Thorndike from the pro- perty of Daniel Sugrue to the property of the McCarthy Estate.
Article 67. To see if the town will vote to extend the sewer in Main Street in the Village of Thorndike a dis- tance of 125 feet.
Article 68. To see if the town will vote to con- struct a sewer from a point near St. Mary's Catholic Church property on Main Street in the Village of Thorn- dike to the residence of Mary A. and Kathryn M. Lawlor.
Article 69. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Charles Street, Three Rivers, from a point opposite the residence of William Potvin to connect with the East Main Street sewer.
Article 70. To see if the town will construct a sewer in Pinney Street in the Depot Village from the point of intersection of said street with Breckenridge Street and thence westerly to Park Street.
Article 71. To see if the town will vote to buy addi- tional settees for the town house.
Article 72. To see if the town will vote to sell the hearses.
Article 73. To see if the town will vote to sell the town lot on East Main Street in the Village of Three Riv- ers.
Article 74. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to appoint a town accountant, with the du- ties imposed and powers conferred in Chapter 41 of the General Laws, and abolish the office of town auditors, or
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take any action relative to the better safeguarding of the money and property of the town.
Article 75. To see if the town will appropriate money under the authority of Section 22 of Chapter 115 of the General Laws for the care of graves of persons who have served in the army, navy or marine corps of the United States in time of war or insurrection and been honorably discharged from such service.
Article 76. To see if the town will vote to instruct and authorize the selectmen to appoint a proper represen- tation of women voters on the committee of fifteen for ensuing years.
Article 77. To see if the town will vote to make any change in the method of calling town meetings.
Article 78. To see if the town will vote to establish a town forestry association and set apart 100 acres or more of the town farm for that purpose, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 79. To see if the town will vote to dis- charge a mortgage given by Joseph H. Keith to the In- habitants of Palmer on April 1, 1863, and recorded with Hampden County Deeds, Book 219, Page 66, and designate any officer or officers to execute a proper discharge on behalf of the town.
Article 80. To see if the town will vote to change the method of caring for the wholly dependent poor, and sell, or lease, or rent on shares, the town farm property, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 81. To see if the town will raise, by loan or otherwise, and appropriate, any sum of money for the purpose of paying Henry D. Converse for the land on Con- verse Street in the Depot Village which the town voted at a special meeting held on the 3d inst. to take for the purpose of erecting thereon a building to be used for a public school.
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Article 82. To see if the town will vote to erect and equip a high school upon the site recently selected by vote of the town, known as the Converse lot, and raise money for the same by taxation or by an issue of bonds, notes or script, and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary therefor, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 83. To see if the town will vote to provide additional school accommodations by acquiring land for, and constructing, equipping and furnishing, any building or buildings to be used for a public school or schools, and raise money for the same by an issue of bonds, notes or script, under authority of Chapter 226 of the Acts of 1920 entitled "An Act to authorize the Town of Palmer to incur indebtedness for additional school accommodations" or under any provisions of general law, and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for said purposes, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 84. To see if the town will vote to rescind the vote passed at the special town meeting held January 3d, A. D. 1922 under article 8 of the warrant calling said meeting, whereby it was voted that the town take in fee, for the purpose of erecting thereon a building to be used for a public school, a certain tract of land, with the trees and structures thereon, situate in the Depot Village of said Palmer, and bounded and described as follows, viz: Beginning at a point on the northeasterly side of Converse Street 50 feet northwesterly from the northwest corner of land formerly of Esther Gardner, thence N. 60 degrees 35 minutes E. 317 feet, thence in a line at right angles to the above described line and parallel with Converse Street in a course N. 29 degrees 25 minuntes W. 275 feet, thence S. 60 degrees 35 minutes W. 317 feet to said Converse Street, thence on said street S. 29 degrees 25 minutes E. 275 feet to the place of beginning, said land being owned by Henry D. Converse.
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Article 85. To see if the town will vote to build a graded school within the Wire Mill District, so-called, and raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action thereon.
Article 86. To see if the town will vote to build an addition to the present graded school in the Wire Mill District, in Depot Village, so-called, and to see if the town will purchase or take more property if necessary for same, and to raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action thereon.
Article 87. To see if the town will vote to build a graded school on the Royce property on North Main Street in Depot Village, so-called, and to see if the town will vote to purchase or take said property, and to raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action thereon.
Article 88. To see if the town will vote to build an addition to the present high school building in Depot Vil- lage, so-called, and to see if the town will vote to purchase or take more property if necessary for same, and to raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action thereon.
Article 89. To see if the town will make an addi- tional appropriation to cover the expense of building the proposed addition to the Bondsville Grammar School.
Article 90. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to improve Park Street in the Depot Village at its intersection with Thorndike Street, in compliance with a decree of the County Commissioners.
Article 91. To see if the town will maintain play- grounds in the manner adopted by vote under article 56 of the warrant for the annual meeting in 1921, and appro- priate money for the same.
Article 92. To see if the town will appropriate money, to be expended in the discretion and under the di- rection of the selectmen for the repair and maintenance
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of the clock in the Universalist Church tower in the De- pot Village, or take any action relative thereto.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in some one public place in each of the four villages of the town, known as the Depot Village, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bonds- ville, seven days at least before the holding of said meet- ing, and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Palmer Journal, a newspaper published in said Palmer, the first publication to be not less than even days before the holding of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-first day of Janu- ary, A. D. 1922.
WILLIAM B. KERIGAN, FRANK G. ROGERS, CHARLES D. HOLDEN, Selectmen of Palmer.
Town of Palmer
SCHOOL REPORT
For the Year Ending December 31, 1921.
School Committee 1921-1922
Dr. George A. Moore, Chairman Clifton H. Hobson, Secretary
Dr. John F. Roche,
Term expires 1924
Harry M. Parsons,
Term expires 1924
George L. Warfield,
Term expires 1923
Dr. Charles Giroux,
Term expires 1923
Dr. George A. Moore, John F. Shea,
Term expires 1922 Term expires 1922
Regular meetings of he School Committee were held at 7.30 p. m. on the Tuesday before the last Friday of each school month. All bills must be in the hands of the Superintendent on the Monday before the above date.
Superintendent of Schools, Clifton H. Hobson
Office, High School Building. Telephone 54-W Residence, 30 Pearl Street. Telephone 54-R.
Office Hours: 8 a. m. to 12 m., 1.30 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m. Tuesdays, 7 to 8 p. m. Except the Tuesday beore the last Friday of each school month.
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS
Patrick McKelliigett,
Depot
Charles Thomas,
T. J. Crimmins,
Patrick Nagle,
Thomas Holt,
William Smith,
John Mansfield
Arthur Bennett,
Edmund L. Guerin,
Depot Depot Thorndike Three Rivers Three Rivers Bondsville Forest Lake Town
JANITORS
Patrick McKelligett,
Patrick McKelliigett, Patrick Nagle,
C. F. Fuller,
William Smiith,
High School Palmer Thorndike Bondsville Three Rivers
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ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
March 8, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Giroux, Dr. Roche, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Shea.
April 26, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Giroux, Dr. Roche, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Warfield.
May 31, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Dr. Giroux, Mr. Shea. June 28, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Dr. Giroux, Mr. Shea, Mr. Warfield.
September 27, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Dr. Giroux, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Shea.
Ocober 26, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Dr. Giroux, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Warfield, Mr. Shea.
November 22, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Mr. Parsons, Mr. Shea. December 20, 1921-Dr. Moore, Dr. Roche, Dr. Giroux, Mr. Shea.
Calendar
HIGH SCHOOLS
Winter term begins January 3, 1922; ends February 24, 1922. Spring term begins March 6, 1922; ends April 28, 1922. Summer term begins May 8, 1922; ends June 30, 1922. Fall term begins September 5, 1922; ends December 22, 1922. Winter term begins January 2, 1923; ends February 23, 1923. Spring term begins March 5, 1923; ends April 27, 1923. Summer term begiins May 7, 1923; ends June 29, 1923.
OTHER SCHOOLS
Winter term begins January 3, 1922; ends February 24, 1922. Spring term begins March 6, 1922; ends April 28, 1922. Summer term begins May 8, 1922; ends June 16, 1922. Fall term begins September 5, 1922; ends December 22, 1922. Winter term begins January 2, 1923; ends February 23, 1923. Spring term begins March 5, 1923; ends April 27, 1923. Summer term begins May 7, 1923; ends June 15, 1923.
VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS
Spring-April 29, 1922, tto May 7, 1922, inclusive. Summer-(Grades) : June 17, 1922, to September 4, 1922, inclusive (High) : July 1, 1922, to September 4, 1922, inclusive. Fall-December 23, 1922, tto January 1, 1923, inclusive. Winter-February 24, 1923, tot March 4, 1923, inclusive. Spring-April 28, 1923, to May 6, 1923, inclusive. Summer-(Grades) : June 16, 1923, to September 3, 1923, inclusive. (High) : June 30, 1923, to September 3, 1923, inclusive.
HOLIDAYS
Columbus Day, Convention Day, Thanksgiving (with day following), Washhington's Birthday, Patriot's Day, Memorial Day Labor Day.
A
Report of School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Palmer:
COST
The sum of money asked for school maintenance and conduct for the oncoming year seems rather startling to those who remember what the amounts for earlier years have been.
Of course, all realize that the increase in the expense cf school work is, like everything else, due, in measure, to the general increase in cost of commodities. Also, it should be remembered that there is an increase in the amount of work being done. Every additional class of pupils carries with it a pro rata increase in the cost of the work; but, leaving this phase for a moment and returning to the cost per capita, we find that a large per cent. of the increase in cost is due to advance in teachers' salaries. Thus, in the three years past, there have been flat in- creases in teachers' salaries amounting to $500 per teach- er; the usual rate iincrease with years of service; and a change in the minimum and maximum-the minimum be- ing changed from $550 to $850 and the maximum from $700 to $1200 in the grade schools. A corresponding change was made in the high school. These changes were voted by the town and, taking into consideration the num- ber of teachers employed, we find that now teachers' sal- aries alone amount to $42,175 more than in 1917.
Then, too, there have been certain additions to the work which are required by law; for instance, the con- tinuation school, which requires an appropriation of $6770.
We have no quarrel with this being required by law, inasmuch as the acceptance of the continuation school sta- tute was the subject of a referendum and upon this refer-
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endum the Town of Palmer voted heavily for acceptance. Whether the citizens would have voted for it, had all the provisions of the law been understood, we do not know; nevertheless, it is the law, and we voted for it.
Fuel for the present year is reckoned at $7150 as com- pared with $4200 in 1917, and so through the whole list; yet, merely totalling the items of increase in salaries, cost of continuation school, and increased cost of fuel, we find an increase of $51,895 over that required in 1917.
SEGREGATION
It is delightfully human to composedly meditate on the simplicity and ease of another person's task. It really would seem to some that, with the town furnishing school buildings, paying for good teachers and all necessary things, there is no excuse for any child not securing a good education. The School Committtee, at least, should be able itself, or through its executive, to arrange a pay- roll for teachers, pay bills when due, see that fuel is procured for heating in the cold season, and sign diplomas and certificates. It does not seem like a complicated pro- gram when one puts it this way.
In practice, however, it is a little less simple. The analysis implied by what is written above is all right inso- sofar as it goes. The essentials in educational work are schools, supplies, and teachers on the one hand, and chil- dren to be taught on the other; but, while the schools, supplies, and teachers may be reasonably standardized- and the same with the courses given in the schools- the pupils on the other hand, may not be subjected to such process.
They must be taken as they are, and they and their capabilities are as diverse as can be imagined. The varia- tion runs from those who can absorb the essence of a good stiff course with little labor and without any retardation ir their school career, being promoted each year (some- times oftener) until graduation, to those, on the contrary, who can absorb the essence of no course at all, no matter
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how they labor, and who are at once the despair of their teachers, a handicap to their fellow students, and a non- paying iinvestment for the town. Between these two, there are all gradations of ability-those who can learn something, but cannot attain a passing mark; those who can attain a passing mark in one, or possibly more than one, study, but not in all; those who just pass in every, or nearly every, study; and those who pass with a margin above, narrow or wide.
It is apparent from this that a standard course, based upon the abilities of the very highest grade pupils, will leave a number of the other type hopelessly embarrassed. They simply cannot tdo the work. What should be done ? Is it well to make the course easier for the benefit of those who are intellectually less able and, if this should be done, how far shall we go in this direction? Certainly we may not, with wisdom reduce the standard of our courses so that the most feeble may pass any more than we may gauge our courses so that only the most able can pass them. Fortunately, statistics are available from all parts of our state and country which make it possible to formulate ideas of what is possible for the average intel- lect of a given age ; yet, in the matter of "given age" there exists a complication. There is the age of the child in years, the age of the child physiologically and the mental age of the child, which may be at variance with one or more of the factors.
This is not a new problem ; it is one that has received much attention and consideration by those who are best qualified and the solution has not yet satisfactorily been arrived at. The age in years has been considered the best basis for arriving at an idea of average expectancy-i. e., what a child may be expected to learn or to know ; but this is modified by the physiologic or by the mental age, if either of these be abnormal.
This brings up the question of what in these particu-
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lars may be considered normal and again averages taken from statistics help us in the case of mental age, but fac- tors not capable of measurement, like family and race, en- ter into the matter of physiologic age.
It will be seen that to bring to the child the best that he may accept necessitates the preparation of mental diet of varying concentration and amount, since, while one child may be able to neither accept so rapidly nor in such concentration as another, he may be able to do well relatively in his studies if allowance for a less alert, less receptive, less capacious intellect is made.
This implies the necessity of separating the students into classes from the standpoint of intellectual power- segregation. This work of segregation is under way and is, it should be remembered, solely in the interest of the pupil and the town. It is a tremendous labor, but it will pay.
It is not likely to be popular in certain cases until fully understood by those whom it affects. It should be understood that this segregative movement is not in any way unitive, retribute, or anything in the way of a penal- ty. It is recognition of the unfairness of attempting to force a student to accomplish what is for him an impossi- ble task and an attempt to substitute for this impossible task one which shall be beneficially possible and one esti- mated by the best means at present known to science to be that which shall, while absorbing his power to accomplish, not burden him to discouragement.
This is not a coddling process, however. Your com- mittee is not en rapport with the idea that to persons of robust mentality shall be given a dilute educational course because they may be disinclined to work, may be inatten- tive, or for any reason, or lack of it, may wish to travel a royal road to erudition. We think, when a student is cer- tificated as having passed with credit through our schools, he should possess learning to the extent implied by "high school graduate."
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It may seem a little unusual, as indeed it is, to find in our report a mention of some of the technical features of school work, but the school situation in Palmer has be- come unusual in some respects. Also, there has been a discussion of technical matters relating to schools which seems unprecedented, and it has cheered the committee to find interest in these matters becoming acute enough so that it is the topic of conversation among people who probably are thinking and talking for the first time about such things.
LEGISLATION
Proposed legislation should be given careful study and its points made clear to the voters.
Control of schools is passing to the state: This trend is not likely to be stayed and possibly it is not de- sirable that it should be. It is due in a measure to a gen- eral tendency to centralization. In this movement state control is only a halfway point as federal control already appears in the distance with its proponents working vig- crously, and with no organized thought or effort notice- able among its opponents. It is for the people to decide if, and how rapidly, they wish the control to pass from their hands to Boston.
That it eventually will pass can not be doubted ; the movement is well under way. Those who support state control contend that it will operate for greater efficiency, more uniformity of work and will be economical.
Those opposed think that economy is not reasonably to be expected from state control; that machine like uni- formity is undesirable and removes initiative from teach- ing; and that there is nothing in experience to indicate that state selected executives will be more efficient or re- sponsive to public will than those selected by local au- thority free from political motives. It would seem that there is a proper sphere for both central and local author- ity, also certain essentially private or personal realms, in-
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to which government should intrude itself sparingly, if at all. The tendency seems toward excessive regulation.
SEE THE SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
The report of the Superintendent of Schools, covering many things of interest will repay one for careful reading. It would be heartening if more citizens would visit the schools-grade and high-and see what really good work is being done despite the handicaps which operate to neu- tralize effort. Our schools, considering conditions under which we operate, are doing a wonderful work.
APPRECIATION
The committee is grateful to the taxpayers for the generous attitude they always have maintained in relation to school operation. Maintenance and operation have been affected by the high price of everything to our discourage- ment, but the crest is passed and more normal times seem before us. Your committee hopes that the voters may see fit to give us what the special committees for study of needs all have recommended-a new high school.
ECONOMY
It will be seen bythose who study the tendency to in- creased cost of school work that, if we already have not reached, we soon must reach a point where the further increase of the burden of cost to the taxpayer must cease. Another thing of economic importance that may Time be mentioned with advantage, if it will cause thought and promote discussion, is the long period consumed under the present system by those who con- tinue educational work to the point of preparing for a pro- fessional career. It is to them a costly thing not alone in money but in years of time consumed. Take the case of a young person preparing to take up the work of a physi- cian. Grammar school, high school, college of letters, medical school, interneship in hospital, and a year of post graduate study, all are included in the best preparation. A child beginning school at 5 years normally would com-
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plete high school work at 18 years of age. College of let- ters and medical school take 7 years more, bringing the age to 25 years ; one year each in hospital and post gradu- ate work (two are better) bring the age to 27 years. At this age-27 years-the young man is ready to begin to try to establish himself gainfully in his profession. The preparation takes too long. If possible, without sacrific- ing the value of the course, it should be shortened.
It seems unlikely that the cost of a year's school-
Money ing will lessen and, if an economy is to be real- ized, it must be by some form of concentration or condensation ; we must get more into the year. In the past few years, there has been a great change in the point of view of both the teaching profession and the public. Teaching, formerly a ministry, illy paid, has undergone a great change; the teachers demand, and the public is willing, that a more business-like view be taken, and the result, in part, is better financial recognition of the efforts of teachers. In turn, two things are expected of teach- ers-the ability and the will to give an improved grade of service. Thus there is a change in both psychology and practice, and it is well. Teaching should be recognized as a business or profession and be paid sufficiently for a proper grade and amount of service.
Certain other traditions that still are clinging to the teaching profession are experiencing change. A vacation of several weeks in the summer long has been considered necessary during whichthe child should rest, vegetate and recuperate the forces exhaused, more or less, during the school year.
Due to the falling behind of many pupils from one or another cause, a trial was given of continuing instruction during the summer vacation for the benefit of those in arrears, thus permitting them to make up work. It was feared that this practice would be physically disadvan- tageous to the child and that he would appear at the be-
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ginning of the fall term in a condition of fatigue; that he was being deprived of a necessary period of rest.
Experience seems to indicate that these fears were unnecessary. The pupils doing summer work did not suf- fer at all in the respects mentioned, but did well in health and in study ; and it is apparent that a full year of work in school, with its routine broken every 8 weeks by a week of rest, is not too severe. This is true also of those teachers who, for the sake of additional remuneration, taught the summer classes. There can be no question of the economic advisability of using the many thousands of dollars invested in school buildings and equipment more than 8 or 9 months of the year, provided good use can be made of them.
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