USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1922 > Part 8
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Considered from every possible angle, Palmer's cost of school operation compares very favorably, economically speaking, with any other town or city in the State. The only ones that cost less per pupil are the eight towns given above, which in character-size, valuation, total expendi- tures, etc .- are not to be compared with Palmer. There are 288 towns in the State smaller than Palmer in popula- tion, only eight of which have a smaller cost per pupil-in other words, 280 smaller towns spend more per pupil than Palmer.
When it is borne in mind that Palmer is doing a fair diversity of school work in an economical, but not nig- gardly, fashion- she is not "penny wise and pound
22
foolish"-the comparisons made above show whether or not extravagance is practiced in school management lo- cally. A careful study of these comparisons ought to convince all that extravagance is not the "watch-word" of the local school system.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
The Continuation School is now in its second year of operation locally. Two teachers-a man for the boys and a woman for the girls-are employed. The pupils are those ranging between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years who are employed in town, whether residents of the town or not. This year the town will receive tuition for all non-resident pupils. Heretofore, the town in which a minor was employed had to furnish continuation schooling free.
The Continuation School presents many problems. The field, to a certain extent, is new and untravelled. A brief statement of some of the aims and problems will not be amiss at this time. The breaking-down of the appren- ticeship system under the stress of modern developments in industry is mainly the cause for the establishment of this type of school. In the olden days, as a partial return for the services of the apprentice, the employer agreed "to give his apprentice instruction in the mystery and art of the trade, in religion, in the laws of the land, in reading, writing, and ciphering." The whole spirit and aim of the Continuation School is embodied in that agreement. Briefly stated, the aims are to do the following:
1). Meet the immediate needs of a pupil as determined by a proper study of that pupil, his job, his environments, his likes and dislikes, his aptitudes, and his avocations.
2). Develop within him a wholesome attitude of citizenship in his various contacts with society.
3). Encourage him to think and to reason for himself.
As problems, some of these various groups of pupils present themselves :
1). Those who are obliged to return to school after having left.
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2). A number who have not been happy in previous school experiences.
3). Some who might have completed a similar education, had circumstances permitted.
4). Many who will suffer loss of pay during the hours of at- tendance at Continuation School.
5). Many who are antagonistic to the idea of any school.
6). Drifters-derelicts on the tides of chance.
7). A few who welcome and have some appreciation of this further opportunity for self-improvement.
The school is not, in any sense, a replica of the more formal day school. The kind of things used to promote thought differ, to a large degree, from that used in the day school. The school tends toward vocational training, and lessons, consequently, are based upon the individual experience, progress, and needs of a pupil while on his job. There is a close relationship between the shop and academic lessons. All lessons aim to prepare the pupil for one of the three functions of good citizenship-earn- ing a living, fulfilling his civic duties, developing one's finer nature.
The attendance this year is about one hundred fifty (150). The boys' classes are held in the Wenimisset School and the girls' in the Thorndike Recreation Build- ing. The boys, in addition to being taught to handle vari- ous implements used by carpenters and other workers, have been used in all sorts and kinds of repair work about the school buildings. The actual value created for the schools by them during the last school year was $826.31. The cost of materials involved was $410.30. The market value of the product-cost of material, value of labor, and a fair profit, all included-was $1,113.37. Inasmuch as this work was considered instructional, the State reim- bursed the town 50% of the cost of materials used. This work was not done on the basis of saving money for the town-a consideration, nevertheless, not to be lost sight of-but on the basis of real instruction to the boys in the school.
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The girls have been taught sewing and cooking. They have been taught how to prepare cereals; to make muf- fins, scalloped dishes, cakes, puddings, etc. They have been taught dish washing, table setting, and serving. In sewing, they have been taught the use of the sewing ma- chine; also, hand-stitching, embroidering, hemstitch- in, tatting, darning, patching, mending, and laundering. They have made many useful articles. Some of them have been assisted at home and have made coats, tam o' shanters, etc. Along the academic line, lessons in hy- giene, civics, English, spelling, and arithmetic have been taught.
Much home visitation and follow-up work have been done by both teachers. The pupils have profited from their contact with them.
The attitude of employers towards the school is good. The natural first re-action of an employer is apt to be un- favorable, inasmuch as the annoyance of arranging shifts, shorter hours for the same wage, lack of confidence that a school is able to do practical work, etc., appear in the em- ployer's mind as almost insurmountable obstacles. When employers discover that the results promise to justify these changes, they appreciate them, realizing the neces- sity of providing for future employees who will be intelli- gent, efficent, and contented. Unusually fine co-operation is being manifested by the local mills. Already several boys have been fitted for lines of work in the industries in town which have been helpful to them and the industry.
The work of the school gives much promise.
A brief summary of the total cost of operation last year, which was $5,745.45, will be enlightening. Of this amount, $436.50 was spent for rent and new equipment, non-reimbursable commodities. (Likewise, a reduction of $44.46, money received for articles sold, was made). The difference, $5,264.49, was the basis of re-imburse- ment for the last school year. The State paid to the Town of Palmer one-half of this amount, $2,632.25 The
25
net cost to the Town, therefore, was $3,068.75-the total of $2,632.25 and $436.50. From this, should be taken $1,113.37, the market value of the work done in the way of repairs, leaving a cost of $1,955.38. A further reduc- tion of $350, a re-imbursement allowance on office salaries without additional cost to the Town, must be made, leav- ing an actual cost of $1,605.38.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
In accordance with a law recently passed in Massa- chusetts, physical education is now receiving systematic attention in all of the Palmer Schools. The work is being carried out along lines laid down in a bulletin issued by the State Department of Education.
The object of the work in physical training is to form correct habits and correct faulty habits of ca- riage, movement, etc. The course, in the main, concerns itself with the activities which involve large muscle groups. The exercises and games are grouped according to the developmental needs of the child.
The opportunities for character training are unlim- ited and are given attention from the first grade up. The time for teaching fair play, good sportsmanship, loyalty, and honorable conduct is in the early years of a child's life. It should not be postponed until the later period of his life.
The work in the local schools consists of formal ex- ercises or "tactics," games, and folk dancing. Some of the games, in addition to affording excellent exercise and teaching sportsmanship, emphasize the value of judg- ment, strategy, co-operation, originality, etc.
In most of the buildings the work has to be confined to the classroom. In some, such as the Bondsville, Weni- misset, and Palmer Grammar Schools, the assembly halls or large corridors are used.
Some excellent results have been obtained in a com- paratively short time.
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EXTENSION WORK
The amount of extension work done the past year has been vastly less than in previous years, due to no lack of need or desire, but entirely to a cutting-off of appropria- tions by the Town Meeting. Palmer had recently taken a progressive position in several matters of an educational and civic nature. She had launched out upon an excellent program in Americanization and Playgrounds and had just gotten fully underway, after years of effort, when all of the good work was stopped. Such a cu.tailment of ex- penditure for such purposes seems like a sad commentary upon the attitude of the public at large. It is a very diffi- cult matter to convince a community, as a whole, of the real economic, as well as moral, value of such work. People, seemingly, will not properly evaluate results which are moral and civic rather than financial. Is the difficulty that of failure to visualize those things which have not a tangible, patent, concrete, physical value ?
Palmer, in the past few years, con- Americanization. ducted some of the most successful Americanization work in the State. Last fall a program of equal ambition was mapped out, which was gotten under way in November. The Annual Town Meeting cut it off abruptly by not appropriating money for its continuance.
At the time, one hundred fifty-five (155) were en- rolled in straight Americanization classes. Most of these students were extremely anxious to go on with the work; were deeply disappointed when the opportunity was with- drawn; were unable to understand why the Town refused to continue to offer them this chance-a chance which, though meaning much to them, means much more to the Town.
Other classes were contemplated-classes in domes- tic science, home nursing, advanced English, penmanship, arithmetic, etc.
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The work should be resumed. It is too vital to all concerned to allow its discontinuance last February to be anything more than a temporary interruption. The tem- porary interruption is serious enough, in that much of the missionary work of past years in interesting the people who need this work in attending these classes will have to be repeated.
A successful season in
Boys' and Girls' Club Work. the club work, under the joint direction of the Hampden County Improvement League and the School Department, was enjoyed.
In canning, there were six (6) clubs, three (3) of which were banner clubs. Ninety (90) boys and girls were enrolled, sixty-eight (68) of whom completed the work by canning the required materials and writing a report. The value of canned products was $1,348.63; the cost, $324.42; the value above cost, $1,024.21. The quantities were :- Fruit, 1,108 quarts; vegetables, 651 quarts ; meats and soups, 12 quarts; jams, jellies, etc., 555 jars. There were thirty-five (35) different varieties.
In gardening, there were four (4) clubs, with an en- rollment of seventy (70) pupils, forty-three (43) of whom entirely completed the work. The value of pro- duce raised was $395.51; the cost was $104.25; the value above cost was $291.26.
Exhibitions of the work were held in each village.
Prizes to the amount of $13.75 were won at the Eas- tern States Exposition.
At present, there are four (4) sewing clubs, with ninety-five (95) girls enrolled.
In adult wok, a millinery class of eighteen (18), a clothing class of fifteen (15), and a nutrition class of thir- ty-five (35) women have been, or are, holding sessions in the high school building.
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HEALTH WORK
Health work on a greater scale is being done yearly. There is still need for further enlargement.
The addition of a school nurse to the
School Nurse School Department has proven a wise step. Her work has grown rapidly and is being efficiently done.
The following summarized report for the last school year-September, 1921, to July, 1922, tells the story briefly :
Number Home Visits,
337
Number School Visits,
165
Number Treatments at Home, Affections :
2
Skin Diseases,
124
Parasitic Affections,
159
Enlarged Tonsils,
94
Adenoids,
42
Defective Vision,
362
Defective Hearing,
40
Tuberculous Disease,
0
Orthopedic,
9
Defective Teeth,
1,274
Miscellaneous,
16
Total,
2,120
First Aid and Dressings,
195
Number Eyes and Ears Examined,
1,796
Temperatures and Histories,
12
Weighing and Measuring,
8,371
Notices Sent to Parents,
98
The nurse is used in investigating requests for Home Permits ; also, in looking up some cases of absence. She is conducting classes in Home Nursing in the Con- tinuation School. Her program is heavy; her work, very efficient.
Last fall an opportunity arose whereby it became Milk. possible to obtain Pasteurized milk. For some time, this had been desired; therefore, it was im- mediately grasped.
Under the direction of the nurse, a scheme was ef- fected whereby milk was placed on sale in each school at
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four (4) cents per half-pint, with crackers and straw. Some three hundred (300) half-pints are sold daily.
No better form of nutriment can be furnished, and for so little money, than milk. It means much to the health of the children.
School lunches of a simple nature are
School Lunches. in operation during the cold weather at the Palmer and Three Rivers Grammar Schools. They are conducted entirely under the management of the School Department and have been very successfully handled.
Soups, cocoa, chop suey, macaroni and cheese, and baked beans are served-generally one article a day- at a price of three (3) cents. This covers the cost of the food. Those in charge of the preparation and serving are paid from a small appropriation by the Town. The best evidence of the success of the lunch room is in its patronage. Palmer has about one hundred thirty (130) servings daily ; Three Rivers, fifty (50).
PENNY SAVINGS
The Penny Savings System, which gave way during the World War to War Savings Stamps, was re-estab- lished in November, 1921.
Much of the work is done by the pupils themselves. As a result, much valuable experience in a real business way is acquired. The pupils handle it well.
Although business conditions have not been the best since its re-installation, the total deposits have been siz- able.
A detailed statement from November 17, 1921, to December 6, 1922, is here given:
School
Number of Deposits
Amount
Palmer,
3,089
$1,073.37
Thorndike,,
3,235
1,415.72
Three Rivers,
2.569
1,084.22
Bondsville,
2 652
929,60
Wire Mill,
473
315.54
Center,
95
30.17
Total,
12,113
$4,848.62
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NEW HIGH SCHOOL
With the completion of the new high school building in time for occupancy in September, 1923, the possibili- ties for an enlarged and enriched curriculum present themselves. While no attempt will be made to branch out too extensively and too rapidly, several new subjects should be taught in September-household arts, manual training, and physical education.
Combinations of high and grade school work can be effected in most of these subjects, in case there is not sufficient work in the high school for a teacher in each subject.
The lunch room will take care of one of the worst features in our present plan of high school operation- the impossibilty to secure food of the right sort during an interval of nearly seven (7) hours for many pupils. This room should be run on the same basis as the grade lunch rooms-the service provided at the expense of the Town and the food at the expense of the pupil. Otherwise, those who most need to patronize the lunch room may not be financially able.
The opportunity to run a modern, up-to-date high school, one offering courses to meet the diversified needs of present-day high school pupils, will be presented the School Department for the first time in many years. It should be grasped !
RECOMMENDATIONS
I make four recommendations, two of which concern the new high school:
1). That the new building be as completely and adequately equipped as financially possible, even though, at first blush, it seems to involve considerable money. (With such a building, it would be false economy to "scrimp" upon equipment to the extent that the fullest use of the same could not be made.)
2). That household arts, manual training, and physical education be incorporated as integral parts of the
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high school curriculum. (Scarcely a town of Palmer's size exists in Massachusetts which does not offer such work and most of them have been doing it for several years.)
3). That Americanization work be resumed on the same general basis as in previous years. (Two very suc- cessful years were enjoyed in this wok. Remarkable re- sults were obtained. The work was admirably organized and administered.)
4). That the Committee recommend to the Town an appropriation of $600 for work carried on under the direction of the Hampden County Improvement League. (Palmer has never "paid her way" with the League. The small appropriation is spent directly to workers in town-the past two years it all went to the leaders of the Boys' and Girls' Club Work. Much adult work is done without recompense. Palmer should pay her fair portion or quit. She ought not to continue to be a "charity" patient.)
CONCLUSION
This report is less lengthy than former reports ---- not from lack of material, nevertheless. There is al- ways much food for thought that might be placed before the Committee, and, through them, before the public. Some of these very things have been discussed herein.
The purpose of their inclusion is to acquaint the public with a few of the problems confronting school ad- ministrators. The public should know and appreciate these difficulties, for these questions have an intimate bearing upon decisions which shape school policies. Such policies affect the public-often, most vitally and personally through their children.
What has been said has been said-at least the at- tempt has been made-frankly, yet kindly, with no de- sire or even thought of offending the most sensitive na- ture. The fundamental purpose back of all school acts and decisions is, insofar as humanly possible, to do those things which are right, just, and in the best interests
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at all times of the boys and girls in the schools. Errors are made-many of them; they are, nevertheless, er- rors of judgment and not intent.
In conclusion, your Superintendent wishes to ex- press his appreciation of the liberal and cordial sup- port of the Committee on every occasion when he has merited it; of the active co-operation in nearly every instance of the teachers; of the fairness and patience, almost universally accorded him, of the public. He has had no occasion to feel otherwise than appreciative, ex- cept in a few isolated cases-and any man in public office must expect these rare instances, at least.
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Superintendent of Schools.
Palmer, Mass., December 19, 1922.
Appendix
A. GENERAL STATISTICS, 1. Population
Census of 1920,
9,896
School Population, April 1, 1921, 5 to 16 years of age,
2,725
School Population, April 1, 1922, 5 to 16 years of age,
2,762
II. Pupils.
Number of Children in Town, April 1, between:
1920-1921
1921-1922
Ages 5 and 7
632
631
Ages 7 and 14
1,688
1,705
Ages 14 and 16
405
426
2,725
2,762
Aggregate Enrollment, Sept. to June,
2,522
2,227
Average Daily Attendance,
2,203.62
1,933.39
Average Number Belonging,
2,287.50
2,016.37
Per Cent. of Attendance,
96.77
95.89
Average Number of Pupils per Teacher:
In High School,
20.76
20.27
In Other Schools,
36.49
30.92
B. ATTENDANCE STATISTICS Attendance by Schools, 1921-1922
Average
Membership
Average
Attendance
Per Cent. of
Attendance
Tardiness
250
Palmer Grammar,
661.25
625.95
94.66
111
733
Three Rivers Grammar, 236.65
230.29
97.31
28
271
Wenimisset,
91.34
88.54
96.94
15
99
Thorndike Grammar,
266.10
253.82
95.39
28
302
Bondsville Grammar,
389.04
379.77
97.62
48
409
Wire Mill,
98.47
93.00
94.43
10
106
Palmer Center,
25.41
24.21
95.27
15
28
Forest Lake,
25.11
22.81
90.00
4
29
Total,
2,016.37
1,933.39
95.89
299
2,227
.
Enrollment
High,
223.00
215.00
96.50
34
C. FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR 1922
Account
Appropriation
Balance
General Expenses
$ 8,685.00
$
Expended 8,670.89 77,859.29
$
14.11
Teachers' Salaries,
78,189.80
330.51
Textbooks & Supplies,
6,000.00
5,951.94
48.06
Transportation
6,000.00
5,9977.30
2.70
Janitors' Services
6,075.00
5,618.82
456.18
Fuel & Light,
7,600.00
7,579.23
20.77
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds,
2,500.00
2,340.37
159.63
Repairs,
3,000.00
2,174.94
825.06
Music, Manual Training
& Drawing,
3,840.00
3,838.61
1.39
Commercial,
9,080.00
9,062.99
17.01
Furniture & Furnishings,
2,000.00
1,970.72
29.28
Other Expenses,
4,640.00
4,637.93
2.07
Continuation School,
6,770.00
6,612.68
157.32
Amer canization,
650.00
658.05
-8.05
Bills Payable,
2,846.65
2,846.65
Special Alterations at
Palmer Grammar School
2,800.00
1,895.00
905.00
Improvement of Weni-
misset Grounds,
500.00
20.00
480.00
$151,176.45
$147,735.41
$ 3,441.04
D. BILLS PAYABLE AND RECEIVABLE
Bills Payable:
None.
Bills Receivable:
Town of Ware, Tuition, $250.00
Robert Mullen, Tuition,
62.50
$312.50
E. TABLE OF COST-EIGHT YEARS COMPARED
General Expenses,
$
$
1916 3,140.73 26,996.07
1917 3,395.49 29,193.71
1918 $ 3,796.43 32,668.48
$ 4,264.67 42,830.68
$ 5,810.64 57,474.37 5,356.89
72,072.06
77,859.29
Textbooks and Supplies,
1,971.55
2,338.14
2,441.52
3,485.86
4,075.97
5,889.20
5,951.94
Transportation,
2,635.40
2,723.68
3,156.00
3,478.46
4,341.01
4,925.60
5,708.00
5,997.30
Janitors' Services,
2,517.50
2,579.01
2,615.50
3,196.00
3,708.08
4,424.34
5,566.86
5,618.82
Fuel and Light
3,680.17
4,113.00
4,784.96
6,567.72
5,131.47
7,274.27
9,516.71
7,579.23
Maintenance Buildings and Grounds
1,323.95
922.05
1,646.04
2,122.82
2,381.11
2,103.05
2,475.11
2,340.37
Repairs,
505.20
1,627.78
982.53
1,551.09
1,574.07
1,352.58
2,582.29
2,174.94
Music, Man'l Training, Drawing
1,895.48
1,971.94
2,230.05
1,500.75
2,163.97
3,532.61
3.564.13
3,838.61
Other Expenses,
1,098.52
910.16
1,198.37
1,836.26
2,452.72
2,547.73
3,612.41
4,637.93
Furniture and Furnishings,
937.44
5,596.73
654.14
474.10
777.19
1,929.80
1,374.97
1,970.72
Rent,
22.50
175.00
810.00
75.00
308.00
245.00
Commercial,
2,840.49
3,577.48
3,418.02
3,720.97:
4,312.31
5,537.94
7,271.74
9,062.99
Special Hoating
791.28
2,100.77
Bills Payable
3,506.94
2,846.65
Special Alterations at Palmer Grammar School,
1,895.00
Improvement of Wenimisset Grounds
20.00
Total,
$ 47,694.46 885.73
$ 53,671.77 1,349.45 94.07
$ 55,716.33
$ 65,208.94
$ 78,088.25
$103,369.10
$132,709.52
$140,464.68
788.93
61.75
237.38
3,329.33
658.05
Playgrounds,
3,501.88
Continuation School,
2,359.27
6,612.68
$ 48,580.19
$ 55,115.29
$ 56,505.26
$ 65,270.69
$ 78,088.25
$103,606.48
$141,900.00
$147,735.41
Average Membership,
1,671.26
1.719.17
1,791.77
1,868.41
1,972.98
2,144.93
2,169.90
1,984.11
Average Attendance.
1,617.31
1,650.00
1,717.09
1,702.31
1,886.54
2,044.19
2,104.23
1,899.62
Average Membership,
$28.54
$30.06
$31.10
$34.90
$39.58
$48.19
$61.16
$70.79
Average Attendance,
$29.49
$31.31
$32.45
$38.31
$41.39
$50.57
$63.07
$73.94
1915 2,982.08
1919
1920
1921
1922
$ 7,223.33
$ 8,670.89
Teachers' Salaries,
25,293.18
-$
Americanization,
Vacation School,
Cost mer Pupil Based on
Cost per Pupil Based on
F. COST PER SCHOOL
Gen'l Expenses,
$
High 98.89 11,462.50
$
Palmer 61.29 20,041.76
$
Three Rivers 55.19 9,290.50 532.49
Wenim't 48.34 5,361.64
$
$
Bondsville 70.40 $ 14,646.72 1,125.79 24.50 891.92
District 37.64 5,864.82
$
Office 8,254.07
$
Total 8,670.89
T'books & Sup.
1,821.69
1,260.79
416.17
264.95
5,951.94
Transport'tion
2,454.30
2,551.25
49.00
260.50
615.75
5,997.30
Janitors' Serv.
1,333.96
1,353.96
710.80
340.60
232.50
5,618.82
Fuel and Light,
1,317.32
1,610.94
838.95
518.75
1,032.36
1,404.31
856.60
7,579.23
M'ntenance
Build. & Grounds
444.19
565.93
255.37
186.46
367.46
361.79
159.17
2,340.37
Repairs,
191.08
718.36
276.06
2.20
290.05
466.35
230.84
2,174.94
Mu., Man. Tr'g. and Draw'g
191.93
1,002.87
511.18
261.04
659.28
814.06
398.25
2,838.61
Commercial
9,062.09
9.062.99
Furn. & Furn.
290.35
285.00
241.92
261.41
50.40
832.64
1,970.72
Other Exp'n's
553.99
1,169.75
702.81
551.44
651.34
740.19
268.41
4,637.93
Bills Payable
2,846.65
2,846.65
Spec'l Alt'tions
Pal. Gram. Sc'l
1,895.00
1,895.00
Imp. W'misset Grounds
20.00
20.00
Day Schools,
$ 29,232.19 $ 32,516.90 $ 13,464.27 $ 8,228.55
$ 15,614.45
$ 21,378.67 $ 11,775.58
$ 8,254.07
$140,464.68 658.05 6,612.68
Total,
$147,735.41
Aver. Memb.
236.88
651.10
216.77
100.02
252.31
374.04
152.99
1,981.11
1,384.11
Cost Per Pupil
Based Av. Memb.
$123.41
$49.94
$62.11
$82.27
$61.89
$57.13
$76.07
$4.16
$70.79
$
Thorndike 45.07 11,191.35 530.06 42.00 755.08
77,859.29
Teachers' Sal.
Americanization,
Continuation,
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