USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1929 > Part 6
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EXAMINATIONS
The results obtained in Mid-Year and Final Examina -- tions since their inception in 1922 are given:
COMPARISON
No. Taking Tests
No. Averaging Better
Than 70%
Percent.
No. Averaging
Less Than 70%
Percent.
No. Averaging Between
60% and 70%
Percent.
No. Averaging Between
50% and 60%
No. Averaging Less
Percent.
Mid-Year
1922
984
361
36.69
623
63.31
200
20.32
188
19.11
235
23.88
Final
1922
961
521
54.21
440
45.79
172
17.90
111
11.55
157
16.34
Mid-Year
1923
877
558
63.63
319
36.37
174
19.84
82
9.25
63
7.18
Final
1923
790
649
82.15
141
17.85
80
10.13
36
4.56
25
3.16
Mid-Year
1924
893
722
80.85
171
19.15
103
11.54
50
5.60
18
2.01
Final
1924
846
754
89.11
92
10.89
59
6.99
21
2.48
12
1.42
Mid-Year
1925
1000
901
90.10
99
9.90
66
6.60
25
2.50
8
.80
Final
1925
982
915
93.18
67
6.82
39
3.98
16
1.62
12
1.22
Mid-Year
1926
1045
959
91.77
86
8.23
57
5.45
22
2.11
7
.67
Final
1926
1008
952
94.44
56
5.55
35
3.47
19
1.88
2
.1 )
Mid-Year
1927
1076
1017
94.52
59
5.48
38
3.53
15
1.39
6
.56
Final
1927
1008
970
96.23
38
3.77
23
2.28
5
.496
10
.93
Mid-Year
1928
1028
989
96.21
39
3.79
25
2.43
10
.973
4
.38
Final
1928
994
951
95.68
43
4.32
27
2.71
8
81
8
.81
Mid-Year
1929
1046
1024
97.89
22
2.11
18
1.72
3
.286
1
.09
Final
1929
1029
992
96.40
37
3.60
24
2.33
9
.870
5
.48
Total,
15,567
13,235
85.02
2,322
14.98
1,140
7.32
628
4.03
573
3.68
Than 50%
Percent.
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SCHOOL SAVINGS
The report of School Savings for the last school year, September, 1928, to July, 1929, is as follows :
Number of Collections
Number of Deposits
Amount of Deposits
Thorndike Street
35
7,486
$1,589.26
Park Street
35
10,587
2,645.53
Quabaug
32
3,127
838.88
Three Rivers
33
3,533
1,184.46
Wenimisset
34
2,926
457.23
Thorndike
34
3,517
1,072.93
Bondsville
32
4,068
986.88
Palmer Center
33
452
80.53
Forest Lake
34
532
105.92
302
36,228
$8,961.62
The combined School Savings from date of incep- tion, November 1, 1921, to July 1, 1929, are :
Number of Deposits
Amount of
Deposits
Thorndike Street
24,209
$ 5,533.57
Park Street
57,064
14,976.38
Quabaug
9,517
4,043.79
Three Rivers
24,027
8,983.03
Wenimisset
9,705
2,316.12
Thorndike
21,113
7,735.24
Bondsville
27,684
7,955.53
Palmer Center
1,452
253.43
Forest Lake
2,057
499.00
176,828
$52,296.09
STATE READING PLAN
This plan has been in operation for the past five years. Certificates are issued for the reading of five (5)
147
books from a selected list gotten out by the State Library Commission, a division of the State Department of Edu- cation.
The results this past school year are here tabulated:
Enrollment Certificates Per Cent.
Thorndike Street School
258
266
103.12
Park Street School
127
127
100.00
Quabaug School
90
90
100.00
Three Rivers Grammar
93
90
96.78
Thorndike Grammar
148
149
100.67
Wenimissett School
106
106
100.00
Bondsville Grammar
210
219
104.28
Forest Lake
11
11
100.00
Total
1,043
1,074
102.97
This is our best showing since the inception of the plan, as these figures well indicate :- Year 1926-27-En- rollment, 998; Certificates, 800; Per Cent., 80.16. Year 1927-28-Enrollment, 1,007; Certificates, 976; Per Cent., 96.92. Year 1928-29-Enrollment, 1,043; Certificates, 1,074; Per Cent., 102.97.
HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUM
The course of study in the high school has been re- vamped. The attempt is made to care for all types of pupils so that they may live successfully in a world ever new and changing.
Life is not what it was fifty, forty, thirty, twenty, or even ten years ago. The electric and gas motors have revolutionized everything - industry, transportation, communication, etc. New problems confront us. New preparation is demanded.
The teaching problem in the high school has changed. Years ago, few went beyond the grades. Those who did were fitting, in many cases, for college. The curriculum
148
provided for such training. Today, many go to high school. A grade education is not sufficient; they demand a high school training. Some fit for college ; many fit for more immediate contact with the world. Both have a right to such training. To a larger extent than ever, it is offered in our changed course of study.
"Preparation for successful living means preparation to enjoy life rationally, through trained ability to appre- ciate good literature, music, art, and drama, to keep healthy and wholesome-minded by participation in games and other forms of recreation; to enter intelligently into the civic life of the community through trained ability to understand economic, political, and social problems ; and to appreciate values-to distinguish the worthy from the unworthy, the true from the false, the beautiful from the ugly, refinement from crudity, sincerity from cant, the decent from the indecent in conduct, manners, and dress, to distinguish between values that are enduring and those that are transient."
This is the objective towards which our high school is heading. It can never be reached by all; some can be successful completely in its reaching; all, in part.
The curriculum will be found in the Appendix. When perused, one may not see all that is claimed. The possi- bilities are in its working-out. These, we hope to reach.
NATIONALITY POLL
In 1916, a poll was taken to ascertain the nationality of parents of children in the schools. In 1929, thirteen years later, a similar canvass was made. The comparison is interesting.
The reason for taking such a census is purely and absolutely professional. It is an inventory, a stock-tak- ing. It is a necessary procedure to understand thoroughly the job confronting us. It is one of the points of compass which helps us steer our bark.
149
TABLE I 1929
NATIONALITY OF PARENTS OF PUPILS, BASED ON NATIONALITY OF FATHER
Nationality
Grades High School
Total
American Born
688
78
766
English
49
23
72
Scotch
8
7
15
Irish
48
26
74
French
48
27
75
Polish
733
143
876
Swedish
19
14
33
German
10
8
18
Jewish
8
3
11
Italian
52
7
59
Danish
5
1
6
Greek
7
7
Hungarian
11
11
Turkish
6
6
Lithuanian
16
16
Finns
12
12
Armenian
8
8
Portuguese
4
4
French Canadian
19
19
English Canadian
4
4
Russian
7
7
Swiss
1
1
Austrian
3
3
Czechoslovakia
1
1
Ukranian
1
1
Dutch
1
1
Negro
1
1
Total
1,767
340
2,107
150
TABLE II
1929
PARENTAGE OF PUPILS BASED ON THE LANGUAGE OF THE NATIVE LAND OF PARENTS- THE LANGUAGE CHIEFLY USED IN HOME
Grades High School Total
Total Number of Pupils
1,758
340
2,098
Pupils Born in U. S. A.
1,733
332
2,065
Pupils not Born in U. S. A.
25
8
33
Both Parents Native Born
628
100
728
One Parent Native Born
222
50
272
Both Parents Foreign Born
908
190
1,098
From English Speaking Homes
981
211
1,192
Homes
777
129
906
Per Cent. from Non-English
Speaking Homes
44.19
37.94
43.17
COMPARISON-1916 AND 1929
Per Cent. from Non-English Speaking Homes
1916
1929
High School
3.75
37.94
Palmer
25.61
30.03
Three Rivers
69.43
45.57
Thorndike
70.93
68.63
Bondsville
69.28
73.31
Districts
23.41
43.13
All Grades (Exclusive
of High)
52.6
44.19
From Non-English Speaking
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ENROLLMENT
1916
1929
High School
162
340
Palmer:
Thorndike St.
Park St.
Quabaug
531
790
Thorndike
289
255
Three Rivers
422
351
Bondsville
280
311
Districts
94
51
1,778
2,098
EXTENSION WORK
Americanization.
The report of the Director of Americanization gives briefly the story of last year's work :
REPORT ON ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION IN PALMER 1928-1929
" 'Learning is fruitful as it contributes to the more efficient adjustment of the learner to the world about him, and to the people in it.' This statement of Professor Albert Shiels describes very well the principle underlying the lesson material used in our beginning and intermediate English classes for adult aliens. Themes built up from short sentences describing everyday acts and occupations known to the members of the class furnish a starting- point for developing correct pronunciation and voice in- flection, for work in reading, writing, and spelling, and for simple, practical conversation. Frequent repetition and varied drill on the themes that have been learned, result in an achievement that can be measured rather satisfactorily. This year, at the request of the State Department simple achievement tests were given by tea- chers of beginning and intermediate courses. The records.
152
of the tests show real accomplishment, particularly in reading and oral English; that part of the tests, called "practical English", which calls for application of prin- ciples learned, is by its nature rather difficult as the record of results would seem to indicate. Year by year the attempt is made to strengthen the weaker parts of our program and make the hours spent in evening study a source of real profit to the pupils. Credit is due the tea- chers of the classes for their patient, painstaking efforts to lay firm and sure foundations.
"The classes this year held their first meeting Octo- ber fifteenth and their closing program on the evening of March fourteenth. The maximum enrollment was 117; the enrollment at the end of the season, 94. The loss of 23 means a loss of 19.5 per cent .; the reasons for with- drawal, as given on the records, were :- work, 6; illness, 4; removal from town, 2; too great distance between home and school, 3; (of these the ages were 21, 25, and 47 years) ; not allowed to attend school, 1 (woman) ; no assigned reason, 7.
"The tables which are herewith presented give some significant data relative to the classes which met from October 15, 1928, to March 14, 1929-
Ages of Those Attending Evening Classes 1928-1929 M-Men; W-Women
21-25 Total 26-35
Total Over 35 Total Total
21-
26-
Over All
M
W 25 M
35
M
35
Ages
Bondsville
1
3
4
4
5
9
6
13
19 32
Thorndike
0
1
1
3
3
6
4
6
17
Three Rivers
1
3
4
0 3
6 8
6
10 8
18 8
10 28 16
38
Palmer
1
2
3
Total 3
9 12 10 22
32
28
45 73
117
11
30
(Note that there were 1.6 plus times as many enrolled who were over 35 as there were between 21 and 35.)
153
Nationalities of Those Attending Classes 1928-1929
Nationalities
Total
Armenian
French
Danish
Italian
Polish
Portuguese
Swedish
Syrian
MWMW MW M W MW M W MWMW
Bon'ville
9 20
2 1 32
Tho'dike
7 10
17
3 Rivers
1
11 26
38
Palmer
3
3
1
3 3 4 10
1
1
1
30
Total 3
3 1 1
3 3 31 66 2 1
1
1
1 117
(Note that almost twice as many women as men were enrolled-Men, 41; Women, 76; Total, 117. Of the 117 enrolled, there were 5 illiterates :- 1 Italian man, 3 Polish women, 1 Polish man).
"In the course of the year, seven of the 117 enrolled received their first papers, four received their second papers.
"On March 14, 1929, a program was presented in the High School Auditorium by the combined classes and State certificates were granted to 91 pupils. The accom- panying table shows distribution by grades :
Bondsville Thorndike Three Rivers Palmer
Total
Beginners
12
1
8
5
26
Intermediates
11
9
16
3
39
Advanced
7
0
10
9
26
Total
30
10
34
17
91"
Boys' and Girls' Club Work.
The 4-H Club work was very suc- cessful last year, due to the efforts of the Hampden County Improve- ment League and eleven (11) local
154
club leaders. There was an enrollment of two hundred sixty (260), eighty-eight (88) of whom were in Garden Clubs, ninety-six (96) in Canning Clubs, and seventy-six (76) in Poultry and Clothing Projects. Palmer, Bonds- ville, Three Rivers, and Thorndike each had a local 4-H Club exhibit where the club members showed their pro- ducts and competed with each other for prizes. These were held in the school buildings early in September.
"The winter work with the girls was conducted un- der three local leaders. The girls met regularly in a school room for instruction in clothing work. The leaders attended all of the leader training conferences conducted and thoroughly gave their interests and help to the groups. In both Palmer and Thorndike very fine local exhibits were held. We are happy to have large groups. in Three Rivers, and Bondsville in 1930.
"Palmer is the center for the Eastern Hampden Home Economics Club Rally each year. This year about. 150 club members were present from eleven communities in that part of the county."
STATISTICS Palmer 4-H Club Enrollment-1929
Leaders
Canning
Clothing Enroll-
Garden Miscel- Total
Enroll-
Enroll- laneous
ment
ment
ment
Palmer
3
12
20
21
53
Thorndike
4
12
44
23
79
Bondsville
2
27
15
42:
Three Rivers
2
45
29
74
Total
11
96
64
88
12
260
-
-
-
-
155
Canning Record-1929
Thorn-
Palmer
dike
Bonds- ville
Three Rivers
Total
Jars of Fruit
262
128
215
202
807
Jars of Vegetables
240
156
282
328
1,006
Glasses of Jelly
75
3
66
33
177
Pickles and Juices
31
4
64
185
284
Total
608
291
627
748
2,274
Clothing Record-1929
Palmer
Thorndike
Total
Dresses
73
73
Undergarments
18
5
23
Aprons
10
40
50
Miscellaneous
12
78
90
Estimate Saving
$25
$15
$40
Sewing for Self and Others
16
16
Learned to Use Machine
20
20
"The Home Bureau agents had the co-
Home Bureau. operation and assistance of 42 local women in the different communities of Palmer in conducting the Home Economics work. Those that served as teachers and lead groups received special instruction from the agents or State Specialists of from one to four days according to the project. Ten projects were taught :- Child feeding, food selection, machine at- tachments, chair seating, upholstery, dyeing, canning, child guidance, children's clothing, clothing selection. There was an enrollment in the ten projects of 517 which included 349 individual women. One hundred and thirty- eight meetings were held with an attendance of 1929."
COST
Cost is ever a live question. It has been, more or less, a bone of contention during the present incumbent's ten-
156
ure-nearly nineteen years. Even before that time, some twenty-five years ago, the writer well remembers attend- ing town meetings as a youth when the same contentions were raised.
Education costs money; it always has; it always will. Many various methods have been tried to finance it-from the individual to the public. It has been proven that the cheapest way is to do it co-operatively. If any one doubts it, let him try it by sending his children to a private school where the same quality of instruction as received in the public schools will cost in the vicinity of $500 per year. Furthermore, education is a public duty and the public must pay for it, as it does for police, fire, and other public services.
This payment is generally acknowledged as a neces- sity and a duty. The question that troubles many is whether or not they are getting an economical adminis- tration of school funds. There probably are as many opinions on this as there are people. We have always maintained that there was such an administration. Our saying so does not make it so, especially in view of the fact that we may well, consciously or unconsciously, be biased. People, inherently, feel that what they are doing is being well-done.
Had we been content to rest upon this mere asser- tion of economical administration, we ought to be accused of bias. We have not. We have based our claims upon facts and figures-facts and figures not gleaned by our- selves but gathered by the State Department of Educa- tion upon forms sent each year to every school depart- ment in the State, which are sworn to by the Chairman of the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools. These-all of them-are accurate and correct. With these as a basis, the State Department issues a report, with each town and city rated upon a comparative basis in many matters of expenditure, valuation, etc. Ever since
157
the beginning of the present superintendent's term of office, he has based his statements as to Palmer's economy upon such facts and figures. The figures are not of his making; nor the facts. Whatever they show, they show; whatever they prove, they prove.
This method of comparison is purely businesslike; purely scientific. Every business in the country does like- wise. You accept their method. Why not ours ?
What is the basis of cost comparison in any business ? Is it not the cost of the unit of production ? In the cotton or woolen business, it is the cost per yard produced; in the steel business, the cost per ton or pound fabricated ; in the coal business, the cost per ton mined. We could proceed further ; it is not necessary.
In the school business, what is the product, if not the pupil? Our basis is, then, the cost per pupil educated during each year. We accept this as a basis of compari- son in spite of the fact that our geographical complexion works heavily against us. Were we a concentrated town -not one of four distinct villages widely separated- we could carry a much heavier load of pupils per teacher, which would cut down very materially our cost per pupil. As an illustration, take the average cost per room as that of $2,400.00 per year. If there were thirty (30) pupils in such a room, the cost per pupil would be $80.00; if forty (40) pupils, $60.00. We could easily carry heavier enrollments and fewer teachers, were our schools within an easy walking distance of one another. Some three years ago, I showed a possible saving of $20,000.00, were we thus situated, or about $10.00 per pupil.
State Comparison.
The following table is submitted. This is a state-wide comparison.
The figures are taken from re- ports of the State Department of Education, entitled "Sta- tistics of the Public Schools". One report -- 1921 -- is missing.
158
In these reports, statistics are given for every one of the three hundred fifty-five (355) towns and cities in the State, which are divided into four (4) Groups :- Group I, Cities (There are 39.) ; Group II, Towns of 5,000 Popu- lation or Over-Palmer is a member of this group (There are 79.) ; Group III, Towns of Less than 5,000 Population and Maintaining High Schools (There are 113.) ; Group IV, Towns of Less than 5,000 Population and Not Main- taining High Schools (There are 124).
The Average Cost Per Pupil Based On Net Average Membership for each Group and the State-figured by the State Department-is given. Along side of these, is given Palmer's, as figured by the State Department.
TOTAL COST PER PUPIL
Group I
Group II
Group III $46.20
Group IV
State
Palmer
1917
$47.68
$43.55
$51.40 *
$46.82
$30.44
1918
52.25
46.59
50.21
34.35
1919
58.07
53.96
58.44
56.66
57.20
38.58
1920
73.65
67.78
71.64
69.19
72.12
44.99
1922
81.38
76.02
80.87
83.58
80.35
73.59
1923
85.13
78.40
82.79
86.58
83.65
77.55
1924
88.43
80.19
85.39
89.03
86.54
79.07
1925
90.09
82.72
88.78
92.88
88.52
78.87
1926
95.32
85.13
90.74
95.00
92.77
76.09
1927
100.19
87.53
92.34
97.24
96.72
81.77
1928
101.24
89.61
94.60
100.53
98.15
83.28
Ave'ge $79.40 $71.93 $76.55 $82.20
.$80.28
$63.51
* Missing in State Report.
Compare Palmer's average-$63.51-of the average costs for the eleven years with that of each group and of the State. You will find it $15.89 less than that of Group I, $8.42 less than that of Group II; $13.04 less than
159
that of Group III; $18.69 less than that of Group IV; $16.77 less than that of the State.
From another angle, take Palmer's rank each year for fourteen (14) years as ranked by the State. This is figured on the basis of three hundred fifty-five towns and cities.
STATE RANK
Year
Rank
1913
334
1915
335
1917
342
1918
339
1919
342
1920
346
1921
347
1922
230
1923
216
1924
229
1925
258
1926
293
1927
259
1928
261
Average Rank-14 Years
295
Palmer ranks sixty-seventh (67th) in population in the State. An average rank of two hundred ninety-five (295) for fourteen years-which means that only sixty (60) out of a possible three hundred fifty-five (355) ranked lower-is exceptional. Were the State Reports for 1912, 1914, and 1916 at hand for determining rank, our average for the seventeen (17) years-most of the writer's incumbency as superintendent-would be better than three hundred (300).
160
The marked drop in 1922 and 1923 was due largely to the new high school and the drop in enrollment caused by the opening of the Polish Parochial School.
Palmer's tax rate for 1928-$24.60-was
Tax Rate. two hundred seventy-fourth (274) in the State. Eighty-one (81) towns and cities only had a lower rate. Surely the tax rate is not com- paratively high.
During the last decade, the amount of Department money requested for the schools has in- Comparison. creased very materially, due to perfectly natural conditions. The public look at the amount and draw the conclusion that it is altogether out of proportion with other expenditures, public or pri- vate. Is this a fact? As to private expenditures, per- sonal or business, we will leave that to you for decision. As for public, let us make the most natural comparison possible-the schools and other local town departments. This is done with no thought or desire to caste the least aspersion on any other department. It is done to show that everything costs more.
For the purpose of comparison, we have taken the major departments of the town as listed in the Town Bookkeeper's Reports for 1919 and 1928. We have taken the expenditures for each as there given.
The departments taken are:
1). General Government (Selectmen, Auditing and Accounting, Treasury, Collectors, Assessors, License Commissioners, Town Clerk's, Election and Registration, Town Offices) .
2). Protection of Persons and Property (Police, Fire, Sealing of Weights and Measures, Tree Warden, Supt. of Moth Department, Forest Warden).
161
3). Health.
4). Highways.
5). Charities.
6). Education.
The percentage of increase in 1928 over 1919 in each is as follows:
Protection of Persons and Property 189%
Charities 182%
Health 181%
General Government
160%
Education
122%
Highways 106%
These figures simply and fully prove that the increased cost of the School Department is paralleled by that of other town activities. In fact, with one exception, the others have outstripped the schools in percentage of in- crease. This should prove that the hue and cry about the extravagance of the School Department is not in accord- ance with facts. Why single out the schools ?
High School Enrollment.
The high school enrollment has in- creased about forty (40) this year. What bearing has this on cost ?
Our entire school enrollment has not increased the past year or two; in fact, it has lessened. Our high school enrollment has increased due to these causes :- (1) In- ability of pupils to get work; (2) legal requirement of school attendance until sixteen (16) years old unless working; (3) desire and ability of parents to send child- ren to high school. The average cost per pupil in average membership in the grades last year was $65.06; in the high school, $156.63. The cost per pupil in the high school was $91.57 more per pupil. This, spread out over forty (40) pupils, means increased cost. In other words, with- out total increase in enrollment, more pupils are coming in the higher cost level.
162
Actual Evidence.
These budget requests of the School Committee show its attempt to co-operate during the local text- tile depression :
Budget of 1925
$189,500.00
Budget of 1926
177,379.62
Budget of 1927
180,047.11
Budget of 1928
176,184.03
Budget of 1929
170,475.00
Factors Entering into Decrease
Continuation School
$ 7,200.00
Teachers-5 less
5,000.00
Buckwheat Coal
5,000.00
$17,200.00
The school officials do not wish to imply that this entire reduction was due to their efforts. Conditions- textile-were responsible for discontinuance of the Con- tinuation School and employment of five (5) teachers less than previously.
They did effect the coal saving. They also reduced their requests for textbooks, repairs, commercial, and other accounts.
Offer.
Enough has been said relative to cost. It should not be neccessary to write in this vein year in and year out; yet, circum- stances demand it.
We have one proposal to make; namely, let anyone who is really desirous of knowing facts come to the Office of the Superintendent, ask any questions he desires, ask for an explanation of anything he wants, request to see anything that he can think of. We promise him a cordial reception, a frank and honest explanation, an opportunity to examine anything we have. There are no
163
secrets ; no machinations. There need be no suspicions ; no innuendos. Let us meet in a spirit of fairness, friend- liness, and respect. Then, if there must be disagreement, let it be honest and friendly.
ENCOMIUM
Irrespective of all that has been said about them throughout the length and breadth of these United States in an adversely critical manner-the cost, the waste, the inefficiency, etc .- the common schools of this country have helped America to achieve these things :- "(1) Rapid rise to national greatness; (2) realization of demo- cratic ideals; (3) quick conquest of a vast frontier ; (4) widened opportunity for new citizens from overseas; (5) the highest place ever accorded women; (6) the ability to create, manage, and staff efficiently large scale produc- tion; (7) the noblest standard of living ever realized over a large area; (8) the highest level of intellectual life ever attained by the common people; (9) steady improve- ment in the art of self-government; (10) appreciation of the significance of childhood and home life."
Some accomplishment! Match it!
An attempt has been made to present
Conclusion. somewhat of a picture of school function- ing. It is sketchy ; meagre ; brief-even to the point of unsupported assertion. All statements are intended to be accurate, friendly, tolerant. It is hoped that they will be carefully weighed and measured, and not found wanting.
For the healthy, hearty, loyal support of all-com- mittee, teachers, public-, we express appreciation. Co- operation is the grease that prevents undue wear and tear, hot boxes, sticking, and eventual junking in school
164
machinery. If a system is to be good and continue so, it must have it. If it does not, it suffers, and when it suf- fers - and herein lies the pity, the crime - the toll is exacted from innocent boys and girls who are pupils therein.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFTON H. HOBSON,
Superintendent of Schools.
Palmer, Mass., January 11, 1930.
165
Appendix
FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR 1929
Appropriation
Balance
Commercial
$ 7,190.00
$
Expended 7,551.09 8,659.83
$-361.09
Fuel & Light
9,200.00
540.17
Furniture &
Furnishings
500.00
589.83
-89.83
General Expenses
7,950.00
7,952.91
-2.91
Janitors' Services
10,975.00
11,003.21
-28.21
Maintenance of
Buildings and
Grounds
2,900.00
3,179.60
-279.60
Music, Manual
Training and
Drawing
3,940.00
3,632.95
307.05
Other Expenses
7,968.33
7,836.43
131.90
Repairs
1,500.00
1,864.16
-364.16
Teachers' Salaries 100,169.76
99,605.42
564.34
Textbooks &
Supplies
6,225.00
6,967.22
-742.22
Transportation
11,081.91
10,572.00
509.91
Americanization
1,400.00
1,583.76
-183.76
* $171,000.00
$170,998.41
$1.59
* Appropriation Requested, $170,475.00; Appropriation Granted, $168,000.00; Additional Request, Special Town Meeting, $3,000; Total, $171,000.00.
TABLE OF COSTS-NINE YEARS COMPARED
1921
1922
1923
General Expense,
$ 7,223.33 72,072.06
$ 8,670.89 77,859.29
$ 9,152.81 79,233.46
$
1924 9,022.67 89,001.04
$
1925 8,398.63 94,315.32
$
1926 8,673.77 97,089.99
1927 8,189.26 100,095.28
$
1928 7,991.49 99,914.39
$ 7,952.91 99,605.42
Textbooks and
Supplies,
5,889.20
5,951.94
7,014.25
7,006.93
8,147.72
8,077.92
6,466.58
6,368.70
6,967.22
Transportation
5,708.00
5,997.30
6,862.85
8,204.52
9,951.60
10,009.35
9,479.25
8,950.73
10,572.00
Janitors' Services
5,566.86
5,618.82
6,667.32
7,843.57
8,474.66
8,580.15
9,781.43
10,261.99
11,003.21
Fuel and Light,
9,516.71
7,579.23
13,347.73
14,597.24
15,796.46
10,699.10
10,297.76
7,374.56
8,659.83
Maintenance of Bldgs.
& Grounds,
2,475.11
2,340.37
2,253.79
9,007.41
3,180.27
2,158.45
2,944.34
2,946.92
3,179.60
Repairs,
2,582.29
2,174.94
2,823.70
3,784.35
3,848.53
1,747.62
1,972.05
1,915.51
1,864.16
Music, Manual
Training, Drawing,
3,564.13
3,838.61
3,885.22
4,013.83
4,513.74
4,121.54
3,823.31
3,672.85
3,632.95
Other Expenses,
3,612.41
4,637.93
11,340.92
7,891.72
6,809.33
7,304.06
8,462.17
11,113.52
7,836.43
Furniture and
Furnishings,
1,374.97
1,970.72
2,365.85
1,065.69
1,527.59
1,306.07
557.26
713.43
589.83
Rent,
245.00
Commercial,
7,271.74
9,062.99
9,098.95
9,659.97
7,410.50
1,305.70
7,102.10
7,825.49
7,551.09
Special Heating,
2,100.77
5,551.52
Bills Payable,
3,506.94
2,846.65
Special Alterations
at Palmer Grammar School,
1,895.00
1929
Teachers' Salaries,
$
Improvement of Wenimisset Grounds, Special Repairs, Special Wenimisset Repairs,
20.00
4,120.49
4,590.60
Total,
$132,709.52
$140,464.68
$159,598.37
$171,098.74
$181,085.44
$167,073.72
$169,170.79
$169,049.58
$169,414.65
Americanization,
$ 3,329.33
$
658.05
$ 1,511.19
$ 1,870.44
$ 2,085.70
$ 1,684.25
$ 1,547.08
$ 1,376.35
$ 1,583.76
Vacation School
Playgrounds,
3,501.88
2,368.26
Continuation School,
2,359.27
6,612.68
6,119.92
*6,668.57
6,591.96
7,526.18
6,608.75
3,289.37
Total,
$141,900.00
$147.735.41
$167,229.48
$182,006.01
$189,763.10
$176,284.15
$177,326.62
$173,715.30
$170,998.41
Average Membership, 2,169.90
1,984.11
1,945.65
1,959.17
2,106.25
2,210.11
2,206.73
2,105.59
2,066.05
Average Attendance,
2,104.23
1,899.62
1,867.78
1,885.78
2,028.19
2,127.80
2,151.09
2,046.77
1,972.44
Cost per Pupil Based
on Average
Membership,
$61.16
$70.79
$82.03
$87.33
$85.98
$75.60
$76.66
$82.03
$82.76
Cost per Pupil Based
on Average
Attendance,
$63.07
$73.94
$85.45
$90.73
$89.30
$78.52
$78.64
$84.92
$86.69
*
This includes Smith-Hughes Fund, $292.74
COST PER SCHOOL
High
Thorndike Street
Park Street
Three Rivers
Commercial
$ 7,551.09
Fuel & Light
2,361.75
366.91
928.56
1,787.09
Furniture & Furnishings
345.21
4.95
21.00
General Expenses
141.97
76.23
61.79
61.39
Janitors' Services
3,272.74
1,200.10
1,200.10
650.10
Maintenance of Build-
ings & Grounds
992.88
323.67
273.75
195.56
Music, Manual Train-
ing & Drawing
210.00
448.45
600.52
444.54
Other Expenses
2,533.30
977.83
758.98
792.74
Repairs
244.48
48.09
545.01
61.50
Teachers' Salaries
22,649.50
11,138.29
13,323.97
9,737.18
Textbooks & Supplies
3,067.94
497.71
580.01
486.24
Transportation
3,999.21
2,038.10
1,668.00
205.00
Day Schools
47,370.07
17,120.33
19,961.69
14,421.34
Americanization
Total
$47,370.07
17,120.33
19,961.69
14,421.34
Average Membership
302.42
256.32
340.08
224.13
Cost Per Pupil
Based on Aver-
age Membership
$156.63
$66.79
$58.69
$64.34
Venimisset
Thorndike Bondsville
Quabaug
Districts
Office
Total
$
7,551.09
387.16
1,480.70
193.89
427.74
126.03
8,659.83
89.50
82.73
46.44
101.93
61.24
76.49
62.34
21.97
7,287.56
7,952.91
650.10
1,129.97
1,700.10
1,100.00
100.00
11,003.21
195.10
345.83
311.88
404.26
136.67
3,179.60
311.62
466.93
626.63
401.71
122.55
3,632.95
550.15
731.78
802.21
502.09
187.35
7,836.43
90.21
173.82
375.10
324.75
1.20
1,864.16
8,791.03
10,564.55
13,211.81
7,368.40
2,820.69
99,605.42
655.51
497.22
532.48
439.64
210.47
6,967.22
1,074.30
135.10
251.04
176.25
1,025.00
10,572.00
12,896.61
15,669.87
18,728.07
11,207.18
4,751.93
7,287.56 169,414.65
1,583.76
12,896.61
15,669.87
18,728.07
11,207.18
4,751.93
7,287.56 170,998.41
136.59
251.32
312.35
185.55
57.31
2,066.05
2,066.05
$94.43
$62.35
$59.95
$60.40
$82.91
$ 3.53
$82.76
589.83
170
COST LESS REIMBURSEMENTS AND REVENUES RECEIVED AND RECEIVABLE 1929
+General School Fund
$18,750.00
¡Americanization
702.78
¡Vocational School
375.48
Tuition :
State Wards
1,323.17
Towns
4,415.00
Rentals
535.80
Telephones
25.05
Sale of Merchandise
89.68
$26,216.96
Expenditures
$170,998.41
Reimbursements and Receipts
26,216.96
Net Direct Cost
$144,781.45
Average Membership 2,066.05
Cost Per Pupil Based on Average Membership
$70.08*
¡From State of Massachusetts.
*This, in reality, is the cost per pupil based on money raised by taxation. The appropriation was $171,000.00. A balance of $1.59 was unexpended, making the total ex- penditure $170,998.41. Our reimbursments and received and receivable revenues were $26,216.96. The amount spent, therefore, from money raised by taxation was $144,781.45.
INDEX TO CONTENTS
Assessors' Report - -
-
-
-
- 67
Auditor's Report
-
-
-
-
-
- 70
Board of Health
-
-
-
-
-
81
Board of Public Welfare -
76
Care of Soldiers' Graves - -
-
-
-
64
Cemetery Commissioners' Report
55
Chief of Police Report
96
Forest Fire Warden -
-
-
-
-
-
95 98
Jury List -
-
-
-
-
105
Road Commissioners' Report -
-
-
-
89
School Committee
I
-
-
- 123
Sealer of Weights & Measures Report
65
Selectmen's Report - -
-
-
-
-
102
Tax Collector's Report
-
-
-
-
-
53
Town Bookkeeper's Report
-
-
-
- 20
Town Clerk's Report -
-
-
-
6
Town Officers-Expiration Date
3
Town Warrant - -
-
-
-
110
Treasurer's Report -
-
-
-
-
-
52
Tree Warden's Report - -
-
-
- 94
Trial Balance - - -
-
-
-
- 50
Young Men's Library Association
-
-
- 106
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
License Commissioners' Report -
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