USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1940 > Part 5
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Legion Field and Eager Playground
Appropriation
$1,000.00
Expenditures
Labor
$689.30
Clerical Work
25.00
Materials and Equipment :
Repairs to Tennis Court Nets
22.00
Tennis Court Cards
7.99
Tennis Court Marker
9.98
Trophy and Engraving
11.22
Fertilizer
4.00
Grass Seed
2.50
Weed Killer
14.47
Sharpening Lawn Mowers
5.00
Rolling Field
26.00
Lumber, Stakes & Nails
3.53
Tree Surgery
20.00
Property Damage
2.91
Miscellaneous
.95
Water Rent
37.53
882.38
Balance
117.62
$1,000.00
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Legion Field Receipts 1940
Tennis Court Fees
$189.65
Baseball Field Rental
10.00
Football Field Rental
20.00
Concessions
4.00
$223.65
GEORGE B. CHENEY
HORACE M. STEARNS
WILLIAM A. SULLIVAN
JOHN NIEMCZURA
Park Commissioners
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Report of Moth Department
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :
I hereby submit my report and comments for the ex- penditures of the fund for the suppression of Gypsy and Browntail moths, Elm Tree Beetles and Tent Caterpillar.
Appropriation
Expenditures
$1500.00 1497.23
Balance
$ 2.77
Comments :
Besides the regular town fund, we were fortunate to receive a W. P. A. allotment of $6200 which was used for tree scouting of Gypsy Moth egg clusters in wood- lands.
A total of thirty-five men were employed for a period of five months, with a result that over 300,000 egg clus- ters were destroyed, thereby removing a potential menace to about four hundred acres of woodland.
Besides destroying Gypsy Moth egg clusters and Tent Caterpillar webs, a considerable amount of spraying was done to combat the ever-increasing Elm Tree Beetle menace. Besides spraying our public shade trees, Elm and White Oak trees located on private property were taken care of without any cost to the property owner, with a result that tree foliage was considerably improved over that of recent years.
A total of $360 was spent for this purpose and over 1575 Elm and White Oak trees were sprayed for an av- erage cost of 23c per tree.
With our regular appropriation this work shall be continued, thereby giving our trees an opportunity to thrive.
Respectfully submitted, STANLEY J. STRZEMIENSKI, Moth Superintendent
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Auditor's Report
BOARD OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Town Infirmary Receipts
Forest Lake Dairy (1939 account)
$
52.11
Receipts (1940) 1,561.22
Outstanding (Forest Lake Dairy)
56.61
Total Receipts $1,669.94
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer
(1939 account)
$
52.11
Paid Town Treasurer
(1940 account) 1,561.22
$1,613.33
Balance due (1940 accounts)
56.61
Total
$1,669.94
SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 1940 ACCOUNT
Receipts
Fees collected by L. Leveillee
to 6/27/40
$
81.73
116.47
Fees collected by A. Boissey
$198.20
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Expenditures Paid Town Treasurer by L. Leveillee $ 80.43
Paid Town Treasurer by A. Boissey 115.47 Paid Town Treasurer by A. Boissey 1/14/41 1.00
$ 196.90
Overpayments 1938/9 accounts by Leveillee .13
Due from L. Leveillee Estate
1.17
1.30
$ 198.20
TAX COLLECTOR'S REPORT Account of 1937 Receipts
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940
$90.54
Interest
11.77 $
102.31
Paid Treasurer
102.31 $
102.31
Account of 1938
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940
$ 37,611.76
Interest and demands
881.90
$ 38,493.66
Paid Treasurer
14,113.35
Abatements
183.25
Added to tax titles
23,609.30
37,905.90
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940
$ 587.76
Account of 1939
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940 $ 86,004.54
Additional Assessors' Warrants to be collected 266.89
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Interest and demands 1,554.24
Motor vehicle excise taxes abated after payment
11.69
Real estate taxes abated after payment
28.80
$ 87,866.16
Paid Treasurer
$ 50,712.29
Abatements
2,448.02
Added to tax titles
23,608.40
76,768.71
Outstanding Jan. 1, 1940
$ 11,097.45
Account of 1940
Assessors' warrants to be
collected
$283,556.15
Interest and demands
277.47
Motor vehicle excise taxes
abated after payment
576.35
Poll tax abated after payment
2.00
$284,411.97
Paid Treasurer Abatements
$195,138.71
6,955.80
Added to tax titles
26,663.96
228,758.47
$ 55,653.50
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TOWN CLERK'S REPORT Dog Licenses 1940 Account Receipts
Fees Collected 460 @ $2.00 $ 920.00
53 @ $5.00
265.00
117 @ $2.00 234.00
630
$ 1,419.00
Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer
$ 1,293.00
Paid John T. Brown, 630 @ .20 126.00
$ 1,419.00
TREASURER'S REPORT
Receipts
Balance on hand January 1, 1940
$50,094.27
Anticipation of Revenue Loans $300,000.00
John T. Brown, Tax Collector :
Taxes, 1937
90.54
Interest and Demands, 1937
11.77
Taxes, 1938
13,231.45
Interest and Demands, 1938
881.90
Taxes, 1939
49,158.05
Interest and Demands, 1939
1,554.24
Taxes, 1940
194,861.24
Interest and Demands, 1940
277.47
Sale of Tax Possessions
955.00
Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
Taxes, Reimbursements and Licenses 151,438.50
Highway Fund, Chapter 504 18,618.56
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Chapter 90 Contracts :
Palmer-Bondsville Road, 1938, account 1,435.40
Palmer-Bondsville Road, 1940 account 6,857.50
Maintenance, 1939 account
879.08
Maintenance, 1940 account
666.60
Dutton Bridge, 1938 account
5,830.73
Burleigh Bridge, Chapter 505A
998.22
County of Hampden : Chapter 90 Contracts :
Palmer-Bondsville Road, 1938 account 717.71
Palmer-Bondsville Road, 1940 account
3,428.75
Maintenance, 1939 account 999.95
Dutton Bridge, 1938 account 2,915.37
All Other Sources
27,083.07
$782,891.10
$832.985.37
Disbursements
Paid out on Selectmen's Warrants $754,385.50
Balance on Hand Dec. 31, 1940 78,599.87
$832,985.37
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS' ACCOUNTS Regular Appropriations Account Receipts
Appropriation $5,000.00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
300.00
Total
$5,300.00
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Expenditures
Expenditures as per books $5,296.81 Balance 3.19
$5,300.00
Article 36
Receipts
Appropriation for Road in Cemetery
$1,000.00
Expenditures
As per books $1,000.00
Soldiers' Graves
Receipts
Appropriation $ 250.00
Expenditures
Paid Cemetery Commissioners
$180.00
Paid Rev. D. E. Hennessey
52.00
Paid P. Coache
18.00
$
250.00
Care of Cemeteries Receipts
From Perpetual Care Funds $ 963.65
For Soldiers' Graves
180.00
Other sources
1,716.64
$2,860.29
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Expenditures
Paid Town Treasurer $2,860.29
Bills Receivable
Total as per books
$
137.58
Perpetual Care Funds
Balance December 31, 1939 $36,251.44
Receipts
New Funds received during year $2,300.00 909.69
Interest for 1940
Interest for 1940
3,209.69
$39,461.13
Expenditures
Care of lots for 1940
963.65
Balance December 31, 1940
$38,497.48
(Principal of the Funds is $36,588.83)
Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH MARHELEWICZ C. KENNETH SANDERSON Auditors
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Palmer
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1940
-
133
School Committee 1940-1941
JOSEPH A. FUREY, Chairman
CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary
FLORENCE CALLAHAN
Term expires 1943
DR. WILLARD E. SEDGWICK Term expires 1942
ELIZABETH I. CORNISH* Term expires 1942
DR. CHARLES GIROUX Term expires 1941
JOSEPH A. FUREY
Term expires 1941
* Resigned
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held at 8 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. Office Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m .; 1 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.
134
CALENDAR
HIGH SCHOOL
Winter Term:
Begins December 30, 1940; ends February 21, 1941 Spring Term:
Begins March 3, 1941; ends April 25, 1941
Summer Term:
Begins May 5, 1941; ends June 27, 1941
Fall Term :
Begins September 2, 1941; ends December 20, 1941 Winter Term :
Begins December 29, 1941; ends February 20, 1942
Spring Term :
Begins March 3, 1942; ends April 24, 1942
Summer Term:
Begins May 4, 1942; ends June 26, 1942
OTHER SCHOOLS
Winter Term:
Begins January 2, 1941; ends February 23, 1941 Spring Term:
Begins March 4, 1941; ends April 26, 1941
Summer Term:
Begins May 6, 1941; ends June 13, 1941 Fall Term:
Begins September 3, 1941; ends December 20, 1941 Winter Term:
Begins December 30, 1941; ends February 21, 1942 Spring Term:
Begins March 3, 1942; ends April 25, 1942
Summer Term:
Begins May 5, 1942; ends June 13, 1942
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VACATIONS-ALL SCHOOLS
Winter:
February 22, 1941; ends March 3, 1941
Spring :
April 26, 1941; ends May 5, 1941
Summer:
(Grades) June 13, 1941; ends September 2, 1941
(High) June 27, 1941; ends September 2, 1941
Fall:
December 22, 1941; ends December 28, 1941
Winter:
February 21, 1942; ends March 1, 1942
Spring :
April 26, 1942; ends May 3, 1942
Summer :
(High) June 26, 1942; ends September 8, 1942
(Grades) June 13, 1942; ends September 8, 1942
REQUESTED APPROPRIATION-1941
1. General Expenses :
Salaries
$6,510.00
Other General Expenses
629.00
$7,139.00
2. Teachers' Salaries :
High
$38,838.00
Elementary
46,739.54
Substituting
500.00 $86,077.54
3. Textbooks and Supplies : $5,000.00 $5,000.00
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4. Transportation : Public
Other Private School
$11,000.00 100.00
600.00 $11,700.00
5. Janitors' Salaries : $10,175.00 $10,175.00
6. Fuel, Light and Power: Coal
$5,560.00
Wood
50.00
Light and Power
1,800.00
$7,410.00
7. Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds :
$1,820.00
$1,820.00
8. Repairs :
$1,400.00
$1,400.00
9. Music, Manual Training, and Drawing : Salaries Supplies
$3,200.00
320.00
$3,520.00
10. Commercial :
Salaries
$7,270.00
Supplies
1,200.00
$8,470.00
11. Furniture and Furnishings :
$300.00
$300.00
12. Other Expenses :
Salaries
$2,500.00
Other
3,257.63
$5,757.63
13. Vocational :
Salaries
$2,000.00
1,100.00 $3,100.00
Other
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SUMMARY
General Expenses
$7,139.00
Teachers' Salaries
86,077.54
Textbooks and Supplies
5,000.00
Transportation
11,700.00
Janitors' Salaries
10,175.00
Fuel, Light and Power
7,410.00
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
1,820.00
Repairs
1,400.00
Music, Manual Training
and Drawing
3,520.00
Commercial
8,470.00
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
Other Expenses
5,757.63
Vocational
3,100.00
$151,869.17
Less Vocational
3,100.00
$148,769.17
COMPARISON
Request - 1940
$149,837.49
Request - 1941 148,769.17
Decrease
$ 1,068.32
Estimated Receipts and Re-imbursements
General School Fund
$17,650.00
State-Aided Vocational
1,500.00
State Wards
3,800.00
Other Tuition
1,200.00
Other Receipts
400.00
$24,550.00
138
-
Requested Appropriation
$148,769.17
Less Receipts and Reimbursements
24,550.00
To be Raised by Direct Taxation (This Year) $124,219.17
Raised by Direct Taxation (Last Year) $121,112.49
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ADDITIONAL REQUESTS
The School Committee is required by State Law to do, under certain conditions, two additional things. These do not enter directly into the operation of the local day schools and, therefore, are, and should be, kept separate from the regular budget.
They are :- (1) State Trade School Tuition and (2) Adult Alien Education.
The Committee has no option in providing for both of these activities; they are mandatory.
Any person fourteen years or older can attend Trade School. The only limitation is the capacity of the school to accommodate.
A petition, signed by twenty or more desiring edu- cation for citizenship, makes necessary the operation of Adult Alien Education Classes. Such a petition, bearing 121 signatures, has been filed and 215 pupils are enrolled.
These additional appropriations, separate and apart from the regular school budget, are requested :
Adult Alien Education $2,200.00
Trade School Tuition $3,000.00
Total
$5,200.00
Fifty per cent. is re-imbursed by the State, as follows :
Adult Alien Education $1,100.00
Trade School Tuition $1,500.00
Total
$2,600.00
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This is the actual picture:
Appropriation Requested $5,200.00
Re-imbursement $2,600.00
Net Direct Cost to Town $2,600.00
The additional request is $5,200.00
TOTAL REQUESTS
In order that there may be no misunderstanding and that the budget requests may be easily visualized, both as to their total and the actual amount to be raised by direct taxation, this tabulation is given:
APPROPRIATIONS:
Regular School Appropriation
$148,700.00
Additional Request:
Adult Alien Education $2,200.00
State Trade School
$3,000.00
5,200.00
Total
$153,900.00
Re-imbursements:
Regular School Activities
$24,550.00
Adult Alien Education
1,100.00
State Trade School Tuition
1,500.00
Total
$ 27,150.00
Appropriations
$153,900.00
Re-imbursements
27,150.00
Net Amount To Be Raised by Direct Taxation $126,750.00
COMPARISON
Requested 1941
Requested 1940
Increase or
General Expenses
$ 7,139.00
$ 7,139.00
Decrease 0.00
Teachers' Salaries
86,077.54
89,368.86
-3,291.32
Textbooks and Supplies
5,000.00
5,000.00
0.00
Transportation
11,700.00
11,700.00
0.00
Janitors' Salaries
10,175.00
10,362.00
-187.00
Fuel, Light and Power
7,410.00
4,870.00
2,540.00
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
1,820.00
1,920.00
-100.00
Repairs
1,400.00
1,400.00
0.00
Music, Manual Training and Drawing
3,520.00
3,520.00
0.00
Commercial
8,470.00
8,450.00
20.00
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
300.00
0.00
Other Expenses
5,757.63
5,807.63
-50.00
Vocational
3,100.00
3,100.00
0.00
$151,869.17
$152,937.49
-$1,068.32
Less Vocational
3,100.00
3,100.00
0.00
$148,769.17
$149,837.49
-$1,068.32
141
Amounts Less Re-Imbursements :
Appropriation Less Re-imbursements (state)
$148,769.17 22,950.00
$149,837.49 26,325.00
Less Tuition
$125,819.17
$123,512.49
1,200.00
2,000.00
$124,619.17
$121,512.49
Less Other Receipts
400.00
400.00
$124,219.17
$121,112.49
The reimbursements are estimated as follows :- General School Fund, $17,650.00; State-Aided Vocational, $1,500.00; State Wards, $3,800.00; Other Tuition, $1,200.00; Other Receipts, $400.00; Total, $24,550.00.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR-1940
Appropriation
Expended $8,453.53
Balance
Commercial
$8,450.00
$ -3.53
Fuel and Light
4,870.00
5,417.28
-547.28
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
311.08
-11.08
General Expenses
7,139.00
7,083.89
55.11
Janitors' Salaries
10,362.00
10,166.30
195.70
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds 1,920.00
2,001.11
-81.11
Music, Manual Training and Drawing 3,520.00
3,545.15
-25.15
Other Expenses
5,807.63
6,324.56
-516.93
Repairs
1,400.00
1,078.27
321.73
Teachers' Salaries
89,331.37
87,966.39
1,364.98
Textbooks and Supplies
5,000.00
5,724.36
-724.36
Transportation
11,700.00
11,726.16
-26.16
$149,800.00
$149,798.08
$ 1.92
143
144
COST LESS REIMBURSEMENTS AND REVENUES RECEIVED AND RECEIVABLE 1940
*General School Fund
$18,547.90
*Vocational School
245.65
*State-Aided Vocational School for Girls
1,618.23
Tuition
*State Wards
3,676.39
Towns
1,045.00
Rentals
253.50
Sale of Merchandise
24.42 $25,411.09
Expenditures
$149,798.08
Reimbursements and Receipts
25,411.09
Net Direct Cost $124,386.99
Average Membership 1,552.30
Cost Per Pupil Based on Average Membership $80.13 **
From State of Massachusetts.
*This, in reality, is the cost per pupil based on money raised by taxation. The appropriation was $149,800.00. A balance of $1.92 was unexpended, making the total expenditures $149,798.08. Our reimbursements and received and receivable revenues were $25,411.09. The amount spent, therefore, from money raised by taxa- tion was $124,386.99.
145
Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I herewith present my thirtieth report as Superin- tendent of Schools in Palmer. This is the forty-eighth in the series of reports issued by the superintendents of the Town.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance statistics for the school year of 1939-40 were as follows :- Enrollment, 1,708; Average Membership, 1,570.22; Average Attendance, 1,510.94; Per Cent. of Attendance, 96.16; Tardinesses, 351.
During my entire incumbency, a percent. of attend- ance of better than 96.25% has prevailed-95% is re- garded as ideal. Such a percentage is indicative of sev- eral things; briefly :- (1) Good schools; (2) good spirit ; (3) good discipline; (4) good co-operation. Our main satisfaction comes, not from the high percentage, but from what it indicates.
THE SCHOOLS
The American Public School is an unique institution. Founded in the early colonial days to meet a definite need -primarily fitting men for the professions-it has changed throughout the succeeding years to meet a def- inite need. When the colonies became free and independ- ent and embarked upon a really democratic system of gov- ernment, it was realized that a democracy-if successful -must be built upon an intelligent electorate. An intel-
146
ligent electorate can only be secured by free and com- pulsory education. Education in a democracy cannot be left to individual ability to buy or to avail oneself of. It must be open to all; paid for by all. God bless our fore- fathers-Washington, Jefferson, etc .- for such fore- sight !
As civilization has advanced; as times and condi- tions have changed; as new problems and necessary so- lutions have arisen; as new challenges have been hurtled forth, education has changed to meet them. Certain fun- damentals never change; but many other things do. To hold fast to that which is fundamental and to change to meet those things that are not is the school's job. All in all, they have done a good job.
America is the America she is because of her schools. Education is the sap root of democracy. American Education has always done three things-she has edu- cated the head, the hand, and the heart. Other nations have stressed "head"; still others have stressed "hand"; some have stressed "head" and "hand". None have stressed the three-"head", "hand", and "heart"-as has America. That is why none of them equal her as a coun- try where the emphasis is placed upon the individual and not the state. Call it the "American Way of Life" or what you will, it is largely the product of American education.
May the schools always function along these lines! May nothing ever interfere with them doing their task! May those who have profited from their functioning in the past see to it that they can continue to function in the future !
HEALTH WORK
Health is one of the major aims of public education. The change that has taken place within the last quarter of a century is unrealized by all except those who have been teaching during this period.
147
Much preventive work is done. Much educational work is done. Many health habits are formed. Much health information is taken into the homes by the pupils. In many ways, both pupils and parents are made health- conscious. The aim of all health work is preventive. If disease can be prevented, cure is not necessary.
Our health work has always been excellent and is so recognized by all health agencies that come in contact with it.
The one thing that we need most is a fund to take care of necessary corrective work that should be done but never can, or will, be done if the payment rests upon the parent. Such a fund should be made available yearly by the Town.
PROMOTIONS
The promotion statistics in the grades for the last school year were as follows :- Number of Pupils, 946; Promoted Unconditionally, 740-Per Cent. 78.22; Pro- moted Conditionally, 122-Per Cent. 12.9; Not Promoted 84-Per Cent. 8.88.
The promotion statistics for the past sixteen years average as follows :- Per Cent. Promoted Unconditionally, 80.35; Per Cent. Promoted Conditionally, 12.48; Per Cent. Not Promoted, 7.17.
Ideal conditions are attained when non-promotions average seven per cent. (7%). Patently, a fairly health " promotional condition exists.
SCHOOL SAVINGS
The report of school savings for the last school year, September, 1939, to July, 1940, is as follows :- Number of Deposits, 12.898; Amount of Deposits, $3,233.05
148
The combined School Savings from date of inception, November 1, 1921, to July 1, 1940, are :- Number of De- posits. 358,769; Amount of Deposits, $99,904.89.
The old-fashioned habit of thrift-seemingly almost forgotten in these days-is one of those fundamentals that never change if success is to be attained; and, there- fore, is a worthy school objective.
HIGH SCHOOL
America is unique in the provision she has made for many years in offering a free secondary education to its youth. In nearly every other country, until within a comparatively few years, such provision was made only for the select few. Universality was unknown. The most distinctive feature of American education has been this universality of opportunity for high school education. For years, many grasped this opportunity.
Within the past quarter of a century, nearly every youth of normal, or better, capacity mentally has at- tended high school. The great spread in mental capacity has taxed the ingenuity of educators to make proper pro- vision for this wide diversity. The one and only course provided-college preparation-was not sufficient. Other courses to meet individual differences in mental capacity had to be provided. Courses for the purely abstract-mind- ed were not meeting the challenge. Courses for the con- crete-minded, and those bordering on both the abstract and concrete, were devised. Commercial courses, vocation- al courses, general courses-all came into being. In large communities, these were offered in separate high schools. In smaller communities, these various courses, to a great- er or lesser degree, were established in the composite high school. Technical courses are more expensive than non- technical. Smaller communities were hard pressed to meet this situation. Enrollments, equipment, physical set-up, finances, etc .- all presented hurdles.
149
All in all, the smaller communities have done a good job in meeting a seemingly impossible problem-impos- sible of solution.
Palmer meets it fairly well-not the way we would like to meet it, if all barriers could be removed. Three courses are offered-the College Preparatory, the Eng- lish, and the Commercial.
The English course, in most schools called General, has been in operation some ten years. It offers a flexibility of pupil adjustment that works advantageously for both pupil and school. Pupils can take parts of the other courses without taking all. An opportunity for a general education within the mental grasp of many pupils is provided. A general education is all that many want or can grasp. Certainly, they are much better prepared to cope with life with this additional education.
The Commercial course is thirty years old. Its pur- pose, its objectives, its work-all are known. Were it good taste, the naming of the graduates holding key positions in the Commercial Field-local and abroad-would be proof sufficient of the quality of this course. The confi- dence that local business and industrial firms have in our product is evidenced by the many calls for clerical help that they give us.
The College Preparatory course can be best judged by a statement which is given each spring to the Com- mittee. It is a summation of the reports received from different institutions upon the work of our graduates at the end of the first semester, or first half, of their fresh- man year. This particular statement is a summary of these reports for the past ten years.
In order to understand fully its significance, this ex- planation is given :- There are many students and differ- ent institutions represented-colleges, teachers colleges, junior colleges, commercial colleges, nurse-training
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schools, etc. These colleges have various methods of marking, but, in a general way, the marks may be sum- marized somewhat as follows :- "A", which ordinarily means 90 or better ; "B", 80 or better; "C", 70 or better ; "D", 60 or better (passing) ; "E", below 60 (passing but not satisfactory) ; "F", considerably below 60 (failing) ; "Conditions" (neither passing nor failing).
There have been 1,134 pupil-subject marks given during this period of ten years by these institutions. There were 181 A's, or 15.99% ; 398 B's, or 35.09% ; 351 C's, or 30.95% ; 155 D's, or 13.66% ; 23 E's, or 2.02% ; 19 F's, or 1.68% ; 7 Conditions, or .61%. In brief, 1,085 are passing marks with satisfaction, or 95.69% ; 23 are passing, but unsatisfactory ; 7 are conditions ; and only 19 are not passing. This is a very fine showing.
These pupils secured entrance to college by three methods :- Certification by us; certification and exam- ination (pupil taking examination in subjects where we would not certify) ; and transcript (simply sending school record). "Certification" means that we stand back of our pupils. They must secure with us practically an av- erage of 85 in each subject throughout their high school course.
TRADE SCHOOL
In towns of the size of Palmer, outside of some courses in manual arts and household arts, vocational education of a broad nature is impossible, for reasons given earlier-enrollments, equipment, finances, etc. This type of education is made available to all fourteen years or older at several trade schools, financed in part by the State. Our nearest one is the Springfield Trade School.
A new building has been recently opened, which will accommodate 2,000 pupils. This means that Palmer will
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have a quota of about 20 pupils. Heretofore, our quota ran about five.
Until the war emergency arose, this was sufficient. For ten years, there have been no jobs and, consequently, boys have not been interested in learning a trade. Now, many desire to and our quota will be filled easily. This is a fine opportunity for a trade education and even great- el opportunity should be offered, both boys and girls. There is one local impact that will result-a larger ex- penditure for tuition. Previously, about $500.00 has taken care of this tuition. This year, on the basis of 20 pupils at the tuition rate of $150.00 per year, at least $3,000.00 must be appropriated.
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