USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1941 > Part 5
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Books and Magazines
1,511.80
Supplies and Equipment
242.92
Light
117.78
Telephone
30.60
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Fuel
348.33
Repairs
120.83
Insurance Premiums
101.35
Miscellaneous
56.33
Balance, January 1, 1942
.10
$5,629.39
Respectfully submitted,
ALLEN F. DAVIS,
Treasurer
The accounts of the Treasurer have been audited and approved by me this 20th day of January, 1942.
FREEMAN A. SMITH,
Auditor
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Report of Board of Selectmen
The Selectmen respectfully submit the following re- port for the year 1941:
The Board organized with George B. Cheney as Chairman and Charles J. Fountain as Secretary.
The following appointments were made: Ernest E. Hobson, Town Counsel; Harriette Paine, Bookkeeper; Ralph E. Canning, Burial Agent; David L. Bodfish, Supt. of Graves; Edwin Duncan, George L. Rogers and Victor French, Town Engineers ; Joseph Marhelewicz, An- imal Inspector; Jeremiah Lamery, Supt. of Streets ; Ber- nard Cavanaugh, Property man and Timekeeper for Highway Dept .; Robt. L. McDonald, clerk of Highway matters; Edwin Duncan, Forest Fire Warden.
Joseph Marhelewicz resigned during the year as An- imal Inspector, having joined the U. S. Army. Alfred Coulter who succeeded him passed away during the year and was succeeded by George S. Gay.
Edwin Duncan resigned during the year as Forest Fire Warden and was succeeded by Ananie Brouillette.
The Board has attended to the several matters of Highway work and repairs voted at the last annual town meeting, and respectfully calls to your attention the work accomplished.
A total of 9.8. miles of streets and highways were oiled, using 53,238 gallons of road oil. The new work is
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as follows : Pleasant Street curve in Thorndike, Fila Road, The Common at Palmer Center, Central Street, Converse Street, Arnold Street, Jim Ashe Road, Bourne Street, Palmer Road intersections in Three Rivers, and the Old Warren Road.
The Roads resurfaced are: Pleasant Street, Ran- dall Street, McNitt Road in Palmer, Church and Center Streets in Thorndike, Palmer Road, Pleasant and Ruggles Streets in Three Rivers. High Street, Pleasant Street and Crawford Street in Bondsville. Bennett Street at Forest Lake.
The following roads were treated with dust layer: Baptist Hill Road, Calkins Road, Spellco Road, Conant Street and Water Street.
Under Chapter 90 Maintenance we used 19,436 gal- lons of oil.
During the year we built a new concrete walk on Thorndike Street, Palmer. Length of walk 387 ft., width 5' 9". St. Thomas Parish, the abutter, paid a proportionate share of this walk. In Thorndike 205' of walk on Com- mercial Street was recapped. In Bondsville 787 feet of new walk, Type I, was laid on Pine Street. In Three Rivers 81 ft. of walk was recapped on Front Street. In Palmer 250' of new walk was laid on Converse Street. Several other walks were repaired during the year.
Work on Chapter 90, Bondsville-Palmer Road was completed by contract under State Supervision. The 1941 work on this road completes the Palmer-Bondsville Road Chapter 90 project from Shearers Corner into Bonds- ville.
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The Board appreciates the cooperation and assist- ance given it by all officials of the Town and others dur- ing 1941. The Board calls attention to the fine public service that the Three Rivers Chamber of Commerce is rendering to the Town of Palmer. The Three Rivers C. of C. spent money in an effort to keep the Bondsville mill from closing. The same organization has pledged $7000.00 to be spent in Thorndike for flood control and to help restore the dam and canal in order to help industry in Thorndike. The C. of C. has also spent money in an at- tempt to help Three Rivers industrially.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE B. CHENEY DANIEL J. DUNN
CHARLES J. FOUNTAIN
Board of Selectmen
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of PALMER
For the fiscal year ending December 31, 1941
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School Committee 1941-1942
JOSEPH A. FUREY, Chairman CLIFTON H. HOBSON, Secretary
DR. CHARLES GIROUX Term expires 1944
JOSEPH A. FUREY
Term expires 1944
FLORENCE CALLAHAN Term expires 1943
DR. WILLARD E. SEDGWICK Term expires 1942
REV. FREDERIC A. MOONEY
Term expires 1942
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 Hours :- 8 a. m. to 12 m .; 1 to 5 p. m. Saturdays, 9 a. m. to 12 m.
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CALENDAR
Winter Term :
Begins January 5, 1942; ends February 20, 1942
Spring Term :
Begins March 2, 1942; ends April 24, 1942
Summer Term:
Grades
Begins May 4, 1942; ends June 12, 1942
High
Begins May 4, 1942; ends June 26, 1942
Fall Term :
Begins September 8, 1942; ends December 23, 1942
Winter Term:
Begins January 4, 1943; ends February 26, 1943
Spring Term :
Begins March 8, 1943; ends May 1, 1943
Summer Term:
Grades
Begins May 10, 1943 ; ends June 18, 1943
High
Begins May 10, 1943; ends June 30, 1943
VACATIONS
Winter:
February 21, 1942, to March 2, 1942 Spring :
April 25, 1942, to May 5, 1942
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Summer:
Grades
June 13, 1942, to September 8, 1942
High
June 27, 1942, to September 8, 1942
Fall :
December 24, 1942, to January 4, 1943
Winter:
February 27, 1943, to March 8, 1943
Spring :
May 2, 1943, to May 10, 1943
Summer :
Grades
June 19, 1943, to September 7, 1943
High
July 1, 1943, to September 7, 1943
REQUESTED APPROPRIATIONS-1942
1. General Expenses :
Salaries
$6,843.00
Other General Expenses
627.00 $ 7,470.00
2. Teachers' Salaries:
High
38,012.40
Elementary
47,050.00
Substituting
500.00
85,562.40
3. Textbooks and Supplies :
5,000.00
5,000.00
4. Transportation :
Public
8,950.00
Other
150.00
Private School
600.00
9,700.00
5. Janitors' Salaries :
10,175.00
10,175.00
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6. Fuel, Light and Power:
Coal
5,635.00
Wood
50.00
Light and Power
1,800.00
7,485.00
7. Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds :
1,850.00
1,850.00
8. Repairs
1,400.00
1,400.00
9. Music, Manual Training and Drawing :
Salaries
3,200.00
Supplies
320.00
3,520.00
10. Commercial :
Salaries
7,320.00
Supplies
1,150.00
8,470.00
11. Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
300.00
12. Other Expenses :
Salaries
2,500.00
Other
3,142.65
5,642.65
13. Vocational :
Salaries
2,000.00
Other
1,100.00
3,100.00
SUMMARY
General Expenses
$ 7,470.00
Teachers' Salaries
85,562.40
Textbooks and Supplies
5,000.00
Transportation
9,700.00
Janitors' Salaries
10,175.00
Fuel, Light and Power
7,485.00
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Maintenance of Buildings
and Grounds
1,850.00
Repairs
1,400.00
Music, Manual Training and Drawing
3,520.00
Commercial
8,470.00
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
Other Expenses
5,642.65
Vocational
3,100.00
$149,675.05
Less Vocational
3,100.00
$146,575.05
COMPARISON
Request - 1941
$148,769.17
Request - 1942
146,575.05
Decrease
$ 2,194.12
Estimated Receipts and Re-imbursements
General School Fund
$14,500.00
State-Aided Vocational
1,100.00
State Wards
4,800.00
Other Tuition
1,200.00
Other Receipts
400.00
$22,000.00
Requested Appropriation · $146,575.05
Less Receipts and Re-imbursements 22,000.00
To be Raised by Direct Taxation (This Year) $124,575.05
Raised by Direct Taxation (Last Year) $124,219.17
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SEPARATE APPROPRIATION REQUESTED
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, was filed and 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 fol- lows :
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-imbursements $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
$146,500.00
Additional Request :
Adult Alien Education $2,200.00
State Trade School $3,000.00
5,200.00
Total
$151,700.00
Re-Imbursements:
Regular School Activities
22,000.00
Adult Alien Education
1,100.00
State Trade School Tuition
1,500.00
· Total
$24,600.00
Appropriations
$151,700.00
Re-imbursements
24,600.00
Net Amount to Be Raised by
Direct Taxation $ 127,100.00
COMPARISON
Requested 1942
Requested 1941
Increase or Decrease
General Expenses
$ 7,470.00
$ 7,139.00
$ 331.00
Teachers' Salaries
85,562.40
86,077.54
-515.14
Textbooks and Supplies
5,000.00
5,000.00
0.00
Transportation
9,700.00
11,700.00
-2,000.00
Janitors' Salaries
10,175.00
10,175.00
0.00
Fuel, Light, and Power
7,485.00
7,410.00
75.00
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
1,850.00
1,820.00
30.00
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
8,470.00
0.00
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
300.00
0.00
Other Expenses
5,642.65
5,757.63
-114.98
Vocational
3,100.00
3,100.00
0.00
$149,675.05
$151,869.17
$2,194.12
Less Vocational
3,100.00
3,100.00
0.00
$146,575.05
$148,769.17
-$2,194.12
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Amounts Less Re-Imbursements :
Appropriation Less Re-imbursements (State)
$146,575.05 20,400.00
$148,769.17 22,950.00
$126,175.05
$125,819.17
Less Tuition
1,200.00
1,200.00
$124,975.05
$124,619.17
Less Other Receipts
400.00
400.00
$124,575.05
$124,219.17
The re-imbursements are estimated as follows :- General School Fund, $14,500.00; State-Aided Vocational, $1,100.00; State Wards, $4,800.00; Other' Tuition, $1,200.00; Other Receipts, $400.00; Total, $22,000.00.
The estimated re-imbursements are $2,550.00 less than last year. The reasons are :- $3,150.00 less under "General School Fund," because of fewer teachers and $50.00 drop per teacher in supplementary re-im- bursements and $400.00 less under "State-Aided Vocational," plus $1,000 more under "State Wards"-a net loss of $2,550.00.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT FOR YEAR-1941
Appropriation
Expended
Balance
General Expenses
$7,139.00
$7,304.12
$ -165.12
Teachers' Salaries
86,077.54
86,027.53
50.01
Textbooks & Supplies
5,000.00
5,583.45
-583.45
Transportation
11,700.00
10,805.44
994.56
Janitors Salaries
10,175.00
10,120.55
54.45
Fuel, Light & Power
7,410.00
7,758.88
-348.88
Maintenance of Buildings and Grounds
1,820.00
1,913.01
-193.01
Repairs
1,400.00
1,252.33
147.67
Music, Manual Training
and Drawing
3,520.00
3,520.95
-. 95
Commercial
8,470.00
8,604.53
-134.53
Furniture and Furnishings
300.00
196.98
103.02
Other Expenses
5,688.46
5,601.17
87.29
$148,700.00
$148,688.94
11.06
Adult Alien Education
2,200.00
2,159.35
40.65
Trade School
3,000.00
1,996.19
1,003.81
Special Appropriation
500.00
490.00
10.00
$154,400.00
$153,334.48
$1,065.52
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COST LESS REIMBURSEMENTS AND REVENUES RECEIVED AND REVEIVABLE 1941
*General School Fund
$14,599.50
*Vocational School
302.28
*State-Aided Vocational School for Girls
828.23
Tuition
State Wards
4,584.91
Towns
507.50
Rentals
266.25
Sale of Merchandise
14.23 $21,102.90
Expenditures
$148,688.94
Reimbursements and Receipts
21,102.90
Net Direct Cost
$127,586.04
Average Membership
1,436.90
Cost Per Pupil Based on Average Membership $88.78 **
* From State of Massachusetts
This, in reality, is the cost per pupil based on money raised by taxation. The appropriation was $148,- 700.00.A balance of $11.06 was unexpended, making the total expenditures $148,688.94. Our reimbursements and received and receivable revenues were $21,102.90. The amount spent, therefor, from money raised by tax- ation was $127,586.04.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of the Town of Palmer:
I herewith present my thirty-first report as Superin- tendent of Schools in Palmer. This is the forty-ninth in the series of reports issued by the superintendents of the Town.
ATTENDANCE
The attendance statistics for the school year of 1940-1941 were as follows :- Enrollment, 1,602; Average Membership, 1,468.43; Average Attendance, 1,420.23; Per Cent of Attendance, 96.71; Tardinesses, 202.
The percentage of attendance-96.71-was high. It has always been high during the past thirty-one years, averaging better than 96.25%.
Figures, in themselves, are meaningless. What they indicate is meaningful. An average, over a 31-year period, of better than 96.25% bespeaks a school system that is fairly sound in results secured, discipline maintained, spirit prevailing, and co-operation given and received. It is not the spectacular, the spasmodic, that counts; it is rather, the long, sturdy, hard pull that counts.
AMERICAN SCHOOL
The prime business of the American School is to train for good citizenship. To maintain a democracy, good citizenship is an indispensability. Good citizenship re-
145
quires, as a prerequisite, good intelligence, sound judg- ment, strong moral sense, firm patriotism, broad vision, and high ideals. The creating, the nurturing, and the bringing to fruition of these qualities is the task of the school. The American school has performed this function for years quietly, silently, faithfully. It is the bulwark of democracy.
As they are educated, so will a people be. We find in Germany an example of mis-education, a people tra- duced by a false philosophy deliberately taught them. In contrast, you have the fine, temperate, altruistic, chari- table-firm and determined, nevertheless-temper of the United States. Each condition is due to the educational plan of each country. A strong realization of the neces- sity of right education is the resultant.
The world will eventually be governed by the people themselves in some form of democracy or constitutional monarchy. World democracy cannot depend upon military and industrial preparedness alone for its perpetuation. It cannot exist long unless the political and social organi- zations are safe and sane, and are controlled by a real social consciousness and altruism. Wealth and territory do not make a nation great. A truly great nation is one whose spirit, traditions, and emotions-the main spring of life- are right. To develop such broad ideals of true citizenship is the task of the school.
Reasoning minds, controlled by justice and magnan- imity ; skill, tempered by justice and magnanimity, must be the product of the schools. Not only the head and the hand, but also the soul must be educated. Then the reason- ing head and the skillful hand will be directed by a soul that will keep them straight.
For the solution of the world's problems, boys and girls of physical fitness, of strength of brain, of sound- ness of mind, of skill of hand, of abundant patriotism, of
·
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braveness of heart, of fairness of judgment, of broad- ness of vision, of breadth of ideals, all of which are dedi- cated to the cause of human justice, freedom, and broth- erhood, must be turned out of our schools and the schools of the world. This is the big job of the schools.
Even while this great conflict rages, American chil- dren are not being filled with hate and rancor. They are being taught to be firm and determined, yet charitable and generous. They are being taught the feeling that prompts the surgeon to remove the cancer-though he may hurt the patient, he does it, not through dislike of patient, but through desire to save a human life.
Education never leads astray ; mis-education always leads astray.
The local effort to educate for manhood and citi- zenship is strong. The main underlying motive of all our work is to provide our boys and girls such an education. Success, immediate or ultimate, is not always achieved ; yet, in the large majority of cases, it is. This is not self-laudation. The same can be said for every school sys- tem in the United States.
The American school has been the shaper of our past, is the moulder of our present, and will be the designer of our future destiny.
Humble were her beginnings ; modest are her claims ; inestimable are her accomplishments.
HEALTH WORK
Health is listed as Objective No. 1 in the seven ob- jectives of public school work, and rightly so.
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At the present time-war time-it is greatly stress- ed. All are appalled at the physical rejections of draf- tees. It is a repetition of the conscription days of World War 1.
Did we profit from our findings of twenty-five years ago? Yes-to some extent, but woefully small. We talk much, but do little. We soon forget; we become compla- cent ; we arouse only under the whip of emergency. That seems to be one of the prices of democracy.
The schools preach health; they practice health. They try to educate parent-as well as pupil; they try to arouse the public. They run health education programs ; they run physical education programs. Parents often fail to respond; pupils often fail to put into practice what they are taught; the public often questions the expendi- ture of sufficient money to do a good piece of work. All three fail to sense values. This is human nature.
May we repeat what we have often said in these re- ports-no more important, no more necessary, no more humane work is done in our schools than our health work. Our preventive and educational health work is excellent. Our records and results amply prove this. Perhaps, from my 31-year close contact, I sense this more fully than anyone else-I should. Within this period, I have seen vast strides taken.
The Palmer schools were pioneers in tuberculosis- prevention work in the country; they were pioneers in this end of the state in diphtheria-prevention work. Both of these diseases are much less prevalent than formerly. Our tuberculosis work dates back to 1921; our diphtheria work to 1927. Our percentage of pupils immunized against diphtheria is one of the highest in the state. Pal- mer has not had a case of diphtheria for several years until December, 1941, when a case occurred in a family recently moved into town.
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The results secured in the near eradication of these two diseases warrant our total expenditures. But much more has been accomplished. Thousands of physical de- fects have been discovered, called to parents' attention, and, in many instances, corrected. What a Godsend to the child !
The temptation to elucidate further is strong; but space forbids. Sufficient to say, the schools are doing an immensely helpful social work in their health efforts.
PROMOTIONS
The promotion statistics in the grades for the last school year were as follows :- Number of Pupils, 786; Promoted Unconditionally, 615-Per Cent. 78.24; Pro- moted Conditionally, 113-Per Cent. 14.38; Not Promot- ed, 58-Per Cent, 7.38.
The promotion statistics for the past seventeen years average as follows :- Per Cent. Promoted Uncon- ditionally, 80.33; Per Cent. Promoted Conditionally, 12.54; Per Cent. Not Promoted 7.14.
When non-promotions average seven per cent., or un- der, ideal conditions supposedly exist. These figures indi- cate promotional conditions locally.
SCHOOL SAVINGS
A school savings plan has existed in the Palmer Schools some thirty-five years. There have been several methods used. The present plan dates back thirty years. It has operated without interruption except during the last World War when war stamps were sold, as a patriotic endeavor.
Again war is here. To meet the situation and, at the same time, not entirely disrupt the present system, a scheme is being worked out whereby the pupils may exer-
149
cise their own option as to the purchase of war stamps or making their usual deposits. Such a scheme is not only teaching, but also practicing patriotism.
The report of the school savings for the last school year, September, 1940, to July, 1941, is as follows :- Num- ber of Deposits, 12,526; Amount of Deposits, $3,437.10.
The combined school savings from date of inception, November 1, 1921, to July 1. 1941, are :- Number of De- posits, 371,295; Amount of Deposits, $103,341.98.
The purpose of this scheme is the inculcation of the habit of thrift. This is educative work. It is the habit-for- mation, not the amount of money, that counts.
HIGH SCHOOL
The Palmer High School was first instituted in 1851. For several years, it was peripatetic. In 1874, it was per- manently established in the so-called Depot Village and here it has remained. The school has occupied three buildings-the former wooden school (combined grade and high school) that stood where the Park Street School now stands; from 1874 to 1888 the old high school (now called the Thorndike Street School and, for the past few years, used as an annex) from 1888 to 1923; and the pres- ent high school building (occupied since 1923).
The high school is now in its ninety-first year of ex- istence. In nine more years, it will have its one-hundredth anniversary. This anniversary should be fittingly cele- brated. It will be a real event and merits distinctive rec- ognition.
Education and democracy, hand in hand, down through one hundred years, are typical of America. Here, as elsewhere throughout America (some places for a long- er, others for a shorter time) they have together cast forth the light of freedom and liberty that is, in spite of
150
such interruptions as Nazism, Facism, etc., are temporar- ily causing, gradually, yet surely, encompassing the entire world.
The record of this school down through these years has been outstanding. Personally, I can vouch for this since 1895. The school has sent forth many boys and girls who, as men and women in later years, have taken their places in this country of ours in such manner as to make America a better place in which to live.
All honor to good old Palmer High! She served you well when you needed her. Now, you serve her well when she needs you, for, without your moral and financial sup- port, she cannot continue to serve those who come after you.
ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION
In October, 1940, evening classes for adult aliens were started in each of the four villages. The pupils were classified in three groups-Beginners, Intermediates, and Citizenship.
The Beginners classes are made up of those who cannot read or write in any language (Illiterates) and those who can read and write a little in their own for- eign tongue (Literates).
The aims in teaching the Illiterates are to teach the reading, writing, and speaking of English in this respec- tive order.
The aims in teaching the Literates English are to teach the adults to speak, read and write in this order.
In both classes, an attempt is made to develop ideals of citizenship.
The Basic English system is used in this class. Dramatization, repetition, and objective teaching are utilized.
151
The aims of the Intermediate classes are :- (1) In- crease the speaking vocabulary; (2) improve oral and si- lent reading; (3) improve writing, spelling, and English structure; (4) continue to instill principles of American citizenship.
The work in Citizenship classes is different. The aims of teaching this class are :- (1) Prepare students to pass "Naturalization" examinations; (2) instill, with rights and privileges, the duties and responsibilitet of a naturalized citizen.
Each class held two sessions of one and one-half hours each for twenty weeks. The enrollment was 212- 101 in Three Rivers; 49 in Bondsville; 36 in Thorndike; and 26 in Palmer. The membership at the close of the year was 163; the average attendance was 156.8. Ten na- tionalities were represented. All but ten members were over thirty-five years of age. Sixty-four at time of enroll- ment were illiterate. Fifty-three received State Diplomas and eighty-five received State Certificates.
The year's work closed with an excellent graduating program. The program was very patriotic and appealed very strongly to those attending who appreciate the kind of country America is.
The classes resumed sessions this past fall with an enrollment of 195. Another year of excellent work seems assured.
No better work can be undertaken by the school de- partment than this. It is patriotic "to the last drop" at any time, but especially so now.
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SOME CONTRIBUTIONS
The schools have made some real contributions to winning the war. Here are a few :- (1) Training boys to think straight; (2) giving them a real appreciation of the "American Way of Life"; (3) giving them, through phys- ical education and athletics, a rugged physique; (4) giv- ing them initiative; (5) giving them flexibility to meet changing situations; (6) teaching them "how to take it" and "how to give it"; (7) giving them courage to meet and overcome tough situations.
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