USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Palmer > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Palmer, Massachusetts 1942 > Part 5
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The pupils have made a very creditable showing in buying War Stamps. From the date of the first sale- March 20, 1942-up to December 17, 1942, the statistics on the amount purchased, school by school, are as fol- lows :-
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School
Amount
Membership Average
Per Pupil
No. of
Collections
Average
Collections
High
$2,548.25
446
$ 5.71
31
$ 82.20
Quabaug
2,437.15
183
13.31
23
105.96
Park Street
2,154.45
292
7.38
23
93.67
Three Rivers
1,816.20
143
12.70
24
75.67
Thorndike
1,031.35
151
6.83
23
44.84
Bondsville
734.90
128
5.74
23
31.95
All Schools
$10,722.30 1,343
$7.98 24.5% $434.29
The pupils collected several tons of waste paper last spring.
Every effort is being made to keep our pupils in- formed on the world situation. No opportunity is lost to indoctrinate-this term is used advisedly-our pupils with the real American spirit.
The physical education program in the high school is being "toughened" in accordance with the request of the U. S. Government-both for boys and girls, and es- pecially for juniors and seniors. Strength and endurance, far in excess of anything needed in the average daily life, are the objectives. The present type of war is tough and one must be tough to survive-lack of it may cost a life.
The Government is very frank. It bluntly says that the high schools must forget "education as usual" and
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regard themselves, rather, as pre-induction centers. Be- sides "toughening," the boys should be given mathe- matics, science, aerodynamics, etc .; the girls should be trained for community and production work.
They frankly say that 40% of the junior and senior boys will be in the air service; 40% in the army or navy ; 20% in war industries. They say the high school's duty is to fit them accordingly.
PUBLIC USE OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS
The various school buildings of the town are used extensively by the public. This is as it should be, for the public investment in such buildings is too heavy to warrant their use only during school hours-about 1,000 hours per year. The buildings are publicly owned and should be used by the public for any purpose that is of an educational or civic nature.
In 1923, upon the opening of the so-called new high school building, the School Committee adopted a liberal policy relative to the use of school buildings. As a re- sult, the high school building has served as a community center ever since. Nothing has made a larger contribu- tion to the educational, recreational, social, and civic life of the town. The townspeople are fortunate in having had school committees with such vision and liberality. Palmer has profited greatly.
As a sampling of the use of buildings, this list of users-not complete-is given :- Selectmen-elections, finance committee meetings, State Guard; Welfare De- partment - commissaries ; Selective Service - registra- tions ; Rationing Board-registrations and offices ; Young Men's Library Association - branch library; Federal
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Government-unemployment insurance and civil service examinations; Red Cross-sewing and first-aid classes ; Civilian Defense-meetings, classes, and first-aid centers ; Hampden County Improvement League-food, clothing, and home-making classes; Girl Scouts-meetings; St. Thomas the Apostle Church-suppers; Palmer District Nursing Association-meetings, baby clinics, and card parties; Wing Memorial Hospital-dance; Knights of Columbus-meeting; Palmer A. C .- gymnasium; Vet- erans of Foreign Wars-drum corps; etc.
The use this past year by organizations-Red Cross and Civilian Defense- which are non-payers has been heavy. The effect upon the school costs is marked.
The education of the children is not the only duty of the schools, as most people think. The schools should educate the adults insofar as possible. Yearly, this duty is being more and more realized. A great deal of this community use of school buildings is directed along this line. May the use by the community for educational purposes increase still more !
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HEALTH WORK
Health work in the Palmer schools has always been good-preventive, corrective, and educational. In such diseases as tuberculosis and diphtheria, they pioneered.
A continuous physical record card follows each pupil from first grade through high school. Each year, a phy- sical examination is given every pupil and the results are recorded on this card. A study of these cards shows that much corrective work has been done. This year, in examining pupils in high school for the "toughened" physical education program, these cards have been very helpful. Many systems do not examine yearly high
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school pupils and have not, therefore, such records to help out in such examinations.
Without any fanfare, good results on a broad scale. are secured.
ADULT ALIEN EDUCATION
This is the third year of this work since its resump- tion in the fall of 1940. Previously, much work had been done over a period of years, with several lapses. Our first efforts date back to 1913.
in times such as we are now passing through, every thoughtful person realizes the importance of the loyalty of every person within our confines. Divided allegiance can not be suffered. The best loyalty can be obtained by properly training those who are aliens for citizen- ship. Language difficulties must be overcome in many cases; the history of our country, with some understand- ing of America's philosophy and ideals, must be taught. A new citizen, possessing the ability to read and write English and not possessing an understanding of "the American Way of Life," is not apt to be the most desir- able type of citizen. To be a good American-whether of native or foreign birth-one must sense America.
Adult Alien Eudcation is one of the best types of insurance a community can carry.
The enrollment last year was 207; the membership at the close of the year was 167. The working on va- rious "shifts" kept both lower than they would have otherwise been.
Seven different nationalities were represented. With one exception, all were over 35 years of age.
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Sixty-nine received State Diplomas; sixty, State Certificates-a total of one hundred twenty-nine. The remaining thirty-eight failed to receive either because of failure to complete the required sixty hours.
QUOTATIONS
Twenty-five years ago, your present superintendent was in his present position, writing a similar report. Conditions are so parallel that a few brief quotations, having just as much "patness" and potency as then, are given :
"Some Contributions"
"briefly summarized, the late war has shown that the American school system was responsible in consider- able part, to say the least, for these assets of America, every one of which had a direct, important, and indis- pensable bearing upon its final outcome :- (1) An intel- ligent people, able to grasp the significance of German aims, capable of following wise leadership-not blindly, but wisely-, big enough to see the moral values involved and to make them their cause of action; (2) a patriotic people, one fully sensing home and country ties, willing to sacrifice the former for the latter when their nation championed the cause of right; (3) a well-disciplined people, ready to submerge self for the benefit of all, not from fear or force, but from understanding; (4) a gen- erous people, eager to give comfort, cheer, money, serv- ice, or life itself in such a cause; (5) an ingenious and adaptive people, one who met every obstacle, foreseen or unforeseen, with methods and means for surmount- ing the same; (6) an energetic and accomplishing people, whose skill, dash, energy, and resourcefulness surprised the world in rapidity of accomplishment; (7) a well-bal- anced and good-spirited people, whose cheerfulness al-
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ways proved a saving grace; (8) a right-thinking people, who had always been taught the truth in all things.
"Whereas, all these conditions were not the sole creation of the schools-the church and other institu- tion have been mighty potent factors-, the schools have, nevertheless, been a strongly nurturing, fostering, and developing element in their product. Surely, if, as all seem willing to admit, German mis-education created a wrong spirit, motive, conception, and ideal, American education can be credited with helping to bring about right attitudes, ideas, convictions, and practices.
"The one great crown that must be placed upon the brow of the American public school system is that of truthfulness. She teaches the truth, in so far as attain- able, in all matters."
"After the War"
"The schools must realize the tremendous task con- fronting them. In a few years, with the war in retro- spect, enthusiasm for patriotism will not be at fever heat. Under the stress and excitement of war, it is easy to be patriotic; in times of peace, when things par- take of uninteresting routine, it is not so easy. The work of inculcating true patriotism is an everyday job for the schools. This they must do, and especially now, for in the near years to come well-grounded patriotism will be an absolute necessity. Times and conditions that call for men will be upon us in the days of reconstruction.
"The safety of a democracy is in the general edu- cation of the masses. Intelligent and educated leaders are always necessary; but the safeguard and the salva- tion of democracy lie in a common intelligence of its people."
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' Conclusion"
"The war has shown the worth of American public schools. Unless American people are very forgetful, the question of full and generous support, moral and financial, should always be decided in the affirmative. America, without or with any other kind of schools, would be an impossibility. The good business man takes out insurance for protection. Education is insurance. That community, state, or nation without the best kind of educational insurance is "not wise." It may be ex- pensive, but it absolutely gives protection. A desire to impress this upon our own citizens has been the reason for the presentation of the second part of this report. Never again within our time will education be presented such an opportunity to demonstrate what she has done, and can do, for democracy."
CONCLUSION
The temper of the times has seemed, to me, to call for this type of a school report-patriotic, inspirational, and appreciative, rather than factual. I trust that I have sensed the function of this annual report correctly.
In concluding, I wish to say, as I have many times previously said, that these factors have been largely contributory to whatever success the Palmer Schools have attained :- (1) The warm, active and constant co- operation of the School Committee; (2) the generous moral and financial support of the people; (3) the whole- hearted, loyal, and effective work of the teachers; (4) the strong, necessary, and constant "backing" of the parents.
Respectfully submitted, CLIFTON H. HOBSON
Superintendent of Schools
Palmer, Massachusetts, January 12, 1943.
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TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
County of Hampden,
Town of Palmer.
To either of the Constables of the Town of Palmer, in said County,
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, you are hereby required to notify and warn all the inhabitants of the Town of Palmer, qualified to vote in elections of town officers, to meet at the several polling places in said Palmer, designated by the Select- men, to wit: In Precinct A, in the High School Gym- nasium on Converse Street in the Depot Village; in Precinct B, at the Thorndike Grammar School in Thorn- dike; in Precinct C, at the Three Rivers Grammar School in Three Rivers, and in Precinct D, at the Bondsville Grammar School in Bondsville, on Monday, the first day of February, A. D. 1943, at eight o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to give in their votes on one ballot to the precinct officers of the several voting precincts of said town, for the following officers, to wit: 3 Selectmen, a Town Treasurer, Collector of Taxes, 3 Auditors, 5 Con- stables, 3 License Commissioners, and a Tree Warden, all for the term of one year; 1 Member of the Board of Health, 1 Assessor, 1 Member of the Board of Public Welfare, 1. Cemetery Commissioner, 2 Members of the Planning Board, 1 Member of the School Committee, all for the term of three years; 1 Cemetery Commissioner for the term of one year (to fill vacancy).
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The polls will be open at eight o'clock in the forenoon and will be closed at eight o'clock in the evening.
And you are further hereby required to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Palmer, qualified to vote in town affairs, to meet at the Town House at Four Corners in said Palmer, on Monday, the eighth day of February, A. D. 1943, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles, viz:
Article 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To choose all other usual town officers.
Article 3. To act on the reports of the town officers.
Article 4. To raise money and make appropriations to defray the expenses of the town for the ensuing year.
Article 5. To see if the town will vote to authorize the town treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1943, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year, in accordance with Section 17 of Chapter 44 of the General Laws.
Article 6. To hear and act on reports of committees.
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Article 7. To choose committees and give them instructions.
Article 8. To determine the manner and state the terms and conditions of collecting taxes for the ensuing year, and fix the compensation of the collector of taxes.
Article 9. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money to convey pupils to and from public schools, and instruct the school committee as to the manner of letting the contract for such conveyance.
Article 10. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the Young Men's Library Association, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate money for the observance of Memorial Day.
Article 12. To see what action the town will take in respect to lighting the streets and whether it will authorize the selectmen to make contract therefor, and raise and appropriate money for the same.
Article 13. To see what action the town will take relative to suits and claims now pending against the town.
Article 14. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the care and improvement of cemeteries.
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Article 15. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money for the suppression of the gypsy, brown- tail and satin moths and elm tree beetles, and other insect pests.
Article 16. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate such sums of money as may be necessary to de- fray the cost of rent, janitor service and maintenance of the town offices in the Holbrook Building.
Article 17. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,000.00 to help defray the cost of maintaining the District Nurse.
Article 18. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be expended within the town under the direction of the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture, for the promotion of boys' and girls' work in agriculture, home making and country life in the town, including agricultural demonstration work on land owned by the town, or owned by any resident of the town, in accordance with the provisions of Section 45 of Chapter 128 of the General Laws.
Article 19. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate money under the authority of Section 22 of Chap- ter 115 of the General Laws for the care of graves of persons who served in the Army, Navy or Marine Corps of the United States in time of war or insurrection and were honorably discharged from such service.
Article 20. To see what action the town will take in relation to sewers.
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Article 21. To see what action the town will take in regard to sidewalks and curbing.
Article 22. To see if the town.will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to be paid to the Wing Mem- orial Hospital Association for the charitable purposes of said association in this town, or for the care and support in said hospital of persons wholly or in part unable to support or care for themselves, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 23. To see if the town will vote to authorize the treasurer, with the approval of the selectmen, to borrow money as permitted by law to meet any appro- priations made or expenses incurred under any of the articles of this warrant.
Article 24. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the granting of adequate assistance to deserving citizens of the town in need of relief and support sixty-five years of age or over under the provisions of Chapter 118A of the General Laws, and for expenses to be incurred in connection with the granting of such assistance, or take any action rela- tive thereto.
Article 25. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate any sum of money to provide and maintain quar- ters for Edward T. Goodreau Post, No. 1813, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States for the year 1943.
Article 26. To see if the town will authorize the school committee to appoint any member thereof to the
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office or position of school physician and determine and fix the salary of any such appointee under the provisions of Section 4A of Chapter 41 of the General Laws.
Article 27. To see if the town will vote to authorize the selectmen to sell at public auction, after first giving notice of the time and place of sale by posting such notice of sale in some convenient and public place in the town fourteen days at least before the sale, property taken by the town under tax title procedure, provided that the selectmen or whomsoever they may authorize to hold such auction may reject any bid which they deem inadequate, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 28. To see what action the town will take relative to the care and preservation of the Memorial Approach to the High School, the plot of land at Shearer's Corner upon which the General Knox Marker is located, and the memorial plots in the several villages of the town.
Article 29. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for the operation and main- tenance of the Legion Field and the Eager Playground in the Depot Village, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 30. (a) To see what action the town will take with reference to the planting and preservation of shade trees; (b) To see if the town will vote to determine and fix the salary of the tree warden and raise and appro- priate money for the same; (c) To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum of money for labor and materials and tools for use in connection with the Department of the Tree Warden.
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Article 31. To see if the town will vote to appro- priate such sum or sums of money as it may deem neces- sary for the preservation of health and protection of per- sons and property ; to purchase equipment, uniforms and supplies for auxiliary fire and police departments, air- raid wardens, first aid rescue squads and other essential units of defense ; to provide for the training of its citizens in first aid and other matters essential to civilian defense ; and to provide for such other means as may be necessary in the national emergency for the protection of the people and property in the town; and raise the same by taxation or by an issue of bonds or notes, under the provisions of Chapter 487 of the Acts of 1941.
Article 32. To see if the town will vote to name the Common, in Three Rivers, Hryniewicz Park, in honor of the first Palmer boy to lose his life in the present war.
Article 33. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate any sum or sums of money to enable the town ' to cooperate with the Federal Government in unemploy- ment relief and other projects of direct or indirect benefit to the town, or its inhabitants, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 34. To see if the town will vote, under the provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 39 of the General Laws, to authorize voting by precincts at special elections of town officers.
Article 35. To see if the town will vote to accept the following perpetual care funds which have been given to it during the year: Austin R. Smith $100.00; Anna
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E. Barton $200.00; Betty Lindquist $100.00; Drabble- MacCoy $100.00; Carrie E. Robertson $100.00; Hattie C. MacLean $100.00 ; Nicholas Coleman $200.00 ; Jean C. Yule $100.00; Theodore A. Norman $200.00; Elizabeth M. Sloan $50.00; Lizzie M. Moore $100.00; Mary E. Wash- burn $100.00; Henry Graves (addition) $25.00; Ellen S. Leach (addition) $41.15. V
Article 36. To see if the town will release and con- vey to Osias Gravel all and several the rights of way over his land in the Depot Village leading from Thorndike Street to land of the Town now used as the town dump, conveyed to the Town by deed of John Lewis dated Feb- ruary 10, 1913, and recorded with Hampden County Deeds, Book 856, Page 486, in consideration of the conveyance by said Osias Gravel to the Town of a new right of way leading from Thorndike Street, over his land, to said land of the Town now used as the town dump, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 37. To see if the town will vote to author- ize the School Committee to sell used typewriters to the United States Government, Procurement Division, for essential war use, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 38. To see if the town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,000.00 for the maintenance and re- pair of Chapter 90 Roads, so-called, said amount to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose. or take any action relative thereto.
Article 39. To see if the town will vote to construct a sewer in Vaille Street in the Depot Village from the
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intersection of Vaille and South Main Streets to property of William M. Barrett, raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
Article 40. To see if the town will construct a side- walk, with suitable curbing, on the westerly side of North Main Street, or the Three Rivers Road, in front of property of Wincenty and Stefania Levidge, in the Depot Village, raise and appropriate money for the same, or take any action relative thereto.
And you are hereby directed to serve this warrant by posting up attested copies thereof in some one public place in each of the four villages of the town, known as the Depot Village, Thorndike, Three Rivers and Bonds- ville, seven days at least before the holding of said meet- ing and by publishing an attested copy thereof in at least two issues of the Journal-Register, a newspaper published in said Palmer, the first publication to be not less than seven days before the holding of said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant. with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at or before the holding of said meeting.
Given under our hands this thirteenth day of Janu- ary, A. D. 1943.
GEORGE B. CHENEY DANIEL W. O'CONNOR Selectmen of Palmer
A true copy, Attest : THOMAS W. HOLT Constable of the Town of Palmer
Pal. 1/14-21
Index
Animal Inspection 51
Assessors' Report 33
Auditors' Report
112
Balance Sheet for 1942
91
Board of Health
46
Board of Public Welfare
37
Board of Public Welfare for Aid to
Dependent Children
44
Cemetery Commissioners Report
30
Chief of Police 53
Civilian Defense and Rationing Board
55
Forest Fire Warden 98
Jury List 57
Inspector of Slaughtering
50
License Commission
100
Milk Inspector 50
Moth Department
107
Old Age Assistance
25
Park Commissioners' Report
52
School Committee
119
Sealer of Weights and Measures Report
108
Selectmen 101
Tax Collector's Report
22
Town Bookkeeper's Report
62
Town Clerk's Report
5
Town Officers-Expiration Date
3
Town Warrant 145
Tree Warden 99
Treasurer's Report
28
Trial Balance 96
Young Men's Library Association 103
W. P. A. 61
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