USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Westborough > Town Annual Report of the Officers of the Town of Westboro for the year ending 1940 Dec. > Part 2
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The Committee, therefore, report that a fire proof addition to the Public Library building to house the property of the Historical Society is not advisable.
Committee:
FRANK W. FORBES. EVERETT I. SWAN. CORA A. NEWTON.
Westborough, Mass., April 9, 1940.
At a meeting of the Selectmen, at which Deputy Sheriff Banfill and the Town Clerk were present, the name of Lester H. Bombard was drawn for Jury Duty.
Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE,
Town Clerk.
Westborough, Mass., April 15, 1940.
The inhabitants of the Town of Westborough assembled as per adjournment at 7.30 p. m. and were called to order by the Moderator, Ellwood N. Hennessy.
Voted: That Judge Lewis' motion for reconsideration of Article 20 be laid on the table.
Voted: Not to reconsider the item for Street Lighting under Article 4.
Article 24. Voted: That a committee of five be appointed by the Moderator to get bids and bring in definite costs to complete the approximate plans submitted by the Engineers under Tables H and J of their report of March 30th to the Water Investigating Committee, this report to be presented at the next Annual Town Meeting; and that the present Com-
EXTERIOR VIEW
1
*
Froot Hallway
MAIN ENTRANCE
EXHIBITION ROOM WITH FIREPLACE
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mittee be extended a vote of thanks and that their report be accepted by the Town.
Meeting adjourned at 10.20 p. m. Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
Westborough, Mass., May 9, 1940.
The Moderator this day made the following appointments: Committee of five appointed under Article 24 (Water Investi- gating Committee) : William C. Blois, Chairman, Francis J. Sill, Howard S. Foster, Donald B. Wilson and Charles F. Houlden.
Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
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Town Meeting May 20, 1940
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester, ss.
To any Constable of the Town of Westborough, in the County of Worcester, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the Town of Westborough, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in Westborough, on Monday, the twentieth day of May, A. D. 1940, at 7.30 o'clock in the after- noon, then and there to act on the following article:
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to raise and ap- propriate a sum of money for W. P. A. Projects or act any- thing thereon.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at the Post-Office and Town Hall in said town seven days, at least, before the day of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk of said Westborough on or before the time of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty.
WENDELL F. HAYWARD,
CHRISTOPHER J. TYRRELL,
ELMER W. BENNETT,
Selectmen of Westborough,
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Worcester, ss. Westborough, Mass., May 11, 1940.
I have this day served the within Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at the Post Office and Town Hall in said Westborough.
THOMAS W. HUMPHREY, Constable of Westborough.
Westborough, Mass., May 20, 1940.
In pursuance with the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Westborough qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, met in the Town Hall at 7.30 p. m. and were called to order by Moderator Ellwood N. (Hennessy.
The Moderator read the Town Warrant.
Article 1. Voted: That the sum of $5,000 be appropriated for W. P. A. projects, to be expended under the supervision of the Selectmen, this amount to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Fund.
Meeting adjourned at 7.35 p. m.
Attest:
ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
Westborough, Mass., June 22, 1940. The Moderator this day made the following appointments: Finance Committee for three years: Howard P. Gilmore, Leonard M. Krull and Ralph S. Tyler.
Town Forest Committee for three years: Noah Nason.
Director in accordance with Chapter 128, General Laws: Ada Fenno.
Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
Westborough, ;Mass., July 23, 1940. At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen, at which the Town Clerk and Deputy Sheriff Banfill were present, the name of Ralph W. Frantz was drawn for Jury Duty. Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE,
Town Clerk.
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Westborough, Mass., Aug. 13, 1940. At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen, at which the Town Clerk and Deputy Sheriff Hayden were present, the name of William M. Elliott was drawn for Jury Duty. Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
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Town Meeting September 9, 1940
TOWN WARRANT
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
Worcester, ss.
To any Constable of the Town of Westborough, in the County of Worcester, Greeting:
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify and warn the Inhabitants of the Towil of Westborough, qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, to meet in the Town Hall, in Westborough, on Monday, the ninth day of September, A. D. 1940, at 7.30 o'clock in the after- noon, then and there to act on the following articles:
Article 1. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money for the Tree Warden, or act anything thereon.
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Snow Removal appropriation account to the Highway Machinery account, or act anything thereon.
Article 3. To see if the Town will vote to transfer a sum of money from the Highway Machinery Fund to the Highway Machinery account, or act anything thereon.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Special Water Committee, appointed under Article 24 at the adjourned town meeting held April 15, 1940, to broaden the scope of their investigation of the present water system and make a report on our future water supply needs, the Com- mittee to report at the next annual town meeting, or act any- thing thereon.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a
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sum of money for W. P. A. projects, or act anything thereon.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at the Post-Office and Town Hall in said town seven days, at least, before the day of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not and make return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk of said Westborough on or before the time of holding said meeting.
Given under our hands this twenty-seventh day of August in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and forty.
WENDELL F. HAYWARD, ELMER W. BENNETT, CHRISTOPHER J. TYRRELL, Selectmen of Westborough.
Worcester, ss. Westborough, Mass., August 27, 1940.
I have this day served the within Warrant by posting up attested copies thereof at the Post Office and Town Hall in said Westborough.
THOMAS W. HUMPHREY, Constable of Westborough.
Westborough, Mass., September 9, 1940.
In pursuance with the foregoing warrant, the inhabitants of the Town of Westborough qualified to vote in elections and town affairs, met in the Town Hall at 7.30 p. m. and were called to order by Moderator Ellwood N. Hennessy.
The Moderator read the Town Warrant.
Article 1. Voted: That the sum of $400 be appropriated for the use of the Tree Warden, this amount to be taken from the Excess and Deficiency Account.
Article 2. Voted: To pass over this article.
Article 3. Voted: That the sum of $4,400 be transferred from the Highway Machinery Fund to the Highway Machinery Account, and that the Selectmen be authorized to expend there- from the sum of $450 towards the purchase of a truck.
Article 4. Voted: That the sum of $1,000 be transferred from the Excess and Deficiency Account so as to enable the Committee to hire an Engineer that they may broaden the
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scope of their investigation of the present water system and make a report on our future water supply needs at the next Annual Town Meeting.
Article 5. Voted: That the sum of $3,500 be made avail- able under this article, to be transferred from the following accounts: $1,000 from the Aid to Dependent Children account, and $2,500 from the Excess and Deficiency Revenue account. Meeting adjourned at 8.00 p. m.
Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
Westborough, Mass., September 24, 1940. At a meeting of the Board of Selectmen, at which the Town Clerk and Deputy Sheriff Hayden were present, the name of Roger W. Beaman was drawn for Jury Duty. Attest: ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
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Report of Town Clerk
VITAL STATISTICS
There have been 77 births recorded, of which 35 were males and 42 were females. Of this number 67 were born outside of Westborough.
There have been 65 marrioges recorded, of which 35 were performed in other cities or towns.
There was a total of 239 deaths recorded, of which 168 occurred at the Westborough State Hospital. Of this num- ber 42 were caused by accident or other causes requiring investigation by the Medical Examiner.
DOG LICENSES
Male 271
Female 60
Spayed Female 74
Kennel
4
Total number of licenses. 409
Paid to Town Treasurer $1,058 20
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SPORTING LICENSES
Resident Citizens' Fishing 133
Resident Citizens' Hunting 98
Resident Citizens' Sporting
82
Women's and Minors' Fishing 30
Resident Citizens' Trapping
3
Sporting (free) 13
Duplicates for lost licenses.
3
Special Non-resident Fishing
3
Non-resident Hunting
1
Total number of licenses 366
Paid to Division of Fisheries and Game $710 50
ANNIE A. DUNNE, Town Clerk.
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Report of the School Committee
ORGANIZATION
Charles A. Kimball, Chairman Term expires 1942
Mrs. Sara. A. Mason, Secretary Term expires 1943
Harry E. Burroughs -
Term expires 1941
Regular meetings of the Committee are held the
second Monday of each month at 8 p. m.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
J. Harding Armstrong Superintendent
Office, High School. Tel. 2231
Office Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3 to 5 p. m. Residence, 14 Church St. Tel. 543
Dr. Walter F. Mahoney School Physician
Residence, 61 West Main St. Tel. 805
Helen L. Schuhmann, R. N School Nurse
Residence, 11 Ruggles St. Tel. 685
James H. Higgins ... Attendance Officer and Census Enumerator Residence, 21 Beach St. Tel. 2233 SCHOOL CALENDAR-1941
Winter term, Jan. 2-Feb. 21; Spring terms, March 3-April 18 and April 28-June 20; Fall term, Sept. 3-Dec. 19
School Holidays -- Good Friday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, Armistice Day, Thanksgiving Day and the following Friday
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
This signal is 1-2-3 on the Westboro fire alarm, given three times. When sounded at 7.30 it means no morning or after- noon sessiions for all schools; at 8 o'clock, no morning session for first six grades only; at 11.30, no afternoon session for all schools; at 11.45, no afternoon session for first six grades only.
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TO THE TOWN OF WESTBOROUGH :
The School Committee respectfully submits the follow- ing report for the year ending December 31, 1940.
The sum of $1.249.27 was expended for repairs, the major part of which was for painting. The Committee began to carry out the plan suggested last year for the renovation of the interior of the high school by having all the rooms on the top floor painted, the ceilings whitened and the woodwork varnished. It will probably take three more years to complete the entire building. In addition the four rooms on the first floor of the Eli Whitney school were also thoroughly renovated. Miscellaneous repairs included the painting of some of the toilets and the refinishing of the desks in several rooms in the high school.
At the close of school in June the four boilers were in- spected and given the usual thorough cleaning and such repairs as were necessary. An incinerator was constructed in the base of the chimney at the high school. This makes it possible for the janitor to dispose of paper and similar waste material without burning it on the top of the fire, which makes a dirty fire and results in loss of fuel.
The most important equipment purchased during the year was two of the latest types of electric stoves, which replaced the ones originally installed in the high school when it was built 14 years ago. This was done on an ex- change basis at a cost of only $175. A set of ten new cur- tains was purchased to replace some which were worn out by constant use in the rooms on the side of the building most exposed to the sun.
This coming year in addition to continuing the renova- tion of the interior of the high school, broken walks at the rear should be replaced. In our report of last year a state- ment was made regarding the plans developed for improv- ing the Eli Whitney and Harvey grounds with W. P. A. assistance. We urge that this project be carried out just
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as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made with the proper authorities.
In order to add to the high school program more subjects of a practical nature as suggested by the superintendent in his report it will be necessary to employ another teacher to take over the academic subjects now being taught by the commercial, home economics and manual training teachers. We think that at this time there is a real need for expand- ing the program in this way and the budget presented to the Finance Committee will include the cost of this addi- tional teacher
Your attention is called to the accompanying reports of the superintendent and other school officials, which give some of the most important phases of the year's work.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES A. KIMBALL, Chairman. SARA A. MASON, Secretary. HARRY E. BURROUGHS.
School Committee.
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Report of Superintendent of Schools
TO THE WESTBOROUGH SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
I submit for your consideration the following report of the activities of the schools for the year 1940 which I trust will also prove of interest to citizens of our town.
OUR SCHOOLS AND THE NATIONAL CRISIS
Much has been written regarding the responsibility of the schools in the present national crisis but the determination of just what our small school system can do to help in a practical way is a difficult matter. The most pressing im- mediate need is to train workers for the war industries but while our high school gives more training in hand skills in our shop than do most small schools yet we are not equipped to give the special vocational training necessary for these workers. Even with federal aid the expense of the equip- ment necessary for such a program would be prohibitive for a school of our size. Therefore, our boys and men who wish this kind of training must secure it at the Worcester Trade School or in other centers being established in larger places for this specialized work.
In this emergency much emphasis is being laid on the attitudes and qualities of character shown by our people and that they are of vital importance is evidenced by the occurrences in European countries during the past few months. Our schools here have always laid stress on these factors as an essential part of the training of our boys and
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girls through our character training program.
Recognizing that in this crisis there was need for special emphasis on the development of a better type of patriotism, at the first teachers' meeting in the fall this was presented as an objective on which all teachers should center their attention. Specific suggestions were made as to how this might be accomplished and everyone in the system is mak- ing a definite attempt to strengthen the civic loyalties of all the pupils. Three fundamental factors are being stressed, namely :- the appreciation of the opportunities which our country offers, the need of giving up personal desires for the good of the group, and the necessity for obedience to au- thority and to the laws under which we live.
TEACHING STAFF
This year has seen more changes in our teaching staff than at any other time, six teachers or one-fifth of the entire corps ending their services in June. Two were granted leaves of absence, Mr. Donald Homans, assistant principal at the high school, to study at Harvard and Miss Florence Walker, the junior high mathematics teacher, to teach in an American school near Peking, China. Mr. Clyde Riley has been assigned most of the duties of the assistant principal and Mr. Albert J. Doran, Jr., a graduate of Boston University, was elected to take over the classes taught by Mr. Homans. Mr. Ralph M. Clark, a Trinity College graduate with several years experience, was se- lected to take Miss Walker's place. Miss Elizabeth Kane who has taught the first grade at the Eli Whitney School for several years was transferred to the junior high school to teach geography, drawing and music in place of Miss Wright who resigned.
Miss Frances Conlin, the teacher of history in the junior high and Miss Ruth Gurnett, one of the third grade teach- ers, resigned to be married. Mr. Alton C. Bennett, a recent
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Tufts College graduate, was chosen to succeed Miss Con- lin and also to serve as assistant football and baseball coach. Miss Marjorie Knight, a graduate of Fitchburg Teachers College who had taught in New Hampshire was selected to succeed Miss Gurnett.
Miss Martha Manahan, a graduate of Lowell State Teach- ers' College, was appointed to fill the fifth grade vacancy caused by the transfer of Miss Kane. Late in the summer Miss Drury resigned to accept a position in Winchester and Miss Margaret Gleason, a graduate of our high school and of Framingham Teachers' College, was chosen for the position. Just before the Christmas vacation, Miss Winni- fred Granger, the clothing and home economics teacher in the high school secured a better position in New Canaan, Conn. and in order that she might accept it at once Mrs. Louis Farnsworth has been employed as a substitute teacher.
All these new appointments were made only after a very careful consideration of the qualifications of many candi- dates and they are proving well qualified for the positions to which they have been assigned. It is indeed surprising how successfully the regular program of work has been carried on with these numerous changes in personnel.
SCHOOL PROGRESS
It is difficult to measure the progress being made from year to year by a school system and often times more is gained by carefully following procedures already estab- lished than by making changes. During the past year no changes of special importance have been made and whatever advance has been accomplished has been due to more care- ful execution of plans already developed.
In the junior-senior high school a few changes have been made in the text books, the most important being the intro- duction in the junior high of a reader designed to develop
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the fundamental reading skills so necessary for the high school pupil. The change in teachers made possible some minor adjustments in the program which have been ad- vantageous.
The guidance program inaugurated a year ago has been continued successfully, some adjustments being made in the topics discussed to better fit the needs and interests of the various classes.
The formation of proper study habits is essential to suc- cessful high school work and the faculty has given special attention to this problem the past year. Home study is an- other important matter which has been given serious con- sideration for some time and plans have been discussed for changing the school program so as to have most of the study work done in school but no satisfactory solution has been developed.
During the past year the New England College Certifi- cate Board renewed our certification privilege and the State Department of Education gave our school a Grade A rating. These make it possible for graduates whose marks are A or B for their entire high school course to enter the New England colleges and the state teachers' colleges with- out examinations.
The work of the elementary grades has gone on success- fully during the year with special attention given to im- proving the teaching of reading. After careful study of the latest books in this field, a series known as the Child Development Readers, published by Houghton Mifflin Co. was adopted and sets have been purchased for use in grades three, four, five and six. The material in these texts is so organized that definite reading skills can be developed in each grade and the work carried on progressively from year to year. The children have been grouped on the
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basis of their reading ability and special instruction is given according to the needs of each group. This plan has resulted in a definite improvement of the reading ability of the children as shown by the reading tests given, at the close of the year.
In this connection mention should be made of the un- usually successful outside reading program being carried on with the fine cooperation of the librarians at the town library. Miss Ainsworth, the children's librarian, has been most helpful and many boys and girls in the upper elementary classes have won the state reading certificates for reading ten or twenty books. During the past year these awards have been given to fifty-five children.
The age for entrance to the first grade was again ad- vanced a month so that a child had to be five years old on February 1st to be admitted. The plan of giving special tests to children whose birthdays came before April 1st was continued and several were admitted on the recom- mendation of the examiners.
The introduction of a series of science readers stimulat- ed much interest in this subject and in the spring a weekly display of newly-found flowers was prepared by the chil- dren and exhibited in the library under the direction of Miss Cummings. In the fall a successful flower-arrange- ment contest was also held at the Eli Whitney School and during the winter much interest has been shown in class- room acquariums.
In all these grades much attention has been given to the teaching of safety and the safety patrol made up of the older Eli Whitney boys has been most helpful in controlling the crossing of the main highways by the children going home from school. This is a most serious problem but es- pecially bicycle safety which should receive more attention by parents. Because of the traffic hazards around the schools, especially at noon, children shold not be allowed to ride their bicycles to school unless they live at considerable
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distance from the buildings. There have been numerous cases of narrow escapes from serious accidents to children riding bicycles to school.
During the past two years the pupils of the Eli Whit. ney School have earned over $200 chiefly through the sale of seeds, a large part of which has been expended for special equipment for the school. They have also given generously to the Red Cross and other relief organizations and are to be commended for the fine spirit of thought- fulness which they have shown so often.
RECORDS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
The records made by the graduates of our school in col- leges and other schools for specialized training is an im- portant indication of the thoroughness of the training which is given in the high school. It is customary for these schools and colleges to send to the high school copies of the marks attained by their graduates during the first half year of their attendance.
The last scholarship reports received were for the gradu- ates entering various institutions in the fall of 1939. Twenty-four young people, most of them graduates of June 1939, were enrolled as members of the first year classes in sixteen different colleges and schools where they took a total of 150 different subjects. Their marks were distributed as follows :- A, 23 or 15 3-10% ; B, 43 or 28 6-10% ; C, 54 or 36% ; D, 26 or 17 3-10%; E, 3 or 2% and Fail, 1 or 6-10%. As E in this scale indicates a con- dition, there was only one actual failure in the one hun- dred fifty marks reported and this was by a person who graduated three years before.
Only five of these graduates entered institutions of strictly college grade directly from our high school with- out any additional training. All five graduated with honor records and were admitted to college without any exami- nations. They received twent-nine marks distributed as follows : A, 7 or 24% ; B, 11 or 38% ; C. 7 or 24% ; D, 4 or 14%.
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These figures show very clearly that our high school gives adequate training for continued study at higher in- stitutions of various types and that honor pupils are fully able to meet the severe standards set by our New England colleges and technical schools.
HEALTH ACTIVITIES
The plans inaugurated last year as a result of the sur- vey of our health program by officials of the State Board of Health have been successfully continued. The new method for conducting the annual physical examinations has proved especially advantageous. Through the co- operative efforts of Dr. Mahoney, the school physician, Mrs. Schuhmann, the nurse, and the physical instructor, Mr. Fisher and his assistant, Miss Stead, we have a health program which is most beneficial to our boys and girls.
A definite advance step has been taken this year by your committee in establishing the requirement that hereafter all newly appointed teachers must have a thorough chest examination before fully qualifying for their positions. Through the cooperation of Dr. Glidden arrangements have been made to have this done at the county sanatorium with- out cost. All new teachers employed this year passed these tests before beginning their work in September.
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