USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1920-1925 > Part 40
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7. A closed car with stationary top and windows, a seat for every child carried, a door controlled by the driver, steps low enough for small children, and some provision to keep the children warm in winter are recommended.
*Report of Committee on School Transportation Problems in Massachusetts, April 29, 1925.
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Detailed instructions and discussions may be found in the report from which this is summarized and may be secured from the Department of Education.
The 6-6 Type of School Organization
This type of school organization divides the school system into six years of elementary and six years of sec- ondary or high-school work.
The six-year high school may be defined as a school adapted to the needs of pupils approximating 12 to 18 years of age, organized as a single administrative unit, with one principal, one faculty, and one student body. A separate organization for the first three years of the secondary work is known as the junior high school. This type is preferable for the larger towns and cities, but for the smaller towns the six-year high school is more serviceable. All of the essential features of the junior high school may be embodied in the six-year type, with the added advantage that the transition from elementary to secondary work is made with less difficulty.
The first three years of the secondary unit should pri- marily serve as a transition period to bridge the gap be- tween the difference in aims, methods, and organization of the elementary and the high school. It should also recognize the development of the adolescent period, with its attendant changes in mental, physical, and social in- terests, and make suitable provision for each.
For Duxbury this type of organization is economical because certain units of the plant and some equipment could be used by all grades. Gymnasium facilities, the auditorium, shops and special rooms, such as art, science, and domestic science, need not be separate for the dif- ferent grades. On the other hand, if a separate ele- mentary, three-year junior high school, or three-year high school were planned, it would mean either that an expensive duplication would be necessary or else that certain phases of a modern program for children would be omitted or seriously reduced.
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The Location of the Central School Plant
The most important considerations in selecting a building site are size and suitability. It should have ample space for physical education and should provide room for separate baseball, volley ball, basket ball, and hockey fields for boys and for girls as well as a foot- ball field and tennis courts. There should also be trees, shrubbery, and school gardens.
There should be sufficient room for the building to be properly orientated and for expansion without en- croaching on playgrounds or land used for other school purposes.
The site should be preferably rectangular in shape with sufficient space for playgrounds for the pupils of the elementary classes separate from those of the high school pupils. The land should be free from surface drainage, and of such a nature as to drain rapidly, and permit the athletic fields to dry quickly. The site should be sufficiently commanding to give the building a setting in keeping with its cost and importance. Not less than fifteen acres will suffice for the uses of a modern public school plant of this nature.
Another important consideration in selecting a site is accessibility. It is important because the school is rapidly becoming the heart of the community. Its facil- ities are being used by the adult members of the com- munity. Among the services of the public school to adults, for which an accessible location is necessary may be included :
1. The auditorium for public gatherings, lectures, mov- ing pictures, entertainments, and recreations.
2. The gymnasium for instruction in physical training, for indoor sports, and physical welfare.
3. The shower baths for general community use.
4. The domestic arts laboratory for classes of the women of the community.
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5. The workshops for evening classes in woodworking, automobile engineering and the like for the men of the town.
Whatever site is selected, the necessity of transporting some children remains. If a site accessible both from the point of view of community uses and walking dis- tances for children can be secured at a reasonable price it is advisable. Proximity to other community inter- ests is desirable if other more significant factors of size and suitability are not sacrificed. Centrality of location, however, may be sacrificed for adequacy and surround- ings. Size, topography, drainage, and freedom from noise and danger are of more importance than centrality of location.
Population and School Enrolment
Duxbury decreased in population from 1900 to 1920, but during the past five years had an increase that ex- actly equals the loss of the previous ten years.
Year
Population
1900
2,075
1910
1,688
1920
1,553
1925
1,688
Duxbury, as part of a Greater Boston, with improved schools may expect to get a share of the increase in popu- lation, but since the town is almost entirely a residential community with no important industries rapid increase in population may not be expected.
The following data taken from the annual report of the School Committee of Duxbury show the enrolments for the past five years by grades and by buildings.
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Table VII-Membership of Duxbury, Massachusetts Schools by Grades
Elementary Grades
High
Year
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Total|| School
Total
1921
39
26
27
27
26
37
31
21
234
71
305
1922
33
34
22
30
30
32
31
26
238
69
307
1923
33
26
29
24
29
32
29
30
232
76
308
1924
41
33
28
34
24
30
30
25
245
75
320
1925*
37
38
36
22
42
28
29
29
261
73
334
*The figures for 1925 represent the total enrolment to date. The figures for the other years are the average daily attendance. The totals for 1925 should be reduced about 10% to make them conform to the other years. There is a smaller enrol- ment this year than in previous years.
Table VIII-Membership of Duxbury, Massachusetts Schools by Schools
Schools
1921
1922
1923
1924
1925
High School
71
69
76
75
73
Village Grammar and Intermediate
70
73
69
63
72
Tarkiln Grammar
22
20
25
23
26
Tarkiln Intermediate
23
26
35
33
38
Tarkiln Primary
27
37
34
34
Millbrook
23
23
22
29
29
Point
17
17
16
20
21
South Duxbury
24
29
24
24
25
Ashdod
20
13
14
19
17
Total
305
307
308
320
334
During the last five years the total school membership has been but little over 300. It is probable that this will increase only slightly during the next few years.
The Building Needed
School administrators generally agree that this num- ber of pupils can best be housed in a single building. This would mean, for Duxbury, an enrolment for grades 1-6 of 203, and for grades 7-12 of 131. A building to house this organization should be, preferably, of the T type of construction, with the six elementary grades occupying one wing, the secondary school the other wing, and the heating plant and auditorium-gymnasium outside at the center. This will permit the two divisions of the school
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to have separate playgrounds with exits from the build- ing directly upon them.
The building should not exceed two stories in height and should contain one recitation room for each elemen- tary grade, a room for the special teacher of retarded children, a principal's office, a rest room for the teachers, a suite of three rooms for the nurse, physician, and den- tist, shower baths, and a sufficient number or rooms for the classes and activities of the high school. Toilets should be placed on each floor. Since Duxbury has no satisfactory hall for public gatherings, the auditorium should be made sufficiently large to be used for this pur- pose.
The school building is a work shop designed for cer- tain definite uses. The number of rooms necessary to house a school adequately depends upon the nature of the school organization and program and this should be determined as definitely as possible. When the architect is selected he should plan the building in consultation with an expert on school buildings and school adminis- tration .*
*The report of the Committee on School House Planning, Frank Irving Cooper, Chairman, published by the National Educational Association, Washington, D. C. 1925, is one of the most valuable contributions to this field.
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VIII
The financial condition of Duxbury makes possible a modern school plant.
In any plan for the betterment of the public schools of Duxbury the ability of the town to tax itself further must be considered. It is the purpose of this section of the report to study the financial condition of Dux- bury from the points of view of (1) the financial re- sources of the town, and (2) the present demands upon these resources.
The Resources of Duxbury
The assessed valuation for 1925 is $5,034,132. This valuation is exceeded by that of only one town in Massa- chusetts under 2200 population and maintaining a high school. If the assessed valuation may be taken as an index to the wealth of Duxbury the following table shows a consistent rate of increase during the past six years.
Year
Valuation*
1920
$4,232,581
1921
4,352,861
1922
4,465,765
1923
4,637,631
1925
ยท
1924
5,034,132
The State Director of Accounts estimates the assessed valuation for 1926 at approximately $6,000,000. Of the 230 towns and cities in the State maintaining high schools only eight have a higher per capita valuation for pupils in average daily attendance. That for Duxbury is $15,356, while half the towns and cities of Massachusetts have a per capita valuation in average daily attendance of less than $6,332. This high valuation per pupil is
*All except the 1925 figure from the State Department of Education Reports.
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due to the large number of summer estates in the town. One-half the homes are owned by people who occupy their houses only in the summer and whose children do not attend Duxbury schools. As far as ability alone is con- cerned Duxbury, therefore, is better able to support pub- lic education than nearly all other towns of the State.
The Demands Upon These Resources
J
The local tax rate in Duxbury is considerably below the average for the State. The tax rate for the past six years on $1,000 valuation, together with the rank among the 117 towns in the State with less than 5,000 popu- lation maintaining high schools, is as follows:
Year
Tax*
Rank*
1920
$24.50
58
1921
20.00
96
1922
22.80
90
1923
19.50
108
1924
22.00
. .
1925
22.80
From these figures it will be seen that there is no trend upward in the tax rate during the last few years. The average tax rate for the group of towns referred to above is $26.50.
The present indebtedness of Duxbury is $30,000 pay- able serially during the next five years. This money has been borrowed for improving the highways but since the town is now well covered by good roads the expenditure for this purpose should decrease.
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Duxbury Can Increase Her School Expenditure
The following table comparing the financial status of Duxbury with 51 communities of less than 5,000 pop- ulation in the United States ** shows the splendid financial condition of the town.
51 Communities
Duxbury
Average municipal bonded indebted- ness (including school bonds), Average school bonded indebtedness, School bonded indebtedness per pupil, Municipal bonded indebtedness per capita (1920),
$206,646.00 106,867.00
$30,000.00
. . . . .
116.07
.....
53.62
17.00
*Figures from the State Department of Education reports.
** Research Bulletin of National Education Association, Vol. II, No. 2.
The following data from the State Director of Accounts give an estimated borrowing capacity of Duxbury, with tax levy and interest charges on long and short term bonds :
Estimated borrowing capacity within the debt limit, January 1, 1926, $139,000.00
Bond issue of $125,000, payable in 5 years, and a school levy of $25,000 would affect the tax levy, 4.50
Bond issue of $125,000, payable in 5 years, and a school levy of $20,000 would affect the tax levy, 4.00
Bond issue of $130,000, payable in 5 years would affect the tax levy of 1927, 6.00
Bond issue of $130,000, payable in 10 years would affect the tax levy in 1927, 3.50
Interest Costs :
On bond issue of $130,000, payable in 5 years, $15,600.00
On bond issue of $130,000, payable in 10 years, 28,600.00
On bond issue of $130,000, payable in 15 years, 41,600.00
On bond issue of $130,000, payable in 20 years, 54,600.00
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If Duxbury were to borrow $130,000 payable in five years her tax rate even then would not be higher than the average rate in Massachusetts in towns of less than 5000 population. The great differences in interest cost on long as compared with short term bonds make clear that bonds should be paid off as rapidly as possible.
SUMMARY
Duxbury is one of the wealthiest towns in the State per capita of school population. Her assessed valuation is steadily increasing. She has a small indebtedness but the demands upon her income aside from school pur- poses should not increase. The tax rate is low. The school tax rate is low. She can afford to tax herself to pay in a short time for a new school building.
Town of Duxbury
Report of ONE MEMBER OF COMMITTEE OF FIFTEEN ON THE
SCHOOL SITUATION
Issued to the citizens of Duxbury
February 23, 1926
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TO THE CITIZENS OF DUXBURY :
Herewith is a picture and the floor plans of a school building that complies with the recommendations of the Massachusetts Department of Education as expressed by Mr. A. B. Lord, with the recommendations of Professor C. Emanuel Ekstrom of Brown University and the recom- mendations of S. F. Browne with the advice and approval of Professor L. O. Cummings of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. They are unanimous in recom- mending a centralized school. Mr. Browne omits the alternative of a building in the western part of the town. Advice from such distinguished sources I do not feel competent to disregard. Having called in the "Doctor" let us take his medicine.
The architects estimate the cost of this
12 Grade Building, 328+ Scholars, "all trades", $127,120.00
Furnishings and Equipment, 12,712.00
Architects Fees, 7,627.20
Add Cost of Land as per committee report, 3,000.00
Total Estimated Cost Ready for Use, $150,459.20
Another plan including a detail of Professor Ekstrom's recommendations is in preparation. None of the so- called "plans" submitted are more than suggestions to show something of what can be done.
No obligation attaches to the Town to employ the architects who made them. All obligation of the Town to them is cancelled with the payment of their bill from the committee's appropriation.
The "National Education Association," Committee on School House Planning of which Frank Irving Cooper is chairman, has established the following percentages into which the floor area of a school building should be divided.
-
Walls and Partitions, not over 10%
Flues, Heating, Ventilating, etc., not over 3%
Stairs and Corridors, not over 20%
Accessories, not over 1%
Administration, not over
16%
Instruction, not less than 50%
Financing the Cost
This is covered in Mr. Browne's report. Director of Accounts Waddell suggests we might raise $25,000 in the tax levy of 1926 and a similar amount for each of five following years. This is a little more than the average for the last eight years spent on roads. It would absorb $4.50 of our tax rate but would save us about $40,000 interest charge.
None of the so-called "plans" sumbitted is more than a suggestion to show something of what can be done.
The Assessors value the land and buildings of the School Department at $20,850; the School Committee at $13,500, it seems reasonable to expect to realize the as- sessed value at least, although some of the sites may revert to the grantor. Mr. George P. Fogg of R. L. Day & Co. expects we could sell a 41/4% Bond, and possibly even a 4%.
Transportation
The possible operation of coaches by the New England Transportation Co. may greatly increase this service and lessen its cost, as school children are entitled to reduced rates. For the northern and western part of the town the same type of coaches equipped with every safety device, lighted and heated when necessary, may be em- ployed over the main routes. Those pupils living off the main routes might be given a per diem allowance for transportation to enable them to use private conveyance, as is done in Delaware.
The increased number of pupils to be transported to a
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central school may make it possible to provide one coach for older pupils and another for the younger. Thus the younger would be carried home immediately they are dismissed without waiting for the older, another advan- tage of consolidation. All statistics show pupils trans- ported are more regular in attendance, less frequently tardy than those who walk.
At Chazy, New York, eleven districts were consolidat- ed. Fifteen vehicles are used for 361 scholars. The Chazy school is a remarkable institution.
In Pennsylvania in the open country, twenty-one one- room schools were consolidated into a twenty-four room building and out of 700 pupils more than 500 are being transported.
All children living half a mile or more from school should be entitled to transportation and teachers, also.
Community Use Auditorium
"The full possibilities of the auditorium as a socializ- ing and community factor are just being realized" .- (William B. Ittner.)
"They have brought men and women together in gen- ial and congenial social relationships. They have made the school house the natual meeting place for old as well as young. Where the people can come together for play, for study, for work, without regard to sectarian, political or vocational distinction."
"The school as this sort of a community center is being developed today in literally thousands of American neighborhoods. Think what a transforming influence it might become if such a headquarters were brought within the reach of the more than a million of white native born American citizens who admitted in the last census that they had no schooling whatever or to the fifty per cent. of our people as a whole, who have never gone beyond the sixth grade in education.
Read the story of Eyota, Minnesota, of Whitmell, Vir-
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ginia, and Orange Township, Iowa, the latter "Rural School Leaflet No. 30, U. S. Bureau of Educaton, Wash- ngton, D. C."
"It is to the school auditorium that one must look for passive entertainment that will finally override the cheap, tawdry and sensational forms."-W. B. I.
Retardation or Over-Aged Pupils
While the large number of over-aged pupils in the grade schools shown by Mr. Browne's survey does not necessarily mean they are mentally retarded, we should give them now an opportunity to take their proper places in the school system by the employment of an extra teacher to give their personal requirements her exclus- sive consideration.
Their backwardness in all probability is due to the lack of such personal attention, impossible for a teacher with four grades to give, and the failure of the voters to heed the advcie of their school committee and the su- perintendent of schools for the past eight years.
The Massachusetts Department of Education is very doubtful if there are anywhere near ten scholars in Dux- bury three or more years mentally retarded. The De- partment of Mental Diseases has already covered a con- siderable portion of the State and found few towns, if any, the size of Duxbury with ten such children.
Any new school building should include a room and teacher for the individual needs of such scholars.
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DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS NOW AND AS UNDER 8 GRADE PLAN
Village, 5, 6, 7, 8, Grades-36 walk to school-24 ride. Tarkiln, 5, 6, 7, 8, Grades-25 walk to school-31 ride. ride.
Village, 57% live near enough to walk.
Tarkiln, 44 6/10% live near enough to walk.
Eight Grade School will have of 1925 Enrollment
Grades
High 5 6 7 8 1 2 4 3 25 29 34 26 21 18 17 14=184
for nine teachers, including principal.
Pupils, or an average of 20 4/10 pupils per teacher There will be left at Village Grammar 0.
There will be left at Village Intermediate 0.
There will be left at Tarkiln Intermediate 10.
There will be left at Tarkiln Grammar 0.
There will be left at Tarkiln Primary, 17 who walk, and 17 carried there.
Total of 34, + 10 of Intermediate.
As 17, or more than half of the 33 Tarkiln Intermediate ride, it seems fair to assume that of the 10 left one-half ride, which would leave only five (5) who walk, which added to the 17 Primary who walk, makes a total of 22 children who walk to the Tarkiln school, divided by grades.
9 First; 3 Second for one teacher.
5 Third; 5 Fourth for one teacher.
In other words of the 90 pupils attending the three Tarkiln schools, 46 will be transported to the Eight Grade school, leaving only 44 pupils of whom 22 are carried to Tarkiln.
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If the 19 pupils at Ashdod are transported to Tarkiln, the result would be (two grades to a room) .
1st 28 of whom 19 would be transported 2nd 11 of whom 8 would be transported 39 pupils per teacher. 3rd 10 of whom 5 would be transported 4th 14 of whom 9 would be transported 24 pupils per teacher.
Total 63 of whom 41 would be transported
Abolishing the Ashdod school (and it ought to be) will re- lease a teacher at, $900 00
Will release 1/9 Janitor service, 193 33
1/9 Fuel,
134 45
1/9 Miscellaneous, 24 57
1/9 Repairs, 161 35
Total saving not counting extra transportation, $1,403 70 Transporting 19 Ashods at $56.40 aver. cost, 1,071 60
Net saving in dollars, $332 10
A very great saving in children, and complies with vote of committee establishing a Eight Grade school. "Two grades to a teacher so far as it is possible."
To give the children of the South Duxbury, Millbrook and Point Schools the benefit of two grades to a teacher, it is possible to consolidate the first four grades at the grammar school building in the Village as follows :
Point Millbrook Total
First Grade from South Duxbury 4
3 6
13 \ 35
Second Grade from South Duxbury 8
6
8
22 /
Third Grade from South Duxbury 6
7
5
18 \
Fourth Grade from South Duxbury 6
4
10
20 38
This will enable two teachers to do the work of three at present and give teachers and pupils the benefit of
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only two grades each teacher, as well as the better equipped building, etc. Some extra transportation will be required beyond the 12 now carried, but some who now ride may be able to walk and equalize the cost of transportation.
The savings will be one teacher at $1,000.00
3/9 of Janitor Service, 549.99
3/9 of Fuel Bill, 403.35
3/9 Miscellaneous, 73.71
3/9 Repairs, 484.05
Total savings in dollars, $2,511.10
At Village, $2,511.10
At Tarkiln,
332.10
$2,843.20
or about half the interest charge for the cost of new school.
Rather than release two teachers, it would be better to reduce the numbers in the first four grades by select- ing those capable of advanced work and giving them to one of the teachers and those retarded to the other, that each small group might have the benefit of personal at- tention by the teacher.
Above was written before 14 members accepted it as a basis for their unanimity. It is recommended only in connection with a possible 8 grade building.
1
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL for THE TOWN OF DUXBURY BRAINERD & LEEDS ARENTS BOUTON.
MANUAL
DOMESTIC SCIENCE
TRAINING
BRAINERD & LETOS ARCHITECTS
tt
AUDITORIUM-GYMNASIUM 6 8 : 0 " x 4 1' - 0 "
NURSE
O.
PRINCIPAL DOCTOR
BOYS
CLASS 7
SHOWS. RE
OTOILET
TOIL LT
PUBLIC
Book"
-
C
O
R
1
12
C
CLASS 3
CLASS 4
CLASS 5
CLASS 6
CLASS 1
CLASS 2
FIRST FLOOR PLAN Scale 1% "= 1-0"
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DUXBURY MASS
LUNCH ROOM
1
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SEATS 465 ON FLOOR
7
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DUXBURY MASS.
BRAINERD &' LEEDS ARCHITECTS
STOKAGE
-
UPPER PART AUDITORIUM & GYM
PICTURE SOOTH
HOSPITAL
BALCONY
1
CLASS 12
TO TOILET
10
TEACHER
BOOK KM.
C
0
K
21
CLASS 9
"BOOKKEEPING
CLASS 10
TYPING
LIBRARY
STUDY
CLASS 11
LABORATORY
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CLASS 8
& BOY'S IS TOILET
1
1
R
SECOND FLOOR PLAN SCALE %" =1'-0"
Roor
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This building follows closely Professor Ekstrom's recommendation as follows :
1. On the first floor :
"An elementary school building to house all the child- ren of the Town in grades 1 to 6. Six class rooms each to seat between 35 and 40 pupils, with possibly a smaller room to seat 20 to 25, would suffice. There should be in- cluded an assembly hall, a play room, a library, a princi- pal's office and teachers' rest rooms. Toilet facilities should be provided on the ground floor, not in the base- ment, where proper ventilation and cleanliness is not possible."
"The educational advantages are without question on the side of the single larger school, one grade to a room, a special room for those who learn slowly, specialiation .of work by the teachers. These desirable features are more possible in a school of 200 than in one of 100 pu- pils."
2. On the second floor :
"A junior-senior, or six year, high school (be erected) to provide for grades 7 to 12; that is the present 7th and 8th grades and the present four high school years."
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