USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1926-1930 > Part 12
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The approaches to the beach via the bridge are through the heart of Duxbury, by way of Washington and St. George streets to the Cable Office and then by Powder Point avenue to the bridge, a distance of four miles, through the most thickly settled part of the town. Duxbury is essentially a residential town and its attrac- tiveness is largely dependent upon retaining its present old time character. These four miles of streets have beautiful shade trees, are winding, and while in general suitable for our local traffic, are absolutely inadequate as through lines to Duxbury beach. To make them suit- able for this purpose would be ruinous to their beauty, and between the widening, straightening, land damages and putting into condition the grounds, the expense would be very great. This would be in addition to the cost of an up-to-date half mile of bridge, a parking space and protection from the sea.
The second location is at Pine Point. Here the beach is much wider and well adapted for building an adequate parking space, with excellent material in Rouses Hummock, which is a boulder-clay formation. The approaches are through open country with very few houses or over the unoccupied salt marshes.
This northern location at Pine Point has fully as good an ocean beach as farther south, is better fitted
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for developing into a public reservation with ample park- ing space, and when a suitable highway is provided, will be a more convenient and nearer location to the beach for a great majority of those who make use of it.
Your committee believe it is essential for the con- venience of the public that the northerly part of Duxbury beach be made a reservation for general recreation and parking purposes. That a direct northerly approach should be provided to said reservation and that this be done by the State.
Since the above was written a bill has been intro- duced in the Legislature for the taking of the whole of Duxbury Beach by purchase or eminent domain. There will be a hearing on this bill at the State House on Feb- ruary 29, 1928.
A hearing has been held in Duxbury with about 160 people present at which the following resolutions were declared unanimously passed.
No. 1. "Resolved that if the State establishes a recreation ground on Duxbury Beach that the State should provide an ample and direct main approach there- to and that this should not run through any of the main streets or thickly settled parts of the Town."
No. 2. "Resolved that if possible the Shuebruk bill be so divided that the investigation of Duxbury Beach and its approaches be considered apart from the question of Salisbury and other beaches."
The committee are unanimously opposed to the tak- ing of Duxbury Beach by the State unless an adequate approach as outlined in aforesaid Resolution No. 1 is ar- ranged for.
FREDERICK B. KNAPP, H. B. BRADLEY, Chairman. PERCY L. WALKER SIDNEY C. SOULE A. E. GREEN GORDON TWEED
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Report of the Building Committee of the New High School
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Your committee appointed by the moderator under the vote of March 6, 1926, consisting of Benjamin F. Goodrich, Theodore W. Glover, Jr., J. Dexter Randall, John Simmons and Percy L. Walker, met and organized on April 14, 1926, choosing Mr. Goodrich chairman and Mr. Walker clerk. The committee voted to retain Brain- erd & Leeds of 89 Franklin Street, Boston, Mass., as architects, when and if the funds were available for pro- ceeding.
The legality of the vote authorizing the bond issue was questioned which occasioned much delay. On May 28, 1926, a letter was issued by Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts, State House, Boston, to the effect that notes issued under the vote of the Town of March 6, 1926, would be legal.
After the necessary formalities four per cent. bonds of par value $110,000 were sold to Merrill, Oldham & Co., at par plus a premium of $924.00, the premium go- ing into the Town Treasury (not to the building fund.) The work of surveying the site and looking up title of the same, getting out plans and specifications for the building, advertising for bidders, and looking up the standing of contractors, was taken up at once, and on July 21, 1926 the committee awarded the General Con- tract to J. P. Keating, 80 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass., for $85,000. There were fifteen bidders on the General Contract. Mr. Keating agreed to wait until the building was completed before requiring payment, thereby mak- ing available to the Town, about $3,500 in interest money on the funds remaining in the Bank.
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The other contracts were awarded on the same day (July 21, 1926) to the lowest bidders, as follows :
Plumbing Contract to William H. Mitchell & Son Co., 90 Arch Street, Boston, Mass., for $6,825.00.
Heating and Ventilating Contract to J. J. Callahan, 70 Crescent Street, Brockton, Mass., for $15,681.00.
Electrical Contract to Willard L. Murray, Kingston, Mass., for $4,600.00.
The General Contractor proceeded at once with the excavation work and soon was putting in the basement walls.
The Committee and Mr. Edmund I. Leeds, the archi- tect, met each week at the building and there were many intermediate meetings. The bulk of the exterior mason work was completed before cold weather.
About March 1, 1927, Mr. Simmons resigned from the Committee.
The stage hangings were supplied and installed by the Volland Scenic Studios of New York, who gave satis- factory service.
The contract for supplying and hanging the shades was, after much deliberation, awarded to the Allen Shade Holder Co., of Boston, and we think their work was very satisfactory.
In the matter of furnishings, the Building Com- · mittee were guided by the advice of the School Commit- tee and Superintendent, and new equipment was secured for the larger part of the building within the allotment.
The General Contractor's work was certified as com- pleted by the architects so that the first payment of $80,- 000 on the Contract was made June 27, 1927. The work was however sufficiently near completion so that the graduation exercises of the Duxbury High School were held in the new building on June 14, 1927.
The work on the grounds has not been finished. There is an unexpended balance as of January 1, 1928,
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of $1,018.25, of which $683.00 will be due the Plumbing Contractor under his contract when certain details have been completed to the satisfaction of the Committee. The remaining $335.25 is available toward seeding and otherwise putting the grounds in order in the spring, and according to present plans will be so used. The General Contractor has some items to attend to. These have been called to his attention and he is still working on them and we believe that under his guarantee he will and must take care of all items.
The building is a somewhat larger and better build- ing in the opinion of the committee than was outlined to the Town. The building must speak for itself.
The committee have done the best they could, and hope that the building will in future years be a great help and satisfaction to the Town.
Thanks are due Mr. Franklin Brett who donated a considerable part of the time which he spent on the grounds and plans for the same.
Thanks are also due the following men who gene- rously gave labor or vehicles or both to help in grading grounds about the school building: Philip Covell, Chas. R. Crocker, George Ferrell, Merritt Ferrell, William Fer- rell, J. P. Mendes, H. E. Merry, Avery Nickerson, Avner Nickerson, Davis Nickerson, Harvey Nickerson, Ęd- ward S. O'Neil, J. Knowles Parker, Walter G. Prince, Edward Randall, Elliott Randall, Eden W. Soule and Raymond Veiga.
BENJAMIN F. GOODRICH, Chairman. THEODORE W. GLOVER, JR. J. DEXTER RANDALL PERCY L. WALKER
January 1, 1928.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of DUXBURY
For the Year Ending Dec. 31st
1927
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ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Alpheus H. Walker, Chairman
Term expires 1929
Elizabeth A. Phillips, Secretary
Term expires 1928
Charles R. Crocker
Term expires 1930
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
George E. Green, Duxbury, Massachusetts Office Telephone: Duxbury 346
STAFF
George E. Green, Bates College, Principal, High.
Leroy N. MacKenney, University of Maine, Submaster. High.
Kenneth R. Copp, Colby College, High.
Christopher H. Dole, Boston University, High.
Sophie Aronoff, Radcliffe College, High.
Mary A. Roper, Wheaton College, High.
Lois Henderson, Chandler Secretarial School, High.
Madolyn Elliott, Nasson Institute and Simmons Sum- mer School, High
Ellen W. Downey, Partridge Academy, Seventh Grade, High.
Catherine Coffin, Wellesley, Asst. Seventh Grade Teacher, High.
Elizabeth A. Hastings, Partridge Academy, Sixth Grade, High.
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Gladys Pratt, Bridgewater Normal, Fifth Grade, High. Mary Abbie Baker, Partridge Academy, Tarkiln Primary. Marianne I. Coughlin, Burdett College, Tarkiln Primary. Sara E. Paulding, Partridge Academy, Village Primary. Marjorie L. West, Bridgewater Normal, Village Primary. Samuel Warner, Supervisor of Drawing. May Blair McClosky, Supervisor of Music. N. K. Noyes, M. D., School Physician. Annie L. Williams, R. N., School Nurse.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Beginning of Winter Term, January 3, 1928
End of Winter Term, March 16
Beginning of Spring Term, March 26 End of Spring Term, June 8 High School Graduation, June 12
High School Reception, June 14
HOLIDAYS JANUARY TO JUNE
February 22, 1928
April 19 May 30
CENSUS-OCTOBER 1, 1927
Boys Girls Total
Persons 5 years of age or over, and under 7 years
24
22
46
Persons 7 years of age or over, and under 14 years
116
103
219
Persons 14 years of age or over, and under 16 years
37
28
65
Totals
177
153
330
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Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The School Committee herewith submits its report for the year 1927.
The first of the year was the usual routine busi- ness. In May was the annual election of teachers and the first election of Principal-Superintendent. Principal Geo. E. Green was elected superintendent of Duxbury schools and was instated on the expiration of Superintendent John H. Parker's term, July 1st, 1927. After this date, Superintendent George E. Green having full charge of school affairs, the Committee feels that the Superinten- dent's report is fully adequate, therefore it is unneces- sary to lengthen this report by repetition.
The Committee extends its appreciation of the voters assistance in procuring so substantial a budget for the year 1927, which was carefully apportioned by the Com- mittee to each school as required the high school obtain- ing its share, as much new equipment was needed.
The amount of budget estimated for the year 1928 is $46,000.00 and the dog tax, which seems quite an in- crease over a few years past, but with the addition of more classes, and more courses in the high school, it. means more transportation, more equipment and more teachers hence the increase in expenditures.
Respectfully,
ALPHEUS H. WALKER, Chairman ELIZABETH A. PHILLIPS, Secretary CHARLES R. CROCKER,
School Committee of Duxbury
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Report of Superintendent
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
In the future, as we look back upon our school sys- tem and regard its evolution in perspective, I am sure that the year 1927 will be considered the beginning of a new epoch, one ushered in by three outstanding develop- ments :
1. The construction on Alden Street of a new school building, modern and well equipped in every way, situated on an adequate playground, and near the public library.
2. The thorough reorganization made possible through the facilities of our new quarters.
3. The modernizing of our transportation equip- ment, with the resulting improvement of service, at a considerable reduction in the relative cost to the tax- payer.
It is needless to say that with such radical changes some confusion must result. Even the teachers in new surroundings with a new program to follow could not be expected to move forward without some hesitancy. In September every pupil in town came into a school room different from the one which he had left the previous June. He was in a strange land and must readjust him- self to the changed conditions. It was a case of rehabili- tation, but I believe that this trying period is now past, and that we are coming into the fullest realization of the benefits and advantages which the changes have brought to us.
HIGH SCHOOL
Every effort has been made through reorganization to give to our boys and girls opportunities equal to those enjoyed by the children of any progressive community.
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With this idea in mind, two additions to our high school curriculum have been made. Manual training, under the direction of Mr. Dole, is required of all boys in the seventh grade and is elective for all boys of the upper grades who are mechanically inclined. For the girls, courses in domestic arts, under the direction of Miss El- liott, are offered. Here, as in the manual training, the course is required in the seventh grade and is elective for the older pupils. This department also assumes responsibility for preparing and serving the midday lunch.
Feeling that music is essential to the realization of complete happiness in life, we have laid much greater stress upon it this year. To encourage the playing of various instruments, an orchestra has been organized. Under the direction of Mr. Copp, many of the members have been playing instruments for the first time in their lives. This group has progressed in skill and enthusiasm until the orchestra has become one of the most popular extra curricula activities of the school. A concert, given shortly before Christmas, manifested some of the prog- ress being made in both vocal and instrumental work.
The facilities offered by the gymnasium of the new building and playground have enabled us to adopt a defi- nite plan for physical exercise. Periods are arranged during the regular school day, and every pupil is ex- pected to take part in the games or drills, under the di- rection of the teachers. Athletics are encouraged but we are constantly on guard lest inter-school contests be overemphasized. The high school was represented by a football team in the fall, and at the opening of the winter season, both the boys' and girls' teams made a success- ful beginning in a series of basketball games which have been arranged.
The editorial staff, under the direction of Miss Roper, published one issue of the school magazine during the late fall and is hard at work on the second issue which
a
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will come out before spring. It is rather an ambitious undertaking to attempt the publication of a school paper in a town of the size of Duxbury, and the success of the plan is worthy of special commendation.
The Home Economics Department has been grad- ually evolving a workable system for serving lunches to children of the school. We started in the fall by serving milk at cost, tried out fruit, prepared sandwiches, and have progressed to the point where hot dishes are offered each day. Everything is sold as close to cost as can be done without incurring a loss to the department, and I am sure that as time goes on, parents will find this ser- vice more economical than the preparation of lunches at home.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
The reorganization of the school system did not af- fect the first four grades quite as markedly as it did the more advanced classes, but there have been progressive changes here. Limiting the number of grades to two per teacher has made possible a greater degres of specializa- tion. Grouping the children in two buildings has given everyone the benefit of the more modern equipment and permits standardization of the work. I firmly believe that the accomplishment of the pupils of these grades will be greater this year than it has been for many a pre- vious year. In the matter of equipment, however, the younger children are manifestly not as fortunate as those who attend the new school, and I recommend that our attention during the coming year be turned towards in- creasing the opportunities of these years which are the foundation upon which we later must build.
TRANSPORTATION
Three difficulties confronted us in working out the new transportation system. First there was a realiza- tion that, in view of the fact that twice as many children
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were to be carried as in former years, the old equipment was entirely inadequate. We were faced also with the problem of carrying all these pupils in suitable convey- ances without expending a sum of money which was prohibitive. Thirdly, the change of location of the schools neessitated re-routing the busses, in such a way as to reduce the mileage to a point where the least travel would result. We felt competent to meet these difficulties only after locating the home of every child in town and surveying practically every road. With hours of work and with the closest cooperation on the part of the school committee, a system substantially as operating at pres- ent, was evolved. We are transporting in new or ap- proved vehicles over two hundred and fifty pupils for only a little more than was spent for carrying one hun- dred and fourteen last year. In order to do this it was necessary to have the schools open and close at different hours. Finding that the cost of operating a bus was de- pendent somewhat upon the number of starts and stops it made and that the time for making a trip could be materially lessened by limiting the number of stops, it seemed advisable, in order to save both time and money, to ask the pupils to gather in groups of three or four, even when this meant that individuals must walk some little distance along the route which the bus would ac- tually follow. In no instance is this distance great, and in stormy weather every effort is made to leave the child as near his door as is reasonably possible. The saving from this system is considerable and the cooperation re- ceived from almost every parent is most encouraging.
LIBRARY
The trustees of the Free Public Library have worked out a plan of cooperation with the school which is praise- worthy and unique. On Tuesdays and Fridays the li- brary hours have been so changed that the building is
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open for the use of pupils during school hours. Teachers are assigned to supervise the work there and to assist the librarian in such ways as they are able. A pupil se- cures a slip permitting him to pass to the other building just as he would were the library a part of his school. On each of these days dozens avail themselves of this privi- lege, and the school is thereby enjoying facilities such as we could never hope to obtain were we thrown entirely upon our own resoures.
TEACHERS
The introduction of courses in home economics and manual training necessitated adding two more teachers to the faculty of the new school. At the first of the year it seemed advisable to add a third who could assist with work in the seventh grade and also help those pupils of the fifth and sixth grades who were, for any reason, find- ing difficulty in keeping pace with the rest of the class.
I am proud of all the teachers in our schools. The manly qualities of the men and the ladylike bearing of the women can but leave a lasting good impression on the children of the town. Their hearty cooperation and en- thusiasm for their work presages maximum accomplish- ment for our shool system. Their loyalty and consider- ation for the boys and girls are rare qualities which can hardly be valued in dollars and cents. They are full of life, but strong in character, and as qualified to lead the spirit of our youth as to train their minds. Duxbury is fortunate in having teachers of such high ideals, and every effort should be made to retain them in our schools.
JANITORS
It seemed advisable to reorganize the work of the janitors in the primary schools so that one person should be responsible for the entire care of each building. The
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summer cleaning of the buildings is now included in the regular janitorial work, and each man is working on a yearly salary basis. This has resulted in a small saving to the town and has thus far proved very satisfactory.
GIFTS TO THE SCHOOL
In June the graduating class presented a beautiful copy of the well known Greek statue, the Discus-Thrower. to the new school. It now stands in the corridor just out- side the gymnasium. Many pictures have also been pre- sented. In the fall, the patriotic organizations gave a large flag for display from the pole in front of the build- ing and presented each class room with smaller silk banners. Mr. Alfred Green made a valued addition to the school library through the gift of a two-volume biography of Woodrow Wilson. The grading of the grounds about the new building was greatly improved through the gen- erosity of a group of public-spirited citizens who gave teams, trucks, and labor or money for carting the neces- sary earth. The condition of the walks and driveways was much bettered, but there is still considerable to be done and an appropriation should be made in order that the work may be carried to completion as soon as the weather permits.
In summarizing, may I call to your attention that this is the year when the full force of supporting our reorganized system must fall upon the shoulders of the taxpayers. The increase of three in the teaching force, the reorganized and greatly improved transportation system, carrying more than double the number of pupils of former years, an increase of twenty-six in the total enrollment, the cost of operating the new departments, and normal increases in salaries for those teachers who have shown themselves worthy, all go to swell our budget for the present fiscal year.
In spite of this, however, by careful economy in those departments where economy was wise, I am pleased
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to find that we must ask the town for less than thirty- four hundred dollars more than was needed in the past. This year the town receives from the State Department of Education, on account of the employment of teachers, reimbursement to the amount of two thousand two hun- dred eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents. This cannot be used exclusively by the school committee without action by the voters at town meeting. I recommend that an article be placed in the town warrant authorizing the transfer of the above named amount to the school depart- ment, thereby cutting the appropriation for which we must ask to forty-four thousand dollars.
Respectfully submitted, GEORGE E. GREEN,
Superintendent of Schools.
ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS JANUARY 1, 1928
GRADE
School 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 p.g. Ttl.
New High School
29 25 43 26 23 15 24 15
3 203
Tarkiln
20
5 21 18
64
Village
19 24 15 24
82
Total
39 29 36 42 29 25 43 26 23 15 24 15 3 349
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Report of Supervisor of Music
It is indeed satisfying to note the progress made in music this year.
The assembling of grades made possible by the New High School has helped greatly to plan a suitable program for this work.
At the center school Miss West has the first and second grades, Miss Paulding the Third and fourth. At the Tarkiln school, Miss Coughlin has first and second grades, Miss Baker third and fourth. The fifth and sixth grades combine for music under Miss Hastings and Miss Pratt. The seventh and eighth combine under Miss Downey.
This combination of grades makes possible the very best condition for work in the subject.
Very careful honest work is being done to teach the children to read individually as well as in chorus, and to produce music with splended time and tone. Our concert at Christmas proved somewhat, we think, that we are moving slowly but surely to this end.
In March, the Center and Tarkiln schools will give a concert at the High School, for which they are working eagerly and enthusiastically.
The High School has started work on the gradua- tion music, and surely with the fine material with which we have to work, and the proper amount of interest shown by the pupils, combined with numbers contributed by Mr. Copp's orchestra, our graduation program should be something to look forward to with great anticipation.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. M. B. McCLOSKY,
Supervisor of Music.
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Report of Drawing Supervisor
To the Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :
A large exhibit of school drawings was held at Mat- takeesett Hall last June during the graduation exercises of the Village Grammar School. Every grade was repre- sented from the Second Primary to the Senior High School grades. A vast amount of work was produced, all of which we could not exhibit on account of the lack of wall space.
Charcoal work, wax crayon, ink, pencil, water colors and colored lead pencil were used, with a variety of sub- jects that covered as much ground as one could reason- ably expect. Though partially responsible for this varied and large output of work produced, I must express my sincere pleasure in the quality of last years exhibit. I had hoped and expected for this result, and it is to the vast credit of pupils concerned that Duxbury easily lead all the other towns with which I am familiar in the high quality of work produced.
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