USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1926-1930 > Part 40
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CONGRESS AND UNION
This corner is much sharper than the ordinary driver anticipates and, therefore, we would recom- mend the establishment of a curve warning on the southerly or westerly side of Congress Street to guide south bound traffic, and on the northerly or easterly side of West Street to guide north bound traffic.
CONGRESS AND LINCOLN
We take the liberty of calling your attention to this corner as a particularly dangerous one, and it is desirable that the signs or cautions on West Street be as conspicuous as possible, and it will be well to have caution signs on the cross street north and south of West Street. Cars approaching West Street from the north are hidden from view and as it is down grade the south bound cars are apt to be operated at high speed.
THROUGH WAYS
Your Committee repeats its recommendations of last year with respect to through ways and is happy to
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find that in principle the Massachusetts Highway Com- mission agree with them.
It is our understanding that next year the High- way Commission will relocate or widen and straighten Route 3-A, which in Duxbury is known as Tremont Street. Your Committee is of the opinion that no wid- ening and straightening of this highway can be made that will serve the purpose of a through way without great detriment to existing property values in Duxbury and without increasing many fold the dangers of acci- dent to Duxbury local traffic.
On the other hand, there is ample opportunity for the State to construct a highway of the most modern design well to the west of Tremont Street, without de- struction of existing values and with every prospect of creating new values; and with practical assurance of safety to through traffic and local use as well.
We, therefore, urge upon your honorable Board to take every means to induce the Massachusetts High- way Commission to leave Tremont Street as it is and construct a road that will serve the best interest of Duxbury as well as the safety and convenience of those who from the district north of Duxbury desire to reach points south of Duxbury with the least expenditure of time and money, and with the greatest safety.
There have come to the attention of your Com- mittee numerous favorable comments of the conduct of the Duxbury police officers in performing their duties. Every assistance, therefore, should be afforded them to make their efforts effective and permit them to prevent the numerous crimes that have recently tak- en place, particularly the robbing of vacant houses, rather than to spend so much of their time and the Town's money in catching the thieves and seeing that justice is accorded them afterwards.
To this end the time seems opportune to provide
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police headquarters with an officer always on duty, as has been the case for some time within the fire de- partment, and the officers properly equipped with au- tomobiles, fire arms, etc., at the Town's expense.
Your Committee beg leave to earnestly recommend your Board to make an appeal to all Duxbury residents early next summer to unquestionably comply with all the rules and by-laws for their safety which you have adopted, and to obey all regulations voluntarily without direction from an officer, and to accord to the officers in the performance of their duty the same courtesy which they expect in return.
Again it may be helpful for all if your Board could appeal to all pedestrians using our highways, in some instances narrow and crooked, to give consideration to the difficulties of the motorist and use the side walks where there are any. If the highway must be used, to walk on the left hand side so they will face ap- proaching vehicles, and at night to display some white or other conspicuous signal.
Every motorist will endeavor to avoid injurying a pedestrian, but the latter should not rely upon his right to the highway, for it will be of little advantage to him if he is injured or killed.
In closing, Gentlemen, permit us again to express our appreciation of your courtesy and co-operation, and we stand ready at all times to aid and assist you in every way that will promote the safety of Duxbury residents or visitors.
Respectfully submitted for the Committee,
CHARLES S. CLARK, Chairman.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of DUXBURY
For the Year Ending December 31st 1930
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EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR THE NEW COMPETITION
Recent years have witnessed the development of a new competition. It shows itself in group action-the ice industry in competition with mechanical refrigera- tion, cement with lumber, coal with oil, and both with gas. It has likewise made its appearance in rather un- expected lines in recent months. Slack times resulted in the survival of the fittest. There is the weeding out process going on in business and industry and the period of slack business and low industry production has neces- sitated the laying off of employees. There is, therefore, the competition among employees based upon their ability or capacity for work. This low employment period has been generally used to raise the general stand- ards of employees. The less efficient ones have been the first to go.
In general business this is a buyers' market. The competition is among the producers and the retailers to sell. During the World War there was a sellers' market. Then there was competition among the buyers to secure products. In like degree, there is now an employers' market-it is a situation where the competition is among employees to get work rather than among business and industry to get help.
A quality product still commands a price and qual- ity service does likewise. The greatest competition among employees is in the cheaper grade of help. One of the ways to lessen the unemployment problem is to decrease the number in that group recognized as the less efficient or the less skilled class. The individual in the labor group has been recognizing this situation and has been making heroic efforts to remedy his own situation. However, the ultimate remedy lies in an appreciation on
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the part of the public of the importance of adequate training for any job, no matter how humble.
Charity will not remedy the situation; neither will unemployment insurance nor the dole. Fundamentally, it rests with adequate training for future needs. The schools are ready and eager to function. The new com- petition is in educational training-the competition among young people to better prepare themselves for these tasks.
The saturation point in education has not been reached and will not be reached until such time as the load of unemployment is transferred from the lower group to the higher. There are few jobs that do not require the mind to function as well as the muscle. The standard for employees established by employers is go- ing up-not down. The public school is the one agency that can be instrumental in meeting this change. Issued by Better Schools League, Inc.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Charles R. Crocker, Chairman Term expires 1933
Miss Agnes S. Ellison, Secretary Term expires 1931
Dr. George M. Mayers Term expires 1931
Regular meetings of the school committee are held in the High School building at eight o'clock on the eve- nings preceding the first and fifteenth of each month.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
George E. Green, Duxbury, Massachusetts Office Telephone : Duxbury 346
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. N. K. Noyes, Telephone: Duxbury 12
SCHOOL NURSE AND ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Miss Annie L. Williams, Telephone: Duxbury 175
STAFF
George E. Green, Bates College, Boston University, Principal, High School.
Leroy N. MacKenney, B. A., University of Maine, Sub- master, High School.
Harold K. Halpert, A. B., M. A., Brown University, Latin, High School.
Kenneth O. Macomber, Gorham Normal, Manual Train- ing, High School.
Dr. Dennis Baptist, Ph. D., Oxford University, French, High School.
Zaidee Green, A. B., LL. B., LL. M., Washington Col- lege of Law, William and Mary, Yale, University of Chicago, Cornell, University of Virginia, English, High School.
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Ruby Kelley, Maine School of Commerce, Boston Univer- sity, Commercial, High School.
Mary E. Smith, Framingham Normal, Boston University, Domestic Science, High School.
Ellen W. Downey, Partridge Academy, Seventh Grade, High School.
Margaret J. Coffin, Washington Normal School, Sixth Grade, High School.
Corinne Jewell, Fitchburg Normal, Fifth Grade, High School.
Mary Abbie Baker, Partridge Academy, Tarkiln Primary School.
Lena Peterson, Salem Normal, Tarkiln Primary School.
Sarah Paulding, Partridge Academy, Columbia Univer- sity, Harvard, Village Primary School.
Gladys Pratt, Bridgewater Normal, First Grade, Point School.
Gladys Fulcher, Hyannis Normal, Village Primary School.
Samuel Warner, Boston Art Club, N. E. Conservatory Art Department, Supervisor of Drawing.
May Blaire McClosky, Music Supervisor.
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Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The School Committee herewith presents its report for the year 1930.
It has been the policy of the School Committee of Duxbury to maintain steadily the proper condition of the school property in the Town, and to renovate and install needed improvements, as conditions demand, to insure the health and comfort of the pupils and teachers. Each year has seen the bringing up to date of some building, and during the past year a new heating unit has been installed in the Village Primary School building, the old one having become unfit for further use. At this school also there has been painting and needed repairs made to both the inside and the outside of the building. The Tarkiln School building has been shingled on one side of the roof and a new flag pole set up in the school yard. Class rooms have been painted, adding much to the light and comfort of the pupils and their teachers. The Point School has needed little attention this year, having been so recently renovated, and the High School building and grounds under the splendid supervision of Eden Glover have been given constant attention and excellent care. Several new teachers were secured to replace those who resigned for better-paying situations, and mention should also be made of the loss from membership on the School Committee of Mr. A. H. Walker, after many years of loyal service. His conscientious work and his interest in the welfare of every child in the Duxbury Schools should
1
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be gratefully acknowledged. Mr. Walker resigned his position as Chairman of the School Committee in June and Dr. George M. Mayers, of Duxbury, was chosen to fill out the unexpired term of Mr. Walker, Mr. Charles R. Crocker, the senior member of the Committee, being chosen Chairman of the Committee.
The Committee feels that because of the existing business conditions the school budget should not be in- creased this year, and therefore asks for an appropria- tion of $48,000.00 and the dog tax.
For further particulars of school administration the Committee refers the reader to the report of the Supt. of Schools, Mr. George E. Green.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES R. CROCKER, Chairman AGNES S. ELLISON, Secretary GEORGE M. MAYERS, D.D.S.
School Committee.
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DIGEST OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Pupils who have been absent from school on account of contagious disease must secure a permit from a school physician before re-entering. In cases of doubt, or in cases where there exists a suspicion of contagion, the parents should advise and the teachers should require that the pupils consult the school nurse, who may refer the case to a school physician for further examination.
Children, otherwise eligible to enter school in Sep- tember for the first time, are required by law to present at time of entrance either a certificate of vaccination or a certificate of unfitness for vaccination. The School Committee and Board of Health have ruled that certi- ficates of unfitness for vaccination must be renewed each year. Children coming into the school system from other places, whether at the opening of the year in September or during the school year, will be required to produce satisfactory evidence regarding vaccination.
Any pupil desiring to enter the first grade in Sep- tember, 1931, must have passed his fifth birthday before July 1, 1931.
Pupils desiring to enter the first grade must enroll on or before October first. Otherwise, they will not be admitted.
All children between fourteen and sixteen years of age must be in school unless they are actually employed under the authority of an employment certificate, a home permit, or a special certificate permitting farm or domes- tic employment.
Sickness is the only legal excuse for absence from school.
Any pupil having a contagious disease or showing symptoms of such a disease may be temporarily excluded
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from school by the teacher on her own initiative or at the direction of the school nurse or school physician.
Any pupil who habitually violates the rules of schools, or otherwise seriously interferes with the proper and orderly operation of the school which he attends, may be temporarily excluded by the teacher or the superintendent of schools or may be permanently ex- pelled by the School Committee.
Pupils under seven years of age or over sixteen who elect to attend school must conform to the same rules and regulations as those pupils who are within the com- pulsory age-from seven to fourteen.
Teachers may require a written excuse signed by a parent or guardian covering any case of absence, tard- iness, or dismissal.
Whenever a pupil is suspended by a teacher or prin- cipal for any cause, for any length of time, an immediate report must be made to the superintendent's office.
ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS BY SCHOOL AND GRADE, JANUARY 1, 1931
School 123456 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Ttl
New School
24 34 39 25 29 25 21 14 1 212
Tarkiln
10 14 11 13 48
Village 25 12 25 74
Point 24
24
Totals
34 39 35 38 24 34 39 25 29 25 21 14 1 358
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Report of Superintendent
To the School Committee:
I present herewith my fourth annual report as Superintendent of Duxbury Public Schools and my seventh report as Principal of Duxbury High School.
Although the past year has been one of progress, it has been characterized mainly by the consolidation of gains previously made. We have now passed through that period of reorganization which followed the con- struction of the new High School building and the con- solidation of the scattered units of our school system. Physical reconstruction and repairs have been pushed through to a state of completion where everyone now enjoys the advantages of the most modern sanitary con- ditions, proper heating and lighting, and comfortable well-ventilated school rooms.
REPAIRS
The major item of repair was the installation of a new heating unit at the Village School. After careful consideration of the efficiency of various heating sys- tems and the cost of installation, equipment similar to that installed the previous year at Tarklin was adopted. This unit has thus far proved adequate to the heating needs. and proper ventilation has been secured. There are still some alterations which must be made in order to insure entire satisfaction from the standpoint of quiet operation and economy of fuel. These changes, however, come within the terms of the contract and will un-
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doubtedly be made with little cost to the school depart- ment. The entire interior of the class rooms at the Vil- lage School was given a much-needed coat of paint dur- ing the summer, and the building was given the usual thorough cleaning.
Some interior painting was done at Tarklin and re- pairs were made on the water pump. A few dozen fold- ing chairs were obtained for this school to provide for the comfort of friends and parents who periodically at- tend the semi-public entertainments which the pupils of this school arrange.
The only expenditure of money at the Point, outside of that for the regular cleaning and a few minor repairs on the plumbing, was the installation of electric lights.
At the new High School, gas was piped into the building for use in the laboratory. Some painting was done in the corridors and more or less extensive repairs were necessary on the electric clock and bell system. The window shades in the auditorium, which had become rather badly torn, were replaced by new ones, and the method of hanging the shades was altered so that the life of this new equipment will be appreciably lengthened. A new motor and buzz-saw have been added to the manual training equipment, and the first expenditure of money of any amount for science equipment during the past four years was made in the purchase of a high-powered micro- scope for the biology department. To eliminate the rather unsightly appearance of the posts which marked the edge of the driveway and to provide a stronger de- fense against those careless drivers who are wont to cut onto our lawns, a series of re-inforced cement post holes have been provided into which we plan to fit iron posts. Some general repairs necessitated by constant wear and tear which any building housing two hundred and twenty-five active, wide-awake human beings is bound to receive were taken care of. This item, thanks to the
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careful construction of the building and watchful interest of the teachers, is kept to a very small figure.
REPAIRS RECOMMENDED FOR 1931
As I mentioned in my report last year, painting at the new High School should be continued from season to season in reasonable amount so that the entire building may receive a coat of paint periodically without the finan- cial burden falling entirely on the budget of any one year. It is also true that the many items of general repair which are bound to appear in building and equipment can be cared for more economically if attended to imme- diately after their discovery.
The buildings at Tarklin are, of course, much the oldest in town, and, although thousands of dollars have been spent on reconstruction and repairs during the past few years, there is still, and probably will continue to be, much work necessary in order to keep them in the safe and sanitary condition which we have set up as a stand- ard for our schools. Specifically, the older building of this group will probably need shingling before the close of another year. In this same building, the floors have setled quite perceptibly in places, indicating a deep- seated trouble which cannot be accurately estimated until the old floors have been taken up to allow inspection below. I believe this condition is in no way dangerous but that it indicates a tendency toward deterioration which will soon need attention.
At the Village and Point Schools I do not anticipate anything of a nature sufficiently serious to warrant any expenditure other than that of a routine nature.
GIFTS
The Partridge Scholarship went this year, for the first time, to a young lady. The recipient, Harriet Bates, is now attending Simmons College. This fund, as it is
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now handled, is doing more to create interest in higher education than any other influence in the community.
The Community Garden Club continued its active work of stimulating interest among the school children in growing flowers and vegetables.
Mrs. E. C. Moore, with the assistance of other ladies in the community, very successfully sponsored a concert during the summer months. These friends of the school succeeded in securing the interest of Mr. Boris Saslowsky, who from the proceeds of his entertaining concert, gave a very tidy sum to our High School orchestra. Such in- terest is most inspiring to the boys and girls, and I am sure heightened the morale of our entire school system.
The flag pole on the Tarklin School building decayed to such an extent that as a matter of safety it was re- moved. In its place, the pole which formerly stood on the playground but which had been replaced by a newer, larger pole was secured from the selectmen.
While remodeling the Powder Point Hall, the Trustees of the National Sailors' Home found many pieces of slate blackboard and pieces of statuary, which they presented to the school department. The statu- ary is already decorating our class rooms and the slate will be used as needed to replace worn-out black- board in the varous schools of the town.
INSTRUCTION
As mentioned at the beginning of this report, this past year has been marked by consolidation rather than by change. Practically all academic work has gone on much as during the previous year. A new system of pen- manship was introduced into the lower grades and a greater amount of time has been allotted to this work. The methods in spelling have also been changed in the first four grades, in order to develop more practical skill in this very important subject. We continue to em-
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phasize musical training and make use of the public concerts and operettas to stimulate the child's interest along these lines.
For a second year, the organization of English in the Junior and Senior years of High School is along unique lines planned to do the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of pupils.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Without specially trained teachers, of course, little can be done in a really constructive way to correct phy- sical defects. We do, however, attempt to prevent the appearance of these defects by advising in regard to proper posture, insisting on pupils getting out into the fresh air during the recess period, weather conditions be- ing favorable, and on stimulating a healthful interest in athletic games. We are making a very conscious effort to avoid that evil so prevalent in schools of this day, of over-emphasis upon athletic games in which only a limited number of those who are already stronger phy- sically receive a maximum of attention, with the con- sequent ignoring of all others. Last winter and spring were unusually severe from the standpoint of pupils' health. One epidemic followed close on the heels of an- other, causing a very low attendance record for the year. We are attempting to prevent a recurrence of this condi- tion by more careful observation of those who are ill. The school nurse reports daily at the opening of school and is in her office at the High School between the hours of nine and ten. Any child noticed by the teacher to have symptons which indicate that she might be a danger to the others is immediately referred to the nurse for a more careful inspection. This system seems to be work- ing in a very satisfactory way, and we hope that dur- ing the coming months we may keep the absences because of illness to a very low figure. The usual physical ex-
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amination of all children in the school of the town has been made by Dr. Noyes, and a careful inspection of teeth and hearing is now underway. In the matter of dental work the school department, I believe, has no au- thority to ask for or expend the funds. Poor teeth are, however, not only the direct cause of much suffering, but can lead indirectly to disorders in remote parts of the body which may be of a serious nature. Funds should be made available with which the Health Depart- ment might carry on some active relief in this field.
TRADE SCHOOL
The special appropriation of five hundred and twenty dollars which was voted last year to pay the tui- tion of Duxbury pupils attending trade school has been used in part as indicated in the statement attached to this report. Two boys attended Boston Trade School from January first to about the first of July. Both of these boys made a very good record in the work which they were taking up there. When the school re-opened in September only one of the boys returned to complete the course. Provision must be made to care for the tuition of this one pupil and also should anticipate the possibility that there will be others enrolled in some of these vocational courses before the beginning of an- other year. The tuition rate varies somewhat from course to course and from time to time; but I believe that five hundred dollars will be amply sufficient to take care of this need for the present year.
CONCLUSION
We have made during the past year very few changes in the rather expansive program which had al- ready been mapped out for our school system. The best
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available talent has been secured for our teaching force and as a consequence our salary schedule is somewhat higher than that of the average town of our size. To have first-rate schools we are in competition not with towns whose population is approximately that of Dux- bury, but with the much larger communities where sal- aries exceed by hundreds of dollars those which we are paying.
Due to families living permanently at the upper end of Duxbury Beach it has been necessary to extend our transportation and this item in our budget for another year will consequently be somewhat larger.
I hope, however, that the new heating plants and the repairs which we have made on the primary schools will result in a material reduction of fuel cost. Some econ- omies can be made in other departments so that with due consideration for the heavy burden which the pres- ent business depression throws on the shoulders of the tax payer, I feel that our appropriation for operating the schools during the next twelve months may be reduced to forty-eight, thousand dollars and the dog tax. I therefore, recommend to the school committee that the towns people be asked to vote the above mentioned sum for the use of this department during the year of 1931.
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