USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1926-1930 > Part 6
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HOLIDAYS DURING TERM IN 1927
Colmbus Day, Wednesday, October 12. Teachers' Convention.
Thanksgiving Recess, November, noon the 23rd, to Mon- day, the 28th.
Washington's Birthday, February 22.
Patriots' Day, April 19.
Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.
121
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
The School Committee of Duxbury herewith respectful- ly submit their report.
Another year, 1926, has traced its way to the Unknown. and left its imprint on the sands of time; the most notable event of the year from our standpoint being the erection of a High School building for which the town has struggled many years, and which will be appreciated more and more as time passes. Like all great projects in a town, it is pleas- ing to some, displeasing to others, but it is here to stay, so let us join hands, and dismiss all unpleasantness, and work for the best interests of the school, as it signifies a majority vote of the town.
This is an opportune time to inform the Citizens of the Town of the interest shown in our new High School by Miss Mary E. Burnett, by the presentation of a large steel engrav- ing of portraits of the United States Authors, representing a literary party, held at the home of Washington Irving. And in behalf of the town, your Committee extend their thanks and appreciation to Miss Mary E. Burnett for this act of thoughtfulness.
The changes in the Tarkiln School building are a great improvement and benefit, and are greatly appreciated by the West Side. Alterations were made in two study and reci- tation rooms, and the furnace room was turned into a much needed rest room which is furnished with two chairs, couch, table, and a few accessories. The addition consists of a cor- ridor connecting the two buildings, sanitary toilets and lav- atories, and a basement with heating and pumping systems,
122
all of which improvements the citizens are invited to inspect.
The Village Grammar School building was improved by the addition of more and larger windows, and the relocating of chairs and desks, which enlarges the space between the teachers' and pupils' desks. Also, electric lights were in- stalled. All other school buildings received their annual ren- ovation, but only minor repairs were made.
Superintendent Bragdon tendered his resignation to take effect on March first, for a more lucrative position. A joint meeting of the Union was called and Duxbury withdrew from the Union as voted by the town. The next proceeding of the School Committee was an interview with the State Board of Education relative to procuring a Superintendent, and the Committee was advised to employ a substitute superintendent, as at that time of year it was difficult to find a permanent one suitable to fill the position.
The Duxbury Committee received an invitation from Union No. 46 to unite with them, and Superintendent Parker was engaged to serve until July 1st, 1926. A meeting was called by the State Board and your Committee was informed that a superintendent already employed by an Union could not engage his services elsewhere, so it became necessary that the Committee join the above-mentiond Union until July 1st, 1927, when the State Board will sanction a withdrawal from this Union if the Town of Duxbury so wishes.
The Committee wishes to express its appreciation of the generosity of the citizens in allowing the increase in the budget for 1926. The full amount could have been used very advantageously, but as the whole was not urgently needed, a substantial amount was returned to the treasury.
Owing to the extra transportation and insurance, it will be necessary to ask for the amount of $42,700.00 and the dog tax, for the year of 1927.
123
Report of Superintendent
To the School Committee :
I am submitting a report covering the administration of the Duxbury Schools for the year ending December 31, 1926, of which the period from March 1st to December 31st has been under my supervision.
I found the outstanding problem to be housing condi- tions, but as the town at the annual meeting made a generous appropriation for repairs and new buildings, which are al- ready completed or under way, I shall not comment on con- ditions as they were. When the building operations are com- pleted, which will be sometime during the summer, the school plant of Duxbury will be a modern one, and will consist of three buildings : a new High School which will house grades from five to ewelve inclusive; the Village School, which will house part of the pupils in grades one, two, three and four ; the Tarkiln School which will house the remaining pupils in grades one, two, three and four in that part of town.
The Tarkiln School has been added to and remodeled so that it is now a thoroughly up-to-date building, consisting of two school rooms, heating and ventilating plant and adequate sanitary facilities. A special report covering the changes appears elsewhere in this report. The people of Duxbury should be congratulated on the progressive step whereby the number of school buildings in the town have been reduced from nine to three. Such a change will permit better grad- ing. All the rooms in the new building will be single grade rooms, and those in the Village and Tarkiln Schools will be rooms of two grades only, a distinct step in advance over the present conditions, where, in many buildings, the rooms have contained four grades.
124
TRANSPORTATION
At the close of school in June there should be a thorough survey of the transportation problem, the home of every pupil should be correctly located on a map. and routes should be so made up that the cost of transportation can be kept within reasonable limits, and the quality of such transpor- tation be made as high as possible. In order to do this it may be necessary to put the schools of the first four grades on a slightly different time schedule. I recommend that when such a survey has been made and it is certain just what will be required, the Committee invite competitive bids specify- ing adequate and safe vehicles, the number of miles to be covered, and the number of pupils to be carried, and that contracts be awarded for a period of three years. Such a step I deem necessary on account of the long mileage in- volved. due to the scattered population of the town.
TRANSPORTATION DATA
Town
Number of
Vehicles
Type of Vehicle
Daily
Mileage
Number of Pupils
Transported
Daily Cost
Daily Per
Capita Cost
Total Yearly
Cost
Duxbury
6
(1) Dodge
17
10
5.47
.54
(3) Fords
54
48
16.07
.33
(1) Ford
15-
20
6.45
.32
(1) Ford
38
36
7.88
.21
$7,167
124 114
CARE OF BUILDINGS
I also recommend that the care of the buildings be put on a twelve-month basis and that janitors be employed on a twelve-month basis, be required to do the cleaning and minor repairs during the school year, to care for the grounds in Summer and do the customary yearly cleaning of the schools.
125
Under this system the Committee will always know in ad- vance what to place in the budget against the care of the school plant.
THE TEACHING CORPS
It is always superfluous to say that a school will never be any better than the teacher and the fact is that the school will always be just as good as the teacher and no better, re- gardless of building, equipment and every other facility. With this in view, I recommend that hereafter, no new teacher be employed in the elementary schools who is not a graduate of a college or accredited Normal school, and that no new teachers be employed in grades seven and eight un- less graduates of a three-year course in a Normal school or college, and that in grades above the eighth grade, with the exception of Commercial, Domestic Science and Manual Training departments, no new teachers be employed who are not graduates of a regular college, and that any teacher who takes special professional courses during the school year or Summer vacation be granted extra compensation for such work, to be determined by the Committee.
The following resignations and elections have taken place during the last year :
High School-
Mrs. Florence G. Bardsley resigned in June and was succeeded by Mr. Howard H. Cutting, a graduate of Wesley- an College.
Miss Eva E. Berg resigned in June and was succeeded by Miss Lois Henderson, a graduate of the Chandler Bus- iness College.
Miss Josephine E. Berry resigned in June and was suc- ceeded by Miss Mary A. Roper, a graduate of Wheaton Col- lege.
126
Point School-
Mrs. Marion S. Baker resigned in June and was suc- ceeded by Miss Marjorie L. West, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School.
South Duxbury-
Miss Puella Thacher resigned in June and was succeeded by Miss Gladys Pratt, a graduate of Bridgewater Normal School, who had taught in Kingston one year.
Miss Annie E. Birks of the Tarkiln Grammar School resigned in April and the position was filled till the close of school in June by Mr. O. H. Toothaker.
Miss M. Abbie Baker was transferred from the Tarkiln Intermediate to the Tarkiln Grammar School and Miss Alice Michelson, a graduate of North Adams Normal School, was appointed to the Tarkiln Intermediate School.
Mrs. Rebecca Phillips, Supervisor of Music, resigned in August and the position was filled by the temporary appoint- ment of Mrs. May Blair McClosky, Supervisor of Music in Kingston, Halifax and Plympton.
With the opening of the new school in September there will be facilities for the conduct of adequate courses in Man- ual Training and Domestic Science, and I recommend that the Committee establish such courses and employ two teach- ers, one for each department.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
I am glad to note that the committee sponsers the phys ical training program, and as stated in the report of the High School under this cover, the main purpose is to bring every individual in the schools under wholesome physical training. This should be the chief aim of the department, and as an incident to such training I think it adds materially to the enthusiasm and welfare of the school if a successful
127
athletic program can be carried on. I do not believe in the idea that "a winning team" should be stressed too strongly, but nevertheless, unless the boys and girls do enter into these competitive sports with the idea of at least excelling, much of the value of such training is lost. The question of morale with young people of such age is important and the idea of success as such, develops self-reliance and confidence. The boy or girl who can develop the right attitude whether winning or losing, is the one who eventually makes the best citizen. It is very gratifying to observe that the principal and teachers at the High School as well as the elementary schools, are actively engaging in games with the pupils, and the spirit of cooperation throughout the schools of the town is most commendable.
DOUBLE PROMOTIONS
I wish to sound a note of warning in relation to forcing young pupils too quickly through the grades. Occasionally we find boys or girls who are capable of mid-year promotion, and who, if promoted, would probably do commendable work in the grade to which they have been assigned. There are two reasons why caution should be observed, and the first is from a standpoint of health. It is an axiom that the mind and body should develop at about the same time. If the mental equipment of a pupil is cultivated much in advance of the physical development, in practically every case there is an injurious physical reaction. Secondly, from a social standpoint it is uncomfortable for the small child to be associ- ated in class with older pupils and pupils of more mature so- cial development. A boy who enters the ninth grade under twelve years of age is out of place socially with pupils two or more years older, and this difference is accentuated more and more as he advances through the high school. And again, a boy who enters college at sixteen years of age, no matter what his mental attainments are, is not going to be able to
128
take advantage of the social contacts to any great degree, and thus will not be properly matured when he receives his college diploma.
TESTING TEACHING RESULTS
During the Spring the Stanford Achievement Tests in Arithmetic were given to all pupils from the third to the eighth grades. These tests are scientifically constructed from material gathered in all parts of the country from tens of thousands of pupils, and aim to show what children of differ- ent ages in the various grades should accomplish.
The results show that, in the subject of arithmetic, the pupils of Duxbury are slightly above the national average. The subject for tests in 1927 will be English. The chief value of these tests is diagnostic. They give the teacher a line on not only the accomplishment of the pupil, but on his failures, and are of great aid in pointing out the defects of the indi- vidual and in showing the teacher just what individual help should be given.
In closing I wish to mention the liberality of the citizens of Duxbury in providing for an ample budget. With such a budget the town should expect and demand as good schools as can be found in the State, and I am sure I can pledge the effort of the teaching staff to the attainment of that end.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN H. PARKER,
Superintendent.
129
ATTENDANCE STATISTICS 1925-1926
Elementary
High
Total
Pupils Enrolled
277
80
357
Average Daily Attendance
237
68.51
305.51
Average Membership
256
71.85
327.85
Percent of Attendance
92.97
95.07
CENSUS-OCTOBER 1, 1926
Boys
Girls
Total
Persons 5 years of age or over and under 7 years
23
23
46
Persons 7 years of age or over, and
under 14 years
113
94
207
Persons 14 years of age or over, and under 16 years
35
29
64
Totals
171
146
317
ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF PUPILS JANUARY 1, 1927
.
GRADE
School
1
2
3
4
5
6
7 8
9
10
11
12
Total
High
21 24
14
13
72
Village Grammar
and Intermediate
18
23
17
11
69
Tarkiln
8
13
21
Tarkiln
Intermediate
5
10
18
Tarkiln
7
13
15
35
So. Duxbury
10
4
8
8
30
Point
3
2
5
1
11
Millbrook
4
4
9
10
27
Ashdod
8
7
7
2
24
Totals
32
30
44
26
28
41
25
24
21
24
14
13
322
Grammar
33
Primary
130
Report of Principal of High School
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The overshadowing influence of the new school building is already beginning to fall upon us, and it is good.
Nerves strained by the confusion of trying to study in a room where others are reciting, or of a duel between classes trying to do their individual work with only a partition of cardboard six feet high separating them. Tired muscles from uncomfortable seats. Swimming heads from improper ventilation. Rooms sometimes too hot, sometimes too cool. These are the handicaps against which the boys and girls of Duxbury are working. They are held to their task because they want to be a part of the newer, bigger organization another year.
Durnig the summer our teaching force was almost com- pletely changed. The new members of our group have under- taken their tasks with a degree of enthusiasm that assures success. They have adopted our town and are giving un- selfishly every effort to make its schools the best. Their happy cooperation, industry, and earnestness has not been equalled since I came to Duxbury.
The graduating class of last June numbered fifteen mem- bers, all of whom are either continuing their education in other schools or working in positions which promise speedy advancement. We have in our school library, as a testimonial of class loyalty, a beautiful set of The Encyclopedia Brit- tanica which they gave us early in their senior year.
Athletics have been conducted with the sole purpose of doing the greatest good to the greatest number of boys and girls. This method sometimes seems a poor way of develon-
131
ing winning teams, but, in spite of the fact, we have made a very creditable showing against other schools in our class.
May I here express, through you, my sincere apprecia- tion to that group of citizens which, by gifts of money and other assistance, made possible our football team last fall.
Realizing that many of the things which would help make our work less difficult this year might be entirely use- less when the school moves to its new quarters, I am offering no suggestions. I assure you, however, we will make the best possible use of the material we have at hand.
Pledging you the heartiest cooperation of every teacher in Duxbury High School, I respectfully submit my report for the year 1926.
GEORGE E. GREEN,
Principal.
132
Report of Supervisor of Music
Having been in charge of the music in the Duxbury schools only four months it is rather difficult to make a report at this time. However, the conditions are most favorable for a fine year's work and in many of the schools we have made rapid progress.
In the High School, where is to be found fine material for four-part music, several choruses of this sort have already been learned and will be sung at our high school concert.
We plan to give at least one more concert before Spring, this being an incentive to greater interest and giving some- thing definite for which to work.
I look forward with great pleasure and anticipation to this year's work in Duxbury.
Respectfully submitted,
MAY BLAIR McCLOSKY,
Supervisor of Music.
133
Report of School Physician
John H. Parker, Supt. of Schools,
Feb. 16, 1927.
Duxbury, Mass.
My dear Mr. Parker :- I enclose herewith a brief re- port as School Physician for the year ending Dec. 31st, 1926.
The routine work of examining the children in the Schools has been done and the results recorded. We have not made a custom of reporting to parents by card or letter any slight variation from normal but whenever an abnormal- ity was found of importance enough to require attention it was looked after by either the Physician or the School Nurse following up the case to the parent.
This to my mind is the most important part of the work and the one that will accomplish the most good for the future welfare of the children. In visiting the schools the matter of proper lighting has been considered and advise given as to the best manner of obtaining the most satisfactory results with what conveniences we have. In years past there has been much occasion to criticise conditions as to light due to faulty placing of windows and also location of seats. These have been 1 enefitted to a marked degree by rearranging seats and placing curtains.
In the past the School Physician has found much occa- sion to criticise the conditions found on inspection of the toilets.
This condition has improved somewhat during the past few years due to a little more attention on the part of the teachers but with the coming of new and more modern school buildings I trust these annoyances will cease. During the
134
past year there has been no serious epidemic of contagious disease and most of what we have had has been in the lower grades. The School Physician feels that the outside work among parents and when cases of contagious disease have occurred, the work done among cases that have been exposed to such disease, by the physician and the school nurse, has in many cases prevented the spread of such disease. No at- tempt has been made this year to tabulate the percentages of abnormalities.
The impression is that the general conditions among all the children as to health and hygiene is slowly improving.
The attitude of the children and that of parents as well, is markedly different from what it was when we first started making a carefnl examination of all the children to discover any defects.
A few still remain indifferent and in a very few cases visits have been found necessary to the parents on account of vermin or uncleanliness to the point of the child becoming an annoyance to the rest of the school. These conditions are however much less frequent than formerly.
Very truly yours, N. K. NOYES, School Physician.
135
Report of School Nurse
To Mr. John H. Parker, Supt. of Schools :
From January 1st to December 31st, 1926, my activities have been as follows:
I have assisted Dr. N. K. Noyes with the physical exam- ination of the school children twice, once in the early spring, and again in the autumn. My other activities have been as follows :
Visits to school sessions 298
Visits to homes of school children
532
Carried to hospital for treatment 6
Carried to specialist for examination 1
Given temporary home while mother was in hospital 1
Other assistance, clothing, food, etc. 20
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE L. WILLIAMS,
School Nurse.
135
Report of Drawing Supervisor
To Mr. J. H. Parker, Superintendent of Schools:
The exhibition of drawings at Mattakessett Hall in June testified to the quality and quantity of work done.
This showing covered every grade from second to Senior High School grades. When the new school is opened the conditions will be vastly improved for doing more and better work, and with a proper equipment I would like to demon- strate what can be done in the way of vocational work, as we have so many workers of professional calibre, that it seems big things may be accomplished in this line.
Drawing is being used so mch today that with a little more time allowed for this work at the High School, we could make a feature of commercial drawings for practical pur- poses. And this is entirely possible, as here we have excellent teachers to assist us.
With sincere thanks to Mr. Parker and the committe for their unfailing help, I remain,
Respectfully yours, SAMUEL WARNER,
Drawing Supervisor.
137
Graduating Exercises
Partridge Academy The Duxbury High School June 23, 1926
1. March
ORCHESTRA
2. Invocation
REV. JOHN HENRY WILSON
3. Response
SENIOR GIRLS
4. Schools and Education in Duxbury CHRISTINE SWANSON
5. Class History
MILLIE SCHOLPP
6. Selection
ORCHESTRA
7. Presentation of Gifts
LAURETTA DELANO, EVELYN WADSWORTH
8. "Pure as Snow"-Violin Solo LEONIA HALL
Lange
9. Class Will MARGARET HASTINGS
10. Columbus E. S. Hosmer
HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS
11. "Vocational Development for Women" HELEN BATSON
12. Class Motto-"Our hope, our aim, to win" LEONIA HALL
13. Selection ORCHESTRA
14 "Successful Women of Today" VIRGINIA GOODRICH
15. Class Prophecy EDWARD HOBART
138
16. "Forget-me-not"
HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS
17. Presentation of Medals and Diplomas SUPT. JOHN H. PARKER
18. School Song
HIGH SCHOOL CHORUS
19. Benediction
REV. LEWIS J. THOMAS
Graduating Exercises
Tarkiln Grammar School Thursday, June 24, 1926 Ten o'clock in the Forenoon Song-"'O Sea, How Fair Art Thou" School Chorus
Songs of a Century
Jeannette King and School. Chorus Our Class Motto
Chester Lovering Song-"When the Roses Bloom Again" School Chorus "Lincoln as an Object Lesson" Ruth Jones
Presentation of Class Gift Eva Rogers
Response for Seventh Grade Mary Swift Song-"I Would Send to Thee a Rose" Theresa Hagbourne Presentation of Diplomas Supt. John H. Parker
Class Song
Eighth Grade
139
Class Motto-"Ever Onward" Class Colors-Blue and Gold Class Flower-Pink Carnation
THE CLASS
Harold Burton Belknap
Elbert Truman Little
Theresa Louise Hagbourne
Chester Bennett Lovering Jr.
Ruth May Jones
Jeannette May King
Pauline Azubah Nickerson
Eva Louise Rogers
Arthur Short
Graduation Exercises
Class of 1926 Duxbury Village Grammar School Mattakeesett Hall Thursday, June Twenty-Fourth At 2 o'clock P. M.
PROGRAMME
Assembly Call March
Invocation Response
Greeting Cornet Selection
Donald Walker Bowyer Osgood Anna Walker
Reading-"Discontent"
Music-"Fair Napoli," "The Music of the Brook" Chorus Reading-"The Purity of Character" Piano Solo Reading-"'Olden Ideas of Nature"
Reading-"Modern Ideas of Nature" Cornet Selection
Essay-"Forestry"
Hand Drill
Rev. L. J. Thomas
Howard Butler Mabel Bennett Helen Holmes Mary Mosher Charles Bossler Vincent Scholpp
Thelma Leona Lovell
John King
.
140
Reading-"I Am Music"
Reading-"The Oak Tree"
Cantata-"The Oak Tree's Story" Farewell Presentation of Diplomas Music-"O Sea, How Fair Art Thou"
Doris MacNaught Alice Berriman
Wilfred Bennett Supt. J. H. Parker Chorus
CLASS ROLL
Charles Lee Bossler Mary Elizabeth Mosher
Harriet Evangeline Bates
Wilfred Bennett
Doris Clayton MacNaught Bowyer B. Osgood
Alice Carpenter Berriman
Vincent Stanley Scholpp
Mabel June Bennett Anna Belknap Walker
Howard Dunbar Butler
Donald Delano Walker
Helen Russell Holmes
Hiram Ryder
Class Motto: "Steering Not Drifting" Class Colors : Blue and Gold
Class Flower : Red Rose
HONOR ROLL
Pupils neither Absent nor Tardy
GRAMMAR
Ione Foye Doris McNaught
Martha Osgood Thomas Kendall
MILLBROOK
Edward B. Walker
POINT
Randall B. Tinker
TARKILN INTERMEDIATE
Clarence A. Berg Doris E. Foster
141
INDEX
..
Accountant's Report
7
Assessors' Report
97
Balance Sheet
52
Births
80
Board of Health
114
Cemetery Trust Funds
54
Chief of Police
99
Deaths
78
Deaths, out of Town
79
Dog Licenses Issued
96
Duxbury Cemetery Trustees
112
Duxbury Free Library, Treasurer
110
Duxbury Free Library, Trustees
111
Fire Chief
100
Forest Fire Warden Report
101
Marriages
75
Moth Superintendent's Report
104
Overseers of the Poor
99
School Department
117
Sealer of Weights and Measures
103
Selectmen's Report
5
State Audit
63
Street Department
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