USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1931-1935 > Part 13
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The additional expense of the Custodian and inci- dental repairs has been included in the Superintendent's report.
The Auditorium has been used without charge for the meeting of the Parent-Teacher Association, as well as for other meetings outside of the school.
The Committee was pleased to accept on behalf of the High School a handsome drop curtain executed by our esteemed drawing teacher, Mr. Samuel Warner, who has contributed of his skill for several of the school plays whenever new stage scenery was required. His loyalty to our Duxbury Schools is much appreciated.
By careful planning, the Committee were able to
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install new tile flooring for the two corridors and stair- ways in the High School building, the original cement flooring having broken away in many places so that it was a menace to the pupils using it.
The School Committee has met with the Town Offi- cials and gone over the budget for the new year. It will ask for the sum of $46,000 and the dog tax for the com- ing year, as mentioned in the Superintendent's report.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES R. CROCKER, Chairman, AGNES S. ELLISON, Secretary, GEORGE M. MAYERS, D. D. S.,
Duxbury School Committee.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee of Duxbury :
This report must of necessity parallel quite closely the report which I made to you a year ago. The depres- sion which at that time gave us such cause for alarm has only begun to recede. The consequent tendency of the population of Duxbury to increase as new homes are es- tablished in our midst has resulted in further increase in enrollment in our schools. This increase has been predominant in the upper grades where the costs of op- eration are greatest. There has also appeared an in- creasing tendency for those high school graduates who are unable to locate themselves in satisfactory positions to return to the school for post graduate study. The children in Duxbury tend to remain in school longer; for example, the average senior class in the state as a whole is about 3.3 per cent of the total enrollment of the school, while in Duxbury it numbers about 5.9 of our pupil popu- lation. Our high school membership is 26.6 per cent of the school children of the town while the percentage for the state is only 19.8. This throws a disproportionate burden on our school budget which must be honestly met or our educational system will suffer. On the other hand, an examination of the salaries of the teachers working with this group of children shows the average for the state to be $2,200, while in our own town the ave- rage is $1,585. Nor is this difference confined to the high school group, for against an average in Duxbury
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for elementary teachers of $1,213, the average for the state in 1932 was $1,725.
Here we have the situation of a teacher, whose sal- ary is many dollars below the average, assuming respon- sibilities which are far beyond those assumed by the normal worker in the same field, who happens to be em- ployed in some other community. I wish to call your attention further to the fact that the present period of business inactivity is reflected in the activities of the public schools only in so far as our position is the reverse. Our enrollment has increased and our duties have be- come greater. There have been no large numbers of skilled teachers turned away from their jobs, and the difficulty of finding a teacher who has the training, ex- perience, and personality to satisfactorily do his job is as difficult as it has ever been.
In regard to this subject I wish to quote from an edi- torial in the publication of the Federal Office of Educa- tion, SCHOOL LIFE, for December, 1932:
"But education is not and never can be a business.
"Profit is the goal of business. The aim of educa- tion is maximum service at lowest cost. Competition is the life of trade. Co-operation is the guiding star of education.
"Business organizes into trade associations to pro- mote and protect the profits of members. Teachers or- ganize with professional associations whose major pur- pose and principal work is the improvement of the edu- cational service.
"Business is essentially a private enterprise. Edu- cation is mutual enterprise.
"Society has to maintain expensive regulatory checks to manage irresponsible business. Education, like the other professions, disciplines itself.
"Busines is extravagantly wasteful of natural human resources. Education ever seeks the council of
C I
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science for the improvement of its already high standards of service to humanity."
ACADEMIC
The results of our labors are too abstract to be easily measurable. But the success of the graduates from our schools indicates to a degree whether the training they have received was satisfactory. In the last six years eleven graduates from Duxbury High School have gone directly to a first rate college and have either been gradu- ated or are at present in good standing as undergradu- ates. Besides these, there are many others who have taken a shorter course or have preferred to take an ex- tra year of work in a preparatory school before entering upon the rigorous work of striving for a college degree.
You will find appended to this report a financial statement covering the business done in our lunchroom during the past year. This service is meeting with in- creasing popularity, and many days we have served near- ly half the children in school with hot food. This de- partment has become entirely self-supporting with the exception of the fraction of a teacher's time devoted to planning the meals and supervising their preparation.
In the Manual Training Department we have added some new machinery and developed a department of printing with very little expense to the regular school budget.
In order to satisfy the demands of increased enroll- ment, it has been found necessary to add extra subjects to our high school curriculum ; but in each case the teach- er on whom the burden has fallen has assumed respon- sibility without any addition to her salary. Few other changes have been made in any department or grade. During the spring month an epidemic of mumps reached rather serious proportions in the lower grades and re- sulted in a slowing up of the school work. As though
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one visitation of this sort were not enough for one cal- endar year, shortly after Thanksgiving many primary school children were taken ill with chicken-pox. These periods are particularly trying to the conscientious teach- er who has a definite amount of work to cover during the year. Further reports concerning the general health of our school children will be given by the School Nurse and Physician.
ACTIVITIES
The extra curricular activities of the high school have followed along the standard of previous years. The Partridge was able to come through this year in good financial standing; but, fearing that the effect of the business depression would sooner or later create a serious problem, the staff, after carefully weighing all arguments both pro and con, voted to buy the necessary equipment for printing its own magazine. Of course, printing a paper is a job for skilled workmen, and we realize that we are starting this new undertaking with- out the months of preliminary training which are usually thought necessary. The project is under-way, however, and before this report goes to the press the results of our initial endeavors should be in circulation. Now that we have this equipment, the cost of producing a school paper should be materially reduced while the manual arts curriculum has been materially enriched.
The seniors of last year presented as their annual class play "The Blossoming of Mary Ann." This pro- duction was up to the standard set by previous years and was probably the best thing of the kind given in town.
In February the Junior High School group gave a cantata in honor of the birthday anniversary of George Washington at a meeting of the Parent Teacher Asso- ciation.
The fifth and sixth grades presented the "Land of
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Dreams Come True" and the children of the Village and Point Schools gave a colorful little entertainment en- titled "The Royal Playmate." Such activities give an opportunity for self-expression and stimulate wholesome interest in art and music. They also furnish contacts be- tween the parents and the school which develop better understanding through mutual interests.
The orchestra has been somewhat handicapped be- cause of the financial inability of many promising pupils to take music lessons. This difficulty will be felt more severely in the future as the places of those who are graduated cannot be filled from the lower grades. This group gave a concert in the winter and presented a very finished program.
The Athletic Department has held its own, for, be- side the basketball and baseball teams, we have had many inter-group contests in tennis, volley-ball, and ten- naquoits.
The assembly programs have been much the same as those given in previous years except that we have had unusual good fortune in securing good outside talent.
GIFTS
The Partridge Scholarship was awarded last June to Robert Lantz, who is doing very creditable work at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
The Duxbury Garden Club continued its efforts to interest the children in flower and vegetable growing. Seeds were distributed to about seventy-five individuals, and several prizes were awarded for the greatest excel- lence in beauty and quantity of harvest.
Certain persons, asking that their identity be kept a secret, have contributed liberally to a fund to supply noonday lunches to certain children who would other- wise be under-nourished.
The Sons of Veterans and their Auxiliary in behalf
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of the G. A. R. have continued to see that each school building is properly supplied with an American Flag.
The American Legion carried on its established policy of encouraging strength of character through its annual award to the outstanding boy and girl in the eighth grade. The winners last spring were Francis Kirkpat- rick and Winona Peacock.
Mr. William Seymore gave invaluable assistance in producing the senior play and Mr. Samuel Warner made the school a gift of a beautiful back drop for the stage.
To all these friends and to many others who have shown an active interest in the work we are doing, I ex- tend my heartiest expressions of appreciation.
REPAIRS
Repairs and new equipment have of necessity been reduced to a minimum. Early in the spring a twisting wind storm struck the Southwest corner of the new high school building and tore off a patch of slate shingles about four feet square. These, of course, were replaced immediately, and no damage was done to the interior of the building. The platform at the Point School became so weather worn that there was real danger that some child would break through and receive painful injury. To correct this fault a new platform was necessary. New outside doors, one at the high school and one at Tarkiln, replaced doors which were so badly shattered that they could not be securely locked. From the first days of occupancy of the high school building the cement floors of the corridors and stairs have been a source of an- noyance. Concrete at its best is a surface tiring to the feet and almost impossible to keep free from dust. The surface of these floors was unusually rough so that the wear and tear on the shoes of the children was, in many instances, placing an increasing financial burden on the parents. Although we had tried various methods of cor-
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recting the fault every attempt had proved unsuccessful and the stairtreads had become so badly cracked that in places large pieces of cement had dropped out. After a careful study of flooring materials and visits to schools in other towns, it was decided that asphalt tile for the floors and hot asphalt for the stairtread would solve our problems. The cost of the entire job, $615, may seem a considerable amount of money for these times; but it is only about half what a similar job would have cost five years ago, and I am sure that besides the improvement of appearance, the actual saving in shoe leather will more than offset this original cost. A continuance of the policy of doing a certain fraction of the painting of the high school building each year was followed, and the radiators were given a new coat during the Christmas vacation.
SUMMARY
The tragedy of a business crisis is still weighing so heavily upon us that I believe this is no time for expan- sion of our school program. The cost of the steadily increasing enrollment cannot be avoided and the cost of fuel and other items necessary for the operation of the school plant have not decreased to any great extent. The insurance on our building has actually increased and it so happens that the premium amounting to some over $1500 is due this year. This bill falls due only once in three years and while it makes quite a substantial item at a time when we are bending every effort to economize, a saving of over sixteen per cent can be effected through handling the the matter in this way instead of annually. The increasing use of the auditorium by organizations outside the school swells the amount of money we must spend for janitors, lights, water, and general repairs. On other items we can continue the reductions which were started last year.
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I believe the least we can operate our schools for during the present year, still maintaining the standard of efficiency which I am sure the citizens of Duxbury desire, is $46,000, plus dog tax. I recommend that the school committee ask the voters for this sum of money to carry on the schools of Duxbury during the year 1933.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE E. GREEN,
Superintendent.
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ENROLLMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOOL AND GRADE, JANUARY 1, 1933
School
1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 37 42 34 27 34 19 25 22 P.G. Ttl. 4 244
New School
Tarkiln
11 7 13 15 46
Village
19 20 25 64
Point
21
21
Total
32 26 33 40 37 42 34 27 34 19 25 22 4 375
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
RECEIPTS
Appropriation
1932 $46,925.55
EXPENDITURES
General Expense
$657.82
Salaries, Teachers and Supt.
25,861.52
Textbooks
812.87
Stationery, Supplies, etc.
745.55
Wages of Janitors
3,784.53
Fuel, Coal, and Electricity
2,264.44
Repairs
1,157.97
Health
1,091.85
Transportation
9,050.00
New Equipment
371.62
Miscellaneous
1,083.94
$46,882.11
Unexpended Balance
43.44
$46,925.55
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LUNCH ROOM
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Month
Received
Paid Out
January
$280.40
$234.83
February
240.19
253.61
March
267.78
235.50
April
227.80
226.17
May
246.55
283.22
June
123.20
117.71
September
232.47
233.84
October
278.80
255.19
November
219.55
194.02
December
230.51
242.58
$2,347.34
$2,276.67
Balance on hand January 1, 1932 $134.77
Total Cash Receipts
2,347.34
Total
$2,482.11
Paid Out
$2,276.67
Bills Unpaid
30.02
Total
$2,306.69
Money Received
$2,482.11
Total Expenses
2,306.69
Balance January 1, 1933 $175.42
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REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools:
In consideration of the type of choral music which is sung in the High School, correct tone production is the immediate aim in the work of teaching music in the grades. Particular attention, therefore, is given to this phase of the teaching together with as much as possible of elementary theory in the grades. It is quite necessary that the correct singing habits be formed as early as possible and that the so-called monotones and non-singers be given every opportunity to learn to sing. This work has to be done in the grades.
The "Music Hour Series" (Silver-Burdett Company) is used in the primary grades in Duxbury. The teachers are instructed to follow the carefully planned pro- grams in the manuals of this series. The text which is used in the intermediate grades is "Elementary Music" (Ginn & Company). An effort is made in the grades to increase the appreciation of music. This is done by studying simple biographies of the most famous composers and by listening to some of their compositions with the aid of victrolas.
In the high school an operetta has been selected (Gypsy Rover) to be given some time in April. More than ever before, we have been very fortunate in having many excellent solo voices this year. Making choices of these voices for the leading roles in the operetta al- most made necessary a competition in order to complete
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the selection. The decisions have been made, however, and the work has been progressing very well indeed. Miss Downey is in charge of the staging of the produc- tion and already are foreseen excellent results in the undertaking.
It is hoped that next year there will be an operetta given in the Junior High School. In addition to this work, the selections have been made for the annual graduation music and the preparation of this music is well under way.
Without the co-operation and loyal support of the teachers, these fine results could not be accomplished. The Supervisor wishes to take this opportunity to express her gratitude for the splendid efforts of the teachers in this town to help make the Music what it is.
Respectfully submitted,
MRS. M. B. McCLAUSKY,
Supervisor of Music.
Duxbury, Massachusetts.
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REPORT OF THE DRAWING SUPERVISOR
To Mr. George E. Green
Superintendent of Schools
Dear Sir:
Drawing in all the grades seems to advance from year to year, and the subjects added recently increase the workers' ability to see, to understand and to remem- ber in form and color, the worth while facts that are necessary. Our annual Exhibit of drawings held last June was quite extensive and professional in character and quality, and the work of this year gives promise of even stronger results. The drawings shown by the sec- ond, third, fourth and fifth grades proved much superior to any work previously done in these particular grades.
The handling of form and color by these very young children gave positive evidence that little ones can give an excellent account of themselves that needs no apology or explanation.
The grammar and high school grades accomplish work of good character, but the positive surprises to me are the records of the little ones.
At the end of the year much of the best work is set aside to be framed and hung upon the walls of the rooms at the high school, where we are gradually gain- ing a collection, that will be worthy of the attention of visitors from out of town as well as parents of the ex-
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hibitors, which will demonstrate the sort of work we are doing in all grades.
To the superintendent, School Committee and teach- ers we are greatly indebted for their valuable assistance.
Respectfully yours,
SAMUEL WARNER.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. George E. Green
Superintendent of Schools
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Dear Sir:
I assumed my duties as school physician in Septem- ber. About 360 children were examined, the examina- tion being completed October 18. As a whole the chil- dren were in excellent health. Cards were sent to the parents of children with defects needing correction. The principal defect was carious teeth.
In December an epidemic of chicken pox started. It was not deemed advisable by me to keep the schools closed after the Christmas vacation. The number of cases is rapidly declining.
A number of cases of impetigo have been discovered and excluded from school until fully recovered.
I recommend that the school conduct a pre-school clinic in June of each year, that this clinic be con- ducted by the school physician and the school nurse, and that only children, who are to enter school the following fall, be allowed to attend.
I wish to thank you and your teachers for the splendid co-operation I have received.
Respectfully submitted,
C. H. KING, M. D.
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools
Mr. George E. Green
Duxbury, Massachusetts
This year I have the following to report:
Visits-
To schools 1,046
To homes of students 946
To hospitals 19
To specialists
1
To dentist 8
Included in the visits to hospitals were three for tonsil operation. Many more children had their tonsils removed, either in their homes by the family physician, or in hospitals.
One was carried to the Massachusetts Nose and Throat Clinic in Boston.
Two others were carried to the summer camp at South Hanson, where they were much benefited by a six weeks' visit, and returned home the latter part of Au- gust in very good condition. This was paid for by the Duxbury Nurse Association with its Christmas Seal Sale money. Several students had the expenses of a dentist's bill paid from this fund also.
In May the Parent-Teachers Association sponsored a pre-school clinic, which developed into a baby clinic as
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well. It was well attended and much interest was shown.
The Chadwick Clinic from the State Department of Health sent its X-ray man to re-X-ray three cases. One of these children, had been in Duxbury only a short time, was already under the care of a physician, and was sent to a sanitarium. This left only two cases and one of these had been in town a short time and soon left school. The remaining case was X-rayed again and a State Phy- sician held a conference with the parent of the child who is now in good health and attending school again.
One child was carried to Jordan Hospital to have his arm X-rayed after a fracture. One hundred and four- teen meals have been given to children and paid for by the American Red Cross.
I assisted the School Physician during the physical examination in September and October.
Many students have been clothed through the kind- ness of the Red Cross Nurse Association and the teach- ers. Many people have given me second hand clothing which has been gladly accepted by students.
We have two grades at the present time taking hy- giene lessons once a week.
No report can be made on the audiometer yet because it is coming to us later, probably in February.
Respectfully submitted,
ANNIE L. WILLIAMS,
School Nurse.
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REPORT OF PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION
To the citizens of Duxbury :
It is with a feeling of encouragement that the year's work of the Parent-Teachers Association is reviewed. The aim has been to stimulate interest in our schools, pupils, and teachers, and to bring about a better under- standing. An active spirit of co-operation has been noted and the interest of the teachers has been greatly appre- ciated.
Monthly meetings have been held with interesting programs and the social hour. A special meeting was held in September for the parents of pupils attending high school, the purpose, to explain the necessary re- quirements for the pupil intending to continue his or her education after graduating. The attendance was disappointing and it is hoped another such meeting may be held before the close of school.
The Summer Round Up was held in May and ably conducted by the Physicians of Duxbury, the School Doc- tor and Nurse, and a committee from this association. Not as large a number of children were examined as last year, because of an epidemic of whooping-cough.
Mr. MacKenney's and Miss Fulcher's rooms have been presented with pictures in recognition of the best attend- ance of parents and friends at the meetings last year.
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At Christmas oranges were given to all the children in the lower grades, Mrs. Flannery, Chairman of the Social Committee, very kindly opening her home for a card party to meet the expense.
A Loan and Scholarship Committee has been ap- pointed, but because of the widespread depression the work has not progressed, also, there is to be a committee appointed in the interest of the School Orchestra. These are two outstanding projects which will require much co-operation but will be of benefit to many pupils.
We shall try, to increase our work, to draw more and more people into it and to bring nearer the day when our schools will be strengthened by the interest of the many parents and friends.
ALICE R. REDLON,
President.
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GRADUATING EXERCISES
The Duxbury High School June 17, 1932 PROGRAM
1. Aida-March
2. Invocation
3. Song,-A Gypsy Night
4. Essay,-"The Age of Alloys"
5. Class History
Orchestra Rev. F. L. Grant School Chorus
Robert T. Lantz
Evelyn Churchill Glee Club Evelyn Mosher Harriet Foye
6. Lullaby
7. Class Motto
8. Prophecy
9. Songs,-A. All on a Summer's Day
B. Come to the Fair
School Chorus
10. Essay,-"Disarmament and Peace" Philip B. Shiff
11. Class Gifts Elizabeth Soule and William McNeil
12. Elegie Souvenir
13. Class Will Robert B. Stewart
Orchestra
14. Essay,-"Poetry Through the Ages"
Barbara M. Hoffman
15. Solos,-A. I'll Sing the Songs of Araby B. At Dawning Kenneth M. Walker
16. Presentation of Partridge Scholarship Trustee
17. Presentation of Diplomas and Medal Supt. George E. Green
18. Class Song Barbara E. Bitzer and Ralph L. Ryder 19. Benediction Rev. Dudley R. Child
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GRADUATES
Marjorie Evelyn Baker
Evelyn Blanche Mosher
Clarence Albert Berg
Anna Elizabeth Nielson
Barbara Ethel Bitzer
Henry Wilford Olhson
Evelyn Frances Churchill Thelma Pierce
Maude Harriet Foye
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