USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1946-1950 > Part 25
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J. and R. Ford Fund Income $585.01
Hospital bills
Doctors' bills
$147.01 438.00
$585.01
Veterans' Benefits
Appropriation
$6,800.00
Salary, Veterans' Agent $600.00
Salary, Bookkeeper and Stenographer 50.00
Office expenses, and travel 41.06
Ordinary Allowances
2,986.89
Fuel
193.00
Medical expenses
884.38
Dental bills
110.00
$4,865.33
Schools and Libraries
Vocational and Americanization Schools
Appropriation
$750.00
Vocational Schools 211.54
Americanization Teacher-salary
105.00
$316.54
CottageLaboratory
Balance of appropriation
$8.13
Fixtures
$8.13
$8.13
Public Use of High School Auditorium
Appropriation
$200.00
Janitors-wages
$88.68
$88.68
172
Elementary School Building Committee
Balance of appropria- tion
$10,018.68
Appropriation
3,518.24
$13,536.92
Publishing
$100.15
Douglas Orr, Architect's fees
12,372.93
John E. Nichols, Consultant
1,063.84
$13,536.92
Hathaway Fund, School Department
Hathaway Fund Income $1,341.77
Trombone $30.00
$30.00
Contributory Retirement System
Appropriation $104.00
Retirement, Members in Military
Service $104.00
$104.00
School Department
Appropriation
$119,400.00
Dog Fund
654.54
Refund account
2.60
Cancelled Check
845.52
$120,902.66
Salary of Superintendent
$4,826.16
Salary of Super's Clerk
2,135.52
Truant Officer
50.00
Printing, Stationery, Postage
555.13
Telephone 427.16
1
173
Traveling expenses
1,175.76
School Census
100.00
Salary School Secretary
770.40
Architect's fees
845.52
Consultants' fees 54.30
All other including express, etc. 89.28
Teachers Salaries 69,150.15
H.S. Text and Reference Books 1,644.22
H.S. Classroom supplies, etc. 2,929.62
Elem. Text and Reference Books
1,302.07
Elem. Classroom supplies, etc. 1,564.98
H.S. Transportation 3,428.80
Elem. Transportation 6,071.90
Janitors Services, H.S.
5,552.64
Janitors Services, Elem.
2,313.69
Fuel and Light, H.S.
3,230.01
Fuel and Light, Elem.
1,468.11
H.S. Repairs, Buildings and Grounds 3,201.98
Janitors Supplies, H.S.
585.29
All other maintenance costs, H.S. 152.10
Elem. Repairs, Buildings and Grounds 427.63
Janitors Supplies, Elem. 232.17
All other maintenance costs, Elem. 127.48
Furniture and Furnishings, H.S. 1,303.61
Furniture and Furnishings, Elem. 342.21
Diplomas and Graduation costs 34.06
Insurance
1,839.62
School Physician
257.00
School Nurse
1,091.40
Physical Education, misc. supplies 768.26
$120,048.23
Duxbury Elementary School Building
Transfer from Excess and Deficiency $75,000.00
174
Transfer from Post War
Rehabilitation Fund 50,000.00
Bond Issue 274,000.00
$399,000.00
Architect's fees
$16,372.72
Rich Bros. Construction Co.
21,217.32
$37,590.04
Premium on School Bonds
Premium received
$4,844.32
Cost of preparing bonds $595.00
$595.00
Duxbury Free Library
Appropriation $1,750.00
Salary of Librarian
$1,050.00
Salary of Assistant
455.00
Salary of Janitor
245.00
$1,750.00
Library Books Hathaway Fund Income $335.44
New England News Co., books
$335.44
$335.44
William Penn Harding Library Fund
Income from fund
$61.71
Duxbury Free Library
$61.71
$61.71
175
Recreation and Unclassified
Memorial Day
Appropriation
$350.00
Flags
$108.00
Geraniums
150.00
Music
43.00
All other, transportation, Printing,
janitor, and Memorial Day address 47.00
$348.00
Fourth of July
Appropriation
$800.00
Postage and printing
$42.30
Clean up field
59.70
Bands
698.00
$800.00
Aid to Agriculture
Appropriation
$100.00
County of Plymouth, contribution
$100.00
$100.00
Alden Street Tennis Court
Appropriation
$400.00
Supplies, clay, tapes, wire, staples $108.90
Labor and truck hire 289.83
$398.73
Eradication of Poison Ivy
Appropriation
$150.00
Labor, truck, and supplies
$109.65
$109.65
176
Town Clock Repairs
Appropriation $300.00
Repairs to town Clock
$300.00
$300.00
Plymouth County Hospital
Appropriation
$3,647.71
Deficit
752.34
$4,400.05
Plymouth County Hospital
$4,400.05
$4,400.05
Parks and Playgrounds
Appropriation
$600.00
Labor
$248.85
Materials
300.20
Water
24.80
Truck, Roller, Mowing Machine
26.00
$599.85
Special Shellfish Account
Balance from 1947
$178.50
Grant from State
200.00
$378.50
Labor 1401/2 Bu. seed clams
$45.00
327.81
$372.81
177
Shellfish
Appropriation $2,000.00
Shellfish Constable, Salary
$1,400.00
Travel Allowance
450.00
Printing and postage
34.98
Hardware, labor, repairs to boat
44.48
$1,929.46
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
Appropriation
$1,500.00
Compensation insurance $899.17
$899.17
Town Retirement System
Balance of appropriation $1,023.25
Town's Contribution
$535.45
$535.45
Eradication of Mosquitoes
Appropriation
$1,500.00
State Reclamation Board
$1,500.00
$1,500.00
---
Ellison Beach
Balance of appropriation
$90.66
Sale of bonds
1,890.94
$1,981.60
Delano and Keith, Surveying $199.85 $199.85
178
Printing and Delivering Town Reports
Appropriation
$1,300.00
Printing town reports
$1,047.40
Delivering town reports
22.00
$1,069.40
Bounties
Appropriation
$50.00
Bounties on seals and crows $26.05
$26.05
Myles Standish Cellar Lot
Income from Trust Fund
$2.00
Labor
$2.00
2.00
Legal Expense Under G. L. Sec. 100 A, Ch. 41
Appropriation $150.00
Legal services
$150.00
$150.00
Unclassified
Appropriation $400.00
Care of Town Clock, Custodian $60.00
Custodians of Town Flags 50.00
Membership fee, Finance Committee 10.00
Dog Officer, salary 75.00
Care and custody of dogs
43.50
Flags
16.45
Sanding, painting flag pole, and rope 84.48
Telephone, Town Hall 12.33
$351.76
179
Harbor Master
Appropriation $500.00
Harbor Master,Services $395.00
Assistant Harbor Master, Services
61.25
$456.25
Cemeteries
Boomer Square
Appropriation
$50.00
Labor
$26.75
Materials
23.25
$50.00
George H. Wood Fund
Income from Fund $16.00
Flowers $16.00
$16.00
Cemetery Department
Appropriation
$10,000.00
Sale of Lots
150.00
Perpetual Care Fund Income
1,528.80
Hathaway Fund Income 335.44
$12,014.24
Salary, Superintendent
$2,640.00
Salary, Secretary of Trustees
240.00
Labor
6,750.30
Insurance
48.30
Loam
263.86
Trees and Shrubs
16.70
Equipment and Materials
889.51
Repairs-carpentering
41.08
180
Office supplies, printing, postage telephone 182.75
Trucks and Power Mowers, Main-
tenance and repairs 446.90
Signs, wreathes, water supply 124.20
$11,643.60
Unpaid Bills
Unpaid bills of 1947
Appropriation
$1,873.06
Appropriation 8.75
$1,881.81
Helen L. Pickering, Health Dept. $5.00
Cushing Brothers, Forest Dept. 19.02
New England Tel. @ Tel. Co., Fire Department 21.52
Cushing Brothers, Fire Department 10.22
Vernon W. Stewart, Fire Department 3.25
Eben N. Briggs, Fire Department 59.50
Weymouth Vocational School,
Vocational 46.17
New England Tel. @ Tel. Co., Police Department 21.70
Eben N. Briggs, Police Department 67.85
S. F. Barriault, Town Office 4.00
Loren C. Nass, Town Office 2.50
Duxbury Coal and Lumber Co.,
Town Office .65
Ward's, Board of Assessors 34.67
Hobbs and Warren, Inc., Board of Assessors 4.92
Herrick Auto Sales, School Dept. 36.00
Duxbury Coal and Lumber Co.,
School Department 30.64
Paul C. Peterson, Veterans Benefits 6.00
181
Walter E. Deacon, Veterans Benefits 3.00
George W. Hunt, Veterans Benefits 8.70 W. Vernon Mayo, Veterans Benefits 12.00 A. L. Douglas, D.D.S., Veterans Benefits 7.00 M. Pearlstein, M. D., Veterans Benefits 47.00 Torrey Pharmacy, Veterans Benefits 22.45 Richard M. Shiff, Veterans Benefits 11.00
Arthur P. Sullivan, M.D., Veterans Benefits 5.00
Jordan's Pharmacy, Veterans Benefits 27.57
C. H. King, Veterans Benefits 18.00
Jordan's Pharmacy, Public Welfare 8.75 Hobbs and Warren, Inc., Public Welfare 6.19 New England Tel. and Tel., Public Welfare 5.12
Town of Marshfield, Public Welfare 11.25
W. Vernon Mayo, Public Welfare 20.00
Jordan Hospital, Public Welfare 22.50 J. Joseph Fortunow, Public Welfare 73.00
Jordan Hospital, Public Welfare 36.00
Great A and P Tea Co., Public Welfare 15.60 Bennett's, Public Welfare 3.00 Great A and P Tea Co., Public Welfare 32.70 Howard Clock Products, Inc.,
Unclassified 40.00
New England Tel. and Tel. Co., Fire Department 3.76
William McNeil, Snow and Ice Dept. 205.78 Herrick Auto Sales, Snow and Ice Department 273.00
Walter G. Prince, Snow and Ice Dept. 136.50
The Chemical Corp., Snow and Ice Department 342.00
Louis Knife and Son, Snow and Ice
Department 110.00
$1,880.48
182
Transfers from Reserve
Appropriation
$3,000.00
To Public Welfare
$321.07
To Snow and Ice
300.00
To Elections and Registrations
64.30
To Police Protection
839.87
To Fire Protection
300.00
$1,825.24
Agency, Trust and Investment
County of Plymouth, County Tax $21,998.97
Rockland Trust Co., Withholding Tax 11,654.72
Plymouth County Treasurer,
Retirement Funds 2,287.94
Division of Fisheries and Game, Licenses 379.25
Plymouth Savings Bank, Perpetual Care Funds 3,925.00
Plymouth Five Cents Savings
Bank, Perpetual Care Funds 500.00
Plymouth Savings Bank, Trust Fund Income 1,875.00
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank, Trust Fund Income 1,617.25
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, State Parks and Reservations 338.06
State Audit of Municipal Accounts 533.08
Treasurer of Plymouth County, Dog Licenses 819.40
$45,928.67
183
Refunds
Refund Taxes
$77.96
Refund Excise Taxes
436.61
$514.57
Total Expenditures
$497,424.11
Appropriation Balances Returned to Treasury
Selectmen's Department
$124.76
Accounting Department
.21
Treasurer's Department
30.39
Tax Collector's Department
35.25
Assessors' Department
50.06
Town Clerk's Department
141.99
Law Department
410.00
Town Office and Town Hall
728.65
Town Historian
91.25
Finance Committee
34.75
Police Department
4.28
Fire Protection Department
107.78
Gypsy Moth Department
729.66
Forest Warden's Department
15.86
Sealer of Weights and Measures
84.29
Bounties
23.95
Health Department
255.04
Vital Statistics
10.75
Town Dump
13.50
Highway Department
45.50
Bridge Department
13.40
Snow and Ice Removal
108.24
Street Lighting
76.03
Town Landings
.42
Channel Markers
.18
Department of Public Welfare
16.95
Aid to Dependent Children
3,421.99
Old Age Assistance
627.13
Veterans Benefits
1,934.67
184
School Department
8.91
Vocational and Americanization Schools
433.46
Public Use of H.S. Auditorium
111.32
Department of Veterans Services
200.00
Harbor Master
43.75
Appeal Board
41.82
Unclassified
48.24
Workmen's Compensation Insurance
600.83
Shellfish Constable's Department
70.54
Parks and Playgrounds
.15
Printing and Delivering Town Reports
230.60
Cemetery Department
35.20
$10,961.75
TOWN OF DUXBURY Balance Sheet - December 31, 1948 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
In Banks and Office
$472,772.59
Collector (Petty Cash) 150.00
Town Clerk (Petty Cash ) 25.00
Real Estate Fund
5,600.00
$472,947.59
Stabilization Fund 9,500.00
Accounts Receivable :
18,288.20
Taxes :
Federal Grants:
Levy of 1947
1,824.96
Levy of 1948
16,255.15
A.D.C. Administration 251.15
O.A.A Grant
2,641.72
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes:
Levy of 1946 5.31
3.708.67
Levy of 1947
92.98
Levy of 1948 873.50
Excess, Sale of Land of Low Value Ellison Beach
1,781.75
Unexpended Appropriation Balances
391,610.83
Tax Titles
Tax Possessions
93.85
Overlay Reserved for Abatements:
1947 Overlay 1,824.96
1948 Overlay
2,038.56
Public Welfare
1,576.32
Old Age Assistance ยท434.26
Aid to Dependent Children 1,278.98 Health 29.60
Revenue Reserved until collected: Motor Vehicle Excise 971.79
Cemetery
378.00
Tax Titles 1,192.40
Veterans Benefits
1,711.64
Aid to Highways
11,000.00
Departmental
5,446.50
16,446.50
18,610.69
185
355.66
971.79 1,098.55
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus
9,230.63
Departmental:
Selectmen 37.70
3,863.52
Cash :
Fire Insurance Reserve 2,500.00 593.20 Sale of Cemetery Lots and Graves 95.00 Tailings
A.D.C. Grant 307.18
18,080.11
O.A.A. Administration 508.62
Aid to Highways 11,000.00
State Audit of Municipal Accounts 4.00 State Parks and Reservations 49.59
Agency :
Dog Licenses 1.80
Retirement Funds 214.35
Plymouth County Hospital 752.34
Federal Tax Withholdings 1,002.92
1,219.07 114,974.12 Surplus Revenue
Post War Rehabilitation Fund Bonds to be liquidated 50,000.00
563,643.14
563,643.14
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
274,000.00 Elementary School Loan 274,000.00
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Stabilization Fund
$28,989.13
William Penn Harding Fund
1,020.71
Jonathan and Ruth Ford Fund
27,199.45
Lucy Hathaway Trust Fund
22,879.04
Myles Standish Houselot Fund
1,618.37
Thomas D. Hathaway Trust Fund
2,543.88
George H. Wood Cemetery Fund
1,028.22
Lucy A. Ewell Cemetery Fund
555.02
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
86,077.35
* Post War Rehabilitation Fund 54,812.96
$226.724.13 $50,000.00 reserved for Elementary School Appropriation. Bonds not yet cashed in.
186
Trust Funds : Cash and Securities
$226,724.13
$226.724.13
County Tax 3,198.82
4,004.75
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of DUXBURY
A
COR
FOR THE YEAR ENDING
DECEMBER 31 1948
188
SCHOOL COMMITTTEE
For the Year Ending December 31, 1948
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
J. Newton Shirley, M. D., Chair., Mrs. Arline M. Bunten, Sec.,
George C. Scott
Loring R. C. Mugford
Herbert C. Wirt
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1950
Term expires 1951
Term expires 1949
Term expires 1950
PERSONNEL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
John A. Whitehead, Duxbury, Massachusetts Office Telephone 465 Mrs. Elisabeth W. McLeod, Secretary
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Walter E. Deacon, M.D., Telephone Duxbury 84-W
SCHOOL NURSE
Susan 'E. Carter, A.B., R.N., Telephone Duxbury 175
SCHOOL DENTISTS
Henry E. Messier, D.M.D., Telephone Duxbury 441-W Gillis K. Turner, D.M.D., Telephone Duxbury 445
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Earl W. Chandler, Telephone Duxbury 358
189
DUXBURY HIGH SCHOOL
Walter K. Hjelm, Principal, Office Phone 346. Math B.S., Boston University; Yale, Clark, University of Vermont
Mrs. Muriel O. Ferrell, Secretary
Mrs. Ellamarie N. Axinger Physical Education B.A., Colby ; University of New Hampshire
Earl P. Bassett Manual Arts B.S.E., Massachusetts Normal Art School; Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard School of Engineering, Rhode Island State University.
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Bassett English A.B., Boston University; Rhode Island College of Education, Harvard Graduate School.
Mrs. Elesebeth B. Bencordo Librarian
Mrs. Joan W. Betts Grade Six
A.B., New Jersey State Teachers College.
Ralph N. Blakeman Guidance, Science
B.S., in Ed., Ed. M., Boston University ; Bloomsburg State Teachers College.
Miss Dorothy E. Charman Music B.A., Queens College, N.Y .; University of Wisconsin.
Miss Genevieve M. Collins Commercial
B.S., Boston University.
190
Miss Mary E. D'Amelio Grade Four B.S., in Ed., Boston Teachers College.
Miss Frances C. Gray Languages B.A., Colby ; Columbia University.
Mrs. Ella B. Hebbard Art Bridgewater State Teachers College.
Miss Hazel W. Hunt Grade Seven B.A., Tufts; Harvard, B.U. Extension.
Edmund J. King Math, Science, Physical Education B.S., Boston University ; Bates College.
Miss Margaret T. Morrissey Grade Five B.S.Ed., Bridgewater State Teachers College.
Mrs. Alice L. O'Neil Grade Six North Adams Normal School.
Miss Sara E. Paulding Grade Four
Partridge Academy, Columbia University, Harvard, Hyannis Normal School, State Extension Courses.
Mrs. Betty M. Rice Home Economics B.S., Colorado State College.
William H. Sands Commercial
B.S.Ed., Ed.M., Boston University.
Robert M. Vaughan Industrial Arts, Science B.S.Ed., Boston University; Gorham State Teachers College.
Rodney R. Wood A.B., Ed.M., Tufts.
Social Studies
191
Charles Schwab
Ellis F. Harrison
Miss Eleanor Hodgdon
Mrs. Gladys MacKeown
Mrs. Marie Caron
Mrs. Frances Sollis
Mrs. Janice Mosher
Custodian Custodian
Lunch Room Lunch Room Lunch Room
Lunch Room Lunch Room
POINT SCHOOL
Mrs. F. Thelma Blakeman Grade One
B.S.E., Lowell State Teachers College.
VILLAGE SCHOOL
Mrs. Ruth E. Krueger Grade Three
Bridgewater Normal School.
Mrs. Leona S. Vaughan Helping Teacher A.B., Boston University, C.L.A .; Bates College.
Mrs. Flora Ann Wood Grade Two
A.B., Tufts College
. TARKILN SCHOOL
Mrs. M. Abbie Peckham Grade Two Partridge Academy, Hyannis Normal School, State Ex- tension Courses.
Mrs. Lena A. Macomber Grade One
Salem Normal School.
Richard Putnam Custodian
AMERICANIZATION CLASS
Mrs. Ella S. Donovan, Plymouth, Massachusetts
HANDICAPPED CHILDREN
Mrs. Emily Loring Tutor
192
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1948-1949
September
8
School Opens
October
12
Columbus Day
October
22
Teachers' Convention
November
11
Armistice Day
November
25-26
Thanksgiving Recess
December
24
Christmas Recess
January
3
School Reopens
February
21
Winter Recess
February
28
School Reopens
April
18
Spring Vacation
April
25
School Reopens
May
30
Memorial Day
June
17
High School Graduation
June
22
School Closes
ADMITTANCE
Any child who is five years and eight months of age on or before September 1, may be admitted to the first grade. Any child five years and eight months or older may be excluded by the School Committee upon the recom- mendation of the Superintendent if investigation indi- cates that admittance would not be in the best interests of that child or of the other children in the school.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
School is usually called off only when bus transporta- tion is unsafe. It may occasionally be called off during an extremely severe storm. On such days an announce- ment is made over Stations WBZ, WEEI, WHDH, and WBET in Brockton, between 6:45 and 7:45. Parents are not expected to send their children to school on days when, in their opinion the weather is such as to endanger the health of the child. Such absences are excused on receipt of a written excuse.
193
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Duxbury :
Your School Committee submits the following report of its activities for the year 1948, together with the re- ports of Superintendent, Principal, Doctor, Nurse, and Dentist.
This year we have lost, through retirement, the services of a very loyal teacher, Miss Ellen W. Downey. We ex- press our appreciation of the fifty one years of loyal ser- vice she has rendered and hope she may enjoy many years of happy reflection on what she has done for the children of Duxbury and the Duxbury Schools.
The "Three Year Plan of Educational Development" for Duxbury has continued to be the policy of the Com- mittee. The projected plans have not been completed but we hope we may be able to complete them during the next year, when we will have the new elementary school build- ing in operation. The new building will enable us to re- turn to high school use, the space which has been taken away to house elementary school children.
The proposed changes in the auditorium of the High School to enable spectators to watch games more safely, have not been asked for this year because of the expense involved. These changes call for relocation and enlarge- ment of the toilets, showers and locker rooms to provide adequate equipment and space for the increased numbers of students using them. The gallery seats will be lowered to permit spectators to watch the games without leaning over the railing, a habit we feel is filled with danger.
The kindergarten, originally planned for September 1947, will be started when the new school opens in Septem- ber. The necessary items needed to take care of this, have been included in the budget.
194
The Courses of Study offered have been carefully check- ed with the Superintendent and Principal and do not re- quire any definite changes.
The teaching staff has been fitting well into the trends of the educational program. We appreciate the efforts they have made and hope we may have their services for another year.
The Regional High School does not appear to be de- veloping as only two other towns have accepted the en- abling act. The idea should continue to be fostered as we believe such is still possible under the other laws passed in 1948.
The budget submitted to the Town has been very care- fully prepared and we hope it will be sufficient to complete the school year. The increase in budget figure is necessi- tated by the increased enrollment, increased teaching staff, a helping teacher, increased prices, and the starting of the kindergarten. We ask the voters to grant the budget requested, $128,854.00.
We wish to thank those who have so willingly given of their time and efforts to contribute to the school program.
Respectfully submitted,
J. NEWTON SHIRLEY, Chairman ARLINE M. BUNTEN, Secretary LORING R. C. MUGFORD GEORGE C. SCOTT HERBERT C. WIRT
195
REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
Duxbury School Committee
Duxbury, Massachusetts
Gentlemen :
I herewith submit my annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS.
Considerable time and study has been spent on adminis- trative problems during the last year. Perhaps this is common practice in these times when many perplexing problems are being brought about by lack of facilities, in- creasing enrollments and increasing costs of running the program. Perhaps the most difficult decision of the past year arose when it became obvious that we were not to have our new school in September.
Plans for double sessions and temporary buildings were investigated, but upon the decision of the Town in July to go ahead with the construction of an elementary building, all the pupils were crowded into the facilities which we now have. This was a difficult decision to make because it was obvious that the proper functioning of many classes would be difficult. After four months of experience with the plan, I think we can say that as a temporary measure it has been successful but this type of solution should never be used except in very unusual circumstances.
Transportation costs are getting higher and the prob- lem of keeping them within reasonable bounds and still furnish the transportation that has been customary has been a real problem Considering the service we receive,
196
the mileage cost in Duxbury is one of the lowest in the South Shore area while our present contract is one of the. lowest of any of those written in 1948. One of the prob- lems for next year will be a restudy of the whole trans- portation system in relation to our new school organiza- tion in an attempt to find out whether we can reduce costs through a more efficient arrangement of bus routes.
Progress has been made in keeping our high school plant in repair after the difficulties in getting work done that were prevalent during the war years. All windows have been weather-stripped to prevent leakage during driving storms and to make savings in fuel. Our flag pole was in dangerous condition in the fall; this has now been reset and we expect that it will cause us no difficulty for many years to come.
A thorough painting job has been done on the outside of the high school. These projects complete the exterior work which we set out to do two years ago. Our main repair problems now will consist of repainting and new ceilings inside the building.
TEACHERS.
We have continued to have considerable success in attracting fine teachers to Duxbury. Our salary schedule which was adopted a year and a half ago has proved adequate for this purpose. In addition to our base salary, an extra amount is given as an adjustment to changing prices. It has been this feature that has enabled us to adapt our salaries to changing conditions without drafting a whole new policy. At the present time, the average pay of teachers is at the rate of $2,880 a year, of which $482 is this cost of living adjustment. This will change as prices change. The policy of adjusting salaries was recom- mended by two different salary study committees with the thought that some day when conditions became stabilized,
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the cost of living would become a fixed part of the regular salary schedule and the flexibility provisions done away with. It does not seem that things have stabilized enough at this point to warrant that action although such a situa- tion could well arise within the next year or two.
Duxbury teachers have been selected as usual, on a strictly competitive basis. For the first time, this year several elementary school candidates were available for every elementary school position. In filling these positions, we feel the heavy responsibility to find the very best person that can be secured for the price we are able to pay. We expect to continue selecting all personnel by this method.
ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION.
The entrance examinations which were held for under- age children who wished to enter school were abolished this year. This was due partly to the fact that the clinical service which we used was no longer available, and partly because the threat of crowded conditions made it seem unwise to load up the classes. Experience indicates that five years and eight months is soon enough for a child to enter grade one and many authorities recommend not admitting children unless they have reached their sixth birthday in September. A policy of admitting children to grade one at five years eight months and to kindergarten at four years eight months, would seem to be a reasonable solution to this problem.
We have now completed the initial buying of textbooks in order to modernize all that are in use in the elementary school. Every subject that requires a textbook is now based on a recent edition of a well known and accepted system. It is planned from now on to restudy one subject each year so that every five years textbooks may be re- placed if they are worn out or if the materials or methods
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