USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Town annual report for the town of Duxbury for the year ending 1951-1955 > Part 59
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الفعل
194
Recapitulation
Funds - December 31, 1954
$116,144.31
Funds deposited in 1955
8,285.00
1955 receipts to be deposited in 1956
1,400.00
Funds - December 31, 1955
125,829.31
Accumulated Interest
3,910.19
$129,739.50
APPROPRIATION BALANCES OF 1955 - RETAINED
Assessors Map
$ 481.92
1955 Police Car
215.68
Town Forest Improvements
27.84
Well Child Clinic
253.86
Arrowhead Road
158.64
Bay View Road
222.90
Blue Fish Tide Gates
39.02
Blue Fish Tide Gate Search
42.00
Bridge Department -- Hathaway Fund
92.04
Captain's Hill Road
186.97
Ch. 90 Highway Maintenance 1955
3.77
Highway Dump Truck
21.00
Church and Tremont Sts., Awards
52.00
Highway repairs for Water District
92.50
Ch. 90 Highway Construction 1955
15,504.60
Indian Trail Storm Sewers
497.33
Longview Avenue
4.73
Midway Road and Elderberry Lane
304.54
Oakwood Road Improvement
39.04
Pickup Truck for Highway Department
204.00
Pilgrim By-Way
113.08
Resurface Standish and Temple Sts.
1.61
Street Lights, Bay Road
391.82
195
Resurface Temple and Winter Street 6.13
Resurface Temple, Winter and Bow Sts. 628.90
Land Damage - Tobey Garden Street 205.00
Town Landings, Hathaway Fund
.47
Awards -- Valley Street
4.85
High School Stage Repairs
556.45
High School State Equipment
158.97
Library - Hathaway Fund
7.20
Autumn Avenue Awards
441.00
Bay Road, Awards
15.00
Civil Defense
470.33
Congress St., Awards
6.00
Town Dump -- New Site
200.00
Ellison Beach Improvements
449.53
Eradication of Rag Weed
8.56
Island Creek Fish Ladders
179.70
Floodlights, Train Field
86.00
Greenhead Fly Control
200.00
Job Evaluation Study
500.00
Mosquito Control
150.00
Remodel Old Town Hall
8,100.00
Partridge Academy Historical Marker
82.44
Disability Assistance, Federal Grants
618.67
D.A. Federal Grants, Administration
70.25
A.D.C. Federal Grants
274.51
O.A.A. Federal Grants
2,182.98
O.A.A. Federal Grants, Administration
36.01
Evening Vocational Arts
119.60
School Department, Hathaway Fund
220.19
Smith-Barden Vocational Fund
1,168.38
Elementary School - Comm. Expense
141.90
Elementary School, New Wing 52,601.19
Town Retirement - Expense Fund 461.80
75' Baseball Diamond 61.50
Special Shellfish Account
24.20
Propagation of Shellfish
336.69
196
Tax Title Foreclosures
796.09
Town Field Improvements
220.58
West Duxbury Water Mains
20,0000.00
Tremont and Elm Streets - Water
1,660.48
Tremont Street Extensions, Water
429.85
Water Main Ext. under Planning Bd.
10,000.00
Alden Street, Water
1,710.47
Cleaning Mains
996.40
Duck Hill Road, etc., Water
5,725.22
Water - Engineering Services
2,922.67
New Well and Equipment
4,990.55
$139,177.60
1955 APPROPRIATION BALANCES RETURNED TO THE TREASURY
Selectmen's Department
$ 81.43
Treasurer's Department
121.89
Accounting Department
29.93
Accounting Department, Out of State
Travel
20.00
Assessors' Department
48.79
Tax Collector's Department
3.32
Town Clerk's Department
17.67
Finance Committee
16.52
Appeal Board
296.68
Planning Board
1,006.07
Election and Registration
797.39
Law Department
1,264.00
Town Historian
76.81
197
Town Office
10.09
Hurricane Carol
10,337.15
Hurricane Edna
978.15
Fire Department
649.31
Fire Dept., Out of State Travel
144.25
Police Department
22.14
Insect Pest Control
29.13
Control Dutch Elm Disease
43.76
Tree Department
83.16
Forest Fire Department
461.24
Poison Ivy Control
54.61
Sealer of Weights and Measures
31.45
Bounties
50.00
Health Department
1,534.85
Town Dump
140.67
Vital Statistics
12.50
Highway Department
7.18
Bridge Department
24.37
Snow and Ice Removal
20.51
Town Landings
.65
Public Welfare, Out of State Travel
100.00
Disability Assistance
16.35
Old Age Assistance
4.45
Veterans Benefits
152.17
School Department
30.25
School, Out of State Travel
102.68
Vocational & Americanization
1,636.20
Vocational, Evening Pr. Arts
333.45
Public Use School Facilities
42.50
Public Library
225.64
Fire Insurance Schedule
769.57
198
Harbor Master
81.92
Memorial Day
31.25
Parks and Playgrounds
3.21
Shellfish Department
64.81
Town Hall Recreation
131.17
Unclassified
6.94
Cemetery Department
1.82
Cemetery, Out of State Travel
40.00
Boomer Square
.10
Interest
660.00
Unpaid bills of 1954
.25
$22,850.40
TOWN OF DUXBURY Balance Sheet-December 31, 1955 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Cash :
Reserve:
General
$444,417.30
1952 Real Estate Tax $ 43.00
Advanced for Petty:
1952 Real Estate District Tax 3.00
$ 46.00
Collector
250.00
Town Clerk
25.00
Petty Cash Reserve
325.00
Water Superintendent
50.00
Water Revenue Reserve
3,823.77
$444,742.30
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes: Levy of 1954
Poll
6.00
Personal (town)
189.14
Personal (district)
8.40
Real (town)
1,114.81
Real (district)
15.63
Taxes: Levy of 1955
Poll
52.00
Overlays reserved for Abatement:
Personal (town)
3,993.96
Personal (district)
181.95
1954 Overlay
1,333.98
Real (town)
29,655.26
Real (district)
1,424.85
1955 Overlay
8,961.47
36,642.00
10,295.45
199
Special Assessment Revenue
176.64
Tax Title Revenue
1,846.60
Aid to Highways Revenue
18,000.00
Old Age Assistance Recovery
1,432.19
Motor Vehicle Revenue Reserved until collected
6,168.81
BALANCE SHEET - Cont'd.
Motor Vehicle and Trailer Excise
Overlay Surplus:
43,769.21
Levy of 1954
693.64 5,475.17
Departmental Revenue
10,321.51
Tailings
860.49
Special Assessments:
Revenue Reserved for Stock (water)
12,028.97
Sea Wall Interest
75.92
Sale -- Point and Green Schools
8,989.20
Sea Wall Assessment
100.72
Cable Office Flag Pole
60.50
176.64
Eben Ellison Beach - Gift
43.40
Tax Titles and Possessions:
Tax Titles
1,744.46
Tax Possessions
112.58
1,857.04
Aid to Highways:
Revolving Funds:
Ch. 90 State
12,000.00
Ch. 90 County
6,000.00
School Lunch 560.59
18,000.00
Athletic Association 39.04
Departmental:
Dutch Elm Disease
69.50
Cemetery
287.00
599.63
Liquor Ad Deposits
8.00
Planning Board Deposits
6.81
200
Levy of 1955
6,168.81
BALANCE SHEET - Cont'd.
Health
179.02
Beaver Brook Service Conn.
4.55
Public Welfare
5,643.02
Service Connections
612.86
Disability Assistance
58.14
Hathaway Fund Income
147.40
Aid to Dependent Children
859.97
State Parks and Reservations, Overestimate
115.03
Veterans Benefits
2,446.54
Sale, Cemetery Lots
520.00
Old Age Assistance
778.32
Water Rates
4,395.63
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
1,400.00
Meter Removals
41.00
Excess, Sale of Land of Low Value
63.19
Water Surplus
24,882.00
Unexpended appropriation balances
139,177.60
Underestimates of 1955:
Plymouth County Hospital
3,359.80
County Tax
213.49
3,573.29
Deficit 1952 Overlay
46.00
Water Department -- Stock
12,028.97
General Care Fund, Cemetery
480.00
$538,473.19
$538,473.19
14,758.14
Excess and Deficiency
252,748.38
201
DEFERRED REVENUE SECTION
Apportioned Sea Wall Assessment Not Due
Apportioned Sea Wall Assessment
$6,691.17
Due in 1956
$ 663.83
Due in 1957
603.68
Due in 1958
578.81
Due in 1959
573.02
Due in 1960
378.34
Due in 1961
378.35
Due in 1962
350.89
Due in 1963
326.17
Due in 1964
320.67
Due in 1965
251.75
Due in 1966
251.75
Due in 1967
251.76
Due in 1968
251.76
Due in 1969
251.76
Due in 1970
251.76
Due in 1971
251.75
Due in 1972
251.70
Due in 1973
251.70
Due in 1974
251.72
202
$6,691.17
$6,691.17
NET FUNDED OR FIXED DEBT
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
$585,500.00 Elementary School Loan, 1949 High School Wing, 1951 Elementary School Wing, 1953 Sea Wall Notes, 1953 Water Loans
169,000.00
90,000.00 250,000.00
14,000.00
62,500.00
$585,500.00
$585,500.00
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds, Cash and Securities
$204,650.68
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds
$129,739.50
Agnes S. Ellison Trust Fund
1,061.34
Forrest and Helen Partch Flower Fund
309.35
203
George H. Wood Cemetery Fund
1,031.80
Thomas D. Hathaway Fund
3,007.05
Myles Standish Cellar Fund
1,390.71
J and R. Ford Fund
28,389.17
Post War Rehabilitation Fund
136.02
William Penn Harding Library Fund
1,115.69
Lucy A. Ewell Cemetery Fund
521.16
Stabilization Fund
10,807.21
Lucy Hathaway Trust Fund
25,340.51
* Mayflower Cem. General Care Fund
1,801.17
$204,650.68
$204,650.68
* $480.00 received from Sale of Cemetery Lots has been deposited temporarily in this fund.
سيدة وصية
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF DUXBURY
489
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31 1955
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Year Ending December 31, 1955
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Term Expires
Morrison M. Bump, Chairman
1956
Mrs. Elizabeth Nickerson, Secretary
1956
Albert P. Richards 1957
Earle C. Grenquist
1958
Dominic LaGreca 1957
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Everett L. Handy
SECRETARY TO THE SUPERINTENDENT
Miss Helen F. Hanigan
4
REPORT OF THE DUXBURY SCHOOL COMMITTEE Covering the Calendar Year - 1955
To the Citizens of Duxbury:
While all School Committee members are elected by the public as a whole, the Committee has considered itself the representatives of the individual elements that make up the public. Each of its decisions and considerations has been made in light of the various obligations it holds to one or more of these elements. It is believed that an individual report to each of these groups might be both interesting and useful.
The children of our schools: This is by far the most im- portant segment of the public in our estimation. Nearly all de- cisions have been made with full consideration of their effect upon the pupils of our schools. Matters concerning the morale and spirit of these boys and girls have received constant attention. As Duxbury has grown in size, so has its student population. Your School Committee feels an equal obligation to the various segments that make up this student group. 58% of our high school students are taking college preparatory courses. This is a large number. We must prepare these students, not only for entrance into college, but also in a manner that will make as many as possible eligible for scholarships. The scholarship funds raised in recent years by the public spirited citizens and groups of our town have been wonderful. We hope these efforts will continue to grow and to be successful. The Committee and administration of your schools recognize their responsibilities to train and educate young- sters worthy of receiving this aid. In addition there are, of course, many scholarships available from the colleges themselves. Our job has been, and will continue to be, to prepare students both for
5
college entrance and also for the satisfactory completion of their advanced studies. While perfection can never be achieved, we are most pleased that of the 106 graduates in the past four senior classes, 28 are in four year colleges, 13 are in two year colleges, 2 are in nurses training, and 6 are taking other types of advanced studies following graduation. This total of 49 is 46% of all who have graduated. In addition it is possible that many of the 19 now in military service are currently receiving or will later receive additional education.
In addition to our college people, we also have obligations to the non-college students who this year represent 42% of our high school population. We have made every effort to improve our commercial and vocational activities and services, as well as the homemaking courses. Above all, there is an obligation to create an understanding of and a belief in good citizenship on the part of these students who leave us for a direct assault upon the problems of the world. In these modern times we must consider that as many as 20% of our graduates will go directly into military service. If this trend continues some further serious thought will have to be given as to how we can best prepare this large segment of our student population for the duties and responsibilities ahead of them to the end that they may take all possible advantage of the services and training available to them as members of the military.
Our largest segment is in the elementary area, where in most cases no decisions regarding college have been made. Constant effort to improve teaching and training in the elementary area is a "must". Solution to the basic problem of improving the reading skills is well under way, with our remedial reading program now in its third year. As this is written, the second step is nearly com- pleted. A large number of our elementary teachers are just completing a course in the instruction of arithmetic, from which a unified approach to this basic teaching skill is being developed. Next on the list for immediate attention is a similar approach in the development of the fundamental skills of grammar and compo-
6
sition. Spelling has been receiving extra attention for several years. It must be remembered that in the elementary area, each teacher has the same class for the entire day. Each teacher handles all subjects. Most teachers were originally trained at different colleges. Therefore, the development of the "unified approach" mentioned above, is extremely important. On the other hand, teachers are individual human beings with different personalities, so their individual techniques for using these basic methods cannot be "grooved" or stereotyped if the best results are to be achieved.
Parents: The School Committee traditionally serves as a "listening post" and translates or interprets the comments it re- ceives from parents to the school authorities. In this connection it should be brought out that this technique can be effective as mass opinion is felt or heard, but is ineffective and should not be used in any cases involving an individual child. By all means, we recommend that parents discuss the problems or situations of their children direct with their teachers first and the principal second. If solutions to problems are not found, parents should feel free to go to the superintendent. School Committee members are basic- ally laymen, and we feel that parents have not only the right but the obligation to take the educational problems of their children direct to those who can best handle them - our professional edu- cators. Such other decisions as the delay in opening school last fall and the approval of bus routes are typical of the type concern- ing which parents must receive particular consideration.
Teachers and Administrative Personnel: Matters in this area receive our constant attention. High teacher morale is essen- tial to any school system. Superior teaching cannot be forced. It can be expected and supervision can be properly carried out in the presence of such morale. The setting of pay schedules is only one aspect of this problem, but it is one that receives much of our time. Such matters as a proper "sick leave" procedure, and the creation of a manual spelling out all of the obligations each of us in the school system has to the others has taken much of our time
7
this year. Teachers have obligations to their superiors as well as to pupils. Administrators have similar obligations as do committee personnel. All are public servants.
Taxpayers and Voters: The goodwill of the taxpayers and voters is essential. We have tried, through the various means avail- able to us, to keep the public informed as to our efforts. The Par- ent-Teacher Association has been most helpful in this connection. The services of the town newspaper, school newspapers, and radio have all been employed in this effort. A forthcoming general con- ference, open to the public, will have been held before this goes to print. The taxpayers should know that in the past few years we have followed an identical procedure in establishing our budgets. Initially the Superintendent prepares each proposed budget figure, after innumerable conferences with each individual affected by the item involved. Supplies are requisitioned by the teachers and others involved initially, and then such requisitions are reviewed by the principal and finally analyzed and coordinated by the Sup- erintendent for presentation to the Committee. Finance Committee liaison members sit in on all of our budget meetings, so that they may hear at first hand the reasons for each budget request. In- variably the School Committee accepts many of these individual proposals, while suggesting increases in some but, more often, decreases in others. The budget that ultimately goes to the Finance Committee has been carefully gone over in the interest of the tax- payers. Differences between School and Finance Committees are then ironed out in friendly conference, and the budget is presented to the town. The School Budget is the largest single budget in any town, and it is prepared and followed in Duxbury with extreme care. It is a definite testimonial to Dr. Handy and all of the School Department personnel who have made direct contributions to budget preparation that we have not had to ask the town for addi- tional funds in the past six years. On one occasion we did have to ask the Finance Committee for a small amount of help from their own budget, but we have turned money back to the town in every one of the six years.
8
The Problems Ahead: Dr. Handy, in the attached report, has dealt effectively with the problem of informing you as to what lies ahead. The town will expand and so will the schools. It is our hope that this expansion will be an orderly one. If ex- pansion occurs too fast, as it sometimes has in the past, the prob- lems of hiring new teachers, obtaining new facilities, and coordi- nating the two have had to take precedence over the basic problems of improving overall education for each of our youngsters. Only in the past year or two has there been time to concentrate on the basic problems that have always existed and always will exist at the classroom level. This is receiving study and action this year and will continue to do so until expansion problems again become more pressing. We urge the town to continue its interest in these problems, and we hope that each person in the town who has sug- gestions for the improvement of our school system will come forward and make those ideas known to the proper person within the system.
Respectfully submitted,
MORRISON M. BUMP, Chairman
ELIZABETH U. NICKERSON, Secretary
ALBERT P. RICHARDS
EARLE C. GRENQUIST
DOMINIC E. LaGRECA
Duxbury School Committee
9
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Honorable School Committee, Duxbury, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen:
When a person is perfectly satisfied with the way he is doing things, he is in a rut. This is also true of schools and of those who operate them. When it seems to us that we have achieved complete success and that there is no further room for improvement, our work becomes static. In education, which is a dynamic process, this condition is the same as going backwards. Although the year 1955 has been successful and pleasant in many ways and we can report several accomplishments, we recognize that there are still ways in which improvements can be made.
May I first point out some accomplishments, listing them under various categories.
Administration
The completion of a study and revision of the rules and regu- lations governing the operation of the Duxbury schools. This is a study of some thirty-five pages dealing with school department policies concerning the administrative and teaching staff, non- teaching personnel, buildings and equipment, transportation, fin- ance, etc.
School Services
A study of kindergarten transportation was made and new routes were established to reduce riding time and improve safety conditions. Four busses are now used to transport 93 kindergarten pupils, and routes are so planned that, on heavily traveled roads,
10
pupils are picked up and discharged on the side of the road on which they live.
For the first time we have had full-time school nurse service. This has made possible more thorough attention to all phases of school health activities. In particular, it has provided for closer cooperation with teachers, and better coverage for first aid during the hours when the greatest number of accidents occur.
At the high school a new program of guidance has been or- ganized. This service has been established to help each student develop to a maximum his potentialities as a citizen and as an individual. To give each student the help he needs, the guidance director offers counseling services and provides educational and vocational information. Through a program of testing he helps measure achievement in subject matter, aptitudes, and vocational interests. He makes arrangements for field trips to schools and industries, for speakers, and for other opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and information which will help them in making wise choices.
Curriculum
Classes in the high school which were formerly given on an alternate year basis are now given each year. For example, physics and chemistry, formerly given on alternate years, are both now given each year. A three year sequence in French is now offered.
At the elementary school level a course in the teaching of arithmetic was given with seventeen teachers enrolled. The end goal of this course was the strengthening of our teaching of math- ematics.
Remedial reading instruction is being continued and strength- ened in the elementary grades. For the first time remedial reading is being given the high school.
11
Three faculty committees have been organized to review and revise courses of study in mathematics and science, English, and the social studies. A fourth faculty committee has been working on ways to utilize radio and television in teaching.
Personnel
Excluding principals, supervisors, the librarian and part-time teachers, there are thirty-five regular full-time classroom teachers in Duxbury. The following information pertains to these thirty- five teachers.
Twenty-eight hold bachelor's degrees. Of the twenty-eight twelve hold master's degrees.
On the average they have had four years of teaching experience in Duxbury.
Their average experience in Duxbury and elsewhere is nine years.
Nearly all live in or make their home in Duxbury.
Public Relations
Increased efforts have been made to get more information about the schools to the people of Duxbury. News about the schools appears regularly in the Duxbury Clipper, the Brockton Enterprise and the Old Colony Memorial. In addition, this year we re-established the "Link," a school department publication issued monthly. News of pupil activities at the high school is printed regularly in the "Green and White Key," a high school publication. This year for the first time we have broadcast a series of programs through the courtesy of radio station WPLM in Ply-
12
mouth. These programs are set up to tell people more about what is going on in our schools. To date they have included programs on the teaching of reading, on guidance, and music. It has also been possible, through the friendly and helpful cooperation of the Parent-Teachers Association, to give additional information about the schools. The Parent-Teacher Association has continued to sponsor grade level meetings at the elementary school, and a "Back to School" night for the high school. These meetings have been well attended.
Planning for the Future
One of the basic steps in planning for the future is the predic- tion of pupil enrollment for the years ahead. This has been done for the next five years using the "percentage of survival" method. It indicates that by 1960 there will be 730 pupils in the elementary school and 430 in the high school. This gives a total predicted enrollment of 1160 for that year.
Improvements Sought
Areas where we need to seek continued improvement are not difficult to isolate. Number one is curriculum. We need to con- tinually study our subject offerings, our methods, and our results in order that we may do the best job possible for all of our stu- dents. We have available test results, the further study of which should pin-point problem areas in the curriculum. The course in the teaching of arithmetic, and the work of the faculty curriculum committees are steps in this direction. Workshops in the teaching of English-short, intensive periods of study and research, are planned for the second half of the current school year.
We need to continue to improve and strengthen our publicity program. A further step toward this end is the Community Con- ference on Education planned for February 5, 1956.
We need to continue our study of transportation.
13
With the new "Expressway" nearing completion it is impera- tive that we continue long range planning for the future.
In the pages which follow I should like to deal more specifically with the accomplishments and continuing problems indicated above, as well as to present certain records and statistical data per- taining to the schools. In closing, I would like to emphasize that our accomplishments this year are the good results of many people working together for the improvement of our schools. There has been good cooperation and teamwork by all staff members.
I should like to thank the School Committee for its guidance and good counsel during 1955. I know that the Committee joins me in expressing thanks to Mr. Morrison M. Bump for his interest and hard work for the advancement of the Duxbury schools. Mr. Bump is completing six years of service on the Committee, the last three of which have been as chairman. During these six years Mr. Bump has given freely of his time and energy to the problems of a rapidly growing school system. Developments in curriculum, expanded building facilities, the improvement of school-commun- ity relations, careful management of the business affairs of the schools, the improvement of instruction, and the advancement of the training, experience and morale of the teaching force have been matters which have received his personal study and attention. Under his leadership outstanding progress has been made in all of these areas.
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