USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Berkley > Town annual report of Berkley 1934 > Part 4
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I-THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND EDUCA- TION.
Among the outcomes of the movement for Fed- eral Relief for the various financial problems of the depression, three of the agencies created have defi- nitely affected education. The Civil Works Admin- istration and its successor, the Emergency Relief Ad- ministration, have made available funds for out- standing improvements in school property. The Pub- lic Works Administration has made possible new con- struction. The Federal Emergency Relief Adminis- tration for Education has provided work for unem- ployed teachers and opened up educational programs for pre-school children and adults. The effect of
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ANNUAL REPORT
these agencies in the schools of Berkley is shown in the paragraphs below :
(a) CW A and ER A.
Under the C W A and E R A the following pro- jects have been completed :
1. Painting of exterior of Berkley and Myricks schools.
2. Painting of interior of three classrooms and windows at Berkley and Myricks schools. Installa- tion of new ceiling at Myricks School.
3. Installation of modern toilet and water fa- cilities at Berkley School, including completion of the basement of the building, new water system, etc.
4. Clearing of land for playground purposes at Myricks.
5. Grading school yard at Berkley.
These projects gave employment to 45 men for a total of 6,892 hours and involved an expenditure of $7,367.47 from Federal Funds.
One can readily see that if the above expendi- ture had been made from local funds the burden would have been serious.
From the standpoint of improved educational facilities the changes in the Berkley School are im- , portant enough to call for special mention. The.ef- fect upon the morale of the boys and girls has been very noticeable.
(b) The Federal Emergency Relief Administration for Education :
Through this form of relief funds were made available for classes for adults and children under school age. Under the regulations set up none of
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ANNUAL REPORT
the money may be expended for work with children of school age. Approval of teachers is vested in the State Emergency Relief Administration in Boston. Classes have been organized in Berkley for adults in business subjects and while attendance has not been as great as could be desired some good has cer- tainly resulted.
(c) Public Works Administration :
At the present writing a report has been re- ceived that additional funds are to become available for Public Works Administration projects. With this information in mind a meeting of the School Commit- tee, Finance Committee and Board of Selectmen was held January 13, 1935, at which the advisability of applying for a P W A loan and a grant on a 50% grant basis for an addition to the Berkley School was discussed. The present overcrowded condition of the school which makes it necessary to house over forty children in the Town Hall was taken up and after consideration of the whole problem it was voted to file an application for a grant of $8,000.00 and a loan of a like amount subject to ratification at a Town meeting. In accordance with the vote an ap- plication has been prepared and filed with the Gov- ernment for consideration. This application cannot be finally approved until it has been ratified by the voters of the town.
II-THE STATE AND THE SCHOOLS.
In Berkley a considerable share of the cost of local education is borne by the State. The net cost to the town for the last five years is shown below :
Total Expenditures :
1930
1931
1932
1933 1934
$21,744.28 $22,575.00 $21,691.71 $21,559.97 $22,900.77
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ANNUAL REPORT
Reimbursements :
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
12,006.09
13,085.69
13,062.70
13,081.02
13,701.02
Net Cost to Berkley :
1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
$8,738.19
$9,489.31
$8,629.01
$8,478.95
$9,199.75
The decrease in net cost in 1932 may be attrib- uted to salary cuts, and the increase in 1935 is due to the decrease in reimbursement from High School tuition. This latter item deserves special considera- tion for in spite of an increased expenditure of $1,250.00 the reimbursement was $110.39 less and hence counterbalanced a saving of $418.81 on other items in addition to the $720.80 increase in net cost.
A second figure of interest is the comparative costs for education per pupil in elementary schools and high schools. Over the latter figure we have no control. We are compelled to pay whatever tuition the cities may decide to charge, whereas we are re- imbursed for only one-half the actual cost to the city for the education provided. For the year ending De- cember 31, 1933, Berkley's cost of education per pupil for the schools in the town was $78.12. Berk- ley stood 110th in a list of 125 towns making up Group IV. This group includes all towns under 5,000 population which do not maintain their own high school. The average cost for the group was $98.31 per pupil, and for the entire State, $87.09.
For elementary education alone exclusive of ad- ministration the cost per pupil for the school year 1933-1934 was $50.04. This was 114th in the same list of 125 towns and is to be compared with an ave- rage for Group IV of $70.95 and with an average for the entire State of $71.02.
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ANNUAL REPORT
III-OUR HIGH SCHOOL PROBLEM.
One of the major items in the mounting budget of the town is the cost of high school education. The fact that this has increased is known to most resi- dents, but the amounts of the increase are hardly realized.
Tuition Charges
Reimbursement
Net Cost
1928
$3,381.70
$2,394.97
$ 986.73
1930
4,744.60
2,613.50
2,131.10
1932
4,822.10
2,855.52
1,966.58
1934
4,993.20
2,424.42
2,568.78
Berkley receives back from the State three- fourths of the actual cost to the city where pupils are sent for high school education. In the case of Taunton for the last school year we received $56.25 per pupil reimbursement against a charge of $125.00 by the City of Taunton.
Dighton is at present constructing a building to house its high school pupils. This building will be modern in every respect with equipment for science, household arts, and shop work. The proposal made by the Town of Dighton is to admit pupils from Berk- ley at not over 5% above cost. The saving to be made by transfer of pupils is shown below :
Cost in Taunton :
Tuition, 55 pupils @ $125.00,
$6,875.00
Reimbursement, 3/4x55x$75.00, 3,093.75
Net Cost to Town,
$3,781.25
Cost in Dighton :
Tuition, 55 pupils @ $100.00,
$5,500.00
Reimbursement, 3/4x55x$100.00, 4,125.00
Net Cost to Town, $1,375.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
Thus the saving per year is $2,406.25 but only $1,375.00 can show in the budget as the rest will ap- pear in increased reimbursements. These figures are based on the school year.
The educational value of such a change has been supported by recommendation of the State Depart- ment of Education which is quoted as follows: "We are of the opinion that with a well-staffed school the Dighton High School might provide more individual attention than can be given in Taunton, and furnish more training to a larger proportion of the pupils in the · extra-curriculum activities than is possible for them to secure at Taunton. It is our opinion also that because of the plentiful supply of well-prepared teachers at the present time, it would not be difficult to secure a competent teaching staff for a new high school."
The Superintendent would point out that the value from personal contact and individual partici- pation in school activities will be worth while for the boys and girls. A well-trained staff of teachers will be in charge of the work of the school. The school will carry on a complete program of extra- curricular activities in addition to the regular class work.
V .- CONCLUSION.
The resignation of Myra D. Anthony as a mem- ber of the School Committee on April 1, 1934, after nine years of service was a real loss to the schools of the town. The schools have been fortunate to have returned to the committee Stephen A. Dow who had previously served and was thus acquainted with the problems which face the schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
It is important that in a town such as Berkley those intrusted with the educational program should have not only the confidence of the people, but the interest of the children at heart. No one who has met your committee as frequently as the Superin- tendent could fail to realize that this is indeed true of Berkley.
Our teaching staff, qualified not only in train- ing, but in experience, should be a source of pride to the town. The fact that for a third year we have no change in the staff is worthy of note.
Respectfully submitted, NORMAN D. BAILEY, Superintendent of Schools.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Berkley Pupils in High School. Seniors-4
Bernice Andrews
Mary Marquis
Joseph Victurine Louise White
Juniors -- 8
Ruth Ames
Arlene Bailey
Norma Colpitts
Marianna Dow
Edward Flemming Mildred Jack Bertha Swift Winnifred Wood
Sophomores-11
Ralph Avery
Ruth Avery
John Babbitt
Helen Costa
Robert Howland
Alfred Martin Alice Martin
Gertrude Needham
James Rose Laurence Swift
Roland Tooker
Freshmen-15
Mildred Ames
Malcolm Phillips
Virginia Cabral
Armond Souza
Carl Gutholm
George Stetson
Stephanie Kula
Florence Westgate
Wilmon Makepeace
Caleb White
Bernardine Marquis
Mary Wilson
Anna Moskal
Muriel Woolley
Anita Young
Post-graduate-1
Harold Ashley
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ANNUAL REPORT
EXPENDITURES 1934
General Control,
$ 1,077.47
Teachers' Salaries,
7,275.94
Books and Supplies,
609.82
Janitors' Salaries,
919.25
Fuel,
772.98
Miscellaneous Operation,
150.25
Repairs,
208.36
Health,
516.71
Transportation,
6,055.65
Tuition,
5,298.80
Miscellaneous,
15.54
Total Expenditures,
$22,900.77
Balance on hand,
9.23
1934 Appropriation,
$22,910.00
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ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC.
Mr. Norman D. Bailey, Superintendent of Schools, Berkley, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my annual report as Super- visor of Music in the public schools of Berkley. With one or two exceptions the work has gone fairly well. In one case of these exceptions more time is needed and closer supervision. There is a lack of under- standing, application, and concentration. It is the routine work that needs stimulating.
In the upper grades at Berkley Common where the pupils do creditable work, some time has occa- sionally been spent in listening lessons. These les- sons in music appreciation cannot be carried on as often as desired since the supervisor is at the school but once in two weeks. Thus, one period spent in the appreciation of music would mean but one regu- lar lesson a month, which is not enough. Yet the re- sponse to the'listening lesson is enthusiastic and re- vealing. It shows to the pupils what a wonderful world there is to discover, and it discloses to the su- pervisor the great field of musical information that should belong to the child.
Practically no opportunity for supplementary work in music exists in Myricks. A fifteen minute period once in two weeks gives no time for this. Some new song books in this school would greatly stimu- late the class lesson. The present books have been used for so many years, that with five grades in the room the singing material is too often repeated and consequently interest is not so keen.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Last May a Stephen Foster program was given in observance of Music Week. Songs in one, two, and three parts were sung. There was also a boys' chorus. Papers on the life of Foster and the charac- ter and appeal of his music were read.
There is a fine musical spirit throughout the classes and a desire to know more. The value of music and its appreciation should be stressed at all times. It is vital to everyday living. To make music and to enjoy music is a source from which one may draw happiness. We do not seek to make profes- sional musicians in our schools but rather music lov- ers and appreciative listeners. Music makes for cleaner living. It does not nourish the seeds of can discharge the great and central mission of all education, which is to raise the level of human qual- ity". Music develops the three C's: Culture, Char- acter, and Citizenship.
Respectfully yours, LOIS J. SNOW.
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ANNUAL REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE AND SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Norman D. Bailey,
Superintendent of Schools,
Berkley, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
We hereby submit the annual report of the School Physician and the School Nurse for the Town of Berkley.
The annual pre-school clinic was held in June at which time ten pupils attended. These pupils were given a physical examination by Dr. Briggs, the School Physician, and notices of physical defects found were sent home to the parents.
At the Music and Health night observed in Berk- ley a demonstration of a physical examination, as all school pupils receive annually, was given by Dr. Briggs.
No Toxin-Anti-toxin clinic was held in town this year. It is to be hoped that funds will be furnished for a clinic during the ensuing year. These clinics are of such great importance to the welfare of every person in town.
Two school pupils attended the summer Health Camp in Attleboro and returned from their four weeks' stay in a greatly improved condition. The money used to support the children while in camp is raised through the sale of Christmas seals.
We wish to thank the Parent-Teacher Associa- tion for furnishing glasses to two pupils whose par- ents were unable to provide the much-needed glasses.
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ANNUAL REPORT
Owing to the illness of our School Physician, Dr. Briggs, the annual physical examinations have been delayed.
We wish to extend great credit to the teachers for the splendid health programs carried on by them. The splendid cooperation given by the parents and teachers is greatly appreciated.
Respectfully submitted, CHARLES A. BRIGGS, School Physician. RUTH A. DEANE, R. N., School Nurse.
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ANNUAL REPORT
SCHOOL DIRECTORY
Berkley School
Grades Home Address
A. Louise Unsworth, Principal,7-8 Taunton, Mass.
Glenn Burgmann 5-6 Elkton, Mich.
Rose E. Walsh, 4-5 N. Bedford, Mass.
Muriel Barnes, 2-3 E. Freetown, Mass.
Mildred L. Evans,
1-2 Assonet, Mass.
Myricks School
Millicent B. Hackett, 4-8 Taunton, Mass.
Mildred Ashley,
1-3 Berkley, Mass.
Supt. : Norman D. Bailey, North Dighton, Mass.
Secretary : Elizabeth G. Larsen,
Dighton, Mass.
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ANNUAL REPORT
TABLE SHOWING MEMBERSHIP BY GRADES January, 1935
Room
1 2 3 4
5 6
7
8 Totals
Berkley V.
22 18 40
Berkley IV.
11 27
38
Berkley III.
20 14
34
Berkley II.
15 27
42
Berkley I. 32 8
40
Myricks II.
14 5 6 2 27
Myricks I. 6 6 6
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Totals, 38 29 33 20 39 32 28 20 239
Grand Total in Local Schools, 239
Total pupils in local and outside schools, 283
Taunton High School, 39
1
Bristol County Agricultural School,
New Bedford Vocational School,
4
Total pupils in local and outside schools, 265
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