USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1915 > Part 9
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Article 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to assist in defraying the ex- penses of "clean up week," so called.
188
Highways.
Article 28. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the High- way Department, repairs of highways, town ways and bridges; also for repairs and building sidewalks, stone roads, removal of snow, watering and oiling streets, and street lighting; also for the purchase of a road roller.
Article 29. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a contract with the Massachu- setts Highway Commission to lay out and construct a con- tinuation of the State Highway at Braintree Highlands, northerly, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same; also to indemnify the Commonwealth against claims for land and grade damages on account of such laying out and construction.
Article 30. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out as a town way as made by the Selectmen, of Hollingsworth Avenue, so called, leading from West Street to Franklin Street.
Article 31. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out of the southerly end of Jersey Avenue and of Hunt Avenue, so called, as made by the Selectmen, under instructions of the Town.
Article 32. To see if the Town will vote to accept the relocation of Pearl Street, as made by the Selectmen, under instructions of the Town.
Article 33. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out as a town way, Holmes Street, so called, leading from Independence Avenue to Washington Street.
Article 34. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out as a town way, Fairfield Street, so called, leading from Washington Street to the Quincy line.
Article 35. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out as a town way, Wyman Road, so-called, leading northerly from Webster Road.
189
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out as a town way, Wilmarth Road, so called, leading northerly from Webster Road.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to lay out as a town way, May Street, so called, leading westerly from Hobart Street.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to lay out as a town way, Elm Knoll Road, so called, leading southerly from Commercial Street, and raise and appropriate $150 for the same.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out of a private way, as made by the Selectmen, leading from Grove Street over land of Jeanette Monaghan.
Article 40. To see if the Town will vote to accept the laying out as a town way, as made by the Selectmen, of Park Avenue, so called, leading from Washington Street to the easterly line of Putnam Avenue, so called, and raise and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
Article 41. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the construction of a stone road on French Avenue.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to build a sidewalk on the east side of Hobart Street, commencing at Prospect Street and extending to the Abraham Lincoln School, and appropriate $200 for the same.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the reconstruction of side- walks.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to accept the provisions of Chapter 50 of the Revised Laws and the Amendments thereto, relative to betterments and other assessments on account of the cost of public improvement.
1
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Charities.
Article 45. To see what sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the Support of the Poor and the Maintenance of the Braintree Home.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be expended under Chapter 763, Acts of the Year 1913.
Soldiers' Benefits.
Article 47. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the payment of State Aid and Soldiers' Burials, Military Aid and Soldiers' Relief.
Education.
Article 48. To see what sums the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the support of the Public Schools and for transporting pupils to and from the same.
Article 49. To see what sum the Town will raise and appropriate for kalsomining the walls of the Penniman School and painting the exterior finish.
Article 50. To see what sum of money the Town will raise and appropriate for adjustable seats in the Jonas Perkins, Penniman and the Abraham Lincoln Schools.
Article 51. To see what sums of money the Town will raise and appropriate for lighting the Noah Torrey, Penni- man and Jonas Perkins Schools.
Article 52. To see what sum of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the purchase of two lots of land adjoining the Jonas Perkins School.
Article 53. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for enlarging and altering the Pond School.
Article 54. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for additions and alterations to the Abraham Lincoln School.
191
Article 55. To see if the Town will vote to instruct the Selectmen to dispose of the Union School and land.
Library.
Article 56. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Thayer Public Library, for the Distribution of Books and for the services of a Janitor.
Recreation.
Article 57. To see if the Town will raise and appro- priate the sum of $1,000 to be expended upon the Parks, Playgrounds and Public Lands of the Town under the direc- tion of the Park Commissioners.
Article 58. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be expended on the Town Lands.
Unclassified.
Article 59. To see what sums of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Miscellaneous Expenses.
Article 60. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to assist Post 87, G. A. R. in defraying expenses Memorial Day.
Article 61. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for insurance under the Employees' Compensation Act.
Article 62. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money in accordance with Chapter 645 of the Acts of 1913, as a reserve fund for extraordinary expenditures.
Article 63. To see what action the Town will take to raise and appropriate $500 for the George Washington Memorial Building, Washington, D. C.
192
Electric Light Department.
Article 64. To see if the Town will appropriate from the income of the Electric Light Department the sum of $3,800.06 for the Depreciation Fund; the sum of $660 for interest on bonds; the sum of $430 for the Sinking Fund; the sum of $1,391.94 for line extensions; and the sum of $300 for the salaries of the Municipal Light Board.
Article 65. To see if the Town will appropriate the remainder of the income of the Electric Light Department, together with the remaining balance of the income for 1915, for operating expenses, repairs, renewals and new con- struction.
Article 66. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to extend the street lights on West Street to the junction of Franklin and Granite Streets ..
Water Department.
Article 67. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the extension of the water main on Union Street, from a point opposite the residence of Mr. Stever to Miss Poor's property and up Hillside Road.
Article 68. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money for the extension of the water main on Grove Street, from Plain Street to Liberty Street.
Article 69. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be expended under the direc- tion of the Water Department for the Extension of Mains.
Cemetery.
Article 70. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to be expended on the Plain Street Cemetery.
Interest. Municipal Indebtedness.
Article 71. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for
193
the payments due on the Municipal Indebtedness and for the payment of interest on Town Debt and on loans in an- ticipation of revenue.
Sinking Fund.
Article 72. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary for the Electric Light and Water Loan Sinking Funds.
Miscellaneous.
Article 73. To see what action the Town will take in regard to interest on unpaid Taxes in accordance with Section 21, Chapter 237, Acts of 1915.
Article 74. To see if the Town will vote to accept Sections 178, 179, 180 of Chapter 102 of the Revised Laws, relating to granting licenses for picnic groves, and regulat- ing the use of same.
Article 75. To act upon the report of the Committee appointed to codify the By-Laws, and to make such By-Laws as the Town may deem necessary.
Article 76. To see if the Town will vote to allow the Braintree Board of Trade the use of some room in the Town Hall without charge.
Article 77. To see what action the Town will take as regarding Boating and Fishing on Sunset Lake.
You are directed to serve this warrant by posting at- tested copies thereof in three public places in each Precinct in said Town of Braintree, seven days at least before said sixth day of March, 1916, and by publishing the same once in the Braintree Observer-Reporter and Braintree Bee.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk before the twenty-ninth day of February, 1916.
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Given under our hands at Braintree this first day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hun- dred and sixteen.
HENRY M. STORM, GEORGE H. HOLBROOK, B. HERBERT WOODSUM, Selectmen of Braintree
A true copy. Attest :
JEREMIAH F. GALLIVAN, Constable of Braintree.
Braintree, February 8, 1916.
Pursuant to the foregoing warrant, I hereby notify and warn the inhabitants of the Town of Braintree, quali- fied as therein expressed, to meet at the time and place for the purposes therein mentioned.
JEREMIAH F. GALLIVAN, Constable of Braintree.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
For the Year ending December 31, 1915
Printed by Order of the Town
BR
REF
S
1640
SS
BRAINTREE BEE PRINT BRAINTREE, MASS. 1916
EXPENDITURES OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, 1915.
Appropriations
Expended
Overdraft
Balance
Credits
Net Expenditure
Salaries
$41,000.00
Dog Tax
887.29
School Fund
350.00
$42,237.29
$41,127.29
$1,110.00
$1.38
$41,127.29
Janitors
4,950.00
4,890.00
60.00
4,890.00
Text-Books and Supplies
2,759.25
3,214.35
455.10
478.81
3,190.00
Incidentals
800.00
845.94
45.94
12.83
833.11
Insurance on Buildings
353.70
499.92
146.22
499.92
Insurance on Boilers
137.25
137.25
137.25
Repairs and Incidentals
1,000.00
1,617.12
617.12
43.86
1,573.26
Fuel
2,700.00
2,688.73
11.27
2,688.73
Conveyance of Pupils
1,700.00
2,460.00
760.00
424.17
2,035.83
Repairs on Hollis School
2,000.00
1,981.25
18.75
1,981.25
Grading at Abraham Lincoln School
300.00
293.10
6.90
293.10
Completing Penniman School Hall
300.00
300.00
300.00
Totals
$59,237.49
$60,054.95
$2,024.38
$1,206.92
$961.05
$59,549.74
--
.
Balance $143.59
196
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree :
The School Department herewith presents an account- ing of its management of the public schools for the year ending 1915. The generosity and courtesy of the public towards the schools is gratefully acknowledged. The De- partment returns to the Town, over and above all expenses, the sum of $143.59. The schools show a net gain of 82 pupils over the average membership of the last year. The fact of the increase in school population must be faced, and its future accommodations wisely planned.
Each year places new responsibility upon the De- partment. We must pay the tuition of those of our students who desire to attend the Quincy Trade School, the Quincy Part Time Industrial School, the Quincy Evening Indus- trial School, and the Boston Trade School, while the State is making increased demands that our buildings be arranged to meet its requirements for the protection of life and health.
The Committee offers the following recommendations for your consideration :-
1. That the mile limit on the transportation of pupils be abolished, substituting part time carrying in some places, with due consideration for the age and physical condition of the pupils applying for conveyance.
2. That the rooms in the Penniman School be whitened and the exterior finish painted.
3. That adjustable seats be placed in five rooms in the Jonas Perkins, one room in the Abraham Lincoln, and in two rooms in the Penniman Schools.
4. That lights be installed in all of the rooms in the Jonas Perkins, Penniman, and Noah Torrey Schools, as upon many occasions the rooms are too dark for study.
198
5. That the two vacant lots adjoining the Jonas Per- kins School be purchased, to increase the playground privi- leges of that school.
In making this report, the Committee recognizes that justice to future as well as present pupils suggests the idea of ascertaining the help that the schools have rendered for- mer graduates, and from this knowledge adjusting the courses of study to equalize the benefits to all classes of students. When these facts are ascertained, the real com- mercial worth of the education offered by our schools be- comes apparent. The values thus found, which have been underestimated or overlooked by many, should be consid- ered by one judging the progress and efforts of our teachers and superintendent in maintaining the object for which our schools was primarily established, namely, the laying of a substantial mental foundation upon which our pupils may complete their moral development, readily and securely build character, and continue their education beyond school life.
We present this thought from the Braintree School Report of 1896: "It has been said many times, and with much truth, that our system of education does not fit pupils for the necessary duties of life. To meet this want, a system of manual training has been introduced in some of the large cities with the intent of making up for the loss of the ap- prenticeship system. It is often a difficult thing for a boy to have the opportunity of learning a trade. We may not be in a position as a Town to accomplish much without large expenditures, but the fact of a need, and an attempt to fill it, ought to interest every parent."
Thirty years ago the School Board of Braintree was keenly cognizant that the loss of the apprenticeship, system and the growth of diversified industry had left something to be supplied in the rounding out and development of our youth. This loss creates a demand upon society, that it should for its own future welfare-public education being its only way-provide, either by special schools, or by in-
199
cluding in the common schools instruction that should con- sider the manual worker. Thirty years ago many of our voters were men who in their childhood had no opportuni- ties for book education, and overburdened, perhaps, with manual work on the farms or in the shops, determined that their children should not lack in this one respect,-a worthy conviction for any parent. But, "many a man has been hung on convicton," and many a boy has lost success for want of proper training.
Academic education today furnishes nearly all that can be desired by those who are to provide for their livelihood by knowing things. But the common school education is by no means fair or sufficent for those who must procure their living by a knowledge of doing things. With rare ex- ceptions, your School Committee have appealed to you for the recognition of this growing need in the education of our children. The introduction of manual training or pre- vocational training, cooking and sewing means money spent in the schools will be used for broadening the foundations of knowledge, that the boy or girl to whom the academic course does not appeal may learn, while the mind is most susceptible, certain elementary principles most needed in active life.
These basic principles and formulas being procured by leading instructors, while lacking, perhaps, the personal "knack" of a few masters, will admirably furnish our youth with a wider scope of practical knowledge than could possibly be obtained by the apprentice of a semi-successful business man.
The ballot vote of your Town at the November election was three to one in favor of a $75,000 appropriation for a County Agricultural School-a purely vocational institution for a limited number of our students. This should indicate that the voters are prepared to vote favorably on the rec- ommendations of your School Board that the much needed training be added to the present system of school work.
The Board unanimously recommends the following ap- propriations for the year 1916 :
200
APPROPRIATIONS FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR SUPPORT FOR THE YEAR 1916.
Salaries of teachers, Superintendent, and ex-
penses of tuition pupils (not including dog tax and school fund) $43,670.00
Janitors
4,950.00
Text-books and supplies
3,000.00
Incidentals
1,000.00
Repairs and incidentals
1,500.00
Fuel
2,700.00
Conveyance of pupils
2,000.00
$58,820.00
JAMES E. FOLSOM,
A. M. BROOKS,
WILLIAM W. GALLAGHER,
CARRIE F. LORING,
FRANK A. REED, BENJAMIN HAWES, Chairman.
REPORT OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of the Town of Braintree :
Herewith is submitted for your approval, the report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1915. This report is the thirty-first in the reports of the superintendents.
HIGH SCHOOL.
In the summer vacation, a typewriting room was made at the west end of the building by utilizing the teachers' room (no longer in use) and constructing a partition across the end of the hall. This was demanded by the increasing numbers entering the commercial department, for whom adequate facilities must be provided. The typewriters are now all in one room. This leaves the room formerly used for bookkeeping and typewriting free for bookkeeping, without the disturbing sounds from machines in operation.
201
According to the vote of your Committee, the study of Spanish was introduced in September. Twenty students, from all classes, have enrolled for the course.
No appropriation was available for the courses in cook- ing and sewing, referred to your Committee at the town meeting in March, 1915. However, through the courtesy of the Old Colony Gas Company, a slight beginning in the teaching of cooking has been made. The Gas Company in- stalled a gas range in the old library room, and assigned a demonstrator for one day each week through the months of January, February and March to teach the elementary prin- ciples of cooking, and the most economical methods of buy- ing for the home. But this is a beginning, and not an end in itself.
Training for the home life should be a necessary part in the education of every girl in our public schools. To give poise, to arouse interest, enthusiasm, and the pride that comes from conscious power to do things, courses in cooking and sewing, carefully planned, and placed under the special direction of a trained teacher, should be made a part of our regular instruction.
The plumbing in the chemical laboratory, that was always a source of trouble and expense, has been replaced by new open plumbing. The indivdual bowls, by a central trough, that not only corrects the defects of sanitation, but much facilitates the work of the students and instructor.
As in the report of last year, I would remind the public of our service bureau at the High School, and the really competent boys and girls that we have sent, and are sending, into business and industrial life.
The science department of the High School offers its services to the community in testing any article subject to qualitative analysis. It is pleasing to note that several of our merchants have taken advantage of the services of this department. The boys in the department have carried out thorough and comprehensive tests determining the supply of pure air in the various school rooms of the town.
The social science course has maintained its popularity.
202
The work has been developed this year by assigning topics for investigation, and whenever possible, speakers have been secured to address the classes upon some phase of the subject under discussion.
The introduction of the study of the events and of the literature of the day through current magazines is proving a splendid incentive to the minds of our pupils towards modern thought and action.
The Alumni Association, formed last year, has a large membership, and the interest of its members in the purposes and growth of the school, argues well for their appreciation of the time they spent there.
To meet the requirement of the State for increasing the teaching force of the High School, a teacher was added to the commercial department. This teacher also has charge of the writing in the grades, the afternoons being devoted to this supervision. By this arrangement the over-crowded schedules of three of our teachers have been relieved, while supervision of writing in the grades has been maintaned with no loss of time assigned to the subject.
SIX-AND-SIX PLAN, AND THE INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL.
The emphasis of the year in educational thought has been placed upon the reorganization of the schools that better results may obtain through a more logical arrange- ment of the pupils' time during the twelve years of their school life. Dr. Claxton, Commissioner of Education of the United States, advocates the division of the twelve years into two equal periods of six years each-six years for the elementary, and six years for the high school.
It is argued that this division is demanded by the un- rest of the pupils in Grades 7 and 8, with the consequent difficulty of control; that little real progress is made in these grades because the work is not adapted to the interests. and the period of development of children between the ages of 12-14 years; that the traditional eight years of the elementary, and four years of the high school make too
203
abrupt a change for the pupil entering the high school, that this causes loss of time in adjustment and apathy to- wards the work of the school at the time when the State law permits him to go to work.
It is further argued that the six-and-six plan gives a better opportunity to differentiate the subjects for children between the ages of twelve and fourten years, taking into account the individual differences that are perhaps more pronounced at this than at any other period of life. That a strong emphasis upon industrial and manual arts will keep the interests of the children in school, and will shape their work along the lines of their abilities, making the choice of a vocation easier, and the task of helping students to a right. understanding of themselves simpler.
The plan insures continuance in school, because being in the high school building the children will desire to keep on until graduation. See Report Commissioner United States for 1914.
Dr. Snedden, Commissioner for this State, agrees in general with this plan, but thinks that a plan better adapt- ed for Massachusetts would be a six-year program for the elementary school, the high school to maintain its present organization of four years, while a new type of school should be formed, to be known as the Intermediate School, the courses in this school to require from two to three years. for completion, according to the qualifications of the pupils. For the most effective way of administering the interme- diate school, Dr. Snedden urges the provision of a building- especially devoted to children between the ages of twelve and fourteen. In this school a wide range of work should be offered, with especal emphasis upon manual, industrial and domestic arts, with bookkeeping, typewriting, elementary science, and foreign languages and English. (Report Com- missioner Education, Massachusetts, 1914.)
Both plans are sane and logical, and have found gen- eral favor in educational theory and practise. One hundred and ninety-seven towns and cities are reported using these plans with most gratifying results.
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In the near future the Town will need a new high school building. I commend to the thoughtful attention of your Committee and the townspeople the consideration of these methods of reorganization, that our children between the ages of twelve and fourteen may receive instruction better adapted to their individual ambitions, interests, and abili- ties.
The school halls have been used for the following pur- poses after school hours :
o High.
Hollis.
Jonas
Perkins.
Penniman.
A. L.
Noah
Torrey.
Entertainments (concerts, etc.)
4
8
1
9
1
1
Society meetings (adult)
10
4
2
6
Civic occasions, mass meetings, public dis- cussions.
1
2
2
2
2
2
Clubs (social, athletic, etc.) or groups
1
4
10
5
(musical, handicraft, etc.).
1
2
10
Rooms open for quiet games, reading, or study
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