USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1920 > Part 8
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The March appropriation for the Pond School addition was insufficient because of advance in prices and difficulty in obtaining bids and contracts. This accounts for part of the over-draft. The balance was extra expense incurred for un- foreseen repairs and alterations in the main building, neces- sitated by changes in sanitary arrangements.
To meet the overdraft on the Pond School account, and to cover further expense on furnace, chimney, and boiler, the Committee asks for a further appropriation on this account.
The following list gives the alterations and repairs needed throughout the entire school system. . The Commit- tee would like to carry out as many as possible of their recom- mendations.
Pond School-Glass Doors for inside hall, fences around lot, minor repairs.
Abraham Lincoln-Many minor repairs needed.
Jonas Perkins-Building painted (outside), wired for electricity, 2nd boiler retubed, enlarging of coal pocket.
Penniman-Roof repaired, furnace overhauled.
South School-Outside and inside painted, toilet installed.
South West School-Main building and portable painted (inside and outside), toilets installed.
Noah Torrey-Old portable painted outside and inside.
All portables and Continuation school supplied with fire extinguishers.
The School Committee would at all times appreciate sug- gestions and criticisms of any matters pertaining to the school system.
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At the meeting of the Committee held Dec. 19, 1920, the following budget was adopted for the year 1921. This budget has been prepared with great care and study. It shows you as near as can be estimated the amount needed to carry on the work of the School Department and maintain the efficiency of the system.
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FINANCIAL ESTIMATE
General expenses :
Superintendent's salary
$3,000.00
Clerk
1,040.00
Attendance officers
600.00
Nurse
1,050.00
Printing, Stationery, postage
400.00
Traveling expense
100.00
Advertising
40.00
Census
100.00
All other
50.00
Text Books and Supplies :
High :
$1,000.00
Supplies
1,500.00
$2,500.00
Elementary :
Books
.
$1,500.00
Supplies
2,500.00
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Commercial Department :
6 new typewriters
$480.00
Domestic Science :
Equipment
$100.00
Teachers' Salaries :
High
$19,250.00
Elementary
79,905.00
Music, Drawing, Domestic Science
4,300.00
Tuition :
Tuition
$1,500.00
Transportation :
Electrics
$900.00 *
School Barges
1,700.00
$2,600.00
Continuation School :
Teachers' Salaries
$3,950.00
Supplies
800.00
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$6,380.00
Books
$4,000.00
$103,455.00
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Rent Coal
720.00 350.00
$5,820.00
Janitors' Service :
High
$1,175.00 6,700.00
$7,875.00
Fuel and Light-High
$1,300.00
Gas and electricity
250.00
$1,550.00
Other
Coal and wood
$6,975.00
Gas and electricity
400.00
$7,375.00
Support of Truants :
Norfolk County
$413.22.
Building and Grounds. Interior repairs :
Carpentry and painting
$500:00
Plumbing
800.00
Masonry
275.00
Electric Lights
600.00
Glass, shades, etc.
100.00
Other
100.00
$2,375.00
Outside Repairs :
Carpentry and painting
700.00
Masonry
50.00
Other
200.00
$950.00.
Janitors' Supplies :
High
$50.00
Other
300.00
$350.00-
Other Expenses. Incidentals :
Diplomas, Graduation exercises
$125.00
Water and removal of ashes
400.00
Disinfectant
35.00
Express
150.00
Paper Towels
100.00
Batteries
60.00
Fixing Clocks
50.00
Trucking
100.00
Toilet Paper
50.00
Cleaning vaults
125.00
Tuning pianos
30.00
Telephones
350.00
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Other
Ground rent, Quincy Ave., portable 120.00
All other 125.00
$1,820.00
Total expense, estimated $149,543.22
ESTIMATED RECEIPTS
Mass. School Fund
$15,000.00
Dog Tax
675.00
Reimbursement Tuition 750.00
Estimated Tuition
100.00
Continuation School, one-half expended
3,000.00
$19,525.00
Estimated expense 1921 $149,543.22
Estimated credits 1921 19,525.00
Total needed for the year 1921 $130,018.22
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Respectfully submitted,
FRANKLIN H. MERRIAM,
J. THOMAS BALDWIN, ALIDA N. STEVENS,
FRANK W. COUILLARD,
CARRIE F. LORING, GEORGE H. WETHERBEE, School Committee.
' REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Braintree :
In accordance with your rules, I hereby submit my third annual report of the public schools of Braintree.
In submitting this report as superintendent of schools, I desire to call your attention to the following topics :
1. Physical needs.
2. Continuation School.
3. Growth of Braintree.
4. Professional Growth of Teachers. 1
5. Special Classes.
6. Cost of Schools.
7. Home for Teachers.
8. Dental Clinic.
9. Summer School.
10. Teachers' Salaries.
PHYSICAL NEEDS.
The enrollment in the Braintree Schools continues to grow
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yearly. The present physical facilities are totally inadequate for offering many things that should be offered our boys and girls educationally.
Statistical tables and conditions have been furnished in past reports, showing the crying need of room. Further inclusion is not necessary; further evidence need not be of- fered.
The recent recommendation of the special committee to build in East Braintree a new addition will help out; yet this new addition will simply care for the pupils now housed out- side of our temporary quarters in this part of the town.
The enrollment in temporary rooms runs all together too heavy for a town of this size. How teachers can do work and meet in any way the reqirements is puzzling. Surely the children will never be given a fair chance while such condi- tions last.
In addition to this overcrowded room condition --- and at that 20% of the town are housed in temporary rooms-there is an absolute lack of an assembly hall in nearly all our buildings in town. Further, there is not an additional room for any such needed adjuncts to our school work, as domestic science, physical training, dental clinic, and similar lacking essentials. These enumerations may not appeal to all as essentials ; never- the less, state laws will soon require everyone, and many more. The state will soon insist upon the best mental and physical preparation possible for its future citizens.
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING CORPS, 1920
Name
Resignations ' Position Month
Celia Finkelstein
Jonas Perkins, Eng. & Aritlı. Jan.
Harriet Holt
High School, History Feb.
Ethel Whittier
Hollis School, Grade IV March
Mildred Lynch
High School, English June
Sophie Blunt
High School Civics . June
Dorothy E. Wilson
High School, Spanish June
Alice Pope
High School, Commercial June
Jeannette H. Porter
Jonas Perkins, Eng., Music June
Rosamond E. Cunniff
Sarah E. Allison
Hollis School, English June Hollis School, Grades IV & V June Abraham Lincoln, Kinder-
Ruth Fowle
garten June
Helen M. Bartlett
Penniman School, Grades V and VI June
Claire L. Craig, R. N.
Nurse June
Alice J. Danner
High School, Commercial July
Priscilla M. Nye
Drawing July
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Hazel M. McClintock Helen King
Florence M. Ball
Gladys J. McGillicuddy Gladys E. Tibbetts
Frances N. Chapman
Mary E. King
Hesta M. Lord
Helen W. Parkis
Ruth Meister
Marion G. Evans
Miriam F. Nuzum
Beth B. Morris
Olive M. Murray
Ruth Caldwell
Hollis School, Grades I & II July
Continuation School (Boys) July
High School, Commercial Aug.
High School, English Aug.
Noah Torrey, Geo. & Reading Aug.
Abraham Lincoln, Grade A Aug.
Penniman School, Grades V & VI Aug.
Pond School, Grade I Aug.
Quincy Ave., Grades I & II Aug.
Nurse Aug.
High School, Commercial
Sept.
Doris Viles
Augusta R. Ames
Noah Torrey, Grade VI
Dec.‹
Transfers
Name
Lillie Littlefield
Helen Cuff
Pond I to Noah Torrey III
Effie Weeden
Hollis I to Hollis IV
To Principal of Abraham Lincoln
Melissa Dockum
Hollis School, Grade I Aug. Noah Torrey, Grade VI Nov.
Appointments
High School, French & Latin Mar.
Hollis School, Grades V & VI June
Hollis School, Grade V . June
Hollis School Grades III & IV June
Hollis School, Ungraded June
Quincy Ave., Kindergarten June Continuation School (Girls) June
Drawing June
High School, History and Civics July
High School, Hist. & Science July
Jonas Perkins, Eng. & Arith. July
Hollis School, English July
Frederick D. Rankins
Lena E. Addelson
Elizabeth L. Partridge
Amy H. Sprague
Irene E. Bennett
Lillian F. Rogers
Bessie Newport
M. Frances Fobes
Mary Bjorkman
Helen E. Murray
High School, Grade I Sept.
Position From Grade V Hollis to Depart- mental Jonas Perkins
CONTINUATION SCHOOL ,
Massachusetts has been considering the Continuation School program for the past nine years. Some eight years ago an exhaustive study and report were made on this sub- ject and permissive legislation was enacted. Only one City, Boston, availed itself of this opportunity and in the meantime other States in the Union, especially Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey have gone far ahead of Massachu-
125
setts, first in the enactment of law, and second in the exten- sion of the number of hours and in the raising of the school age.
During the last session of the legislature an act was passed making the Continuation School compulsory in all cities and towns where more than two hundred children between the ages of fourteen and sixteen are employed. To this act was at- tached a referendum which was overwhelmingly adopted by every city and town in the state with one exception, -- a most remarkable endorsement by the public at large.
The purpose of this school is to extend educational op- portunities,to boys and girls who leave school between 'the ages of fourteen and sixteen, requiring them to attend the public day continuation school for at least four hours per week. In- vestigation and study have shown that these young people leave either because of the force of economic conditions or because they feel that the regular public schools have not given them what they desire. Experience and study have shown that only a small percent of those who have left can come back and be fitted into the regular class in the public schools. It is necessary to organize classes which will meet their special and individual needs. Such classes tend to stabilize employ- ment, make for promotion on the part of those taking the work, training them so that they may have the widest possible op- portunity for the promotion in the business in which they are employed, or giving them prevocational instruction or exper- ience in some other occupation. In other words, when prop- erly organized, the object of such classes is to eliminate blind alley employment, through instruction which is largely voca- tional. About half of the time in the continuation school has been given to what may be called general instruction or training for citizenship and the remaining to special vocational instruction in mechanical arts and household arts.
In the case of Braintree, a study of the actual numbers employed showed that Braintree came under the compulsory provisions of the act. This question in all its phases was con- sidered at the meeting of the school committee. After care- ful consideration, it was unanimously decided to establish a continuation school in the Hollis Estate. The committee se- cured Mr. Frederick D. Rankins as director of the boys and Miss Helen W. Parkis as director of the girls.
Although the school has been in session only four months, efficient progress has been made under the guidance of our two instructors.
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BRAINTREE Is Growing
BIGGER AND WEALTHIER
Valuation
10,500,000
Popula- tion
9,000,000
12,000
6,000,000
6,000
4,500,000
/
3,000,000
3,000
1,500,000
-
A
1865, 1875, 1885, 1895, 1905, 1915, 1920
Read from left to right for the years 1865 to 1920, and up- ward for the increased growth in valuation or population. The dotted line indicates population, and the full line indicates val- uation.
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1
7,500,000
9,000
IS BRAINTREE GROWING BIGGER AND WEALTHIER?
The following table indicates the growth of Braintree dur- ing the last half century : (Figures taken from Reports of the State Board of Education)
Year
Valuation
Population
1865
$1,431,960
346S
1885
4040
1886
2,849.725
1895
4,177,425
4848
1898
4,557,425
5981
1902
4,705,800
6879
1906
5,039,666
1910
6,265,880
8066
1912
7,908,477
1913
8,739,496
1914
8,920,759
1915
9,485,815
9343
1916
9,974,379
1917
9,269,537*
1918
9,598,286*
1919
10,192,758*
1920
11,099,239*
10,580
To each of these starred amounts should be added about $984,000 intangible property taken for taxation by the State under the recent Income Tax Law, the tax on which is re- turned to the Town. This reimbursement amounted to $28,- 439.09 in 1919, and in 1920 to $41,270.28.
This table and the chart drawn from it indicate that the wealth of Braintree has increased about three times as fast as its population in the last 50 years. The last 10 years con- tinue to show this same proportionate increase, and indicate an exceptional gain in both population and wealth. The conclu- sion is that our schools must continue to grow because of the greatly increasing population and can continue to develop be- cause of more rapidly increasing wealth.
PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF TEACHERS
A vast amount of work has been done this year by the teachers of Braintree to keep themselves informed of the new tendencies in education. They have prepared themselves country. It not infrequently happens that those who are slow
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1900
1905
for more efficient work in some particular field and have added to their intellectual equipment those things that tend to brighten and inspire.
The following is a brief portion of the work accomplished : One hundred and seventy books of a professional character have been read. These were taken out of the Thayer Public Library. A large part of the teachers are taking educational magazines. Thirty teachers have visited other schools during the year. Twenty-six teachers have taken summer courses ranging from four to six weeks in the different Normal schools of the State. Two teachers have taken courses in music. Twenty-four are taking extension courses in Boston each Sat- urday. Eight have visited places of interest to teachers of geography, history and civics.
SPECIAL CLASSES
The close of the last Legislature saw very few of the changes recommended by the special committee on education which had been appointed by the previous general court to study and report at the last session of the Legislature. Among these was the provision for separating in the schools those who from mental defect were unable to keep pace with the pro- gress made by others of their age.
The law provides that whenever in any town there are ten in the schools whose retardation places them three. years be- hind the class in which they would naturally be, if they had been able to keep pace with their fellows, there shall be estab- lished a separate class and provision made for their special instruction.
It is undoubtedly true that instruction which is adapted to other members of the class is not adapted to meet the needs of these few and they will never reach their best development unless they are given special instruction adapted to their needs. In order that this may be done both for their own good and the good of the normally constituted members of the class, this separation should take place, and the new law contemplates the formation of special classes for those who need special work. Care must be taken not to include in this class any who by any means can be made to keep up with the regular classes. No effort will be spared to bring up in the regular class all who can possibly be kept within the regular classes. Only when it has been demonstrated beyond all question that a child cannot with profit to himself continue in regular classes, will he be asked to enter in the special class. The child in the special class who does his best to improve is entitled to just as high commendation as the brightest child in the school and indeed it does not follow at all that the child who is unable to acquire as much knowledge as the others from the use of books will be unable to fill any useful position in the industrial life of the
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much beyond the average in school are capable of rendering effective service in other lines of work and acquiring both skill and capacity work in industrial and commercial lines.
HOME FOR TEACHERS
Every child has the right to a teacher so well poised, so happy and so interested in her work as to be a constant source of joy and inspiration.
No teacher can meet these conditions who must take a hurried breakfast at 6.30 A. M., a cold lunch at 12 M. and a late dinner after a day in school and 2 or 3 hours upon the present day trolley cars. Yet Braintree teachers have been and are obliged to undergo such experiences daily, because Braintree citizens have failed either to share their homes with them, or otherwise to provide suitable living conditions for those who are teaching their children and who are willing to pay well for services rendered.
No other condition, I believe, tends so strongly to lessen the effectiveness of our teachers as the lack of a sufficient number of conveniently located, home-like, available dwelling places. A small number of our teachers are trying co-opera- tive house-keeping with considerable success, but they, as well as men with families, have found it difficult to make it very successful.
Unless local conditions become more favorable, it would seem necessary for the Town to take steps to insure at least comfortable housing of its teachers. I would suggest that the Town assist the teachers financially by hiring a large house in the Town for a community club.
HOLDING POWER OF THE SCHOOL
The chart shown herewith pictures the fact that only one- fifth of our children in Braintree finish High School. The figures are those of the last class graduating from High School. Only seven out of ten of this class which entered the first grade in 1908 reached the 7th grade, only six reached High School, and only two were graduated in 1920. Four-fifths of our children never finish High School, two-fifths never reach High School at all. What industry would not be bank- rupt, if four-fifths of the raw material was wasted in produc- ing the finished product. We find fault with the finshed product which enters college or shop from the High School graduating class. How much worse the indictment is when we realize that four times as many have been turned out into life with even less education.
COST OF THE SCHOOLS
In view of the increasing cost of every element contribut- ing to the school expense, it is not surprising that the cost of
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public education is rising in Braintree as in every other commu- nity in the country. The salary increases of the past have not been commensurate with the advance in the cost of living or the demand for higher teaching efficiency but are the largest item in the school budget. There is also a constant and proper educational demand for smaller classes, a broader curriculum, more supervision by experts, and a wider extension of school activities to such important phases as kindergartens, evening schools, health and physical training. The heavy normal in- crease in the cost of supplies, textbooks, coal, equipment, etc., is also a factor of importance in the increasing costs.
The Board of Trade, and through it the town, has through the printed advertisement claimed proudly for Braintree the most completely developed school system of any town of its size in the State. The claim is not without substantial proof. With this advertisement abroad, however, the town of Brain- tree has an obligation to meet in respect to its schools. If we compare Braintree with other Massachusetts towns of similar size and wealth we see that Braintree spends less money in the education of each child in proportion to its wealth per inhabitant than many other towns of the Commonwealth.
DENTAL CLINIC
Through the efforts of the Braintree Friendly Aid, a start has been made toward a Dental Clinic. The plan is to give free examinations to all children of the kindergarten and the first three grades, and such temporary treatment as may be necessary. A small charge will be made to cover the first cost of materials used.
The Dental Clinic, in connection with the schools of Brain- tree, is a new departure and consequently a small percentage of children thus far examined have applied for treatment.
Few parents realize that when a child reaches the age of six, he begins to erupt the second or permanent set of teeth, and for this reason many of the children who applied for treatment had permanent teeth badly decayed, some of them abscessed and with exposed nerves, and the majority of these children were only seven or eight years old. Furthermore few parents realize that it is just as important to have the tem- porary or baby teeth treated and filled as it is the permanent, for proper care of the temporary set not only benefits the child's health and appearance, but particularly insures an even and harmonious set of permanent teeth.
A large part of the extractions were" temporary teeth which could have been saved until time for the permanent set to take their place had they received attention as soon as cavi- ties appeared.
A child's health is seriously impaired if the mouth con-
131
tains several carious teeth, some of them with abscessed con- ditions at the roots. It is doubly serious if permanent teeth have to be extracted.
The purpose of the Clinic is to eliminate such conditions as far as possible, by treating the children in the first four grades before these conditions arise, and to educate them to the importance of their teeth and mouth hygiene.
SUMMER SCHOOL
During the Fall a study was made regarding the pupils who attended the 1919 and 1920 Summer Schools. The com- pilation of these reports showed that 82% of the pupils who attended the Summer School were helped by it. Nearly every teacher declared herself to be in favor of the summer school as a valuable help to enable unpromoted and overage pupils to keep up with their grades.
In the Summer School this year, emphasis was placed up- on admitting only pupils who were not fully promoted or who were over age. Last year the average attendance for the entire term was 160.
More than ever am I convinced that the continued opera- tion of a summer school in this town is necessary for the great- est efficiency of our school system.
TEACHERS AND SALARIES
It is a well recognized fact that the efficiency of a school system depends upon the stability, contentment, and excellence of its teachers more than upon any other factors. There has never been an adequate supply of superior teachers, and the shortage has now become so great as to threaten the very existence of our schools. In fact throughout the country, thousands of schools are closed for the lack of teachers, and other thousands are in charge of teachers with absolutely no preparatory training for the work.
In spite of all that has been or may be done in the near future to better reward and make more attractive the profes- sion of teaching, the outlook for our future supply of teach- ers is somewhat discouraging. The shortage is sure to con- tinue and will grow more acute. The number of teachers now in training in colleges and normal schools is nearly forty per- cent below the normal numbers. If it were possible greatly to increase the number who will enter training in the near fu- ture, it would be two years before they would be ready to take positions. And this increase in the number of prospective teachers can only be brought about by a very substantial ad- vance in salaries, an advance far greater than has as yet been granted or anticipated.
Our schools, should be of vital concern to all, and any ex- pense necessary to make them the best possible should be
132
1.
cheerfully borne. The rewards should be sufficient to attract and hold promising teachers. Any other policy is short- sighted and suicidal. This means large, very large expendi- tures for schools and a consequent increase in the tax rate. Aside from the importance and necessity of this, is there any valid reason to suppose that municipal expenses can remain stationary while the cost of every other activity is radically advanced ?
To the members of the Committee, I wish to express my sincere appreciation of their desire to make the schools ef- ficient, and of the co-operation they have given in my work; to the citizens for their interest in the work of the schools and the confidence they have expressed; and to the teachers for their loyal co-operation in all efforts made to improve our schools.
Respectfully submitted, CLARENCE N. FLOOD.
Braintree, Mass., Feb. 1, 1921.
February 1, 1921.
Mr. Clarence N. Flood,
Superintendent of Schools,
Braintree, Mass.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my report for the High School-for the past year.
Last year in my report several changes in the curriculum were recommended. During the summer vacation, under the direction, and with the approval of Mr. Kingsley, Agent for the State Board of Education, the course of study was revised. At present the requirements for graduation are 15 units. a unit constituting approximately one-fourth of a year's work, or one subject carried for a full year with four or five recitation peri- ods per week.
During the year several vacancies have occurred in our teaching force but without exception have been filled satisfac- torily. One vacancy has been filled since the opening of school in September due to the resignation of a teacher who accepted a position as instructor in Boston University.
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