USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1935 > Part 5
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23 Alice Isabell Henry
Natick, R. I. 76- 4-19
New Brunswick 69- 9- 9
Medford 29- - 1.0 .- 20
Quincy 23 -- 11- 7
Johnstown, Ta. 50
JULY
6 Alice W. Johnson
7 Raymond Cagigal
9 George Larsen
9 Amos Perry
11 Leon O. Hardy
12 Stillborn
13 Joseph R. Ouillette
16 Arthur Delorey
16 Ruth Ann Clarke
18 Willie Joseph Loring
Conn.
48-3-0
Spain 39 -- 6-7
Denmark 41 -- 5- 0
P. E. I. 42 -- 10-17
Rangeley, Me. 17
Canada 36
Weymouth 43
Kingston 77- - 3-3
Weymouth 71-10-7
98
Quincy 69 -- 6 --- 22
Canton
63
24 Thomas Downey
25 Robert A. Fraser
26 Alice Cryan
28 Lena K. Gates
Wrentham 77- 5-19
Quincy 0 -- 8- 0
Finland 58-7-3
Lithuania 17 -- 4 -- 9
Nova Scotia 55 -- 3 -- 22
Boston 40 -- 2-20
Date Name
19 Charles Duksta
19 Charles Fosdick
20 Mary P. Burke
20 Joseph Perry Donaldson
22 Walter C. Briggs
22 Ella M. Maguire
25 George Knuttunen
28 Henrietta C. Lockwood
31 Nathaniel James Chafe
Birthplace
Age
Lithuania 60- 4-1
Cambridge 49 -- 11- 3
Nova Scotia 13- 6-12
England 50-9-0
Weymouth 62
Braintree 69
Rockport 28 .-- 8- 9
Everett 35 ---- 5 -- 1
Newfoundland 65 -- 8-3
AUGUST
10 Jane Chalmers Brown
10 William Irving Aronld
10 Ellen Grafton Cain
Wareham 30 -- 8-25
12 Mary F. Wilson
Weymouth
66-9-11
12. Ignazio Parodi
Italy 49- 1-25
Old Town, Me. 67-11- 0
13 Horace Burgess
Colorado
72 -- 0-12
Italy 68
Readville 28-11 -- 10
Plymouth 25 -- 4- 1
Quincy 62 -- 11-17
New York City 56-10 -- 14
New Brunswick 71
Andover, Vt. 63 --- 1-16
Randolph 77-11-6
Carlisle, Me. 75 -- 6-24
Braintree 02 -- 9-14
SEPTEMBER
1 Stephen Watson
2 Charles E. Landry
2 William Stacpole
5 Stillborn
7 Jessie Tarter
Norfolk 60 -- 0-22
Quincy 16- 7-11
Troy, N. Y. 61 -- 7-17
So. Boston 04-11-14
99
Scotland
49- 9-0
Quincy 61- 7 -- 17
12 James S. Loanes
15 Adele Cini
15 Cora E. Cooper
17 Ethel Sampson
17 Mabel Ellis Owens
18 Percy Amery
20 Sarah E. Richards
23 Frank Burton Pinard
23 Emma Frances Hayden
24 Edward Carter
27 Indianna G. Thayer
Date Name
Birthplace
Age
7 Lemuel Augustus Hayward
Braintree
81 -. 0-12
Ireland 52 --- 6 -- 4
Italy 50 --- 7-21
Nova Scotia 48- 5-29
10 William Eugene Sheldon
Wrentham
79- 7 -- 9
10 Frederick Seager
11 William Barksdale Cassell
Virginia
63-10 -- 25
13 Lawrence W. Lynn
Weymouth 0- 9 -- 18
Germany
78-5-19
18 Emma E. Howe
N. H. 76 -- 1-18
Holyoke 10-4-20
19 Edwin Stooley Loring
East Boston 69 --- 3- 7
21 Samuel Lappin
Lithuania
58 -- 11-28
21 Lucy Grazioso
Italy
52
23 Maria Victoria Kirton
Braintree
70-10 -- 0
26 Joseph M. Kavaracus
Brockton
27
26 Richard F. Collins
Boston
51-8-16
26 Clarence Dahlen
Brockton
29 -- 0-22
29 Alfred Augustus Cook
Braintree
78 --- 10-24
OCTOBER
3 Joseph W. Slavin
4 Bella Sarah Kibble
5 Raymon W. Gilchrest
5 Frank Poluzzi
Italy 62-11 -- 10
9 Ada C. Hall
Winthrop, Me. 46-10 -- 16
9 Margaret Sullivan
Dorchester
34- 0 -- 12
9 Stillborn
10 Parker G. Higgins
Maine 15 -- 10-30
12 Stillborn
14 Pheobe Thibeault
15 Fannie Davidson
16 Ellen Frances Conley
19 Kate E. Wade
Braintree 68 -- 1-26
Scotland 84 -- 2- 3
Fall River 36- 2-1
Nova Scotia Abt. 50
Ireland 75 --- 4-13
Brighton 75-0-11
Nova Scotia
70-0-7
100
8 Jeremiah Donovan
9 Pasquale Ditomasso
9 Cora A. Vance
England 46 -- 7-14
16 Ambrose Lehr
18 Eileen M. Fox
29 Stillborn
Date Name
19 John Gugliotta
22 Tom Simonds
25 Lillian Caroline Hitchcock
26 Charles Edward Minchin
29 Etta Torrey
31 Mary Elizabeth Noonan
Birthplace Age
Italy 17 --- 6-20
Weymouth 0-4 -- 16
Hoboken, N. J. 54- 2- 7
Braintree 84 -- 4-23
Braintree 58-3-2
So. Boston
71- 9 -- 28
NOVEMBER
3 Warren P. Tobey
5 Thomas Henry Parsons
6 Otto F. W. Schrader
7 Laura J. Simpson
New Brunswick 55 -- 5-26
7 Francis Watson Robinson
13 James MacGregor
14 Benjamin Abucevicz
18 Bertha M. Arnold
18 Frank William Dallinger
19 George Stephens
20 Samuel A. Burrell
22 Willard Mortimer Davenport
Greenfield
49 -- 11-27
Bath, Me. 78- 11-25
Quincy 15 -- 3-21
27 Florence Allen Brailey
28 Frank Wuori
28 Annie M. MacDonald
Braintree 58- 6-7
DECEMBER
1 George E. Pinkham
1 Barbara Ruth Gillies
1 Margery Ann McLean
2 Shields
2 Adelaide Manness Slade
2 Olive A. Greenlaw
3 Capt. Frank Stevens
5 Alice Carlovitz
Concord, N. H. 72
Weymouth 1- 0-20
Weymouth 1- 2-18
Quincy 0-0-3
England 79-8-2
Minn. 74-11-0
Lanesville 72- 2 -- 22
Milton, Fla. 66- 6 -- 0
New Bedford 84 --- 7-7
England 62-11-26
Germany 75 -- 8-19
Hingham 52- 7-27
Scotland 91-8-7
Poland 26-11- - 21
Braintree 70-5-6
Cambridge 83 --- 5-13
Scotland 61 -- 4-14
Randolph 62
25 Herbert B. Williams
27 Mildred B. Spargo
E. Barnard, Vt. 60 -- 0- 7 Finland 44 -- 4-21
101
Date Name
Birthplace
Age
6 Emma Jane Bates
Portland, Me.
82 -- 0-20
9 William H. Simonds
Boston
44 --- 10-28
10 Edward J. Thomas
Braintree 69
14 Harry C. Gifford
Fall River
64 -- 8 -- 26
Boston 70-2-14
Scotland 82- 0-26
Nova Scotia 54
Scotland 84-11-10
Quincy 45 -- 1 -- 11
20 Matilda Hickey
Scoltand 40- 2-5
21 Louis Shuman
Poland 59- 8-20
22 William P. Kelley
Braintree 52- 9-18
22 Ernest A. Glass
Boothbay, Me.
61- 2-23
24 Laurie Ackerman
New Jersey
44
27 John Cameron
Scotland
50-11-3
28 Edward King
Norwood 34 -- 2-26
29 Lorna White
Milton 1- 5-11
29 Catherine M. O'Connell
Ireland 50 -- 6- 4
30 Isaac Nichols
Vermont
78 -- 6- 2
30 Robert O. Olafson
Dorchester 14
30 Edgar B. Lewis
Boston 2-11- 9
Total number of deaths: 234.
Males, 143; Females, 91; Single, 63; Married, 107; Wid- owed, 63; Divorced, 1.
Birthplaces: Braintree, 21; other places in Massachusetts, 102; Canada, 23; Maine, 16; Scotland, 15; Italy, 10; Vermont, 5; Ireland, 5; England, 4; Germany, 4; New Hampshire, 3; Rhode Island, 3; New York, 3; Pennsylvania, 3; Lithuania, 3; New Jersey, 2; Poland, 2; Finland, 2; Connecticut, Virginia, Florida, Colorado, Spain, Denmark, Sweden and Turkey, 1 each.
Ages: Stillborn, 7; Under 1 year, 8; 1 to 10, 8; 11 to 20, 7; 21 to 30, 18; 31 to 40, 14; 41 to 50, 29; 51 to 60, 32; 61 to 70, 43; 71 to 80, 43; 81 to 90, 19; over 90, 6.
102
15 Annie Isabel Bates
16 Peter McGibbon
19 Ellen M. Bonvie
19 Elizabeth Gillespie
20 Arthur A. Austin
Diseases: Tuberculosis, 44 (1 resident and 43 non-resi- dents) ; Pnuemonia, 26; Arterio sclerosis, 25; Heart disease, 18; Carcinoma, 18; Accident, 12; Cerebral hemorrhage, 12; Still- born, 7; Coronary, thrombosis, 6; Tumor, 5; Endocarditis, 5; Myocarditis, 4; Angina pectoris, 4; Uremia, 4; Mitral stenosis, 4; Suicide, 4; Nephritis, 3; Intestinal obstruction, 3; Scarlet, fever, 3; Toxemia, 2; Septicemia, 2; Epilepsy, 2; Cardio renal disease, 2; Hypertension, 2; Cholecystitis, 2; Addison's disease, Mitral regurgitation, Cardic dilation, Hepatic cirrhosis, Spina Bifida, Asthma, Gangrene of lung, Chronic rheumatism, Syn- cope, Coronary embolis, convulsions, Prematurity, Parkinson's disease and Encephalitis lethargica, 1 each.
103
DOG LICENSES ISSUED JANUARY 1, 1935 TO DECEMBER 31, 1935 INCLUSIVE
Total number issued
983
642 Males
@ $2.00.
$1,284.00
109 Females
@ 5.00
545.00
227 Female Spayed @ 2.00
454.00
3 Kennel
@ 25.00
75.00
2 Kennel
@ 50.00
100.00
$2,458.00
Credit by cash paid Town Treasurer as per vouchers
$2,261.40
Fees retained Chap. 320, Sec. 11, Acts of 1934
196.60
$2,458.00
104
SPORTING LICENSES ISSUED JANUARY 1, 1935 TO DECEMBER 31, 1935 INCLUSIVE
Total number issued
414
150 Res. Citizens' Fishing @$2.00
300.00
153
Hunting @ 2.00
306.00
49
Sporting @ 3.25
159.25
35 Women & Minors'
Fishing@ 1.25
43.75
7 Res. Citizens' Trapping @ 5.25
36.75
1 Minor Trappers'
@ 2.25
2.25
16 Res. Citizens' Sporting & Trapping
Free
3 Duplicate @ .50
1.50
$ 849.50
Credit by cash paid Division of Fisheries &
Games as per vouchers . $ 750.75
Fees retained, Chap. 131, Sec. 9, G. L. 98.75
$ 849.50
Respectfully submitted, ERNEST C. WOODSUM,
105
1
THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF CORPORATIONS AND TAXATION
DIVISION OF ACCOUNTS
REPORT OF AN AUDIT OF THE ACCOUNTS OF
The Town of Braintree
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1934
Made in Accordance with the Provisions of Chapter 44, General Laws.
September 26, 1935
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Corporations and Taxations Division of Accounts State House, Boston.
September 26, 1935.
To the Board of Selectmen
Mr. Harry H. Bousquet, Chairman Braintree, Massachusetts.
Gentlemen :
I sumbit herewith my report of an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Braintree for the fiscal year 1934, made in accordance with the provi- sions of Chapter 44, General Laws. This is in the form of a report made by me by Mr. Herman B. Dine, As- sistant Director of Accounts.
Very truly yours,
(Signed) THEODORE N. WADDELL, Director of Accounts.
107
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell, Director of Accounts, Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston.
Sir :
As directed by you, I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Braintree for the fiscal year 1934, and submit the following report thereon :
The financial transactions, as recorded on the books of the several departments receiving or disburs- ing money for the town or committing bills for collec- tion, were examined and reconciled with the books and records in the town accountant's office.
The books and accounts in the town accountant's office were examied and checked in detail. The re- corded receipts were compared and reconciled with the treasurer's records, and the the recorded disburse- ments were checked with the warrants approved by the selectmen and with the treasurer's books. The ledger accounts were analyzed, the necessary correct- ing and adjusting entries were made, and a balance sheet, which is appended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town as of De- cember 31, 1934.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The receipts as re- corded on the cash book were checked with the re- ports to the town accountant and with the depart- mental records, while the payments by the treasurer were compared with the warrants of the selectmen authorizing them and with the accountant's books.
108
The treasurer's cash book was analyzed and foot- ed and the cash balance on May 4, 1935, was verified by actual count of the cash in the office, by a recon- ciliation of the bank accounts with statements receiv- ed from the several banks of deposit, and by an in- spection of the savings bank books and of the several certificates of deposit.
Appended to this report are tables showing a re- conciliation of the treasurer's cash.
The payments on account of debt and interest were proved with the accounts falling due and with the cancelled bonds and coupons on file, the outstand- ing debt being listed and verified by a comparison with the books.
The Tax title deeds on file were examined and listed, and the necessary adjusting and correcting en- tries were made to bring the accountant's ledger ac- counts into agreement with the deeds as listed.
The books and accounts of the tax collector were - examined and checked. The recommitments and sub- sequent commitments of taxes and assessments were proved with the warrants given by the assessors, the recorded abatements were checked with the assessors' records of abatements granted, the recorded collec- tions were compared with the payments as shown on the treasurer's books, the amounts transferred to the tax title account were verified, and the outstanding accounts were listed and proved with the accountant's books.
The outstanding accounts were further verified by mailing notices to a number of persons whose names appeared on the books as owing money to the town,
109
the replies received thereto indicating that the ac- counts, as listed, are correct.
Appended to this report are summary tables of the tax accounts.
The financial accounts of the town clerk were ex- amined. The records of sporting and dog licenses is- sued were checked, and the payments to the Division of Fisheries and Game and the town were verified.
The books and accounts of the Municipal Light Department were examined and checked in detail. The payments to the treaurer were verified, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled to the accountant's ledger.
Appended to this report are tables showing sum- maries of the electric light accounts receivable.
The books and accounts of the water department were examined. The recorded receipts were checked in detail to the consumers' accounts, the payments to the treasurer were verified by a comparison with the treasurer's books, and the outstanding accounts were listed and reconciled with the accountant's ledger.
It was necessary, in order to prove the water de- partment accounts receivable, to make a detailed an- alysis of all charges, collections, and abatements, a procedure which increased the length of the audit and, consequently, its cost. It is, therefore, recom- mended that proper commitment sheets be installed for the use of the department for recording in detail all bills sent out for collection and for posting thereto all collections and abatements, so that the water ac- counts receivable may readily lend themselves to audit.
110 .
Tables showing a reconciliation of the water de- partment accounts are appended to this report.
It is recommended that consideration be given by the town to the adoption of a by-law providing that the collector of taxes shall collect, under the title of town collector, all accounts due the town, in accoard- ance with Section 38A, Chapter 41, General Laws.
The savings bank books and securities represent- ing the investment of the trust funds in the custody of the town treasurer and the trustees of the library were personally examined and listed. The income was proved and the disbursements were verified.
In addition to the departments and amounts men- tioned, the accounts of all other departments collect- ing money for the town were examined, and the pay- ments to the treasurer were verified by a comparison with the treasurer's books.
The surety bonds of the various officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
For the co-operation extended by the several town officials during the process of the audit, I wish, on be- half of my assistants and for myself, to express appre- ciation.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) HERMAN B. DINE, Assistant Director of Accouts.
Detailed Tables on file in Town Clerk's Office.
111
TOWN OF BRAINTREE Balance Sheet - December 31, 1934 GENERAL ACCOUNTS
ASSETS
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Cash :
In Bank and Office
$246,954.57
Accounts Receivable : Taxes :
112
Levy of 1926
38.90
Levy of 1927
58.48
Levy of 1928
36.46
Levy of 1929
59.94
Levy of 1930
52.36
Levy of 1931
110.78
Levy of 1932
1,034.87
Levy of 1933
44,047.49
Levy of 1934
394,383.98
$439,830.44
Old Age Assistance Taxes:
Levy of 1931
$3.00
Levy of 1932
49.00
Levy of 1933
367.00
Julia A. Minchin Fund
3.00
Levy of 1925
$7.20
Premiums on Loans
1,094.85
Sewer House Connection De- posits 775.00
Trust Fund Income :
Braintree School Fund . . . $ 846.27
Charles Thayer Fund 688.12
Ann M. Penniman School Fund
69.95
Braintree Fund
Tercentenary
10.64
George W. Kelley Cemetery Fund
.16
Hannah R. Hollis Cemetery Fund 8.47
419.00
1,627.51
Temporary Loans:
In Anticipation of Revenue
$300,000.00
Sale of Real Estate
925.00
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes:
Sewer Assessment Fund 56,804.68
Levy of 1931 $7.56 775.64
Levy of 1932
Levy of 1933
2,295.58
Levy of 1934
5,150.35
8,229.11
Electric Light Department : Available Surplus
7,288.44
Special Assessments : Moth :
Water Department: Available Surplus
21,703.69
Levy of 1933
$33.25
Levy of 1934
228.22
Unexpended Balances :
261.47
Zoning Committee 348.75
Resurfacing Pearl Street 336.49
Cement Sidewalks and
Curbing 6.34
Cavanaugh Road
100.00
Pensions of Laborers -
Electric Light Dept. 1,000.00
C. W. A. Projects 78.63
Reserve Fund - F. E. R.
A. Projects
8,282.39
Levy of 1933
148.50
Levy of 1934
1,473.62
1,741.41
Fire and Police Station 6,246.22
Penniman School Addition 9,714.50
Sewer System Construction: P. W. A. Project 4965 132,726.06
113
Sewer:
Unapportioned
$73,162.72
Levy of 1934
3,202.11
76,364.85
Highway Betterments :
Levy of 1932
$119.29
10,152.60
Committed Interest : Sewer:
Levy of 1934 $588.52
Electric Light Department: Depreciation 45,075.70
General :
Highway Betterments:
Water Dept .:
Levy of 1932
7.75
Filtration Plant 3,241.76
Levy of 1933
61.65
Standpipe Construction 556.99
Levy of 1934
594.12
162,638.73
1,252.04
Tax Titles
74,714.66
Reserve Fund : Overlay Surplus 70.54
Municipal Light
30,209.67
Overlays Reserved for Abatements:
Water Rates and Services
27,460.56
Levy of 1933 3,534.06
Overlay Deficit Levy of 1932
273.63
Old Age Assistance Taxes Abatements
297.00 Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax . 8,229.11
Special Assessments 79,619.75
Tax Titles 74,714.66
Fire Department Salaries 213.00
Fire Department
153.12
Surplus Revenue
220,233.75 83,560.72
$908,940.26
$908,940.26
114
Overdrawn Appropriations: Police Department Salaries 565.75
Municipal Light 30,209.67
Water 27,460.56
General Expenses
Levy of 1934 3,607.57
7,141.65
DEFERRED REVENUE ACCOUNTS
Apportioned Highway Betterment Assessments Not Due
$ 11,673.00
Apportioned Highway Betterment
Assessments Revenue :
Due in 1935
$ 2,025.60
Due in 1936
2,015.60
Due in
1937
1,955.60
Due in 1938
1,955.60
Due in 1939
1,955.60
Due in
1940
937.00
Due in
1941
828.00
$42,485.62
$ 11,673.00
Apportioned Sewer Assessments
115
Apportioned Sewer Assessments Not Due
36,812.62
Revenue :
Due in 1935
.$ 3,637.74
Due in 1936
3,517.74
Due in
1937
3,511.74
Due in
1938
3,456.74
Due in
1939
3,364.74
Due in 1940
3,350.73
Due in 1941
3,327.73
Due in
1942
3,322.73
Due in
1943
3,322.73
30,812.62 $ 42,485.62
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Ned Funded or Fixed Debt
. $ 1,196,000.00 Police and Fire Station Loan $ 84,000.00
Sewerage Loans
636,000.00
Norolk County Hosp. Tuberculosis Loan
1,000.00
Sidewalk Loans
19,000.00
School Loan 423,000.00
Water Mains and Standpipe Loans 28,000.00
$ 1,196,000.00
$ 1,196,000.00
116
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Fund, Cash and Securities : In Custody of Town Treasurer .
In Custody of Library Treasurer
$ 57,385.47 13,693.41
Trust Funds:
In Custody of Town Treasurer: Branitree School Fund 8,893.15 Charles E. French School Fund 2,419.50
Ann M. Penniman School
Fund 500.00
Avis A. Thayer School
Fund
500.00
Nathaniel H. Hunt Li- Fund 24,276.99
Charles Thayer Fund
20,329.05
George W. Kelley Ceme- tery Fund 200.00
Hannah R. Hollis Ceme- tery Fund 100.00
Julia A. Minchin Ceme-
tery Fund 100.00
Braintree Tercentenary
Fund 66.77
$57,385.47
In Custody of Library Treasurer: Foundation Fund 11,020.91 Caleb Stetson Fund 2,500.00
Rachel R. Thayer Fund 172.50
$13,693.41
$
$ 71.078.83
ยท 71,078.88
117
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Department OF THE
TOWN OF BRAINTREE
FROM
December 31, '34 to December 31, '35
F . B.
RPOR
TOWN
EE
M
ASSACHUSETTS. .1640.
Printed by Order of the Town
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Mr. Henry D. Higgins, Chairman, 490 Washington St., Braintree.
Mrs. Alida N. Stevens, Secretary, 75 Tremont St., South Braintree.
Mr. Howard B. Blewett, 363 Tremont St., Braintree.
Mr. Arthur R. Gates, 43 Standish Ave., South Brain- tree.
Mrs. Harriet B. W. Kimball, 137 Shaw St., East Braintree.
Mr. Herbert O. Boardman, 49 Mount Vernon Street, Braintree.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Mr. C. Edward Fisher, Town Hall, South Braintree. Office Telephone, 0782. Office Hours, 8:00 to 9:00 A. M.
SECRETARY
Miss Edna E. Woodsum. Office Hours, eight to twelve, one to five, on days when schools are in session.
MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE
Second Monday evening of each month at eight o'clock in the Town House, Washington St., South Braintree.
120
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
January 2, 1936.
To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree:
During the year just passed, through Federal aid, it has been possible for this department to do inside and outside painting at the Lincoln, Watson, both Noah Torrey Buildings, and the Hollis Schools: fur- thermore, extensive improvement was made on the Monatiquot School grounds by removing boulders, grading and building a stone wall. A complete new roof was put on the Hollis School which had for sev- eral years been giving a great deal of trouble because of leaks. The walls of the Hollis and Noah Torrey Pri- mary Buildings were waterproofed. The roof of the Monatiquot School had to have considerable money spent on it as windstorms seemed to have pulled off many shingles, thus causing leaks.
Text Book adoptions were made in English, Physi- ology and Hygiene and Spelling for our grade schools, which is now uniform for all schools and has already shown improved results attained in the teaching of these subjects. It is the intention to secure supple- mentary reading material for our grades five to eight this year. There is great need of this material.
Last year the Town approved a restoration of one- half o fthe fifteen per cent donation which had been in force, and it is to be hoped that this year may find the finances of the Town in such condition that full restoration of salaries for all Town employees may be made. It is upon this basis that the School Depart- ment budget for 1936 has been made.
121
The School Committee appreciates the generous support given by the Town, and hopes that the appar- ent harmony and cordial good feeling now existing may continue to be merited by the earnest efforts, not only of the members of the committee, but of each and every one of the many employees in this depart- ment.
The reports of the department which follow merit your attention.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY D. HIGGINS, Chairman ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary HOWARD B. BLEWETT ARTHUR R. GATES HARRIET B. W. KIMBALL
HERBERT O. BOARDMAN
School Committee.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January 2, 1936.
To the School Committee:
I present herewith, as Superintendent o Schools, my fifteenth annual report.
With the closing of school in June 1935 it was found necessary to fill but three vacancies for the opening of schools in September. These vacancies
122
were occasioned by the resignation of Miss Wright, teacher of Spanish and German in the High School, and Mr. Batchelder in the Commercial Department in the High School, and Miss Campbell, a teacher in the Thomas A. Watson School. This number of vacancies is the smallest which the Town has had for many, many years.
The system of allowing children to be admitted to the Kindergarten and first grade, when they may be under age, as a result of Psychological tests conduct- ed at the Harvard Graduate School of Education is not proving to be at all satisfactory. No one ever fails to pass the test, and children many months, even a year, under age have been examined, and according to records, recommended for admission. Records as transmitted to me - frequently they are not sent di- rect as has been requested, have been incomplete. Many admitted on tests have proven not capable of doing satisfactory work. I very strongly recommend the abolishing of the test and returning to the former practice, or else employing some one to come here and conduct tests putting an age limit on those who may be tested. Furthermore, if examinations are conduct- ed here they should be conducted on certain fixed dates not after, at the latest, the third week of the school year. It is quite unfair not only to the teacher, but to the children as well, to have a new pupil come into a class after eight or ten weeks of work. If a child is to come to school at all in any school year they should certainly be entered before October first at the latest.
I feel that the work in our schools is being carried on most efficiently, but there of course individual chil- dren who are to the teacher so-called "problem chil- dren", and usually these same children are "problem
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children" for the home and the Public as well. Some- times patience and perseverence on the part of the teacher solves the problem, but usually success does not come except through the combined efforts of the School, the Home and the Public, and this last some- times means the Court. One factor in the efficiency of any personnel force is the permanency or term of service of that force. Frequent and large overturn in personnel requires a great deal of supervision in or- der that effective work may be accomplished. It should be noted that of our 146 teachers, 111 are on tenure, 21 are teaching their third year here, 11 their second year, and only three their first year. When small over- turn in personnel is found combined with years of cx- erience and creditable records, excellent conditions are usually found. In this connection it is of interest to note that in our High School the average number of years of experience of our High School teacher is over eleven, and of service is over eight. In our grade schools the average years of experience of our grade teacher is over twelve years, and of service is over eight years.
This is the first year that there has been no room in our schools with two grades in it - i. e. a so-called mixed room. The mixed room is not a desirable con- dition, but seldom does it happen that there is not one in a school system, and I very much doubt if next year will see it possible for this condition to be repeated. The two-room portable on the Watson School grounds, not in use this year, will have to be opened up next year and made use of in all probability. At the Abra- ham Lincoln School serious thought should immedi- ately be given to the possibilities of remodeling the second floor in the old part where the Hall is, so as to secure two or three more class rooms. I believe the
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