Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1941, Part 8

Author:
Publication date: 1941
Publisher: The town
Number of Pages: 260


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1941 > Part 8


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49,137.49


$2,055,115.17


LIABILITIES AND RESERVES


Temporary Loans :


In Anticipation of Revenue 1940


$200,000.00


In Anticipation of Revenue 1941


500,000.00


$700,000.00


Tailings-Unclaimed Checks


3,035.41


Proceeds of Dog Licenses-due County


257.60


Sale of Real Estate Fund


1,240.00


Premium on Loans


60.89


Trust Fund Income:


Ann Maria Penniman School Fund


32.21


Avis A. Thayer School Fund


1.37


Library Funds


2,581.96


Nathaniel H. Hunt Fund


52.00


Charles Thayer Fund


347.35


George W. Kelley Cemetery Fund


2.47


Hannah R. Hollis Cemetery Fund


.17


Julia A. Minchin Cemetery Fund


5 51


Joseph S. Miller Cemetery Fund


3.02


Charles Hill Cemetery Fund


4.81


Hollingsworth Gift


Guarantee Deposits :


Electric Light Customers


3,103.69


Electric Light Interest


375.32


Federal Grants:


Old Age Assistance:


Administration


258 59


Assistance


5,020.34


Aid to Dependent Children:


Administration


193.03


Old Age Assistance Recoveries


327.50


Sewer Receipts Reserved for Appropriation


2,422.94


Electric Light Available Surplus


40,684.93


Electric Light Depreciation


22,041.51


County Tax 1941


26,603 94


State Tax and Assessments 1941


96,575.64


Unexpended Appropriation Balances


790,185.28


Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus


43.45


95


3,030.87 50,000.00


3,479.01


5,471.96


392.50


Overlays Reserved for Abatement of Taxes:


Levy of 1939


$22.69


Levy of 1940


3,819.75


Levy of 1941


4,543.25


8,385.69


Revenue Reserved Until Collected:


Motor Vehicle Excise Tax


623.84


Special Assessment


26,211 29


Tax Title 103,556.10


Departmental


11,562.67


Electric Light


40,774.87


Water


21,147.90


Revenue 1941


Surplus Revenue


203,876.67 358.00 97,033.88


$2,055,115.17


NON-REVENUE ACCOUNTS


Loan Authorized-High School Addition .


$240,000.00


Loan Authorized Unissued


$240,000.00


DEFERRED REVENUE ACCOUNTS


Apportioned Assessments Not Due:


Sewer


$ 44,952.64


Sewer House Connections


9,890.00


$ 54,842.64


Apportioned Sewer Assessment Revenue:


Due in 1942


$ 11,848.46


1943


11,823.46


1944


9,318.43


1945


4,940.43


1946


2,481.43


1947


1,890.43


1948


974.00


1949


865 00


1950


811.00


1943


$ 44,952.64


Apportioned. Sewer House Connection Revenue :


Due in 1942


$ 1,529.00


1943


1,503.00


1944


1,468.00


1945


1,429.00


1946


1,424.00


1947


1,127.00


-96 -


1948


721.00


1949


451.00


1950


238.00


9,890.00


$ 54,842.64


DEBT ACCOUNTS


Net Funded or Fixed Debt


$687,600.00


$687,600.00


Police and Fire Station Loans


$ 66,600.00


Sewerage Loans


529,000.00


School Loans


92,000.00


$687,600.00


TRUST ACCOUNTS


Trust Funds, Cash and Securities:


In Custody of Town Treasurer


$ 73,649.21


In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees


13,693.41


$ 87,342.62


In Custody of Town Treasurer:


Charles E. French School Fund


$ 2,419.50


Ann Maria Penniman School Fund


500.00


Avis A. Thayer School Fund


500.00


Nathaniel H. Hunt Library Fund


24,276.99


James W. Colbert Library Fund


25,000.00


Charles Thayer Fund


20,329.06


George W. Kelley Cemetery Fund


200.00


Hannah R. Hollis Cemetery Fund


100.00


Julia A. Minchin Cemetery Fund


100.00


Joseph S. Miller Cemetery Fund


123.66


Charles C. Hill Cemetery Fund . .


100.00


$ 73,649.21


In Custody of Treasurer of Library Trustees :


Foundation Fund


$ 11,020.91


Caleb Stetson Fund


2,500.00


Rachel R. Thayer Fund


172.50


$ 13,693.41


$ 87,342.62


... .. . .


- 97 -


RETIREMENT SYSTEM ACCOUNTS


Municipal Contributory Retirement System Funds --- Cash and Securities : In Custody of Town Treasurer


$ 81,166.77


$ 81.166.77


Annuity Savings Fund


$ 37,862.67


Pension Accumulation Fund


41,183.08


Annuity Reserve Fund


1,592.79


Expense Fund


225.85


Income Fund


302.35


$ 81,166.77


- 98 -


Annual Report


OF THE


School Department


OF THE


Town of Braintree


FROM DECEMBER 31, 1940 to DECEMBER 31, 1941


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


MR. ARCHIE T. MORRISON, Chairman 555 Liberty Street, South Braintree


MRS. ALIDA N. STEVENS, Recording Secretary 75 Tremont Street, South Braintree


MR. HOWARD B. BLEWETT, 188 Hollingsworth Avenue, South Braintree MRS. SOPHIE G. BLUNT, 295 Washington Street, Braintree MR. HAROLD R. QUIMBY, 132 Tremont Street, South Braintree MR HERBERT O. BOARDMAN, 49 Mount Vernon Street, Braintree


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


MR. C. EDWARD FISHER, 10 Tremont Street, South Braintree Office Telephone 0782


Office Hours on School Days, 8:00 to 9:00 A.M.


SECRETARY MISS EDNA E. WOODSUM


Office Hours: 8:00 to 12:00, 1:00 to 5:00 on days when Schools are in session.


MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE


Second Monday evening of each month except July and August at sever o'clock in the School Committee offices, 10 Tremont Street, South Braintree


100 -


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE JANUARY 15, 1942


To the Citizens of the Town of Braintree:


It was a source of much satisfaction to the School Committee to find that last March you actually agreed that there was a real need for an ad- dition to the High School, and the vote' appropriating $250,000. for its construction appeared to take care of a matter that we had worked on for a number of years. Unfortunately, by the time the Building Committee (appointed by the moderator) was ready to place contracts, the market on building materials had advanced so far that $250,000. was inadequate, and it was found that $85,000. additional would be needed. Therefore, the ad- dition to the High School had to be abandoned.


Since that time the School Department has submitted a request sup- ported with a great deal of detailed evidence asking for an outright grant from the Office of Public Works Administration, and this request has been passed upon favorably by the local office and has been forwarded to Wash- ington where it now is. However, with the existing conditions it is not likely that we can expect any favorable action for some time to come. We hope when the time comes that the Public Works Administration can give attention to these different projects that ours will receive attention among the first to be acted upon, but when this time may come no one can now foretell.


All of the problems that would have been solved by the building of the addition to the High School are still with us and will continue to be until that addition has been provided.


We, also, at that Town Meeting received an appropriation of a supple- mentary budget for the introduction of shopwork for our boys in the Seventh and Eighth Grades and for the teaching of sewing and cooking to our girls in those same grades. We proceeded with the organization of this work in anticipation of having available for use facilities in the High School in September, 1942, for the continuance of these types of work. We now are unable to continue this work in the High School as we had planned because of the failure of the construction of the new addition, but we have the satisfaction of knowing that this work in the Grade Schools has made much progress. Because of the conditions which steadily became worse, we were unable to obtain all of the equipment on account of scarci- ties and the lack of suitable priorities, and although we are still in need of some of this equipment it is felt that the handicaps experienced have not introduced insurmountable obstacles to valuable and effective work.


The unexpended balance of $1,273.18 from the supplementary budget represents the equipment that we were unable to procure because of mar- ket conditions.


We earnestly recommend that you read the Superintendent of Schools' report which follows and that you give it your careful consideration.


Yours very truly,


ARCHIE T. MORRISON, Chairman ALIDA N STEVENS, Recording Secretary HOWARD B. BLEWETT HAROLD R. QUIMBY HERBERT O. BOARDMAN SOPHIE G. BLUNT


101 -


REPORT of the SUPERINTENDENT of SCHOOLS


To the School Committee:


I present herewith, as Superintendent of Schools, my twenty-first annual report. The same form is presented as requested by you last year, omitting statistical tables and the complete reports from the various de- partments.


During the last school year two of our teachers, one in the High School, Mr. Ullman, and one at the Highlands School, Mr. Avitabile, were called to service in the United States Army. Each of these teachers was granted a leave of absence for the duration of their service and substitutes elected. Seven of our teachers resigned to be married, one resigned to secure a better salary, and it seemed necessary to drop one of our special classes because of a reduced enrollment of children assigned to these groups. Therefore, this year we find new in our teaching force five Cadet teachers, a teacher of Physical Education in the grades, a teacher of Draw- ing in the grades, a teacher of Household Arts in the High School, and with the introduction of Shop Work for the boys of the seventh and eighth grades three new men, one for each district for shops located at the Abra- ham Lincoln School, Hollis School and Noah Torrey Grammar School. With the opening of schools in September not only the introduction of Shop Work for boys of the seventh and eighth grades occurred, but Sew- ing for girls of the seventh grade and Cooking for girls of the eighth grade were also introduced into our educational program. To carry out this program the school hours for all seventh and eighth grade pupils were changed so that now they are from 8:30 A.M. to 2:15 P.M., with a lunch period from 12:10 to 12:40. The hours for Cooking, Sewing and Shop Work for those pupils enrolled in buildings where facilities for these ac- tivities are not provided were arranged in the afternoon, thus making it much more convenient.


There were many problems in the process of meeting the requirements of this enriched curriculum, not the least of which was the securing of equipment, some of which is not yet even shipped. The Government and War Defense activities are naturally getting machines before they can be provided for educational activities. There is still much to be done in completing the finishing of the rooms where the work is being carried on. It is, of course, most unfortunate that this Shop Work for the boys of our seventh and eighth grades cannot be continued in the High School as could have been done had the addition to the High School been com- pleted, as we had reason to believe would be done when we started putting into effect our plans for the grades. This enrichment of our curriculum was made possible for the grades by the favorable action of the Town on a supplementary budget of $12,000 for the School Department.


The world conditions have had their influences on educational activi- ties in a way that is no more desirable than on many others, but it should be one of the last to be in any way curtailed or hampered. The world will continue to need, and even more in the future than in the past, people for leadership who will be possessed with a broad knowledge and a faculty for clear, direct and logical thinking. These leaders for the future are in the schools of today, and this nation will reap a harvest of the future in accordance with the seeds sown today in preparedness for the future leadership of the world which must fall on the shoulders of this nation. We are very likely to face a serious shortage of men in the teaching pro- fession which may lead to the suspension of some of our present educa- tional activities. It is not unlikely that we may even face a shortage of trained women teachers too when, as occurred in the other World War, much larger financial inducements are to be found in other fields of work


102


for which many teachers are well fitted. If, and when it may become necessary for any reason to curtail educational activities most careful and serious consideration should be given the problem and action taken such that so far as possible there shall be the least possible curtailment of the essential educational program and its efficiency.


Our school buildings are in almost constant use seven days in the week, both directly and indirectly as a consequence of the fact that this Nation is at War. Some time ago many of our teachers took courses in First Aid. Air Raid Warden, etc., and are now qualified instructors giving courses to adults and to students. These courses, and many other courses, being given by other qualified instructors are using our school buildings. The buildings are also being used by groups of air raid wardens and others for regular meetings, for instruction and discussion with the thought con- stantly in mind that this neighborhood may be prepared to meet effectively and efficiently any emergency which might arise. It should not be over- looked that all this means a heavier load for the School Department budge? to carry in the matter of heat, light, power and maintenance.


There is no need of repeating here the School Department procedures in case of air raid alarm since written copies have been sent to every home where there is a child in school, but it should be stated that each and every building has already had drills and that every building has its own individ- ual problem in the minor details, and I assure you I am confident that every possible situation which might arise has been planned for and pro- vision made to meet the situation in the most effective way to insure the safety of Public School pupils.


War conditions will require that the American Public learn to accept and carry out promptly all instructions and orders from officers and lead- ers in absolute faith that it is the best way, and furthermore, learn that "less talk and more action" will create the most desirable results.


In the High School our enrollment has dropped off 24 from what it was a year ago, but of this number 10 are found in the Post Graduate, leaving but 14 less distributed through four classes. With the present conditions the surprising thing is that the number is not much larger. There are 18 less pupils in the grade school, but when you come to dis- tribute this number over 10 different groups (Special Classes, Kinder- gartens and Grades I to VIII inclusive), the change in membership in our schools is a negligible quantity.


I wish to quote from the report of the High School Principal, Mr. Jordan, who says as follows:


"The failure of the High School addition to get underway in the summer has resulted in a definite let-down in the interest of the pupils. This, together with a general unrest due to war conditions, has brought many problems. Not since the days of the first World War has there been the same type of problems to contend with in the way of unrest and unsettled attitude toward serious work. The present Freshman class, however, seems to have brought in an unusually fine group of boys and girls, in spirit and scholarship.


Last year's extra curricula were more than usually successful As has been the case for a long time our students have taken part in, and made enviable records, in a large number of activi- ties of extra curricula nature. Splendid productions of musical and dramatic nature, literary activities of the students and other activities too numerous to mention have enlisted the interest of


103 -


very many pupils. Our athletic teams have more than their share of success in point of wins, as evidenced by an unbeaten Cross- Country team in 1940, a basketball team that won Class 'B' Tech Tourney, and a baseball team which went into the semi-finals of the Schoolboys' Series in Boston last Spring. These were fol- lowed by one of the most successful football teams in the history of the school for the season just passed.


"The real business of school has not been neglected, as evi- denced by the unusual showing made by our boys in higher insti- tutions Last year all eight of the Braintree High School boys who went directly from our school to Massachusetts Institute of Tech- nology were on the Dean's list for the first half year, and four of the group were on for the full year. This is a most enviable rec- ord. General success has rewarded the efforts of our boys and girls in other institutions."


Our Physical Education instructors in the grades are promoting more organized athletic activities under the guidance of our Director of the Health Department, and it is felt that it will result in better physical and mental health conditions as it increases the interest in team play and ac- tive recreation. Extensive and valuable use is being made of our tele- binocular in more effective check-up on ยท eye-sight, and our audiometer testing has led to the beginning of instruction in lip reading which will be extended and further organized should developments in the future seem to require and justify such action.


For our work in Visual Education we have a Sound Film Projector and a Film Library of 25 films, 12 of which are sound films. We also have slide projectors and several hundred slides on various subjects which can be used to advantage in making more vivid the instruction given in our schools. The work is organized so that all schools have an opportunity to utilize these facilities during the school year.


Music in our schools has attained an unusually high degree of ex- cellence. Evidence of this is found in our rating in the Massachusetts and New England Music Festivals of "Excellent," and further evidence is to be found in the attendance at our Annual High School Music Festivals which has risen, in five years, from 190 to nearly 800. Our grade schools are in need of new material for Vocal Work and I certainly hope that our budget this year may be such that the materials needed may be se- cured. It is merited.


A list of the various organized groups for instrumental work in music in our schools is evidence of the enthusiasm and interest.


8 Grammar School Orchestras


3 Grammar School Bands


1 All-Grammar School Orchestra


1 High School Full Orchestra (Symphonic)


1 High School "Little Theatre" Orchestra


1 High School Dance Orchestra (16 pieces for training only)


1 High School String Quaret


1 High School Brass Ensemble


1 High School "A" Band of 60 pieces


1 High School "B" Band of 34 selected pieces


Excursions by our grade schools into Boston to visit the Museum of Fine Arts has aroused interest and enthusiasm for work in this field. A visit to the classrooms in our schools will at any time have evidence of the meritorious work being done.


104


Some years ago Massachusetts had by law its so-called "Truant Of- ficer," later amended to "Attendance Officer," and later, because the word "officer" seented inevitably to suggest Police, amended to "Supervisor of Attendance." The duties today are more those of a Social Worker with a background of thorough acquaintance with the work of the teacher and a close contact with the various social agencies and the court; contacts such that effective cooperation and team work may be evidenced in skillful diagnosis and effective prevention, or correction when necessary, with the child who may become, or is, a problem. I feel that this work in our schools has by its conduct secured the hearty good-will, cooperation and support of all the various agencies involved not the least of which is the home.


The School Dental Clinic conducted by the Board of Health under the direction and supervision of the Superintendent of Schools performed 2,897 operations, of which 414 were cleanings, 2,154 fillings and 329 ex- tractions, at a net cost to the Town of $1,774.85. Twenty-five cents is the charge made for each operation which accounts for receipts amount- ing to $724.25. The expenditures were $2,390.10 for professional services, $85.75 for supplies, $2.25 for repairs to equipment and $21.00 for moving equipment which make a total expenditure of $2,499.10, leaving a balance from the appropriation of $2,500.00, of 90 cents


During the year the Department adopted a new spelling book entitled "Correct Spelling." This book would seem to be an advance over the book displaced because, if for no other reason, of the fact that it has formal organized instruction and training in the use of a dictionary.


The enriched curriculum necessitated the purchase of Science books for use in the grades, but funds were not sufficient to purchase books for grades other than seven and eight. It is quite necessary that Science books be purchased for the lower grades this year in order that a proper cumulative and progressive foundation may be laid for this subject before the pupils arrive in these upper grades if the work is to be carried on in the best way possible, and in accordance with the course of study in this subject as prepared by a committee of teachers.


A beginning was made, too, in these upper grades along the lines of attempting to introduce some work in guidance and if this work is to be continued in the most effective way possible it will necessitate investment in books.


I feel that Braintree has no reason to feel other than proud of the work being done in its schools and the accomplishments of the pupils enrolled. I sincerely hope that ways and means may be devised so that the present World War will not affect our schools and their work in the same way, or anywhere near to the same extent that the previous World War did. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Be on the alert. "Preparedness" seems to be the word of the day and hour.


Respectfully submitted


C. EDWARD FISHER


Superintendent of Schools


- 105 -


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Teachers' Salaries (including Principals


and four secretaries


$242,615.58


Superintendent's Salary


4,500.00


Secretary's Salary


1.408.26


Supervisor of Attendance


780.00


Telephone, Printing, Postage, etc.


1.661.33


Nurse, Physicians and Health Supplies


2,802 86


Janitors' Salaries


16,726.22


Fuel


9,419.01


Light, Water & Misc. Operating


5.018.27


Text Books and Supplies


17,995.30


Transportation


10,175.55


Tuition


3,540.36


Repairs and Improvements


17,354.78


Outlay


556.00


Miscellaneous


486 60


-- - - ----


$335.040.12


Equipment and Installation for


Shops, Kitchens, etc


7.849.00


Supplies


1.087.82


Salaries


1.790.00


10,726.82


Total


$345.766 94 .


RECEIPTS OF THE TOWN ON ACCOUNT OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Massachusetts School Fund


$ 29,130.00


State Reimbursement (on Tuition paid)


2.227.54


Tuition (State Wards and others)


1.046.04


Miscellaneous


107.54


32,511.12


Net Cost of Town for Support of Schools


$313,255.82


-. 106 -


GRADUATES OF 1941


HIGH SCHOOL


Robert Walter Chiesa


Madelena Agnes DeShong


Rita Elizabeth Lee


Marion Frances Dillon


Alice Louise Buker


James William Donovan


Robert Wayne Johnson


Barbara Louise Dowd


Evelyn Anne Mattie


Walter William Drake


Edith Hope Ludy


Florence Marion Drummey Angela Cecile Duffy


Marjorie Beulah Cain


Donald Harrison Dugmore


Robert Frank Cashen


Robert Carlton Dyer


Mary Frances Damiao


John Warren Ericson


William Leslie Ingmanson


Marie Anne Evans


Catherine Dorothy Recupero


Flarence Elizabeth Fairbairn


Anna Rose Vella


Murial Pauline Farmer Gloria Ann Farnum


Marjorie Pauline Wheeler


Walter Calkin Farrington


Shirley Evelyn Abbott Robert Charles Allen


Mary Elizabeth Fassino Dorothy Eleanor Ferris


William George Anastos


Richard Walter Andrews


Richard Dickson Arnold


Winsome Burgess Arnold


Ruth Ernestine Flint George Henry Foley Charlotte Belle Francis


Dorothy Gertrude Bagonzzi Andrew Joseph Bardetti Mary Frances Barker


Joseph Anthony Frazier Mary Louise Friend


Helen Elizabeth Barrett


Mildred Mary Gallagher Doris May Goodearl


Robert Lloyd Batchelder


Robert Ackinson Bell


Robert Gerard Goodhue


Lucia Rose Birtwistle Paul Laing Bishop


Marjorie Claire Gourley Ruth Mabel Grady


Beatrice Louise Blanchard


Elsie Louise Boltz


Lawrence Irving Bowie Anne May Boyle


Arthur Ralph Bregoli


Loring Wolcott Britton


Melvin Brown


Alice Marion Cammick


Anthony Francis Cardarople


Richard Eugene Carter


Frank Roderick Chadbourne


Dwight Thomas Chandler Paul Owen Cheverie Lewis Gerald Clancy


Gerard Edward Clougherty William Francis Cody Angelina Concannon Martha Jean Cook Daniel Francis Corcoran Ruth Shirley Corrigan Laurie Preble Cotton Roger Allen Daley


Anna Margaret Dand Henry Robert Davies Ervin Davis


Virginia Mae DeCoste Albert DelPico


Mary Eleanor Demers


*Mildred Cathella Griffiths Madelyn Dorothy Gurney David Siegfried Hagen Caroline Elizabeth Hall Eva Frances Hall Edith Naomi Hansen


*Genevieve Elizabeth Harken *Lester Davis Hatch Betty May Henshaw John Doige Hicks *Ruth McBeth Hill


. Thomas Robert Huleatt Gloria Elizabeth Hunt Natalie Ewing Hussey Evelyn Frances James Mellicent Isabel Jenkins Sally Huntoon Johnson Joseph Harold Juster Patricia Gary Kincaid Robert Joseph King Eileen Mary LaCroix June Langill Arthur William Larkin


William Fred Lavery James Ervin Leahy George Herbert Lewald


107


Ruth Elizabeth Smith


Doris Ida Stovold


Albert Joseph Fitzgerald, Jr.


James Herbert Frazier


Beulah Ellen Greene Patricia Marie Greene


Elmer Eustis Lewis, Jr. Norma Pauline Libby Walter Mathew Luisi Edward Joseph Lydon Agnes Bridget Lynch Barbara Priscilla MacArthur Edwin Russell Mace Robert Hanna MacFee


Virginia Marie Malcolm


David Lewis Manter


Constance Grace Marsh


Kenneth John McCumber, Jr.


Doris Winifred McIlvin


George William McNulty


Jean Elizabeth McPhee


Kathleen Alice McSharry


Lasine Helen Merritt


Betty Allan Mills


Helen Elizabeth Mischler


Jean Crawford Morrison


Walter Ellis Morrison, Jr. Frederick Joseph Moynihan


Geraldine Muller


Frederick Joseph Mycroft




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