USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Town annual report of Braintree, Massachusetts for the year 1951 > Part 9
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16. All maps and globes replaced.
17. Failures reduced 60%.
18. Surplus property valued at $50,000 obtained.
19. Teachers' Salary Schedule materially improved.
III Public Relations
20. Advisory Committees created (Low-Cost School Housing, School Site, Report Card) .
21. Close relations with Parents' Council and P.T.A.'s.
22. Braintree School News published four times a year.
23. "Braintree Schools on the Air," WJDA, Thursdays at 10:45 A.M.
IV In-Service Training For Teachers
24. Teachers' Institutes (30 hours per year) .
25. Extension Courses (2 each year).
26. Course of Study Committees.
27. Grade Committees.
V Auxiliary Agencies
28. Guidance Department enlarged and strengthened (Counseling, Testing, Adjustment) .
29. Federal Lunch Program introduced.
30. Athletic participation extended to all who wished to take part.
31. Health Service reorganized (physical, eye, ear, exams, Dental Clinic, etc.).
32. Safety Patrols extended to all schools (with co- operation of Police Department and Chamber of Commerce and P.T.A.'s) .
33. Civilian Defense Program organized for emergency use in each school.
VI Maintenance
34. All school buildings completely redecorated inside and painted outside.
35. Fluorescent lighting installed in every classroom.
36. Playgrounds improved at Watson, Lincoln, Mon- atiquot, Perkins.
37. Fencing at Perkins, Watson and Lincoln.
38. Sprinkler System at Braintree High School.
39. All school floors de-oiled and floor seal now used.
40. Expansion of Plant 1946-1951: Braintree High School Addition increased capac- ity from 650 to 1200 pupils.
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New Donald E. Ross School - 15 classrooms. Hollis Auditorium cut up into 2 classrooms ; Home Economics room for 1 more.
Remodel Pond School to provide 2 extra class- rooms.
Additions to Highlands and Penniman author- ized. Plans for Monatiquot.
Lincoln School Auditorium remodeling.
Two sites secured: at Lakeside, and Braintree Highlands. Plans for schools prepared.
During this period, 1946-1951, the following have served as members of the Braintree School Committee :
Roger W. Arnold Ovidio D. Chiesa
Howard B. Blewett Elmer G. Derby
Sophie G. Blunt Helen M. Harmon Herbert O. Boardman Archie T. Morrison
Gordon W. Bryant G. Ralph Young
B. School Housing Again Studied
Many people have studied the Wilson School Building Survey of Braintree School needs. This was published in 1948. Since that date several real estate developments, especially in the Highlands, Liberty Street, and Lakeside areas, have further complicated the overall picture and accelerated the need for additional school facilities. Enroll- ment for 1951 is 200 above Wilson's estimate.
The present enrollment of 4604 (1155 increase since 1946) is housed in buildings having total capacity of 4530. Twenty-three new elementary classrooms (fifteen at Ross and eight used temporarily in High School addition) have been added in these five years. A further increase of 300 pupils is certain for next year. The minimum requirements to house pupils in 1952 include :
(1) A four-room annex at Monatiquot School.
(2) A four-room annex at Penniman School (Part of funds available).
(3) A seven-room school at the Flye Site in the Highlands.
In 1953 the High School will need the eight rooms now used for the North Grammar School. These pupils should
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be transferred to Hollis School, and a new Lakeside School ready for the former Hollis pupils. So 1953 projects are :
(4) Remodel Hollis School for North Grammar.
(5) Transfer Hollis pupils to Lakeside (appropria- tion needed 1952).
(6) New South Grammar School.
(7) Addition to Ross School.
(8) Four-room annex at Perkins School.
(9) Four-room addition at Watson School.
This program should care for the needs of the existing schools. New real estate developments in other sections, especially along Liberty Street, may require two additional elementary buildings in that area.
Braintree High School will require a nine-room addition in 1957. That addition will represent the maximum pos- sible size of the High School with a capacity of 1400 pupils ; yet the High School will grow to 1800 by 1962. The solution will be to withdraw the 9th grade from the High School after the 1400 enrollment is reached, and expand each of the three district grammar schools (7th and 8th grades now) into Junior High Schools, enrolling 7th, 8th and 9th grade pupils.
The School Site Committee, Low-Cost School Housing Committee, and the School Committee are all diligently studying these problems in order to recommend to the Town suitable solutions at the most economical possible plans. The financial burdens will be difficult-$2,000,000 for the 1952-1953 programs alone (State pays 36% or $720,000 of this, however), yet the 100% birth rate increase and growth of the Town create requirements over which there is appar- ently no other satisfactory solution.
C. Enrollment September 1951
Three hundred forty-eight additional pupils are enrolled this September. The greatest increases have come in the Highlands (95) and Monatiquot (46).
1951
1950
Increase
High School
894
912
-18
No. Grammar
236
236
Highlands (5 gr. at Pond)
416
342
74
Torrey (3 gr. at Pond)
482
489
-7
Colbert
51
36
15
137
Monatiquot
323
277
46
Hollis
463
450
13
Penniman
389
423
-34
Perkins
283
342
-59
Watson
293
296
-3
Lincoln
263
433
-170
Ross
442
+442
Pond
49
+49*
TOTALS
4584
4236
348
*21 from Highlands, 28 from Torrey
D. Our High School Personnel
A check on the period of service of our high school personnel shows that we have in the high school, twenty individuals who will have completed twenty years or more of service at the end of this school year. They are as follows :
James L. Jordan 34 years
Ruth W. Thrasher 28 years
Ruth J. Bennett 33 years
(Also several years in grades)
Raymond L. Strangford .. 30 years
Katherine K. Waldron ... 28 years
Mildred B. Ahlgren 29 years
Hazel M. Summerville .. 26 years
Marion L. Billings 28 years
Viola P. Evans
24 years
Constance F. Stecher 24 years
Alton C. Perry 24 years
Anna M. Tilley 24 years
G. Vinton Jones 23 years
Kathleen W. Campbell 23 years
Aldo C. Chiesa 23 years
Paul V. Toolin 22 years
Alice E. Daughraty
23 years
Ruth P. Strout
23 years
Bernadine Gutterson 21 years
Eula I. Hutchins 20 years
There are two others who have taught twenty or more years in Braintree, although not all in the high school. In the group are some of our very finest teachers indicating that experience is a valuable asset for a teacher. These teachers set the proper pace for the younger ones coming in. The fact that we are allowed to send boys who graduate in the highest fifth of their classes, and whom we can recom- mend, to Massachusetts Institute of Technology without examinations of any kind, even aptitude tests, is not a mat- ter of accident or chance but reflects the fine work done by our able, conscientious teachers. It also stresses the need for high school pupils to do their best to attain creditable grades. The whole group of high school teachers sizes up very well.
E. Our School Health Services
Braintree registers, on an average, one thousand new students each year. Our school health services begin with the registration of children entering our school system, and continue, throughout their entire school life, a health record
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that includes reports of all physical examinations, past medical history and general information as to parents' names, addresses, siblings and the family doctor.
With the enactment of the state law for spaced school physical examinations, the Braintree pupils are now exam- ined in kindergarten and grades four, eight and twelve. Many deviations from normal are found on examination and through the interest and efforts of the parents many of these defects are corrected and each year finds healthier children in our schools.
During the year much work has been done on vision and hearing conservation. Braintree schools are proud of the fact that they are using the best equipment available for the testing of children's sight and hearing, the Massa- chusetts Vision Test and the audiometer. By careful screen- ing and individual testing, many children with poor vision have been found and corrections made. One visiting our schools would see many wearing glasses and we also have many under treatment. With these corrections we find our number of failures decreasing every year. As 83% of all ideas and impressions are received through sight these corrections are vital to the child in these formative years of learning.
Serious defects in hearing have been found in our schools and treatment obtained. The most important phase of the hearing program is the preventative work. It has been found that slight hearing losses in childhood often lead to serious deafness in adult life. It is the hope of the health department that treatment may be obtained for these cases and this serious handicap of adulthood will be pre- vented.
New personnel has been added to the staff to allow for a more concentrated vision-hearing conservation program. This will be beneficial in this special work and will allow other personnel more time to devote to the paramount objective of the school health program-the improving of the total health of the total child in his total life situation.
The classroom teacher, with her daily observations of the health conditions of each child and making the neces- sary adjustments for the handicapped children, integrates health education into her classroom curriculum in such a manner as to encourage good healthy living standards in each child. The teachers are responsible to a very great degreee for the continuing success we are achieving in all phases of our health and physical education program.
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1951 COMPARATIVE SCHOOL COSTS (Cities and Towns 20,000-30,000 Population)
City or Town
1950 Pop.
1951 Tax Rate
1950-1951 Av. Staff Salary
1950-1951 Average Membership
1950-1951 Pupil-Teacher Ratio
1950-1951 Support of Schools
1950-1951 Per Pupil Cost
Northampton
28,998
$44.00
$3258
2748
24
$570,238
$207
Beverly
28,851
58.00
3265
3778
22
945,886
235
Framingham
27,845
46.00
3868
3665
24
936,647
255
Belmont
27,379
38.00
3867
3646
22
988,201
271
Melrose
26,919
46,00
3591
4052
23
934,432
231
Gloucester
25,048
52.00
3204
3858
26
768,053
199
Methuen
24,411
43.60
3344
2915
28
547,641
188
Leominster
24,084
49.00
*3510
2532
*23
559,157
224
Attleboro
23,465
41.00
*3259
3390
*27
651,069
192
Braintree
23,130
43.80
3205
4248
25
822,653
193
Peabody
22,647
51.80
3271
2873
23
671,097
232
Milton
22,395
41.40
*3446
*3004
22
*674,452.93
*220.78
North Adams
21,475
45.00
3225
2968
23
630,149
211
Westfield
20,961
40.00
3455
2917
25
672,100
230
Wellesley
20,847
38.80
3839
3077
22
748,142
242
W. Springfield
20,398
35.50
3391
2771
22
700,436
251
Woburn
20,269
39.80
*3486
*2790
*23
*588,056
*211
Braintree Rank of 17
10
9
16
1
5
5
15
Av. 9.2 above 19
OTHER SOUTH SHORE NEIGHBORS
Weymouth
32,695
36.00
3485
5550
29
1,056,353
190
Dedham
18,499
46.40
3365
2772
23
643,931
231
Norwood
16,693
41.80
3472
2190
20
585,268
260
Hingham
10,694
52.60
3391
2037
25
538,985
243
Quincy
83,190
46.80
3347
11774
25
2,301,255
195
Brockton
62,856
53.80
3400
8524
27
1,577,073
184
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Thayer Public Library
STACY B. SOUTHWORTH, Chairman
Mabel S. Rogers, Sec.
Gordon W. Bryant
Clara G. Wetherbee Ralph B. Woodsum
The Trustees of the Thayer Public Library herewith submit for your careful consideration the report of the Librarian which follows :
REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN Miriam Hall, Librarian
Population-1875
4,000
1951
23,000
An increase of nearly 500%
Borrowers -
Adult - 7601
옷 = 100
Juvenile - 2298 22922822828
1875 - 1052 books
1930 - 23,000 bks.
1951 - 45,000 bks.
Books-1875
1,053
1951
44,963
An increase of over 4,000%
Circulation-1875
4,390
1951 200,981
An increase of over 4,400%
The above charts are for the most part self explanatory, but a few human interest stories of events taking place in
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of
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your public library during 1951 will serve to put meat on the bare bones, and give meaning to true library service.
People
Children, Teen-agers, College students, Young married couples, Older men and women. Mothers, housewives, busi- nessmen, electricians, auto mechanics, teachers, ministers, artists, hobbyists, and those in search of something to re- lieve the tension of a busy day. 9900 of them or 43% of the people of Braintree are users of the library. It is for them and for all the non-users of Braintree that the library exists. No matter how large a building or how large a book collection, they would be to no avail if they were not used by people.
The following story will show the need of the library, if nothing else. Late this fall the staff had the great joy of serving a new borrower, a Greek boy. A young man approaching the desk rather hesitantly, was greeted by the desk assistant; at first no reply, then "No speak English." Those were the only words in English this young Greek knew, having been in this country a very short time. He had been told how to write Washington St., his address, and was able to write his name. He carried in his pocket a small Greek English dictionary. With the help of this, one of the staff who is well versed in French and German, was able to get him to nod or shake his head as she pointed to various objects and pictures. He took several books used in helping foreigners to learn English; also, children's picture books were brought into service. As he left the library he nodded his thanks, and his face was beaming. Later more books were borrowed from the State Division of Public Libraries.
Books
How much and what do these townspeople want? For next in importance to people are the tools; in the case of the library, books and periodicals. It is a good time at the mid-century mark to have passed by a good margin, the circulation of over 200,000 books, an increase of 6600 over 1950.
While the library staff hesitates to emphasize this fact too much, knowing that circulation does not spell the whole use of the library, yet it is these hard cold facts which the business man asks for when deciding how much support the library should have for the coming year. The year 1951 had not finished when the librarian was ap-
142
.
proached by the Finance Committee to know whether we would have an increase or decrease in circulation, due to television. They thought probably a decrease, but we were happy to report at a later date, the increase of 6600 despite television. This sustantiates the idea that television, in- stead of detracting from the use of books is, in the words of young people themselves "a stimulus to wider interests" and a further need for libraries.
Just as one example. The library staff reported a tremendous demand this summer by teen agers for books on snakes and reptiles. Why all this sudden interest in these loathsome creatures ? When questioned, most of the borrowers replied, "the program on television." Braintree is thus developing a group of amateur herpetologists, who will not have the fear of these reptiles which their parents had.
Housewives would find it next to impossible to refur- bish their homes without the help of the library. An East Braintree borrower took the book "Color in Home Decora- tion" to the store with her and picked out her curtains and wallpaper with its help. The clerk in the store said he would like to have a copy to keep in the drapery goods
SELECTING CHRISTMAS BOOKS
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department. A display of painted articles such as trays, and other tin ware in the windows of the East Braintree Branch Library showed the use made of books on arts and crafts by women taking courses in these subjects. The women themselves offered Miss Handy, the branch librarian, the use of these articles for exhibit. The need of a suitable place in the library for such exhibits of the work of local craftsmen is apparent.
Along in the spring, a middle-aged gentleman asked for material to help him pass an exam as an employee of the Metropolitan Park Commission in the Blue Hills Reser- vation. He said he had lived in Braintree for many years, but had never used the library before. He needed material on construction of tennis courts, highway design and con- struction, development of parks, etc. Again we made a new friend by producing from our own resources and bor- rowing again from the State Division the books which would help him. When a person gets in a jam, it's the library to which he turns for help.
It's not always the modern for which we are asked. A borrower asked how to install an old-fashioned kitchen pump; and the oldest editions of Dyke's Automobile En- cyclopedias are usually those which are asked for the most. The librarians are even supposed to be weather forecasters ; on Aug. 2 we are asked what the weather would be on Sept. 3. Shortly after Valentine's Day last year a young girl asked for a French Dictionary to help her translate a Valentine she had received in French, so also the librarians play the role of cupid's assistant. The present high cost of living is reflected in the increase of requests for books on "How to make money at home."
As another step in providing helps for the business man, the library this year purchased one of the Moody's Investors Services, the volume on Industrials. We have had several calls throughout the year, and the staff felt that despite the cost, it would prove its worth. The volume had been in the library only a few days and was not even catalogued when we had three requests for it. We shall purchase the other volumes on Public Utilities, and Real Estate and Insurance as we feel the need arises.
From the Children's Department comes word of the continued increase of reading of Biographies. Can you remember the day when you only read a biography when you had to, they were so boring? Since 1948 the number
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of children's biographies circulated has nearly doubled. This is due to the new series of biographies written for children in about the fourth grade; children have found them as good as a story and clamor for more. 1951 has seen the beginning of a similar series of books on history, written for children a little older. In 1951 alone, the num- ber of histories circulated has increased 46%. Biography and history go hand in hand; an interest in one helps to develop an interest in the other. This interest in biography is beginning to show up this year with an increase in the adult department, partly for the same tendency on the part of authors to write a more readable book for young people. Incidentally, Mrs. Blair, the children's librarian, was inter- viewed by the new Supervisor of Elementary Schools, Miss Myrle Woodward, on her ideas of trends in children's read- ing. The results of this interview were published in an article "Reading at Home" in the December issue of the Braintree School News.
The condition of the building makes few changes pos- sible; however, we have made one bright spot in the read- ing room. Last year we mentioned the need for additional space for the Young Adults. By moving two vertical files
R.
NEW YOUNG PEOPLE'S NOOK
145
to the cellar, a small alcove was fitted with two red book- cases, several gay hassocks, and an attractive wall lamp, and here the young people have taken over in their 3x4 floor space.
Staff
Now for the staff who make all this possible. It would be difficult to find a finer staff working in the finest building anywhere. They should be doubly complimented for work- ing under the conditions which they endure, and we only hope they will be rewarded with a modern, workable build- ing before it is too late. An outsider remarked recently that the staff should be paid double for working in such a building. Always cheerful and cordial, no matter what the time of day, no matter what the request; with personality enough to convert the meanest Scrooge; and, as the figures show, accomplishing an amazing amount of work. Miss Sylvia Bent has been temporarily taking the place of Mrs. Jeannette Tovet who resigned last winter, and her charm- ing, youthful personality has made her well liked by all who meet her. The addition of Miss Jacqueline Peterson, a graduate of Braintree High School in 1951, as a full time assistant has helped immeasurably in the clerical routine work behind the scenes. As one of the older staff remarked, "What did we ever do without Jackie ?"
Microfilm, Records and Exhibits
Microfilm has taken the place of heavy volumes of bound newspapers. As reported last year, the oldest vol- umes of "Braintree Observers" were photographed, and now instead of having the current year bound, they also are microfilmed. The time is coming very shortly when we shall have to purchase a Microfilm Machine on which to read these newspapers. The old volumes were done before we pur- chased the machine as a means of preservation, but several times during the year, readers asked to see certain of the old papers which cannot be read without a machine.
In March the Library exhibited books at the Adult Education Exhibit of work done in various courses at the High School. This brought to the attention of the public, the books which had been used by persons working on various projects. In April the Library was invited to have an exhibit of books at the All School Open House showing the cooperation between the Library and the Schools. Both
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of these displays were most worthwhile, many people stop- ping to look at them and to ask questions about the library service. One exhibit at the library itself this year, of special note, was the exhibit of Japanese articles loaned by Miss Mary Osborne, a teacher in the Army of Occupa- tion Schools in Japan for two years. Our only regret was that we did not have the space or equipment to display properly the beautiful pieces, so that they could have been seen to better advantage.
One of the most urgent needs, about which we can do nothing until there is more space, is the demand for a record collection. Requests still continue, but our hands are tied. At Christmas time this year, we could have circulated many records of carols. To bring a little Christmas spirit into the library, we borrowed a small record player from one of the staff and purchased three albums of carols which we played softly at intervals during the Christmas season. The comments of the patrons showed how eager they are to borrow recordings.
"A Welcome to the Thayer Public Library" is the title of a new booklet explaining some of the rules of the library and what the library has to offer. This is given to the new borrowers, as they register at the library for the first time; also to the visitor of the Welcome Wagon to distribute to newcomers in the town. This was one of the staff projects during the year, and they are especially grateful to Mrs. Louise Pennock who drew the sketch of the library building which appears on the front cover.
The Braintree Highlands Branch has been thoroughly renovated in the interior and painted on the exterior. It now makes a most attractive homey looking library with its light green walls. The East Braintree Branch will this year receive a freshened look. While a rented store cannot be transformed into the homey atmosphere of the High- lands, yet we hope by fresh paint and possible rearrange- ment of furniture to change this busy place from a drab, colorless room to a brighter and more cheerful library for the residents of this section of the town.
Building
The librarian expects within a year or two to be able to write a report without harping on the need for a new
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building, but the tragedy of it is, that the need continues to grow more acute each year. No one can dispute the crowded conditions of the schools, but the Library Depart- ment urges the citizens to consider seriously that the Library is an integral part of the Educational System of the Town, and as such it must keep pace with the schools in building and equipment. As the schools grow, so grows the use of the library. That is an undeniable fact. The two must go hand in hand, and both are deserving of a building appropriation from the town.
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