USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1920 > Part 6
USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1920 > Part 6
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ARTICLE 18. In the event of affirmative action under Article 16, to see if the Town will appropriate out of unexpended appropriations in the Town Treasury at the end of the fiscal year of 1920 a sum not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) with which to meet a part of the expense of building and equipping a new school house at the Westlands, so called; or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) be appropriated out of the unexpended appropriations in the Town Treasury at the end of the fiscal year of 1920, for the purposes of this article, said sum to be expended under the direction of a Building Committee appointed under Article 16 of this warrant.
ARTICLE 19. To see of the Town will raise or appropriate out of unexpend- ed appropriations in the Town Treasury at the end of the fiscal year of 1920 a sum not exceeding Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for the purpose of clearing from scrub and improving the land recently purchased as a site for a school house at the Westlands, so called ; or act in relation thereto.
We recommend that the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) be so appropriated, to be expended by the Building Committee for the purposes of this article.
77
ARTICLES 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, call for the acceptance of certain Streets and an Avenue.
No one having appeared before your committee to describe the loca- tions, and the need for acceptance of said streets, we submit these articles without recommendation.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will accept and allow Subway Extension as laid out by the Selectmen on January 29, 1921, as described in their report duly filed in the Town Clerk's office and shown on the plan therein referred to; or act in relation thereto.
No explanation having been made to your committee concerning the need for such an expenditure, we make no recommendation thercon.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will raise and appropriate a sum not exceeding Sixteen Hundred Dollars ($1,600.00) for the purpose of straightening, grading, and improving the Subway, so called ; or act in relation thereto.
We make no recommendation under Article 27, for the same reason as that given for Articles 20 to 24 inclusive.
APPROXIMATE TAX RATE.
If the amounts of money which we have recommended, and other sums asked for in various articles of this warrant be raised, appropriated, and borrowed, then the tax rate for the year 1921, will be about Twenty-Three Dollars ($23.00) per thousand. Each thousand dollars raised and appropriated will add approximately fifteen and one-half cents (151/2c.) to the tax rate.
JOHN J. MONAHAN, HERBERT E. ELLIS, SAMUEL KERSHAW, WILLIAM H. SHEDD, WILBUR E. LAPHAM,
Finance Committee.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
For the School Year Ending December 31, 1920
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1920
CHARLES H. ELLIS, Chairman and Financial Secretary
Term Expires 1921
HERBERT WATERHOUSE, Secretary 66 66 1922
ULYSSES J. LUPIEN. Purchasing Agent, Resigned November 1, 1920.
JOHN CARROLL MONAHAN, appointed to fill vacancy
66 1921
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
WALTER K. PUTNEY
Residence, Chelmsford Center
OFFICE HOURS OF SUPERINTENDENT. (Only when schools are in session. ) At High School, Chelmsford Center-Daily 8.15-9.15 A. M. Except Monday and Friday, 3.00-4.00 P. M. At Princeton Street School-Tuesday and Thursday, 12.15-1.00 P. M.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS.
ARTHUR G. SCOBORIA, M. D. FRED F. VARNEY, M. D.
Chelmsford Center North Chelmsford
ATTENDANCE OFFICER.
EDWARD FALLON
North Chelmsford
3
SCHOOL CALENDAR
GRADED SCHOOLS. WINTER TERM, 1921-12 Weeks-December 28, 1920-March 18. 1921. VACATION-ONE WEEK.
SPRING TERM, 1921-12 Weeks-March 28, 1921-June 17, 1921. VACATION-ELEVEN WEEKS.
FALL TERM, 1921-16 Weeks-September 6. 1921-December 23, 1921. VACATION-ONE WEEK.
WINTER TERM. 1921-22-Opens January 3, 1922.
HIGH SCHOOL.
WINTER TERM, 1921-12 Weeks-December 28, 1920-March 18, 1921. VACATION-ONE WEEK.
SPRING TERM, 1921-12 Weeks-March 28, 1921-June 24, 1921. VACATION-TEN WEEKS.
FALL TERM, 1921 -- 16 Weeks-September 6, 1921-December 23, 1921. VACATION-ONE WEEK.
WINTER TERM, 1921-22-Opens January 3, 1922.
HOLIDAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS.
January 1. February 22, April 19, May 30. September 5, October 12, November 24-25.
"NO-SCHOOL" SIGNAL.
Signal given at 7.15 A. M. calls for no sessions during the day, and consists of six blows repeated twice, thus IIIIII-IIIIII-IIIIII.
4
Report of School Committee
To the Residents of Chelmsford :
Here is the report of your Committee for the year ending December 31, 1920.
It has been said, "The best way to keep a secret is to put it into a report." 'The inference from this is that no one reads a report. If the School Committee were to follow this statement and carry it out in full, no report would be submitted this year as we have no secrets. But realizing that there is in the human a quality called "curiosity" in woman and "the inquiring mind" in man, we present this very brief report; and if the desire to know more is urgent, we would remind you that it is your privilege to visit the schools and hope you will exercise your right. Go in and see what fine work is being done, and if you detect where marked improvement may be made, bring it to the attention of your School Board.
We would remind the citizens of the increasing need for more accom- modations for the children of school age within the confines of the town. The present housing facilities are not adequate to meet the acute demands. We hope the report of the committee appointed to look into the conditions at the Westlands and to bring in plans for a building in that section of the town, will be given careful consideration and favorable action on their proposition be taken by the citizens. The Committee still feel that the idea in the survey, presented during the past year, should be kept in mind and the proper policy to make the best provisions possible for the education of the future citizens of this town should be adopted.
The report of the Superintendent reminds us that the condition of some of the buildings is such that immediate attention must be given to them. In view of the higher cost of material and labor, a larger appro- priation for upkeep is needed to meet the demands.
We are pleased to report a year of good work in spite of the handicap caused by the shortening of the number of weeks on account of the hard winter we had early in the year. We were able to close the school year in June with a commendable record, almost up to that of a normal year. This was in large measure, we believe, because of the fine spirit showed by the loyal and efficient corps of teachers we have in Chelmsford. Realizing the advantages of holding together a well organized and balanced team, and recognizing that efficiency comes with experience, we hope we may be able to hold the strong parts and strengthen the weak. So we expect the town's people will give their teachers their most hearty support. The teaching force in a community is an important factor in the making of American citizens.
Thanking you for your interest and loyal support in the past, and assured that you will still keep it up, we remain,
Yours respectfully,
CHARLES H. ELLIS, HERBERT WATERHOUSE, JOHN C. MONAHAN, School Committee of Chelmsford.
5
Report of the Superintendent
To the School Committee of Chelmsford :
I herewith submit my report, as Superintendent of Schools, for the year ending December 31, 1920.
Although much time was lost during last winter because of weather conditions, the loss of work was correspondingly less and we did not suffer as many of our neighboring towns did. This was due, for the most part, to the fine calibre of teachers now in Chelmsford, and the personal efforts that our oldest teachers gave to bringing up the work to the required standard.
These good results have been very noticeable when put beside work from other places. Many pupils have entered our grades and found that the Chelmsford standard was far in advance of what they had been doing. On the other hand, some of our pupils have gone to other places and found themselves more advanced than their new classmates. This is indeed gratifying, in view of the restlessness that has been so apparent for the past six months in every community.
REDUCTION OF SALARIES ..
I firmly believe that the parents will most heartily support the School Department in demanding that the work shall not be injured by reducing salaries and causing an influx of mediocre teachers. At the present time, we are on a fine level and our work shows it. We can turn out a finished product from our school system. Can we do it with the payment of lesser salaries and the engagement of inferior teachers?
It was estimated that last year there was a shortage of 39,000 teachers throughout the country, and that 65,000 teachers below standard had to be hired to prevent the closing of other schools. In addition, there were thousands of cases where schools had to be consolidated to prevent closing of the educational opportunity to the children. Salaries rose rapidly and in some communities the wage paid to the teacher was double that of previous years.
It was expected that many new faces would be seen in the normal schools, but the increase in numbers has been very small and the lack of good teachers will be felt for at least two years more. Some are returning from other professions, but here again the numbers are not what were anticipated when the war ended. So the question will arise, "Where will Chelmsford get school teachers if a low salary is paid and we take a backward step?" The answer is, "The least desirable of the normal classes and those who can not get positions elsewhere." That is the plain truth, without any attempt to camouflage !
At such a time as this, I well realize, there is much talk of reducing all costs and there has been much talk in certain sections of the town about reducing teachers' wages. Such has been the spread of this report that it was quoted in a committee meeting of a neighboring town, as an argument against raising the wages of teachers of that town. For that
6
reason. I feel that the committee and parents should know the facts and not let prejudice against certain individuals prevail.
What is needed in these times of stress is a little sober thinking. There is bound to be a certain amount of trouble in every community, especially when the whole country is commercially panicky, and if these bits of trouble arise with such an efficient corps of teachers as we have now, and if there are those who are not satisfied, what will it be if salaries are reduced and this town is forced to accept cheap instruction, for the most part from that class labelled "below standard."
At the present time, there is before the Legislature a bill to increase the reimbursement to towns for salaries paid to teachers. Under the provisions of this bill, the lowest salary for which reimbursement is to be paid is $800. The next division is for $900 teachers and the third for those receiving $1,000. The following table shows the reimbursement under the present law and what it will be if the bill passes :
UNDER PRESENT LAW.
3 Teachers, reimbursement $100 each,
$850
Salary. $ 300
11
150 66
750
66
. . . 1650
29
66
66
200
850
66
. . . 5800
Superintendent
200
200
$7950
UNDER NEW BILL.
12 Teachers, reimbursement $250 each, $800
Salary $3000
3
66
6.
300
66 900
900
28
66
350
1000
66
9800
Superintendent
350
350
$14,050
Looking at this table you can see that under provisions of the new bill, if we advanced the salaries all around $150 each, we would receive such remuneration that the actual cost would be not greater than if we pay the same salaries as now. Again, a reduction of teachers' salaries cannot be made unless the town makes it general and everybody receives the same proportionate decrease. If that is done there will be in the force a total of twenty-two teachers who will be reduced from the highest reimbursement to the lowest, or none at all.
As I said above, now is the time to give the most sober consideration to this matter, and when you have done so, parents, I firmly believe that you will give your hearty and solid support to the school department.
CONTAGIOUS AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
I should like to call the attention of the School Committee and parents to the law that requires the teacher to be furnished with a certificate from the Board of Health or from the attending physician, stating that danger of conveying such disease has passed, when a pupil has been out of school, or a member of the household ill, with any contagious or infectious disease.
If the Board of Health will co-operate with the proper authorities and see that the School Department is notified of all cases of contagious or
7
infectious diseases, we could immediately exclude those who might expose others. The State law requires the Board of Health to at once notify the School Department of such cases, but this has not been done during the past year except intermittently. I think that it was because of ignorance of the law and I ask that the incoming Board of Health give us hearty co-operation in trying to prevent spread of any diseases that are mentioned under the law.
In connection with this, I would urge the passage of a ruling that no certificate be accepted unless approved by the school physician. This is recommended at the suggestion of the agent of the State Board of Health. and it is within the province of the School Committee to make such a ruling. Several cases have been reported this year of pupils bringing a certificate signed by a member of the Board of Health and questioning of the pupil has brought out the fact that the family had no doctor at all. If these families are "putting one over" on the teachers, we can prevent it by making these children go to the school physician for examination to be sure all danger of contagion has passed.
TRANSPORTATION AT NORTH CHELMSFORD.
Since December 28th, a truck has been transporting the pupils in the extreme north part of the town to the Princeton Street School. The parents had good reason to complain of the car service, for many pupils had to walk almost as far to get the car as they would to go to the school, and then they had to wait for some time in the cold or rain. I would recommend that this method of transportation be continued for the pupils now being accommodated on the Dunstable, Tyngsboro and Groton Roads, until such time as the town sees fit to build additional housing, for those pupils, nearer their own homes.
STATE CONFERENCES.
The state is planning to have a number of conferences with all school officials in certain centers easily reached, with a minimum of time lost. These conferences have been held in other parts of the state and are very successful in helping committee members to understand their own problems and to talk with others who have similar problems. I would urge as many of your committee to attend these meetings as can possibly go, as your attendance will directly benefit the school work of Chelmsford.
PARENT-TEACHERS ASSOCIATION.
Another recommendation to the parents I have, is the formation of a Parent-Teachers Association, where school matters may be widely discussed and the good of the children divorced from political influences. At the present time, there are few towns that do not have such an association and the value of the work done is felt almost daily. We are fortunate in now having a committee that works so harmoniously together and I would not have any parent think that politics has crept into the official room ; but we all know that there have been certain political influences working, undermining and criticising, without giving any constructive criticism and not getting into personal contact with conditions. A Parent-Teachers Association can take up problems in a fair, honest, rational manner and help make teaching a pleasurable occupation in Chelmsford. Just now is the time to form that association and I hope to see it done.
8
PUPILS OUT OF WORK.
We are in a peculiar position regarding minors out of work. The law reads that we shall furnish schooling and require all boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16, who are out of work, to attend school. At the present time, there are nearly 150 such minors in town. What are we to do? To furnish housing is an impossibility at the present time, unless we have continuation schools at work outside of the hours of regular sessions. Furthermore, the books and supplies can not be furnished out of the ordinary appropriations. Let us hope that conditions will be better and that they can return to their chosen vocations; but, in the meantime, I would urge that a sum of money be appropriated to meet the requirements of the law in this regard.
"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL.
Your attention is called to a change in the time of sounding the "No School Signal." In the future it will be sounded at 7.15, instead of 7.45. This is made necessary because of the time of the barge service from West and North Chelmsford. It might be added that no signal will be sounded except when an extraordinary storm occurs, or unless the going is such that the barges can not be used.
REPAIRS.
I would recommend that more attention be given to larger repairs this year. In most places it is the custom to make a cursory examination of buildings and then appropriate as small a sum as possible, so as to save expense. Every town has regretted this policy and I trust that Chelmsford will not have any cause for regrets. There are many repairs to be done and many changes to be made, as per request of the building inspector. Fire alarms should be installed or improved in nearly every building. At East Chelmsford it is ordered that we put on a fire escape, and change the hardware on the front doors. The roof at West Chelmsford needs attention and the back yard of the Highland Avenue School should be so graded that water will run away from the building instead of toward it, as is the case now. The High School is much improved by the grading of the grounds, but a flag pole should be put up as soon as possible as we are evading the law by not flying a flag.
In closing this report, I wish once more to urge the parents to visit the schools and see what conditions are. Get acquainted with the teachers, and especially with the teacher of your own children. Let her see that you have a vital, wholesome interest in the welfare of the children and that you believe, as all true Americans do, that the school is the workshop for the making of future citizens, loyal to the town, the state, and the country.
Thanking . all for support given during this past year, I submit this,
Most respectfully,
WALTER K. PUTNEY,
Superintendent of Schools.
9
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Walter K. Putney,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
In accordance with your request I herewith submit a very brief statement of the conditions in the High School as I find them at the present time.
In summing up the work of the past year I can assure you that there has been a strong and steady growth in the development of the school.
I have endeavored to keep before the minds of the pupils the necessity of their making the school work their chief business. There has been a marked interest in the amount and quality of the work done by all the scholars of the school. A spirit of endeavor and a desire to do the best they can, seems to impel the pupils to co-operate with the teachers in a very fine manner. I wish to take this occasion to express most sincere thanks to both parents and pupils for their loyal co-operation and support, without which any school cannot maintain its standing.
The total enrollment of the school is 161 pupils, 81 boys and 80 girls. The membership by classes is as follows : Post Graduates, 3; Seniors, 16; Juniors, 22; Sophomores, 48; Freshmen, 63.
It is very gratifying to note that the school is not being seriously affected by the abnormal economic conditions prevailing throughout the country. We have a good proportion of our pupils remaining in school for the completion of their education. The problem of the school is to fit these boys and girls for the great demand for thoroughly trained men and women to take up the work of the world during and after the period of reconstruction.
DISTRIBUTION BY COURSES. COMMERCIAL.
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
Total
Boys
3
4
7
10
24
Girls
4
5
17
18
44
Total
7
9-
24
28
68
CLASSICAL.
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
Total
Boys
1
2
3
8
14
Girls
2
1
14
10
27
Total
3
3
17
18
41
SCIENTIFIC.
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
Total
Boys
4
7
6
15
32
Girls
0
0
0
0
0
Total
4
7
6
15
32
10
GENERAL.
Senior
Junior
Sophomore
Freshman
Total
Boys
0
1
0
0
1
Girls
2
2
1
2
7
Total
2
3
1
2
8
More and more every year it is being conclusively demonstrated that the world values and needs the services of highly trained men and women. In connection with this fact I would call your attention to the large number of pupils in the school who are pursuing the preparatory subjects with the in- tention of fitting themselves to continue their education in the colleges and normal schools.
The class of 1920 graduates 18 pupils. The honor students, the first five in order of scholarship, were Eleanor Louise Warren, Eleanor Adams Ward, Frederic Angus MacElroy, Margaret May Hall, Katherine King Hall. Thirteen members of the class are continuing their education. Four are in college and five are in normal school.
The real test of a school is determined by the work of its graduates. In this connection it is a source of gratification to report that we are receiving excellent accounts of the work of former pupils now in attendance in other schools and colleges. The school is recognized by the New England En- trance Certificate Board. The State Board of Education classifies the school as a "class A" school for certification to normal schools. This is the highest form of classification granted by the Board. These facts afford proof of the good estimate of the school that is held by outside educational institutions and authorities.
There is a very healthy interest manifested on the part of the various school activities. Continuing the custom already established, three or four school socials are held during the school year. These socials have been well attended. The boys and girls have taken part in the requirements of a social evening and have endeavored by a fine spirit of co-operation and self- reliance to promote the success of these affairs. These socials are a means of profit and educational value to the school as well as a source of pleasure to the pupils.
The affairs of the athletic association are in good condition. Regular officers and a Baseball Manager have been chosen. The members of the association are intending to place in the field as good a baseball team as can be produced from the members of the school. We closed the season in June with all bills paid and a good sum in the treasury.
Interest in debating in the school has resulted in the formation of a "Congress." At present there is a membership of 20. Meetings are held every two weeks on Thursday afternoon at the high school.
Under the guidance of Miss Adams the interest in music is being ex- pressed very satisfactorily in the attendance at the Boys' and Girls' Glee Clubs and the School Orchestra.
A successful track-meet was held this fall. A very large number of pupils who would not otherwise have the opportunity to engage in athletic contests took part in the various events of the day. It is planned to hold two more such meets in the spring. A banner has been purchased and is to
11
be awarded each year to the class winning the largest number of points in these events. The Class of 1921 is the present holder of the banner.
In a very brief report of this kind I can only touch upon some of the outstanding features of the work of the school. The most significant and vital part of our work, the steady and continuous process of shaping young men and women to take their places in community life, cannot well be de- scribed. The purpose of a High School is to give an education which will increase the efficiency of its pupils as workers, enlarge their outlook on life and contribute to their growth in useful citizenship.
In closing may I express my appreciation of the help that has come from the community, school committee, superintendent, fellow-teachers and student body.
Respectfully submitted,
LESTER F. ALDEN, Principal.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. Walter K. Putney,
Superintendent of Schools,
Chelmsford, Mass.
Dear Sir :
The course of study in public school inusic, for the year nineteen hun- dred and twenty, has varied but little from that of the preceding year. We have tried to improve sight reading. Much individual work has been given for this purpose, especially in the low grades.
Victrolas have been placed in the East, South and West Schools. The greater part of the funds for these was obtained by entertainments and candy sales. The grade teachers have done much to bring about the purchase of the victrolas. These machines are agencies to help popularize good music in America. By them, children become acquainted with the best music and learn to know the real voices of great artists.
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