USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1922 > Part 5
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Middlesex County continues to lead all others in the United States in the number of boys and girls enrolled in club projects. There were 2,965 en- rolled in various projects and they produced $75,475 worth of products during the year. All of these young people were under the leadership of agents of the County Bureau and 184 paid and volunteer local leaders.
P. W. KIMBALL, Local Director.
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Warrant for Annual Town Meeting FEBRUARY 5, 1923, AND FEBRUARY 12, 1923.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MIDDLESEX, SS.
To Fred I. Vinal, a Constable of the Town of Chelmsford :
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth aforesaid you are hereby required to notify and warn the legal voters of said Chelmsford to meet in their several Polling Places, viz. :
Precinct 1, Town Hall, Chelmsford Centre.
Precinct 2, Town Hall, North Chelmsford.
Precinct 3, Historical Hall, West Chelmsford. Precinct 4, School House, East Chelmsford. on MONDAY, the FIFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1923,
being the first Monday in said month, at 12 o'clock noon, for the following purposes :
To bring in their votes for the following officers : Moderator for one year.
Town Clerk for one year (unexpired term).
One Selectman for three years.
One Overseer of the Poor for three years.
One Assessor for three years.
Town Treasurer and Collector of Taxes for one year ..
One member of Board of Health for two years ( unexpired term ) .
One member of Board of Health for three years.
One Constable for one year.
One School Committeeman for three years.
Two Trustees of Adams Library for three years.
Tree Warden for one year.
One Sinking Fund Commissioner for three years.
One Cemetery Commissioner for three years. One Park Commissioner for three years.
all on one ballot, and to vote on the following question :
"Shall license be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating beverages in this Town ?"
(The polls will be open from 12 M. to 8 P. M.)
and to meet in the Town Hall at Chelmsford Centre on the following MONDAY, the TWELFTH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 1923,
at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act upon the following Articles, viz. :
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ARTICLE 1. To hear reports of Town officers and committees; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 2. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be re- quired to defray Town charges for the current year.
ARTICLE 3. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to act as its agent in any suit or suits which may arise during the current year; also in such other matters as may arise requiring in their judgment the action of such agent, and to employ counsel therefor.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money already in the hands of the Treasurer a sum not exceeping Twenty-four Hundred Thirty and 95/100 Dollars ($2,430.95) with which to meet unpaid bills of 1922; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($550) for State Aid; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money al- ready in the hands of the Treasurer a sum not exceeding Three Thousand Dollars ($3,000) to be used as a Reserve Fund at the discretion of the Finance Committee, as provided in General Laws. Chapter 40, Section 6; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE S. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money al- ready in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of Seventy-eight and 55/100 Dollars ($78.55) with which to reimburse the North Chelmsford Fire District for accidental damage on or about Sep- tember 19, 1922 to a hydrant at North Chelmsford by an automobile driven by a special officer of the Town while in the performance of his official duties ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money al- ready in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200) with which to build a retaining wall at the West Chelmsford School grounds ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 10. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate from money al- ready in the hands of the Treasurer the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($150) with which to pay the balance of the salary of the Treasurer for the fiscal year 1922; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 11. To see if the Town will vote to adopt resolutions upon the death of Justin L. Moore ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 12. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred Dollars ($400), or some other amount, and elect a director, the money to be expended by and the director to serve in co-operation with the County Agricultural Trustees of the Middle- sex County Bureau of Agriculture and Home Economics under the provisions of Sections 40 to 45, Chapter 128, General Laws of Massachusetts; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 13. To see if the Town will vote to borrow a sum not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), or what other sum, for the purpose of continuing construction of the Acton Road, two-thirds of the expense to be borne equally by the Commonwealth and the County of Middlesex ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 14. To see if the Town will vote to borrow a sum not exceeding Seventy-five Hundred Dollars ($7,500), or what other sum, for the purpose of continuing construction of the Boston Road, two- thirds of the expense to be borne equally by the Commonwealth and the County of Middlesex ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to borrow a sum not exceeding Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000), or what other sum, for the pur- pose of continuing construction of the Groton Road, two-thirds ,of the expense to be borne equally by the Commonwealth and the County of Middlesex ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 16. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to consider and report at a special Town meeting to be held not later than April 16, 1923, as to the advisability of applying to the Legislature for a special act authorizing limited town meetings, so-called, and the election of town meeting members in Chelmsford, along the lines provided in Chapter 36 of the Acts of 1921 relating to the Town of Brookline; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 17. To see what action the Town will take relative to a new contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation for street lighting ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 18. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to contract with the Lowell Electric Light Corporation at the then prevailing price per light for the following additional lights, viz. : One light at the corner of Sylvan Avenue and Subway Extension ; nine lights on the road leading from Chelmsford Centre to West Chelmsford, same to be located between the Pine Hill Road and the residence of Patrick Flynn ; and any, and if any, how many lights on Smith Street ; or act in relation thereto.
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ARTICLE 19. In the event of affirmative action under the preceding article, to see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money for additional electric lights; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 20. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate any, and if any, what sum for the purpose of widening the travelled part of Smith Street ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 21. To see if the Town will vote to accept Section 6 of Chapter 148 of the General Laws relating to fire prevention ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 22. To see if the Town will vote to give Chelmsford Post No. 212, American Legion, permission to use the Town Hall at North Chelmsford for the purpose of playing basket ball; or act in re- lation thereto.
ARTICLE 23. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Fourteen Hundred Dollars ($1,400), or any and what other sum, for the purpose of constructing a concrete walk along the street lines of the Princeton Street School Houses and the Town Hall at North Chelmsford; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 24. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500), or any and what other sum, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining sidewalks in the Town; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 25. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to sell or exchange one of the two school barges now belonging to the Town ; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 26. In the event of affirmative action under the preceding article, to see if the Town will vote to authorize the School Committee to purchase a new school barge, and will raise and appropriate a sufficient sum for that purpose; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 27. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) with which to complete the grading of the Baseball Field at the High School, Chelmsford Centre; or act in relation thereto.
ARTICLE 28. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000) with which to grade the Play- ground at the Highland Avenue School, North Chelmsford; or act in relation thereto.
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AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant by posting at- tested copies thereof at the Post Offices in the Centre of the Town, South Chelmsford, North Chelmsford, and West Chelmsford, and at the School House, East Chelmsford, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding the first meeting aforesaid.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this Warrant. with your doings thereon. to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this twenty-third day of January, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and twenty-three.
GEORGE RIGBY, WILLIAM E. BELLEVILLE, GEORGE W. DAY, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
A true copy. ATTEST :
FRED I. VINAL,
Constable of the Town of Chelmsford.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
For the School Year Ending December 31, 1922
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR ALL SCHOOLS
WINTER TERM, 1923-12 Weeks-January 2, 1923-March 24, 1923. VACATION-ONE WEEK
SPRING TERM, 1923-12 Weeks-April 2, 1923-June 23, 1923. VACATION 10 WEEKS
FALL TERM. 1923 -- 16 Weeks-September 5, 1923-December 22, 1923. VACATION -- ONE WEEK
WINTER TERM, 1924-Opens January 2, 1924.
HOLIDAYS FOR ALL SCHOOLS
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12. November 29-30.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Signal given at 7.15 A. M. call for no school during the day.
3
Report of School Committee
January 12, 1923
The School Committee herewith submit their annual report for the year ending December 31, 1922.
The School Committee have adopted a policy of making permanent re- pairs to the extent which their appropriation is available. Temporary work is done only as may be necessary to save the property until the whole build- ing may receive attention. Under this policy it is believed that in a few years all the school buildings will be put in good condition and a considerable saving made.
Last year the South School received the greater part of the permanent work. The foundation was relaid, the building painted and new gutters installed.
At the High School the lawn was graded and seeded down after a covering of loam was placed over the filling.
The excellent work of the school nurse is limited by lack of transporta- tion. More than half her time should be spent in the homes in follow-up work. Her time spent in walking from one place to another is not profitable to the Town. As a remedy the committee propose to pay a salary which will enable the nurse to provide her own transportation.
The Committee feel that better transportation for the school children can be provided at less cost by Town-owned trucks than would be obtained from private contracts. In the interest of safety and economy one truck should be replaced this year. For this reason the committee ask for a special appropriation to cover the cost of a new truck.
The Committee ask for two special appropriations for grading of play- grounds. Highland Avenue school yard should be graded to take care of the surface water, and at the same time a ball field could be provided. The other is for the completion of the ball field at the Center High School.
We wish to express our appreciation of the work done by the teachers of our schools. Their devotion and loyalty to their work is highly commended.
Respectfully submitted,
M. EDWARD RINEY, Chairman, HERBERT WATERHOUSE, Secretary, CHARLES H. ELLIS, Fin. Sec.
4
Report of the Superintendent
Chairman, School Committee,
Chelmsford, Mass.
Gentlemen :
I have the honor to submit this, my second report to you and through you to the citizens of the Town.
The points in a school system of vital interest to the community are the cost and the service. This usually is in the order named, although more and more each year place their emphasis on efficiency and the good to the public welfare. The public schools of this country constitute the first line of defense against anarchy. As the science of government grows more complex each year, so must the citizens, who, in the final analysis, constitute the government be mentally equipped to meet each issue intelligently, and to make a decision which is for the advantage of the majority. Education in its broad sense does just this. The sum total of the materials of edu- cation is the accumulation of a human experience during its life history. For the individual this becomes a selective process, becoming more broad and general in contact with society. Education does not end when the school door closes behind a child at the end of its school life. The school has had as its purpose the establishment of certain fundamental facts, which in daily life are necessary as a part of the automatic or sub-conscious mind of the individual, and the formation of the habit of clear and inde- pendent thought. In this function the public school has a great advantage over the private school for the reason that in the public school the in- dividual child comes in social contact with others in the same way that they will meet later in life, while in the private school the child is at once placed within an artificial barrier made up of a specially selected group, which in life does not exist. There is no artificial caste or class in this country. There is, however, a community or group interest which binds more or less closely together individuals who have a common ground of contact. The limits of these groups are entirely flexible, and individuals move from one group to another group with the greatest freedom. One person may belong to several groups at the same time. It is best illus- trated by the trade guild, although in the complex organization of society of the present day, its original significance has been lost. Education in itself is purely social, and is for life. Without use and application it is of no value. When a person is able to observe his duties as a citizen, earn a living, and make worthy use of his leisure time, his life is of value not only to himself but to others. No community can set their own standards and say that they are sufficient for their local needs. A person who has no children in school cannot argue that they are paying for what they
5
do not receive. The life of each individual touches more persons than is realized at the time, both directly and indirectly. Individual liberty ceases to be liberty when it becomes an offense to our neighbors. Any community containing a large number of illiterates, or where the standards of educa- tion are low, is at once a menace to the whole country.
Money saved on the public schools is worse than wasted. It may help to lower the tax rate for a short time, but in the end there comes an accumu- lation of needs for which a much larger amount must be provided.
The building needs of the school department are urgent. The Highland Avenue and Princeton Street Schools are overcrowded, especially in the lower rooms. The Centre Grammar is almost to the limit of its capacity and far beyond the limit for efficient work. In a few years, the new Westland School, if the present rate of growth continues, will need extra room.
In the North there seems to be a strong sentiment in favor of a High school to be located in that end of the town. Local pride is a good thing, but in this case, for the Town to maintain two High schools would undo all the good which was accomplished when the two schools were consolidated. The Town is not large enough to maintain, either efficiently or economically, two High schools. One school of this grade is enough. Where it is located is for the School Committee and a majority of the voters of the Town to determine. At present the North and West furnish a few more pupils than the Centre, South and East. Few realize that to maintain two High schools would cut the efficiency in half and double the cost. With the small classes the competitive value would be lost, variety of program limited, the equipment for two small schools would be almost doubled. High class teachers would cost more, as teachers do not, as a rule care to work in a small school. The maintenance cost would be increased. The chief advantage claimed by its proponents, that transportation would be abolished, would be a fact only for those pupils who live near the new school. Transportation is re- quired by law for all pupils who live at a distance of two or more miles from the school which they are entitled to attend. It has been the policy of the committee to furnish transportation for all who lived a mile or more from the school, this, especially in the case of young children. With this in view, it is easy to see that transportation is not a vital factor in the situation.
The Centre Grammar building in its present location and condition is not fit to be used for school purposes. That no child has been injured in the street has been due in a large measure to the care of the teachers and the caution of a majority of those driving cars past the school. It is unfortunate that the Common, naturally a beautiful place, must be used as a playground. The actual school yard is not large enough to contain all of the children to stand in at one time. If the present location is to be continued, additional land should be secured at the side and rear. The interior needs refinishing, and it is hard to say where it should begin, as the whole thing now is largely a matter of patch-work. The basement, in- cluding the toilets and heating plant, should be entirely rebuilt. If the patrons of the school would visit the building and inspect the equipment for themselves it is almost certain that a remedy would be provided. It is impossible to teach children habits of health and right living under such conditions.
6
While the matter has been brought to the attention of the citizens in previous years, it may be well to speak again of one of the larger needs at the High school. The work is seriously restricted by the lack of an as- sembly hall. One should be provided, not only for the use of the school but for the benefit of the Town. With an adequate building there would be no need of its remaining idle more than half the time.
Taking into consideration modern educational practice, it would seem that the best solution of the building needs of the Town would be met by the adoption of the Junior High plan, on the basis of the six-three-three plan. This would call for two new buildings, one at North and one at the Centre, to house grades seven, eight and nine. The advantages of this would be as follows: Congestions of both grammar schools would be re- lieved ; school work would be organized more closely to the natural points of transition ; pupils would be separated into age groups conforming to the natural segregation of age interest; transportation problems would be re- duced and pupils would be a year older before they would have to put in a full day away from home; cost per pupil of High School age would be re- duced as specialized instruction could be concentrated on the last three years of the work.
As fast as the school population in the East and South warrant it, additional room should be provided so that eight grades may receive in- struction with not over two grades to a room.
There are many repairs which must be made to the school buildings this year. Among the larger jobs may be mentioned, paint for the trim- mings of the High school and shingles at East. Many of the buildings need interior paint and finish and there are a number of instances of ceilings in poor condition. The yard at Highland Avenue should be graded and drainage away from the building provided. Under the present conditions the surface water comes into the basement.
During the past summer the repairs at South Chelmsford proved to be more extensive than when the work was undertaken. This was required by the character of the work when the building was built, certainly not an advertisement of excellence for the contractor.
Your superintendent wishes to thank the School Committee, teachers, parents and citizens of the Town, who by their co-operation and assistance have made the work of the past year very pleasant.
Respectfully submitted,
R. G. FRAME,
Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. Roscoe G. Frame.
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
In accordance with your request I herewith hand you a report con- taining a few features of the High school work.
The number of pupils enrolled in the school during the fall term is as follows :
Seniors 24
Juniors 46
Sophomores 68
Freshmen 65
Total
203
This is an enrollment of 22 more than last year. We shall have, this year, the largest graduating class in the history of the school.
The school was organized in September with a seven period day instead of six, as formerly. One of these periods I have called the organization period. During this period all assembly talks to the pupils are given. Class meetings and all club meetings are held, and the work of the glee clubs and orchestra is done during this period. I find the introduction of this period to be a great help to the work of the school. No time is lost from the other work for assembly; the interest in the club work has increased, and the enrollment in the glee clubs has more than doubled. Having this work done in school time is a matter of great convenience to the pupils, especially those pupils going to and from school on the barges.
I have adopted the Major and Minor system of electives. The rules and regulations follow :
All pupils in the Chelmsford High school must arrange their curriculum of studies so that by the time they are ready to graduate they will have received credit for work done in one Major and two Minors. English will not be considered in satis- fying this requirement.
A Major is a subject pursued for 3 years.
A Minor is a subject pursued for 2 years.
Majors and Minors must be in separate groups of studies.
Groups of studies : Latin
Foreign Languages Social Studies
Mathematics, including Bookkeeping
Science
Stenography-Office Practice
The pursuance of this regime throughout a period of years will result in benefits to the school and to the pupils. It tends to keep the number of classes in the various subjects uniform. The pupils are discouraged from
S
scattering their efforts over a variety of fields. A pupil who goes through High school should have mastered one field of thought in so far as the High school courses offer the opportunity.
The class of 1921 graduated 16 pupils. The honor students, the first four in order of scholarship, were Ethel Carlson, Lewis Felch, Gerald Miller, and Ida Paignon. Twelve of the class are continuing their education in other institutions of learning. The class gift assumed a somewhat un- usual but pleasing and very acceptable form. A silk flag was presented by the class. The school very much needed such a flag for public and patriotic occasions.
There is a very healthy interest manifested on the part of the pupils in the various extra school activities. A radio club of some 70 members is doing a very active work among the boys and girls under the super- vision of Mr. Coates. Buzzer classes are in daily session ; programs of value concerning radio apparatus and concerts by the broadcasting agencies furnish real educational worth to the pupils.
Miss Harmon and Miss Swain have supervised the organization of a very efficient commercial club. The daily work of the pupils in type writing, stenography, bookkeeping, etc., has benefited greatly by the in- creased interest in the work among the pupils enrolled in the club.
The affairs of the Athletic Association are in good condition. Regular officers and a baseball manager have been chosen. The members of the association intend to place in the field as good a baseball team as can be produced from the members of the school.
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