USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1925 > Part 8
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Article 32. To see if the Town will accept and allow Albina street, as laid out by the Selectmen as shown by their report duly filed in the office of the Town Clerk; or act in relation thereto.
Article 33. To see if the Town will raise and ap- propriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1000), or what other sum, for the purpose of grading Wilson street; or act in relation thereto.
Article 34. To see if the Town will authorize the Selectmen to purchase six reflex beacons for the Street Department and will raise and appropriate the sum of Three Hundred Dollars ($300), or what other sum; or act in relation thereto.
Article 35. To see if the Town will appoint a com- mittee to consider and report at some future meeting as to what changes or improvements, if any, should be made in the Public Common at Chelmsford; or act in relation thereto.
Article 36. To see if the Town will vote that the School Committee, together with such other persons as the Town may add, shall be a Special Committee to in- vestigate and report as to the best use or disposition to be made of the old grammar school house situated on the North Road at Chelmsford Centre.
Article 37. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate a sufficient sum with which to pay land damages growing out of the relocation of the Dalton Road; or act in relation thereto.
Article 38. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Hundred and Seventy-
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five Dollar ($575), or what other sum. for State Aid ; or act in relation thereto.
Article 39. To see if the Town will vote to ap- propriate from money already in the hands of the Treas- urer, a sum not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) to be used as a Reserve Fund at the discre- tion of the Finance Committee, as provided in General Laws, Chapter 40, Section 6; or act in relation thereto.
AND YOU ARE DIRECTED to serve this Warrant by posting attested 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, and at the Golden Cove School House, Westlands, seven days at least before the time appointed for holding the first meeting aforesaid.
HEREOF FAIL NOT, and make return of this War- rant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of holding the first meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of Jan- uary, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and twenty-six.
GEORGE W. DAY, GEORGE RIGBY, ROBERT W. BARRIS, Selectmen of Chelmsford.
A true ropy. Attest : DONALD F. ADAMS,
Constable of the Town of Chelmsford.
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-
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS OF CHELMSFORD, MASS.
For the School Year Ending December 31, 1925
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Frank J. Lupien, Chairman . Term expires 1926
Charles H. Clough, Financial Secretary Term expires 1927
Willis L. MacComb, Secretary Term expires 1928
ADDRESSES OF COMMITTEE
Frank J. Lupien, Residence Chelmsford Center .. . Tel. Lowell 2852-M Charles H. Clough, Residence Chelmsford Center. . Tel Lowell 5957- J
Willis L. MacComb, Secretary Term expires 1928
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
Charles H. Walker, Superintendent, Residence, Chelmsford Center. Tel. Lowell 3444-J.
Office, High School, Chelmsford Center.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
Arthur G. Scoboria, M. D., Res., Chelmsford Center, Tel. Lowell 4767 Fred E. Varney, M. D., Res., North Chelmsford, Tel. Lowell 2892-R
SCHOOL NURSE
Miss Mary E. Sheehan, R. N., Res. Chelmsford Center, Tel. Lowell 3067-5
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS
Edward Fallon, Residence, North Chelmsford.
Donald F. Adams, Residence, Chelmsford Center, Tel. Lowell 6775-M
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1926
Winter Term-Jan. 4, 1926, to Feb. 20,, 1926-7 weeks.
Early Spring Term-March 1, 1926, to March 27, 1926-4 weeks. Spring Term-April 5, 1926, to June 26, 1926-12 weeks.
Fall Term-Sept. 7, 1926, to Dec. 24, 1926-16 weeks.
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Jan. 1, Feb. 22, April 19, May 30, Oct. 12, Thanksgiving and the day following, Dec. 25.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
Fire Whistle, 3 blasts, repeated once at 7.15, no session, in all schools for day.
Fire Whistle, 3 blasts, repeated once at 11.15, one session for grades closing at 12 noon.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF CHELMSFORD:
Your Committee herewith submits its report to the citizens of Chelmsford for the year ending Dec. 31, 1925.
The year 1925 has been a very successful one both from a financial and educational point of view.
Five vacancies occurred in the elementary grades and one in the High School. These vacancies have all been filled by teachers of very high qualifications, and they have filled their respective positions very creditably. Generally speaking. a fine co-operative spirit has existed among the teachers, Superintendent, and School Committee, and this spirit has borne results.
Our Superintendent has been very much on his job. Every school in the town is visited at least once a week and you can rest assured that nothing has been left undone to equip our schools with the most modern equipment. Every school has been equipped with the latest charts, maps, text and reference books which form an essential part of our great educational machine that is being built in our town schools. A picture machine was installed at the High School to advance the modern system of visualized education which is becoming very popular and efficient in all the modern schools of the country.
The Parent-Teachers' Associations in every section of the town have again shown their colors, and have all proven to be a civic or- ganization worthy of high commendation and worthy of the support of every citizen in the town. With the splendid co-operation of the Parent-Teachers' Association, the Board of Selectmen, Mr. Shanks and School Committee, two fine tennis courts were constructed on the High School grounds. These tennis courts are not only for the physical welfare of the High School students, but for any citizen in any part of the town who wishes to enjoy tennis as an out-door recreation. The Rev. Mr. Charles Ellis and Mr. Lester Alden also played a very important part in their construction. They both sacrificed a great deal of their time and a great deal of credit is due to their efforts. The Parent-Teachers' of West Chelmsford have also been live wires. Through their tireless efforts a very fine new piano has just been installed in Principal Harold F. Meyette's room, in the Quessy school. The other sections of the town have also benefitted in many ways by the general work of their respective associations.
Your Committee has carried on a very extensive repair program this past year. Not a building in the town was slighted. A brief sum- mary of the work that has been done may enlighten the taxpayers as to where and for what purpose their money has been expended. The South Row School was remodeled so that today it is practically a model one-room school with a new entrance, hard wood floor, new heating system, painted inside and out and seats and desks shellacked and var- nished. The grounds at the South Chelmsford School were graded, new drips around the building and shellacked and varnished inside. At the Westlands, boiler and fan repairs were made and seats and desks
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varnished. The Highland Avenue School, the new Princeton Street School at North Chelmsford and the Quessy School at West Chelms- ford have been wired and electric lights installed in the same. With these buildings lighted it will afford an excellent opportunity for even- ing classes if there is sufficient demand to maintain them. These build- ings were also painted, shellacked and varnished in the interior and also the old Princeton Street School. The basements in every build- ing were made very much more cheerful and sanitary by being whiten- ed. Your Committee purchased a spraying outfit to whiten the base- ments, thereby greatly reducing the cost of labor. Your Committee resolved to do as much of the work as possible by employing their janitors and truck drivers thereby saving contractors' profits, and the high cost of labor and all the interior painting, shellacking, varnishing and whitening of basements was done by the above mentioned, under the supervision of the School Committee.
The Board of Selectmen and Superintendent of Streets, Mr. Shanks, co-operated wonderfully well with the School Committee and all the grading at the various school grounds was done at a minimum cost and in a first class manner. The method of doing the school repair work was so successful the past year that it is the intention of the Com- mittee to continue in the same manner in the future, thereby affecting a great economic saving for the town.
Your Committee again wishes to bring to the attention of the citizens the heating problem in the two Princeton Street Schools and the Quessy School at West Chelmsford. Approximately $600 has been expended this year in reconditioning the inadequate heating units in those buildings and when the economic conditions are favorable they should be replaced with more modern and up-to-date steam units which will not only eliminate a great deal of repair expenses, but will also save between 20 and 30 per cent of the fuel now used.
Another problem which confronts your Committee is that of toilet facilities at the Quessy School, West Chelmsford. The present out- buildings answered the purpose very well years ago, but today condi- tions have changed. Your Committee has increased the enrollment at the Quessy School from 50 to 130 and the present toilet and water conditions are wholly inadequate to take care of the present day needs. Today we have a real live school at West Chelmsford and the above conditions will be brought to the attention of the voters nt the Annual Town meeting.
Your Committee wishes to call the citizens' attention to the play- ground facilities at East Chelmsford. The modern trend today is to have planty of playground room connected with all the school build- ing for recreation purposes. When the school building was enlarged at East Chelmsford it necessitated taking more of the school grounds for that purpose. Today the greater portion of the grounds have been seeded and consequently leaving very little playground room. It might be well for the voters to consider that matter and when conditions are right acquire more land for the above purpose mentioned.
The intolerable conditions now existing nt the old grade school will be eliminated at the close of this present school year. Our new building will be ready for occupancy at the beginning of the next school year and I am sure that everyone is waiting with great expectancy for the day to come. The Town will have a fine new building und it is the intention of your Committee to make "Charlie Robbins" our pres- ent High School janitor, supervising janitor at the new grade building, and with "Charlie" on the job, things must go right. The School Com-
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mittee would appreciate very much if the parents would visit the schools more often. Go and see for yourselves what is being done. Get ac- quinted with your child's teacher and in doing so, nothing but the very best co-operative spirit can prevail between teacher, parent and child. Your Committee earnestly desires that every citizen read all the school reports included in this town report also the financial summary included in Mr. Walker's report so that every citizen will know the entire school situation in every detnil. The School Committee greatly appreciate the fine co-operation and loyal support extended to them by all other town officials and citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK J. LUPIEN, WILLIS L. MacCOMB, CHARLES H. CLOUGH, School Committee of Chelmsford.
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FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Expenditures 1925
ADMINISTRATION:
Amounts
Totals
Grand Totals
Expenses School Committee
Expenses Attendance Officers
Expenses School Census
Expenses Graduation
. $
674.04 $
674.04
Expenses Miscellaneous
Expenses Supt's Office
Salary Superintendent $ · 3,199.92 $
3,199.92
$
3,873.96
INSTRUCTION :
Teachers' Salaries:
High
$ 14,973.02
Elementary
40,701.70
Supervisors
2,686.71
$ 58,361.43
Books and Supplies:
High
$
1,276.55
Elementary
2,822.33
4,098.88
$ 62,460.31
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE:
Janitor Service:
High
$ 1,503.92
Elementary
5,357.03
6,860.95
Janitor Supplies :
High
$ 323.76
Elementary
176.68
$ 500.44
Fuel:
High
$ 1,453.57
Elementary
4,423.23
5,876.80
Water, Light and Power
889.71
889.71
Repairs and Replacements:
High
. $
694.29
Elementary
3,562.60
4,256.89
$ 18,384.79
AUXILIARY AGENCIES:
Transportation :
High
$ 4,057.57
Elementary
4,052.57
8,110.14
School Nurse
$ 237.60
237.60
Salary School Nurse
1,190.00
1,190.00
Supplies School Nurse
89.99
89.99
Salaries School Physicians
600.00
600.00
....
.
$ 10,227.73
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OUTLAYS:
New Equipment: High
$ 683.99
Elementary
817.98
1,501.97
$ 1,501.97
OTHER PAYMENTS:
* Insurance
$ 675.00
675.00
** Vocational School, Lowell .
2,462.22
2,462.22
Grading East School
2,468.78
2,468.78
Grading and Wall, Princeton School ..
749.54
749.54
Tablet Quessy School
46.00
46.00
6,401.54 $
Total Expenditures
$102,850.30
* Paid by the Selectmen from Insurance Fund. Law requires the Selectmen to pay this.
RECEIPTS 1925
Appropriation, Feb. 1925 .$ 99,900.00
40.08
Received from Dog Tax
862.22
Reimbursement for tuition paid Lowell Vocational School, from State
1,600.00
Reimbursement on Account of Teachers' Salaries, from State 8,293.00
Reimbursement on Account of Tuition of State Wards.
1,324.85
Received from all other Tuition
1,316.82
Special Appropriation for Grading at East School
2,500.00
Special Appropriation for Grading and Wall at Princeton St. School
750.00
Special Appropriation for Tablet for Quessy School 50.00
Special Appropriation for New Center Grade Building 140,000.00
Transfer from Reserve Fund of Finance Committee
190.00
Total Receipts $256,826.97
SUMMARY DECEMBER 31, 1925
1 Appropriation and Refunds, not including any other receipts. . $ 99,940.08 Expenditures on Account or current expenses of the schools .. 96,448.76
Unexpended Balance $
3,491.32 Total expenditures for schools, not including those from Special Appropriations, or for Insurance and Vocational School .Ş 96,448.76
Total reimbursements, including Refunds, Dog Tax and "other tuition," but not including reimbursement for Vocational School 11,836.97
Net expenditures for schools, from local taxation
$ 84,611.79
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Refunds, during 1925
SCHOOL BUDGET FOR 1926
Appropriations for 1925
Expenditures for 1925
Proposed for 1926
Administration
$ 3,900.00
$ 3,873.96
$ 4,000.00
Instruction
65,000.00
62,460.31
64,200.00
Operation and Maintenance
18,200.00
15,384.79
18,900.00
Auxiliary Agencies
11,300.00
10,227.73
11,700.00
Outlays
1,500.00
1,501.97
1,500.00
Other Payments
* 2,462.00
** 3,137.22
$102,362.00
$ 99,5$5.98
$100,300.00
* Dog Tax annd Vocational School reimbursement.
** For Insurance and Vocational School.
A few individual items in the above tables will be found to differ from those of the Town Accountant's report, because of the fact that the State Board of Education requires different classification of expendi- tures than the Bureau of Statistics.
Approved by School Committee.
FRANK J. LUPIEN, CHARLES H. CLOUGH, WILLIS L. MacCOMB.
INVENTORY OF SCHOOL
PROPERTY
Buildings
Land
Total
High
$ 65,000.00
$ 3,000.00
$ 68,000.00
Center
15,000.00
500.00
15,500.00
Princeton Street
30,000.00
3,000.00
33,000.00
Princeton Street
7,000.00
7,000.00
Highland Avenue
30,000.00
1,000.00
31,000.00
Quessey
30,000.00
350.00
30,350.00
South
15,000.00
200.00
15,200.00
South Row
4,000.00
150.00
4,150.00
East
45,000.00
300.00
45,300.00
Westlands
30,000.00
1,800.00
31,800.00
Totals
$271,000.00
$ 10,300.00
$281,300.00
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TEACHERS-1925-26
The following is a list of the tenchers, with their respective grades, number of years' experience, dates of beginning and ending service in Chelmsford, school they graduated from and their present residence:
HIGH
Lester F. Alden, Principal, Mathematics, Problems of American Democ- racy; 18, Feb. 1920; Amherst College; Chelmsford, Mass.
Ralph P. Coates, Sup-Principal, Science; 6; September, 1920; Bates College: Chelmsford, Mass.
Elizabeth W. Hawkes, French, Biology; 7; March, 1919; March 20, 1925; Wheaton College; Charlemont, Mass.
Jennie C. Beaulieu, French; 4; March 23, 1925; June 26, 1925; Univer- sity of Maine; Oldtown, Me.
Ursulu E. Tetreau, French, English; 0; Sept. 8, 1925; Bates College; 40 Monument St., Portland, Me.
Josephine F. Harmon, Commercial; 5; Sept. 1921; Kimball Commercial College; 250 High St., Lowell, Mass.
C. Edith McCarthy, Commercial, English; 2; Sept., 1923; Salem Nor- mal; 14 Oak St., Ayer, Mass.
Helen M. Quigley, English; 3; Sept., 1922; Boston University; North Chelmsford, Mass.
Abbie B. Small, Intin, English; 1; Sept., 1924; Bates College; West Scarborough Maine.
Lucy T. Nordon, History and Civics; 1; Sept., 1924; Jackson College; 6 Noyes Terrace, Lynn, Mass.
Marion Turner, Mathematics and Biology; 2; Sept., 1924; Middlebury College: Berlin, Vt.
Florrie Alderson, Commercial English; 1; Sept., 1924; Boston Univer- sity; 143 Appleton St., Lowell, Mass.
CENTRE
Susan S. McFarlin, Principal, VIII; 44; April, 1879; Framingham Nor- mal; Chelmsford, Mass.
Eva L. Dobson, VII; 8; Nov., 1919; Plymouth Normal; 143 Westford St., Lowell, Mass. M. Beryl Rafuse, VI; 12; Sept., 1920; Truro Normal; Martin's Pt., Lun- enburg Co., N. S. Helene B. Lyon, V; 19; Sept., 1911; N. Adams Normal; East Hamp- ton, Mass.
Alice M. Kelly, IV; 1; Sept., 1924; June 19, 1925; Lowell Normal; Chelmsford, Mass.
S. Adelaide Marble, IV; 1; Sept. 8, 1925; Farmington Normal; Win- throp, Maine.
Geneva A. Callahan, III; 9; Sept., 1917; June 19, 1925; Lowell Normal; North Chelmsford, Mass.
Charlotte M. Kemp, III; 3; April 20, 1925; Lowell Normal; Chelmsford, Mass.
Ester R. Nystrom, II; 13; Dec., 1911; Lowell Normal; 27 Fleming St., Lowell, Mass.
Eva M. Large, I; 8; Sept., 1917; Lowell Normal; 31 Burgess St., Low- ell. Mass.
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WESTLANDS
H. Jean Rafuse Principal, VII-VIII; 9; Sept., 1920; Martin's Pt. High; Martin's Pt., Lunenburg Co., N. S.
Vera G. Rafuse, V-VI; 12; Sept., 1921; Truro Normal; Martin's Pt., Lununberg Co., N. S. Mayme G. Trefry, III-IV; 11; Sept., 1921; Truro Normal; Arcadia, Yarmouth Co., N. S. Marion C. Bradley, I-II; 7; Sept., 1919; Lowell Normal; 496 Wilder St., Lowell, Mass.
EAST
Katie D. Greenleaf, Principal, VI-VIII; 11; Sept., 1922; Framingham Normal; Chelmsford, Mass.
Esther M. Kochian, V-VI; 0; Sept. 8, 1925; Gorham Normal;
229
Franklin St., Portland, Me.
Ruth Ward, III-V; 0; Sept., 1924; June 19, 1925; Lowell Normal; No. Chelmsford, Mass.
L. Wilmer Perkins, III-1V; 0; Sept. 8, 1925; Lowell Normal, Chelms- ford, Mass.
Grace G. Sheehan, I-II; 3; Sept., 1922; Lowell Normal; 54 Hanks St., Lowell, Mass.
SOUTH
Mary E. Mooney, IV-VI; 1; Sept., 1924; Lowell Normal; 213 Moore St., Lowell, Mass.
Norah C. Mahoney, Principal, I-III; 4; Sept., 1921; Bridgewater Nor- mal; 148 Common St., W. Quincy, Mass.
SOUTH ROW
Helen C. Osgood, I-IV; 61/2; Sept., 1921; Lowell Normal; Boston School D. Sci .; 48 Hastings St., Lowell, Mass.
PRINCETON STREET
Gertrude A. Jones, Principal, VIII; 2; Sept., 1899; Salem Normal; No. Chelmsford, Mass.
Ella A. Hutchinson, VII; 34; Sept., 1905; Framingham Normal; Chelms- ford, Mass.
Elsa Reid, VI; 14; Sept., 1922; Lowell Normal; West Chelmsford, Mass. May D. Sleeper, V; 25; March, 1907; Chelmsford High and Extension Courses; No. Chelmsford, Mass.
Lilla B. McPherson, IV; 11; Sept., 1920; Framingham Normal; 588 Stevens St., Lowell, Mass.
Genevieve E. Jantzen, III; 17; Sept., 1911; Lowell Normal; 3 Olive St., Lowell, Mass.
Mary F. Robinson, II; 1; Sept., 1924; Lowell Normal; 40 Crowley St., Lowell, Mass.
Katherine G. Dewire, I; 15; Jan., 1921; Lowell Normal; 315 High St., Lowell, Mass.
HIGHLAND
Mary A. Garvey, Principal, VI-VII; 17; Sept., 1921; Lowell Normal; No. Chelmsford, Mass.
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Mary A. Murphy, V-VI; 9; Sept., 1919; June 19, 1925; Lowell Normal; No. Chelmsford, Mass.
Ella Bailey, IV-V; 1; Sept. 8, 1925; Farmington Normal, R. D. 11; Gardner, Maine.
Mary K. Daley, III-IV; 5; Sept., 1922; Lowell Normal; No. Chelms- ford, Mass.
Lottie M. Agnew, I-II; 3; Sept., 1923; Lowell Normal; West Chelms- ford, Mass.
CORP. GEORGE R. QUESSY
Harold F. Meyette, VII-VIII; 5; Sept. 8, 1925; Keene Normal; Chelms- ford, Mass.
Bertha H. Long, VI-VIII; 31; April, 1896; Salem Normal; No. Wil- mington, Mass.
Ruth W. Ross, III-V; 10; Sept., 1918-June 19, 1925; Lowell Normal; 59 Summer St., Dorchester, Mass.
Edith M. Grant, III-IV; 1-3; April 21, 1925; Salem Normal; 20 Simon St., Beverly, Mass.
Mary A. Dunn, I-II; 14; Sept., 1921; Lowell Normal; West Chelms- ford, Mass.
SPECIAL TEACHERS
Elsie S. Burne, Supervisor of Music; 212; Boston Con. of Music; West Chelmsford, Mass.
Ruth L. Hazelwood, Supervisor of Drawing; 2; Oct., 1923; Boston Mu- seum of Fine Arts; 16 Melville St., Augusta, Me.
Mary E. Sheehan, School Nurse; 3; St. John's Hospital Training School, R. N .; Chelmsford, Mass.
SUPERINTENDENT
Charles H. Walker, Superintendent; 22; April 1, 1923; Bates College; Chelmsford, Mass.
DRIVERS, SCHOOL TRUCKS
Lewis Fisk, Chelmsford, Mass Tel. Lowell 4399-W George Gaudette, North Chelmsford, Mass.
Edwin Whitcomb, Chelmsford, Mass
Tel. Lowell 7431
George Marinel, North Chelmsford, Mass Tel. Lowell 4423-J
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee and Citizens of Chelmsford:
I herewith submit my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools, the 52nd in the series of such reports.
With this I transmit to you a "Financial Summary," the reports of the other executive and supervisory officers, together with the tabu- lation of the usual School Statistics, all of which merit your careful study.
WORK OF THE YEAR
We are striving for improvement. Comparing the percentage of pupils of normal age, for their grade in school, in the Age and Grade Distribution Tables of April 1, 1923, and April 1, 1925, we find in the latter table there is an improvement of nearly 912% for all grades, including the High School. This is very significant, and we believe it to be due to the adoption of the Program of Studies in the fall of 1923 by the committee, thus providing for more uniformity in the aims and objectives of the instruction in similar grades. No doubt other factors in this improvement are more considerate and careful judgments of teachers in the marking and promotion of pupils, besides a very appre- ciable improvement in teaching, on the part of most of our teachers. It has been exceedingly pleasing to me to note the hearty interest the most of our teachers have taken in their own professional improvement, by the study of many and various problems with me of the subjects of the school curriculum. Most of them since I have been here have, and are now, reading teachers' papers, magazines and books, thus being real students of their chosen profession. Better teaching means less failures and less retardation of school children. I wonder how many of our citizens, and teachers either, realize that the retardation of any pupil means an actual increase in the cost of education to Chelmsford. The cost per pupil in average membership in our elementary schools is nearly $60.00, and in our high school a little over $135.00 per year, thus it is seen that for every pupil retarded, it actually means that much more expense to the town for the additional year of schooling.
A careful study of the scores made in the Standard Achievement tests, given last May in the fundamental subjects, show much im- provement in reading, particularly in comprehension, which to our mind is much more important than increase in the rate of reading. In most grades better scores were made than in the previous spring, in spelling, composition and the four fundamentals of arithmetic. In writing there appears to be more variability in our fifth and seventh grades, and in general, actually lower scores resulted in our fourth and eighth grades, than in the year before. I am inclined to believe that some of our teachers are perhaps stressing speed in writing to the expense of quality, though possibly we might show greater improvement in this subject should we adopt a different system of teaching writing than the one we are now using.
Last spring our schools, inclusive from grade 3 to 8 competed in a state-wide language contest and averaged well, compared with the average for the state. The main purpose of this test was to call atten- ion to a desirable phase of language work, to give a means of diagnosis
122
of the language errors of children and the desirability of securing cor- rect speech. All this may be done by the use of a standardized test. The test is merely one effective tool. Certain studies show that the elimination of ten of the most common language errors would eliminate about 50% of the total running errors. Other studies indicate that the errors of one individual are limited and quite specific. All this shows that the correc- tion of language errors of children is a feasible undertaking and one directly in line with one of the major objectives of language work. The outstanding fact in the contest was the wide variation in results, not only among individuals within a school system but even among the median scores of the various schools. One third grade did five time as well as another. One eighth grade did twice as well as another eighth grade. Why such wide differences? While there are differences among children and teachers, such differences cannot account for the variation shrown. The only explanation is that the emphasis in the language work varies greatly throughout the state. In some places the major emphasis in the grades is upon technical grammar, notwithstanding the studies of Hoyt and Briggs (Teachers College Record Nov. 1906 and Sept. 1913) showing the utter worthlessness of technical grammar in the grades, either for improvement of writing and speaking or for disciplinary purposes. In most places the technical grammar has been replac d below the high school by constructive work in oral and written language and by games and drill designed to eliminate errors of speech.
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