USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1930 > Part 14
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Water cost $338, running from a minimum of $12.03 at Highland Avenue
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to $62.70 at the High School, with an unusually large charge of $147.85 at Princeton Street. The two Fire Districts render bills only once a year for excess of water used. When the bills came in from North Chelmsford Fire District last June it was seen at once that there was a bad leak somewhere. This was immediately located in the plumbing of the new building and stopped, but the bill for water wasted had to be paid. On a per pupil basis the water used at South Row has been most expensive. Since the time when action by the Board of Health caused the use of the well on the school premises to be discontinued, water for drinking purposes has been furnished in carboys. It has cost for the year $33.50, or over $1.25 a pupil.
Repairs and replacements cost $4,406.23. Under the latter heading is included the cost of replacing items of furniture and equipment. For 1930 this consisted of nine typewriters, $285. Typewriters are bought for school use at $70 each, and the trade-in allowance at the end of three years runs from $30 to $40. By trading in one-third of the machines each year we are enabled to keep the equipment in first class condition at almost no cost for repairs or adjustments.
The major items of repair work for 1930 included : painting, gutters, and roof repairs on the Highland Avenue School, $640; plumbing and pump at East, $210; roof and painting two rooms at East, $216; new pump and motor and changes in return pipes to boiler at South, $325; new motor for heating system at McFarlin, $40; changes and extensions of plumbing at the same school so as to provide outside drinking fountains, $225; steps, grading, and walks at Quessy, $187; an emergency job on the sewer system at Quessy, in which 4-in. tile were replaced with 6-in., $254; electric lights at South and South Row, $116; floors and flag-pole at McFarlin, $112.
The janitors are engaged on the understanding that they do all minor repair work during the summer. Paints, varnish, etc., for their use cost about $150. The generally fine condition of the interior of the buildings is due in large part to the work they are doing each year. Necessary small repair bills average about $125 a month throughout the year. Everybody realizes that school buildings are subjected to hard usage. Construction needs to be of the best if it is to be economical. The value of school buildings and equipment, as estimated by the Board of Assessors, is $553,000. The town is paying less than one per cent for keeping them in condition.
The total expenditure for Operation and Maintenance, $18,390.70, divided by the number of pupils gives for a per pupil cost $13.31, as compared with $15.48 for the entire state.
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
The large item under this heading is transportation, $9,000 under the contract, and $10 for an emergency case. In 1928 454 pupils were carried to and from school; in 1929, the number increased to 480; and this year it is increased again to 535. The routes have not been changed materially. The total daily mileage for the four busses is about 175 miles. Two years ago the three large busses brought all the high school students from West and North Chelmsford. Now all four are required for this purpose, and they are badly crowded. If the number entitled to transportation continues to increase, a
12
fifth bus will be necessary in the near future. The per pupil cost for the number actually carried is $16.82, and on the basis of the entire membership, $6.51. In the entire state in 1928 the cost per pupil based on membership was $2.48.
For promotion of health the expenditure was $2,298.20, of which $600 was the salary of the two school physicians, $1,583.28 salary of the nurse, and $104.92 for nurse's supplies. Per pupil cost, $1.81, against a cost for the state of $1.36. The report of the nurse gives some details, but no mere table of statistics can adequately describe the energy with which she takes up her daily tasks, the skill with which she handles the many duties she assumes, and the spirit of service which is embodied in all her work. Chelmsford is indeed fortunate in the agents who are looking after the health of the school children, the nurse and all the doctors who have done work in the schools.
NEW EQUIPMENT
Expenditures under this heading are capital costs, and are not included in the items of cost making up school support. During 1930, two typewriters were added to the equipment, one with a special extension carriage, $161.75 ; filing cabinet section, $19; furniture for an additional room at the High School and other new items, $511.47 ; two duplicating devices, a Multistamp for the Superintendent's office, $25, and a Ditto machine for North Chelmsford, $96.48; a portable phonograph, $24.50; and two large gymnasium mats, $81.10, making a total of $919.30. The lettering on the McFarlin School cost $143.
Tuition has been paid to Lowell Vocational School and the Evening Vocational School, amounting to $3,231.51. Such items are not included in the costs used for purposes of comparison.
The state reports to which reference is made in the foregoing, and also other data relating to comparative school costs, are on file in the Superin- tendent's office and may be consulted by anyone who is interested.
TEACHERS
The table on page 3 gives the names of the teachers, with the dates on which they began service and the institutions in which they prepared. We . were able to secure teachers of one or two years' experience for the vacant elementary positions. In the High School, Mr. Burns had had eleven years in High School administration besides other teaching experience, and Mr. Wilson was experienced. The other three new teachers in the High School_ were -_ without experience. I am pleased to be able to report that without exception the new teachers are rendering satisfactory service.
The work of the teachers who have been serving Chelmsford for periods running from a year or two to over twenty is excellent, and the spirit they show is most commendable. Their desire to improve professionally is marked. Last summer Miss MacBrayne and Mr. Forrest took courses at Boston University; Mr. Wilson at M.I.T .; Mr. Knightly at Harvard ; Mrs. Adams and Miss Vera Rafuse at Hyannis Normal. At present Misses Jean, Beryl, and Vera Rafuse, Miss Greene, Miss McTeague, Mrs. Dobson,
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Miss Monahan, Miss MacBrayne, and Miss Dunigan are taking either Saturday morning or afternoon courses at B. U .; Miss McCarthy at Harvard ; and Miss Donahoe, Mrs. Brown, Miss Hehir, Miss Long, Miss Grant, Miss Jane McEnaney, and probably others, are taking University Extension courses in Lowell, or work at Lowell Normal. All this means a better grade of service for Chelmsford school pupils. It speaks well for our teachers that they are willing and eager to spend both time and money in professional growth.
Last spring Principal Weed of Lowell Normal School suggested the possibility of using certain Chelmsford schools for giving third-year students practice in teaching. The first grade room at Princeton Street and the first and second grade room at East Chelmsford were approved for this purpose, and Miss McTeague and Miss Reis have had the assistance of cadet teachers in their large rooms of approximately fifty pupils. These students serve for a period of twelve weeks, and then are replaced by others. The service has proved very valuable to us. The cadet teachers actually take a section of the class and do the teaching, and also assist in playground supervision and in other ways. It is to be hoped that this arrangement with the Normal School may be continued indefinitely. At the Westlands, where two of the rooms were entirely too large for teachers to handle efficiently, a building assistant was engaged, who takes small groups into the teachers' room for instruction. It will be necessary to continue such an arrangement until the crowded condition there is permanently remedied.
I wish to express appreciation for the valuable services rendered some of our boys and girls by persons outside the school department, the 4-H Club leaders and the scout masters. In a very vital way their work supplements the work of the schools, and we are justified in doing all in our power to give them support. The six parent-teacher associations are all doing most excellent work, especially in the line of more closely linking up school with home and community. If one of them were to be singled out for special mention it would be the North Chelmsford Association, which has successfully promoted the matter of an adult evening class for aliens. There is an enrollment of 30, with an average attendance of 24. Most of the members are fathers and mothers of pupils in school. The North Chelmsford Association, the evening school teachers, and the members of the classes are all to be congratulated on the fine start that has been made. The State reimburses the Town to the amount of one-half the expense of the evening school.
To all who have worked with me in the Chelmsford schools during 1930, especially to you who have been charged with the administration, I wish to express thanks for most loyal support.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE S. WRIGHT.
14
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. George S. Wright,
Superintendent of Schools,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
My dear Mr. Wright:
As principal of Chelmsford High School I herewith submit this annual report. I sincerely hope that it will answer many questions now in the minds of parents and voters and that it will stimulate the people of Chelms- ford to visit our school and see for themselves what we are trying to do.
The enrollment so far this year has reached 310. Of this number 12 have left. One has left because of ill health; 2 have gone to work; 3 have moved out of town and 6 have left because we had no course to offer them in which they were interested.
Besides the principal there are 10 full-time teachers. These teachers are all working the entire day. Not a single teacher has a regular free period that he can use as he pleases. One of our beginning teachers has a class of 48 pupils. Thirty-five is considered, by the educational authorities, to be the maximum number for any one class, while the pupils in classes of 15 or 20 get a far better education than in the larger classes. Any teacher can do only about so much, so if the classes are twice as large as they should be, it stands to reason that each pupil will get only about half as much individual attention as he should. Because of the limited number of classrooms we are greatly handicapped. Our boys and girls of Chelmsford have just as much ability as any children in the country. Yet they are not getting as good training as many because of the limited curriculums and small number of class rooms in our High School.
We are trying to make Chelmsford High School a place where each boy and girl who comes can, as he goes home each night, conscientiously say to himself, "I have learned something today. I have worked hard and I am happy that I have the privilege of attending Chelmsford High School." There are misfits in every school. We have some in our school. We all know that every boy and girl is not interested in the same type of work. The more limited the courses taught in any school the more misfits and the more children of high school age there are who do not go to high school. I believe that with vocational courses offered in Chelmsford High School many pupils who are now failures because they have no interest in any of our narrow curriculums would become successful and many more of the children who do not enter would do so and receive the type of education they are interested in. If the time ever was, it is not now that we should try to send every boy and girl to college. But every normal boy and girl who is graduated from our eighth grade is entitled to four years' successful high school education, with a diploma to show what he has done. In times like these it is more important that we furnish as many different courses as possible, in order to interest and keep those boys and girls who in normal times would be working. If a person cannot obtain work it is good business for the state to send him to school so that he will be better - able to care for himself and not become dependent upon society for the necessities and comforts of life.
Health education is of great importance if we would teach our young. people to be good citizens. We are trying to educate the pupils to take care of their physical wants and thus develop into strong, healthy men and women. With our present equipment we often have to break the very laws of health we are trying to teach. Athletic teams are an asset to any school. Many boys have stayed in school and become good citizens just because of some one athletic sport. We are trying to do our best for our boys and girls along this line. We need a gymnasium with shower baths in order to do safely what we are trying to do now. Pupils should have an opportunity
15
to dress for physical education so as not only to protect their clothes, but to get the full benefit of the exercises. Showers should be taken by all pupils after exercising, in order to wash off the poisons given out through the pores of the skin and then to close those pores, that the pupil will not take cold after exercising.
It is impossible to have the entire student body meet in assembly at one time in our present building. Because of this condition each pupil goes to an assembly but once in two weeks, and then with only a part of the school. Much time is thus lost by duplicated programs, and many times only one-half of the school has an opportunity to hear some good speech by a speaker from out of town. We need an assembly room that will seat our entire student body at the same time.
At the close of the football season, the Parent-Teacher Associations of Chelmsford, with the help of Mrs. Lewis, our school nurse, put on a banquet for the football players. This was very much worth while for the boys, and I hope that other town organizations will feel like helping our basketball and baseball teams in a like manner when the time comes.
I believe the time has come when every pupil who comes to High School should try to do his best with the lessons assigned to him. If he does this, he is entitled to as much credit as any other pupil who makes the same effort, regardless of the achievement. On the other hand, a pupil who does not try to do his best and thereby fails to make passing grades should be eliminated from High School, and either put to work or into some other school where he will have to try because of the nature of the school, or will want to do his best because the school has something to offer him in which he is interested. It is not right to the taxpayers to spend their money on pupils who make very little or no effort. Neither is it right to the pupil to be allowed to develop the habits of carelessness and laziness. Pupils should study on an average of one hour a day for each classroom recitation. Children who tell their parents that they have no homework to do are making a serious mistake somewhere, and parents will be helping their children if they will inquire of the school authorities and find out just what the situation is. Pupils are indeed fortunate whose parents take an active interest and co-operate with the teachers in their school problems. Many times pupils have been turned from a downward path onto the road of success by the mother or father visiting the school and lending a helping hand. Children deserve the help and encouragement of their parents. We are always glad to welcome parents at the school and hope that more will make an effort to see us in the future.
I wish every parent and voter would visit our school, see us at work, and see the excellent condition the building is in. We are indeed fortunate in having Mr. Robbins and his assistant, Mr. Stuart, who, with the aid of pupils and teachers, keep the building in such an excellent condition.
Following is a tabulated report of the number of pupils in each class :
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Number of students
Number of students
First
Second Year
Year
Year
Total
Periods per Week
Subject
Freshman English
89
89
5
Sophomore English
5
77
71
37
51
5
Freshman Latin
18
1
19
5
Sophomore Latin
23
5
5
5
Senior Latin
. .
57
1
58
5
Junior French
1
46
13
16
5
American History
7
49
36
92
5
Early European History.
18
3
2
23
5
World History
1
40
8
5
54
5
Commercial Geography
1
32
21
3
57
5
Sophomore Typewriting
2
38
7
2
49
5
Junior Typewriting
3
27
10
10
5
Junior Stenography
3
28
3
34
5
Senior Stenography
3
40
2
2
47
5
Junior Bookkeeping
53
.
. .
53
5
General Science
80
1
. .
.
81
5
Physics
. .
·
. .
25
1
27
3
Chemistry Lab.
1
25
3
29
3
Freshman Algebra
19
15
25
1
27
5
Geometry
20
8
1
29
5
Freshman Mathematics
75
1
5
1
24
5
Mechanical Drawing
9
3
8
2
22
2
Music
91
82
53
8
234
2
Physical Education
88
84
76
27
275
2
Advanced Mathematics
.
. .
1
10
11
5
·
Our financial condition is shown in the following report made by Miss McCarthy, our Vice-Principal, who has charge of this department :
ANNUAL REPORT OF CHELMSFORD HIGH SCHOOL FUNDS
I. GENERAL FUND
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1930.
$302.95
Receipts Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930 138.47
$441.42
Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930
49.60
Balance Dec. 31, 1930
$391.82
..
. .
23
5
Junior Latin
. .
..
2
2
5
Sophomore French
. .
. .
47
5
Senior French
Occupations
19
19
5
.
. .
30
5
Senior Typewriting
.
1
10
11
5
Sophomore Bookkeeping
. .
28
9
9
5
. .
8
8
1
Chemistry
34
5
Sophomore Algebra
. .
1
76
5
Biology
·
5
Office Practice
. .
. .
79
5
Senior English
14
. .
82
5
Junior English
8
Third Fourth
Year
..
28
5
Introductory Business
Physics Lab.
1
·
10
10
18
3
.
17
II. MUSIC FUND
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1930.
$221.68
Receipts Jan. 1, 1930 -- Dec. 31, 1930. 204.85
Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930 $426.53
207.43
Balance Dec. 31, 1930. $219.10
III. CLASS OF 1930
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1930 $ 59.55
*Receipts Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930. 792.15
*Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930 $851.70
846.75
Balance Dec. 31, 1930.
$
4.95
*Includes money received and paid out for pupil's individual pictures.
IV. CLASS OF 1931
Balance Jan. 1, 1930. $ 19.81
*Receipts Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930. 91.58
$111.39
Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930
5.00
Balance Dec. 31, 1930. $106.39
*Includes $67.83 profit on 1930 Year Book.
V. ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1930. $685.78
Receipts Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930. 759.83
$1,445.61
Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930
857.09
Balance Dec. 31, 1930. $588.52
VI. BLUE MOON (School Paper)
Balance on hand Jan. 1, 1930. . $185.60
Receipts Jan. 1, 1930 -- Dec. 31, 1930 86.15
Less : Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930 $271.75
53.29
Balance Dec. 31, 1930. $218.46
VII. CLASS OF 1932
*Receipts Jan. 1. 1930-Dec. 31, 1930. $501.23
*Payments Jan. 1, 1930-Dec. 31, 1930 485.08
Balance Dec. 31, 1930. $ 16.15
*Includes money received and paid out for individual pupil's class rings.
*Total in all the funds
$1,545.39
*$1,000 is kept on interest.
I am in the middle of my first year as the principal of your High School. I appreciate very much the kind assistance and hearty co-operation that I have received from you, Mr. Wright, the school committee, the faculty, parents, and entire student body and sincerely hope that I may warrant the continuance of this help and co-operation.
Respectfully submitted, L. H. BURNS.
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REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
January 2, 1931.
Mr. George S. Wright,
Superintendent of Schools,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
The music in the schools makes little change from year to year, as the fundamentals remain the same. The children learn to sing with a clear, light tone and this is carried through the entire school experience. In the second grade staff notation from the board is introduced, and in the third grade, book reading is started.
We try to have as much appreciation as possible. We endeavor to teach the children the different moods in music, the louds and softs, sad and joyous music, slow and fast music, etc. Also the different rhythms such as march- ing, skipping, running, etc.
In many rooms we have been seriously handicapped by the lack of books. Many of the books were in such a dilapidated condition that it was impossible to use them, and some rooms had no books at all. In such cases the interest is bound to relax just a bit, but several of the rooms will start the new year with new books, as books were purchased in December and I know that both teachers and pupils can start the new year with renewed zest and vigor.
One of the Parent-Teacher Associations in the town contributed the sum of fifty dollars for musical equipment in their school. We have already purchased a portable victrola, instruments for a rhythm band, and a few records. We will use the remainder of this sum for records, as we feel the need of them. The Parent-Teacher Associations are doing a wonderful work, and their contributions are surely appreciated by the various depart- ments in the school systen1.
In the High School there are two classes that meet twice a week for community singing, chorus singing, and music appreciation. In appreciation we have studied the folk music of various countries, and we are now at work on the various types of vocal music. Later we intend to study the various forms of music. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have loaned their victrola for our use in the High School, and by this generous act our work is greatly facilitated.
Glee Clubs have been started, and the High School orchestra is small, but does excellent work for assemblies, school parties, etc.
In two sections of our town grammar school orchestras are in the first stages of operation, and have high hopes of expanding and doing excellent work. One of the orchestras, after three rehearsals, rendered two selections for a Parent-Teacher Association and we feel quite encouraged.
I wish to thank every teacher for his or her most excellent co-operationr.
Yours truly,
CHARLOTTE L. HYDE, Supervisor of Music.
19
REPORT OF PHYSICAL DIRECTOR
Chelmsford, Massachusetts, January 9, 1931.
Mr. George S. Wright,
Superintendent of Schools,
Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir :
It is with pleasure that I submit to you my second annual report as Supervisor of Physical Education.
During January, February and March, a basketball tournament was held for the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade boys from the different sections. These games were played every Saturday morning, at the McFarlin School Gym, with an attendance of about one hundred every week. During this same period gym classes were held, one night a week, for the men and women of the community, and the average attendance was fifteen men and twenty-five women per week. These classes were run without any expense to the people other than a small fee used to pay the janitor and piano player. The largest amount paid was seventeen cents a person.
Starting in February, the children began practising their drills to be used Field Day. The Field Day drills were competitive in nature, each grade striving to win the award for their grade. The awards were in the form of large shields and were won as follows: 1st and 2nd Grades, West- lands ; 3rd and 4th Grades, Princeton Street ; 5th and 6th Grades, McFarlin ; 7th and 8th Grades, Princeton Street; and the school championship was won by Princeton Street. The judges were four students from the Lowell Normal School, and this department wishes to thank the Lowell Normal School for its co-operation, and all other people, who in any way rendered any assistance. The regular routine work of the department was carried out until the close of school in June.
Starting the present school year, a few changes were made in schedule and mode of teaching, which it is believed will work out very satisfactorily. Two new classes have been created in High School and the schedule has been rearranged so that much less time is spent in travelling between schools. Beginning this fall, the boys and girls in the grades from the fifth through the eighth have been separated in their drills, this making it possible to have many more activities than with a mixed group. This change is working out very well from all angles and the children are especially pleased with it. All High School classes liave been divided in two parts, the first of which is taken up by the study of Hygiene, in an effort to have the pupils know more about their body and its upkeep. This fall, the Athletic Field at the rear of the High School was used, for the first time. as the regular football field and with a few improvements, it can be made into as nice a field as any of our opponents have.
Some new equipment has been purchased and is already in use.
The Department of Physical Education wishes to thank the people of Chelmsford for their hearty co-operation during the past year.
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