USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1934 > Part 12
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During 1934 five changes occurred in the teaching corps. Miss Libby and Miss Grant resigned because of marriage, and Miss Mary McEnaney to accept a postion in Lowell. The community was saddened in August by the death of Miss Dunigan, and again in September by the death of Miss Gav. Two extremely efficient and very popular teachers were lost to the High School by these untimely deaths.
For the positions in the elementary schools Miss Josephine M. Quiglev and Miss Clara Dexter, graduates in 1934 of the four-year course in Lowell Teachers' College, were engaged. The history position in the High School was filled by transferring Mr. MacLaughlan to that department, and Mr. Warren C. Dean, a graduate of Boston University, was chosen for the Eng- lish position. For the commercial position Miss Ernestine Maynard, a grad-
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uate of Salem Teachers' College, was engaged, and for the French position Mr. Earl J. Watt, a graduate of Harvard with two additional years of graduate work. All the new teachers are doing excellent work.
OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE.
Under this leading is included all the expense of keeping the ten school buildings clean, heated, and in repair, of water, power, and lights, of brooms, brushes, toilet room supplies, etc. Many towns with as large a school popu- lation as Chelmsford house all their pupils in three or four buildings. They are able to maintain their school plants at less cost than is possible with ten buildings.
Janitor service cost $8,375-$2,040 for the High School and $6,375 for the grades. Supplies amounted to $243.51. The janitors, in addition to giving the buildings a thorough cleaning in the summer, varnish seats, desks, and woodwork, oil the floors, and do some painting. Supplies for these pur- poses cost about $325. The school buildings are kept in good condition gen- erally. Visitors frequently comment favorably on their appearance.
The heating of the buildings was more than usually expensive in 1934. Coal was purchased in 1933 at $5.61 for 350 tons of soft coal and $8,30 for 75 tons of buckwheat for the High School. The bins were filled to capacity in the summer of 1933, and the balance due put in during the winter. For- merly this quantity had proved sufficient for a season, or nearly so. But be- ginning in February, due to the prolonged cold weather, additional soft coal had to be purchased for all buildings except the High School, East, and South. More than 75 tons were put in, first at a price of $6.61 a ton and after March 1st at $7.50, and little was left in June. When bids were asked in the spring of 1934 the operation of the N. R. A. code resulted in identical prices being quoted, $7.50 for soft coal and $10.00 for buckwheat, to apply only to the amount delivered immediately. Because of the 75 tons already bought and used the appropriation would not permit filling the bins to capacity. More coal will be required in some buildings soon, and will cost the prevailing code price.
Lighting the buildings cost $659.68-$162.21 for the High School and $497.47 for the elementary. Making allowance for the basement in the McFarlin School, used considerably in the evening throughout the year, the cost of lighting is about $12.00 a class room, and is very uniform in the dif- ferent buildings. Electric current is used for ventilating toilets, and for pumps in the buildings not otherwise provided with water. The High School power bill was $447.04, and the McFarlin $92.28. The heating and ventilat- ing systems in these buildings are dependent on electric power.
Water cost a total of $476.81-$72.90 for the High School and $403.91 for elementary. Here there is a wide variation in the costs in the different .buildings. Highland Ave. is lowest, $13.05. No lunches are served in this building, no children are in the building at the noon hour, and the building is not used in the evening. Bottled water was used at South Row at a cost of $25.20 for 15 pupils, and at East Chelmsford until about December 1st, when water was turned on from the new system at a cost of $221 20 for 165 pupils.
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Insurance of a limited nature is carried on eleven boilers at an expense of $291.12 for a three-year policy. The boilers are inspected twice each year under the terms of the policy. Inspection by the state, which would be compulsory otherwise, would cost about the same without the insurance feature.
Advantage was taken of E. R. A. labor during the first half of the year in projects on the High School athletic field, and in the East Chelmsford, Highland Ave., Quessy, and Princeton St. schools. The first project under- taken was in the High School and was very nearly completed in 1933. All material used, such as lumber, paint, cement, etc., and team hire has been a charge against the appropriation for repairs. These projects developed from month to month during the year, so no estimate could be made a year ago of the sums needed. Indoor work was brought to an end about July 1st. The total amount paid for material was $902.71, and for team hire $116. For this expenditure the town has received these benefits: In the High School wall-board ceilings were put on the two rooms in the basement which are used for classrooms, making them much lighter and deadening the sound from the rooms above. At East Chelmsford plaster walls and woodwork were repaired as needed, and the four classrooms, halls, and toilets given two coats of oil paint. The same was done at Highland Ave. At Quessy, in addition to the same work in the four classrooms and halls, the partitions of the boiler room were covered with wallboard to reduce the fire hazard in the building.
At the New Building, Princeton St., the special appropriation of $1700 for new toilets was supplemented by E. R. A. labor so far as possible. The plumbing contract for moving the toilets, including some new fixtures, was $1,225.88. In addition, partitions had to be put in, floors laid, and the center of the basement filled in and fitted for use. Magnesite floors cost $132 The toilets in this building were disgraceful before the change was made : the new ones are light, sanitary, and conveniently located. By using E. R. A. labor so far as possible the cost, including contracts, new fixtures. and all material was kept nearly to the amount of the special appropriation. The total cost, including including improvements made in the basement, was about $1,800.
The E. R. A. work on the athletic field has given Chelmsford, for both school and community use, an exceptionally fine field. A backstop is needed in order to protect the pupils in the McFarlin School from fouls and foul tips, and a grandstand with dressing rooms, showers, and toilets underneath would be a valuable addition.
One major job of repairing was undertaken. The roof of the High School had been leaking in heavy rains, and minor repairs had been made from time to time. Also, a driving rain had beaten in over the front door. When the worn-out covering was removed the condition of the roof was found to be much worse than was expected. Some timbers had to be re- placed. the chimney relaid, and the stone coping on the parapet in the front of the building taken down in order to make repairs underneath. Except for very minor repairs this roof had not been touched for the eighteen years
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since the building was erected. The job was thoroughlily done at a cost of nearly $400, and we belive it will stand for another equal period before need- ing attention.
The below-zero cold waves of last winter caused freeze-ups in all schools except the High School and Westlands. In some buildings the damage was little, but in others plumbing bills ran to considerable sums. Quite generally in the buildings water has to be drawn out of pipes above the basement when the temperature goes to zero, and the janitors have been successful in avoiding trouble; but the very unusual low temperatures of last winter caught boiler return pipes that had been safe before. Measures have been taken to prevent such trouble in the future.
The total cost of operating and maintaining the school plant was $17,240.45, of which $4,555.90 was for the High School, and $12,684.55 for the elementary. Since this was foreseen to be exceeding the appropriation by about $9.00, the School Committee, at the special meeting of Dec. 7th, asked the town to transfer $775 from Instruction and $125 from New Equipment to Operation and Maintenance. The first amount was trans- ferred, but owing to a clerical error in the writing of the warrant action could not be taken on the second request. . The Finance Committee, how- ever, made this amount available. A balance was left in the account Instruc- tion due to three things: Several new teachers had been taken on at mini- mum salaries in place of teachers who were receiving the maximum; one place had been discontinued, building assistant in the McFarlin School; the budget provided for an additional teacher in the High School from Septem- ber on, but such a teacher was not engaged. Dividing the total cost of operating by 1624, the cost per pupil was $10.62. In group II it was $12.26, in the twenty towns $10.64, and in the state $12.71.
AUXILIARY AGENCIES.
Under this heading is included the cost of transportatoin, and the salar- ies and supplies of physicians and nurse. The law requires the appointment of one or more school physicians and one or more nurses. The physicians were paid $570 and the nurse $1,567.68. The nurse's supplies cost $117.30. The same persons are physicians and nurse for the Board of Health. There is considerable misapprehension of the duties of a school doctor and a school nurse. So far as they are working under the authority of the School De- partment their work is to examine pupils and to report their findings with recommendations. They do not treat nor prescribe. These latter functions are within the province of the family physician. Acting under the authority of the Board of Health they may treat in certain cases, hold clinics, etc. It would be within the terms of the law to engage a dentist to make an inspection of teeth and to report his findings with recommendations, but he could not under authority of the School Department do any dental work. The dental work now being done by the so-called "school dentist" is wholly within the jurisdiction of the Board of Health, or its agent, who is also school nurse. This work by the dentist is entirely optional with parents, both as regards inspection and treatment. It is made possible to have a child's teeth looked after at school at a reduced rate. "Dental Honor Rolls" hang in the classrooms, furnished by the Department of Public Health The
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teacher records a child's name thereon when a dentist, family or the one working in school, gives a certificate that the teeth are in good condition. Great credit is due the P. T. A.'s and other organizations and individual citi- zens who have furnished funds for assistance in dental work.
For the last three years transportation has cost $8,150 a year, of which we estimate $4,150 is for the High School and $4,000 for the elementary. This is the last year of the present contract. Since it was signed two years ago last fall a second bus has been put on for East Chelmsford, a second bus in the morning for South Chelmsford going by way of Carlisle and Proctor roads, and the bus going over Billerica Road returns by Mill Road and the Turnpike. Last year's report gave the roads on which pupils were picked up for the various schools, then 592 in number. On October 1, 1934, the number carried had increased to 618. A change in the school law re- quires that bus stops be not over one mile from the homes of pupils. This made necessary some changes in the South part of the town, and there will doubtless be some slight changes made when a new contract is drawn.
Criticism of the existing system deals with (a) overloading, (b) pupils losing the bus or having to wait too long for it, (c) pupils being brought to the buildings too early in the morning or left too late after school before being carried home. I would suggest that these principles should apply when the busses are running under normal conditions : (a) The proper load for a bus should be determined by the Motor Vehicle Department, which 110w makes regulations for equipment, requires periodic inspection of busses, etc. Overcrowding is frequently due to the desire of students to take the first bus when there are two running fifteen minutes or a half-hour apart; the first one being badly overloaded and the second only half full. The drivers and teachers should handle this, and the Motor Vehicle Department determine whether the busses provided are adequate under normal conditions. (b) The responsibility of having pupils at the scheduled bus stops on time lies wholly with parents. In good weather the bussess run quite close to schedule, and the schedules are such that each stop must be just as brief as possible. We do not intend to have any bus run ahead of scheduled time, but in case of bad roads they are frequently late. Pupils must be at the bus stops when the bus arrives, just as they would be for an electric car or a train. When they are at the bus stops on time they do not lose the bus. But they do miss busses by loitering along the road when it is approaching the stop without making any reasonable effort to get to the stopping place, by being in houses' or stores, as well as by being really late. (c) Enough busses should be used in the afternoon so that all children can leave for their homes within a half- hour of closing time. It is unfortunate that elementary pupils are brought to some of the schools so early in the morning, but it seems to be unavoid- able with the present system under which High School students and grade pupils ride together.
It is impossible to make a valid comparison of transportation costs with any group of towns, since local conditions vary widely. The amount paid for transportaton is published, but no figures are given for the number of pupils carried, distance, etc. Billerica spent $19,646; Westford, $9,184.18 ; Dracut, $3,292.20; North Andover, $4,093.70; Andover, $11,653.62; Maynard,
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$989.50; Bedford, $3,100. The area of the town and the location of the school buildings determine whether much transportation is needed, or little.
The above analysis shows in detail how school costs in Chelmsford com- pare with those of other towns. The report of the Department of Education gives in column 46 the cost of all day schools for each town and city for the year ending December 31, 1933, and in column 47A the cost per pupil in average membership. As has been the case for several years, Chelmsford is near the bottom of the list of 355 towns and cities with a cost per pupil of $59.81. Only nine towns show a lower cost.
ENROLLMENT
A table attached to this report shows the enrollment in the various build- ings on October 1st, and the enrollment in the elementary schools and the High School for the last ten years. The High School has gone over the 400 mark for the first time, and since the 8th grade is larger than ever before, it is probable that there will be an increase again next year. The enrollment in the lower grades has fallen off slightly. In this connection I wish to call attention to the work of the Special Committee on School House Conditions, which published its report in 1930. This committee made a rather exhaus- tive study of the situation, and their recommendations are as valid today as when they were first made. I urge that all voters get out their 1930 Town Reports and study these recommendations. An addition to the High School building is needed much more now than it was four years ago, and without such an addition the work of the school is bound to deteriorate. High
schools are larger everywhere, and in the opinion of most observers they are going to be permanently larger. There is little probability that industry will again absorb as workers boys and girls from 14 to 16, and it is doubtful whether many will be taken at 17 or 18. Until full-grown men and women all have jobs public opinion will certainly not give approval to the employ- ment of youth of high school age. I urge that the citizens of Chelmsford face this solution squarely and make adequate provision for a larger school building.
Th report of the Principal of the High School, which is endorsed as a part of this report, indicates what leading educators are recommending for new courses in high schools to meet the new conditions. In order to intro- duce such work in Chelmsford more classrooms must be provided and more teachers. For three years our problem has been to find a seat for all the pupils who entered and to find means of combining them in large classes so as to avoid engaging additional teachers. Is it not time to change this policy of conserving dollars into one which will regard the welfare of the students in the school as the first consideration? And the welfare of students means that they must be treated as individuals. Some of them are scholarly and interested in books; others do not learn readily and are more interested in doing things than in study ; some of them are eager to keep on in school, ยท others are in school because the law or parental will demands attendance ; some are artistic, some musical, some have dramatic ability, some are more interested in athletics than in anything else, and some need physical training, or health training, more than any other one thing. When nearly all youth of the adolescent period are gathered into one school all types are there represented. A generation ago only the scholarly found their way through
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the doors of the high schools, and such courses are we now have, unchanged since the present building was opened, met the needs of the community. This is no longer the case. Our high school cannot adequately serve the citizens of Chelmsford until its courses cover a much wider field. The building should be enlarged in order that a modern curriculum can be established.
With the study made by the former committee and its report it would seem that the next step would be for the town to authorize the securing of plans for an addition to the High School building. This is a matter of far greater importance to the future well being of Chelmsford, I believe, than any other that can be brought before the town at this time.
It may be noted that two payments of $3,250 each, with interest, to be made on April 1 of 1935 and 1936, complete the payments for the present High School building. Final payments on the McFarlin building will be made in 1940.
Attached to this report are those of the School Nurse and of the Music Supervisor. As Mrs. Lewis's report clearly indicates, a considerable part of her work is along the lines of public health, but nearly all of it is either with school children or in the families from which they come to school. Whether she is working strictly as a school nurse, or as agent for the Board of Health, the aim of her work is the same, to better the health of the com- munity by building stronger bodies in its boys and girls and by improving home conditions.
The Commissioner of Education names reading as the subject of first importance in the schools, and music second. Without question there is in- creased interest in music among our people, possibly due to radio programs. The success of the Drum and Bugle Corps sponsored in the. Center by - American Legion Post No. 212, has made other sections of the town eager to give support to plans for teaching instrumental music in the schools. This is possible without expense to the town, those receiving the training paying for the instruction.
Many citizens and organizations aided in making 1934 a pleasant and profitable year for the schools. The Parent-Teacher associations gave ma- terial assistance in dental work, in supporting school lunches, in getting play- ground equipment, etc., as well as by aiding teachers through having a better understanding of schoolroom situations. The leaders of the Scouts and of 4-H Clubs are building character in those groups. The American Legion has demonstrated that group instruction in instrumental music, under good guidance, can produce noteworthy results. The Police Department has pro- tected the worst crossings at noon and night, has furthered safety instruction in school, and through the Junior Traffic Patrols is getting many children home from school more safely than was formerly the case. The Lions Club has supported athletics in the High School. The work of the cadet teachers from Lowell Teachers' College is an aid in some buildings. Students in the commercial classes aid in clerical work. To all these organizations and in- dividuals, and to citizens who have contributed helpful criticisms, and espe- cially to you for your advice and support, I tender sincere thanks.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE S. WRIGHT,
Superintendent.
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. George S. Wright, Superintendent of Schools, Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
My Dear Mr. Wright :
1 herewith submit my fifth annual report as principal of the Chelins- ford High School. My aims in this report are to acquaint the parents and tax payers with the conditions existing in the High School and to point out the trend of the times in secondary education.
On December 21, 1934, there were 125 freshmen, 110 sophomores, 76 juniors, 78 seniors, and 2 post-graduates. Besides this number, 26 had left school, making a grand total of 417 pupils who had been enrolled this school year. This is 22 more than one year ago and 107 more than four years ago. Four years ago there were eleven full-time and two part- time teachers. This year there are twelve full-time teachers and one part-time teacher. The teachers have from 126 to 194 pupils in class work each day with an average of over 155 pupils per teacher each day. The maximum load per teacher is considered by many educational experts to be 125 pupils per day.
The three largest class rooms in the building were designed for not more than 35 pupils. The other eight class rooms were designed for 25 pupils. There are 11 classes with 40 to 46 pupils, 17 classes with 30 to 39 pupils, 22 classes with 20 to 29 pupils, 6 classes with 16 to 19 pupils and 3 classes with 10 to 15 pupils. Extra chairs have been crowded into all the class rooms to accommodate these large classes. The study hall is not large enough to accommodate all of the pupils during their study periods. The pupils who cannot study in the study hall have to study in class rooms where recitations are going on.
The following quotations are taken from a report given by a com- mittee on curriculum revision at the annual meeting of High School Principals held recently in Boston.
"Curriculum enrichment seems to be the major problem facing the rural schools throughout the nation. Many splendid efforts along those lines are being made in some of the small communities of our own state, but the committee is of the opinion that, for the most part, school execu- tives have been too conservative in the revision of their curriculums to meet the demands of a new day. Doubtless, there was a time when the small high schools of Massachusetts had as their main objective, prepara- tion for college, but today Massachusetts statistics show less than 15% of their graduates entering college. The committee believes that our small high schools can do more than at present to prepare their graduates for happy, useful living in the small communities where an increasingly large proportion of them are bound to reside."
"In view of the fact that some fifteen percent of the graduates of small high schools enter college, it seems that undue prominence is given in the curriculum to those subjects that are strictly college prepara - tory in nature. Certainly no other reason could justify the prominence of four years of Latin, three years of French and from three to four
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years of mathematics in the small high school curriculum. The old theory that the mental faculties are strengthened by vigorous application to abstract mathematics, Latin and foreign languages, has long since been disproved by James, Thorndike, Dewcy and others, and at the same time experiments have shown that such practical subjects as home economics have higher transfer values than any of the traditional subjects. If we allotted less time to some of those, we would have room for the intro- duction of such courses as would enable us to approach more closely the fundamental aims of education."
"Health comes first in the accepted objectives of secondary education." We need a physical education director for our schools.
"In this period of national distress, we 'must prepare our students for more effective citizenship by acquainting them with the great social, economic, and political problems confronting this nation today."
..
"No one can doubt that training for worthy home membership is a major responsibility of the secondary school. Neverthless, we are not putting courses in home training into the curriculum."
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