Town annual report of Chelmsford 1944, Part 10

Author:
Publication date: 1944
Publisher: Town of Chelmsford
Number of Pages: 190


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Chelmsford > Town annual report of Chelmsford 1944 > Part 10


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Following is a report of school activities:


No. of visits to classrooms 500


Personal hygiene and health talks


158


Sanitary inspections in schools 92


Consultations with students


575


Consultations with parents


450


Pupils sent on taken to physicians


325


First Aid treatments


500


Transportation to hospitals


71


Absentees visited or contacted


584


Excluded from school as suspicious cases


of communicable disease including ring- worm, pediculosis & others 413


Pupils taken home because of illness 95


Following is the T.B. Report:


Number of adults taken to Waltham 35


Number of Children taken to Waltham 25


Investigation visits to homes 94


I have had several consultations with members of the State Department of Public Health and attended the Nurses convention in Boston.


Funds are needed for health education material. I would like to have more time to devote to it. What can be more valuable to the student than the teaching


122


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE AND BOARD OF HEALTH AGENT


of health procedures? Examinations made on members of the armed forces reveal the need of early health teaching and the correction of physical defects.


Report of the Union Church Fund is as follows:


Receipts : Balance on hand, Jan. 1, 1944 $15.10


Balance on hand, Dec. 1, 1944 5.00


Collection Jan. 5, 1944 25.90


Contribution -- Mrs Stephen Kinnal 10.00


Total Receipts :


$56.00


Expenditures : Milk -- worthy cases


$10.00


Dental Work -- 1 case 4.00


Glasses -- 1 Case 7.50


Balance on Hand Dec.31, 1944 34.50


$56.00


I find that the war has had its effect on all of us. Men, women and child- ren worry over those away. It is the duty of us here at home to keep as healthy as possible; to remedy defects found; to plan meals wisely and let our slogan be "Health for Victory".


I wish to express my deep appreciation for the cooperation shown me by the Board of Health, School Committee and my fellow workers. I wish to thank the gen- eral public for the many kindnesses shown me during the year 1944.


Respectfully submitted, Christina N. Simpson R.N.


REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR


To The Board of Health:


The following is the Milk Inspector's report for the year ending Dec. 31 , 19444:


Twenty nine wagon licenses, thirty-one store licenses were granted for the sale of milk; nine licenses for the sale of eleomargarine and two licenses were granted to pasteurizing plants.


Samples from all sources were collected and analyzed by the Howard Labora- tories at Amherst, Mass.


All milk delivered in Chelmsford has been found to be well above required standards. Some complaints were received on school milk but samples taken were found to be above standard in fats and low in bacteria count.


Milk plants and dairy farms have been inspected and found to be in good or- der .


I would like to thank the Board of Health, the School Nurse and the Police Department for their co-operation.


Respectfully submitted, Daniel E. Haley Milk Inspector.


123


REPORT OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE - 1944


Due to a shortage of manpower in the County Extension office a general re- port is given rather than a detailed report as has been done during previous years.


The Extension Service during 1944 turned over all its facilities to the war effort in the production and conservation of food and other factors necessary to help win the war. The County Trustees, Town Directors and Local leaders gave freely of their time in spite of the fact that most of them were fully occupied with other duties.


Under agriculture most of the time was spent in cooperation with Selective Service Boards in furnishing information relative to registrants employed on farms. This probably was the most important job of the year as the food product- ion program could not continue unless the key men on our farms were retained.


Farm labor is probably the next important item, with the local director co- operating with the school system in helping to make available all the boys and girls within the town and any other available people to help meet the extreme labor shortage on farms. The County office was instrumental in finding some out- side available help and especially during the harvest season various types of help were obtained to harvest the crop.


General assistance was given in all production problems in order that the maximum amount of food could be produced.


Homemakers were assisted, especially in the conservation and preservation of food, a better understanding of wise use of ration points and food that had to be purchased along with greater use of home-grown foods. Good nutrition for the family was especially stressed in order that the health of the family could be maintained under war conditions. Clothing renovation and construction, re- finishing and upholstering furniture were all projects emphasized to help the homemaker carry on more efficiently under war conditions.


With Boys' and Girls' 4-H Club Work, it was difficult here to carry on due to lack of available local volunteer leaders. Much credit, however should go to the leaders who gave all their available time to help our boys and girls carry on with their various projects. The club members of your town were part of the 1,700,000 in the United States who helped 4-H earn the recognition of having made the largest contribution in the war effort of any of the youth organizations of the nation. Food Production, Food Preservation and Homemaking were the clubs given the greatest emphasis during the year.


REPORT OF THE VARNEY PLAYGROUND COMMISSION


Citizens of Chelmsford


Greetings :


The Varney Playground Commission wishes to inform you that during the past year a great deal of work and expense has been added to their budget by the ex- cess use of the bathing beach and bath house by other than town residents (which we have been given to believe was set aside for town's people only.) If this condition is not taken care of by some means, we shall be compelled to close said property even to town's people before the bathing season of fourteen weeks is half over. A great deal of work has been done by Mr. Adams for which no compen-


124


REPORT OF THE VARNEY PLAYGROUND COMMISSION


sation has been asked. However he does not feel that he can do this work any further and as chairman of this committee has made a request to your town account- ant that a sum of one thousand dollars ($1000) should be had to handle this prop- erty correctly.


The Board of Selectmen came over on request to view this said parcel, to remedy a bad condition of highway wash that caused an added expense after every rain storm. This condition has been partially taken care of but much more work has to be done.


We wish to extend our thanks to Chief Hulslander for his cooperation in furnishing an officer Sunday afternoons during the past season and also to High- way Superintendent O'Sullivan for the paving stone given to us for abutment use. Last year the sum of four hundred dollars ($400) was given to us by you to take care of the reerection of the flag pole, a safety retaining fence around the in- field and also the replacement of the bleachers destroyed by fire. These cond- itions have all been taken care of.


In offering this report to you we also extend our thanks to the Board of Selectmen for their kind cooperation.


Respectfully submitted The Varney Playground Commission Leslie H Adams, Chairman Clifford Hartley


ANNUAL REPORT OF PLUMBING INSPECTOR


Board of Health


Chelmsford, Mass.


Gentlemen:


The following is a report of the plumbing work done for the year ending Dec- ember 31, 1944.


Number of Applications submitted for permits to do plumbing 50.


Old Houses


50


Inspections


52


New Houses


00


Test


30


Total


50


Total 82


The following is a list of various plumbing fixtures installed.


Water Closets


41


Sinks


24


Lavatories


29


Wash-Trays


7


Bath-Tubs


16


Range Boilers


3


Sink Traps


2


Floor-Drains


1


Shower-Traps


4


Urinals


1


Bath-Traps


4


Drinking-Fountains


1


Electric-Dishwashers


1


Total


133


Respectfully submitted George E. Gagnon, Insp.


125


REFORT OF DOG OFFICER


.


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


As Dog Officer of the town of Chelmsford, I wish to submit the following report:


Investigated complaints on dogs. 52


Reports of dog bite


3


Poultry killed by dogs. 16


Lost dogs returned to rightful owners 14


Stray dogs disposed of


7


Inspection of dog kennels


2


In closing, I wish to thank the members of the Police Department, Selectmen, and the owners of dogs for their cooperation and assistance during 1944.


Respectfully submitted, Lawrence W. Chute · Dog Officer


REPORT OF THE CONSTABLE


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


As Constable for the town of Chelmsford, I wish to submit the following report :


Drawing and serving notices to jurors


March, 1944 3 Jurors


April, 1944


3 Jurors


August, 1944


2 Jurors


September, 1944


2 Jurors


October, 1944


3 Jurors


November, 1944


1 Juror


July 1, 1944 - Posted warrants in the six precincts for State primaries.


July 17, 1944 - Posted two warrants for East Chelmsford Water Dept. Oct. 28, 1944 - Posted warrants in the six precincts for State and Federal elections.


Respectfully submitted


Lawrence W. Chute Constable of Chelmsford


126


ANNUAL REPORT


of The


SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


of Chelmsford, Mass. For the Year Ending December 31, 1944


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


[arold E. Clayton, Chairman Chelmsford


Term expires 1945


Mrs.) Marjorie M. Kiberd North Chelmsford


Term expires 1946


tephen G. Mansur, Secretary Chelmsford, R.F.D.


Term expires 1947


SUPERINTENDENT


leorge S. Wright, A.B.


Office in MoFarlin School


SCHOOL PHYSICIANS


rthur G. Scoboria, M.D. r. E. Boucher, M.D.


Chelmsford, Mass. North Chelmsford, Mass.


SCHOOL NURSE


hristina Simpson, R.N.


Office in McFarlin School


ATTENDANCE OFFICERS


inslow P. George alph G. Hulslander


Westlands North Chelmsford


TRANSPORTATION


jeorge W. Marinel


North Chelmsford


NO SCHOOL SIGNAL


In the case of extremely bad storms or of icy roads a signal for no school ill day for all schools is given on the fire alarms at 7:15 A.M., three blasts repeated three times. Station WLLH broadcasts the notice.


CALENDAR


{id-winter vacation from close of school Feb. 16 to Feb. 26. No school on March 30, Good Friday. Spring vacation from close of school April 13 to April 23.


To school on May 30, Memorial Day.


Probable date of closing, June 20, 1945.


Probable date of opening fall term, September 5, 1945.


127


TEACHERS FOR SCHOOL YEAR BEGINNING SEPTEMBER, 1944 HIGH SCHOOL Where Educated Position


Appointed


Name


Lucian H. Burns


Univ. of N.H., B.S. Columbia, M.A. Salem, B.S.E.


Principal 1930


C. Edith Mccarthy


Vice-Prin.


1923


F. Christine Booth


Colby, B.A.


Latin


1927


Daisy B. MacBrayne


Boston Univ., A.M.


English


1929


Ernestine E. Maynard


Salem, B.S.E.


Commercial


1934


Earl J. Watt*


Harvard, A.M.


French


1934


(Mrs) Rita R. Corcoran


Emmanuel, A.B.


English


1936


(Mrs) Helen R. Poland


Boston Univ., A.B.


Science


1927


George W. Boyce*


Tufts, B.A.


History


1939


Gerald A. Ivers*


Lowell Textile


Math., Sci.


1936


Institute, B. Chem.


Mary E. Pollard


Lowell, B.S.E. Boston Univ. M.S.C.


Commercial


1941


Eleanor. M. Donahoe


Smith, A.B.


Mathematics


1940


(Mrs) Charlotte S. Carriel


Mt. Holyoke, B.A.


English


1942


Marjorie B. Scoboria


Wellesley, A.B. Radcliffe, M.A.


Math., Sci.


1942


Mildred M. Hehir


Regis, A.B.


French


1942


(Mrs) Mildred W. Hilyard


Boston Univ., A.B.


Social Sci.


1931


John J. Shannon


Clark, A.M.


History


1943


Rose M. Cooney


Framingham, B.S.E.


Science


1944


Bernard Larkin


Band


1943


MCFARLIN SCHOOL


Louis O. Forrest


Fitchburg, B.S.E.


Prin., Vill


1926


(Mrs) Eva L. Dobson


Plymouth Normal


V11


1919


M. Beryl Rafuse


Truro Normal


v1


1920


Helena B. Lyon


No. Adams Normal


V


1911


Emily Hehir


Lowell Normal


1V


1928


Mayme G. Trefry


Truro Normal


111


1921


Mabelle S. Birtwell*


Lowell, B.S.E.


11


1940


(Mrs) Hope E. Lawrence


Lowell, B.S.E.


11


1941


Edna Hoyt


Lowell, B.S.E.


1


1937


* On leave of absence for military service.


128


Commercial


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


is E. Hevey 's) Mary J. Donnelly


lyna Anderson ·s) Helen B. Mills


Lowell, B.S.E.


Special cl.


1941


Lowell Normal


V11


1943


Lowell Normal


V11


1943


Lowell, B.S.E.


1V-1


1944


Lowell Normal


Assistant


1944


EAST CHELMSFORD SCHOOL


Boston Univ.


Prin., vll- V111


1930


Fitchburg, B.S.E.


V-VI


1931


1 F. McEnaney


Lowell, B.S.E.


111-1v


1943


Lowell, B.S.E.


1-11


1940


HIGHLAND AVE. SCHOOL


Lowell Normal


Prin., Vll-


1930


·a E. Miskell


Lowell, B.S.E.


V-V1


1937


Lowell Normal


111-1V


1923


Lowell, B.S.E. .


1-11


1936


PRINCETON ST. SCHOOL


levieve E. Jantzen


Lowell Normal


Prin., Vill


1911


rs) Elsa Reid


Lowell Normal


V11


1922


perta M. Small


Lowell, B.S.E.


v1


1935


adys T. Harrington


Lowell Normal


V


1931


lly T. Conlon


Lowell, B.S.E.


17


1937


rgaret D. Sousa


Lowell, B.S.E.


111


1941


len C. Osgood


Lowell Normal


11


1921


n E. Hehir


Lowell B.S.F.


1


1935


QUESSY SCHOOL


Lowell Normal


Prin., Vll-


1942


V111


Lowell Normal


V-V1


1942


Pauline Sullivan


Lowell B.S.E.


111-1V


1941


·s) Jessie F. Brown


.dred G. Perry


'y E. McGauvran


·y H. Ryan


V111


;tie M. Agnew ·s) Veronica M. Berry


n M. Hickey


rs) Lilla M. Dexter


129


.ce T. O'Neill


Emerson, B.L.I.


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


Alice F. McEnaney


Lowell Normal 1-11


1936


SOUTH CHELMSFORD SCHOOL


Bertha R. Barrett


Lowell Normal


1V-V1


1942


(Mrs) Ruth R. Brodeur


Lowell B.S.E.


1-111


1939


WESTLANDS SCHOOL


Harry Y. Hilyard


Fitchburg, B.S.E.


Prin., Vill


1930


Rita M. Foley


Univ. of N.H., A.M.


V11


1940


B. Muriel Bridges


Lowell, B.S.E.


V1


1937


(Mrs) Mary L. Scully


Lowell Normal


V


194


(Mrs) Charlotte K. Duffy


Lowell Normal


1V


1932


Josephine F. Brennan


Lowell B.S.E.


111


1941


(Mrs) Marion E. Adams


Lowell Normal


11


1928


Florence M. Kelley


Lowell, B.S.E.


1


1942


MUSIC SUPERVISOR


M. Marion Adams, on leave of absence.


(Mrs) Charlotte H. Macleod,


Lowell Normal


1944


JAN ITORS


High School


Leslie J. Reid William T. Davis


Chelmsford Westlands


McFarlin School


Otis Brown


So.Chelmsford


East Chelmsford School


Joseph Morris


East


Highland Ave. School


Edward Brick


North E


Princeton St. School


Patrick Cassidy


North E


Quessy School


Elmer Trull


West


M


South Chelmsford School


George Burton


South


Westlands School


E. Berg


Westlands


SCHOOL COMMITTEE REPORT


To the Citizens of Chelmsford: At a meeting held January 4, 1945, it was voted to accept the report of the


130


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


perintendent of Schools and to adopt it as the report of the School Committee.


Harold E. Clayton, Chairman


Marjorie M. Kiberd Stephen G. Mansur, Secretary


REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT


the School Committee:


My seventeenth annual report is hereby submitted to you and to the cit- ens of Chelmsford. Since it is presumably my last report, I am indicating some langes that have been made in the last 17 years, and am directing the attention ' voters to certain matters which in my opinion should receive consideration in le near future.


With the exception of the one-room South Row School, closed in 1935, hools are being maintained at the same sites as in 1928. The extension of wat- services at East, West, and South has permitted the discontinuance of unsatis- ctory wells, electric pumps, and tanks. Electric lights were installed in the uth Chelmsford School. The brush in the rear of the Westlands School was clear- away through a special appropriation in 1929, and later loam was spread over e gravel in front so a lawn could be grown. Various Federal relief agencies re used to grade the land back of the High School, to build ball fields at the stlands and at Highland Ave., and to improve the grounds at East Chelmsford. e same agencies were used in painting and repairing the elementary buildings th the exception of McFarlin and Westlands. For these repairs the school de- rtment furnished the material used. Especially noteworthy in the repairs made s the providing of well lighted toilet rooms in the basement. of the New Build- g at Princeton St., to replace extremely unsanitary toilets which had no light om outside. Previous to 1929 the pupils in the Old Building had been required cross over to the New Building for toilet facilities. In 1929 a special ap- 'opriation of $3800 was made to remedy this situation.


The High School and the Westlands School were badly overcrowded in 28. In 1930 the town authorized the appointing of a committee to study cond- ;ions and report later. This committee organized with Mrs. Nellie Picken chair- in,met architects, secured preliminary plans, and at a special meeting on May 9, 1931 asked for the appropriation of $120,000 for an addition to the High Sch- ›1. The question was laid on the table, and the High School began using vacant Joms in the McFarlin School.


The enrollment in both these schools and in the Westlands was inoreas- 1g each year. On April 30, 1935 the sum of $2000 was appropriated for the use E a committee which organized with Roy Clough as chairman. It was the time when ne Federal Public Works Administration (PWA) was being used by towns and cities or erecting public buildings of all kinds, and very little building was being one otherwise. The committee engaged as architects the firm of Ashton and Hunt- ess of Lawrence, experienced in school house designing and construction. Sketches f floor plans were submitted and approved, specifications were written in full etail as required by PWA, and were approved by PWA. On Nov. 27, 1935 the town as asked to appropriate the sum of $120,000. The actual cost to the town would ave been this amount less the Federal PWA subsidy. The article was dismissed. he proposed building was larger than the one built three years later with PWA id, and would have provided rooms for teaching household arts, kitchen and lunch


131


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


room, adequate shower and dressing rooms, all located in the space occupied by the present assembly hall. A combined assembly room and gymnasium would have been placed on the floor above, on the basement level of the old building. In 1936 this larger and better building could probably have been erected at no great er cost than the addition built in 1939.


The town reports of 1939 and 1942 tell of the construction of the add- itions at the High School and at the Westlands. Temporarily the school building problem has been solved so far as over-crowded classrooms are concerned, but the solution is only temporary. Attention is called to the section in the 1943 re- port and in this one entitled Long Range Planning.


TEACHERS


In the High School, Procter P. Wilson, teacher of science since 1930, applied for retirement, and in June this was granted with the approval of the teachers Retirement Board. This department had been handled by a man for over 20 years, but it was found impossible within the limits of our salary range to engage a man for teaching science. Miss Rose M. Cooney, a graduate of Framing- ham Teachers College, with summer school work in science at Harvard, was en- gaged. She taught last year in Littleton High School. Edward J. Schulte, who had been in charge of the athletic program since January 1943, declined re-ap- pointment. Again, it was found impossible to secure a qualified man at the sal- ary we had been paying, and the position has not been filled.


In the McFarlin School Mrs. Mary J. Donnelly resigned in October. This position, 7th grade, was filled by transferring Miss O'Neill from a mixed Ist and 4th grade position, and Evelyna Anderson of Lowell was engaged for the mixed grade. She is a graduate of Lowell Teachers College with five years of experience The 8th grade was unduly large, and in November Mrs Helen B. Mills, a graduate of Lowell and Emerson College, was engaged as an assistant.


The 5th grade position in the Westlands, vacant in January, was filled by the election of Mrs. Mary L. Scully, a graduate of Lowell Normal with several years experience.


Leave of absence for a year was voted M. Marion Adams, who was unable to carry on her work last year for reasons of health. Mrs. Charlotte H. Macleod, formerly music supervisor, was engaged for the year. In the High School, Bernard Larkin was continued as director of the band, which he organized in 1943.


SALARIES


In 1928 there were seven men on the teaching staff, three in the High School, four in the elementary. The principal of the High School was paid $2800, the vice-principal, a man, $2100, and the other men $1500 or $1600. One woman teacher received $1600, two were paid $1350; otherwise the highest salary paid a woman teacher was $1300.


In 1939 the number of men teachers in the High School had increased to eight, the same as the number of women. As a result of the depression they were paid on the same scale as the women. This was a very common result of the bus- iness depression with its scarcity of jobs. Schools went onto a single salary basis, the same salary paid a man or a woman for positions considered to be equiv- alent in importance; and let it be emphasized, this salary was that formerly paid women. Women's salaries were not raised to the level of men's, but exactly the reverse. It was not at all the question of whether men were better teachers. The times were such that they were eager to teach for what women were paid.


We have now only two men teachers in the High School and two in the


132


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


lementary. Except for the fact that they are doing special work and receiving extra for it, their salaries would be the same as the women's. Conditions are Low very different from those of a few years ago, the depression years. If we rish to retain the men we now have and to increase their number we must pay en- ugh to attract and to hold them. Again, it is not at all the question of a man's ›eing a better teacher for being a man; for regular classroom work he is no bet- ;er for that reason. But there are positions for which men are needed. I urgent- Ly recommend that for the period during which present conditions prevail the sal- iries of our young men teachers be substantially increased.


Since 1928 our salary schedule has been revised upward from time to ;ime, just as has been the case everywhere. At present the maximum salary for romen teachers in the High School, not including payment for special services, .s $1900, and in the elementary schools $1600. Last year a flat increase of $100 ras given each teacher, dating from January 1944. Similar action was taken in any towns of our class, and we were left paying somewhat less than the median salary in each group. Our teachers are again asking for an adjustment and in- :rease, and, again, they are doing what teachers everywhere are doing. There is i growing scarcity of teachers, ambitious young women are going into other. fields. 't is a case of the operation of the law of supply and demand. The supply is short and the situation may become worse. If the schools are to be served in the "uture by those best fitted to become teachers, then teaching must be made more attractive.


TESTING PROGRAMS


At the present time there is everywhere a greatly increased interest .n standardized tests. In part this may be a result of the use of such tests by Army and Navy to determine the fitness for advanced training of the men who ent- red the services. To these men a test means something vastly different from a school examination. We have used for many years in the 5th and the 6th grades a cest which determines roughly how well a child can learn from books. In order to make a high score in the test a child must be able to read well; to read with com- rehension, not just pronounce words. Such reading ability is a prime necessity or doing ahigh grade of school work, and so far as work with books is concerned the test measures the child's native ability. We know in a general way how much to expect of him and what allowances to make.


A recently devised test of this sort for high schools is the Iowa Test of Educational Development, which we gave to all classes last October. It con- sists of a battery of nine separate tests, covering these fields: (1) understand- ing social institutions, gained in part from study of history, economics, etc. in school, but also from general reading, discussions at home and on the street, in fact from the student's contacts of all sorts; (2) natural science background, however secured; (3) correctness in writing; (4) ability to do quantitative think- ing, to apply what has been learned in arithmetic and other mathematics to all sorts of situations in life; (5) interpreting reading material in social science; (6) the same in natural science; (7) the same in literature; (8) general vocabu- lary; (9) use of sources of information.


These tests measure both the native ability of the student in these various fields and the use he has made of that ability. Unlike school examina- tions the tests have little instructional value; we do not know which questions were answered correctly since all answers were scored by mechanical means in a central office. What we do know in the case of each pupil is how he measures up with thousands of pupils in his grade across the country. We know the fields in which he is strong and where he is weak. With this information at hand the tea- cher can better serve pupils as individuals, and wiser advice can be given regard- ing future work. It is an important step in educational guidance, which is being stressed in these times as never before.




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