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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