USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Ipswich > Town annual report of Ipswich 1940 > Part 10
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Our purpose in commenting thus is to remind the Town that unless it is diligent in protecting its rights that eventually these rights may be lost to them. An interesting parallel within recent memory is found in the actions of the Committee of which this present group is successor. The Committee originally appointed by the Town in 1933 was the Town's Committee. Eventually they became known as Mr. Crane's Committee, and ended up by denying both directly and indirectly that as a Com-
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IPSWICH TOWN REPORT
mittee they were responsible in any way to the Town. By their actions they alienated the good will and support of the townspeople. The fitting conclusion to a long succession of acts of aggravation to the townspeople was their incorporation as a charitable corporation, and transferring to this corporation assets which did belong and do now belong to the Town, con- sisting of board walk, buildings and moneys, which the Com- mittee held as trustees for the Town.
At the beginning of this report we said that we did not seek to encourage litigation and we hoped that the Town's in- terest might be secured to it by an amicable adjustment. If such adjustment cannot be had it would seem that the Town ought to take steps to occupy such lands as it owns and secure for the townspeople the beach and upland and provide facilities for its enjoyment by the townspeople. We recommend therefore that this Committee should continue to gather all the facts and evidence relating to the title of the Town to the Beach. We are very proud of the results thus far secured by Judge Hayes and the Town Counsel George A. Schofield, and we believe that these results will prove fruitful to the Town.
RAYMOND E. SULLIVAN, Chairman WILLIAM E. MORRILL WALLACE J. LATHROP EDMUND H. KELLEHER
TOWN OF IPSWICH
Annual Report of the
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
THE BIRTHPLACE Of AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE
FOR THE YEAR
1940
STANLEY A. HULL PRINTING CO.
4
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1
Term Expires
WILLIAM F. HAYES 1943
REV. FREDERICK C. WILSON
1943
PAUL RAUPACH 1942
DR. FREDERICK C. WILDER 1942
EARL EWING 1941
HERMAN KYES 1941
WILLIAM F. HAYES Chairman
FRANK L. COLLINS School Physician
MURIEL E. RILEY, R.N. School Nurse
GEORGE W. TOZER Attendance Officer
SUB-COMMITTEES OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Playground Dr. Wilder
Athletics
Mr. Ewing and Mr. Raupach
Finance
Mr. Ewing and Mr. Kyes
Textbooks and Teachers Mr. Raupach and Dr. Wilder Supplies Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kyes
Building and Grounds Mr. Wilson and Mr. Kyes Transportation Mr. Raupach and Dr. Wilder
Insurance Mr. Ewing and Mr. Wilson The Chairman of the School Committee is ex-officio a member of all sub-committees.
HARRY S. MERSON
Superintendent and Purchasing Agent
GEORGE W. TOZER Clerk
OFFICE Manning School Building
OFFICE HOURS School Days from 3:30 to 5:00
:
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Ipswich :
Your school committee has the honor of submitting the following, its annual report.
In accordance with the established practice, the re- port of your school committee will be divided into two parts : one, by the superintendent of schools as to the educational policies, the daily routine of studies and like matters; and the other, by the committee as to the physi- cal properties and financial aspects of the department. Pursuing that tradition, the superintendent will give a detailed report of the academic aims and accomplish- ments, and your committee will confine itself to the ma- terial and economic problems within its trust.
The school committee desires to direct the attention of the voters to the much discussed cost of maintaining the school system. Each year at the annual town meet- ing a sum of money is voted to sustain the school system. While this sum is at the disposal of and expended by the committee each year for the purpose of educating the children of our town, it does not represent the true cost. The voters should bear in mind that because of gifts from the Feoffees of the Grammar School in Ipswich and of the Trustees of the Manning Fund, because of tuition payments from the Town of Rowley, as well as refunds to the town from the Commonwealth, the actual cost is less than that set forth in the vote for the school budget each year. This past year the amount allowed for the support of schools was $104,700.00, whereas in fact the net cost of the schools to the local real estate taxpayer
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
was $87,851.02. The difference between these amounts is represented by payments to the Town Treasurer, to be used for the general reduction of taxes. However, be- cause of the terms of the law, this final figure cannot be determined at the annual meeting. The committee must await the fixing of the amount of the refund, which is governed by certain factors in the school system. It is singular to note that during this past year the actual cost of maintaining the schools was almost equal to the budget of salaries alone in the same period.
The buildings of the school department should in the near future be subjected to extensive repairs and alterations. We have been fortunate in recent years in keeping our buildings in repair through our being the recipient of work and labor from the Federal Government agents and the Welfare Department The committee de- sires to express its deep appreciation at this time to both these agencies for all assistance which has been given. However, the committee is cognizant that these agencies will be curtailed in the immediate future in the amount of labor which can be furnished. This benefit will of necessity be absorbed by the committee for future repairs. The practice has been to use the labor available simply
The practice has been to use the labor available simply to preserve the buildings. Any thoughts of needed alterations and replacements have been post- poned. Besides the repairs annually requiring attention for the general welfare and health of the children, floors will have to be replaced, sanitary conditions should be improved, and storage spaces for clothing should be pro- vided. While money for these projects has not been re- quested this year, it will be in all probability deemed necessary to require funds for them in the near future.
The committee desires to suggest to the voters a study of the movement to establish a trade school within
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
7
Essex County. World conditions and labor demands have placed a premium on skilled mechanics of all classes. Recently there has developed a trend to have a county trade school, located at some convenient geographical spot and supported by all the communities on a prorated assessment basis, for the benefit of the youth of the county. It seems to your committee that this suggested school has merit because no single municipality could afford to purchase and maintain a trade school with all the equipment necessary to give an adequate training in all branches of trade. The committee would welcome a discussion of this scheme.
The reports of the school committee in the past have contained expressions that the meetings of your com- mittee are open to the public. Any person or group of persons having opinions bearing on the education, health, or well-being of the school children of Ipswich are earnestly requested to appear before the committee at its regular meetings for discussion. Almost without ex- ception, no person has seen fit to appear at any meeting of your committee with suggestions for the improvement of the school system. The committee would heartily en- dorse an active interest on the part of the voters in this most important town function.
The committee as a whole wishes to publicly acknowledge and express its appreciation to all those who have co-operated and assisted the committee in pro- moting the general welfare of the school system.
Respectfully submitted, IPSWICH SCHOOL COMMITTEE, William F. Hayes, Chairman.
Comparative Statement of School Department Expenditure. Years 1931-1940 inclusive.
1931
General. Expense
$ 4,961.99 $ 69,907.84
1932 5.06 -. 20 $ 70.486.13
1933 5,059.03 $ 68,915.03
1934 4,951.03 $ 68,022.54
1935 6,035.10 $ 66,782.28
1936 5,815.19 65.540.27
1937 6,905.62 67,960.18
1938 5,242.99 68,635.44
1939 5,155.80 67,399.80
$
1940 5,209.53 65,630.08
Americanization Classes
274.00
252.00
238.00 3,391.88
3.949.65
4.661.41
5,895.90
4,054.04
3,317.42
3,716.79
4,988.21
Tuition
1.501.61
1.514.44
978.72
1.034.42
1,419.47
809.21
384.80
831.86
516.83
328.86
Janitor Service
4,465.99
4 510.69
4.452.19
4,522.60
4,491.00
4,738.85
6,778.40
6,796.00
6,796.00
6.790.20
Bldgs. and Grounds
4,471.09
1 764.98
4.048.22
4.772.67
1,901.62
3,467.94
4,809.50
3,048.12
3,065.74
5,143.02
Supp't of Truants
76.00
96.91
194.28
368.29
375.14
163.14
83.14
Insurance
1,954.87
795.50
888.05
986.03
1,100.02
1,646.59
1,993.13
279.70
1,697.14
622.81
Fire Alarm
983.81
Health
1,696.34
1,622.65
1,569.96
Total Expend.
$108,176.02 $100,395.45 $100,899.14 $102,084.12 $100,500.45 $103.882.65
Receipts :
9,410.00
9,570.00
16,695.00
17,858.30
14,920.00
14,663.20
14,720.00
14.950.00
12,500.00
9,550.00
Tuition-Hamilton
Tuition - Rowley
3,719.00
3.755.00
4,236.47
2.163.25
3,837.75
3,298.00
112.50
4,633.09
4,046.00
4,369.00
Feoffees
1,500.00
423.50
1,500.00
1.250.00
2,000.00
Manual Training
500.00
1,500.00
500.00
250.00
200.00
Burley Insurance
141.77
500.00
85.91
7.63
Women's Club
127.56
134.00
965.97
5.75
Mass. Amer. Classes
121.00
110.00
90.00
128.00
99.00
159.00
127.54
162.00
Tuition-State Wards
50.00
265.03
141.86
Total Receipts Unexpended Bal.
$14,177.27
$14,088.57
$33,310.32
$20.868.44
$20,120.64
$20,787.28
$22,315.35
$22,114.16
$18,575.58
$14,622.02
108.23
14.72
26.96
$22,207.12
$22,128.88
$14,688.98
Net Cost
$93.998.75
$86.206.88
$67,588.82
$81.215.68
$80,379.81
$83,095.37
$85,751.38
$82,265.09
$85,880.38
$87,851.02
1,504
1,507.
1,425
1.409
1,400
1,326
1,267.00
' 1,240.00
1,237.00
*1.200
Pupil enrolled
62.50
57.27
47.43
57.64
57.41
62.66
67.68
66.34
69.42
73.21
$
296.00
264.30
190.20
342.79
422.50
Libraries
79.79
269.60
96.97
Transportation
7,689.31
9,527.34
9.192.00
9,007.77
8,966.33
8,166.01
7,874.50
8,075.75
7,587.11
6,812.77
Fuel and Light
3.777.41
1 584.04
2,987.49
3 105.57
4,597.91
5,360.94
4,885.61
5,460.20
5,644.74
5.803.32
Furniture and Fur.
202.03
75.95
27.40
192.15
92.20
1,728.91
1,225.12
644.84
626.35
1,040.23
Diplomas and Grad.
117.45
119.45
112.94
114 97
120.50
143.17
155.41
71.36
121.08
106.29
Athletics
714.67
556.99
633.14
188.91
Mass. Voca. Edu.
920.71
629.57
652.85
736.89
306.92
491.88
3,383.00
284 25
137.05
279.63
Manning
Salem Music
1,541.25
111.90
Miscellaneous
Refund
8.68
36.10
2.00
Boiler Sale
$104,362.53
$104,455.96
$104.673.04
Mass. Inc. Tax
Mass. Income Tax Rebate
11,605.00
$107,958.50
$
$
Teachers Salaries
8,137.76
4.134.91
232.00
236.00
Text Bks. & Sup.
Number of Pupils Enrolled
Net Cost per
8
IPSWICH GROSS AND NET COST 1930-1940
Year
Total Cost
Pupils Enrolled
Gross Cost Per Pupil
Net Cost
Net Cost Per Pupil
Pupil Cost * for State
1930
104,928.26
1510
69.48
87,735.36
58.10
117.44
1931
108,176.02
1504
71.92
94,289.89
62.50
117.37
1932
100,395.45
1507
66.62
86,306.88
57.27
112.44
1933
100,899.14
1425
70.81
67,588.82
47.43
97.86
1934
102,084.12
1409
72.45
81,215.68
57.64
92.51
1935
100,500.45
1400
71.99
80,379.81
57.41
93.74
1936
103,882.65
1326
78.34
83,095.37
62.66
96.41
1937
107,958.50
1267
85.21
85,751.38
67.68
108.41
1938
104,362.53
1248*
83.62
82,265.09
65.91
104.68
1939
104,455.96
1237
84.44
85,880.38
69.42
107.62
1940
104, 673 .04
1200
87.23
87,851.02
73.21
104.34
The State report of 1940 gives comparative statistics for the 351 cities and towns in the Commonwealth. Of these, 122 are communities with a population of 5,000 or more.
In the listing, Ipswich is credited with $5,972 worth of valuation for each pupil in the Public Schools in 1940. In this the town ranked 213th among the 351 communities.
In expenditure for school support per $1,000 of valuation, Ipswich ranked 103rd. In per capita expenditure of local taxes for support of schools, Ipswich ranked 203rd. In total per capita expenditure, 246th.
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
9
IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
To the School Committee of the Town of Ipswich:
Last year in our annual report we outlined a few steps which, we thought, were necessary better to inte- grate the various studies offered in the several grades in our school system. We pointed to the desirability of applying a testing program of both achievement and gen- eral ability tests throughout the several grades to meas- ure our achievement against that of children in other schools of this country. We referred to a program of study and investigation in which we as teachers were en- gaged with the objective of evolving a program of study tailored to suit our local conditions and designed, in so far as our personnel made it possible, to provide for each child in our schools stimulating and integrated work within the range of his capabilities at any period of his educational growth. We emphasized the importance of teaching habits of health as well as those of mind and morals, and we said particularly that we should attempt to evolve a program which took some account of individ- ual differences of emotional stability, of background, and of heritage, that existed between pupils who had been classified as members of a particular grade.
These things, to be more than fine words fit only for entombment in a town report, implied much work and study by those dealing with children in the classroom. They implied also that the School Board should be con- vinced of the necessity for providing more and better teaching equipment, and of the desirability of keeping the size of classes assigned to teachers within reasonable limits.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
If we judge of these things correctly, the School Board has accepted these implications. The evidence lies in their having spent some eighty hours during the year in discovering methods of expanding and improving school services by economizing in one place in order to invest wisely elsewhere. Those of us connected with the schools feel that in this the Committee has made a real contribution to our schools.
On the other hand, we feel that the teachers have come to believe that there is some incentive to study cer- tain matters relating to education, believing that the recommendations resulting from their labor will be acted upon favorably, or at least given the consideration which the work they have put in deserves. They have shown this by the excellent spirit with which they have attacked the problems that have faced them.
READING
The primary grades reading system which was in- troduced last year in the first grades after study by a committee of primary teachers and principals is proving so successful that the materials have been extended into Grade IV. All the teachers in the first four grades have now become versed in the psychology upon which the system is based and upon the techniques by which learn- ing is promoted. Excellent results are being reported, and we hope that these reports are prophetic of further improvement.
In this connection, we are convinced that the addi- tion of the Children's Wing to the Public Library-focus- ing attention, as it does, upon the necessity for a program to stimulate children's interest in books-is one of the finest things that have happened to our town in many a
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
moon. To associate books with a sense of warmth and well-being, with dignity and harmony of color and line will, in itself, do more to teaching desirable attitudes toward reading than any single thing we can think of. The school department is as pleased with the Children's Wing, almost, as it would be over an addition to one of the school buildings.
PROGRAM OF STUDIES
Last May 1642 standardized tests were given to 821 pupils in grades II through IX. Though the scoring and tabulating of the tests was a tedious task, in which a large number of teachers participated, the information derived from the tests was of value, partly as an aid to understanding difficulties of individual pupils, but mostly as a measure of our strength and of our weaknesses.
By reference to test results in conjunction with teachers' judgments and other school records, work has been devised in the junior high school classes, which takes account of a variety of individual differences among pupils. This has resulted in some excellent remedial work being accomplished, the results of which are re- flected in the excellent attitude and more consistent ac- complishment of some of the pupils who have been re- tarded for one reason or another during their school careers.
The results of the testing program have also stim- ulated a group of teachers in the elementary grades to attempt to devise some improvements in our language instruction in the grades. Some of the recent research in this field has been studied, and out of the discussions precipitated by the study, there were evolved a set of principles on which a sound language course might be based.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
Against these principles a number of available text- books have been examined, and one chosen for introduc- tion into our schools. A group of teachers are now work- ing to perfect a list of minimum essentials in language for the elementary grades.
We are now commencing a similar survey of our arithmetic instruction.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
Despite the slight reduction in our total school popu- lation, our high school membership continues to increase. This year's enrollment of 450 pupils is the largest in the history of the school. The data given below, gleaned from the report of the high school principal, suggests some of the manifold activities that come within the scope of the educational endeavors of our high school.
The 450 pupils are enrolled in the various curricula of the high school as follows:
College Preparatory 120
Commercial 84
General 68
Home Economics 86
Manual Arts 92
Fifty different courses are offered in the program of studies, by fifteen full-time teachers and four other teach- ers who devote part of their time to the high school. This year the program has provided for increased oppor- tunities for free-hand drawing, and for more intensive instruction- in printing.
The fifty courses are given in 91 classes, exclusive
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
of the 10 home-room activity periods, 6 library study periods, and one cafeteria period each day. The median number of pupils in these classes is 28. Three of them contain between 6 and 10 pupils; and two of them, over forty.
Though the above statistics are indicative of the nature of the administrative organization of the school, they do not tell the whole story. A modern high school attempts to provide more than formal instruction in sub- ject matter. If one of its tasks is to prepare pupils to participate creatively in the type of government under which we live, it must provide opportunities, beyond the classroom at least, for experiences and guidance in co- operative effort toward goals determined through group discussion.
It is to provide these opportunities for practice in the techniques of democracy that student organizations have their existence in our high school. There are twelve of these organizations recognized by the school adminis- tration. Each elects its own officers within the regula- tions of the school and is directly responsible to a faculty adviser. Besides these student organizations, there are, of course, the four class organizations with their comple- ment of officers, committees, and sub-committees. Last year an aggregate of 1060 pupils, presided over by 64 elective officers, participated in a total of 268 meetings. On the average, it would seem that each pupil in the high school participated in the activities beyond the class- room of at least one organization other than those of his particular class.
Closely associated in objectives with the student organizations is the athletic program. To be fit for life in society there are certain habits of fair play, respect for the rights of others, and defense of one's own rights
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
that must be learned. If any phase of our school work is designed to cultivate these qualities more than another, it is athletics; and the extent to which it does so is the criterion of its success.
Throughout the year, with the exception of a week or two between seasons, there is a continuous program of organized sport for boys, which is carried on after regu- lar school hours. At present the high school sponsors in- terscholastic competition in three sports, in which better than 100 different boys participated last year. Inter- mural basketball competitions attract other boys not en- gaged in inter-school play. Girls' athletics which are under the direction of three women teachers in the high school are at present confined to inter-class basketball. About seventy-five girls are enrolled in this activity.
Each of these things deserves an essay in itself. We should like, for instance, to stress the lesson of co-opera- tion between various departments of the school, necessary to promoting a single activity like the senior play, or a Sunday afternoon concert, or a luncheon period. We should like to describe the amount of careful planning and subsequent co-ordination between various groups, required to carry on a game like football. Aside from the task of training a team in the intricacies of the game, there is the business of arranging schedules, providing equipment, preparing the field for play and for specta- tors, attending to the distribution and collection of equip- ment, arranging transportation, supervising dressing
rooms, taping ankles and wrists, administering first aid, training cheer leaders and band, printing of tickets, con- trolling the crowd, et cetera ad infinitum. To make the final performances come off as smoothly as they do re- quires a nice distribution of responsibility among both teachers and pupils. However, from this kind of activity. of which football is but one example, are learned prac-
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
tical lessons of teamwork and human relationships so essential to living in our complicated society.
PRACTICAL AND DOMESTIC ARTS PROGRAM
By centralizing the shop and domestic arts instruc- tion, according to the plan approved by the School Com- mittee in June, 1940, we have been able to make the utmost use of the excellent shop building and the well- cquipped domestic science laboratories in The High School. Thus, without increased cost, the program of practical and domestic arts has been expanded and en- riched in the high school as well as in the junior high- school grades.
Under our new program, instruction in printing, which was formerly available to a very few boys in the high school, is now available to anyone in the high or junior high school. More instruction for a larger number of boys is also available in the woodwork and metal shops and in the mechanical drawing classes. The opportunity for instruction in the homemaking classes has been simi- larly increased. Though these studies are elective in the high school, a surprisingly large number of pupils are enrolled in them.
Formerly, but 40 minutes a week of practical and domestic arts instruction had been allowed the pupils of the junior high school grades. Under the new arrange- ment, pupils in these grades take these courses one full afternoon a week. By the time a boy or girl has com- pleted the eighth grade, he will have spent one hundred and eighty hours at printing, simple woodworking, metal working, or mechanical drawing. The girls will have devoted the same amount of time in the foods laboratory and in the sewing classes.
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IPSWICH SCHOOL REPORT
PROPOSED COUNTY TRADE SCHOOL
And yet it should be remembered that our practical arts instruction in the high school is not, in any true sense, trade education. At present we have neither the exceed- ingly expensive machines nor the personnel which could make possible the kind of intensive, specialized training offered by trade schools. Nor are we at present convinced that Ipswich can afford to support, over a period of time, the kind of program which could make a significant con- tribution in that direction.
At present our boys and girls who desire trade edu- cation may, if they are fortunate enough to gain admis- sion, attend one of the several state-aided vocational schools which operate in the larger industrial centers of Massachusetts. Though none of our boys is at present enrolled in these regular day schools, five are attending the co-operative trade classes which are connected with the schools. Others have taken advantage of the expan- sion of the evening industrial classes to improve their skill in a job in which they are already engaged. The aggregate number from Ipswich at present enrolled in all industrial courses is twenty-three.
The courses which we have mentioned, however, by no means provide for our boys opportunities equal to those available to boys residing in cities financially able to support trade schools. To equalize opportunities in this respect, there has been proposed a county trade school to be organized after the model of the existing county agricultural school at Hathorne. It is proposed that this school be supported by the various towns and cities in the county through an annual contribution pro- portionate to the state tax paid by the community. Each
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