USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1932 > Part 2
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The cutting of brush, clean-up work and other things which do not require equipment, have been exhausted. Graveling country roads is all that is left to do and in order to do this it was necessary to purchase two second hand dump trucks. We are now in a position to keep quite a few men busy the remainder of the winter.
WELFARE DEPARTMENT
The burden placed on this department this year has been very heavy, but it has been handled very well.
The amount spent by this department for welfare and unemployed was $57,074.64, which compares very favorably with other towns of our size.
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The construction of three and one-quarter miles of gas main, the construction of the Vine St. drain and the grading and gravelling of Forest St.Ext. and Hillside Avenue have relieved this department of quite an expense.
SOLDIERS BENEFITS
The demands placed upon this department are constant- ly increasing and I recommend that some other method than the one now being used be provided to carry on this department for the coming year.
WATER DEPARTMENT
No extensions have been made this year and no new hydrants have been added, but we have put in thirteen new services. All the hydrants, main gates and curb stops have been inspected and needed repairs made. This annual inspection keeps the system in good condition and keeps all the important workable parts in usable condition.
The coke and sand in the filters at the Pumping Station have been renewed and the grading finished in front of the station. This improvement has caused many favorable comments and has much improved the appearance of the grounds around the station. There is still much to be done before the job is completed.
GAS AND ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT
No long electric lines have been built but we have added many short extensions. Much has been done in replacing small copper wire with that of larger capacity in order to improve the service. 70 new customers have been added. A new switchboard has been built at the station allowing for additional circuits so that when interruptions occur they will not cover such a large area.
*
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Three and one-quarter miles of gas mains have been laid in the Fall Brook and Warrentown Sections. These lines have not only given gas service to two new sections of the town, but helped in a large measure in relieving unemploy- ment; about 65 men being employed on this work. These men were divided into two groups, each one working thirty hours per week for twelve weeks. The work was not com- pleted the first of the new year, but will be finished the middle of January.
I wish to thank the selectmen and the heads of the de- partments for their hearty co-operation in the endeavor to provide as much work for the unemployed as possible. These men have surely appreciated our efforts and have returned to the town full value for the wages received.
Respectfully submitted,
H. J. GOODALE,
Town Manager.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
School Committee
OF
Middleboro, Mass.
E
OR
L
OUTH LO
COUNTY
MI
TY. MASS
GH
*
PINCORPORATED
AD.
For the Year Ending December 31st 1932
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION 1932
ALLAN R. THATCHER, Chairman MEMBERS
Term expires
Allan R. Thatcher, 1 Webster Street
1935
Dr. Robert G. Butler, 1 Williams Place
1935
Fred B. Alger, 5 Court End Avenue
1933
Forest E. Thomas, 59 Everett Street
1933
Priscilla S. Alger, 10 Southwick Street 1934
Kendrick H. Washburn, 70 South Main Street
1934
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
J. Stearns Cushing, 16 Court End Avenue Residence Telephone 643-W
Office, Room 7, Town Hall, Telephone 81
Office Hours, School Days, Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:30 to 5 P. M .; Tuesday and Thursday, 8 to 9:30 A. M.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held in Room 7, Town Hall, on the first Thursday of each month, excepting July and August, at 7:30 P. M.
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SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Dr. A. Vincent Smith, 35 Pearl Street Telephone 50
SCHOOL NURSE
Miss Helen B. Pasztor, 132 North Main Street Telephone 278
SUPERVISOR OF ATTENDANCE
John T. Connor, 170 North Main Street Telephone 812
CENSUS ENUMERATOR
Mrs. Carrie L. Jones, West Street Telephone 293-M
SCHOOL CALENDAR
First Term, January 4-February 24, 8 weeks.
Second Term, March 6-April 28, 8 weeks.
Third Term, May 8-June 16; Elementary Schools. May 8 June 23; High School.
Fourth Term, September 11-December 22.
NO SCHOOL DAYS
February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, November 11, November 30, December 1.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Board:
I herewith present the annual report of the schools of the town and my sixth as Superintendent of these schools.
For the first time in the history of our school system the schools opened in September with the same faculty that closed the previous term. As changes within the system are detrimental to the success of the schools, so permanency of force within the system lends strength and tends toward better educational results.
The schools have operated this year on a decreased budget from the previous year and even with the large increase of pupils, particularly in the High School where pupil costs are greatest, have completed the year within the amount appro- priated and are returning to the Treasurer of the town a substantial balance. During the year economy has been the slogan of your Board thus making this possible.
One of the first steps toward economy was the abolish- ment of the position of Supervisor of Penmanship in the grades. This work is now carried on by the classroom teach- er and satisfactory results are being obtained.
Upon the opening of the new year there will be one less Suburban school in operation which should help in operating costs for the coming year. The closing of the Wappanuckett school, and the transporting of those pupils to the Rock and Central schools, is an advance toward solving our sub- urban school problem. Only eleven pupils remained in that school upon its closing and the per pupil cost therefor very high.
The Post-graduate problem, coming as it does with every industrial decline, has been handled very satisfactorily for the school. Twenty-six, a whole division, were enrolled at the beginning of the school year. The following regula- tions for such pupils were at that time made by the Board,
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namely a post-graduate student must carry twenty hours of work per week; must maintain an average of eighty per- "cent in all subjects; must be regular in attendance; and must be satisfactory in conduct. The records of any pupils fail- ing in these requirements are presented to the Board for their consideration and action. The result of these require- ments has been that only pupils who are in school with a definite purpose and a determination to do their best work have been able to remain in school.
A new Course of Study has been placed in the High School with subjects to meet the needs of those pupils not wishing a college preparatory course or a commercial train- ing. The result has been that the standard of the school will be retained and fewer failures result since the pupils are taking those subjects in which they have an interest and a probable chance of successful completion. Since failures and repeaters are an expense to the town, pupil, and parent the effect of this new course will be not only an educational but a financial benefit.
On Arbor Day trees were planted on the High School grounds by the Girl Scouts of the town and on the Bates School lawn by the Conservation Committee of the Cabot Club. These trees should add greatly to the beauty of the grounds about each of these buildings and it is hoped the custom will be continued in future years.
During the summer a fence was built across the front of the South Middleboro school yard as a measure of pro- tection and safety for the children of this school. The school, situated as it is on the main artery to the Cape, has been a most dangerous spot while now the pupils are confined within the yard limits. A similar situation exists at the Waterville school and this yard should be fenced as soon as possible. A fence has also been erected across the south and west sides of the School Street School yard as a protec- tion to the children of that school.
During the past four weeks a resume or series of articles have been printed in the local paper setting forth the condi-
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tions in our schools. In view of the fact that these may not have been read by all of the citizens of the town I am in- corporating them into, and as a part of, this report.
"OUR PHYSICAL PLANT"
The town of Middleboro owns and operates seventeen schools and supervises one semi-private institution, the Pratt Free School. Of these schools six are located in the Center while eleven are one-room Suburban buildings. This latter fact gives us the doubtful honor of having the most one- room schools in the state. We now have three hundred pupils in such schools.
The inefficiency of the ungraded, one-room school has however been widely overcome in the last five years by the adjustment of grades within these buildings. The three schools in the East Middleboro section have been treated as one unit and contain only two grades each. The schools at Rock and South Middleboro have been regraded and contain only two grades in the former and three in the latter. In North Middleboro the two elementary schools consist of three grades only.
By this regrading the efficiency of these formerly un- graded schools has been greatly increased and pupil progress accelerated. Conditions in these schools now are on an equal basis with the Central schools and pupils have equal educational opportunities.
As adjustments have been necessary to meet the com- munity need the number of one-room schools has been grad- ually diminished. One more, the Wappanuckett school, will join the group of closed buildings at the end of the present term. Membership in this school has grown very small and therefor pupil-cost very high. These pupils, already receiving transportation, will be absorbed within the other schools. As an economic measure the schools at Thompson- ville and Thomastown should be closed as soon as space is available for the attending pupils.
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Modern transportation facilities have made possible the partial consolidation of the Suburban units and has allowed all pupils over the sixth grade, with two exceptions, to attend the Central plants of the Junior and Senior High schools.
The majority of our first and second grade pupils are housed in the Forest and Union Street schools. The latter building, now very old, houses over one hundred little tots, and as soon as construction is expedient plans should be made to replace this with a modern building.
The School Street building contains over three hundred pupils of grades three to six inclusive and serves well the needs of our elementary pupils of the Center.
. The West Side school, a four room building with a two room portable, comfortably takes care of the children of the first six grades in the western section of our town.
Upon completion of the new high school building five years ago the old building was converted into a Junior High school of grades seven and eight. This school, named the "Bates" in respect to the long and faithful service of Charles H. Bates a former superintendent, contains all of the pupils of these grades from all sections of the town, being served by seven transportation busses. This building lends itself well to the work of these grades and nearly four hundred attend there daily.
In 1927 the Memorial High School was completed and used for the first time. It was thought unnecessary to finish any furnish the three rooms on the third floor at that time and only four hundred ninety desks were installed. At the end of the first year it was necessary to add eighty more desks in these rooms making a total of five hundred seventy desks using all available room space. There are now six hundred thirty pupils in the building and sixty of these must share the desk of a classmate. I believe however that a peak load has been nearly reached and the enrollment for the next few years should be approximately the same as it is today.
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The Maintenance and Repair of all public buildings, including school buildings, is under the jurisdiction of the Town Manager. All buildings are in good condition and the necessary repairs are made promptly which insures the smallest expense.
"OUR TEACHING CORPS"
We have at the present time sixty-two teachers in the various schools distributed as follows: Memorial High eight- een, Bates ten, School Street 8, West Side 6, Union Street 4, Forest Street 2, and Suburban 12.
The time of the Supervisors of Art and Music is divided among all schools and allows a visit to each classroom at least once every four weeks. The work of the Art Depart- ments in the Junior and Senior High schools has grown to such proportions that three whole days are demanded from the Supervisor's time in these schools alone. The Super- visor of Music is only in this town three days of the five school days and in addition to the regular classes for in- struction in Music as a subject, conducts the orchestras and glee clubs of the upper schools.
The professional preparation of our teachers should be interesting to parents for only as we obtain properly pre- pared teachers may we expect a satisfactory degree of suc- cess. Eighteen, thirty percent, of our teachers are graduates of standard colleges. This list includes Boston University, Dartmouth, Colby, Tufts, Radcliff, Ohio Weslyan, Univer- sity of New Hampshire, Brown, University of Maine and others.
Twenty-five, thirty-nine percent, of our teachers are graduates of State Normal Schools, Bridgewater leading with fourteen. Other Normal Schools represented include Hyannis, North Adams, Salem, Lowell, and Keene. Four other teachers have attended either college or normal school one or more years,
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Nine, fourteen percent, are graduates of the Teachers' Training Class conducted in our own town some years ago. In practically all of these cases additional study of profession- al grade has subsequently been taken in the summer sessions at colleges or normal schools or through the University Extention course offered by the State Department of Educa- tion, many having completed more than the equivalent of a college or normal school diploma.
A teacher's preparation for teaching is never completed. Last summer twenty-three of our teachers continued their study during the summer months, while professional read- ing and study is constantly necessary that they may ac- quaint themselves with the newer and better methods and devices of teaching. Certainly Middleboro teachers have had an adequate professional training for service. A Uni- versity Extention Course given here in Middleboro, under the direction of the State Department of Education, has just been completed by practically one hundred percent of our corps.
Experience is of course one of the most valuable assets of a teacher and here again our teachers more than come up - to the standard. The sixty-two teachers of our schools have taught school eight hundred fifty-six years, an average of nearly fourteen years per teacher. Thirty-seven of these have taught more than ten years and twenty-four have taught ten years or more in our own schools.
Their loyalty to our local children and institutions has oft been tested by flattering offers from towns more able to pay than ourselves and they have refused. As the econ- omic crisis came upon us and the number of pupils per teach- er, or teacher-load, increased as an economic measure, they bore the added burden cheerfully. A striking example of this occurs in our own High School. When Fall River had reduced school costs in all ways possible they thought they had reached a limit when the pupil-load in their High School was raised to thirty-one pupils per teacher. In comparison with this the pupil load in our own High School today is
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over thirty-five pupils per teacher and the work being done efficiently. A better corps of teachers than our teachers of our local schools would be hard to find.
"OUR SCHOOL COSTS"
During the past three years the public eye has been focused upon municipal expenditures more than ever before. Industrial and financial conditions had changed to such an extent that careful spending of all public monies became mandatory. Personal incomes having been lessened, muni- cipal incomes suffered from the non-payment of taxes and many towns were unable to meet their obligations. Mid- dleboro has been able to maintain her credit thus far but a still greater lowering of costs will without doubt be nec- essary if she is to continue to meet her obligations.
The question that directly concerns us here is, Have the Schools done their part? Perhaps the clearest way to present the facts is by the teacher's method of question and answer and I shall endeavor to present the facts in this way.
What department of the town has shown the greatest reduction in it's budget in the last three years? The School Department, with a reduction of over four thousand dollars and an additional contribution by the teachers from salary of over another four thousand to the Reserve Fund for the lowering of the tax rate.
What are the cash receipts of the School Department? In 1932 this department has turned over to the Treasurer of the town over $39,000.00 in receipts. From what sources are receipts derived? From the General School Fund of the State and from Tuition paid by outside towns.
What determines the amount of the General School Fund that is received from the State? Salaries paid and prepara- tion and experience of teachers. Are tuition pupils in the High School profitable? Of the $19,000.00 received this year from other towns approximately $12,000.00 is profit. How does the per capita cost compare with other cities and
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towns of the state? There are 355 cities and towns in the state and Middleboro ranks 308. In other words, only 46 towns and cities have a lower per capita cost than Middle- boro and 307 higher.
What did it cost to educate an Elementary school pupil for the last school year? $59.99
How does this compare with other towns of our own size? Bridgewater spent $70.57; Whitman $63.48; Hyannis $81.15; Plymouth $91.67; Fairhaven $63.17; Dartmouth $67.90; Hingham $85.78; Mansfield $72.82; Wareham $79.88; Falmouth $86.35; Bourne $114.92; Rockland $58.14;
What did it cost to educate a High School pupil during the last school Year? $88.20
Is this lower or higher than three years ago? $13.18 per pupil lower. How has this been accomplished? By enlarged classes and the careful use and supervision of sup- plies and materials.
How does the cost of $88.20 for a High School pupil compare with other towns of our own size? Bridgewater spent $125.57; Whitman $86.09; Hyannis $136.61; Ply- mouth $103.14; Fairhaven $114.68; Dartmouth $106.23; Hingham $142.60; Mansfield $116.25; Wareham $102.87; Falmouth $200.18; Bourne $153.60; Rockland $65.83.
How much has the cost of Transportation increased in the past three years? It has not increased but has been decreased over four thousand dollars in addition to carrying more pupils more miles with better service to the children of the taxpayer.
Are our teacher's salaries high? The average salary for Elementary school women teachers in Massachusetts towns of our own size is $1468, in Middleboro $1210; for Junior High School teachers $1606, in Middleboro $1234; for Senior High School teachers $2244, in Middleboro $1592.
Is the salary of the Superintendent high? Middleboro is paying $4000, Rockland $4000, Plymouth $4700, Whitman $4000, Wareham $4500, Bourne $4300, Hyannis $4850,
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Mansfield $3600, Canton $4300, Dartmouth $3500, Bridge- water $3700, Fairhaven $4700.
Do we spend too much for books and supplies? Last year Middleboro spent $4.23 per pupil; the average for the state was $4.93.
What part of the school appropriation goes for labor in the form of salaries? 75.5%
How much of this is returned to the taxpayer and mer- chant of the town? Practically 100%.
The statements and figures above are true, correct, and not dressed up for appearance. The facts are as stated and your own conclusions must be drawn. Personally, I believe firmly that the schools of Middleboro are giving a dollar's worth of service for every dollar they cost and that that cost is low and reasonable.
But after all, some sage has said that for greatest success and health a person should select his forbears from great- grandparents down. This being impossible, children have to put up with the heredity and environment provided. They appear on the scene with varied abilities, characteris- tics, and opportunities for successful living. Surely the child has an inalienable right to demand of society that it shall provide the conditions and environment which will enable him to have a fair and adequate start toward making the most of himself. And it is very much to society's advantage that everyone make the most of himself.
Granting that parents and home are the most important factors in the child's life, the school comes next. The free public school is the one place where all children get the same environment, the same guidance, the same opportunity to unfold, the same stimulation to succeed, the same chance to experience and experiment.
Society cannot regulate the home but it does insist that, for a few hours every day, the home send its children to school where those things which are fundamental to the welfare of the child and of society may be taught,- how
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to read, write, and figure; how to keep clean and well; how to participate in a democratic government; how to think; how to behave. Thus it must be apparent that school appropriations and school costs involve not only dollars and cents but also the rights and the futures of our boys and our girls.
"OUR ACTIVITIES"
The development of our Music program during the past few years has been one of progression. Under the guidance and direction of Mr. Phillips, Music has become a vital part of the life of all the pupils in our schools. The teaching of Rhythm through the medium of the Rhythmic Orchestras in the first two grades has been a most valuable project and the sense of rhythm and the love of participation by all in a musical selection is most evident. Parents should make a special effort to visit the schools at a time when this work is in progress and observe the work.
Along with the regular chorus work and class singing of the grades has been carried the teaching of syllable reading through the medium of fifes. These instruments have taken away the drudgery of syllable reading and have made that part of our work in music one of joy and pleasure. The junior orchestras in the School Street and Bates schools were developed from the instrumental classes and we now have nearly one hundred boys and girls playing in the or- chestras of the system, gaining that valuable experience of cooperation and orchestra technique so helpful in later life.
The Band, a new project this year, has been a great suc- cess and over forty boys and girls are gaining band experience of worth. Their appearance and performance on their recent public presentation merited much applause and ap- proval. This organization will present themselves in an evening concert in the near future that will be something all of the public interested in band music should certainly attend.
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The Glee Club work of both the Junior and Senior High Schools is a regular part of the school curriculum and the concerts by these groups each year have spoken for them- selves. Certainly one of the added joys of living is the ability of expressing oneself through the medium of music.
The Art work in the schools, under the direction of Mrs. Matheson, is another thing of which the town may be proud. While some may express themselves thru Music others may have the power of expression thru Art. Through all the grades the correlation of Art to all school work is our main theme. Color, rhythm, design, creation, balance, and most of all the appreciation of the beautiful are taught to all for in all things there is beauty if we have but the eye to see and appreciate. The advanced work of the High School in teaching proper costume design, proper material use, proper color combination, is of economic value to the student in the preparation of dress, while the mechanical drawing foundations taught are a preparation for advanced work in the engineering fields for students continuing their educa- tion. The Art work in our school system has been most highly praised by our visitors and critics from outside towns.
The Health program of the school system has been most efficient and encouraging. The high attendance record of the schools of the town as shown by the annual report is a direct evidence of the efficient work of Dr. Smith as School Physician and Miss Helen Pasztor as School Nurse. The attendance record is a direct reflection of the value of the Clinic work done with the cooperation of the Health de- partment of the town and Mr. Connors their agent.
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