USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > Town annual report of Middleborough, Massachusetts 1943 > Part 5
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Our musical organizations appeared publicly several times dur- ing the year, including Memorial Day and Armistice Day parades, Bates Operetta, Bates P. T. A., Teachers Play and the Senior Play, and were most favorably received.
Art in Our Schools
"In these unsuperstitious days no other ideal seems worthy of us or, indeed, possible to us, save beauty-or call it, if you will, the dignity of human life. The teaching of what beauty is, to all so that we wish and work and dream that not only ourselves but everybody may be healthy and happy; and above all, the fostering of the habit of doing things and making things well, for the joy of the work and pleasure of achievement."
It is especially the practical side of Art that has been emphasized in the Middleboro schools this past year. More effort has been put into translating art into the daily life of the boys and girls. This is shown vividly in the "Art for Victory" campaign given in each school last spring in the form of a series of bazaars. Useful and ornamental articles were made by each pupil from discarded scrap materials and were sold at these bazaars. The articles created were for the home or to wear.
Art education became more than the "drawing" lesson of an earlier day. The art education, directed toward making "things" beautiful as well as useful, had a tremendous influence upon the lives and reactions of all our children.
The art work was eminently practical because the pupils realized that even in school their art education could be made profitable. Participation in the bazaar also enabled each child to assume a share in the war effort.
Naturally such a project demanded days of planning and. hours of experiment on the part of the supervisor and teachers and they should be highly commended for their part in its success.
Approximately ten thousand articles were made and exhibited by the pupils from the first grades to the advanced art classes in the high school. Only a few articles were priced over one dollar and most of them sold for twenty-five cents or less yet a profit of one thousand dollars was made. The art department contributed this thousand dollars to the Junior Red Cross who in turn donated $250 to the United War Fund, $250 to the Red Cross Chapter House, $250 to St. Luke's Hospital Blood Plasma Bank, and $250 was invested in War Bonds.
It became a pleasure to present to the public useful articles that would sell on their own merit rather than ask for another donation to the war effort. This was proven by the many people who made an effort to be the first to obtain a choice of the articles on sale.
Other than aiding the war effort the purpose of this project was to guide students through a sample and practical study of everyday art with a twofold result: first, to reveal a never ending source of enjoyment through the recognition of beauty in the daily environment and secondly, to develop ability in solving the art problems of the home and dress with greater success. A vital part of this project was conservation which depended upon the intelligent and economical use of materials and equipment.
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Much appreciation is due parents, merchants, and friends for their contribution of scrap materials and every principal and teacher for their splendid cooperation in putting the project "over the top" in their re- spective schools.
Health in Our Schools
The regular yearly examination of all school pupils has been con- ducted by the School Physician assisted by the School Nurse. This year in addition to the regular examination it was necessary, by legislative act, to examine the feet of each student. All defects were noted and parents duly notified. Parents should take serious notice of these warnings and ' contact the family physician for a more thorough check. A defect cor- rected now may prevent a serious condition in later life.
As in the previous years, the Milk Fund Drive was held in October and the sum of $332.55 was collected. A great amount of credit must be given the pupils of Bates School for their assistance in the solicitation of these funds. The amount collected will allow the distribution of approxi- mately 10,000 bottles of free milk to needy and undernourished children.
A Tuberculosis Clinic for High School students was conducted by the Plymouth County Health Clinic at the Memorial High School in October. In preparation for this clinic, Dr. Edward L. Perry gave a health talk to the pupils explaining the importance of a check-up and a motion picture bearing on the subject was shown. The results of the clinic were most satisfactory and showed no active cases of tuberculosis.
All pupils have been weighed and ineasured at regular intervals and frequent conferences with parents held in the office and the home.
The Red Cross class in Home Nursing for Bates School girls has been held every Tuesday afternoon at the Red Cross Chapter House and the girls are showing much interest in the course.
Our Lip Reading Class, financed by the Chandler Ford Fund, con- tinues to definitely help those children with serious hearing defects and successful regular school advancement results. Several children have been saved grade repetition through the medium of instruction in this class.
Our Teaching Staff
The teacher problem has become one of acute shortage especially in those subjects usually taught by men. This is not a local problem alone but one of state and national importance. Our teacher college registration has fallen off decidedly and practically no men are now being trained in these institutions.
The School Committee has adopted within the last month a salary schedule that should greatly help Middleboro retain their excellent teach- ers and also allow us to compete with other towns of our size and ability to pay in obtaining the best replacements.
After forty-two years of service Lottie N. Lang resigned as Principal of the. Union Street School during the summer. Mrs. Lang was faithful to her trust, most efficient in her work, and her withdrawal from service is a distinct loss to our school system.
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During the year there have been the following changes in our teach- ing staff.
Withdrawals:
Eleanor Purkis Ring, High School
Benjamin J. Bump, Bates School
Florence C. Giberti, Bates School
Esther Elliott, Bates School
Lottie N. Lang, Principal, Union Street School
Phyllis M. Keith, South Middleboro School
Arleen M. Nolan, South Middleboro School
Appointments:
Virginia Lewis, High School
Ruth Armitage, High School
Harvey B. Scribner, High School
Loretta Dupre, Bates School 1
Phyllis Johnson, South Middleboro School
Sybil Pilshaw, Bates School Phyllis M. Keith, South Middleboro School
Freida H. Churchill, Bates School
Leave of Absence:
Helen B. Pasztor RN, School Nurse
Bertha M. Callen RN, School Nurse (appointed to fill Leave)
The Cost of Our Schools
The rising cost of living and its commodities has naturally caused an upward trend in the cost of education in general. The greatest in- crease has come in the cost of Fuel. Coal prices have been advanced to a point where we now are paying $10.30 per ton for soft and $16.25 for hard coal. Since the department uses approximately four hundred tons of coal during a year an increase of $.45 to $.55 per ton amounts to a considerable sum. Wood, burned in the suburban schools has doubled in price in the last two years, and oil has made a slight advance.
School textbooks have shown a decided increase but the regular school supplies are holding a price level at this time. It is not price that causes worry in supplies but the ability to obtain some of the materials at any price.
Even with these increases and the added instructional cost the de- partment is operating far below the state average cost for schools in our population group.
A detailed financial statement may be found in the tables at the end of this report. It will be noted that the expenditures for the year were over $5,000.00 less than the appropriation and this sum has been returned to the general town treasury.
Our Responsibilities to Our Youth
In closing this report I should like to present a few quotations of men not in the field of education. Their views on Education from their varied vantage points are, I believe, significant.
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By Philip Murray, President of C. I. O .- "It is of the greatest import- ance that there should be maintained in every state and community a well-supported system of public education. We must stand firmly against any attempt to lower school standards. Adequate public education is a national need."
By William Green, President of A. F. of L .- "Boys and girls have a right to opportunities to learn as their faculties develop. If we deny them opportunities adjusted to their development in years, we never can make up the neglect. The American Federation of Labor is deeply concerned that adequate educational opportunities shall be maintained for the youth of the nation."
By Henry Ford-"If we can afford war, we can also afford education. If we can spend billions on war, we can afford to spend millions that will give American children their birthright, health and education. To those who say we can't do both, I say we can't do one without the other! Whatever else we do, let's not stint our children. Education is not a luxury, it is a necessity."
By the National Association of Manufacturers-"Be it resolved, that the administration of public education is an essential public service; that its reasonable financial support constitutes a necessary claim upon our American society to which other public services of lesser value should be subordinated."
By The Cleveland Plain Dealer-"Take a look at the states with the best educational systems and then look at the business index-they go hand-in-hand. Education is the right-hand aid to business."
And one from the field of Education, John A. Sexton, Superintendent of Schools, Pasadena, California-"If we cut the support of education, and permit essential teaching personnel to be recruited to the armed forces or to business and industry and our youth to be turned out on the streets or thrown indiscriminately into employment and thus deprived of the education and training absolutely required for effective citizenship, if we do not furnish the school with the necessary tools of learning, then America must inevitably face a day, and at no far distant future, when we shall lack the talent and ability absolutely essential for the perpetuity of our cherished free institutions, protection of our welfare, and discharge of our obligations to the post-war world.
We shall cry for statesmen, for physicians, for teachers, for civic lead- ers, for economists, for scientists, for skilled workers, and for hosts of men and women with trained intelligence, and none will answer. We shall hear only the voices of those who will remind us that in the name of false economy we denied them opportunity to train and prepare them- selves for such responsibilities."
May we continue to maintain our local schools in such a way that we fulfill our obligations to the youth of our town.
Respectifully submitted,
J. STEARNS CUSHING,
Superintendent of Schools.
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STATISTICS AND INFORMATIONAL TABLES
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1944
First Term,
January 3-February 18
Second Term, February 28-April 14
Third Term, April 24-June 9 Elementary Schools June 16 High School
Fourth Term, September 11-December 22
No School Days- May 30
October 12
November 23-24
FINANCIAL REPORT - DECEMBER 31, 1943
Receipts
Tuition, State and City Wards $ 504.56
Other Tuition
$ 5,520.78
George Deen Fund
$ . 1,427.50
General School Fund
$ 12,680.00
$ 20,132.84
Disbursements
Salaries
Superintendent $ 4,200.00
Teachers
104,163.50
Janitors
8,671.45
All Others
3,864.45
Textbooks and Supplies
6,788.57
Transportation
13,971.20
Fuel, Light and Water
7,107.08
Maintenance Buildings and Grounds
1,710.37
Telephone
429.61
Tuition
442.40
Printing, Stationery and Postage
370.56
1
Physical Education Equipment
1,000.00
Other Expenses
245.78
George-Deen Fund
2,041.17
Repair of Buildings
3,714.87
$158,721.11
Net cost of Schools ( disbursements less receipts)
$138.588.27
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LIST OF TEACHERS, DECEMBER 31, 1943
High School
*Lindsay J. Marsch, 17 Barrows Street, Principal
*Ernest E. Thomas, 38 Pierce Street, Assistant Principal
*Walter G. Hicks, Oak Street, Head of Commercial Department
*Henry E. Battis, 66 School Street, Head of Physical Education Department
* Herbert L. Wilber, Warcham Street, Latin, History Madelyn W. Sturtevant, 110 South Main Street, Mathematics Edward L. Spalding, Sachem Street, Science
John Ashworth, Plymouth Street, Head of English Department
Edward W. Whitmore, Barden Hill Road, Head of Science Department
*Jack Sturtevant, 110 South Main Street, Vocational Agriculture
* Mary Brier, 63 Pearl Street, French
* Margaret H. Ryder, Main Street, Lakeville, English
* Anna C. Erickson, Wood Street, Mathematics * Lillian M. O'Neil, 21 Pearl Street, Commercial
* Arline Merrill, 79 Pearl Street, Dean of Girls, English
* Evelyn F. Whitty, 11 Everett Street, Physical Education Harvey B. Scribner, 62 North Main Street, Mathematics, Science Ruth Armitage, 39 Oak Street, Social Studies Virginia Lewis, 82 Pearl Street, English
Margaret E. Dick, 39 Oak Street, Commercial
Joseph Teeling, Plymouth Street, Physical Education
Bates School
*Henry B. Burkland, 50 School Street, Principal, Social Studies, Music
*Norman W. Lindsay, 327 Wareham Street, Assistant Principal, Science
* Martinia K. Donahue, 6 Reland Street, English, Music
*Lucy E. Merrihew, 22 East Grove Street, Mathematics
* Abby Rugg Field, 182 North Main Street, English, Home Economics, Crafts * Harriett M. Jones, 56 Everett Street, Social Studies, Music
*Faye H. Deane, 63 Oak Street, English, Social Studies
* Effie D. Tucker, 28 Oak Street, Social Studies, Art
*Lois R. Wright, 63 Oak Street, Special Class Loretta G. Dupre, State Farm, Bridgewater, English, Health Education,
Music
Frieda H. Churchill, 9 North Street, Mathematics, Social Studies, Music Sybil Pilshaw, 16 Court End Avenue, English, Social Studies
*Luther Churchill, 59 Cottage Street, East Bridgewater, Shop
School Street School
Benjamin D. Thomas, 25 Webster Street, Grade V
* M. Alice Jones, 12 Court End Avenue, Grade VI
*Edith Frost, Wood Street, Grade VI
*Esther M. Spooner, 12 Court End Avenue, Grade V
*Louise M. Nutter, 79 Barden Hill Road, Grade IV
* Leah M. Boutin, 60 Everett Street, Grade IV
* Rose Maley, 9 Reland Street, Grade IV
* Elsie A. Cahoon, 10 Courtland Street, Grade III
* Mildred K. Bowman, School Street Extension (Part time)
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Union Street School
* Alice R. Begley, 7 Benton Street, Principal, Grade III
* Bessie B. Bailey, 15 Forest Street, Grade III
* Marjorie McClusky Hanson, 110 South Main Street, Grade II R. Naomi Simon ,39 Oak Street, Grade II
*Eleanor H. Thomas, Wareham Street, Grade II
*Amelia L. Boutin, 60 Everett Street, Grade I
* Marianne Madeiros, 30 West Grove Street, Grade I Dorothy Harlow, 39 Oak Street, Grade I
* Mildred K. Bowman, School Street Extension, (Part time)
West Side School
* Mary R. Hammond, 70 Barden Hill Road, Principal, Grade IV and V
* Margaret E. Peck, Main Street, 'Lakeville, Grade III
* Etta W. Toothaker, 29 Oak Street, Grade II
*Sara E. Matheson, 66A Everett Street, Grade I
Flora M. Clark School
* Raye F. Guidoboni, 14 Southwick Street, Principal, Grade II
* Hilda MacKeen Dowd, Miller Street, Grade I
Suburban Schools
* Maude DeMaranville, Lakeville, Pleasant Street School
*Dorothy H. Bradford, 9 Warren Avenue, Plymouth Street School
*Elsie LeBlanc, 107 North Street, Waterville School Lillian G. Rogers, South Street, Bridgewater, Rock School Phyllis E. Johnson, 39 Oak Street, South Middleboro School
Supervisors
*Luther Churchill, 59 Cottage Street, East Bridgewater, Music *Sylvia G. Matheson, 91 Oak Street, Art *On Tenure.
LIST OF JANITORS, DECEMBER 31, 1943
Central Schools
Charles H. Goodwin, Memorial High School
Norman L. Flood, Assistant, Memorial High School
Warren Jefferson, Bates School
Ernest S. Maxwell, School Street School
Louis J. Tessier, Union Street School
Preston Southworth, West Side School
Frank M. Gibbs, Flora M. Clark School
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STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR, 1942 - 1943
School
Number of
Teachers
Number of
Pupils
Enrolled
Non-Resident
Pupils
Enrolled
Aerage
Daily
Attendance
Average
Daily
Yearly
Percent of
Attendance
Memorial High
22
495
54
419.6
448.2
93.6
Grade XII
108
Grade XI
102
Grade X .
137
Grade IX
147
Post Grad.
1
Bates
12
305
8
278.2
308.9
90.1
Grade VIII
1.34
Grade VII
125
Grade VI
31
Opp. Class
15
School Street
9
286
5
253.6
273.4
92.8
Grade VI
35
Grade VI
36
Grade VI
37
Grade V
35
Grade V
36
Grade V-IV
32
Grade IV
38
Grade IV
37
Union Street
10
311
2
262.6
293.3
89.5
Grade III
35
Grade III
36
Grade III
35
Grade III
20
Grade II
30
Grade II
30
Grade II
29
Grade 1
33
Grade I
32
Grade I
31
West Side
4
93
0
84.8
91.3
92.8
Grade V
21
Grade IV-III
35
Grade II
19
Grade I
18
Flora M. Clark
2
50
0
45.7
51.1
89.5.
Grade II
22
Grade I
28
Pleasant Street
1
36
0
32.8
.34.7
94.6
Plymouth Street
1
24
0
21.9
23.8
92.2
Pratt Free
1
12
0
11.6
12.0
96.4
Waterville
1
19
0
15.2
16.4
92.6
Rock
1
29
2
23.5
26.8
87.4
So. Middleboro
1
21
2
18.9
20.1
94.1
65 1681
Membership
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LIST OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES CLASS OF 1943
Walter Elwin Alger, Jr. Elisabeth Anderson Stephen Albert Anderson Evelyn Elizabeth Andrews * Norman Sheldon Andrews
* * Marion Jeannette Atkins Mary Germaine Bazinet Arthur William Belrose James Francis Bissonnette Frederick Allen Bliss Donald Loner Bowles Carolyn Braley Elinor Carol Breivogel Arthur Edward Burgess * Elinor Burnett
John Russell Carver Harold Edward Cleverly Marjorie Verna Conant Ruth Alma Cushing Constance Theresa Draghetti Lillian Catherine DeArruda
* Peter Joseph Drevinsky Edith May Dudley George James Farley
* Malcolm Earle Ferson Norma Elizabeth Fickert Louis Henry Forney, Jr. Donald Leach Foye Raymond Horace Gamache Donald Frederick Gammons §Emma Alice Gardiner Henry Dewey Gats Irene Bertha Gaudette Marjorie Irene Gray Leon Harold Gross, Jr.
* Robert William Gross Roberta Ann Gross Barbara Martha Grossman Paul Stephenson Harrison
* Patricia Hathaway Hayden John Hayward Dura Weston Higgins Marion Beatrice Hiltz Marjorie Gladys Holt
* Pasquale Fievisaggio Iampietro * Phyllis Mae Johnson
* Jeannettte Louise Letendre Doreine Icy Lindsay
* Joseph William MacAllister
*Stuart Hamilton MacMillan
* Richard Edward MacNeill Carl Thurston Matheson Shirley Ann McDonald
* Elizabeth Bartlett McDowell William Joseph McMahon
* Barbara Ann Michaud Alfred John Morris Helen Frances Norton Doris Frances Ouellette
* Anna Pawlak Leroy Gifford Phillips Elizabeth Ellen Pittsley Beulah Pierce Powell
Dana Frederick Provonche Donald Allen Quagan Annie Mable Quindley Renee Elizabeth Ray Alice Mildred Reynolds
* Edwin Edward Sabalewski Lillian Josephine Salley Eugene Henry Savard Howard Fielding Schofield
* Elizabeth Booker Sellew John Sepetjian Lawrence William Shaw Veronica Mary Small Betsey Evelyn Smalley
* Helen Smarsh
* Robert Ellingwood Smith
* Alberta Carol Snow
* Katherine Fuller Soule Janette Merle Spurrier Arleen Margaret Sullivan
* William Henry Sullivan Elaine Richards Tessier Ruth Myrtella Thomas * Barbara Mae Tinkhani Carl William Trulson Mabel Frances Vickery John Alden Washburn Pauline Loena Washburn Josephine Mary Wolska
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* Robert Franklin Johnson Lillian Jones * Elizabeth Paula Keough * Ruth Kline Jacob George Kulian
Mary Josephine Wolska *** Lois Wood David Paul Young Walter Harold Zidiales
* Valedictorian ** Salutatorian
*Pro Merito § Work Incomplete
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ANNUAL REPORT OF MIDDLEBORO PUBLIC LIBRARY
January 12, 1943.
To the President and Board of Trustees,
Middleborough Public Library:
The work of a public library is closely related to economic conditions and right now every public library worthy of its name is serving as a War Information Center. Young wives rushing in to find where in the United States is located the army or navy camp to which the husband has just been sent; workers coming directly from defense plants, grimy over- alls .and identification badge conspicuously displayed, asking for a book on ship wiring, welding or some other phase of their work; a town boy, cook at a naval base, writing that he depends entirely upon the library's "Ship's Cook and Baker" for recipes; these are just a few examples of the way in which people are discovering that the public library is not just a storehouse, a place for the chosen few, but that it is for every citizen and stands ready to dispense information on any and all subjects. The library is continually adding to its collection of books on various departments of the government, on tests and requirements necessary to enter branches of the service, on all phases of war and defense work, camouflage and aerial map reading, not to mention the constant influx of graphic accounts of personal experiences in this war. The public library serves a vital pur- pose in time of war.
Our library has been the recipient this year of a very generous legacy from one who has been away from Middleboro many years but never lost her love and interest in the first town she knew after leaving her honie- land. Mary Hullahan came from Ireland in the middle 1800's and entered the employ of the family of Miss Florence Robinson, long associated with this library. This fact may in part account for Miss Hullahan's wish to will to the library $3000 for the purchase of children's books. The fund is to be known as the MaryHullahan Fund and books purchased with the fund will bear a bookplate with Miss Hullahian's name as donor. We wish more people might be inspired to endow the library with special funds. Surely there is no better memorial than a fund to make possible the purchase of books to be used and enjoyed down through the years.
The library building has undergone some much needed refurbishing during the year. New linoleum has been laid in two rest rooms and the floor in the librarian's office refinished. A beautiful rug and drapery were purchased for the office, the roll-top desk transformed into a flat-top and the furniture rearranged to much better advantage.
The book stacks have been equipped with silvered mushroom lamps which, though inexpensive, excellently light even the lowest shelves.
The library has entered into an arrangement with the Extension Di- vision of the Museum of Fine Arts of Boston whereby we receive a con- tinuous exhibit of water-colors. These pictures are changed every two months and are receiving much attention from library visitors.
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Middleboro is proud that one of its own artists was chosen to design the book jacket for the best-selling biography "George Washington Carver." Mr. Nicholas Panesis allowed the library to exhibit his original drawing for the cover. Miss Dorothy Wilber of Middleboro High School gave us the privilege of displaying an original story, "The New Girl," hand printed and illustrated by herself.
During Book Week in November the featured exhibit consisted of articles from North Africa sent home by Major Boyd Iseminger and Lieutenant Allan Witbeck. New books on Africa were displayed in con- junction with the exhibit. Many new Fall books were also on display. In the Children's Room were several posters made by Miss Edith Veazie of the staff, a special exhibit of Boy Scout books and new books for young people. The Senior Service Girl Scouts made bookmarks which were dis- tributed during Book Week.
Classes of instruction were held as usual in the Fall when classes from the Junior High School were given instruction in the use of the library. The librarian has visited many of the center schools, carrying to them books and giving talks in the class rooms, as well as serving nearly all the rural schools.
Four classes in Art Appreciation from Bates School visited the library to view the beautiful and antique china, silverware and Sandwich glass belonging to the Peirce family displayed in a case in the Trustee's room, and also the collection belonging to the Old Middleborough Historical Association housed in a separate room in the library. During the summer thirty-five boys from Camp Avoda made a tour of the library building.
The library has extended its service by supplying for the summer large collections of books to the several boys' camps located in the town. There has been placed a collection of books at the Shaw Home, a similar col- lection having been maintained at the Montgomery Home for several years.
In 1938 the library adopted the plan of a five year registration. On July 20, 1943 the first of these cards expired. Beginning with that date all cards will be renewed at the end of a five year period. The borrower re-registers and is given a new card number. In this way unused cards are weeded out and changes in names and addresses are kept up to date.
The South Middleboro Branch continues to operate and residents of that part of the town are most generous in giving their time to maintain the library, Mrs. Joseph Phillips, Miss Lucy Braley, Mrs. Ellsworth Shaw and Mrs. Glen Lamb having given much time to the work. At present Miss Helen Thomas and her mother, Mrs. Chester Thomas, are very effi- ciently carrying on the work.
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