USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1921 > Part 3
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Our school building is old and while remarkably well preserved, in many ways it is ill adapted to meet the demands of a modern school organization. The overcrowding is not yet serious but already the school has outgrown the building. The present arrangement whereby a part of the manual work is done in the town hall, is extremely awkward. Whether this condition is remedied by the erection of a new building or by the construction of an annex to the old, the establishment of a Junior High School well deserves your serious attention.
The present arrangement whereby the superintendent
58
SCHOOL REPORT
divides his work among three towns, forces upon individual members of the committee a large part of the clerical work, the issuing of employment and educational certificates and of car tickets. It would be more just and certainly less confus- ing if this work was assigned to one committee member, pref- erably a member residing near the school. Such a service would deserve compensation ; certainly the member should be provided with a telephone.
I wish to express to the committee deep appreciaton of their help and co-operation and to testify again to the loyal support and faithful work of our teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH R. BARR.
Report of the Principal
Middleton, Mass., February 2, 1922. To the School Committee of Middleton :
In reply to the request of your secretary, I submit for your consideration the following summary of the last year's work.
The general work has been continued along the lines fol- lowed in recent years. The State Course of Study has been used as a basis for grades I-VI, and for the seventh and eighth, for which no course is issued, a plan in accordance with the continuation of the above course for two more years, and at the same time based on present requirements of the Danvers High School, has been in use. The time allotment for each subject is based on that prepared by the State, but necessarily this is adjusted somewhat to fit our conditions, as we have two grades in each room, and these vary in numbers.
The only change in text books during the year was the
1
59
SCHOOL REPORT
introduction of the Aldine Speller, for grades VIII and VII. This has been given a year's test in these classes and has proved the most practical speller I have ever used. I hope it will be possible to have this set for use in the lower grades in the near future.
The matter of text books has become acute, as the pur- chase of books not absolutely a necessity, has been discouraged during recent years on account of the high cost. Now some sets are completely worn out and must be replaced, while sev- eral classes are without suitable books.
As no Supervisor of Drawing was available this subject was continued by the grade teachers, using as a basis, outlines of former years. While the results were good, all felt the need of a Supervisor with a definite plan of work and the election of Miss Millard in September was appreciated.
In close connection with drawing comes manual work of any kind. In the lower grades a period is used weekly for this, consisting of construction work, knitting, raffia baskets, etc., under the regular teacher's direction. This is not only splen- did training but also most practical, as sweaters, caps, scarfs, and useful baskets are the results.
The girls of the two upper rooms have sewing for a two hour period each week, under the supervision of Miss Hay- ward, while the boys have wood work for the same time under their regular teacher. In grades VI and V, these classes are held in the same room, which makes successful results much more difficult to secure.
These groups have been organized into clubs by Mr. De Quoy of the Essex Agricultural School, the girls for the sewing clubs and the boys for handicraft. In this, the regular work is continued with little change, except the organization neces- sitates meetings conducted by the officers chosen by the pupils. An exhibition will be held in late April under the direction of Mr. DeQuoy.
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SCHOOL REPORT
As no other place was available the manual work for boys of grades VIII and VII has been done in the lower Town hall. In some respects, this is the best "shop" we have had but much time is lost in setting up benches, etc. nearly every period as the hall is of necessity put to other uses during the week. Here our lack of equipment is a great hindrance for we have very few tools in comparison to the number of boys.
Basketry, as manual work, has also been; taught in the boys' classes, and many useful articles have been made.
The classes in music have continued their usual good work. Folk dances have been used both for musical training and recreation, in the lower grades, but little can be done in the upper classes on account of lack of room. However an experiment is being made at present which we hope will prove successful and helpful. The assembly of the older classes for community singing has been most successful especially in creating active interest, and securing correct rendering of familiar songs. The value of our new piano has been most evident here.
The efforts of the School Nurse have been directed espec- ially this year toward the children who were under weight. The purchase of the scales in September gave impetus to this movement, for accurate results are now obtainable. The en- thusiasm of the pupils themselves is proof that the work is valuable and appreciated. The Health Crusade, instituted by the Massachusetts Tuberculosis League will be under way early in February and will we hope, improve the gains already made.
The Junior Red Cross was organized as usual, and assisted in financing the sale of hot cocoa, while at Christmas we filled twenty boxes for the children in devastated countries.
In closing, I wish to thank the members of the committee for their kindly assistance, and through them, the citizens of Middleton.
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SCHOOL REPORT
I feel that there are few towns in the state, which are more loyal in their support of the schools than Middelton. Respectfully submitted, C. ALICE MANNING, Principal.
Report of School Nurse
Danvers, Mass.
To the School Board of Town of Middleton :
I submit the following report of the School Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1921.
During the year Dr. Buck examined 165 pupils and found defects as follows : Diseased tonsils that should be removed 71; Enlarged tonsils 15; Cervical glands 40; Bad teeth 58; Systaltic murmur at apex 18; Malnutrition 30; Infected ear 1; Desmatitis 3.
Number of visits made to school by School Nurse 39; Tonsils removed 16; Teeth repaired 26; Surgical dressing 110; Home calls 60; Number of children weighed 165 ; Number of children under weight for height 30; Number of children gained in weight 19.
Hot cocoa served at noon from February 8 to April 5. Number of cups of cocoa served 3,000. One-half can of milk served from April 5 to May 1, daily.
In conclusion I wish to express my thanks to the principal and her assistants for their help in the health problem and serv- ing of cocoa ; to the Grange and Red Cross for their splendid co-operation, also to Mr. Richardson for his kindness in mak- ing a medicine cabinet for our new nurse's room.
We are about ready to start a health crusade movement among the children. If we can obtain the co-operation of all the parents the results will be surprising to everyone.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY E. ROUNDY, R. N.School Nurse.
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SCHOOL REPORT
Students Attending Holton High School
Charles Abbe, Mary Abbe, Mildred Bramham, Frank Bryer, John Gage, Ernest Gould, Frieda Hurlburt, Peter Jan- koski, Lawrence Kinney, Arnold Leary, Gertrude Leary, Grace Lee, Seaver MacDonald, William Meade, Dorothy Merry, Sew- all Pettingill, Grace Pickard, Eleanor Rice, Lillian Richardson, Maurice Tyler, Lawson Waitt, Marion Waitt, Mary Wilson.
North Andover High School Albert Berry, Raymond Berry.
Distribution of Pupils, April 1, 1921
AGE
Grade
Total
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
1
4
12
3
19
2
6
7
6
1
1
21
3
1
5
7
2
2
1
18
4
3
9
3
2
1
18
5
4
8
2
1
15
6
1
4
4
8
2
1
20
7
2
6
5
3
16
8
4
3
4
2
13
Total
4
18
11
14
22
18
12
20
11
8
2
140
Recommendations of the Finance Committee
AND THE
Town Warrant
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLETON
PART III
1
Recommendations of the Finance Committee for the Year 1922
Town Officers' Salaries :
Selectmen
$300 00
Assessors
500 00
Registrars
30 00
Constable
50 00
Inspector of Slaughtering
25 00
Inspector of Cattle
100 00
Moderator
12 00
Overseers of Poor
75 00
Superintendent of Burials
15 00
Town Clerk
200 00
Town Treasurer
250 00
Town Accountant
300 00
Water Commissioners
30 00
Tax Collector
250 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
50 00
$2,187 00
Janitor of Town Hall, 30 cents per hour.
Protection of Persons and Property :
Police Department
$800 00
Fire Department :
Building Fires
$100 00
Forest Fires
500 00
Firemen's Wages
65 00
Building Fire, New Hose
300 00
Forestry Department :
Tree Warden
$600 00
Moth Work
461 41
Health and Sanitation :
Board of Health
$300 00
Essex Sanitorium Assessment
155 73
(65)
66
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Highways and Bridges :
Highways
$3,000 00
Snow Removal
500 00
Sidewalks
100 00
Bridges
150 00
Charities :
Poor Department
$,1000 00
Soldiers' Benefits
150 00
Military Aid
60 00
Education :
Schools
$12,000 00
Library
250 00
Unclassified :
Contingent Account
$2,500_00
Memorial Day
175 00
Electric Light Department
2,000 00
Cemeteries
600 00
Cemetery Tomb, (transferred from reserve) 900 00
Cemetery Tomb and Moving Tool House
600 00
Interest
1,300 00
Municipal Indebtedness
11,00 00
American Legion
110 00
Cemetery Fence
100 00
$29,877 14
Grand Total
$32,064 14
HARRY B CROXFORD J. ALLEN ATWOOD ARTHUR E. CURTIS CLYDE L. HOOD OSCAR H. SHELDON
WILL A. RUSSELL
ROBERT C. COLTON
MILTON W. BERRY
Finance Committee.
Town Meeting Warrant
Essex, ss. To Will A. Russell, Constable for the Town of Middleton, in the County of Essex:
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the inhabitants of the Town of Middle- ton qualified to vote in election and Town affairs to meet at the Town Hall in said Town on
Monday, the Sixth Day of March, next
at 5.30 A. M. for the following purposes, viz :
To choose by ballot the following Town Officers for the ensuing year, viz :
Moderator, Town Clerk, three Selectmen, one Assessor for three years, one Overseer of the Poor for three years, one School Committee for three years, one School Committee for two years, Highway Surveyor, two Trustees of Flint Public Library for three years, Constable, Treasurer, Tax Collector, three Fence Viewers, Tree Warden, Superintendent of Burials, Janitor for Town Hall, one Water Commissioner for three years, one Trustee of the David Cummings' Fund for three years.
Also on the same ballot to give their vote "Yes" or "No" in answer to the following question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of certain non-intoxicating liquors in this Town"?
(67)
.
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TOWN WARRANT
The polls will be open at 5.30 A. M. and may be closed at 3 P. M.
You are hereby required to notify and warn said qualified voters to meet at an adjourned meeting at the Town Hall, on Thursday, March 9, 1922, at 7.30 P. M. for the following purposes, viz :
ARTICLE 1. To choose such other Town Officers as are required to be chosen annually.
ARTICLE 2. To see what action the Town will take in regard to defraying the Town expenses the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 3. To see what action the Town will take in regard to enforcing the liquor law.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the Town will vote to require the Highway Surveyor to provide a suitable quantity of sand and use the same on the sidewalks when covered with ice.
ARTICLE 5. To see what action the Town will take in regard to compensation for fire work.
ARTICLE 6. To see what action the Town will take in regard to letting the Town Hall.
ARTICLE 7. To see what measures the Town will adopt for the removal of snow from the sidewalks.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow money in anticipation of the revenue of the current financial year, and expressly made payable therefrom by this vote.
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TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 9. To see what action the Town will take in regard to purchasing and installing a Town scale and appropri- ate money for the same.
ARTICLE 10. To see what action the Town will take in regard to installing a new heating system in the Flint Public Library and appropriate money for the same.
ARTICLE 11. By petition of Myra L. Fuller and nine others to see what action the Town will take in regard to ex- tending the house lights on South Main street from H. K. Richardson's to Clarence Osgood's, a distance of about half a mile.
ARTICLE 12. By petition of George B. Ogden and ten others to see what action the Town will take in regard to ex- tending house lighting wires on East Street.
ARTICLE 13. By petition of Richard B. Floyd and ten others to see what action the Town will take in regard to pro- viding a playground in the Town.
ARTICLE 14. By petition of George E. Barnaby and eleven others to see what action the Town will take in regard to enlarging the Town Hall.
ARTICLE 15. To see if the Town will vote to widen and straighten the curve at the corner of East and Locust streets . and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
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TOWN WARRANT
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting attested copies thereof, one at the Town Hall, one at the Cen- ter Post Office and one at Mrs. Peabody's store, in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meeting. Hereof fail not and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of said meeting aforesaid.
Given under our hands this 18th day of February, 1922.
HARRY B. CROXFORD, Chairman ELMER O. CAMPBELL MAURICE E. TYLER Selectmen of Middelton.
L
FLINT
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