USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Middleton > Town annual report of Middleton, MA. 1929 > Part 4
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One very marked improvement which has been made dur- ing the year is in the transportation service. New and great- ly improved type buses are in use. The service is run on schedule time so that children arrive at school promptly in the morning and are delivered at home equally promptly after school closes. This is an advantage both to parents and teach- ers to say nothing of the children themselves. Now classes can be started promptly in the morning, and parents can keep track of where their youngsters are, since late transportation cannot be made an excuse for loitering.
The annual follow up mental clinic was conducted again this year by the traveling clinic from the Fernald School of Waverley. No necessity for a formal special class was found but suggestions were made where by Miss Littlefield is doing
97
SCHOOL REPORT
some special work with a group of students who will profit by manual training.
The mention of manual training bring to minds a fact worthy of mention. This is the fact that there are few towns of the size of Middleton where there is as thorough a course in manual work as is taught here. Under the supervision of Miss Manning, aided by Miss Berry, every boy from the fifth grade on receives training in the use of the simpler tools. The work done is practical and provides the school with many conveniences which would probably not be had if not thus produced. For the girls very practical training in sewing is provided under the direction of Mrs. Martin. This training extends to the production of their graduation dresses by the eighth grade girls.
The chief improvement in textbooks during the year was the careful selecton of a suitable text in arithmetic for the upper grades. After a very careful canvass of the many new books available, the series by Strayer-Upton was found best suited to this particular school and community.
An improvement in spelling efficiency is expected from the adoption of the methodology of the Horne-Ashbaugh Spell- er. This method has been very carefully worked out and is extremely logical. By it the drudgery of spelling is materially lightened.
A visit to classes in reading, in the fourth and fifth grades in this school, is a distinct pleasure to one interested in teach- ing this subject. It gives evidence of the excellent instruction in this important branch which is being given by the primary teachers in Middleton. The children read with excellent ex- pression, in well modulated tones, and show a remarkable ability to master new words phonetically as they occur. Not only does this reflect credit upon the teachers but it justifies the method of reading now being followed.
Some especially good results of instruction penmanship in
98
SCHOOL REPORT
were secured during the year. Especially fine work was done by members of the last graduating class. A complete enumer- ation of the awards won would take up an inordinate amount of space. No often would so many children qualify to meet the exacting standards of the company which promotes the system of writing in use here. I have known a school of four times the size of this where not as many awards were secured in two years. These results go to show that the teaching of penmanship in not a lost art.
Health activities have been promoted by Mrs. Roundy with her customary efficiency. Various clinics have been carefully promoted and successfully concluded under her direc- tion. The work is carried on without any pageantry or high sounding nomenclature, but the results are there. It is sur- prising how much good this nurse can do in one day a week. I pay tribute to her earnestness of purpose and faithfulness to duty.
During the year new closets were placed in Miss Berry's room for the children's wraps. This has greatly simplified discipline in the halls at recess and dismissals. The space thus occupied was of no use for other purposes, and the closets in no way detract from the appearance of the room.
Each year demonstrates more and more the wisdom of building the additional two rooms. We have a compact school plant capable of meeting the needs of the town for several years to come. It is well lighted, convenient of access, and well suited to the type of work we are trying to get done.
In closing I desire to express my appreciation of the efforts of teachers and School Committee to co-operate in every way to keep our school system at the high standard to which I feel that it attains.
Respectfully submitted,
December 31, 1929.
STEPHEN G. BEAN.
Age Grade Distribution October 1, 1929
5
| 6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
T
I
6
10
2
18
II
9
14
4
2
29
III
1
8
11
9
1
1
1
32
IV
3
13
6
2
2
1
27
V
6
7
7
5
1
1
27
VI
1
7
3
5
2
18
VII
7
5
2
3
1
18
VIII
5
3
7
2
17
Total
6
20
24
18
28
17
23
21
11
15
2
1
186
SCHOOL REPORT
99
100
SCHOOL REPORT
Teacher Grade Distribution
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Tot.
Miss Manning .
18
17
35
Miss Berry
27
18
45
Miss Hinckley
10
27
37
Miss Lawrence
15
22
37
Miss Donovan .
18
14
32
18
29
32
27
27
18
18
17
186
.
TOWN WARRANT
AND
RECOMMENDATIONS
OF THE
FINANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF MIDDLETON
MARCH, 1930
PART III
105
TOWN WARRANT
Town Meeting Warrant
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex, ss. To William H. Young, Constable for the Town of Middleton, in the County of Essex :
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are hereby directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said Town, qualified to vote in elections and in Town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Town, on
Thursday, the Sixth Day of March Next
at eight o'clock in the afternoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
ARTICLE 1. To authorize the Selectmen to appoint 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 for the ensuing year.
ARTICLE 3. 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 year, and expressly made payable therefrom by this vote.
ARTICLE 4. To see if the refund of dog taxes shall be transferred to the Library Fund.
ARTICLE 5. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the assessors to use the money in the reserve fund to help lower the tax rate.
106
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 6. To see if the Town will authorize the Mod- erator to appoint a special committee to consider the advisa- bility of adding a hose tower and heating plant to the Central Fire Station, together with the estimated cost thereof, said committee to report their findings at a future town meeting.
ARTICLE 7. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectmen to appoint a committee to investigate and rec- ommend to the next annual town meeting what action the Town should take in regard to the establishment of a Town forest.
ARTICLE 8. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Four Thousand Dollars for continuing the reconstruc- tion work on East Street, to be spent in conjuncton with like amounts from the State and County, when and if appropriated.
ARTICLE 9. To see if the Town will vote to widen Bos- ton Street at its junction with Flint Street, South Middleton, and appropriate a sum of money for the same.
ARTICLE 10. On petition of William W. Richardson and thirty-one others to see if the Town will vote to provide scenery and curtain for the Town Hall stage, and appropriate money for the same.
ARTICLE 11. On petition of !Hazen M. Richardson and thirteen others to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of One Thousand Dollars to extend the sidewalk from its present termination on South Main Street to Haswell Park.
ARTICLE 12. On petition of William R. Godfrey and eleven others to see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Two Thousand Dollars to extend the water main down Central Street from Middleton Square to the junction of Wash- ington Street.
107
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 13. On petition of Leverett Davis, James O'Shea and ten others to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money sufficient to have the main water pipe lines ex- tended from Mr. Jopp's house on East Street to Locust Street.
ARTICLE 14. On petition of J. A. McKenne and thir- teen others to see if the Town will vote to extend the electric light line as far down South Main Street as the gravel pit (so called. )
ARTICLE 15. On petition of Caroline M. Knight and fourteen others to see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to cover the expenses of oiling Gregory Street from Dow's corner to the entrance of Middleton Colony, and to clean gravel from the sidewalk.
ARTICLE 16. On petition of Roger F. Clapp and nine- teen others to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Seventy-five Dollars for the purpose of installing a hot water system (consisting of hot water boiler, water front, piping, etc. ) in the kitchen of the Town Hall.
ARTICLE 17. On petition of John J. Colbert and ten others to see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars, same to be used for gravel on Liberty Street.
ARTICLE 18. On petition of Pierre April and nine others to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for repairs on School Street from hill above Elisha M. Randall's house to Causeway bridge, Essex Street.
ARTICLE 19. On petition of Pearl G. Evans and sixteen others to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for gravel to be used on Forest Street.
108
TOWN WARRANT
ARTICLE 20. On petition of George Fuller and twenty- one others to see if the Town will appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars for repairs on Pleasant Street.
ARTICLE 21. On petition of Louis Moreau and eleven others to see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of Five Hundred Dollars to Eight Hundred Dollars to condition Essex Street.
And you are directed to serve this Warrant, by posting up attested copies thereof, one at the Town Hall, one at the Center Post Office, and one at the store at Howe Station, in said Town, seven days at least before the time of holding said meetings.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this Warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting, as aforesaid.
Given under our hands this eighteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord, one thousand, nine hundred and thirty.
GEORGE B. OGDEN, HARRY B. CROXFORD, WILLIAM H. SANBORN, Selectmen of Middleton. .
109
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Recommendations of the Finance Committee For the Year 1930
,
TOWN OFFICERS' SALARIES
Selectmen
$300 00
Town Treasurer
300 00
Town Clerk
200 00
Town Accountant
300 00
Tax Collector
400 00
Assessors
600 00
Registrars of Voters
36 00
Moderator
25 00
Inspector of Slaughtering
25 00
Inspector of Cattle
150 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
100 00
Constable
35 00
Department of Public Welfare
100 00
Superintendent of Burials
15 00
Cemetery Commissioners
30 00
Town Officers Expenses
350 00
Custodian of Town Hall
500 00
$3,466 00
POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Police
$1,000 00
Fire-Building
350 00
Fire-Forest
500 00 (A)
Chief of Fire Department
15 00
New Double Jacket Hose
300 00
Salary of Firemen
50 00
$2,215 00
110
FINANCE COMMITTEE
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT
Tree Warden
$800 00
Moth Department
698 15
$1,498 15
HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES
Highways (Selectmen be authorized to apply to
State Highway Department for aid) $3,750 00
Sidewalks 300 00
Fencing
200 00
Snow Removal 900 00 (B)
Bridges
300 00
$5,450 00
EDUCATION
Schools, including tuition and trans-
portation $23,156 00
Vocational education and transportation 450 00
Library
$23,606 00
HEALTH AND SANITATION
Board of Health
$ 50 00
Dental Clinic
150 00
$200 00
PUBLIC WELFARE DEPARTMENT
Public Welfare
$3,000 00
Soldiers' Benefit
48 00
State Aid
288 00
$3,336 00
ยท
111
FINANCE COMMITTEE
UNCLASSIFIED
Contingent Fund
$1,000 00
Insurance
700 00
Town Hall, (to include new chairs)
1,100 00
Memorial Day
250 00
American Legion
110 00
Interest
2,500 00
Municipal Indebtedness
4,000 00
Street Lighting
1,300 00
Town Council
250 00
Essex Sanitarium
635 38
$11,845 38
(A) It is recommended that $175.00 of this appropria- tion be expended for the purchase of new hose.
(B) It is recommended that $150.00 of this appropriation be expended for the purchase of a plow.
Signed,
AUSTIN C. PEABODY, JR., Chairman HENRY S. LEWIS, JR. W. R. EARLEY
J. W. OSBORNE EDWIN B. MEADE
The following are the recommendations of the Finance Committee covering the articles contained in the Town War- rant for 1930 :
Article 4. Favorable action is recommended.
Article 8. Favorable action is recommended.
Article 9. An appropriation of $200.00 is recommended.
112
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Article 10. The Finance Committee is of the opinion that Article 10 is impracticable and offer as an amendment, that the town appropriate sufficient money to recondition the Town Hall according to plans and specifications submitted at last regular Town meeting.
Article 11. This appropriation is not recommended.
Article 12. It is recommended that $300.00 be appro- priated to extend water main from main in front of so called Old Tavern to point in front of Mr. Godfrey's house. This extension should be so constructed that Central Street can be . supplied at a later date.
Article 13. This appropriation is not recommended.
Article 14. This appropriation is not recommended.
Article 15. An appropriation of $250.00 is recommended.
Article 16. Favorable action is recommended.
Article 17. See paragraph following Article 21.
Article 18. See paragraph following Article 21.
Article 19. See paragraph following Article 21.
Article 20. See paragraph following Article 21.
Article 21. It is recommended that the town appropri- ate $2,000.00 to cover Articles 17, 18. 19, 20, 21 and this sum be expended on the above named streets at the discretion of the Road Surveyor.
Signed, AUSTIN C. PEABODY, JR., Chairman HENRY S. LEWIS, JR. W. P. EARLEY J. W. OSBORNE EDWIN B. MEADE
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