USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1932-1933 > Part 12
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Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
$300.00
WARREN BURIAL HILL CEMETERY FUND
Plymouth Savings Bank, $1,864.79
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
133.94
MARCIA E. JACKSON GATES PUBLIC LIBRARY FUND
Plymouth Savings Bank,
$1,000.00
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
1,000.00
OLD COLONY NATIONAL BANK STOCK INVESTMENT FUND
Old Colony National Bank Stock,
$5,000.00
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SCHEDULE J
$25,021,825
Valuation for 1930 less abatements on $158,850
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1930 less abatements on
45,517
1,204,123
Valuation for 1931 less abatements on
53,820
24,819,930
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1931 less abatements on
29,752
1,043,008
Valuation for 1932 less abatements on
82,400
20,869,450
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1932 less abatements on
19,845
800,825
Total,
24,586,387
Average,
737,592
3%,
Total Debt Incurred and Outstanding, $306,666.66
Less :
Water Loans, comprising total loans outside of limit, 90,666.66
Total Outstanding Within Debt Limit,
$216,000
Borrowing Capacity, January 1, 1933,
$521,592
Percentage of Bonded Debt to Valuation For year 1931,
1.2%
1.5%
For year 1932,
$73,759,161
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APPROPRIATIONS ON WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
March 25, 1933
Selectmen's Department, $3,400.00
Accounting Department,
2,400.00
Treasury Department,
1,900.00
Tax Collector's Department,
3,800.00
Assessors' Department, 6,500.00
Law Department,
1,000.00
Town Clerk's Department,
1,700.00
Engineering Department,
850.00 ·
Election and Registration, 800.00
Maintenance of Town House, 2,050.00
Maintenance of Town Hall,
6,000.00
Police Department,
29,776.50
Fire Department, 40,275.00
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Inspection of Buildings, 300.00
Sealing Weights and Measures,
2,175.00
Moth Suppression, 5,000.00
Tree Warden's Department,
3,000.00
Forest Warden's Department, 3,500.00
Inland Fisheries, 500.00
Plymouth County Hospital Maintenance, 9,591.99
Health Department, 18,600.00
Inspector. of Animals,
360.00
Public Sanitaries,
3,000.00
Sewers,
3,500.00
Street Cleaning,
4,000.00
Roads and Bridges,
35,550.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets, 4,000.00
Highway Construction and Reconstruction, 12,350.00
New Road Scraper,
2,750.00
Gurnet Bridge Tax,
1,677.88
Sidewalks, 4,000.00
Sidewalks: Granolithic,
1,000.00
0
Snow and Ice Removal, 6,000.00
Street Sprinkling, 2,500.00
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Street Lighting, 20,100.00
Harbor Master, 150.00
Pensions for Town Laborers, 2,520.00
Public Welfare Department, including Mothers' Aid, 100,000.00
Public Welfare Department, Overdraft, 32,376.69
Public Welfare Department, Bureau of of Old Age Assistance, 25,000.00
Soldiers' Benefits,
18,000.00
Soldiers' Relief, Overdraft,
8,211.59
School Department,
212,950.00
Park Department, 7,841.00
Park Department, for Public Playgrounds
and Public Camping Place, 4,000.00
Sexton, 200.00
Miscellaneous Account, 3,000.00
Water Department, Maintenance, 22,000.00
Town Forest, 1,000.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries, 10,000.00
Burial Hill Cemetery, 1,200.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville and
South Pond Cemeteries, 800.00
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Town Debt and Interest, 75,000.00
Total for Article 5, $768,155.65
Art. 6,
Plymouth Public Library,
8,850.00
Art. 7. Manomet Public Library, 750.00
Art. 8. Plymouth County Aid to Agriculture, 250.00
Art.
9.
Maintenance of Mosquito Control
Works,
250.00
Art. 10. Mosquito Control Work, 250.00
Art. 11. Rifle Range Expenses, 100.00
Art. 12. Memorial Day and Armistice Day, 750.00
Art. 13. July Fourth, 350.00
Art. 14. Fire Alarm Reconstruction, Cliff St., to junction of Warren Ave., and State Highway, 850.00
Art. 15. District Nurse,
1,000.00
Art. 19. Care of Town Wharf, 700.00
Art. 21. Board of Health, for Piggery in connection with Garbage Disposal, 10,000.00
Art. 24.
Prince Street, Curbing and Hard-
Surface,
1,000.00
Art. 25.
Robbins Hill Road and Priscilla
Road,
1,500.00
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Art. 26. Water Pipe to Little Pond, 2,000.00
Art. 32.
Manomet Water System, for Spe-
cial Employment,
20,000.00
Total Appropriations on the March, 1933, Warrant, $816,755.65
I
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INDEX
Town Officers, 1932
3
Annual and Special Town Meetings
6
Committee on Representative Town Government
17
Advisory Committee on March Town Warrant
18
Advisory Committee on April Town Warrant
33
Advisory Committee on September Town Warrant 36
Board of Selectmen
39
Superintendent of Streets
Marriages
Births
Deaths
Water Commissioners
Water Department
Police Department
Assessors
Public Welfare
Librarian
Park Commissioners
Board of Health
Slaughtering
Milk
Plumbing
Fire Commissioner
Cemetery Commissioners
Buildings
Sealer of Weights and Measures
Measurer of Wood and Bark
Harbor Master
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth
Tree Warden
Forest Fire Warden
145
Forestry Committee
146
Engineer
Inland Fisheries
147 148 149
County Aid to Agriculture
Planning Board
152
List of Jurors 153
Town Accountant
160
41 48 56 62 73 81 86 93 97
102 108 111 117
118 120 121 128 132
133 139 140 141 143
Special index for school reports at the end of the School Report.
8
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
.HE
* * * .........
1620.
SSA
H
OF
OWN
Town of Plymouth
For the Year Ending December 31, 1932
7
11
11. 12.
-3-
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1933
Winter Term-14 weeks
Begins Tuesday, January 3-ends Friday, April 14 Recess : February 20-24
Note: Feb. 22 and April 19 are in vacation
Spring Term-9 weeks
Begins Monday, April 24-ends Friday, June 23 Holiday: Tuesday, May 30-Memorial Day
0
Fall Term-16 weeks
Begins Wednesday, Sept. 6-ends Friday, Dec. 22
Holidays :
Thursday, Oct. 12-Columbus Day
Wednesday-Friday, Nov. 28-30-Thanksgiving
Friday, Oct. 27-Teachers' Convention
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS 2-2 On Fire Alarm Code
7.05-No school for Junior and Senior High Schools. Does not apply to freshmen.
8.15-No morning session for the grades I to VI in- clusive.
11.15-One session for the grades I to VI inclusive, schools closing at 12.30.
11.45-No school for the freshmen.
12.45-No afternoon session for grades I to VI. This must not be confused by the freshmen with their no school signal.
-4-
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Dr. E. Harold Donovan, Chairman,
Term Expires 1933
Fannie T. Rowell, Secretary,
1933
Albert L. Mellor, 1935
Harry W. Burns, 1935
Edward W. Bradford, 1934
Edward A. Buttner, 1934
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Superintendent of Schools Anson B. Handy
Office hours of the superintendent of schools: 8.00 to 9.00 a. m., and 4.00 to 5.00 p. m. every school day, except as special duties may prevent. Special appointments may be made at other times.
Office Secretary Ruth F. Thomas
Office open from 8.00 to 12 m. and 1.00 to 5.00 p. m. every school day. Saturdays: 9-12 m.
Summer Schedule: 9-12 m. and 1-4 p. m. Saturdays : 9-12 m.
Supervisor of Attendance
Ralph F. Matinzi
F D I M
Une
Appr Expen Was
Unexpe
-5-
FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
Appropriation March, 1932, $237,750.00
Income from Trust Fund, 19.41
$237,769.41
PAYMENTS
General Expenses,
$7,474.98
Teachers' Salaries,
162,757.73
Text Books and Supplies,
9,187.46
Transportation,
16,010.10
Janitor Service,
11,701.42
Fuel, Light, Gas,
9,516.87
Repairs and Maintenance,
7,047.71
Equipment,
673.97
Rent,
350.00
Diplomas and Graduation,
373.93
Tuition,
1,929.01
Medical Inspection,
6,537.42
233,560.60
Unexpended Balance,
$4,208.81
FOR TRAVEL OUTSIDE OF STATE
Appropriation, $100.00
Expenses to Convention at Washington, D. C., 70.00
Unexpended Balance, $30.00
t
S
. m.
lays.
-- 6-
REIMBURSEMENTS
From the State for :-
Teachers' Salaries,
$19,627.65
Americanization, 764.90
State and City Wards,
668.04
Vocational Education,
165.30
Miscellaneous,
323.74
Total,
$21,549.63
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR 1933
General Expenses-
Superintendent's Salary,
$3,948.00
Secretary,
1,220.00
Supervisor of Attendance,
500.00
Stationery, Postage, Printing,
277.00
Telephone,
100.00
Traveling Expense in State,
50.00
Automobile Expense,
400.00
School Census,
150.00
Marking Streets,
55.00
Binet Examination,
150.00
All Other,
150.00
$7,000.00
Teachers' Salaries-
Day,
$144,500.00*
Summer,
350.00
Evening,
2,000.00
$146,850.00
Text Books and Supplies-
Text and Reference Books, $2,000.00
Paper, Blank Books, Etc., 3,000.00
Manual Training Supplies, 450.00
Domestic Science Supplies,
400.00
* Based on 12 monthly payments, beginning in September.
Fur
D
All
-7-
Athletic Supplies,
250.00
Typewriters and Supplies,
200.00
All Other,
100.00
6,400.00
Tuition-
Out of Town,
1,800.00
State Vocational Education,
400.00
Transportation-
Pupils and Teachers,
15,500.00
Janitors' Services-
Day,
$11,000.00
Evening,.
200.00
Watchmen, July 4th,
70.00
11,270.00
Fuel and Light-
Coal and Wood,
$8,000.00
Gas and Electricity,
1,700.00
9,700.00
Maintenance-
Salary of Building Supervisor, $2,340.00
General Repairs, 3,000.00
Flags, and Flagstaffs,
100.00
Janitors' Supplies,
600.00
Telephones,
350.00
Ashes Removed,
350.00
All Other,
50.00
6,790.00
Furniture and Furnishings-
Desks and Chairs,
$100.00
Window Shades,
200.00
All Other,
200.00
500.00
-8-
Rent, Diplomas and Graduation,
350.00
250.00
Medical Inspection-
Physician,
$1,515.00
Nurse and Assistant,
2,265.00
Dental Nurse,
1,345.00
Dental Clinic,
675.00
All Other,
340.00
6,140.00
Total,
$212,950.00
es
an
$2
and
in
t
-9-
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The following major reductions in cost were effected during the past year to bring about a more economical administration of the department, and to enable us to keep within the appropriated sum of $237,750.
(1) The Cliff Street School was closed and the pupils transported to the Cornish and Burton Schools.
(2) The Alden Street School was closed and the pupils were sent to the Cold Spring School.
(3) The primary grades at the Lincoln Street School were transferred to the Mt. Pleasant and Cornish Schools.
(4) All salaries in the department over $1,000 per an- num were reduced 10%.
(5) The transportation contracts this year for the first time were let out on a three-year basis, thus ef- fecting a saving of approximately $2,000.
These items are dealt with in detail in the report of the superintendent which follows.
Having practiced the most rigid economy in all of our expenditures it was possible for us to return to the town an unexpended balance of $4,208.81.
The budget we are submitting this year is for $212,950, or approximately $41,000 less than in 1931, and this in spite of the fact that we have 125 more pupils in our system than last year.
The need for a new high school building is far greater
-10-
now than when the proposal was first placed before the voters in 1928 for consideration. The building is over- crowded now in the morning session which accommo- dates the upper three classes, while the freshmen attend in the afternoon. However, due to the unusual economic conditions which exist today, the committee is merely mentioning the situation in this report so that when the financial situation is better, the matter may be given the immediate attention it deserves.
E. HAROLD DONOVAN, Chairman FANNIE T. ROWELL, EDWARD W. BRADFORD, ALBERT L. MELLOR, HARRY W. BURNS, EDWARD A. BUTTNER,
School Committee.
6
Expression of Appreciation
Katharine A. O'Brien
Principal
1917 Junior High School 1932
Entering the Plymouth school system May 6, 1886 as a teacher in the sub-primary grade in the Doten Lane School, advancing through all the elementary and gram- mar school grades during the ensuing years, appointed principal of the Morton Grammar School September 1913, and the Junior High School September 1917,
Katharine A. O'Brien
has completed forty-six years of continuous service.
She has served with honor and distinction in all her positions from that of an inexperienced teacher in the old sub-primary grade to that of a thoroughly trained principal in a grammar school and a modern, progressive junior high school. Her school has been outstanding in the state, both in regard to its highly trained teaching corps and its scholastic efficiency.
Therefore, the Plymouth School Committee desire to express their sincere appreciation and that of her fellow workers, parents and citizens, for her unswerving loyal- ty, her fine professional spirit and growth, her unselfish whole-hearted devotion of her strength of body, mind and spirit to her work, her real love of children, firm and strict, yet sympathetic, expecting the best from every boy
and girl, giving a type of moral and mental training not always appreciated at the time but always later in life, and her beautiful Christian idealism, not looking for tem- poral rewards but content with the satisfaction that comes from serving her Master.
BE IT RESOLVED, that they extend to Miss O'Brien their wishes that her years may be filled with life's rich- est blessings, that joy and happiness which comes from eminent service in her profession.
E. HAROLD DONOVAN, Chairman FANNIE T. ROWELL, Secretary EDWARD W. BRADFORD, ALBERT L. MELLOR, HARRY W. BURNS, EDWARD A. BUTTNER,
School Committee.
Ish ind
-15-
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee:
I herewith submit my seventh annual report as Super- intendent of Plymouth schools. To it is added extracts from reports of all the departments.
THE CRISIS IN EDUCATION
At the present time schools are being severely criti- cised throughout the nation as being too heavy a burden upon the real estate taxpayer. The local man sees about one-third of his tax go to the support of the schools,- the largest single item of expense in the local budget,- and states at once, "I can no longer afford it". The real thinking taxpayer should look more deeply into the whole situation and see what other taxes he is paying directly and indirectly. If he could see in as tangible a form his other taxes for the state and federal government in all their billions, the amount spent for schools would seem less significant. Moreover, it is not so much that the/ public schools are too expensive in return for what they give society as it is that the burden to a large extent falls upon the taxpayer instead of upon society or the state more generally. It is the form of taxation that is at error and not the system of education.
The following statement from a lay source should be considered as ample evidence that the money spent on education is well spent:
"Why did millions of men and women, when they got out of a job, go quietly back to their homes; and when they got out of food and fuel, go quietly to the organiza- tions that were providing for them ?
"Why, when you were setting up the machinery to
-16-
take care of the millions of unemployed, were the thirty million wage-earners who were still employed willing to go down into their pay envelopes, week after week and month after month, and dig up by far the biggest per- centage of the money necessary to carry on ?
"And finally, why, under this tremendous upheaval in our normal affairs, were these millions of wage-earn- ers willing to continue their buying habits to the very ut- most of their capacity in order to maintain the wide- spread markets which you and they had been building up together ?
"Here at True Story Magazine, where we have always so perfectly reflected the attitude of wage-earning America, we think the reason is this:
"When you let loose those forces twenty years ago, you did something else that you did not count upon. You did more than make the American wage-earner into a market instead of a commodity.
"You made him into an educated, thinking force as well.
"You may not have realized it, but between 1908 and 1928 you put seven hundred thousand more men and women into our universities, a large percentage of them the sons and daughters of wage-earning America. You put three and a quarter million more boys and girls through high schools and junior colleges, the greater percentage of them the sons and daughters of wage-earn- ing America. And through the betterment of your grade schools, you made it possible for some twenty-eight mil- lion children to have something more than a rudimentary education to do their thinking with.
"For the first time in all history a nation was dealing with millions upon millions of educated workers instead of millions upon millions of an illiterate mass when we came to the crossroads of our destiny. That is the tre- mendous factor which we, of True Story Magazine, think has been overlooked both by men of science and men of affairs."
tal Soci this to shou home which
f li
t t
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Serious as conditions are, everyone should realize fully that many countries have had social revolutions with far more serious consequences to all concerned. Public school education has surely played its part as a strong stabiliz- ing influence.
In considering school costs there are two groups who must make the scrutiny, the parents and the taxpayers. On the one hand the parent must realize that the tax- payer pays the cost; on the other hand the taxpayer must remember whether or not he has children in school -that he is supporting a social structure, upon the strength of which his welfare rests. Children leaving school because of lack of interest and spending their time on the streets fall into delinquency and petty crime; the boy who does not find in school something to appeal to his interest and abilities becomes the potential criminal of tomorrow; a sacrifice in health standards means later financial costs; failure to eradicate bodily physical de- fects leads to adult ill health; failure to understand and appreciate music and the beauties of nature, or to con- tinue one's play activities for relaxation means improper use of leisure of which society will have more and more. The curtailment of the child's activities,-mental, moral and physical,-and the failure to develop the capacities and interests of each child to the fullest, means poor pre- paration for his adult activities and less desirable citi- zenship. The schools with a broad outlook directed by the finest type of trained, intelligent, broadminded, sympa- thetic, teachers is the finest kind of insurance against the evils rampant in society.
"The question which has been raised by the present financial crisis is one of vital interest to American fami- lies and to individual children. If there is to be a drastic curtailment of school programs, children will have to be taken care of in the home or on the street or by some social organization other than the school. The people of this country can decide to make a change in the extent to which free schooling is provided, but if they do, they should realize that the effect will ultimately reach every home where there are children and every community which is now comparativly free from juvenile delinquency
1
ead
trẻ- hink en of
ing
r
le il-
-18-
because children are occupied with school work. It is not going to be possible to keep schools open for one family's children and close them for the children of families in general."
The curriculum can no more be simplified in terms of that of ten or twenty years ago than can society return to the life of that period. Education which provides for future needs and preparation for the adult life ahead must ever be changing. It is not a case of returning to the three R's as some claim. In fact, at the present time as many minutes per week are being given to these studies as in 1891 and they are being taught more effec- tively than ever. It is not a case of eliminating so-called "frills and fads" because what are "frills and fads" for one child are essentials for another. Latin, Algebra, and even some forms of English Literature are "frills" for those who receive from them no real training for future life, while the skill learned in manual training does show many a boy that he has real ability in that line and makes him a more useful citizen, or a girl by her training in household arts will make a far better home for her fam- ily a few years later.
Education in a democracy must be free for all boys and girls through at least the equivalent of the high school period. This education must not be restricted but must be broad enough to give each boy and girl that type of education which will best fit him for his life's work, give him a sound healthy body, make him an effi- cient intelligent citizen, develop his character and teach him how to make the best use of his leisure time.
It is the duty of the School Department to analyze every educational offering and to see that it can be justi- fied in terms of the needs of the pupils involved and in terms of the taxpayer's ability to pay. Every item of expense must be so analyzed and eliminated provided it can be done without loss of efficiency. That this has been done should be evident to any one who reads this report carefully.
in De ye on Sep the $20, 2. Sc For the to due to
1.
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INCREASE AT OPENING OF SCHOOL
In September the enrollment at the Senior High School was 719, an increase of 74 over that of a year ago. This would ordinarily have meant at least two or possibly three additional teachers, but by increasing the size of classes the extra numbers were taken care of. It was necessary, however, to use for some classes the room at the Lincoln Street School formerly occupied by the first two primary grades. The Junior High School showed a slight increase, while the elementary grades had thirty more. With the closing of the Alden Street, Lincoln Street, and Cliff Street schools and the transfer of these pupils to the Mt. Pleasant and Cornish schools, all were reasonably well taken care of except in the first grade at the Cornish school where 58 pupils were enrolled, only six coming from outlying districts, the rest being in the Cornish dis- trict. This necessitated the use of the full quota of teachers in this school instead of eliminating one as originally planned.
On the basis of additional teachers ordinarily required and supplies needed, the increase in enrollment would have meant an increase of about $5,000. This amout has been saved.
REDUCTION IN COSTS
1. Salaries
As a result of the vote in the annual town meeting held in March, 1932, the salaries of all persons in the School Department receiving over $1,000, except those on a yearly contract, were cut 10% effective April 1; those on contract were cut 10% effective at the beginning of September. This reduced the budget for the part of the year about $12,000 and on the basis of a full year $20,000.
2. Schools Closed
For the past several years I have called attention of the town to the high per pupil cost in the small schools, due to the small number of pupils per teacher. Owing to
1
ze ti- in of 1 it Jeen port
-20-
the need of economy, three of these schools were closed in September. Cliff Street School would probably have had only nine or ten pupils. These pupils were brought into the Cornish School at little or no added cost in transpor- tation, thus saving the salary of a teacher, a janitor and the heating of the building. The first grade at the Alden Street School was transferred to the Cold Spring School and a few pupils retained in the fourth grade, increasing the size of the school from 40 to 70 pupils. Each teacher there now has two grades and thirty-five pupils. This change has saved a teacher, a janitor's service, and the heating of the Alden Street School. The Lincoln Street School with its two grades was split up between the Mt. Pleasant and Cornish schools, thus not only saving a teacher but permitting the use of the room to relieve a little of the severe congestion at the Senior High School.
At the Junior High School when Miss Katharine A. O'Brien resigned, her position was filled by advancing Miss Mary M. Dolan and not filling the latter position, thus eliminating another teacher.
The results of these changes produced a net saving of approximately $6,000.
3. Transportation
For the first time, proposals calling for bids on three year contracts instead of one year, were offered in the case of the larger transportation routes. On such a basis individuals or bus companies could figure their costs much more carefully and give a better price. As a re- sult, keen competition for the Manomet, Chiltonville, Russell Mills and Long Pond transportation developed. The only change in companies was that the Plymouth Taxi Company underbid the Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway Company on the Chiltonville and Russell Mills trips by several dollars a day. The final result was the saving of approximately ten dollars a day, or about $2,000 a year. The contracts call for new equipment in some cases and for all equipment to meet the new state requirements. The new prices, the distance covered, and the number of pupils transported are given in the accom- panying table:
D
C
Da Da S Fed JU bo Whit bus
Boarc Sch tran Gurne Scho Cedarv Scho Approx to an Street
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ROUTE
Long Pond, Hedge's Pond and Halfway Pond to and from Cedarville School. Largely over sandy or muddy roads. Cedarville to and from Sagamore Grammar School
Ellisville, Ship Pond and Vallers north to and from Manomet School
24 “
20-25
3.25
Ellisville, Ship Pond and Vallers to and from Junior and Senior High
48
8-10
2.75
Shore Road and White Horse Beach to and from Manomet School
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