USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of Plymouth, MA 1932-1933 > Part 27
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Harriet E. McFall,
164.87
George E. Randall,
181.22
James H. & James E. Clark lots, 252.84
Eliza G. Hall,
255.97
Emma W. Hedge,
219.68
John Fratus, 172.87
Mary E. Fuller,
112.06
Thomas Pierce, 161.60
Alfred L. Bartlett,
229.86
Martha S. Brewster, 122.61
Henry E. Maynard, 109.24
Edward H. Thompson, 112.56
-267-
Benjamin Drew,
195.73
Mary McLeod, 256.37
Catherine B. Morrison,
119.20
Lucy C. Nelson,
234.41
Philip Rudolph,
116.37
Eugenia Lothrop,
121.36
Lucia S. Griffin,
115.03
Anna B. Humphrey,
114.35
Mercie F. Morse,
127.06
Anna M. Shepard,
333.69
Martha A. Morton,
112.30
Nellie E. McCloskey,
205.58
Johnson, Davee, May & Simmons,
227.48
J. Sumner Wood,
124.09
Frank Quartz,
245.82
Clarence W. Burgess,
196.16
Emma F. Caldwell,
300.74
Aaron Sampson,
119.48
Robert Thom,
112.63
Ella Bugbee Lee,
120.24
Sophia P. Mawbey,
112.69
Nathan S. Torrance,
114.65
Anthony Atwood,
248.39
Thelma Weston,
248.04
Robert & Mary McKinnon,
108.72
Charles G. Burgess,
454.82
Sarah A. Bartlett,
111.07
Elizabeth S. McHenry,
107.75
Anna V. Robbins,
110.99
Job Churchill,
228.98
Job Churchill (Burial Hill),
250.55
Abner H. Harlow,
301.26
Rufus Sampson, 112.69
Phineas Wells,
117.74
-268 --
William B. Taylor, 216.04
John F. Raymond,
108.62
Oliver S. Holmes,
171.72
William Sykes,
112.51
Henry Armstrong,
109.69
T. Allen Bagnell,
230.45
Frank Rogers, 111.06
William Hodgkins,
172.34
Mary B. Shephard,
171:40
Alexander A. Robbins,
109.75
Chandler Holmes,
107.00
Albert Lundgren,
125.92
Ignatius F. Pierce,
165.67
Lucy L. Hoxie,
69.44
Harriet A. Shaw,
108.60
Frank Ellis,
170.15
Harriet A. Corey,
135.27
John M. Kingsley,
115.74
Helen H. Swanstrom,
139.62
Edward Millburn,
109.42
Robert C. Swift,
220.22
Edward G. Ellis,
122.59
Emily E. Campbell,
164.66
Charlotte A. & Winslow
Bradford,
229.26
John A. Spooner,
109.47
Warren L. Rich,
109.69
Harrison C. Beckman,
1,159.82
Gladys J. Campbell,
. 167.53
Alexander Wasson, 111.30
William Sargent Holmes,
223.26
Annie C. Stoddard,
333.34
Gannett Fund,
230.14
Caroline B. Warren,
104.82
Alice B. Ball, 55.50
-269-
Fannie T. Rowell, 108.93
George Asa Whiting,
113.01
George I. Hodgson,
163.33
Rebecca B. Robbins,
232.64
Lucia C. Freeman,
215.43
William S. Robbins,
580.06
Solomon E. Faunce,
229.94
Hannah M. Jackson,
104.95
Lydia G. Bradford,
208.64
William Langford,
223.40
William W. Brewster,
315.55
Henry L. Sampson &
Christiana R. Leland,
325.79
Edwin L. Edes,
537.86
Oliver Edes,
538.15
Henry L. Stegmaier,
216.02
George W. Bosworth,
107.66
George H. Doten,
139.56
Benjamin F. Raymond,
106.82
Martha J. Clarke,
103.76
Jessie F. B. Warren,
207.23
Priscilla A. & William H.
Barrows,
160.98
Eva Bartlett Watson,
229.29
Martin F. Benson,
81.05
James Warren,
161.44
George Edgar Smith,
220.49
Charles B. Harlow,
157.52
Adelbert L. Christie,
211.88
Frances W. Harris,
166.61
Charles T. Holmes,
111.15
Myra W. Clark,
214.27
Lillie M. Sherburne,
103.71
Sarah H. Burr,
107.09
Mary Cromwell,
51.05
1
-270-
Abraham O. Brown, 309.25
George Churchill,
318.26
Judah Bartlett,
102.54
Ellen E. Sanderson,
211.51
Jacob Reidenbach,
211.17
Laura E. Jones,
103.73
Lewis Sampson,
106.35
Clara F. Robinson,
53.27
Faustina M. Holmes,
68.94
Mary B. Lanman,
158.02
Warren R. Surpluss,
100.17
Sarah E. Manter,
214.72
Lumb & Garside,
159.30
William H. Osmond,
103.80
Lloyd C. & Mary E. Gould,
137.24
Annie Holmes, 212.41
Mary Deane Keith,
104.59
Edward W. Belcher,
106.89
Leander M. Vaughn,
101.28
James H. Chapman,
156.28
Emma A. Osborne,
153.81
Eri C. Oakes, 208.44
Calvin T. Howland,
102.57.
Harry A. Holmes,
205.43
George F. Howard,
205.28
Lucy E. Frasier,
100.00
Peter Schneider, 100.14
Mary E. Estes,
150.01
Emma L. Churchill,
150.01
Jennie F. Langford,
200.03
George H. & Florence Blanchard, 100.02
William F. & Martha A. Doten, 150.01
Charles Hellstrom, 100.00
Elizabeth C. Coupe, 200.77
-271-
Warren S. Bumpus &
Nathaniel T. Clark,
150.02
Robert A. Brown,
500.00
David Brown,
300.00
Fred A. Jenks,
200.00
Robert R. Bartlett,
150.00
Annie L. Jarvis,
100.00
Tom Haigh,
175.00
Julia M. Sampson,
100.00
Stephen C. Nickerson,
100.00
Carrie L. Frink,
150.00
Mary E. Pierce,
100.00
Julia A. Remnigton,
100.00
Harriet J. Swan,
100.00
Frederick Dittmar,
150.00
Total, Plymouth Savings Bank, $51,363.90
-272-
ST. JOSEPH'S CEMETERY FUND Deposited in Plymouth Savings Bank, 107.73
ABNER AND CHARLES H. LEONARD
Deposited in People's Savings Bank,
Worcester, Mass., 150.35
DEPOSITED WITH STATE TREASURER Phoebe R. Clifford Fund, 200.00
Total, Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds, $103,914.13
NATHANIEL MORTON PARK FUND
Plymouth Savings Bank,
$2,000.00
MURDOCK POOR AND SCHOOL FUND
Plymouth Savings Bank,
$730.00
FRANCIS LEBARON POOR FUND
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
$675.00
Plymouth Savings Bank,
675.00
CHARLES HOLMES POOR FUND
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
$500.00
JULIA P. ROBINSON POOR FUND
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
$300.00
WARREN BURIAL HILL CEMETERY FUND
Plymouth Savings Bank,
$1,589.55
Plymouth Five Cents Savings Bank,
138.98
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
Valuation for 1931,
less abatements on $88,670
$24,785,080
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1931, less abatements on 45,594
1,027,166
Valuation for 1932,
less abatements on 150,800 23,509,975
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1932, less abatements on 22,200
798,475
Valuation for 1933,
less abatements on
51,000
22,924,875
Valuation of Motor Vehicles for 1933, less abatements on 18,890
598,815
Total
$73,644,386
Average 3%
24,548,128
736,444
Total Debt Incurred and
Outstanding, $257,500
Less :
Water Loans, Compris-
ing Total Loans Outside of Limit, 80,000
Total Outstanding Within Debt Limit,
$177,500
Borrowing Capacity, January 1, 1934, $558,944
Percentage of Bonded Debt to Valuation, For year 1932, 1.1-% ; for year 1933, 1.1+%.
-274-
APPROPRIATIONS ON WARRANT FOR ANNUAL TOWN MEETING
MARCH 24, 1934
Selectmen's Department, $3,700.00
Accounting Department,
2,600.00
Treasury Department,
1,950.00
Tax Collector's Department,
3,800.00
Assessors' Department,
6,500.00
Law Department,
900.00
Town Clerk's Department,
1,550.00
Engineering Department,
750.00
Election and Registration,
1,800.00
Maintenance of Town House,
2,300.00
Maintenance of Town Hall,
5,800.00
Police Department,
31,569.25
Fire Department,
45,737.28
Fire Department Overdraft, 2,387.10
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Inspection of Buildings, 300.00
Sealing of Weights and Measures, 2,185.00
Moth Suppression, 5,000.00
Tree Warden's Department,
3,500.00
Forest Warden's Department, 3,500.00
Inland Fisheries, 500.00
Plymouth County Hospital Maintenance, 9,912.16
Health Department, 18,600.00
Health Department Overdraft, 2,496.76
Health Department, for Piggery Main- tenance and Garbage Removal, 8,400.00
Inspector of Animals,
360.00
Public Sanitaries, 2,900.00
Sewers, 5,000.00
Street Cleaning, 5,000.00
Roads and Bridges, 40,000.00
Hard-Surfacing Streets,
4,500.00
Highway Construction and Reconstruction 21,975.00
Long Pond Road, Resurface,
2,000.00
Court Street and Sandwich Street, Re- surface 5,000.00
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Manomet Ave., Vinal Ave., Samoset Ave.,
and Strand Ave., Resurface, 750.00
Dodge Truck replacement, 600.00
Gurnet Bridge Tax, 846.59
Sidewalks, 6,000.00
Sidewalks: Granolithic, 3,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal, 10,000.00
Snow and Ice Removal Overdraft, 4,605.15
Street Sprinkling, 2,500.00
Street Lighting, 20,200.00
Harbor Master, 150.00
Pensions for Town Laborers,
2,210.00
Public Welfare Department, Including Mothers' Aid, 130,000.00
Public Welfare Department Overdraft, 39,911.89
Public Welfare Department, Bureau of Old Age Assistance, 25,000.00
Bureau of Old Age Assistance Overdraft,
1,341.21
Soldiers' Benefits, 12,000.00
Soldiers' Relief Overdraft, 2,684.82
School Department, 218,550.00
-277-
School Department, for travel outside of the State, 75.00
Park Department, 11,125.00
Sexton, 200.00
Miscellaneous Account, 3,100.00
Water Department Maintenance, 24,000.00
Town Forest, 1,200.00
Oak Grove and Vine Hills Cemeteries,
10,000.00
Burial Hill Cemetery, 1,200.00
Chiltonville, Manomet, Cedarville and South Pond Cemeteries, 800.00
Town Debt and Interest,
61,000.00
Total for Article 5 $845,552.21
Art.
6.
Plymouth Public Library,
$8,850.00
Art. 7. Manomet Public Library, 750.00
Art.
8. Plymouth County Aid to Agri-
culture,
250.00
Art. 9.
Maintenance of Mosquito Con-
trol Works,
500.00
Art. 10.
Rifle Range Expenses,
100.00
Art. 11.
Memorial Day and Armistice
Day,
750.00
-278-
Art. 12. July Fourth, 350.00
Art. 13. District Nurse, 1,000.00
Art. 14. Care of Town Wharf, 700.00
Art. 18. Alton A. Burgess Development 2,000.00
Art. 19. Land for Airport, 5,000.00
Total,
$865,772.21
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
1020.
MIA
NMO
4
S.L.LJS
Town of Plymouth
For the Year Ending December 31, 1933
-3-
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1934
Winter Term-14 weeks.
Begins Tuesday, January 2-ends Friday, April 13. Recess : February 19- 23.
Note: February 22 and April 19 are in vacation.
Spring Term-9 weeks.
Begins Monday, April 23-ends Friday, June 22. Holiday: Wednesday, May 30-Memorial Day.
Fall Term-16 weeks.
Begins Wednesday, September 5-ends Friday, December 21.
Holidays :
Friday, October 12-Columbus Day.
Friday, October 26-Teachers' Convention. Monday, November 12-Armistice Day.
Wednesday-Friday, November 28-30-Thanks- giving.
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 inclusive.
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
Term Expires
Dr. E. Harold Donovan, Chairman,
1936
Fannie T. Rowell, Secretary,
1936
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 ap- pointments 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. Satur- days: 9-12 m.
Supervisor of Attendance
Ralph F. Matinzi
-5-
FINANCIAL REPORT
RECEIPTS
Appropriation Mar., 1933, $212,950.00
Income from Trust Fund, 15.67
$212,965.67
Payments
General Expenses,
$7,136.97
Teachers' Salaries,
141,165.88
Americanization Salaries,
2,232.00
Text Books and Supplies, 7,534.92
Transportation,
15,601.59
Tuition,
1,236.20
Janitors' Services,
11,283.80
Fuel, Light, Gas,
8,063.56
Repairs and Maintenance,
11,544.38
Furniture and Furnishings,
522.43
Diplomas and Graduation,
211.31
Medical Inspection,
6,430.49
212,963.53
Unexpended Balance,
$2.14
-6-
REIMBURSEMENTS
From the State for :-
Teachers' Salaries, $19,481.67
Americanization, 733.00
State and City Wards,
1,043.07
Miscellaneous, 454.92
Total,
$21,712.66
NOTE :
The actual cost to the town for cur-
rent expenses of the schools was: $191,250.87
The actual cost to the town exclusive
of Americanization was :
189,018.87
-
-7-
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR 1934
General Expenses-
Superintendent's Salary,
$4,230.00
Clerk,
1,225.00
Supervisor of Attendance,
600.00
Stationery, Postage, Printing,
275.00
Telephone,
100.00
Travelling Expense in state,
50.00
Automobile Expense,
400.00
School Census,
150.00
Marking Streets,
90.00
Binet Examinations,
175.00
All Other,
150.00
$7,445.00
Teachers' Salaries-
Day,
$148,575.00
Summer,
350.00
Evening,
3,000.00
151,925.00
Text Books and Supplies-
Text and Reference Books, $2,500.00
Paper, Blank Books,
3,500.00
Manual Training Supplies,
450.00
Domestic Science Supplies,
450.00
Athletic Supplies, 250.00
Typewriters and Supplies,
500.00
All Other,
100.00
7,750.00
Tuition-
Out of Town, State Vocational Education,
600.00
400.00
.
-- 8-
Transportation-
Pupils and Teachers,
16,500.00
Janitors' Services-
Day,
$11,200.00
Evening,
100.00
Watchmen, July 4th,
60.00
11,360.00
Fuel and Light-
Coal and Wood,
$7,000.00
Gas and Electricity,
1,700.00
8,700.00
Maintenance-
Salary of Building Super- visor,
$2,340.00
General Repairs,
3,000.00
Flags and Flagstaffs,
100.00
Janitors' Supplies,
600.00
Telephones,
350.00
Ashes Removed,
300.00
All Other,
50.00
6,740.00
Furniture and Furnishings-
Desks and Chairs,
$100.00
Window Shades,
200.00
All Other,
200.00
500.00
Rent,
350.00
Diplomas and Graduation,
250.00
Medical Inspection-
Physician,
$1,620.00
Nurse and Assistant,
2,370.00
Dental Nurse,
1,440.00
Dental Clinic,
700.00
All Other,
400.00
6,530.00
$218,550.00
Total,
-9-
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
In August a Special Town Meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the proposed New High School and the addition to the Junior High School, (this is the project which has been suggested to the town for several years past). It was explained to the meeting that construction would not be started unless the approval of the Federal Government was received, under the National Recovery Act. Under the provisions of this act, the town would receive from the Government 30% of the cost of labor and materials, the other 70% to be borrowed by the town at a cost not to exceed 4% interest. The voters, we believe, were agreed on the necessity of further accommodations, but felt the expense should not be undertaken at this time owing to the unusual economic conditions.
In the Fall, money for various projects was made available to the town under authority of the Civil Works Administration. We submitted definite re- quests as outlined in the Superintendent's report. The cost of the completed work to our Department was $2,244.84 for materials and the Government paid an additional $3,409.35 for labor. This work was necessary, and was to have been done under the 1934 budget.
We want to call your attention to the ever in- creasing need for further and suitable accommoda- tions at the Senior and Junior High Schools. The following is quoted from Page 16 of the 1930 School Report relative to the Senior High School situation :
-10-
"Approximately 600 pupils, therefore, must be provided for." The present enrollment in the Senior High School is 697 pupils. This is a little more than 16% greater than our highest estimate. This is a matter which should receive the serious attention of every voter and parent. We urge you to visit the schools and familiarize yourselves with the actual conditions.
E. HAROLD DONOVAN, Chairman FANNIE T. ROWELL, HARRY W. BURNS, ALBERT L. MELLOR, EDWARD A. BUTTNER,
EDWARD W. BRADFORD.
School Committee.
-11-
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee :
I herewith submit my eighth annual report as Su- perintendent of the Plymouth schools, together with extracts from reports of the principals and special supervisors.
The past two years have been exceedingly critical for the school children. The problem has been to greatly reduce school costs, even in spite of increased enrollments at the Junior and Senior High Schools, and at the same time not to lessen the educational opportunities for the youth.
REDUCTIONS IN BUDGETS 1932 AND 1933
The taxpayer has seen the school budget drop from $253,497.11 in 1931 to $212,963.53 for 1933, a de- crease of $40,533.58. Based on the 1933 valuation, this means a decrease of $1.76 per thousand in the tax rate which is far more than the decrease of the state as a whole.
This economy has been made possible by the follow- ing reductions :
1. General Expenses :
Supt.'s Salary, $752.00
Other Expenses, 517.98
2. Teachers' Salaries, 27,118.13
3. Text Books, Supplies, Miscellaneous, 4,442.83
-12-
4. Tuition and Transportation, 1,823.14
5. Janitors, 1,270.95
6. Fuel and Light, 3,169.23
7. Maintenance, 253.43
8. Medical Inspection, 1,185.89
Total,
$40,533.58
REDUCTION IN PER PUPIL COSTS
The budget reductions do not explain the actual reduction in costs from the point of view of the num- ber of pupils. During the two year period 1931-1933 the average membership increased approximately 100 pupils. The reductions in average cost based on the calendar year ending December thirty-first, for the school year ending June thirtieth, and the aver- age state cost for the latter date are summarized as follows :
Plymouth
Year Ending
Year Ending
Through Dec. June 30, 1931
June 30, 1933
1931 1933
State
Plym.
State Plym.
General Expenses
$3.36
$2.75
$3.84 $3.39
$3.53 $2.80
Teachers' Salaries
67.02
54.45* 69.92 66.80
65.27
59.06
Text Books, Supplies, & Misc.
5.07
3.15
5.68
5.38
3.79
3.37
Operation
9.49
7.56
10.85
9.60
9.61
7.74
Maintenance
4.78
4.45
5.08
4.72
3.12
3.00
Health
2.80
2.48
1.64
2.84
1.46
2.53
Tuition
.67
.47
1.03
.48
1.10
.31
Total without Trans.
93.20
75.31
98.04 93.21
87.87
78.81
Transportation
6.73
6.01
2.72
7.60
2.52
5.15
Total with Trans.
99.93
81.32 100.76 100.81 90.40
83.96
Percent Decrease
18.6
10.3
16.7
This marked decrease is due to adoption of the twelve monthly payment plan in September. In 1934 the cost per pupil will be approximately $57.25 under present salary conditions.
-13-
The above figures for the state show a 10.3% de- crease through June 1933, while Plymouth showed 16.7% through June and 18.6% through December 1933. The above figures indicate that school costs in nearly all items are lower than in the state and in teachers salaries very much lower.
It may be of interest to know how much the costs in certain schools have decreased. The Senior High School cost per pupil has dropped from $124.36 in 1930 to $94.09, a decrease of $30.27; in the Junior High School from $120.21 to $92.96, a decrease of $28.25; and in the combined larger elementary schools from $76.82 to $66.66, a decrease of $10.16.
The preceding data indicate the reductions which have been made during the past two years in the budget and in the per pupil costs. They should clear- ly demonstrate the fact that the School Department has made substantial economies above those of the state as a whole.
REDUCTION IN 1933 BUDGET
Last year's annual report explained how the budget was reduced approximately $20,000. This year a further similar reduction has been made by the fol- lowing means.
1. Salaries
All salaries of over $1000 which had been reduced 10% April 1, 1932, were effective for the full year of 1933. The regular automatic increases due in September were withheld. Beginning in September the payments of the teachers, school physician, school nurse and the superintendent, were placed on a twelve monthly basis instead of ten. For the four months in the fall term they received one twelfth instead of one tenth of their yearly salary. This
-14-
meant a saving of approximately $10,000 for this year only.
2. Positions Eliminated
Three positions were discontinued at the end of the school year in June. Owing to decreased numbers at the Hedge School in the primary grades one less teacher was needed. Miss Sampson, Principal of the Hedge School, took over the supervision of the Mt. Pleasant School, thus eliminating one principal. She has given unstintingly of her time and energies to both schools. The third position eliminated was at the Junior and Senior High Schools. When Miss Edith Newton resigned after ten years of excellent service, her position was not filled. Her two business training courses were taken over by the teacher of these subjects in the Senior High School. The principal took one class a day, and with a slight change in the other teacher reassignments the teach- ing force was reduced by one. These three changes reduced the budget nearly $4,500 on a yearly basis.
3. Tuition
In view of the fact that in September there were pupils in Ellisville to come to the Junior and Senior High Schools it was found practical to include pupils at Costello's Corner and Cedarville. The extra cost of transportation was less than the cost of tuition in Bourne. If this arrangement proves satisfactory it should be continued, as all pupils in that vicinity will then receive the full benefit of the Plymouth schools.
4. Supplies
The cost of school supplies was reduced $1,650 approximately over that of the previous year, and was kept at a minimum of less than three dollars
-15-
per pupil, while the state average per child was $3.78. It will be impossible to maintain this low cost during the ensuing year as paper costs have greatly in- creased. Later costs must be higher due to excessive economy in text books.
5. Coal Costs
Reduction in coal costs have been made. This was due in part to the installation of vacu-drafts in several schools. These drafts permit a more complete combusion of the fuel, and are regulated by pressure control so that there is less waste of heat. They also permit the use of soft or buckwheat coal instead of egg coal; thereby the cost of installation was largely offset by this saving, making it possible for the School Department to substitute over 200 tons of buckwheat or soft coal for the egg size, thus saving approximately $1,000.
RESULT OF REDUCTIONS
Educational offerings have not been reduced, but the increase in class sizes by the reduction of teachers has decreased the opportunity for individual help on the part of many pupils. As stated last year, "Great care must be taken not to decrease seriously the ef- ficiency of the schools. No teacher, however willing and capable, can have the number of pupils in her classes increased and still give to that added number the same individual attention which can be given to the smaller number." When the town returns to better financial conditions there should be some de- crease in the class sizes for several teachers.
FEDERAL AID IN EDUCATION
During the late fall a project known as the C.W.A. (Civil Works Administration) was launched by the
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Federal Government. Under this head the town could put to work men on the welfare or soldier's relief and unemployed persons registering at the Federal Em- ployment Bureau. The School Department at once recommended painting the exterior of the Mt. Pleas- ant, Cornish and Hedge schools, several classrooms, corridors and basements, the relaying of four old floors at the Knapp School, and repairing the port- able, the reshingling of parts of the roofs at the Senior High School and Burton School, and repairs to stair treads together with some grading at the Junior High. The labor cost paid by the federal gov- ernment amounted to $3,409.35, the cost of paint and building materials was $2,244.84, which was financed out of the regular school appropriation. Some of the above work was not completed until after January 1. Other repair work will be considered at the beginning of the new calendar year.
In December a project under the F.E.R.A. (Federal Emergency Relief Administration) was planned by the federal authorities and the State Board of Edu- cation "to provide constructive employment for un- employed persons in need of relief and competent to teach and to provide a constructive program in edu- cation and recreation for numerous interested per- sons." The activities are of four types: (1) general adult and occupational education other than Ameri- canization work, (2) recreation including indoor and outdoor games and activities, (3) a pre-school center for children from needy homes especially, (4) home- making workers, who will do home visiting and con- duct group meetings in better food planning and buy- ing, and in renovation of garments.
Plans are being formulated for next year to carry into effect some of the above projects. The extent is very limited as the total weekly salary is less than fifty dollars, and as the supply of local properly quali- fied unemployed persons is also limited.
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NEW PROBLEMS IN EDUCATION
During the past year some very astounding things have happened. The summer was characterized by the advance into the foreground of certain problems which have been accumulating for a number of years with little or no realization upon the part of the general public of their full significance to social changes. These problems are closely linked with in- dustrial changes. For some years new inventions have been throwing thousands out of employment. For some time many believed that these would return to their work again, little realizing the permanence of this change, and that these would never re-enter industry under old conditions. Citizens have been dis- quieted by the realization that while there is an abundance of materials and sufficient means of trans- porting them to the consuming public, there has been no demand for the goods because of the inability of the unemployed or those on small salaries to pay for them-not even the bare necessities of life.
During the past summer there came not only an official cognizance of these facts, but the launching of a plan to face them. This program, the N.R.A. is a project to distribute the wealth of the country to the end that those who have the ability to earn will have the ability to pay. With this in view two pro- visions have been made as follows: first, that boys and girls under sixteen years of age shall not be employed in industry in such a way as to affect their schooling; second, that every person employed be limited in the number of hours of work. This elimi- nation of boys and girls from industry and the de- crease in hours of labor with its accompanying in- crease in hours of recreation and leisure has brought to the schools certain new problems.
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