USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Rutland > Town annual report of Rutland 1933-40 > Part 24
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On the other hand, we, the consumers, do not understand reasons behind the making of electric service rates. Electricity is very mysterious to all of us, unless one happens to be an electrical engineer. The power companies rather than simpli- fy things, appear to want to make them more obscure and baffling, therefore in our ignorance we are easily fooled, or if suspicious and attempt a protest, find ourselves weak and fool- ish before the statisticians and engineers of the Department of Public Utilities and super utility organizations.
Our committee obtained from the Department of Public Utilities at Boston a complete copy of the Gardner Electric Light Company's financial report as filed December 31, 1936, with the commission. This data covers the set-up of the entire company and consequently does not show the break-down by Towns. A rate study for a definite Town should be based upon data pertaining to that Town and not the entire system. The Gardner Electric Light Company serves Gardner, a City, and seventeen towns, besides selling wholesale to the municipal plants of Templeton, Ashburnham, and Princeton. Rutland has 465 customers, Shutesbury 54 and Gardner, 5676. This shows the range of customers and territory.
A few important financial statistics relative to the Gardner Electric Light Company will be interesting. Total assets are $1,703,914.60. These assets are in tangible property like land, equipment and general property. Yet to the respective towns where this property is located the total assessment for tax payment is $1,190,520.00, or about 70%. The total money re- ceived for the year was $601,782.10. This gross revenue per year then represents a return of 35% on the money invested.
We requested information relative to Rutland's customers, income and property in Rutland, and it took considerable perseverance for a month to get the facts. They told us the
127
value of property was $100.500.00, and this is exactly what we tax them for. While the system's average is 70%, Rutland's is 100%. We feel there is something strange here, but let it pass, and consider the revenue as $40,474.12, for a year. Think of it, Rutland's electric light bill of $40,474.12, is about 40% of the plant investment. These are gross revenue figures and from them should be taken away expenses, but a comparison of gross in Rutland and gross for the system is accurate and indicates what we are up against. These are their figures re- ported by the company to the Department of Public Utilities, so they must be accurate.
We believe the problem can be solved, but it will take organization, study, and possibly political pressure. Our com- mittee believes that a real effort should be made to make it possible for Towns to own their electric light plants. There are laws on our statute books whereby Towns can buy existing plants. We feel that these laws as now written are not prac- tical. We have no record of a Town in Massachusetts getting ownership from a Public Utility. The law now gives the whip to the Public Utility and the Commission. Bills have been in- troduced whereby Towns could obtain municipal electric light plants without buying existing plants. These laws failed and with them failed the opportunity of the Towns of Massachu- setts to hold the whip.
Organization must be the major objective, and with this in view your committee finally decided, that greater progress could be made through a larger group of Towns. To this end, the committee authorized its chairman to prepare a paper to be presented at the June meeting of the Selectmen's Association of Worcester County. Much of the material in this report has been taken from papers prepared for that meeting. The re- sult of this action caused a meeting of representatives from Worcester County Towns to be held in Worcester in July, at which a County committee was appointed. This committee has been very active, and are prepared to carry the investigation
p.
r's. ble
128
into every Town of the State if necessary. Its goal is, more favorable laws for Towns to establish municipal plants; to es- tablish municipal rates as a yardstick by which to determine fair public utility rates ; simplification of rates; and standard- ization of rates.
We hope to have a rate committee in every Town of the County and respectfully request the continuation of the pres- ent Rutland committee.
The temper of the people is changing. They are thinking more and more of their utility problems, and it is our belief that an organized and orderly attempt to free the citizens of the County, possibly the State, of unjust rates will eventually be successful. The idea placed in the warrant of Rutland's an- nual Town meeting, brought six Towns together and provided a leadership which not only made every citizen rate conscious, but also caused the utility to view the movement with con- cern.
The committee in Rutland and it's associates of Barre, Oakham, New Braintree, Hubbardston and Petersham are a cross section of the business men in the County Towns. This group or any other group would probably be made up of just such practical business men, the likes of which has built our County. We do not profess to be specialists or engineers, but we do insist that the rates charged are based on principals that don't make good old fashioned horse-sense.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES E. CARROLL, Chairman SIRO J. CEFFE, Secretary CLARENCE E. PRESCOTT FRANK J. BROOKS E. DEXTER MARSH,
Rutland Electric Rate Committee
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF RUTLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
OUNDED FEB. 23,17/3
RUYUS PUTNAM. 1781-1788
1686
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDING December 31, 1937
----
2
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
F. Eugene Marsh, Chairman. Term expires 1939
Margaret A. Griffin, Secretary .Term expires 1940
Lawrence E. Smith Term expires 1938
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS James R. Childs - Holden 12 or 209
SCHOOL NURSE
Evelyn E. Crossley, R.N. - Holden 265 or 178-2
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
William T. Knowlton, M.D., January-June Leroy E. Mayo, M.D., September-December
Holden 89-2
ATTENDANCE OFFICER
Mark L. Reed - Rutland 22
SCHOOL CALENDAR
High School :
Fall Term-16 weeks Sept. 8, 1937 to Dec. 24, 1937 Winter Term-8 weeks Jan. 3, 1938 to Feb. 25, 1938
Spring Term-8 weeks Mar. 7, 1938, to April 29, 1938
Summer Term-7 weeks May 9, 1938 to June 23, 1938
Fall Term-16 weeks Sept. 7, 1938 to Dec. 23, 1938
Elementary Schools : Same as for High School except
Winter Term closes Feb. 18 Summer Term closes June 17
3
HOLIDAYS
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, Labor Day, October 12, November 11, Thanksgiving Day and the day fol- lowing.
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL
1-1-1 Three blasts on the siren at 7.30 A.M. means no v school for the day.
1-1-1 Three blasts at 11 A.M. means no afternoon session.
4
Report of School Committee
December 4, 1937.
To the Citizens of Rutland :
The School Committee wishes to submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1937.
One of the large rooms on the second floor has been divid- ed which gives us a room for each grade. A new heating plant has been installed and gives promise of comfortable and health- ful rooms during the winter. The new plumbing and showers are also much appreciated by the student body.
We are pleased to report an increase in school enrollment particularly in the High School.
We appreciate the cooperation of the Selectmen in our program of repairing and painting the inside of the building. We hope to continue work along this line.
We wish to express our appreciation to our Teaching Staff, Supervisor and Janitor for their continued interest and en- thusiasm.
TRANSPORTATION ROUTES
C. E. Prescott $7.00
C. R. Griffin 9.00
M. H. Wheeler 4.50
A. C. Wheeler 5.00
Niilo Taipole 4.75
5
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF THE SCHOOL DEPART- MENT FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1937
Town Appropriation
Transferred from Reserve Fund
$26,000.00 7.50
$26,007.50
Expenditures :
General Control :
Superintendent
$793.79
Instruction :
Teachers
15,225.59
High School Books
140.41
Grade Books
252.66
Supplies
336.02
Operation of School Plant :
Janitor and Fuel-Center 2,390.65
Janitor-West Rutland
220.50
Fuel-West Rutland
215.62
Janitor Supplies
96.76
Maintenance :
Repairs
414.23
New Equipment
256.22
Auxiliary :
Health
392.05
Transportation
5,172.75
Miscellaneous
100.25
Total $26,007.50
Respectfully submitted
F. EUGENE MARSH, MARGARET A. GRIFFIN, LAWRENCE F. SMITH.
6
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
Holden, Mass., Dec. 31, 1937.
To the School Committee of Rutland :
Again I have the honor of presenting for your considera- tion my report on the condition of our schools, this being the twentieth by the writer and the thirty-eighth in the series since the formation of the Union. It is, I believe, your pur- pose to maintain a program of progressive education without being radical, and to secure for Rutland the best equipment that our appropriation permits. This I feel you have done, and our schools have carried on successfully and with very little interruption because of the alterations and installation of the new heating plant. While the proposed changes have not been completed we are already far better situated than ever before. It will materially increase efficiency and the service it will be possible to render, with adequate heating and ventila- tion, with the new rooms for commercial work and household arts, a well-equipped laboratory, showers and locker rooms, new lavatories, and storage space.
While these improvements most directly relate to the high school, we have also achieved very real progress in the grades. Several rooms have been re-decorated, grades V and VI divided and new heating provided. For Grade V Miss Grace I. Carroll of Rutland was elected and Grade VI moved to the new room provided by partitioning off part of the third grade room. There were no changes in teachers in any other grades or in the high school. At the Union meeting in April it was voted to engage a special teacher of Music and Miss'
7
Janet D. Carey of Springfield was appointed for this work. I would like to see the two grades now at West Rutland brought back to the Center. There would be many advantages for the town financially and for the pupils. I also feel that the wel- fare of the children in Grade II demands that some other ar- rangement be made for seating and lighting. We are most grateful for the many improvements that have been made this year, and only a few additional changes would give us as near- ly ideal conditions as probably would be possible.
We have new arithmetics for Grades III and IV and sev- eral new texts for the High School. There are more type- writers and new seating in the commercial room. When the new kitchen is finished we shall need more equipment for household arts. I think it would be possible to introduce sew- ing and wood-working in the upper grades without much ex- pense. In the high school we need mechanical drawing and printing. We should add each year to our school libraries, reference and supplementary reading in both high school and grades. Some standard tests have been given, for diagnosis and for promotion. No real value results unless we can fol- low testing with careful study of individual needs and reme- dial work.
The report of the School Nurse deserves careful reading. It indicates that the health program is really functioning and has been made very much worth while under her direction. We feel keenly the loss of Dr. Knowlton, School Physician since September, 1932. He loved children and took a genuine interest in his work. Dr. Mayo of the Holden Clinic was ap- pointed to carry on this work. The various clinics have been conducted very well. Through Miss Crossley's efforts and the fine cooperation of the Committees, we expect to have an audiometer for testing hearing, in all the schools of the Union, and modern equipment for testing sight.
We are grateful to the P.T.A. and other local organiza-
8
tions, as well as to many individuals, for their support and cooperation, not only in the health program and the clinics but in 4-H Clubs and in the Scout program. The Rutland-Paxton Teachers' Club held regular meetings during the year and maintained 100% membership in the local and national asso- ciations. The Horace Mann Centennial was observed with special exercises. The high school graduation program cen- tered around his life and service for Education. We thank the Teachers' Club for the framed picture of Horace Mann pre- sented to the school. Thanks are also due Mr. William Santi- maw for his gift of a piano to the West School. Mr. White deserves our thanks for his many extra services.
Paul Adkins and Esther Smith won first prizes in the an- nual animal poster contest. James MacCullum won second prize. Oline Prescott and Ruth Alva received honorable men- tion.
Our enrollment this year reached the new high of 291 pupils, 76 in the high and 215 in the grade schools. The total membership for the school years was 306 with an average membership of 273. Throughout the state and nation there is a decrease in the number of children in the lower grades, or between 5 and 7 years of age. Enrollment is still large in up- per grades and high school. There was a 13% increase in the number of children between 14 and 16 years of age during the ten years 1927-1937. We shall probably have some increase in high school enrollment for a few more years, but very lit- tle if any in the grades.
Some figures may be of interest by way of comparison with other years and with state averages.
Valuation per pupil in Net average 1936 1937
$5,128.00
$5,033.00
membership
Expenditure for schools per $1,000 of valuation $11.21 $11.43
9
Cost per pupil in average membership for :
Teachers
Rutland $53.94
State $70.27
Textbooks
1.07
1.29
Supplies
1.65
2.75
Janitors and Fuel
9.72
11.01
Health
1.34
1.59
Total for Support
$91.18
$99.00
Approximate receipts to be credited to the schools :
General School Fund, Part I
$3,370.00
General School Fund, Part II
4,928.12
Special High School Grant
1,150.00
Supt's Salary
386.67
Tuition State Wards
835.86
$10,670.65
This amount should be deducted from the total appropria- tion to give the approximate net cost for our schools.
In closing I would like to pay tribute to the memory of Mr. Louis M. Hanff whose passing is recorded elsewhere in this Town Report. He held many offices in Rutland covering a long period. It was my privilege to know him especially as a member of the School Committee where he served for many years with fine judgment and understanding.
The support of the Committee and cooperation of parents and teachers is gratefully acknowledged.
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES R. CHILDS.
10
REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith submit my tenth report. In each of these re- ports, the opening paragraph has indicated the increased fall enrollment over previous years and I am surprised to note the number of years that have passed without reporting a smaller enrollment. Our increase this year is only two, making a total of seventy-six students at the present time in high school.
The seating plan of the classes have been changed. Each class now has a room with the class advisor as home room teacher. This arrangement is an improvement, making it possible to develop better class spirit and offering more op- portunities for real teaching on the part of the home room teacher.
The outstanding feature this fall term, of course, has been the installation of the new heating system and the various improvements made in different parts of the building. I hope the voters realize the tremendous difference it has made in the matter of ventilation and the peace of mind relative to heat. The school appreciates its good fortune and the dread of com- ing winters is vanishing. The new heating system opens up possibilities such as the above mentioned seating arrange- ment that could not be thought of before and I do hope that enough money will be raised this coming year to take care of other possibilities that are important to the well being of the school.
Last spring, the Teachers Club sponsored a project for raising money to purchase a picture of Horace Mann. Pupils as well as teachers contributed to this fund and the picture
11
was presented to the school during American Education Week.
No doubt the outstanding class activity for the year was the trip to Washington by the Class of 1937, made possible only through the efforts and help of the townspeople and the class advisor, Miss Eleanor Knox. So far as I know this is the first time such a trip has been attempted by Rutland High School students and there is no question of its high educational value.
Special awards presented during commencement last June were as follows :
Pro Merito pins : Ruth M. Jameson '37
Frank E. Marsh, '37
Mary L. Carroll '38
Salvatore F. Matta '38
Virginia C. Weller '38
Rollin M. Wheeler '38
Washington and Franklin medal for excellence in the study of United States history : Alice M. Wales
Legion medal for character and all-around ability : Frank E. Marsh
Auxiliary medal for character and all-around ability : Betty J. Calkins
I wish to acknowledge with thanks the support of the par- ents, school committee, superintendent and teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
EDMUND D. KELSEY
12
REPORT OF THE HOUSEHOLD ARTS SUPERVISOR
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I herewith present my fourth annual report as Supervisor of Household Arts at Rutland High School.
As the town kitchen was not available for a cooking lab- oratory in September the order of the two units, cooking and sewing, was reversed so that our sewing classes were held the first term.
The clothing classes have been held wherever space per- mitted.
Now that a definite room has been assigned as a labora- tory for cooking and sewing it is imperative that this room be suitably equipped to carry on the work.
The immediate needs of the department constitute the equipment for the foods laboratory so that those classes may be begun as soon as possible. Some of the needs are as follows :
Refinished walls, ceiling and paint floor.
Sink
Washstand
Stove
Refrigerator
Cupboards
Working surface for students
The girls in the sewing class are completing aprons, caps and holders which are to be used in food classes as soon as they begin.
Again may I thank all those who have contributed to my happiness and success in Rutland.
Respectfully submitted,
ELEANOR C. KNOX
13
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools :
Before submitting my annual report may I bring back to memory the words of our loyal friend, the late Dr. Knowlton. "We have a big job to do, let us do our best."
May his unwritten report prove that we tried to do our best, and though his passing has left unfinished a more exten- sive health program, may the memory of his loyalty, co-opera- tion, enthusiasm, and desires help us to carry on his pro- gram for better health standards for our school children.
The following is the report of health activities from Jan- uary 1, 1937 :
The State Department under the direction of Mrs. Helen Hacket gave the 4A audiometer test to 202 pupils, 51 were re-examined and only 5 were found to have defective hearing in one ear. These five have been advised to undergo special ear treatments.
In May the Pre-School clinic was conducted by the school doctor and 19 out of 21 were examined and vaccinated.
Annual Child Health Day was observed also in May and a special program was conducted by the teachers followed by the showing of health films.
In June the Doctor re-examined special tonsil cases. 21 were advised to undergo tonsillectomys. Arrangements were made with Dr. Rice and the Holden District Hospital for a tonsil clinic. Six of the recommended children attended. Sev- en received treatment elsewhere and we are anxious that the
14
others remedy this detrimental tonsil condition before com- plications result.
In September Dr. Hayes, temporary school physician, examined 289 pupils. Only 15 were found to have major de- fects. 39 had defects corrected since last examinations.
In October Dr. Glidden's staff took over the examinations formerly conducted by the Chadwick clinic, 29 requested the Von Pirquet test, a simple test to determine susceptibility to tuberculosis. Seven re-acted and were x-rayed and examined, and 19 follow-up cases were re-examined, giving a total of 26 examinations and x-rays.
Dr. Bessie Scott opened the School Dental clinic in Oc- tober and examined 244 pupils. Only 14 were free from den- tal defects. 127 attended the clinic and had all necessary work completed, 14 had partial work completed and 9 received treat- ment by private dentists.
Classroom inspections were made as often as necessary. Sanitary inspection with the school doctors was made three times during the year and special recommendations submitted in each report on same. With the installation of modern heat- ing and sanitary equipment in the basements, marked improve- ment has been made.
All children have been weighed four times during the year and although several were underweight we have no real cases of malnutrition.
A total of 81 exclusions were made by the teachers on recommendation for pediculosis, pink eye, skin eruptions, sore throat, nausea and general symptoms of communicable dis- cases. We have had no real epidemics since last January when we started with fourteen scattered cases of whooping cough.
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64 home calls were made to interpret to the parents rec- ommendations made by clinic physician and to assist the par- ents in the welfare of the child. I find the parents willing and ready to help us carry out our aim for better health standards.
I am grateful to the people of Rutland who responded to the appeal for outgrown clothing. To the P.T.A. and the Rut- land Red Cross for financial assistance that was so willingly extended to the needy during the year.
I am grateful to the people of Rutland for their purchase of Christmas seals. Through their purchase the Chest Clinics, examinations, x-rays, and tests are made possible for our school children. The expense of the maintenance of the Sterling Health Camp is aided through your purchase of seals, and one little girl derived much benefit by spending eight weeks at health camp.
It is a pleasure to work with the teachers of Rutland. I wish to thank them, as well as the parents, the pupils and all others for their real interest and co-operation in our health pro- gram.
Respectfully submitted,
EVELYN E. CROSSLEY, R. N.
16
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
To the Superintendent of Schools :
This report is necessarily brief because of the short period which I have thus far served as your School Physician.
I feel that whatever else might be contained in it, the re- port would be incomplete without mentioning the name of my predecessor. Dr. William T. Knowlton. He was an experi- enced and kindly physician, respected both by his patients and his colleagues. I know that his loss is keenly felt through- out the district. It is with this thought in mind that I humbly accept the position as School Physician.
In my absence during September the physical examina- tions were done by Dr. Paul T. Hayes, the results of which are incorporated in Miss Crossley's report.
The sanitary inspection of the school buildings was made in October. My impression is that by and large the sanitary condition of the schools is very satisfactory. In each instance the buildings were clean and orderly. A few improvements are desirable in the basements and lavatories, but I am aware that these would have been made long ago had the necessary funds been available.
We have been very fortunate throughout the fall in hav- ing a low incidence of communicable diseases.
Respectfully submitted,
LEROY E. MAYO, M.D.
In Memoriam
DR. WILLIAM T. KNOWLTON School Physician
September, 1932 - June, 1937
ORGANIZATION 1936-1937
School
Teacher
Training
Began Here
High
Edmund D. Kelsey, Prin.
Mass. State
Sept. 1937
Emeline Amidon
Middlebury
Sept. 1929
Eleanor E. Knox
Framingham S. T. C.
Sept. 1934
Margaret F. Sears
Salem S. T. C.
Sept. 1931
Eugene F. Anderton
Springfield
Jan. 1937
Grade
8
Carl Hempel
Fitchburg S. T. C.
Sept. 1933
7
Beatrice M. Thibeau
Machias, N. S.
Sept. 1933
5-6
Merle M. Connelley
Worcester S. T. C.
Sept. 1934
4
Catherine N. Griffin
Fitchburg N. S.
Sept. 1924
3
Effie M. Ward
Westfield N. S.
Sept. 1936
Grace E. Wheeler
Worcester S. T. C.
Sept. 1936
1
Lillian M. Stone
Worcester S. T. C.
April 1929
18
19
ENROLLMENT-FALL TERM 1937
Grade
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Totals
Boys
16 18 17 21 19 10 13 14 6
7 16
6 163
Girls
7 11 6 14 11 15 7 16
9 15 7 10
128
Totals
23 29 23 35 30 25 20 30 15 22 23 16
291
SUMMARY OF REGISTERS-1936-1937
School
Total Mem.
Ave. Mem.
Ave. Atten.
P.C. of Atten.
High 9-12
77
73
70
96
8
17
16
16
97
7
32
30
28
95
5-6
47
43
41
95
4
38
29
27
93
3
36
30
28
92
2
27
24
23
92
1
32
28
26
91
Totals
.306
273
259
94
REGISTRATION OF MINORS October 1, 1937
Number of Children in Rutland
Boys
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