USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of Saugus 1924 > Part 8
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Complaints of cesspools have been more numerous than in previous years, and all have received the personal attention of the Inspector. This problem is fast getting beyond the safety point.
Collection of Ashes and Garbage
Contract awarded to John J. Skahan for $350 per month.
]Improvements
We have in previous years made recommendations as to sewers and many other improvements which seem to demand attention, but we are still struggling along without them.
Schick Test
A Schick Clinic has been held to care for those who were willing to take advantage of its benefits, 227 persons being treated, the cost of same being bourne by the State.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES E. LIGHT, Chairman. TOM. D. EMMETT, Secretary. GEORGE W. GALE, Department Physician. Board of Health of the Town of Saugus.
141
BOARD OF HEALTH REPORT.
1924]
Report of Inspector of Plumbing
To the Board of Health, Saugus, Mass .:
GENTLEMEN,-In accordance with the requirements of Chapter 103 of the Revised Laws of Massachusetts, pertaining to the supervision of plumbing, I hereby submit'my report for the year ending December 31, 1924 :
The number of inspections made during the year, together with other inspections, will be found in the following table :
Total number of inspections
382
Permits issued
·
127
Permits refused
.
9
Complaints of violation of ordinance 4
Complaints of violation or ordinance investigated .
4
Cesspools inspected
I28
Respectfully yours, THOMAS C. SUTHERST, Plumbing Inspector.
SAUGUS, MASS., January 5, 1925.
Report of Cattle and Milk Inspector
SAUGUS, MASS., December 31, 1924.
To the Board of Health:
GENTLEMEN,-I have inspected the following slaughtered animals :
Beeves
2
Hogs
19
In making the annual inspection I examined.
Cattle
705
Hogs
.
.
245
Goats
I
Total
·
95 1
I have issued 102 milk licenses.
Respectfully
142
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
STATISTICS OF THE TOWN OF SAUGUS.
YEARS.
Real Estate.
Personal Property.
Total Valuation.
Balance Excess of Revenue
Tax Rate per $1,000
1924
$9,146,632
$1,065,537
$10,202,169
$67,741 71
$37 75
1923
8,855,675
935,652
9,791,327
82,707 83
38.00
1922
8,050,175
910,400
8,960,575
58,184 36
38 00
1921
7,930,383
917,675
8,848,058
43,432 12
37 00
1920
7,590,627
871,561
8,462,188
46,033 76
35 95
1919
7,309,951
690,444
8,000,395
53,858 81
25 95
1918
7,189,697
623,104
7,812,801
40,768 42
27 95
1917
6,817,568
599,642
7,417,210
30,701 96
26 30
1916
6,640,157
610,952
7,250,809
41,850 19
24 30
1915
6,542,503
579,590
7,122,093
31,161 89
22 30
1914
6,384,099
559,256
6,943,355
26,717 71
25 40
1913
6,157,204
518,605
6,675,809
27,908 07
21 80
1912
5,911,837
530,140
6,441,977
19,841 62
20 70
1911
5,421,681
548,199
5,969,880
25 60
1910
5,138,623
406,121
5,598,744
22 00
1909
4,947,062
355,117
5,302,179
20 00
1908
4,906,548
228,271
5,134,819
22 80
1907
5,428,858
266,558
5,695,416
27 80
1906
4,335,476
263,806
4,599,282
19 80
1905
4,338,464
238,106
4,576,570
18 70
1904
4,132,598
293,027
4,425,625
10 00
1903
3,968,206
492,552
4,460,758
27 70
1902
3,708,210
172,626
3,880,836
18 90
1901
3,619,329
172,226
3,791,555
11 00
1900
3,496,335
182,727
3,679,062
29 80
1899
3,393,994
174,214
3,568,208
10 00
1898
3,349,912
163,378
3,513,290
20 50
1897
8,173,313
177,883
3,350,997
28 00
1896
3,044,200
179,377
3,223,597
12 00
1895
2,768,019
196,589
2,964,608
29 00
1894
2,697,548
263,825
2,961,373
18 40
1893
2,600,651
303,647
2,904,298
18 50
1892
2,463,984
252,128
2,716,112
16 50
I891
2,333,633
276,014
2,609,647
16 80
1890
2,253,875
238,993
2,492,868
18 00
1889
2,162,530
228,331
2,390,861
10 00
1888
2,037,192
234,107
2,271,299
29 00
1887
1,906,061
202,835
2,148,896
13 50
1886
1,373,680
156,555
1,373,680
17 50
1885
1,289,982
184,378
1,474,360
16 80
1884
1,197,402
181,280
1,378,692
18 00
1883
1,200,590
145,780
1,346,370
18 20
1882
1,197,760
142,605
1,342,395
19 00
1881
1,205,210
223,752
1,425,962
17 60
1880
1,210,495
254,960
1,465,095
16 50
1879
1,202,054
260,890
1,462,944
17 00
1878
1,210,725
299,810
1,510,535
18 00
1877
1,326,529
355,460
1,681,980
16 00
1876
1,317,128
381,300
1,691,428
10 00
1875
1,289,433
448,825
1,738,258
29 00
1874
1,254,233
543,000
1,796,233
18 50
1873
1,165,375
541,710
1,707,184
13 50
1872
1,110,125
492,225
1,602,350
12 50
1871
1,048,908
451,937
1,500,845
18 00
1870
1,004,929
457,160
1,462,089
15 00
1869
973,342
469,629
1,442,971
13 33
1868
914,214
369,558
1,310,772
14 50
1867
906,464
385,429
1,291,893
18 00
1866
895,312
453,366
1,348,678
15 00
1865
904,544
444,973
1,349,517
17 00
1864
909,646
397,400
1,307,046
12 50
1863
880,314
324,490
1,204,804
18 33
1862
876,680
270,000
1,146,695
18 00
1861
889,693
286,189
1,175,882
7 86
1860
877,605
301,087
1,179,592
6 80
1
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
Superintendent of Schools
OF THE
Town of Saugus, Mass.
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1924
0
F. SAUG
T
162.9
1815.
LYNN, MASS. FRANK S. WHITTEN, PRINTER
1925
2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
BENJ. Q. BELONGA 316 Lincoln Avenue
FRANCIS M. HILL 52 Lincoln Avenue
MORTIMER H. MELLEN, Chairman 26 Mount Vernon Street Tel. 606-R
MRS. MABEL L. CARTER 14 Clifton Street
FRED E. EWART Columbus Avenue
Term expires 1927 Tel. 478-MK
Term expires 1927 Tel. 47
Term expires 1926
Term expires 1925 Tel. 531-M
Term expires 1925 Tel. 499-M
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
JESSE W. LAMBERT Residence 279 Central Street Office High School Building Tel. 775
Office hours-8.30 to 9 A.M. and 4 to 5 P.M., on every school day excepting Wednesday.
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Fall term (16 weeks), September 2-December 19, 1924. Thanksgiving recess 2 1-2 days beginning Wednesday noon. Winter term (8 weeks), January 5-February 27, 1925. Spring term (8 weeks), March 9-May 1, 1925. Summer term (7 weeks), May 11-June 26, 1925. Graduation, High School, Thursday, June 25, 1925. Fall term (16 weeks), Sept. 1-Dec. 18, 1925. Thanksgiving recess 2 1-2 days beginning Wednesday noon. Winter term begins January 4, 1926.
NO SCHOOL SIGNALS
2-2-2-2 on the fire alarm and the street lights turned on five minutes.
At 6.40 A.M., means no Senior High School Session.
At 8 A.M., means no session for grades.
At 11.40 A.M., means no Junior High School session. At 12.45 P.M., means no afteroon session for grades.
3
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1924]
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
At a meeting of the School Committee held January 5, 1925, it was "Voted to accept the Annual Report of the Superinten- dent as the report of the School Committee required by the statutes.
MORTIMER H. MELLEN, Chairman.
4
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec.[31 .
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and Citizens of Saugus :
Your Superintendent herewith submits his seventh annual report of the condition, progress and needs of the Schools of Saugus, the same being the thirty-second annual school report.
It is but natural for the tax payer to ask what it costs for the tuition of a pupil in our schools and whether or not we are getting an adequate return for the money expended.
To give the per capita cost of educating our children is an easy matter, but whether or not each of them gets full value for the expenditure is a different question, depending as it does upon the pupil and parent as well as upon school officials and teachers. Besides, there is much in education that can be measured only in · terms of efficiency as citizens. The value of this factor cannot be determined, of course, at present, any more accurately than one can visualize the character of an edifice by taking note of the foundation. We must have faith in our schools, hope for improve- ment and charity for those who meet and strive to solve the many and diversified problems of the school room.
As to per-capita cost, there is a difference of opinion, some believing that every item of expenditure, including interest on outstanding bonds, and every other cost that is in any way con- nected with public school education should be included.
The State, however, in arriving at the per-capita cost, con- siders only the currant expense, or the cost exclusive of general control. This per-capita cost for grades I to 8 inclusive for the school year closing July 1, 1924 was $58.64. There are 45 towns in the list of which we are one. Milford is the only one whose per-capita cost is less than ours, the others ranging from $61.41 to $114.60. We have no means of comparison relative to high school costs, but our per-capita cost for 1924 was $102.70.
Again we find a difference of opinion as to amount raised by the town for the support of schools.
5
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1924]
Last March we were given an appropriation of $165,000 as a general fund, and $7,000 as a repair fund, same to include cost of renovations at the Oaklandvale school. The sum of these two appropriations do not, as a matter fact, show the amount raised by taxation. The following figures should make this clear.
Total appropriation general school fund March, 1924, $165,00.00 Received from State Income tax 30,539.80
Raised by taxation (general fund) $134,460.20
Raised by taxation repairs 7,000.00
Total for support of schools raised by direct taxation $141,460.20
The more we receive from the State the less we shall be obliged to raise by taxation, consequently it behooves us all to make conditions favorable for a larger State income. Parents can aid greatly along this line by seeing to it that their children remain as school members in Saugus. The explanation of the above statement is as follows :
A considerable portion of our State reimbursement is determined by the quotient obtained through dividing the town's valuation by the average school membership. The smaller that quotient is the larger the reimbursement, within certain limits. It is possible for a town to receive as much as $350 for each teacher employed for full time. We received last year $150 for each teacher. If our valuation should remain the same and our membership increase, it is evident that the quotient obtained as above might become small enough to bring an increased State return. Let us bear in mind this fact, and also that a decrease in the average membership might easily reduce the amount to which we would be entitled. In more ways than one it pays to keep our children in school.
Another portion of the State fund is determined by the training and experience of our teachers and by the salaries paid. If we can pay our best teachers enough to insure their remaining with us, not only shall we continue to raise our educational standard, but we may confidently look for an increase in the State reimbursement.
Teachers and their Work
Since our last report 14 teachers have left us. Of these, the greater number accepted positions elsewhere at increased salaries.
Although the above figure represents a greater loss than we
6
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
ought to sustain, it is encouraging to note a decided decrease in the number, in fact, we have retained a larger percentage of our teaching force during the past year than in any previous year since the close of the world war.
School room work in general has gone forward in a very satis- factory manner and is improving as the younger teacher becomes more experienced. Few inexperienced teachers can do highly efficient service : It is not to be expected, for, experience is the best teacher even though it be a teacher who is being taught. Oftentimes it is better to retain a teacher who, through inexperi- ence, has made a few mistakes than to replace him or her by another whose efficiency elsewhere is more or less a matter of opinion.
The teacher who has ceased to grow is a greater source of worriment than the one who has just begun:
As to salaries, we are not yet up to standard and we may never be able to reach it, but the retaining of teachers is not always determined by salaries paid. Working conditions often make a vast impression, and these are determined largely by the attitude of school officials and of parents.
Saugus is a good town in which to live and it is made so by hose who maintain a friendly attitude. A word of encourage- ment or of appreciation will often go a long way toward making a teacher, or any one else, want to remain here and measure up to standard.
Attendance
Irregularity of attendance is a fruitful cause of failure and we would urge parents to make every reasonable effort to keep their children in school. There are a few who seem to consider school as a side issue, when in reality it is the one most serious business of persons of school age. The present attendance is fairly good, but absences on the part of certain boys and girls are altogether too frequent. Such pupils have absolutely no right to expect pro- motion. They cannot be educated against their wills. The number of repeaters could be materally reduced if every pupil would report for duty every day. Will you not make a special effort along this line ?
Transportation
This feature of school work is, in itself, a trying problem. We desire to meet every need along this line, but oftentimes it is difficult to decide as to whether a given case is a real need or
7
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1924]
simply a desire. We shall try to keep this item of expense down, for it is of small educational value in itself. When should a pupil be transported ? The law says, when such pupil resides two or more miles from the nearest school. But it is hardly fair to hold strictly to this plan, for street conditions, age of pupils, danger from automobiles and other factors enter into the case. A pupil should be transported when the distance makes him or her so genuinely tired that good school work cannot be done, or when conditions endanger life or health. For the year just closed, this item has cost the town $3,578.25.
The Passing of the Lincoln School
One of the most important forward steps taken during the past year was that of closing the Lincoln building and transferring teachers and pupils to the Emerson school. To do this it was necessary to transfer two grades from the Emerson to the Ballard, thus making use of two of the four rooms made vacant by central- izing the Junior High School.
Six rooms were maintained at the Ballard building until the division of the first grade of the Emerson became necessary when an additional room was opened there.
To some the closing of the Lincoln worked somewhat of a hardship, nevertheless there was general rejoicing over the change. It is hoped that the building may never again be needed for school purposes.
School Grounds
Your superintendent still believes that a certain sum should be set aside each year for improvement of school grounds. No school building is so attractive in itself that proper grading, grass covered lawns well kept shrubbery and artistic approach would not make it at least a 100% more so.
It would be well to start this line of permanent improvement at the High School during the coming summer.
There are no greater assets to a town than good schools, modern buildings and attractive school grounds.
Housing Conditions
As was anticipated, we were forced to introduce the two-platoon system in the High School at the opening of the present school year. This plan should continue no longer than is necessary, for, aside from the inconvenience that it causes in many homes, it can never produce satisfactory results.
3'
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
At the Roby School we are employing an extra teacher to assist in caring for a part of the second grade which numbers 57. For this purpose use is made of a little side room, near the attic. Here we find the lighting and ventilation decidedly inadequate. It is entirely unfit for the purpose for which it is being used, but it is the best that we can do at present. Before another school year begins, provisions must be made for the overflow either by opening another school room at the Oaklandvale or by fitting up the room over the present Manual Training room.
We also had an overcrowded condition at the Emerson School, the first grade numbering 56. We tried out the two platoon system for about two months. We then opened another room in the Ballard building divided the grade and employed an additional teacher for the portion transferred. There is yet another vacant room at the Ballard School. This should be opened for a part of the student body now attending the Mansfield and thus relieve an overcrowded condition at that school.
For the first six grades East Saugus, Lynnhurst, North Saugus and Oaklandvale will have sufficient room for several years, but in other sections of the town this problem can hardly be solved unless a new building is provided soon.
By erecting a building to accommodate Junior High pupils from the Cliftondale section together with a few lower grades our housing problem may be very readily solved.
Special Subjects
As specific reports on these subjects are to be incorporated in this report, a mere reference to them is all that is necessary here. Manual Training, domestic science, penmanship, music and drawing are being carried forward in much the same way as for- merly and excellent work is being done. Physical education has been made more general and now includes supervision of the elementary grades. The work done along this line is very com- mendable.
High School
Principal Webber and his force are striving to uphold the standards of the school in face of many difficulties resulting from the two platoon system. Co-operation in most cases is all that could be desired.
Your attention is respectfully called to Principal Webber's report.
9
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1924]
School Nurse
No single forward step has been taken since your present superintendent has been here that has more fully justified the additional expense, than that of the employment of a school nurse. This fact is the more prominent because of the unusually high grade of work that Mrs. Donovan, our present nurse, has done and is still doing.
Your attention is respectfully called to her report.
Repairs
A departure was made during the year relative to the repair department. Instead of having the minor repair work done piece- meal, so to speak, by whoever might be at liberty to do it when needed, we employed Mr. Lewis Gray to have entire charge of the matter. This scheme seems to have worked out well and, we believe the cost has been less than under the old system.
The following are the large pieces of work done during the past year. The basement ceiling at the Mansfield has been plastered, and a fire escape has been erected on the Cliftondale school building, thus carrying out in part the requirements made by State Inspector MacDonald.
At Oaklandvale a new heating and ventilating system has been installed, water introduced and flush closets and lavatories pro- vided, also electric lights and a proper bell system.
To prevent freezing and consequent damage to the pipes and closets in the basement a tight floor was laid in the large unused upper room directly over the furnace. This will prevent escape of heat and, besides solving this particular problem, may become a permanent part of the plan for furnishing an additional class room.
One boiler in the Roby School basement was found to be in bad condition. To guard against future danger, steps were taken to have it retubed. Although the cost was somewhat large it was one of those emergencies that has to be met.
Lavatories and closets, especially on the class-room floors of the building had been in poor condition for some time and so we replaced them, thus making a permanent improvement. Electric lights were installed where necessary, in the book closets, etc., and the antiquated lights in the manual training building were replaced by such as would be of proper assistance to those work- ing at the benches.
There is much yet to be done. State Inspector MacDonald
.
[Dec. 31 ,
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
asked that certain lines of work be carried out and, there are several rather expensive pieces yet remaining to be done, among which are the following: The basement ceilings at the Roby, Cliftondale and Manual Training buildings are to be covered with metal laths and hard plaster. Fire resisting partitions between main basement and boiler room at the Roby are also ordered.
At the Ballard, fire resisting doors at basement stairs and to the fresh air chambers are urged.
About the same is requested at the Felton together with smoke and fire-resisting doors at each end of the first-floor corridor.
To carry out the above demands of the State Inspector, at least $2,000 will be needed.
Among other needs we list the following : New floors through- out the Mansfield building, a complete overhauling of the plumb- ing at the Roby building, and the enlargement of boiler and radiating surface at the Lynnhurst building.
The Emerson building must be shingled and the Manual Train- ing building should be painted. The Ballard School building may need an entirely new roof, in part at least.
An expert furnace man should be employed to make a complete survey of the heating arrangement in the Cliftondale the Felton and the Emerson schools. We would more than save the expense through reduced coal bills, besides equalizing the heat and mak- ing conditions more healthful and comfortable. At the Clifton- dale school, particularly, some radical change seems necessary before proper heating can be secured.
The above are some of the more extensive needs. In addition to these, the interior of all school buildings should be painted. In some cases the plastering ought to be removed, as it is in too bad a condition to justify painting. Other floors besides the Mansfield should be replaced, if possible, dados repaired and painted and ceilings whitened.
At the High School the walls for a space of several feet near the floor present a battered appearance. A considerable sum of money should be expended at our earliest convenience to make the interior of our school buildings as good as the exterior. A liberal appropriation for repairs should be made.
Recommendation
Of the six recommendations made last year but one has been realized. The program for physical education has been extended until it covers the entire school system.
II
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
1924]
Other recommendations are of as much value as any, and we repeat them with the hope that some of them may be looked upon with favor.
Ist : Extension of school grounds.
2nd : Preparation of a playground back of the High School, the restoration of the lawn in front and the building of proper approaches.
3rd : Closer attention to school grounds throughout the town.
4th : Continued support of a definite building program.
5th : Super-maximum salaries for teachers who take profes- sional courses.
In General
The past year has shown steady progress along all lines of school work. Aside from the two-platoon system at the high school no very marked change has been made in school adminis, tration. Teachers, pupils and parents have worked in harmony- generally speaking, and with very satisfactory results. Among the subjects given special attention are silent reading, supervised study, socialized recitation and the project method. These are all good if well handled, and a proper balance maintained.
In closing, your Superintendent would express his appreciation to School Committee, teachers and parents who by cheerful co- operation have given him encouragement and support during the year just closed.
Respectfully submitted,
JESSE W. LAMBERT, Supt. of Schools.
SAUGUS, Jan. 10, 1925.
Report of School Physician
Mr. Jesse W. Lambert, Superintendent Saugus Schools :
DEAR SIR,-I respectfully submit the following annual report :
I have visited all the schools assigned to me in this district, the Ballard, Emerson, Mansfield and Lynnhurst. I have carefully examined all the pupils attending these schools, have also examined all the pupils sent to me at my office by the teachers for inspection and advice.
The Schick test was used on those who had not received it last year by injection of diphtheria toxin-anti-toxin mixture, under supervision of State Board of Health.
.
I2
TOWN DOCUMENTS.
[Dec. 31
Examination reveals the following diseases :
Impetigo
7 1
Conjunctivitis
9
Scabies
.
3 Adenoids
6
Chicken pox.
7 Enlarged cernical glands 17
Mumps
16 Heart disease ·
2
Diphtheria
6 Nasal catarrh ·
7
Pediculosis . .
17
Tonsilitis
. 7
Whooping cough . . I2
Enlarged tonsils
·
8
There are 28 who wear glasses. I find a large number of children suffering from decayed teeth in the lower grades. I also find 3 cases of blindness in one eye, result of accidental injury.
There are also four cases of permanent lameness, resulting from infantile paralysis.
Very respectfully,
GEORGE W. GALE, M.D.
EAST SAUGUS, MASS., January 7, 1925.
Mr. J. W. Lambert, Superintendent of Schools :
Herein I submit my annual report as school physician. I have carefully examined all pupils at North Saugus, Oaklandvale, the Roby school, and the Junior High school. Sanitary conditions are fairly satisfactory at all buildings. I found the following . cases of communicable diseases :
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