USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1923 > Part 8
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83
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
In our last annual report we had a vision of a new high school, more conveniently located, with an up to date equipment, and with sufficient accommodations for the growing conditions of at least the next ten years. That vision has not faded from our minds; in point of fact, it has become more distinct, but a more immediate and pressing need absolutely vital to the well being of our school effi- ciency has arisen, which compels us, while still cherishing the vision of a new high school, to give that vision second place.
The town acquired by the right of eminent domain, the old Metho- dist Church property and the Chick lot in the rear. We are deeply grateful to the town for the action that it took in this matter. Our first thought was to use the property for increased play space for the Hadley School. But the present crowded condition of that school makes it imperative that we should relieve at once the Hadley School of the elementary department and house them in a new build- ing on the acquired property, a building not only large enough to take care of the elementary grades, but with room for the Domestic Science and Arts Department of the junior high school, and for the administrative offices of the whole system. We recommend there- fore that the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee be ap- pointed as a joint committee on this project, and that they be in- structed by the town to start work immediately.
The time has arrived for expanding the scope of work offered by our high school. Two general courses only are available there now, the college preparatory and the commercial. We ought to offer every possible inducement to hold our young people in school through the high school years. As a committee we do not urge much expense along this line until the question of a new high school has been de- cided once and for all, but until that day comes, a comparatively small expense is surely justifiable, to develop the natural bent of the young people along the lines that they have started in the junior high.
Many teachers in the system are striving to keep abreast of the educational wave by outside courses and studies. We commend earnestly their efforts, for we know that it all tends to increase their teaching efficiency. We have felt that most, if not all, of the work that has been so admirably done through the agency of Community Service should properly come within the range of the school depart- ment. Happily there has been the greatest possible harmony and cooperation between both of these departments. We plan through the summer months this year to do the work that Community Ser- vice has been doing, and through the physical training department of the school system supervise play ground and beach activities. The Community Service superviser is now an employee of the school department, and under his direction this work will have a reflex action on the average boy and girl in the schools. We are asking in our budget for funds to carry on this work.
About ten years ago some enthusiastic high school alumni started a small fund in the hope that some day by means of the income from it, worthy and deserving members of the senior class might
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
be helped in the furtherance of their education. Gifts from the Swampscott Women's Club and through efforts of the alumni and the students made it possible to award for the first time at the high school graduating exercises one hundred dollars to a member of the graduating class for further educational work. We heartily com- mend this fund to the alumni of the school and to all the citizens. We wish that the alumni of the high school would remember this fund and make a yearly contribution to it, and that public spirited citizens of the town would bear it in mind and help it along. We hope the day is not far distant when not only one, but several of the members of the graduating class who fulfill the conditions of it, can be helped by it.
We record again our appreciation of the work that is being done by the Parent-Teachers' Association. Good programmes, interest- ing speakers on vital educational subjects, all tend to a deepening of interest in the work that the schools are doing, and the personal touch of parent and teacher at the meetings is worth much.
We appreciate the interest manifested by the parents in the National Educational week. Approximately one thousand parents and friends visited the schools on the night that they were thrown open, and it did us all good, committee, superintendent, principals, teachers, parents and children.
Perhaps the most radical suggestion contained in the report of the superintendent concerns the lengthening of the school day. We ask you all to read that section of his report with great care. We believe that he has given long and serious thought to it, and that the conclusion that he has reached is unanswerable. We could am- plify what he has said, we could emphasize the points that he has made; let us leave the matter here as far as this report is concerned, the longer day by one hour bceomes the policy of this department, beginning with the fall term, and we believe that in its adoption we are acting for the greatest good of the greatest number. This affects, of course, as you will see by the report, only the junior and senior high schools.
We come now to that which as we as a committee consider the most vital part of our report to you. During that past year we experienced an unusual turnover in the teaching staff. The fundamental cause of this condition was more attractive salaries elsewhere. Now such a turnover works harm to a school system, however good it may be. Our constant aim, therefore, must ever be to secure a teaching staff that is a credit to the system, and having secured it to hold it as far as possible intact. Of course marriage, or better positions, or retirement to private life will cause a vacancy now and then. We cannot expect to hold all exceptionally talented teachers, but good teachers should not be allowed to drop out and go elsewhere for the sake of one hundred dollars or two. We are not unmindful of the splendid liberality that the town has shown in the past toward the teachers' salary question. We are conscious of the fact, also, that the general tendency of the day is not to increase salaries. We are paying now what might be considered an average wage to the
85
SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
teachers of the system in towns of the Commonwealth that have a similar rating with ours from an educational point of view. But the experience of the past year has shown, as the experience of this year may show again, that holding to the average wage does not stop the leakage. Our policy, therefore, will be to increase the maximum salary of the high school teachers, beginning September, 1924, and to follow this in subsequent years with increased maxima salaries for the other branches of the department.
The budget for the year asks for approximately $144,000, an increase of $8,000, or 6% over that given to us last year. Our con- tinued aim will be to run the department with efficiency and with the greatest economy possible.
We desire to express our deep appreciation to all the teaching staff for their earnest and untiring efforts for the good and well being of the school, to parents and friends for their kindly and sympathetic interest, and we pledge our best to maintain our schools to the high level that they now hold. We want and we welcome at all times your criticism, not mere lip criticism, the whole system gets enough of that now; it is easy to give but does not get anywhere. Give us constructive criticism that will show us the better way of doing things and the better way of getting results, the kind of criti- cism that ennobles and inspires and urges forward to a greater con- ception of privilege and duty.
REV. EDWARD TILLOTSON, Chairman. MRS. MABEL A. HARDY DR. JOHN VANNEVAR.
86
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF CLERK OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
To the Members of the School Committee:
Following is a classified statement of the expenditures of the School Committe for the year ending December 31, 1923.
General
High Elementary
GENERAL EXPENSES
School Committee
$ 723 75
Superintendent
6,006 50
EXPENSES OF INSTRUCTION
Supervisors
10,550 00
Principals
$ 3,049 98
$7,644 32
Teachers
19,443 40
53,437 08
Text Books
1,036 75
1,860 43
Supplies
1,200 65
3,467 40
EXPENSES OF OPERATION
Janitors
2,100 00
5,487 62
Fuel
1,428 95
6,362 83
Miscellaneous
901 98
2,147 72
EXPENSES OF MAINTENANCE
Repairs, etc.
1,938 89
2,539 10
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Libraries
29 13
100 46
Health
50 00
200 00
Transportation
770 00
Tuition
43 68
321 99
Miscellaneous
373 73
200 47
EXPENSES OF OUTLAY
New Equipment
1,627 93
Totals
$19,908 18 $31,589 14 $84,539 42
Total Appropriation
$135,463 00
Total Expenditures
135,036 74
Balance on January 1
$426 26
Americanization Appropriation Salaries
$580 00
Fuel, Books and Supplies
260 20
840 20
Balance on January 1
$59 80
Respectfully submitted,
$900 00
ARTHUR W. STUBBS, Clerk of the Committee.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott:
MRS. HARDY AND GENTLEMEN :- I herewith submit my fourth annual report as superintendent of the Swampscott public schools.
Following the procedure established last year the report will take the following form: first, a brief survey of such incidents of the past school year as seem of pertinence; second, recommendations for next year and the near future; and third, such statistical data as may prove of interest to you and the citizens of the town.
During the year 1923 the following teachers left the employment of the Swampscott School Department: Miss Nellie L. Hadley, Miss Louise Hannon, Miss Martha Hannon, Miss Mary Ireland, Miss Dorothy Smyth, Miss Grace Stevens, Miss Miriam Schaefer, Miss Frances Connolly, Miss Alice I. Quinn, Miss Dorothy B. Cormack, Miss Gladys Mitchell and Clifford Crowther. Miss Hadley and Miss Quinn left to be married and Miss Cormack resigned to enter another line of work, but with those exceptions we lost teachers because of more attractive salaries offered in other places. In addition to that several of our staff received offers to go elsewhere, but remained be- cause of personal reasons or because some salary adjustments were possible in their particular cases. The positions made vacant by resignations enumerated above have been filled more or less satis- factorily. At this writing it is impossible to state accurately the results of so great a turnover. Two of the replacements, however, merit at this time an additional word of explanation. To the vacancy of the principalship of the Machon School, occasioned by the res- ignation of Miss Alice I. Quinn, the committee appointed Miss Mary I. Perkins, a graduate of the Salem Normal School, with a valuable experience in the schools of Lynn and New Jersey and a rich training in modern education in Teachers' College, Columbia and Harvard. To the position made vacant by Clifford Crowther, Charles Cuddy was appointed. Mr. Cuddy needs no introduction to the citizens of Swampscott. His work with the boys on the athletic field has long been appreciated and he entered upon his duties this fall with zest and efficiency. In addition to his duties as Physical Director of the High School Mr. Cuddy was also assigned to a num- ber of class room periods, thus maintaining the policy of the de- partment to keep in this position a teacher-coach. In addition to the changes enumerated above we have added to our staff an addi- tional teacher in the high school, one in the junior high school, and appointed Miss Jean Allan assistant principal of the Hadley School. where the crowded conditions and importance of the work carried on called for supplementary administrative attention.
88
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
School Banking.
As was stated in the last annual report, there was reintroduced into the Swampscott schools the past year a system of school bank- ing. The table below shows the amount deposited in the various schools during. the year and the number of accounts opened in the Commonwealth Savings Bank up to December 6th, 1923.
School
Amount deposited in 1923
Total number of accounts opened since Jan., 1923
Total number of accounts closed since Jan., 1923
High
$361.24
Hadley
707.80
Clarke
492.51
Machon
345.77
Palmer
411.81
Total
$2,319.13
149
13
Our system of saving is by means of automatic stamp vending machines, which relieve the schools of the responsibility of book- keeping and are simple and secure. If there is an objection to them it is that the personal element is lacking in their use, and possibly the results above show that this is one to be considered. Surely it should be possible for a school system of our size and of our nature to have a larger deposit than we had the last year. We trust that the parents of all of our school children will encourage the habits of thrift which we hope to engender in the pupils by means of our school savings. In the schools absolutely no pressure is brought to bear upon the children in this respect, each is allowed to deposit as much or as little as he pleases, the emphasis of the school being placed entirely on the benefits to be derived from the thrift habit.
Americanization.
The work begun in Americanization last year has been continued and developed this year, and we are maintaining at the present time two evening classes for men at the Machon School and two eve- ning classes for men and an afternoon class for women at the Palmer Portable, which has been moved to Phillips Park. and is used by the School Department for its present pur- pose through the courtesy of Swampscott Community Ser- vice. Our present total enrolment in the two schools, men and women, is aproximately sixty. This important branch of our educa- tional effort merits the whole hearted cooperation of the town. From the financial standpoint it is not exceedingly expensive, as one half of the cost for tuition and supervision is refunded to the town by the state, but to bring these classes to the point where they will contribute most to the town it is desirable that the citzens of the town take an interest in them and encourage our foreign born neighbors, particularly those who have not secured their citizenship papers, to attend these classes. It is a difficult task for men who have worked all day long to bring themselves to the point where they are willing to spend two hours in the evening in the pursuit of knowl- edge, the value of which is not immediately apparent to them, and.
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SCHOOL 'COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
a word of encouragement of commendation from their native born friends often goes far towards strengthening their purpose.
National Education Week.
Swampscott observed this year for the second time National Edu- cation Week, in accordance with a proclamation issued by the Pres- ident of the Nation and the Governor of the Commonwealth. Dur- ing this week an especial effort was made to have parents visit the schools, to become acquainted with principals and teachers and see the condition under which their children are working. We were gratified with the response which the parents gave to our invita- tions to be present that week, as nearly a thousand parents registered at the different schools in that period. Greatest interest, perhaps, was evinced in the open house held in all of the buildings on the evening of November 21st, when nearly eight hun- dred parents and friends visited the various buildings during the two hours which they were open. It seems desirable once again to emphasize the fact that a tremendous amount of good is accom- plished in bringing together parents and teachers, and while we cannot observe National Education Week every week in the year, we should like to impress upon the parents the fact that they are most welcome whenever they can so arrange their domestic affairs as to spend a short time in the schools.
Growth of the Schools.
Year ending June 30
Total number enrolled
1919
1382
1920
1471
1921
1527
1922
1570
1923
1626
The above brief table shows the increase of the total number of pupils enrolled in the Swampscott schools during the past five years. These figures do not include the pupils enrolled in the Parochial school or the North Shore Country Day school. The present enrolment in these schools are as follows:
St. John School
North Shore Country Day
Grade I
41
Sub-primary
10
II
35
Grade I
15
III
30
II
2
IV
31
III
8
V
24
IV
5
V
4
ยท
VI
2
VII
0
VIII
4
IX
4
X
2
Total
161
Total
56
From the above figures it is clear that Swampscott is enjoying, in common with other progressive greater Boston communities, a healthy growth as regards the number of children within the town limits.
Professional Improvement and Study.
Much emphasis has been placed the past few years upon the value and importance to school people of professional study as a means of
90
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
increasing class room efficiency, and it is a pleasure to acknowledge at this time the work which our Swampscott teachers have done in this direction. There is added below a list of our teachers, who dur- ing the past year have taken courses, professional or cultural. Many whose names do not appear here have taken such courses two or three years ago. This information is given not merely as acknowl- edgement to the teachers, but to show the citizens of the town that those who have their children in charge are keeping constantly in touch with what is modern in educational thought and practice.
Name
Subject Studied Institution
HIGH SCHOOL
Lucille E. Burleigh American Literature University Extension
Margaret L. Thompson English Literature University Extension
Mildred C. Fraser
Am. Literature and University Extension Am. Drama
Susie C. Langford
Am. History and Eng. Harvard University Lit.
Rena Jenne. English Literature and University Extension Mathematics Columbia Sum. School
A. L. Rideout
Maebelle Adams
English Literature University Extension
Summer Normal Course Gregg Summer School
Accounting Bentley School
Physical Training Harvard Sum. School
HADLEY SCHOOL
Alice L. Shaw
Supervision of Instruc- Boston University tion
Jean G. Allan
Mabel L. Colby
Supervision of Instruc- Boston University tion Dr. Hoosic's Course- Columbia, Univ. Ex- Elem. Education tension
Grace E. Fuller
Dr. Hoosic's Course- Elem. Education Adv. Composition and Boston University Newspaper Writing
Dr. Wright's Course Univ. Extension
Bertha Viele
Accounting, Shorthand Simmons Sum. School Methods Dr. Wright's Course Univ. Extension
Marion Drew Madeline MacDonald Alice Durgin
Dr. Wright's Course Univ. Extension
Junior High Math., Boston University Spanish English Literature University Extension English Literature and University Extension Mr. Whitney's Art Salem Normal Course Adv. French Composi- Boston University tion
Marion Burlingame
English Literature University Extension
Yvette LaPointe
French Composition, Middlebury - Summer Methods of Teaching School
French, and French Civilization Immigration, Citizen- Boston University ship and American- ization
Irving H. Winslow
Project Method Boston University
Edna Bennett
Anna Remmert
Flora Boynton
Dorothy Slater
Marion A. Stevens
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
CLARKE SCHOOL
Melvina G. Pearson S. Lucretia Collins
E. Jane Owen Sarah Bucknam
Ruth K. James
Katherine Wilson
Anna F. Willey
Edith A. Farnum
English Literature
University Extension
English Literature
University Extension
English Literature University Extension
English Literature University
Extension
Music Appreciation University Extension
Dr. Long (Eng. Lit.) Harvard
Eng. Literature (Dr. Harvard Long)
English Literature and University Extension Old and New Testa- Lynn S. of Relig. Ed. ment Eng. Literature and University Extension Old and New Testa- Lynn S. of Relig. Ed. ment
MACHON SCHOOL
M. Elizabeth Williams Sheridan's Eng. - Pro- University Extension ject Method
Appreciation of Music Univ. Extension and Primary Reading
Grace E. Howard
Teaching Elem. Sub- Univ. Extension (Col- jects, Dr. Hoosic umbia)
Industrial Arts and Hyannis Sum. School Primary Project
Elsie Oakes
Mental Testing and University Extension Appreciation of Art Projects
Bessie B. Chapman
Dressmaking Woman's Industrial
Mabel S. Knight
Dr. Hoosic - Teaching Columbia Univ. Exten- Elem. Subjects sion
English Literature Harvard Univ. Exten- sion
Marian H. Fogg
Teaching Eng. Grades Boston University I-VI
PALMER SCHOOL
Jessie C. Martin
English Literature University Extension
Recommendations.
School Buildings
Before considering the needs of our department for additional housing it seems well to present a brief survey of the present school building condition in Swampscott, with a short outline of our school organization and policy. The following table shows part of this information in brief form:
School
Year Built
Number of Class Rooms
Present Enrol.
High
1894
14
247
Hadley
1912
16
641
Clarke
1906
8
279
Machon
1920
9
198
Palmer
1908
4
126
Of these buildings the Palmer, Machon and Clarke are distinctly elementary schools, embracing grades one to six, inclusive. The Had- ley School houses the elementary children of the immediate vicinity and all of the junior high school pupils, those of grades seven, eight
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
and nine of the entire town, while the high school has grades ten, eleven and twelve. We are thus following the scheme of education known as the six-three-three plan; six elementary school classes, three junior high school classes, and three senior high school classes. We believe that this is the best form of organization for our town and purpose developing our units along these lines in the future.
Reference to the table above shows that we have no immediate con- cern as far as three of our schools, the Palmer, Machon and the Clarke, are concerned. They are supplying the needs of their district and will continue to do so for a few years at least. With the other two schools the situation is different and demands immediate atten- tion. Let them be considered separately.
First, as concerns the Hadley School. There were enrolled in this building for the month of December, 1923, six hundred forty-one pupils, four hundred eighteen in the junior high school and two hundred twenty-three in the elementary department. These elementary pupils naturally require six rooms, a grade to a room, leaving to the four hundred eighteen pupils of the junior high school ten class rooms. When one considers that the junior high school faculty consists of seventeen teachers in addition to the principal it becomes apparent that there is great difficulty in assigning them and their classes to any available room. In fact, we are using the teachers' room, the library, and the auditorium every period in the day for recitation purposes. Add to the above the fact that we have but one small room for administrative purposes, no room at all for our supervisors, but one room in the entire school system for domestic science and art and two rooms for manual training and it becomes clear to all that relief must be given here as soon as possible. We face an increased enrolment in the fall of 1924 in this building which will further aggravate the problem, and beyond that year we cannot hope to go without additional class rooms.
To relieve this situation the following plan seems most expedient. The town has taken by eminent domain the property adjacent to the Hadley School formerly owned by the Methodist Church and Mr. Chick. The original plans of this department called for the use of this property as supplementary play ground space for the pupils of the Hadley School, but these plans have been modified by the exigen- cies of present conditions.
I recommend, therefore, that there be erected on this property, as soon as possible, an eight or nine room school unit connected to the Hadley School in some way, where can be housed the administrative offices, the six elementary rooms and the domestic' science and art department. This will permit the junior high school to develop along natural lines, uncramped for room, with library facilities restored, recitations in the auditorium ended; it will give us additional lunch room space in the basement of the present building at the same time that it affords the domestic science and art department the addition of one room to their meagre quarters. It seems safe to predict, con- sidering the rapid growth of the town, that before the Hadley School becomes unfit for use need will be felt for additional class room
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE'S REPORT
1923]
space for junior high school purposes, at which time this addition may be so used and another elementary school erected elsewhere. This is recommended as an absolute necessity for the proper progress and development of our schools, and the town is asked to take imme- diate action on the proposition that funds may be appropriated at the annual town meeting and work started on the project this spring.
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