USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1926 > Part 12
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$448,796 00
Series October 1, 1914, Acts of 1913
22,700 00
14,700 00
134
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Sewer Bonds and Notes Due in 1927
Series A, Acts of 1902
$3,000 00
Series B, Acts of 1902
100 00
Series C, Acts of 1902
1,000 00
Series D, Acts of 1902
500 00
Series May 1, 1912, Acts of 1903
250 00
Series July 1, 1913, Acts of 1913
500 00 ·
Series October 1, 1914, Acts of 1913
1,000 00
Series May 1, 1915, Acts of 1913
1,000 00
Series 1916, Acts of 1913
2,000 00
Series 1917, Acts of 1913
500 00
Series 1920, Acts of 1920
1,000 00
Series 1921, Acts of 1920
2,000 00
Series 1922, Acts of 1920
1,000 00
Series 1923, Acts of 1920
1,000 00
Series 1924, Acts of 1920
1,000 00
$15,850 00
Temporary Loan Notes Issued in Anticipation of Revenue
No.
Date
Payable at
Amount
Rate
When Payable
357
Dec.
10, 1926
1st. Nat'l Bank, Boston
$25,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
358
Dec.
10, 1926
25,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
359
Dec.
10, 1926
10,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
360
Dec. 10, 1926
10,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
361
Dec.
10, 1926
10,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
362
Dec.
10, 1926
10,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
363
Dec.
10, 1926
5,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
364
Dec.
10, 1926
5,000.00
3.72
Nov.
10, 1927
$100,000.00
Town Debt December 31, 1926
General Debt Bonds and Notes
Inside Debt Limit Issues
$338,000 00
Outside Debt Limit Issues
59,000 00
Water Loan Bonds and Notes
252,500 00
Sewer Loan Bonds and Notes
194,250 00
$843,750 00
Less Water Sinking Fund
143,964 16
$699,785 84
66
66
135
REPORT OF TREASURER
1926]
General Debt Statement Indicating the Borrowing Capacity as of December 31, 1926
Total Bonded Debt
$843,750 00
Less: Outside Debt Limit Issues
Water Debt
$252,500 00 194,250 00
Sewer Debt
General Debt
59,000 00
$505,750 00
Net Debt
$338,000 00
Val. 1924, less abatements, $18,523,805 00
Bal. 1925, less abatements, 19,418,898 00
Val. 1926, less abatements, 19,489,730 00
Gross three years' valuation
$57,432,433 00
Average valuation
$19,144,144 00
Three per cent of average valuation
$574,324 00
Less:
Net Debt
$338,000 00
Borrowing capacity
$236,324 00
1
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES W. LIBBY, Town Treasurer.
136
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Trust Funds
Joanna Morse Library Fund.
Balance, January 1, 1926
Principal
$5,196 00
Income accrued
1,617 04
Dividends
$6,813 04 304 48
Total
$7,117 52
Less withdrawals
1,921 52
Balance, December 31, 1926
$5,196 00
Ellen R. Whittle Library Fund.
Principal, January 1, 1926
$2,000 00
Income accrued
21 97
$2,021 97
Dividends
102 33
Total
$2,124 30
Less withdrawals
124 30
Balance, December 31, 1926
$2,000 00
Mary L. Thomson Library Fund.
Balance, January 1, 1926
Principal
$1,000 00 128 59
·
Income accrued
$1,128 59
Dividends
57 10
Total
$1,185 69
Less withdrawals
185 69
Balance, December 31, 1926
$1,000 00
1926]
Fund for Perpetual Care of Cemetery Lots.
Balance, January 1, 1926
Deposits
$8,017 32 3,075 00
Dividends
$11,092 32 404 48
Less withdrawals for care of lots
375 00
Balance, December 31, 1926
$11,121 80
Municipal Insurance Fund.
Balance, January 1, 1926
Principal
$3,500 00
From General Funds
402 00
Income accrued
1,372 19
Dividends
233 68
$1,605 87
Balance, December 31, 1926
$5,507 87
Phillips School Medal Fund.
Balance, January 1, 1926
Principal
$1,000 00
Income accrued
1,109 03
$2,109 03
Dividends
106 73
Less, withdrawals for medals
0 00
Balance, December 31, 1926
$2,215 76
High School Alumni Fund (see note.)
Balance, January 1, 1926
Principal
$2,279 56
Additions to Principal
Received from Swampscott Woman's Club $181 65
Received from Swampscott Teachers' Association 58 00
$239 65
Total Principal $2,519 21
Amount carried forward
$2,519 21
REPORT OF TREASURER
137
$11,496 80
$3,902 00
$2,215 76
138
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
$2,519 21
Amount brought forward Income accrued Dividends during 1926
$711 24 143 13
$854 37
Less
Withdrawal, payment made on account of Scholarship awarded by Executive Committee of High School Alumni Association 100 00
$754 37
Balance, December 31, 1926
$3,273 58.
Note .- This is not a town of Swampscott trust fund as defined by Chapter 282 of the General Acts of 1915, but is held by the Town Treasurer as Trustee for the Swampscott High School Alumni. It is included in this report in order that the members of the High School Alumni may be kept informed of its existence.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES W. LIBBY.
Treasurer of Trust Funds and Custodian of all funds and securities, as provided for by Chapter 282 of the General Acts of 1915.
Swampscott, December 31, 1926.
139
REPORT OF THE TRUST FUNDS
1926]
School Committee --- 1926
John Vannevar, Chairman Telephone Br. 6111-M
53 Farragut road
Mrs. Mabel A. Hardy, Secretary Telephone Br. 4041
28 Orchard road
George E. Mitchell Telephone Br. 6962-W
64 Magnolia road
Regular meeting, second Tuesday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools
Harold F. Dow 62 Thomas road, Telephone Br. 9600
Office of superintendent of schools, Hadley School, Telephone Br. 2067.
The superintendent's office is open on school days from 8 A.M. to 4.30 P.M .; Saturdays from 9 A.M. to 12 M.
The superintendent's office hours on school days are from 8.30 to 9 A.M. Other times by appointment.
School Calandar-1927
Winter term begins
Winter term closes
Spring term begins
Spring term closes Friday, April 15
Summer term begins Summer term closes
Monday, April 25
Wednesday, June 22
High School Graduation Thursday, June 23
Fall term begins
Wednesday, September 7
Fall term closes
Monday, January 3
Friday, February 18 Monday, February 28
Friday, December 23
Hours of Session
Junior and Senior high schools, 8.30 A.M. to 2 P.M. Grades V and VI, 8.30 A.M. to 1.30 P.M. Grades III and IV, 8.30 A.M. to. 1 P.M. Grades I and II, 9 A.M. to 1 P.M.
140
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
No School Signal
Two double strokes on the fire alarm, 2-2. Street lights turned on for five minutes.
7.20 A.M. No school in the junior or senior high schools.
7.50 A.M. No session in grades I to VI inclusive.
IMPORTANT: If the signal is not given at 7.20, but is given at 7.50, sessions of school will be held in the junior and senior high schools and no school in grades I to VI inclusive.
141
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
Your School Committee submit the following report:
The subject of public school education in the town of Swampscott. is a big one. There are many sides to every question; there are many who feel liberal to the schools and there are those who feel the oppo- site. There are those who believe we should offer Swampscott boys and girls the best of educational opportunities and those who think. that education is overdone.
During the past year many problems have come to your committee .. To each of these we have given the best of our thought and experience and have tried to settle each of them on the basis of what was the best for the schools, as well as for the tax payers.
During the year we have been able to strengthen materially the faculty of the high school. Just as the year is closing we are bringing a new principal to the school. His election was made after careful survey and investigation and was based on our opinion that we should secure the services of the best man available.
These "strengthening" factors have all increased our budget. We plan to continue to strengthen our faculty when we can.
Plans are in operation for the more marked development of our "College Preparatory Course." We want Swampscott boys and girls to be as fully prepared for college when they leave our school as those from any high school in the State. . As far as the faculty is concerned progress has been made this year.
As to housing, it is generally conceded that the present high school building does not meet the needs of modern education, either in size to permit a full program, or in its physical condition. Certainly no one can visit the school and come away feeling that it is a place where one can become inspired to achievement. The immediate future must see the town doing something in a big way for the high school. This we are not recommending this year, but are only budgeting $4,000 to. make what repairs are absolutely imperative.
The junior high school is now housed solely in the original Hadley school. Quarters are adequate for present enrollment and some growth. We believe this school stands well with other junior high. schools in the work it is doing.
142
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Tre elementary division of the Hadley district is now housed in the new Hadley annex. The building is filled to capacity with the present enrollment. This certainly justifies its erection.
The Clarke and Machon schools continue to serve their districts well and are in good physical condition.
The condition at the Palmer school of teaching two grades in one room as brought out last year continues to exist. This is certainly not giving the youth of that district the opportunity for an education that they should have. We hope that the day is not far distant when the citizens of that district and the voters can agree on the proper plan for overcoming this problem.
The committee express their deep appreciation for the co-operation they have received from all the members of our school department.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN VANNEVAR, Chairman, MABEL A. HARDY, GEORGE E. MITCHELL.
143
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
REPORT OF CLERK OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Members of the School Committee:
Following is a classified statement of the expenditures of the School Committee for the year ending December 31, 1926.
Statement January 1, 1927
Expended
Estimated
for year
Superintendent
$256 10
for year $350 00
Pay Roll
123,339 11
124,926 00
Text Books-Supplies
7,973 41
8,422 00
Fuel
4,354 09
4,695 00
Miscellaneous Operating
3,234 74
3,200 00
Repairs, etc.
2,860 81
2,015 00
Libraries
318 42
250 00
Health
556 00
500 00
Transportation
800 00
700 00
Tuition
319 56
350 00
Sundries.
2,412 13
1,725 00
New Equipment
1,218 15
541 00
Totals
$147,642 52
$147,674 00
Classified Statement
General
High
Elementary
General Expenses
School Committee
$240 00
Superintendent
6,016 10
Expenses of Instruction
Supervisors
13,095 40
Principals
$2,924 93
$8,700 00
Teachers
25,125 00
58,759 73
Text Books
1,099 96
2,210 14
Supplies
1,500 39
3,162 92
Expenses of Operation
Janitors
2,204 84
6,529 21
Fuel
1,043 59
3,310 50
Miscellaneous
915 80
2,318 94
Expenses of Maintenance
Repairs, etc.
1,371 10
1,489 71
Auxiliary Agencies
Libraries
117 84
200 58
Health
125 00
431 00
Transportation
800 00
Tuition
162 50
157 06
Miscellaneous
952 96
1,459 17
144
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Outlay Expenses New Equipment
1,218 15
Totals
$20,569 65
$37,543 91
$89,528 96
Appropriation for year
$147,674 00
Expenditures for year
147,642 52
Balance unexpended $31 48
New Equipment and Furniture for Hadley Annex
Appropriation
$4,000 00
Expended
3,237 33
Balance
$762 67
Americanization
Appropriation
$1,000 00
Expended
430 70
Balance
$569 30
Repairs-High and Hadley Roofs
Appropriation
$5,000 00
Expended
5,000 00
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR W. STUBBS,
Clerk of the Committee.
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott:
Mrs. Hardy and Gentlemen :- It is my pleasure herewith to submit to you my seventh annual report as Superintendent of Schools of Swamp- scott. The report this year varies slightly from that submitted in past years in that it omits all statistical data and embodies individual reports from each of the principals of the schools, as well as brief reports from the supervisors of music, art, and physical training. These are incorporated in this year's report because it seems entirely fitting that the aims and efforts of these members of our school system should be presented occasionally, if not every year, to you and the citizens of the town. May I, at this time, request that these be read with care as they present aspects of the school situation that are worthy of consideration.
THE YEAR IN RETROSPECT
Hadley School Annex
Probably the outstanding event of 1926 from the standpoint of the schools was the completion and opening of the Annex to the Hadley School. As is generally known, this includes six class rooms, double manual training rooms, and the administrative offices of the depart- ment. The six class rooms provide accommodations for the six ele- mentary grades of the district, thus leaving the original Hadley School building for Junior High School purposes exclusively.
Because of the relief furnished by this fine new building, our Junior High School is in a far better condition than it was a year ago. We have been able to give much more space and better equipment to the the lunch room; we have been able to set aside a room for library purposes; the girls' practical arts department now has a separate room and equipment for sewing and cooking; no recitation or study pupils need be assigned to the auditorium; and the supervisors have room and desk space for conference and study purposes. We believe that the all around efficiency of the Junior High School has been greatly increased by the additional room they have received, and that this efficiency will be heightened as further plans and organization are effected.
Palmer School Addition
The recommendation of the School Department for consideration of the school housing problem in the Palmer district resulted in the ap- pointment of a committee which unanimously recommended the acqui- sition of more land in the rear of the present Palmer School and the erection of four class rooms for the relief of the present building. This report was presented at a special town meeting held in July and although the greater part of the project was approved by the Finance Committee, it did not find favor with the citizens present and no posi-
146
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
tive action was taken. The result is that we still have in the four- room Palmer School six grades and such a distribution of pupils that there are two classes in three of the four rooms. Aside from this condition, the physical equipment of the elementary and Junior High schools is entirely satisfactory.
High School Reorganization
The School Department has been conscious in the past of criticism directed at the High School, and especially at the work it was doing in the preparation of our boys and girls for college. It is doubtless true that some of this criticism was justified, although it is a well established fact that should be recognized by all citizens that no com- prehensive High School such as must be maintained in a town like Swampscott can have for its primary purpose preparation for college entrance examinations, because of the fact that only about twenty- five per cent of the pupils entering High School have any intention of attending college. However, we believe that if a pupil desires to go to college, he should find in the local High School that type of instruction and instructor which will make it possible for him to do so, provided he does his part. Acting on this theory, the High School was reorganized this fall so that as far as possible all those pupils desiring college entrance preparation should be grouped together. Vacancies caused by resignations in the High School teaching staff were filled with the aim of securing teachers particularly skilled in college entrance preparation and we are endeavoring to establish in these courses such standards as will result in the best work from each pupil. It would seem that the school is now organized to take care of the problem of college preparation. It cannot guarantee that every pupil who signs up for the college course will receive certificate rank or pass college entrance examinations. There still remains the neces- sity on the part of the pupils of hard and constant application. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that not all pupils who wish to go to college can or should do so. The number making application at the different colleges for admission have so increased in the past few years that practically every college of any standing has found it necessary to make more strict its requirement for ad- mission; in other words, the colleges are selecting out of the vast number applying for admission those best fitted, generally from a scholastic standpoint, for admission. The same is to be true in the future concerning admission into the State Normal Schools, for there also the demand for admission has been so great that not all who are applying can be accommodated. Parents who desire their children to enter college should frankly ask themselves these questions: Is my child possessed with sufficient natural ability to compete with the top third of his class, and is he willing to apply that ability to the arduous task of preparing himself for the college examinations ? Un- less these questions can be answered in the affirmative parents should hesitate to allow their children to elect college preparatory work. The schools will be glad to help parents answer those questions. In both
1926]
Junior and Senior High Schools intelligence tests are given to all pupils, and these tests, while not infallible, give an impartial and generally correct measurement of ability; and the teachers and prin- cipals of these schools are always glad to discuss with parents the all important subject of the proper election of courses.
Changes in the Teaching Staff
Changes in the teaching staff since the last annual report of the schools have been unusually large, as shown by the following table:
RESIGNED
SUCCEEDED BY
High
Theresa Duff
Anna Remmert
Mildred Fraser
John Crawford
Esther V. Ambrose
Elizabeth E. Blanchard
Charles Kirschbaum
Joseph Stanton
Junior High
Edith Gardner
Beatrice Monroe
Frances Gould
Cecil H. Doe Marion Drew
Hadley
Mabel Colby
Anna Willey
Clarke
Clarke
Margaret Knipe Ada Lewis
Florence Scott
Evelyn Stern
Machon
Machon
Ruth Hartman
Hazel D. Chase
*Transferred from Clarke to Hadley.
In addition, one new teacher was added to the Junior High School teaching staff, Matthew J. Cassin.
It will be seen from the above that we have added several men to the School Department in the persons of Mr. Kirschbaum, head of the English department at the High School, and Mr. Cassin in the Junior High School. It is a pleasure also at this time to report that Mr. Joseph Stanton, who left us a year and a half ago to enter the new boys' high school at Dorchester, has returned to resume his duties in Swampscott as head of the French department of the High School.
We start the new calendar year, also, with a new High School prin- cipal in the person of Mr. Lee T. Gray, as Mr. Leighton S. Thompson,
.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
147
Junior High
Mildred Durland
Gertrude Herron
Catherine Hurley Alma Matson Avis Keir
Hadley
Dorothy Verdi Sarah Bucknam E. Jane Owen *Anna Willey
High
148
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
principal of the school on the hill for six years, left on November 15 to become principal of the Methuen High School. Mr. Gray is a graduate of Bowdoin College, has practically completed the work for his Master's degree, and comes to us from Portsmouth, N. H., where he has been principal for the past nine years.
In General
It is safe to say that the year just past has been a successful one from the standpoint of school progress. Our buildings with one ex- ception are in fairly good condition; during the past year a special appropriation of $5,000 was expended to repair the roofs of the High and Hadley Schools; the physical training exhibitions and field day, the concerts by High and Junior High School musical clubs, and the offerings of the dramatic clubs were of a high standard and worthy demonstrations of the progress of these departments; the spirit and morale of all members of the teaching staff have been especially com- mendatory; the co-operation of the Board of Health and the careful surveillance of the school physicians and school nurse have safe- guarded the health of our children; while the dental clinic, now con- ducted by the Board of Health, has given much needed relief to many worthy cases. The work in Americanization has not been continued this fall owing to the small numbers which attended these classes through the closing weeks of last year's term. This work is a splen- did thing and some day it is to be hoped that it may be continued, but with the present high cost of maintaining all of the departments of the town it seemed that this was one place where the School Depart- ment could make retrenchment with the least serious results.
Problems of the Future
The failure of the town to take any affirmative action in regard to the housing problem at the Palmer School has, of course, left the situ- ation in that building exactly as it was a year ago. The report from the principal of that school gives a clear presentation of the situation there. Briefly, her report shows that at present three of the four class-rooms in the Palmer School have two grades each, with result- ing educational loss to the pupils and added burdens for the teachers. Eleven children from that district were sent to the Hadley School last September, making necessary nearly an equivalent transfer of chil- dren from the Hadley School to the Clarke School. Next September we shall have our problem in the Palmer School further complicated by the fact that the third and fourth grades will be too large to com- bine, and we may be obliged either to transfer one class to some other school, or have an afternoon session for one or two grades. The first of these alternatives would be difficult because of the distance in- volved; the afternoon session would be very distasteful to parents, especially in Swampscott where the one-session day is so well liked
149
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
by the majority of our school patrons. It is evident that this section of the town is to develop rapidly within the next decade, with a result- ing increase in the number of school children.
It would seem, then, that another attempt should be made this year to interest the citizens in the school housing problem in this section of the town.
The High School
It is believed that definite steps have been taken towards a better high school, and that increasingly from year to year we shall see improvement in the morale and scholastic achievements of this im- portant branch of our school system. However, as year succeeds year it becomes more apparent that the town will find it necessary to give serious consideration to the idea of the erection of a new high school building. Let us consider this matter for a moment.
In the first place, the present building is getting old, and presents to the school department each year a number of problems of main- tenance and repair. For instance in 1926 it was necessary to expend over $3,000 for immediate and urgent repairs. Recently we have had experienced contractors and builders go over the building thoroughly and give us an estimate of the amount that should be expended in 1927. Their report, which was fully itemized, showed the need of an expenditure of nearly $6,000 in 1927. This list we have studied care- fully and have eliminated items aggregating $2,000 but still are obliged to ask the town for an appropriation of $4,000 for imperative repairs. And so far as can be seen each succeeding year will demand extra and increasing amounts for upkeep here, while in spite of these efforts and expenses the building will never be other than old, dingy and depressing. This condition has a marked effect upon our High School pupils. Education today is forced to compete with many allur- ing distractions. Take for instance, but one of them, the motion pic- tures and compare the surroundings in the average "movie" theatre with those in our High School; the advantage is all with the theatre. And if the surroundings are made attractive for our young people in pleasure resorts, how much more so should they be in the schools where we compel attendance and application to the stern tasks of the modern curriculum. Parents, new teachers and pupils have frequently said that the High School is "depressing," "uninspiring," "deadening." Certain it is most of us do our best work when in agreeable quarters and under congenial conditions, and the present building of the Senior High School furnishes neither of these and cannot be made to do so.
In addition the school is not well located, as it is neither central, or on or near any transportation routes; and it has the further dis- advantage of being on practically the highest point of land in town so that about ninety percent of the students have to climb a very steep hill to reach the building. It may properly be said that this should not have any effect on young people; but the fact remains that it does. Our attendance and punctuality, especially in stormy weather,
150
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
are very markedly influenced by the location of the school. Parents say so in their notes of excuse and pupils admit it when questioned as to their absences.
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