USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1926 > Part 14
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Credit is given toward a diploma to any pupil in the High School who takes music lessons on any instrument outside of school hours. These pupils are required to record daily the time spent in practice and to pass two examinations during the year showing the progress they have made. Seven members of the school received this credit last June.
It would be impossible to obtain good results from the special vocal and instrumental groups of the Junior and Senior High Schools were it not for the fact that the Superintendent and School Committee fur- nish us with ample musical supplies. I am indebted to them for their support.
I should like to suggest that more parents encourage their children to play instruments. If a child in the fifth or sixth grade begins the study of the flute, clarinet, or some other instrument, he will have a chance to play for six years in the school orchestras.
Respectfully submitted,
ESTHER NAZARIAN,
Supervisor of Music.
162
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Supervisor of Drawing
To the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools:
Mrs. Hardy and Gentlemen :- The big aim of art teaching today is "Appreciation for all rather than the technical ability for a few." All need to learn to choose articles of good taste for themselves or for the home. Art has changed from a purely cultural subject to a vital factor in preparation for life.
To quote from Dr. Payson Smith, "Next to the language arts, no subjects taught in schools are more important than art and music. They educate through expression, develop appreciation and enjoyment of life."
When Professor Cizek of Vienna was asked if many of his pupils went in for art upon leaving his art school, his reply was, "No, not as a rule. They go into all sorts of professions and trades. That's quite right-that's what I like. I like to think of art coloring all de- partments of life, penetrating every corner of life, rather than being a separate profession."
In grades one to seven of the Swampscott schools consecutive courses are given which include measuring, the use of the compass, color work, a study of some of the famous paintings, design, and freehand draw- ing.
By the opening of the new Hadley School Annex a room for Junior High School drawing was made available. This has improved condi- tions and greater results are looked for. The following artists are studied in Class I: Millet, Corot, Landseer, Bonheur and Reynolds. Pupils in Classes II and III are to make books on "Picture Study." Much work for other subjects and activities is done in the drawing classes as :- posters for various plays, covers for the Dramatic Club books, a cover design for a class history book, and place cards for the Senior High School banquet.
Several medals came to Swampscott last year for posters entered in the competition held by the Massachusetts Society for the Preven- tion of Cruelty to Animals. A group of pupils visited Forbes Litho- graph Company of Revere and a group went to the University Museum at Cambridge to see the glass flowers.
Color and arrangement as applied to a living room is studied by making miniature rooms, selecting wall paper, floor paper, rug, pot- tery, etc., to harmonize. The art club at the Junior High School this year has for its topic "Design and Application." Some of the designs made will be carried out in enamels, stencils, and block printing. The aims of this work are to teach harmony of color, pleasing spacing, balance, rhythm of line, and good taste applied to articles for the home.
We are still handicapped at the Senior High School for lack of time as most of the pupils who elect the subject can have it only one
163
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
period per week. High School courses are offered in commercial art, figure drawing, and in the regular free hand work. More individual work is given at the Senior High School so that each pupil will receive that which will be of most use to him after leaving High School.
Respectfully submitted, CLARA B. FOWLER, Supervisor of Drawing.
164
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF PHYSICAL TRAINING
To the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools:
Mrs. Hardy and Gentlemen :- My work in physical training is divided into three parts, that with all the pupils in the elementary schools, that with the girls in the Junior High School, and that with the girls in the Senior High School.
The work in the elementary schools consists of formal gymnastics, all kinds of games and relay races, folk dances and singing games. From fifteen to twenty minutes a day are given to physical training. On one day a week, in each room, I teach the gymnastic lesson; on the other four days that work is done by the room teacher. Although a large part of the formal gymnastics are primarily for posture, there is a special class in each school for those who, through the physical examinations, have been found to have especially poor posture.
All kinds of contests are held to stimulate interest among the chil- dren. There was held, last spring, a contest in formal gymnastics among all the sixth grades in town. The banner was won by the Hadley School. A like contest was held for the fifth grades, the Palmer School winning.
Every Junior High School girl has one forty-five minute period of physical training each week. Also, there is a five minute period each day given to setting-up exercises, which are conducted by pupil leaders.
During the winter, the Junior High girls play basketball in the few hours each week that the high school gymnasium is not in use. Last year there were seven class teams, three in Class I, two in Class II, and two in Class III. These teams played a series of games, at the end of which a Junior High girls' basketball team was selected, which played four games with other Junior High Schools.
Last spring, Classes II and III played field hockey two afternoons a week.
In June a field and track meet was held for Junior High girls at Jackson Park. At the end of the meet, there was a field hockey game between Class II and Class III.
The Senior High girls have physical training one forty-three minute period each week. As there is no suitable place for that work out of doors, it is not begun until November and ends in May.
In the afternoons during the fall, there is field hockey for High School girls. Swampscott is a member of the Greater Boston Girls' In- terscholastic Field Hockey League. Last fall there was a schedule of four league games and three practice games. Swampscott tied with Winchester High School for second place in the league. There are no class teams in hockey as there is opportunity for every girl to play on the school team squad.
In the afternoons during the winter, there is basketball for High
165
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
School girls. Last winter the school team played a schedule of twelve games and finished the season undefeated. For the girls who do not care to spend as much time in athletics as is necessary when playing on the school team squad, there are class teams. Last winter there were three class teams, no one who played on the school team being eligible for these teams. The Juniors won the championship and at the end of the season played the Marblehead Junior Class team.
In the spring, there is baseball for High School girls. Last spring the school team played three games with other high schools. Regula- tion baseball was played with two exceptions, a smaller diamond was used and a soft ball.
Last April a gymnastic exhibition was held in the High School gym- nasium. Practically every phase of the indoor physical training work was demonstrated by pupils from the first grade through the High School.
Last May was held the first Field Day for all the pupils in the ele- mentary schools. Approximately one thousand children took part. At the end of the formal exercises, there was a track meet for the boys and girls of the fifth and sixth grades. A silver cup was presented to the Clarke School as winner of the meet.
There is one important suggestion which I would like to make for next year. I would like the land in back of the High School graded so that the required part of the High School work could begin in Sep- tember and last through June. Field hockey could be played by every girl in the fall, and baseball, track and possibly archery in the spring.
The work with the Junior High School girls can be increased only through an additional physical training teacher for girls and a gymna- sium in the Junior High School building.
The work in the elementary schools is especially successful through the splendid co-operation of the elementary school teachers.
Respectfully submitted, FLORA BOYNTON, Supervisor of Physical Training.
166
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
REPORT OF THE ATTENDANCE OFFICER
To the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools:
Mrs. Hardy and Gentlemen :- I do hereby submit my yearly report as Attendance Officer.
Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
April
May
June
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Complaints
4
10
8
9
1
0
14
27
11
8
Cases of truants
1
0
0
1
0
0
2
8
7
2
Inexcusable absences
1
1
1
1
0
0
4
12
8
4
Account of sickness
3
6
6
5
1
0
7
8
3
3
Account of clothing
0
3
0
2
0
0
0
1
0
1
Enforcement Labor Law
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
Court cases
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Miscellaneous
0
0
1
1
0
0
3
5
0
0.
Absent from Hadley School
54
Absent from Palmer School
2
Absent from Machon School
22
Absent from Clarke School
8
Miscellaneous
6
I have made 92 personal calls and when truants have been found have taken them to school. My own car has been used throughout the year at no extra expense to the town. There have been no court cases and no children have been committed to any training school.
Respectfully submitted,
. HERBERT E. WOOD,
Attendance Officer.
167
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1926]
SWAMPSCOTT SCHOOL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY
High School
Lee T. Gray, Principal
Maebelle Adamıs
Esther V. Ambrose
Edna S. Bennett
Alta I. Randles
Elizabeth E. Blanchard
A. Lillian Rideout
Charles F. Cuddy
Joseph Stanton
Harriet M. Dillon
Bertha Wales (Mrs.)
Stella L. Greenlaw
Esther Nuzum
Hadley Junior High School
Alice L. Shaw, Principal
Gertrude Herron
Jean G. Allan
Catherine Hurley
Marion Burlingame
George Hutchinson
Matthew J. Cassin
Lena Johnson
Marjorie Colton
Crandall P. Nodwell
S. Perry Congdon
Madeline MacDonald
Beatrice Cook
Alma Matson
Alice Durgin
Lena Patchett (Mrs.)
Alice Harvey
Helen Warren
Hadley School
Grade 1 Anna Willey
2 Ethelyn Jacobs (Mrs.)
5 Amy Fenwick
3 Margaret Durgin 6 Marion Newcomb
Clarke School
Blanche Doyle, Principal
Grade 1 Evelyn G. Stern
2 Katherine Wilson
3 Edith Farnum
4 Margaret Knipe
5 Florence Scott
6 Ada S. Lewis
6 Melvina G. Pearson (Mrs.)
Machon School
Mary I. Perkins, Principal 3 Grace E. Lee (Mrs.)
Grade 1 Elsie B. Oakes (Mrs.)
4
Mabel S. Knight
2 Ruth K. James
5 Hazel D. Chase (Mrs.)
2 M. Elizabeth Williams Sp. Cl. Bessie B. Chapman (Mrs.)
4 Mabel Verry
Helen Fielden
Merle G. Hall
Rena M. Jenne
Charles H. Kirschbaum
168
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Palmer School
Louise C. Stanley, Principal Grade 1 Jessie C. Martin
2 Grace Farrell
3 & 4 Ida Bradford 5 & 6 Thelma Smith (Mrs.)
Supervisors
Flora Boynton
Clara B. Fowler
Lillian Hewitt
Esther Nazarian
Physical Training Art
Penmanship Music
Secretaries
Frances Wentworth Anna Bresnahan
Frances M. Newell
Junior High School High School Superintendent's Office
Janitors
L. T. Holder A. K. Wood
Arthur Rowell
Herbert E. Wood
Iber L. Chapman
Simeon Strong
William McNamara
High School
High School
Hadley School
Hadley School
Clarke School
Machon School
Palmer School
169
1926] REPORT OF REDINGTON ST. SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Report of Redington Street School Committee
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Redington Street school which was started in 1925 was com- pleted in the summer of 1926 and the building was occupied as a school at the opening of the school sessions in September.
The full cost of the buildng is showin by the following figures :
General contractor
$60,871 64
Heating and ventilating contract
13,275 00
Plumbing contract
3,464 12
Electrical contract
5,166 00
Architect
5,050 00
Engineer
1,106 46
Inspector
3,075 00
Janitor
186 00
Coal
305 68
Advertising
24 37
Contractor's bond
913 10
All others
419 34
$93,856 71
After the building was completed it was necessary to construct a fence between the building and the Chick property next adjoining, and this was done by Mr. Chick, the town paying half the expense, or $100. It was also necessary to grade the grounds surrounding the school, which was done at a cost of $1130.70, the school committee as- suming the $30.70 which the appropriation for the grading was ex- ceeded.
Respectfully submitted,
JOHN VANNEVAR, HARRY D. LINSCOTT, HARRY E. HARDY, HENRY A. SADLER, LOUIS H. KIMBALL,
170
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Tree Warden
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The following is my seventeenth annual report as Tree Warden.
The dead wood has been removed from trees in the upper part of the town, also trees injured by the construction of Essex street, have been put into shape. Low limbs in the way of or endangering per- sons traveling on the highways have been removed.
The usual leopard moth work has been done and the leaf feeding insects have been cared for in the spraying season. It was not neces- sary to spray with oil for the cottony maple scale and the material is on hand.
Twenty-nine trees have been removed for various causes and one. hundred fifty-one have been planted, making a gain of one hundred twenty-two.
Eighty-six of these have been provided with tree guards made up in the usual way. There are sixty-five unprovided for. Tree guards have been adjusted on larger trees. Wounds have been treated and new ones covered with burlap over a dressing. In many instances new bark covered the injury during the season. Injury from electric light wires has been slight. Only one case of escaping illuminating gas has been detected, that being on Paradise road near Ellis road.
There are a few fine old tree specimens in the town, but the future. beauty depends on planting new territory as fast as streets are accepted. May the good work continue and keep pace with the newly developed areas.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE, Tree Warden ..
December 31, 1926.
171
REPORT OF MOTH SUPERINTENDENT
1926]
Report of Superintendent of Moth Work
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- Although the work of suppressing the Gypsy moths has been carried on in the usual way, the number of egg clusters this fall have quite materially increased over that of a year ago. This increase is more or less general over the entire infested area here in the eastern part of the State.
The United States government experts attribute the condition to the absence of parasites which have disappeared as the moths became more and more suppressed, until a turning point has been reached where the moths are on the increase. However, no trees have been defoliated this season by the gypsy and there is no cause for alarm.
A number of instances of partial defoliation by the satin moth have occurred this year and the work of this insect was mistaken for that of the gypsy. Many willows on the Ocean House grounds, also poplars at the Beebe estate, Little's Point, were quite severely infested. After being sprayed the conditions were very much improved.
This moth is so generally scattered over the town that every willow and poplar not sprayed may be expected to show evidences of feed- ing sooner or later. In the spraying season we take care of them un- less prohibited by owners, because it is too late to be beneficial to spray after the foliage is destroyed.
The tent caterpillar was handled very satisfactorily and did no dam- age this year. The spraying which has been done against them for the past few years seems to be bearing fruit.
This work done for private individuals is charged on the tax bill as moth tax to the owners in accordance with Chapter 132 and Sec- tion 18 of the General Laws.
This year of the $4800 appropriated, $1925 came back to the town in assessments for such work, which is $120 in excess of the previous year.
During the winter months the spraying is supplemented by painting the egg clusters of the gypsy with creosote, and brush is cut to facili- tate spraying operations in the woods.
The winter work has been started as usual.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE,
Superintendent of Moth Work.
December 31, 1926.
172
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Report of the Forest Warden
To the Board of Selectmen:
Gentlemen :- The absence of spring rains contributed to the excessive number of woods fires early in the season. In April there was an aver- age of one a day, and early in the month the State Forest Fire War- den sent out notices requesting the local wardens not to issue fire per- mits until after a storm.
Thirty-nine fires have been reported on State blanks during the year.
Two hundred ninety-four permits for fires in the open air have been issued.
The slash law has not been violated.
Yellow notices warning against making open air fires without a per- mit and also white ones requesting the prevention of woods fires have been posted in all parts of the town.
Respectfully submitted,
EVERETT P. MUDGE, Forest Warden.
December 31, 1926.
173:
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
1926]
Report of Board of Health
Organization
Loring Grimes, M. D., Chairman.
Harold H. Bartol.
John B. Cahoon.
Clarence W. Horton, Health Officer and Milk Inspector.
Mrs. Barbara M. Lewis, Clerk and Registrar of Communicable Diseases.
Mrs. Mary K. Hammond, R. N., Health Nurse.
Edward C. Phillips, Plumbing Inspector.
Ralph D. Merritt, Special Clerk.
Charles Melvin, Special Agent.
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
The Board of Health herewith submits the following report for the year ending December 31, 1926.
Dumps
During the past year this department has accomplished various tasks that for several years had seemed advisable but could not be brought about. Among them are the securing of more advantageous places for waste material. At the present time we have four public dumps in various sections of the town, with an employee to take care of each dump on specified days. In this way we are able to keep the property clean and in a sightly condition. The dumps are kept open for public as well as town dumping. We feel that this arrangement has great- ly improved the appearance of dumping places and the nuisances ex- isting from dumps.
Garbage and Ash Complaints
Relatively speaking the number of complaints from garbage collec- tions has been fewer than previous years and as before, in many instances, investigation has revealed that the reason for complaints has been more the fault of the householder than of the department, in
174
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
that improper receptacles have been provided, or the garbage has been so put out that it has been impossible for the contractor to collect at the regular time.
We have been very succeessful the past year with the collection of ashes, having fewer complaints than ever before.
Ash Contract
On April 5th and 17th respectively bids were advertised for the col- lecting of ashes. The following bids were received:
Jean B. LeBel, Salem, Mass. $8,216 per year M. J. Daly, Swampscott, Mass. $8,880 per year
Herbert C. Brown, Salem, Mass. $7,985 per year
After considering the bids carefully the board awarded the con- tract to Herbert C. Brown, he being the lowest bidder.
Beaches
The cleaning of the Swampscott beaches has been conducted in the usual manner. All beaches have been taken care of at regular inter- vals during the summer months, with the result that no complaints were received.
Dental Clinic
The dental clinic has been moved to its new quarters in the Hadley School Annex, and since May of the past year has been under the supervision of the Health Department according to the General Laws. A report of work done in said clinic will be found in another section of this report.
Closing House
In March, 1926, it became necessary to close a house located on Foster avenue because it was unfit for occupancy. The same was vacated and posted as unfit for occupancy.
Sewers
During the past year the town has extended sewers into new sec- tions, thus it has been possible for this department to order house- holders to connect with the said sewer where unsanitary conditions previously existed (Section 11 Chapter 83 General Laws.) The total number connected during the past year was seventeen (17).
We have had several complaints of nuisances and cesspools over- flowing in the eastern section of the town, but all nuisances have been abated.
1926]
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
175
Clerical Work
The following is a summary of the clerical work of the department:
Communicable Diseases
New cases reported
424
Houses placarded
361
Cases released
400
Cases investigated
373
Pupils excluded from school
358
Certificates to attend school
325
Cultures received for examination
38
Specimens received for examination
10
Inspections
Number of complaints received
1151
Number of inspections made
424
Verbal notices given
415
Written notices to abate
127
Legal notices to abate
17
Referred for legal action
7
Visits to dairies, milk plants, etc.
1322
Conferences and Consultations
With physicians
366
With nurses, social workers, etc.
1175
With school authorities
245
With parents and guardians
265
Clerical and General
Number of telephone calls
4943
Number of letters written
725
Number of special reports written
1426
Number of inquiries received
879
Number of inquiries answered
875
Ash collection notices
1700
Miscellaneous
Number of school children examined
6000
Number of physical defects found
756
Number of notices sent to parents
356
176
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Visits to hospitals, laboratories, etc.
3
Number of laboratory supplies furnished
2098
Number of building applications approved 271
Number of permits to construct cesspools and drains
36
Number of permits refused
1
Number of permits to collect tallow and grease
1
Number of permits issued to keep fowl
213
Number of undertakers' permits granted
3
Number of permits issued to collect garbage
1
Licenses Issued
The following licenses have been issued during the past year:
To sell alcohol 18
To manicure 7
To sell non-alcoholic beverages 1
The sum of $35 has been collected from licenses and the said amount. has been paid to the collector and his receipt obtained.
Schick Test
In May of 1926, the privilege of having the Schick Test was given to all students in schools. Notices were sent home to the parents and permission requested. In many instances said permission was granted, with the result that many children were found susceptible to diph- theria and consequently immunized.
The board feels strongly that by carrying out these tests at regular intervals much can be done toward eradicating the disease of diphthe- ria from the community. We sincerely hope that every parent will take advantage of the privilege of having their children tested and immunized against diphtheria, when another opportunity presents itself.
As a result of our previous work along this line the number of cases of diphtheria in town has greatly diminished during the last two years and in no case has there been any child who has taken ad- vantage of immunization been ill.
The following is a summary of the number having been immunized in the various schools during the last period:
Clarke 62
Hadley 75
Palmer 30
Machon
48
Previously immunized
261
Immunized 1926
215
Total 476
177
REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
1926]
Contagious Diseases
Although the number of contagious diseases reported the previous year is greater than 1925, we feel that it does not necessarily mean an increase in disease as much as it means the more conscientious work of the doctors in detecting and reporting these cases. As people are becoming more educated in the value of reporting contagious diseases it makes it more possible for the board to control epidemics in town.
The marked increase in the number of cases of scarlet fever during the early part of the year is due largely to a rigid follow up of sus- pects. Owing to the mild form of this disease many cases were re- ported that might otherwise not come to the attention of the board, as many patients did not realize their need of calling a physician.
We also had eight cases of dog bite this year, which resulted in a "mad dog scare." All dogs were kept in quarantine for two weeks. Among the eight cases only two were given anti-rabic treatment, and no serious effect resulted.
The following summary of diseases will give an estimation as to number reported:
DISEASES REPORTED
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
Total
Cerebro spinal meningitis
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
Chicken pox
9 13 11
Diphtheria
1
1
0
0
0
1
0
2
0
0
0
0
5
Dog bite
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
1
0
0 0
0 1
0
0
4
0
0
0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
1 4
Lobar pneumonia
2
0
0
1
0
0 6
0 1
2
0
0
1
30
Pulmonary tuberculosis
0
0
2
0
1
Other tuberculosis
0
0
0
0
0
1 1
0 0
0 1
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