USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1939 > Part 10
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These conclusions are obvious from the tabulations on cost: 1. In the school years quoted, there was an increase in costs of $8,070.02 covering all regular day schools. 2. For the same period, the High School cost increased $15,- 521.19; the Junior High cost decreased $3,080.21; and the elementary school costs decreased $3,470.96. The net increase, therefore, is all to be found at the Senior High School.
109
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1939]
3. The increase in costs at the High School lies in two places: (a) Instructional service, which means salaries, supplies and text books, and (b) Operation, which covers janitorial service and sup- plies, water, light and fuel.
4. These increases are natural reflections of three factors: (a) a tripling of the size and facilities of the High School building; (b) an increase in the number of pupils; (c) an increase in the school program and in the members of its faculty.
The school program for the elementary schools remains practi- cally the same as for the past few years. Our experiments in read- ing continue with the same results. We feel, basing judgment both on the opinion of the teachers and on the results of tests given twice each year, that we are doing better work than we have ever done before. We know that children who would have been slow and even unsatisfactory readers before are now learning to read with sufficient proficiency to warrant the promotion that probably they would formerly have failed to receive. Our experiments have now reached grade three.
There is one problem that comes to us each year in the form of underage pupils who reach us in grade two from private schools. These pupils we accept conditionally in grade two upon the unqual- ified recommendations of the private school head. While these pupils are usually qualified to read at the second grade level, they are im- mature when compared with our regular second graders. Frequently they do not possess the same ability in hand work and hand writ- ing, due to their immaturity, that our regular pupils have. They have to acquire their orientation in school life and environment in the midst of children who have already undergone a full year of such experiences. While this situation is not true in every individ- ual case, it is true with the majority. This fact places a considerable extra burden and responsibility on the teachers of grade two. Each year we find one or two children who definitely do not adjust them- selves, and on some occasions we have to return these pupils to grade one. This move is always unpleasant, and of course unpopular with parents. We make it only a last resort, but we do feel that the final decision must rest with us. I do not see what cure there is for this condition so long as parents do not understand that the element of maturity has something to do with school success in these early grades. I feel very sure, without concrete proof, I confess, but purely from observation over a long time, that some children nor- mally capable of excellent work remain at a mediocre level for sev- eral years, due to an ill-considered haste in pushing them into a situation where they must remain struggling to keep their heads above water.
The action of the Committee in extending the entrance age for grade one to include children born in January probably will not have any great bearing on this situation. Ten or fifteen days in these cases is not of great consideration. Three, four, and often five months is. However, the new regulation, which incidentally, abolishes the provision for an extension of the age limit beyond the appointed date, will, I hope, relieve us somewhat from the requests of parents for a special review of individual cases.
The High School program becomes more and more a subject for serious consideration. Countrywide, educators are turning their attention to it, because of the ever increasing so-called "Youth Problem." Stated concretely, the problem is this: What can be done for young people when they finish school? The existence of such a problem implies an inability to absorb these young people in employ- ment through which they may become self supporting.
While within the limits of Swampscott there are no industries, we do happen to be located in an area where certain large industries of national scope are located. Our young people have access to these
110
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
corporations as potential places of employment, along with young people of eight or ten other communities. Obviously, however, our graduates must be prepared for the type of work that is open to them, whether it be of the clerical, mechanical, or other type. With an end to determining whether reorganization of any of our high school departments might make our boys and girls more available for positions, Mr. Gray and I have interviewed the employment or personnel managers of three of these industries. We went not so much to gain entree as to learn. We had heard much of specializa- tion, and of the fact that young people allegedly come out of school unprepared for industry. We had been told that our schools need reorganizing in the face of the demands of industry. From these in- terviews we hoped to find out what the common denominator that runs through industry might be, and to set to work accordingly.
The interviews, while limited in number-and we hope to extend our range,-were enlightening to say the least. The one conclusion we could draw was that no feasible alteration in our present curricu- la or departments would find us coming any closer to meeting com- mon demands than we are at present. The reason was obvious. There are no common demands, from these three companies at least, upon which intelligent reorganization can be based.
For example, we got this advice relative to office employment: One concern does not employ girls out of high school, preferring girls of more maturity from certain business colleges with which it has direct contact. It gives no tests and sets no standards of accom- plishment, leaving that matter entirely to its source of supply.
Another company takes girls directly from high school, and re- quires especially a high degree of skill in shorthand and typewriting, but one that is well within the scope of our training.
The third industry believes that schools lay altogether too much stress on the importance of shorthand. Knowledge of shorthand is no asset in gaining employment in that concern. Girls who seek employ- ment there are first given a test in grammar and English usage. If they fail in that test, even expert knowledge of shorthand and typewriting is of no avail, for their names are thrown out; but if they pass, they are then tested further on typing of a purely copy- ing nature.
Out of all this, the only requirements which we cannot meet are those of native ability and of maturity. We have no way of in- creasing the capacity or aptitudes with which a child comes into the world; nor have we any means of making a girl older than the years permit. Critics sometimes do not seem to be aware of that. It may be that the extension of high school training so as to place most of the vocational secretarial and clerical training in postgrad- uate years on the Junior or Business College plan is the solution. That remains to be seen.
One fact did stand out plainly relative to boys. For boys who are graduated from the commercial course the three industries have no openings within the scope of the school training. This apparently is a common situation. It would seem, therefore, that we should dis- courage boys from taking a strictly commercial course, as leading them to no particular objective.
The most acceptable specialized training for boys would seem to be that offered by trade schools. The cost of reorganization to this type of school, or of establishing such a type of school distinct from our regular program would be prohibitive in our case. Such schools are governed by special legislation, and exist close to us in a number of the larger cities. They are open and available to any of our pupils of high school rating and the town of Swampscott must pay tuition should any pupil choose to attend. With this op- portunity available, I feel we can hardly consider extending into that field yet, if at all.
111
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1939]
In two of those three plants there are, from time to time, open- ings for boys of 18 or 19 years old who have natural mechanical abil- ities, who have been taught to use tools and materials properly, to think in terms of materials, and to read, interpret and make blue prints. Again, we can now supply all of these requirements except that of native ability and aptitude. Another plant had no openings for boys in any skilled employment, and offered no reward like pro- motion for ability, since all advancement through the ranks of com- mon labor was on a seniority basis. It frankly preferred employees of less imagination, and those more content to plod, than high school boys are.
Two or the plants run schools on a trade or apprentice basis. The competition for placement is so keen and the number of vacan- cies so limited that few can be accommodated. However, the require- ments for entrance to these schools are primarily academic. Al- though in one case the purpose of the school is to train machinists for its own plant, it considers that a good high school record in science and in mathematics through trigonometry, plus a reputation for earnest effort, is about as good a set of qualifications as a boy can present. In the other company entrance examinations are re- quired in both science and mathematics. We are organized to meet these situations, and have met them in the past.
One of the gentlemen interviewed authorizes this statement as expressing his own personal opinion: "Mr. · would advise, in absence of vocational guidance after careful aptitude measurement, that an academic educational program by the schools would better meet general conditions. This is particularly true when it is realized that most employables become so due to specialized training sup- plementing high school education. More so, too, when it is evident that the most desirable high school graduates are the most youthful . as a group; in fact, too young to be employed."
The principal criticism we encountered dealt with the question of selection. The schools, we were told for example, graduate many pupils who have no natural aptitudes for the work they have been trained in, and who consequently prove unsatisfactory when em- ployed to perform that work. We acknowledge that the criticism is justified; but we find there is not much we can do about it imme- diately. Industry can accept or reject for a position any person it wishes. The public schools cannot. Year in and year out our prin- cipals meet with groups of pupils, with groups of parents, and with individuals, urging that certain children pursue certain courses in accord with their abilities, their aptitudes and their interests. Ap- proximately ninety per cent of the advice given is unheeded, except where it deals with specific college preparation. We have but one defense against this disregard, namely, not to recommend a pupil who in the opinion of those who have to judge him does not measure us to the demands of the specific employer. This is the policy we are pursuing. We do not see otherwise how to maintain either the repu- tation or the standard of our school in the eyes of the employers. It is perfectly obvious to us that two of the employers we visited are ready to and do give opportunities to superior applicants, and it is also clear that there are enough high grade candidates so that these employers do not have to consider either misfits or the mediocre.
As a matter of fact, our own situation has been rather satis- factory so far as placement is concerned. Mr. Gray, who has made the investigation, can find out of our last graduating class of 116 members only nine who are not in other schools or gainfully em- ployed, at least intermittently. He states: "Twenty-six of them are in degree granting colleges, forty-four are attending other schools, thirty-five are employed, some intermittently, nine are without work, and two are married."
112
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
In view of the fact that one of our graduates of last year was awarded one of the coveted Olin Scholarships at Wesleyan Univer- sity this fall, the Committee will, I am sure, be interested in this excerpt from a recent letter from the President of that institution to his alumni. He writes:
"Our freshman class has grown in size and in quality; the num- ber of applicants for admission last year was the largest in our his- tory. This growth, however, has been primarily from private secon- dary schools. The class admitted last September had the smallest number of high school graduates for many years. The percentage of boys coming from high school has dropped in five years from 59% to 46%. About half of the remainder secured all their preparation in private schools and the other half went to private school for one year after high school.
"We are very happy to welcome to Wesleyan boys from the private schools. Their scholarship record has been commendable, and they have contributed to all undergraduate activities. However, in both these respects they are outranked by our high school boys. The latter have a higher scholarship average, and a larger percen- tage of them win scholastic honors. Even in athletics their record is superior (although often preparatory school boys have the bene- fit of better, or at least more intensive coaching); this year's Little Three championship varsity and freshmen football teams had more members on the squad coming from high school than from private school; our high school boys have held more athletic captaincies in the last five years than the somewhat larger group of private secon- dary school boys. ****** We should like to see a considerable ma- jority of our freshmen coming directly from high school-perhaps fifty more high-grade applicants a year."
I have in the past heard rumors that the colleges felt that way about high school graduates. I have never before seen it over any authoritative signature.
We close the year again with a small unexpended balance. The department followed the wishes of the Finance Committee and with- held all salary increases during the year, in spite of the fact that certain injustices were acknowledged in so acting. The balance un- expended practically represents increases intended, but not given, as of September first.
The financial summary for the year follows:
Financial Report of the School Department
Appropriation
$198,583.00
Expenditures
General Control
$6,981.59
Instructional Service
154,227.45
Operation of Plants
26,179.33
Maintenance
4,719.67
Capital Outlay
609.00
Auxiliary Agencies
4,213.10
Adult Alien Education
752.10
197,682.24
Unexpended balance
900.76
113
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1939]
Credits to the Department
General Receipts
$229.04
Tuition received-general
334.25
Tuition, State Department Public Welfare
682.32
State refund, Adult Alien Education
200.27
State refund, Trade and Vocational Schools 318.76
State refund, General School Fund
14,966.60
Net cost of schools
$180,951.00
FRANK L. MANSUR, Superintendent of Schools.
December 31, 1939.
SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CASH REPORT
For Period-December 16, 1938 to December 15, 1939 Receipts
Balance, December 15, 1939
2,042.41
Football:
Gate Receipts
$4,519.30
Guarantees and Contract Receipts 675.20
American Legion Canvas Rental
40.00
Refund from Police Dept.
4.00
Total Receipts $5,238.50
Total
$5,238.50
Boys' Basketball:
Gate Receipts
312.05
Guarantee and Contract Receipts
25.00
Total Receipts
337.05
Baseball:
Sale of shoes
29.25
Total
$7,647.21
Expenditures
Football:
Cleaning
$308.20
Equipment
880.46
Officials
251.00
Police
210.00
Transportation
207.90
Medical
42.48
Guarantee and Contract Payments
729.81
Field Expenses
60.32
Student Prizes
125.00
Special Honorarium
10.00
Band Account
150.00
Armored Car Service
15.00
Films
56.00
Hotel Expenses at Agawam
135.05
Misc. Expense
100.03
(Printing, dues, express, etc. and check error .89
$16,731.24
$3,281.25
114
TOWN DOCUMENTS [Dec. 31
Baseball:
Cleaning
$34.79
Equipment
384.77
Officials
45.00
Transportation
120.00
Misc. Expense
1.30
Total
$585.86
Boys' Basketball:
Equipment
12.60
Officials
45.00
Police
24.00
Transportation
140.00
Awards
14.15
Misc. Expenses
4.80
Total
$240.55
Girls' Basketball:
Cleaning
6.86
Equipment
58.57
Transportation
12.00
Officials
26.22
Misc. Expenses
4.97
Total
$108.62
Girls' Field Hockey:
Cleaning
50.47
Equipment
193.32
Transportation
52.00
Officials
30.35
Misc. Expenses
3.41
Total
$329.55
Golf:
Equipment
44.10
Transportation
5.70
Total
49.80
Track Equipment
62.68
Tennis:
Equipment
3.00
Deficit, December 15, 1938
62.68
Miscellaneous:
Audit Expense
6.66
Total Expenditures
$4,667.97
Balance Cash on hand
$2,979.24
115
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1939]
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools:
I herewith submit my annual report for the year ending Decem- ber 31, 1939. The following figures seem worthy of your attention: School visits, regular 303
School visits, extra
398
Children referred to family physician
226
Children excluded for illness
81
Notes to parents
247
Home visits
392
Children taken to clinics
66
Physical examinations
1166
Defects found
343
Defects corrected
80
Defects under treatment
160
Examination for defective vision
1052
Glasses provided
30
Examination for defective hearing
1253
Defects found
27
Tuberculin tests
157
Chest X-ray for tuberculosis
14
Schick tests
369
Report of Attendance
Visits for attendance
161 1
Truants
47
Home adjustments
127
I wish to express my sincere appreciation of the assistance ren- dered by the various individuals and organizations during the year.
MARY K. HAMMOND, R.N., School Nurse-Attendance Adjuster.
MEMBERSHIP BY AGE AND GRADE, OCTOBER 1, 1939
Boys
Age
Grade
5678
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Total
1
17 37 5
59
2
15 35 2 1
53
3
19 44 3
22 29 6
3 2
62
5
13 23 15 1
2 25 31 13 5
24 27 11 3
4
1
2
1
. .
68
12
P. G.
·
2
4
1
1
1
. .
9
Total
17 52 59 68 50 54 73 66 64 81 63
76
53 25 7 808
4
52
6
7
8
74
9
10
1 22 24 19
32 21 1 19 23
6 16 2
6 1
65
3
Ungraded
.
16 34 13 10 3 13 42 14
4
7
78 74
11
76 69
66
116
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Girls
Age
Grade
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
Total
1
18 22
40
2
.. 22 36 2
23 36 2
1
62
4
45
5
58
6
1 28 28
1 29 42 4
23 37 7
2
8
1
1
85
11
1 83
12
·
P. G.
1
6
5
..
12
Ungraded
1
1
2
Total
18 44 59 54 46 67 64 74 76 73 71 87 41 16
1 791
School Census-October 1, 1939
Number of boys 5 years of age or over and under 7
10 Number of girls 5 years of age or over and under 7 112
Total
218
Number of boys 7 years of age or over and under 14
496
Number of girls 7 years of age or over and under 14
434
Total
930
Number of boys 14 years of age or over and under 16 Number of girls 14 years of age or over and under 16 184
343
Number of boys 5 years of age or over and under 16 761 Number of girls 5 years of age or over and under 16 730
1491
Pupils Enrolled-November, 1939
High School
Sophomores 157
Juniors 151 Class I 149
Seniors 127 Class II 142 5
P. G. 13 Class III 143 6 Spec. Cl.
Total 448
Junior High School Grades
1
2
3
4
Clarke
32
31
38
32
34
36
203
Hadley
26
27
38
24
29
38
182
Machon
27
33
28
22
24
25
10 169
Stanley
19
25
27
33
28
46
178
High School
448
Junior High School 434
Elementary Schools
732
1
1 7
1
1 3
1
66
7
79 70
9
66
10
24 33 10 27
35 10 2 2 25 44 11
31 22 10 ..
63
159
Total
1491
2
1614
60
3
16 22 6
21 30 5
8
434
1939]
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
117
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT DIRECTORY High School
Lee T. Gray, Principal
Howard E. Batchelder
Brooks K. Blossom
Dorothy C. O'Keefe
Flora A. Boynton
Mildred J. O'Leary
Arthur G. Cronk
Gladys W. Parsons
James H. Dunn
Agnes T. Santry
Mary P. Evans
Theodore C. Sargent
Walter R. Henshaw
Virginia Tague
Antoinette Lambert
Amy D. Thissell
Marjorie White
Junior High School
Alice L. Shaw, Principal
Jean G. Allan
Geraldine E. Minton
Crandall P. Nodwell
Lena M. Patchett
Eleanor J. Chaisson
M. Shirley Perry
Beatrice L. Cook
Eleanor Sanborn
Alice T. Durgin
Mary Sexton
Hester Dwinell
Helen Warren
Emma S. White
Donald S. Lowe
Marjorie A. C. Young
Clarke School
Blanche E. Doyle, Principal
Eleanor C. Parsons
Edith A. Farnum
Marjorie Kiernan
Helen B. Lewis
Katherine F. Wilson
Hadley School
Alice L. Shaw, Principal Louise A. Cerica
Marion F. Newcomb
Hilda J. Thacher Maxine Walker
Anna F. Willey
Machon School
Mary I. Perkins, Principal Eleanor Birch Hazel D. Chase Mae E. Graham
Evelyn H. Lovejoy Elsie B. Oakes Phyllis G. Smith M. Elizabeth Wade
Stanley School
Blanche E. Doyle, Principal Charlotte N. Conners Hazel Dullea Grace M. Farrell
Hilda Hennigar Jessie C. Martin Clara Waterman
Rosemary LeClair
Edna I. Morrison
Warren W. Morton
Mary Mallery John I. Mclaughlin
Oella Minard
Mary G. Boyce
Marion P. Burlingame
George E. Hutchinson
Florence L. Melanson
Dorothea Paulson Evilena B. Snider
Amy M. Fenwick Ruth K. James
118
TOWN DOCUMENTS [Dec. 31
All Schools
Clara B. Chase, Supervisor of Art Louis J. Marino, Teacher of Instrumental Music Harold S. Martin, Supervisor of Physical Education Esther Nazarian, Supervisor of Music Marion E. Tyler, Supervisor of Penmanship Mary K. Hammond, R.N., School Nurse Adult Alien Evening Classes Catherine E. Lane, Director
Margaret Lally
Edith H. Lowell
Superintendent of Schools Frank L. Mansur
Secretaries Janice H. Halvorson, Hadley School Frances Owen, High School Marion E. Clinch, Superintendent of Schools
Janitors
Thomas Bailey, High School Herbert E. Wood, Hadley School
Elizabeth Kehoe, High School
Frank Coletti, Clarke School
Daniel Myers, High School John F. Wilson, Clarke School*
Rudolph Woodward, High School Simeon J. Strong, Machon School Emery Doane, Hadley School Harold Wheeler, Stanley School
*On leave of absence
Water and Sewerage Board
To the Citizens of Swampscott:
We submit herewith our annual report for the year ending De- cember 31, 1939.
We have replaced 495 feet of 4-inch cast iron pipe in Phillips avenue with 6-inch and in Bradlee avenue 425 feet of 4-inch cast iron pipe with 6-inch.
The details of Water Pipe construction follows and cost of same can be found under the Town Accountant's report.
Bates road
36 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe
Bradlee avenue
425 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe
Brooks terrace
355 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe
Eureka avenue
144 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe Lewis road
294 ft. 6-in.
C. I. Pipe
Lexington circle
438 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe
Phillips avenue
495 ft. 6-in.
C. I. Pipe
Plymouth avenue
265 ft. 6-in.
C. I. Pipe
Shelton road
465 ft. 6-in.
C. I. Pipe
Walnut road
160 ft. 6-in. C. I. Pipe
Burrill street
960 ft. 14-in.
C. I. Pipe
119
Table of Distributing Pipe in Feet, December 31, 1939
Wrought Iron
Cast Iron
Lined
Brass
Total 303
1 1/2-in.
80
288
368
2-in.
4,732
1,468
1,977
8,177
4-in.
3,994
3,994
6-in.
127,169
127,169
8-in.
8,208
8,208
10-in.
21,800
21,800
12-in.
10,950
10,950
14-in.
4,712
4,712
16-in.
150
150
4,732
176,983
1,851
2,265
185,831
Hydrants :
In use December 31, 1938
296
Added in 1939
4
In use December 31, 1939 Gates:
300
In use December 31, 1938
543
Added in 1939
8
In use December 31, 1939 Services :
551
In use December 31, 1938
2,814
Added in 1939
43
Abandoned in 1939
2
41
2,855
In use December 31, 1939 Meters : 60 %-in. bought
$519.00
Water Debt
Bonds and notes issued to December 31, 1939
$368,300.00
Bonds and notes paid to December 31, 1939
359,300.00
Net debt, December 31, 1939
$9,000.00
Decrease during year 1939
4,500.00
Due during year 1940
1,500.00
Inventory of Property; Water Department, December 31, 1939
Water mains and stand pipes
$218,684.37
Land on Pine street
2,000.00
Brick building on Pine street
2,000.00
Work shop and garage
2,500.00
Two auto trucks
1,600.00
Office furniture
900.00
Meters and parts
36,900.00
Stock on hand
4,000.00
$268,584.37
1 1/4 -in.
303
Cement
1939]
WATER AND SEWERAGE BOARD
120
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Sewer Department
The sewer authorized by the town has been completed and the details of construction will be found below. The total cost can be found in the Town Accountant's report. Hampshire Street Sewer
321 Lin. ft. 8" vit. pipe @ $1.40
$449.40
165 Lin. ft. 5" vit. pipe
@ 1.00
165.00
327 Cubic Yards of Rock Excavations
@
3.20
1046.40
2 Manholes
@ 35.00
70.00
147 Cubic Yards Gravel
@ 1.00
147.00
Advertising
13.65
Typewriting
2.00
M. H. Frames and covers (2)
24.08
Total Cost
$1917.53
Inventory of Property, Sewer Department, December 31, 1939
Pumping station
$20,000.00
Pumping plant
11,145.88
Land
5,000.00
Office furniture
350.00
Tools and equipment
450.00
Truck and garage
875.00
$37,820.88
HAROLD G. ENHOLM,
GEORGE B. ATKINS, HAROLD C. HUDSON,
Water and Sewerage Board.
Planning Board
To the Citizens of the Town of Swampscott:
The present Planning Board is the first to be elected in Swamp- scott under the new State Planning Act and is composed of a per- sonnel which, with one exception, has not served the town under pre- vious Planning Acts. The initial act of this Board was to study the new laws under which it was to function and considerable time was spent on this phase of the work before the Board drafted its rules and regulations of procedure, the adoption of which were made mandatory under the State law. The Board has proceeded cautiously with problems presented to it in order that thorough investigation might be made of all phases of the work and in order that unfor- tunate precedents might not be created and established which under a long-term planning program would not serve the best interests of the town.
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