USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Swampscott > Town annual report of Swampscott 1947 > Part 11
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128
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
To what extent this is true may be realized by understanding that as the result mainly of gifts and contributions outside of what we as a School Committee have been able to provide, we own approximately $4,000 worth of band instruments and $3,500 worth of band uniforms. The Rotary Club, the Boosters Club and The Band Parents' Associa- tion have been primarily responsible; but we should likewise reveal that there is one citizen of the town whose children have long since graduated from our schools, but who has continued for a number of years to demonstrate what he calls his "appreciation," by presenting some musical instrument to the band annually.
For the past two years there has been an increasing demand for the establishment of kindergartens. The School Committee has decided to include in its budget this year the sum of $10,000 to set up either three or four such units in available classrooms, if the town will pro- vide that amount of money. This sum should be sufficient to cover room alterations, equipment (except pianos), and teachers' salaries from September to January 1, 1949. The cost may at a glance seem large. In considering it, however, one must understand that we have absolutely no equipment available, and, except at the Stanley School, no facilities in proper condition for kindergarten use.
In 1946 the School Committee was asked by The Upper Swamp- scott Improvement Association to resurface a playground area at the Machon. Because the request arrived a little late, and because our budget seemed to be getting out of bounds, there was mutual agree- ment to postpone the request for a year. Pursuant to that agreement, the School Committee has requested insertion of an article on the subject in the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. The type of surface would be that now in use at the Hadley and Stanley Schools.
The maintenance of a corps of satisfied competent teachers is of prime importance to this Committee and to the Town of Swampscott, and because the matter of salary is a considerable element in pro- ducing a satisfied state of mind we followed the country-wide trend in teachers' salaries with interest. Moreover, outside the matter of satis- faction for the individual, there is involved the question of filling vacancies as they occur with persons of the quality we ought to have. The determining factor in that situation, too, is salary.
As reported to you last year, we had arrived at a solution in a salary schedule which to the Salary Committee of the Teachers' As- sociation and to us seemed adequate and fair. However, when that Committee returned to us this fall and pointed out that conditions in the cost-of-living had changed so rapidly and radically that the adopted salary schedule was not meeting the situation, we were forced to agree. We knew, for instance, that according to the Bureau of Labor and Industry figures, most of our teachers were getting salaries worth at least a third less in purchasing power than were those they received in 1937, and that consequently, in spite of increases granted, they were no better off than they were ten years ago, if as well. We know that our Superintendent had spent from the first of April to the last week in August trying to find teachers he would recommend to us at the salaries he was authorized to pay because of the limitations of our salary schedule. We knew that two teachers who had said they would accept election to Swampscott changed their minds ten days later in the face of offers that we could not begin to meet. We found that our median salary of $2600 was all of two hundred dollars less than the median paid in towns of over 9000 population in the state.
We have, therefore, voted to take the following steps:
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SCHOOL REPORT
1947]
1. To increase salaries of all full-time members of our teaching staff by $200 as of January 1, 1948, this to represent two steps upward on the salary schedule.
2. To increase the minimum and maximum figures in each classi- fication of our salary schedule by $400.
3. To grant in September the usual step increases in accordance with the terms and requirements outlined in our salary schedule.
These steps, we believe, are not drastic. The total amount of money involved in 1948 is slightly less per person than that which we understand is being proposed for other town employees. It has the advantage, however, of not being a bonus and consequently of being acceptable to the Teachers' Retirement Board in determining pension rights. Item 2 of our vote has no particular bearing on any expendi- tures this year, but is adopted with a view to the future. It is our understanding that these adjustments taken as a whole meet with the approval of the Teachers' Salary Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
RALPH N. MURRAY, Chairman MADELINE M. CLARK MARION D. MORSE HERBERT R. ANDERSON ROBERT O'NEILL
December 31, 1947
To the Members of the School Committee of the Town of Swampscott, Ladies and Gentlemen :
I submit herewith my sixteenth annual report as Superintendent of the public schools of the town.
Enrollment
The trend towards increased school enrollment which became evi- dent last year continued into the present year, reversing the persistent downward trend characteristic of former years. Since 1945 we have increased fifty pupils in the first six grades. The fact that this trend is showing itself principally in the primary grades leads to the belief that it is likely to continue, and a recent report showing that the birth- rate in Massachusetts has increased from 14.7 to 21.3 per thousand since 1939 seems to confirm that opinion. Unfortunately, locally it has tended to concentrate itself by geographical areas, so that we have been obliged to open a new second grade at the Hadley School and a new first grade at the Clarke School this year, the latter quite unfor- seen. Meanwhile, however, the upper elementary grades and Junior High School are holding at a low level. I anticipate that the Junior High School next year may be at its smallest enrollment in fifteen years, this being, however, a condition bound to correct itself in due course as the present primary grades move upward. This correction may reveal itself sooner than we suppose, if experiences following World War I repeat themselves. Indeed, education leaders are telling us that within fifteen years enrollments in secondary schools and col- leges will be doubled.
Faculty Changes
After twenty years as principal of the High School, Mr. Lee T. Gray retired in the summer. Mr. Gray was one whose devotion was to the elevation of the scholastic standing of his school. The high stand-
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TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
ards of the school as it is at the moment are fundamentally the results of his efforts. The reputation of the school was his greatest concern, and the successes of its pupils his pride. By his retirement the town has lost a sincere and earnest school man.
In naming Mr. James H. Dunn as the new principal your Com- mittee has selected a person who is, in my opinion, in every way a worthy successor to Mr. Gray. Mr. Dunn has been a valued teacher in the school during most of Mr. Gray's regime, and was Mr. Gray's as- sistant. He is held in high regard by pupils and townspeople. His training qualifies him for the promotion. I anticipate that the school will continue upward under his leadership.
In the Junior High School Mr. Batchelder resigned the principal- ship at the first of the year to return to government service. After careful examination of candidates, Mr. Keith Jordan, at the time principal of a similar school at South Portland, Maine, was selected to fill the vacancy. He is proving a highly satisfactory choice.
Others who resigned in the course of the year were Miss Elizabeth Pirie, Mrs. Anne Shattuck, Mrs. Greta Briggs, Albert Reinhalter, Miss Dorothy O'Keefe, Edward Harris, Felix Palubinskas and Miss Hester Dwinell.
New teachers who joined our faculties are Miss Priscilla Randall, Mrs. Helen Hudson and Miss Catherine Garrity at the Clarke School; Louis Parker, Millard Emanuelson, Walter Drogue, Miss Marjorie McDougal, Enos Held and Miss Averill Gellerson at the High School; Keith L. Jordan, Mrs. Marion Burdett and Katherine Townsend at the Junior High School; and Miss Alice Toman at the Hadley Elementary.
Audio-Visual Education
While our schools have been reasonably well equipped for audio- visual education, our program has never functioned as it should have for lack of a well qualified coordinator. This position requires a person who believes in this form of presentation of educational information, who has enthusiasm in using it in his own classes, who possesses a knowledge of source materials and of the most advantageous way of obtaining and using them, and who can persuade others to his own way of thinking. Essentially he must be able to distinguish between the purely entertaining and the educational. Mr. Robert Rathbone of the High School English Department seemed to me to have these qualifications. He took over the duties as coordinator in September, and he has already made an auspicious start of organizing this phase of our work. He has made a comprehensive report of needs, and out- lined a plan of procedure of which I approve and along which we shall attempt to proceed immediately.
Class of 1947
Mr. Dunn reports the following information which will be of interest about the graduating class of June, 1947:
"There were 106 members in this class. The members of this class who sought admission to college through the College Entrance Board Examinations made an unusually fine record in these tests. Among the colleges now being attended by members of this class are the follow- ing: Bates, Boston University, Bowdoin, Brown, Colby, Dartmouth, George Washington University, Goucher, Harvard, William Jewell, University of Miami, New York University, Northeastern University, Radcliffe, Russell Sage, Smith, Upsala, Vassar. Many others are at- tending various junior colleges and specialized schools of higher learn-
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SCHOOL REPORT
1947]
ing. Six are in the armed services. Several members of the class were placed in secretarial and clerical positions through the school."
Special Class
For a number of years we have conducted no class for retarded pupils because of the small number of such pupils in our enrollment. The establishment of such classes is regulated by statute. Examination of such pupils is conducted by state officials. During the war these examinations were discontinued for lack of examining personnel, but they have now been resumed. We have a number of pupils who must be tested this year. If more than ten are found to be three years or more mentally retarded within the meaning of the law, we must again set up a class to accommodate them, and shall have no choice but to assign to that class those pupils who are recommended for it by the examiners. There is a strong possibility that this class must be formed by September.
Budget
Our budget for next year is a matter of concern, because it obvi- ously must increase. We are barely managing to get through this year, if we succeed in doing that, and we must care for some matters that have been postponed through war necessity and the hope for more favorable circumstances. Outstanding among these is the condition of the artificial stone trim of the Junior High School. A casual observa- tion of its condition does not reveal its defects, but careful examination reveals that it is rapidly disintegrating. Water is penetrating, causing cracks in window sills and lintels, and the rusting away of reinforce- ments. Belt courses over large areas are shaling off under weather action. Prior to the war we were able to take care of this condition as it occurred, but inability to get it satisfactorily done for four or five years has resulted in accumulation of trouble that must be taken care of to preserve the building. The estimate of a reliable contractor in- dicates an expenditure of about $6,000 for the whole building, or about $3,000 for the worst area which is the Redington Street front. I do not see how this work can be safely postponed.
Another item of size beyond our control is that of improving the emergency lighting in school auditoriums. Up to the present time we have met all requirements in this respect. Our building plans have always borne the approval of State authorities at time of construction, and have met subsequent inspections satisfactorily. Recently, however, requirements of the Department of Public Safety have been made more stringent, so that automatic emergency lights are demanded if approval of use of assembly rooms at night is to be granted. An esti- mate of the cost of this revision by an electrical contractor indicates that at the Junior High an expenditure of $500 may be needed. The High School is more complicated, and the Machon and Stanley Schools must be considered. The whole will approximate $1500. The item is obviously a "must." I recommend that that amount be included in our budget for the purpose.
Elsewhere in our budget we are faced with the plain facts that the prices of everything have gone up. A statement comparing the cost of instructional supplies of 1947 and 1948 shows an average in- crease of thirty percent in the prices of those we commonly use. Text- books are in about the same condition. Fuel oil, $2.805 per bbl, as of December 1947, is $3.755 now and will be $4.005 after January first. We have just received notice from the Lynn Gas & Electric Co. that the revision of rates as of January, 1948 will increase our bill annually by about $600. The picture is the same in every item which we have to purchase.
132
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
Cost Comparisons
If there is a thought that salary increases alone are responsible for the budget increases, examination of the facts shows that they are bearing not more than their proportionate part. True, they in- crease the sum-total of our appropriation, but an analysis of their place in the so-called "school dollar" finds them a no greater element in each dollar expended than they were ten years ago.
Analysis of the School Dollar
For
1936-37
1941-42
1946-47
Instructional Salaries
73.7c
74.6c
72.7c
Office Expenses
1.3c
1.0c
1.1c
Textbooks
2.0c
1.3c
1.1c
Supplies
2.4c
2.6c
1.5c
Janitors' Services
7.0c
7.3c
8.8c
Fuel
3.1c
3.0c
3.6c
Other operation expenses
2.7c
2.7c
2.7c*
Repair, replacement, etc.
2.2c
2.3c
2.6c
Health
1.1c
1.1c
0.9c
Transportation
0.5c
0.4c
0.3c
Tuition
0.4c **
Miscellaneous
0.1c
0.2c
0.9c ***
General Control
3.9c
3.5c
3.4c
$1.00
$1.00
$1.00
* Does not include cost of oil burners at Junior High School, which were voted on article in Town Meeting Warrant.
** Mainly veterans' education.
Increase due to purchase of athletic equipment.
Teaching of Civics
Last year the recommendation of Mr. Jordan and myself was for increased teaching time for Civics at the Junior High School level, which is the place where consensus of educational opinion feels that it belongs. At that time you felt that this additional time should not be so devoted. We wish to renew our recommendation.
If one is thinking of Civics in the terms of his own school ex- perience, when it was the uninspired study of the Constitution and nothing more, then the time we are giving is ample. Under present educational thought, however, that conception is completely outmoded.
Civics is that place in the school course where the pupil, now arriving at the stage where adulthood is next door, can begin to make his adjustments to and arrange his conception of his future. There is, consequently, in the Civics program provision for guidance: guidance in the improvement of his personality, physical condition, study habits, use of leisure time, use of money, and consideration of future voca- tional choice. The pupil is beginning to prepare himself to take his place as a citizen in a democracy, and it is at this point that concrete concepts of the functions and responsibilities of the future citizen as a voter, taxpayer and office holder can be inaugurated.
The pupil has before him an existence in a complicated society, with problems that are more than taxing the best brains in the world in the effort to solve. At this educational level an approach can be made to understanding what these problems are, not in their complexi- ties of course, but in language and in concepts within his range of comprehension. Among such problems are those of world peace, toler- ance, crime, housing, safety and social responsibility for the de-
133
SCHOOL REPORT
1947]
pendent. He is quite capable of obtaining the simpler facts of com- modity shortages, the problems of production, distribution and con- sumption of raw materials, and the advantages of community and regional planning. Moreover, he can understand much of what all these problems imply in his own life. At his age, guided or unguided, he will begin to form attitudes, and it is educationally sound to try to help him see the problem clearly and cleanly, stripped of befogging bias and partisanship.
It should be understood that no one of these matters is subject to a compartmentlike time allotment in the program. Of necessity they overlap, and they cannot be completely separated in the classroom any more than they can in life. It should be obvious, however, that to give such a program adequate treatment is a full-time job, and to consider it in lesser terms is to close our eyes to the needs of our young people for an understanding of the world they are facing.
Testing and Guidance
Testing and guidance is a field in which a great deal of time and money can be expended without adequate results from the investment, unless care is taken in evaluating what one is doing. I have never recommended the establishment of such a department as such within our system, because I have felt that in a system of the size of ours the substitution of a mechanism for a direct personal connection be- tween teachers and pupils is undesirable. We have, however, the means of doing what testing we need, and the personnel available to do it. We make use of this constantly and find the results meeting our necessities. Let me quote you the reaction of Mr. Dunn on this matter, as expressed in his annual report, just submitted:
"One finds much in educational literature about Testing and Guid- ance. Both are important and useful devices. There is, I believe, too often a tendency to emphasize the mechanics of these aids. Elaborate techniques are often set up and much valuable time is consumed.
We have found useful the objective type tests that were given in the 9th grade last year. Particularly useful to us are the English tests because they enable our teachers to diagnose basic weaknesses in fundamentals, especially reading. The Aptitude Tests given in the 11th grade by Boston University continue to be useful, especially when used in conjunction with all other available data. All of the members of this grade will be counselled by the principal and department heads on the results of these tests. Many parents like to discuss these test results with us.
There is a need for guidance work in every school. Effective edu- cation must, because of its very nature, result in directing the indi- vidual. Rather than entrust the work of guidance to one or two per- sons, we make much use of department heads. As a result it is more likely that each pupil will receive some individual counselling. The more that is known about an idividual, the more one can help him to prepare for his place in society.
One of the most challenging problems of the schools today is that of the individualization of education."
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK L. MANSUR,
Superintendent of Schools.
December 31, 1947
134
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation
$276,170.00
Refund
36.11
$276,206.11
Transfer
506.00
$276,706.11
Expenditures :
General Control
$ 9,478.11
Instructional Service
213,551.19
Operation of Plants
40,474.43
Maintenance
7,230.98
Auxiliary Agencies
5,357.12
Warrants Payable
455.00
276,546.83
Unexpended Balance
$159.28
Credits to the Department:
General Receipts
$ 375.42
Tuition Received-General
1,082.25
State Refund, Trade and Vocational
178.20
State Refund, General School Fund
14,243.70
Net Cost of Schools
$260,667.26
SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION Financial Report for Fiscal Year September 9, 1946 to June 30, 1947 Receipts
FOOTBALL
Gate receipts
$4,628.21
Contracts and guarantees 1,005.67
Miscellaneous:
Membership-A.A.B. Association .. 82.25
Advanced sale-Winchester tickets
39.00
Bus fares-Winchester
36.00
Advanced sale-Wakefield tickets ..
35.75
Bus fares-Wakefield
30.75
Advanced sale-Winthrop tickets ..
34.50
Bus fares-Winthrop
20.25
Reimburse for sweaters (Cheer-
leaders)
30.00
Advanced sale-Saugus tickets
282.90
Bus receipts 11/16/47
13.60
Donation
5.00
Reimbursement-Football
sweaters
30.00
TOTAL FOOTBALL RECEIPTS
$6,273.88
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Gate receipts
$527.48
$527.48
GIRLS' FIELD HOCKEY
Contribution toward blazers .... ... 150.00
150.00
Schools
$15,879.57
135
SCHOOL REPORT
1947]
GOLF
Guarantee from Phillips Academy .... 15.00 15.00
TOTAL RECEIPTS $6,966.36
Disbursements
FOOTBALL
Equipment
$1,452.93
Cleaning and reconditioning
68.00
Medical services and supplies
173.22
Transportation
297.90
Police
286.20
Officials
235.00
Contracts and guarantees
1,241.42
Ticket sellers and takers
59.00
Field expense
57.62
Printing
88.00
Miscellaneous :
A.A.B. Association-Membership ..
82.25
A.A.B. Association-Registration ..
5.00
Advance sale-Winchester tickets ..
39.00
Advance sale-Wakefield tickets ....
35.75
Advance sale-Winthrop tickets ....
34.50
Advance sale-Saugus tickets
282.90
New England Conference-Dues.
15.00
Revere Knitting Mills (Sweaters- Cheerleaders)
30.00
A. Cronk-Expenses N. E. Confer- ence
6.86
From field
25.00
Towels
.90
O. G. Poor Co .- Stock to repair goal posts
36.17
N. E. Conference-7 engraved footballs
10.63
Annual dues-N. E. Conference.
5.00
Swampscott High School Band- Annual appropriation
150.00
Revere Knitting Mills-Football inserts
62.50
Dieges & Clust-Megaphones for cheerleaders
28.44
Massachusetts Picture Service
6.70
$4,815.89
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Equipment
$ 79.00
Cleaning
38.25
Officials
106.00
Ticket takers and sellers
24.00
Transportation
158.70
Police
60.80
Northeastern Conference dues
5.00
Medical supplies
2.45
Music-V. F. W. game
15.00
Mr. Pagnotta-Services as policeman Marblehead game
2.00
Harold Martin-Expenses attending
N. E. Conference
1.32
$492.52
Covert's Armored Car Service-
136
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Officials
$36.50
Equipment 42.00
Transportation
70.80
Medical Supplies
7.16
Iver Johnson-Purchase .66
Flora Boynton-Reimburse for tel- ephone calls
4.22
BASEBALL
Equipment
$230.30
Cleaning
33.57
Transportation
170.10
Officials
64.00
Sweaters
37.50
Lime for field
1.34
Mr. Rathbone-Reimburse for tel-
1.31
GIRLS' FIELD HOCKEY
Equipment
$289.64
Officials
42.22
Transportation
73.60
Miscellaneous :
Membership dues-Hockey Asso-
ciation
2.00
J. Brine Co .- Score book
.36
$407.82
BOYS' ICE HOCKEY
Equipment
$111.00
Officials
40.00
Rental of hockey rink (11/22 and
1/18)
10.00
Joseph Gannon-Coaching ice hockey 200.00
$361.00
GOLF
Salem Country Club-Purchase
$11.65
J. F. Hanify-Purchase of golf balls 40.00
Walter Henshaw-Transportation expenses 10.00
$61.65
GENERAL MISCELLANEOUS FUND
Bank service charge-July, 1946.
$ .45
Bank service charge-November, 1946 .90
College Entrance Exam. Board (December series)
.50
Harold Martin-Reimburse for trans- portation and dinner at N. E. Con- ference 2.32
Mr. Rathbone-Reimburse for trans- portation and dinner at N. E. Con- ference
2.32
$6.49
TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS $6,844.83
TOTAL PROFIT FOR SEASON
$121.53
$161.34
ephone calls
$538.12
1947]
SCHOOL REPORT
137
PROOF
Balance on hand September 9, 1946
$521.69
Balance on hand June 30, 1947
643.22
PROFIT FOR SEASON
$121.53
JENNIE M. McVEY, Treasurer.
SUMMARY OF SWAMPSCOTT HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FUND
For Fiscal Year September 9, 1946 to June 30, 1947
FOOTBALL
Receipts
$6,273.88
Disbursements
4,815.89
Profit
$1,457.99
BOYS' BASKETBALL
Receipts
$527.48
Disbursements
492.52
Profit
$34.96
GIRLS' BASKETBALL
Receipts
Disbursements
$161.34
Deficit
$161.34
BASEBALL
Receipts
Disbursements
$538.12
Deficit
$538.12
GIRLS' FIELD HOCKEY
Receipts
$150.00
Disbursements
407.82
Deficit
$257.82
BOYS' ICE HOCKEY
Receipts
Disbursements
$361.00
Deficit
$361.00
GOLF
Receipts
$15.00
Disbursements
61.65
Deficit
$46.65
MISCELLANEOUS
Receipts
...
Disbursements
$6.49
Deficit
$6.49
138
TOWN DOCUMENTS
[Dec. 31
TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR SEASON $6,966.36 TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS FOR SEASON
6,844.83
TOTAL PROFIT FOR SEASON
$121.53
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Superintendent of Schools,
Swampscott, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit a report for the year ending December 31, 1947.
School visits, regular
170
School visits, extra
287
Visits to homes
282
Pupils excluded
108
Referred to family physician
208
Notice to parents
310
Referred to clinic
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