USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1920 > Part 10
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Weymouth Boston
Bowdoin, Me.
Phineas P. & Charity C. (Con- nor)
19 |Clara L. Russetto
19|Carolyn L. Wilkins 20|Hiram E. Raymond 20|Josephine A. Round ",
29
Plymouth
Cannot be learned John Croud & Jeanette (Bur- rell)
10 Anstrus L. Baldwin
"
Vincent & (unknown)
2 |Francis Del-Allesandro
58|10
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9 |Phoebe Carter
16 |John L. Kelley
Weymouth
Boston Weymouth "
" 23| Alice Conneen 27 Charles A. Loud , 30|Charles T. Bleakney
181| 57 68
1 4| 6| 6 77| 2|15
1
4|
" Boston
Weymouth
Ireland Weymouth Nova Scotia New York, N. Y.
James McNamara & Mary (Ma- lone) Richard & Mary E. (Pratt) Thomas W. & Charlotte (Tup- per) Alonzo Marvin & Mary (Beach)
1
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31 |Susan E. Salisbury
117
1
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TOWN CLERK'S REPORT
Births, Marriages and Deaths Recorded During the year 1920.
BIRTHS
The total number of births recorded was 293, males 144; fe- males 149.
The parentage of the children was as follows:
Born in the United States 265; born in foreign countries 198; born in Weymouth, either party, 118; unknown 3. Number of births in each quarter of the year, 84, 63, 71, 74.
MARRIAGES
The total number of marriages recorded was 169.
Married in Weymouth 101; in other places 68.
Either party born in Weymouth 90; born in the United States 185; born in foreign countries 63; residents of Weymouth, either party 226; of other places 112. First marriage, either party 306; second marriage, either party 31; third marriage, either party 1. Oldest groom was 58 and the youngest 19 years of age.
Oldest bride was 57 and the youngest was 16 years of age.
Number of marriages in each quarter of the year was 18, 57, 52, 42.
DEATHS
The total number of deaths was 217, males 108; females, 109 of the decedents 91 was born in Weymouth, 83 were born in the United States, 37 were born in foreign countries and 6 were born in places that cannot be learned.
Residents of Weymouth, but died elsewhere, 45; number mar- ried, 90; widowers, 24; widows, 33; single, 70.
The oldest decedent was 97 years plus.
Number of deaths in each quarter of the year was 54, 41, 53, 69.
Note-The object in printing the registration of births, mar- riages and deaths is to afford an opportunity for corrections of errors and omissions. If any be noted, notice should be imme- diately sent to the Town Clerk in writing, giving the correct facts, that the records may be perfected before copies are pre- pared for the State archives.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
Town of Weymouth
1920
15093
121
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
At the last annual town meeting the school committee were by vote instructed to look into the matter of additional land for school house purposes in North Weymouth, and to report thereon to the annual meeting of 1921.
For some years it has been apparent that the Athens school would be inadequate to take care of the ever-increasing number of children in Ward One, and to meet any possible emergency the town at the last annual meeting provided funds for the erection of a portable school house. During the spring the annual school census was taken, and at that time it appeared that there might be no increase of school children in the coming year at North Weymouth.
During the summer it seemed that the expense of a temporary school house might be avoided, but on the opening of schools in September it became clear that the estimate of new pupils made in the spring upon the school census figures was too small. An unexpected number of new families with children had made settle- ment in North Weymouth during the summer, and the erection of a portable school house became necessary and permanent enlarge- ment of school housing must shortly be made.
Two things may be done: Either to build near or adjacent to the Athens building, or elsewhere, at some distance.
An addition to the Athens school house lot would involve the purchase and removal or demolition of existing residences, would be costly, and would at best give but little playground for a very large school. It is true that land might be taken from Beals Park for this purpose, but the amount that could be taken is lim- ited, and an equivalent value in other land would have to be sup- plied by the town for park purposes elsewhere in North Weymouth.
The committee agree that an entirely new school house loca- tion should be secured, and this without delay. They also agree that the best available location is the one near Bridge and Stand- ish streets owned by Mr. George A. Walker, and it is believed that this land can be acquired at a price that is fair. This land is mostly level, is well adapted for good drainage, and is near the greatest growth of population. An article looking to the purchase or taking of this land, which is about six acres in extent, is there- fore included in the annual warrant by request of the committee.
Various types of temporary or portable schools were consid- ered before the erection of the school now in the Athens yard, as well as a semi-permanent building of small size which might have been placed on Beals Park with the consent of the Park Commis- sioners.
It was deemed best, however, to erect a true portable, inas- much as it might be used elsewhere at some later time without great expsense; and after examination of the various types the great expense; and after examination of the various types the
This company has had wide experience in building portables in this and other states. The committee examined buildings erect-
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ed by the company in Braintree and Medford. The building is well lighted, well heated and well ventilated. In addition, it offers an appearance that detracts, in no way from its surroundings. It offers accomodations for eighty pupils.
Expenditures for the building were as follows:
Appropriated
$6,000.00
E. F. Hodgson Company Building, including heating and ventilating $4,925.00
Edward E. Babb & Company, furniture 952.00
Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., Setting up furniture 25.00
Thomas L. Allen, installing blackboards
13.45
Rhines Lumber Co., moulding for blackboards 14.07
Crown Shade and Screen Co., shades
65.45
Balance
5.03
$6,000.00
$6,000.00
The unexpectedly greater increase in the number of pupils in school during the new school year, and the establishment of the continuation school as required by law, have contributed to the in- creased cost of our schools this past year. There is no reason now to believe that this increase in expense will not for some time con- tinue. At least two additional teachers will be required in the next school year, and there is little likelihood that coal or general supplies will be much cheaper than at present.
The budget, as submitted, is based upon salaries as they exist on January 1, 1921, with an allowance for two new teachers, and upon current coal prices. There is a demand that regular maxi- mum salaries of instructors be raised so as to equal the maximum in at least three adjoining towns. If the town shall recognize this demand, the school budget as presented must be increased.
We hereby submit our budget, based on existing salaries, and compared with actual expenses during the past year.
Expended 1920
Estimated for 1921 $3,100.00 116,000,00
Instructors
106,385.31
Janitors
8,562.27
9,000,00
Fuel
9,137.92
12,000.00
Repairs
3,914.45
5,000.00
Water
237.50
500.00
Supplies
6,507.16
7,000.00
Miscellaneous
2,334.57
2,500.00
Transportation
6,057.70
10,000.00
Evening Schools
1,211.33
1,900.00
Americanization School
81.00
Continuation School
2,505.07
Totals
$149,900.92
$167,000.00
.
.
.
. .
As to fuel, the estimate for 1921 includes some coal delivered late in 1920, and under transportation includes school tickets
$2,966.64
Superintendent
$5,994.97
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bought late in 1920 but not paid for. The estimate for evening schools includes the Americanization school, and the estimate for salaries of instructors includes the instructors in the Continuation school, one-half of the total expense of the Continuation school eventually being refunded by the state.
The total amount to be refunded by the state for our schools on account of the coming year should be nearly if not more than $19,000, under the existing law.
As appears in the report of the town accountant, the entire balance of the construction funds for the Nevin school, supplement- ed by a small amount from the sale of some remaining materials, was used in grading. More grading at the Nevin school must eventually be done, but the yard now offers a very fair appearance.
The work of the School Nurse has hitherto been paid for by funds of the local branch of the American Red Cross, which would be supplemented, if necessary, by funds from the Metro- politan Chapter.
The benefits to be gained by the work of the nurse are so ap- parent that a continuance of such service is desirable. It was understood in the beginning this work would be financed by the Red Cross for one year. An additional appropriation of $800.00 will be needed to continue this work until 1922. This amount is not included in the estimate, since it has never been a regular school expense.
Respectfully submitted,
ELMER E. LEONARD,
SARAH S. HOWE, EDWIN R. SAMPSON, JOHN P. HUNT, THERON L. TIRRELL, PRINCE H. TIRRELL,
School Committee of Weymouth.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Members of the School Committee:
I herewith submit my twelfth annual report, the same being the thirty-fifth in the series of annual reports of the superintendents of this town.
A comparison of the estimates made in January, 1920, with the record of the expenditures for the year will show that there was an overdraft in nearly all the important items necessary for the support of the schools. The opening of the Continuation School, together with the addition of a new teacher at the Nevin School, two at the Athens School, and one at the High School, accounts, in a large measure, for the excess in cost for instruction over the estimate. The item of $9,000 for fuel does not represent the actual cost, as the bills for two carloads of coal delivered in November, will be paid from the appropriation of next year.
The amount expended for transportation is actually $1500 larger than the amount shown in the statement, since bills totall- ing $1500 still remain unpaid. The cost of transporting the pupils from Washington and Summer Streets has nearly doubled during the year. In addition to this the successive increases in fare on the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway have added greatly to the cost of transportation. A few years ago it was possible to carry a pupil from any part of South Weymouth to the High School for five cents a day. Now, however, the same service costs, in some cases, forty cents or eight times as much as formerly.
Any consideration of the money necessary for the support of our schools for the coming year must include more money for fuel, more' money for transportation, and more for instruction. The latter item, particularly, needs emphasis. The City of Quincy and the Towns of Braintree, Rockland, and Hingham are paying higher maximum salaries to their teachers than Weymouth. This is a condition that must be remedied if our schools are to be kept even at their present standard of efficiency. The effect of this condition was plainly felt last summer when we lost a large num- ber of our best teachers just before the opening of the schools. It was necessary to fill eight of the vacancies with temporary teach- ers. During the month of January we shall lose one of our best teachers, who is going to a town having one-third the population of Weymouth and about one-quarter its valuation. This town has offered her a salary $250 higher than her present salary and $100 higher than our maximum for the corresponding grade.
Governor Channing H. Cox, while emphasizing in his inaugural address the necessity of paying higher salaries to teachers, said, "From the point of view of her material prosperity, as well as from the larger consideration of her duty in the development of American citizenship, Massachusetts must not sacrifice her edu- cational leadership."
SALARIES
In last year's report was given the full text of the Act which provided for the distribution of a portion of the income tax and the income from the Massachusetts School Fund for the purpose
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of improving the public schools. A special commission, appointed by Governor Coolidge, to investigate teachers' salaries, recom- mends that this law be changed in the following details:
Section 3. For each person employed for full-time service for the entire school year as teacher, supervisor, principal, assistant superintendent, or superintendent of schools, the city or town shall be reimbursed as follows:
(1) Three hundred and fifty dollars for every such person who has received as salary not less than one thousand and who is a graduate of an approved normal school or college and has had at least two years' teaching experience or who possesses preparation and teaching experience accepted in lieu thereof.
(2) Three hundred dollars for every such person, not included in the foregoing classification, who has received as salary not less than nine hundred dollars, and (a) who has satisfactorily com- pleted one year of professional training in an approved normal school or teachers' training school, and has had at least three years of teaching experience; or (b) is a graduate of an approved normal school or college, and has had at least one year of teach- ing experience; or (c) who possesses preparation and teaching ex- perience accepted in lieu of either of the foregoing requirements in this paragraph.
(3) Two hundrd and fifty dollars for every such person, not included in either paragraph (1) or (2), who has received as salary not less than eight hundred dollars.
If this act is passed by the next General Court, of which there is every prospect, and the town increases the maximum by one hundred dollars, the salaries will then be on a more fitting basis.
CONTINUATION SCHOOL
In November, 1919, Weymouth in common with all other cities and towns in the Commonwealth having over two hundred em- ployees between fourteen and sixteen, voted to accept Chapter 311 of the General Acts of 1919. According to the provisions of this Act, all minors between fourteen and sixteen, who are em- ployed, must attend. a Continuation School for four hours per week, the four hours to be considered a part of the time during which a minor is permitted by law to work. During unemploy- ment, a minor must attend a Continuation School for twenty hours per week.
In compliance with this law, a Continuation School was opened in September in the Lincoln School, Weymouth Landing. Mr. Charles Y. Berry, Principal of the Hunt School, was appointed Director with the understanding that he was to have nominal charge of the buildings over which he had formerly been principal, four-fifths of his salary being apportioned to the Continuation School and one-fifth being allotted to the general school work. Miss Anna Alden was appointed Assistant, with direct charge over the girls.
After a conference with the heads of the different factories, we decided to have the sessions extend from one to five in the after- noon of each work day, the pupils being taken from the different factories by groups so as to interfere as little as possible with the general work.
The Lincoln building, which has not been used since the new Hunt School was erected a few years ago, was selected as being
126
best fitted for the needs of this school. The upper floor was equipped with electric lights, gas stoves, hot water heater and all the other utensils and appliances necessary for cooking. In addi- tion to this, tables and sewing machines were purchased for the classes in sewing. By thoroughly equipping the building, it will be possible to get the greatest amount of good from it. Classes in cooking and sewing from the grades can later make use of the building during the forenoon while the Continuation School is not in session. In the evening, the Practical Arts classes for adults may use the building for dressmaking, millinery or cooking if desired.
The lower floor of the building was furnished with seats for the boys, no other equipment being necessary for the present as the boys use the manual training room in the new Hunt School for their shop work. Later it may perhaps be advisable to purchase additional equipment, as for example, a printing press, gas engine and electrical equipment.
The total enrollment of the school to date is 57 boys and 49 girls, making a total of 106. The per cent. of attendance for the boys is 92.1, girls 97.4, the same comparing very favorably with the corresponding percentage of the grade schools.
Of the pupils attending the school from other towns, 10 are from Quincy, 5 from Hingham, 2 from Cohasset, 1 from Braintree and 1 from North' Abington.
One-half of the pupil's time is devoted to the academic subjects, including arithmetic, English, spelling, civics, reading, penman- ship, geography and Hygiene, the other half to practical arts work, at the present time manual training for the boys and cook- ing and sewing for the girls.
There is every probability that we shall be obliged to maintain the school for another year as an examination of the employment cards shows the names of 194 who have been employed in this town at some time during the year. This list is not complete as some of the neighboring towns have not certified to us the names of those who were working here the earlier part of the year.
One-half the cost of all the charges for support of this school is borne by the State.
EVENING AGRICULTURAL LECTURES
The Norfolk County Farm Bureau, cooperating with the Wey- mouth Branch of the Norfolk Agricultural School, held evening lectures in the High School building on agricultural subjects of interest to this locality on the following evenings: November 18, December 2, December 9, and December 16, 1920.
The subjects taken up were:
1. Tree Fruits.
2. Small Fruits.
3. Poultry Husbandry.
4. Vegetable Production.
H. A. Rose, the county agricultural agent, conducted the course on Tree Fruits.
James A. Salter of the Norfolk County Agricultural School at Walpole took charge of the Small Fruit section.
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Roy T. Argood of the same school had charge of the Poultry class.
Chas. W. Kemp of the Weymouth Branch took the class in Veg- etable Production.
Fifty-two registered for the various classes. The attendance averaged forty-two.
Lantern slides bearing on the various subjects were procured from the U. S. Department of Agriculture and used each evening.
PRACTICAL ARTS CLASSES
The Practical Arts work has been extended so that we are now offering one morning class, two afternoon classes and two evening classes in dressmaking, one afternoon class and three evening classes in millinery.
Mrs. Ahern has fifty-seven in dressmaking, Miss Muller thirty- nine in millinery, Miss Knight twenty-one in millinery, and Miss Avery eight in millinery.
Additional classes in millinery and dressmaking have been opened in the Lincoln School, Weymouth, to accommodate the women in that part of the town and one additional class in mil- linery has been opened in South Weymouth. It will probably be necessary to open a class in North Weymouth next year to accom- modate the people in that section.
COURSE IN APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY
Sixty-six of the teachers from the High School and the ele- mentary grades are taking a course in Applied Psychology under the direction of the Department. of University Extension. One class of forty-six is held in the High School and one of twenty in the Nevin School. These classes alternate on Thursday after- noons, the lesson extending from four until five-fifteen.
TUFTS LECTURE COURSE
Early in the fall the Selectmen voted to have the Tufts Lecture Course held in the High School building under the jurisdiction of the School Department, the School Committee agreeing to furnish the hall, lights, heat, and janitor service free of charge ..
The first two of these lectures have already been held and have been exceptionally well attended. At the first lecture under Mr. Avis, the hall was filled to seating capacity. ,, At the concert given by the Boston Symphony Club, over three hundred requests for tickets were refused ..
The program as arranged for the year is as follows:
Nov. 23-Edward Avis, "Birdland."
Dec. 21-The Boston Symphony Club.
Jan. 27-Burnell R. Ford, Electrical Scientist.
Feb. 10-Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes. "The Perils of Know- ledge."
March -Dr. Kenyon L. Butterfield, President of Amherst Agricultural College. Subject to be announced.
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HEALTH WORK
The local chapter of the Red Cross has furnished a nurse for a portion of the year, whose entire time has been devoted to the care of the school children. I cannot speak too highly of the work done by Miss Downey in the schools. Her report, which is given in full below, I commend to the attention of all. Every child in town has been examined at least once. The children have been weighed and measured twice and in case of underweight have been advised as to necessary diet. Records have been kept of all the work done. One of the most striking facts brought out by these examinations of the children is the poor condition of the teeth. Eighty per cent. of. the children of the town have imper- fect teeth. In the Athens School, North Weymouth, only four- teen per cent. have perfect teeth while eighty-six per cent. have one or more than one tooth in a carious condition.
The Nevin School made the best showing. Thirty-four per cent. of the children have perfect teeth and only sixty-six per cent. have defective teeth. As the general health is directly dependent upon the condition of the teeth, it would seem advisable to make some provision to have the teeth of the children looked after either by a hygienic nurse or by competent dentists. The former would cost less money, the duty of the hygienic nurse being simply to clean the teeth, to advise as to proper care, and to send tó a den- tist when necessary. The District Nurse Association is considering the possibility of furnishing such a nurse to the schools for the coming year.
I strongly advise that the work of the school nurse be continued and that some action be taken toward caring for the teeth of the children.
REPORT OF MISS MARY A. DOWNEY, SCHOOL NURSE.
On May 12, 1920, I began work in the Weymouth schools as the first school nurse, under the auspices of the Weymouth Chapter of the American Red Cross. With the sanction of the school phy- sicians, I began by seeing each child individually, outside the class- room, to avoid embarrassing the child and distracting the atten- tion of the class. Health cards which had previously been pre- pared by Mr. P. T. Pearson, Supt. of Schools, were used in check- ing up the number of carious teeth; the presence of adenoids and enlarged or diseased tonsils, or any other evident defect. During the month and one-half before the close of school, I examined in this · manner some 2500 children.
Each child was instructed in the proper care of the teeth and head, when necessary. It was very gratifying to see that the majority of these children had fol- lowed the advice given concerning the care of their teeth and during the summer vacation, cultivated the habit of brushing their teeth after meals and before going to bed. Many had visited their family dentist and had much needed work done.
Of all the children seen during May and June, but very few had ever had dental work of any kind done, so that the boys and girls of the upper grades had from three to six permanent teeth, carious, and all, with very few exceptions, had lost their six year molars. These are the first of the permanent set to appear, acting as a sort of key stone to keep the jaws in their proper shape and size during the eruption of the other permanent teeth. If these
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must be extracted before the jaws are fully grown, or before all the second teeth have appeared, it results in a shortened jaw 'or tipped teeth, so that the grinding surfaces are toward the tongue instead of erect.
Arrangements were made with Forsythe Dental Infirmary, one of the leading dental authorities in this part of the country, so that eight children were given treatment each week. This work was necessarily slow but proved the very great need of a dental clinic for Weymouth school children. The ideal clinic would be one es- tablished in a central school with a dentist on full' time to fill and extract teeth at a minimum cost. This, however, would occa- sion considerable expense so that now plans are under way to establish a clinic with a dental hygienist in charge whose duties will be to instruct in dental hygiene, and to clean teeth. A dental chart will be marked with those teeth needing filling or extracting and will be sent to the parents when it is expected the child will be taken to the family dentist to complete his treatment. The possibility is that the District Nursing Association of Weymouth will undertake the financing of this proposition, which is a most worthy one, as sound teeth are the foundation of good health.
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