Town annual report of Weymouth 1926, Part 18

Author: Weymouth (Mass.)
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 346


USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1926 > Part 18


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There has been a startling increase in the number of children attending the Pratt. one which warrants the immediate construction of four new rooms.


The people of Pond Plain wish their small children to be taught nearer their homes. A school of three rooms would now easily accommodate all the lower grade scholars of this district, but we believe that six rooms should be the smallest unit to be erected in the future. Such a unit, if erected, should be so located as to serve the Randolph Street district and the territory south of Derby Street. In this entire neighborhood there are enough scholars to furnish six grades. The Town Meeting has already approved a new school pro- ject at Pond Plain by appropriating money for the purchase of a lot. This appropriation, $1,250.00, has not been expended, being insufficient for the purpose, and it has been difficult to find suitable land for sale. There is land, however, well located, and of sufficient size, which could be taken; and two, or possibly three, other locations which may be purchased. The cost of any one of these parcels would be very much greater than the amount appropriated last year.


It should be noted that a new building, properly located, at Pond Plain will serve to postpone for some time any addition to the Nevin School.


The situation at Weymouth Landing is much the same as at South Weymouth, all schools filled with no room to spare. New con- struction at the Hunt School is inevitable, but the proposed addition to the High School can be made to postpone such work.


Except the Franklin, all the schools in town are well equipped and in good physical condition, except in those cases where exterior painting should be done, and in that of the Pratt School where re- pairs to the exterior walls are needed. Also, wherever possible the existing furnaces should be replaced with steam boilers. A solid, wide driveway is greatly needed at the High School.


201


The progress on the shop at the High School has been satisfac- tory, and the boys should, by June next, have an unusual and worthy exhibit of their year's work. A detailed report and list of expendi- tures on the shop account will be found in the report of the Superin- tendent.


Your Committee has at hand plans intended to cover the build- ing program herein recommended, plans which we believe will best serve immediate and future needs.


Details concerning the progress and operation of the schools will be found in the Report of the Superintendent, which is adopted as a part of the Report of the School Committee. The following is a summary of expenses for the past year, and estimates for the coming year :


1926 Expenditures


1927 Estimates


Superintendent


$4,500.00


$4,500.00


Other General Salaries


1,780.25


1,950.00


Other General Expense


1,366.71


1,500.00


Teachers' Salaries


168,659.82


184,000.00


Text Books & Supplies


15,114.97


15,000.00


Tuition


930.82


1,000.00


Transportation


14,049.80


17,000.00


Support of Truants


51.71


150.00


Janitors


14,109.29


16,000.00


Fuel


10,623.57


12,000.00


Light


1,478.81


1,500.00


Maintenance & Water


23,426.85


20,000.00


Other Expense


820.35


1,000.00


Continuation School


1,876.50


2,000.00


Day Industrial School


13,494.76


18,000.00


Day Household Arts School


4,285.87


5,000.00


Evening Practical Arts School


946.01


1,200.00


Americanization


184.88


200.00


Total


$277,700.97


$302,000.00


Respectfully submitted,


PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman,


SARAH STETSON HOWE, Secretary,


JOHN P. HUNT,


J. HERBERT LIBBY, M. D.


FRANCIS W. REA,


EDWIN R. SAMPSON.


202


REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Members of the School Committee :


I herewith submit my eighteenth annual report, the forty-first in the series of annual reports of the superintendents of this town.


ITEMS OF INTEREST


(Following statistics taken from State Report for Year ending November 30, 1926)


355


Population of the Town.


17,253


Rank in the State ..


45


Valuation of the Town, December 31, 1926.


$32,936,879.00


Rank in the State ...


.32


Tax Rate, December, 1926


$23.25


Valuation per pupil in Net Average Membership


State Average


$9,854.00


Weymouth 9,206.00


Average Cost per pupil in Net Average Membership (Exclusive of General Control)


State Average


Elementary $88.52


$126.78


Weymouth.


61.07


99.31


Neighboring Towns


Population


Rank


Elementary


High School


Quincy


60,055


13


$61.68


$103.65


Braintree


13,193


58


66.71


135.39


Rockland


7,966


86


56.41


96.83


Abington


5,822


111


67.00


122.81


Hingham


6,158


107


73.83


114.15


WEYMOUTH


17,253


45


61.07


99.31


Towns nearest in Size :


Framingham


21,078


43


66.86


133.13


Methuen


20,606


44


67.88


** 89.37


WEYMOUTH


17,253


45


61.07


99.31


Winthrop


16,158


46


64.60


102.65


Wakefield


15,611


47


59.56


161.59


Endowed


Teachers


Men


Women


Total


Elementary schools


4


77


81


High School


16


20


36


Special


1


8


9


Total


21


105


126


Elementary


High


Two-room


Buildings


Schools 13


School


portables 3


Total


1


17


These figures and tables show that the average cost in Wey- mouth is below that of the State and compares favorably with the cost in neighboring towns and towns nearest to Weymouth in size.


High School


Cities and Towns in the State


203


ATTENDANCE


Number of days of School


181


High School


179.5


Elementary


Per cent. of Attendance


High School


.9248


Elementary


.9389


Highest Attendance Record


Building-James Humphrey .9657


Room-Jefferson-Grade IV .9780


The principals have made special efforts during the year to have good attendance maintained, and their success is evidenced by the following list, showing twenty-four rooms in the town which made a record for the year in excess of ninety-five per cent. The James Humphrey School, an eight-room grammar building, made a remark- able showing, with every room over .95, and .9657 for the building.


Jefferson


Grade VIII


.9714


James Humphrey


Grade VIII-B. .9711


James Humphrey


Grade VII-A .9707


Jefferson


Grade III


.9683


James Humphrey


Grade VIII-A


.9671


Franklin


Grade V


.9657


James Humphrey


Grade VII-C


.9657


James Humphrey


Grade VI-A


.9656


James Humphrey


Grade VI-C


.9653


James Humphrey


Grade VI-B .9628


Athens


Grade VII


9608


Athens


Grade VI


.96


Athens


Grade V-B


.96


Franklin


Grade IV


.9583


James Humphrey


Grade VII-B


.9566


Washington


Grade IV


9563


Edward B. Nevin


Grade VIII


.9556


Edward B. Nevin


Grade IV-V


.9536


Washington


Grade V


.9533


Hunt


Grade VIII


.9525


Athens


Grade VIII


.9518


Athens


Grade IV


.9514


Hunt


Grade VI


.9505


Grade IV


.9780


Athens


The children have been encouraged throughout the town in va- rious ways, and the names of the highest buildings and rooms pub- lished in the two local papers from time to time. At the James Humphrey School interest was aroused by displaying the photographs of pupils having perfect attendance for one year in one frame, and of those having this record for two, three and four years in other frames. Also, during the last two weeks of the summer vacation, the photographs of the "Honor Roll" pupils for the school year were shown in the window of the East Weymouth branch of Tufts Library.


204


ENROLLMENT


Year High School Elementary


Total


Gain


1916


379


2305


2684


1917


385


2263


2648


1918


357


2348


2705


57


1919


327


2404


2731


26


1920


338


2429


2767


36


1921


353


2614


2967


200


1922


453


2632


3085


118


1923


531


2688


3219


134


1924


550


2636


3186


**


33


1925


719


2515


3234


48


(June 30)


1926


795


2684


3479


245


(Dec. 31


1926


846


2913


3759


280


.** loss due to change in entrance age.


The above table shows that during a period of ten years the school population has grown from 2684 to 3759, a gain of 40%. The High School has more than doubled, with an increase of 123%. The elementary grades do not make so striking a showing, owing to the elimination of the ninth grade and the raising of the entrance age. Even there, however, the increase is 26%, the greater part of which has occurred within the last two years. The section growing most rapidly appears to be around the Pratt School. Five years ago the number of pupils in that building was 136. Today it is 236, an increase of 74%. There is every reason to believe that the development of the town will continue. Certainly the new construction which is seen everywhere will have its effect on the school population.


NEW CONSTRUCTION


It would be a waste of time to enter here extended arguments as to the necessity for new buildings, but briefly considered, the sit- uation is as follows :


The average number of pupils per teacher is far in excess of what it should be. We are using six rooms in portables and four rooms in a building 'which was condemned twenty years ago. Aside from two rooms at the Athens, and one at the Adams, a two-room building, there is no opportunity for expansion.


In 'East Weymouth a new wing should be added to the High School to accommodate, not only the rapidly growing Senior High School, but also the seventh and eighth grades at East Weymouth, thereby establishing our first Junior High School. In planning the present extension to the old building, it was intended at some future time to construct a duplicate wing on the side toward North Wey- mouth to balance the structure. Such a wing would accommodate about 500 pupils.


There are at present 846 pupils enrolled in the High School, with 300 to enter next fall. Deducting the graduating class of 112, and allowing only 16 for new pupils, we shall have an enrollment next September of 1050 students. The building was designed to accom- modate 900 students, with the shops removed, and running at maxi- mum .load; but maximum load does not mean satisfactory conditions. It is safe to say that the present building will handle 850 easily. This will leave 200 that must be provided for elsewhere.


205


In September there will be in the seventh and eighth grades at East Weymouth 223 pupils for Junior High School: This number; added to the overflow from the High School, makes a total of 423: immediately available for a new wing. Such an arrangement would leave. the James: Humphrey building free for Grades, I to :VI. in -- clusive. We would then have three buildings admirably situated .for the accommodation of the small children in East Weymouth. A very. large group would be able to attend school without crossing, a car track, a street with, heavy traffic, or a congested square.


At the. Pratt School, the present enrollment is sufficient for eight rooms. There are now two rooms in a portable, making six rooms in use, and these are crowded. By making use of the natural de- pression to the north of the present building, a four-room addition with a hall and boiler-room in the basement, might be erected at à" moderate cost. This building could be connected to the present structure by a colonnade, thus making communication between the" two buildings easy. It is practically impossible, and not desirable, to add directly to the present building, owing to the location and type of construction.


We have spoken in other reports of placing the buildings for small children where they are accessible. The Nevin School is sit- uated at one side of the area which it serves, and for that reason a very large number of children must be transported to it. Many walk long distances. Over two hundred children in this building remain during the entire' noon period. A large part of this group comes from beyond the railroad track in the Pond Plain and Randolph Street section. A six-room building should be constructed as near the depot as possible to' accommodate the children of the first six grades in that area. . With automobile traffic becoming heavier each year, every move that we can make to house the small children near their homes, and away from the crowded thoroughfares, is a step in the right direc- tion.


MAINTENANCE


Under maintenance come four forms of expenditure, namely, equipment, janitors' supplies, water and repairs. Of the $23,400.00 expended, $3500.00 was used at the new Bicknell School for grading, $1100.00 for moving the portable building from the Athens School to the Nevin School, $350.00 for janitors' supplies, $525.00 for water, and $1800.00 for equipment, leaving $16,125.00 for repairs and upkeep. Of the more extensive repairs, the following may be worthy of mention :


Adams School-Exterior painted, cellar windows replaced and basement wall pointed.


Jefferson School-Roof shingled, porches repaired and exterior painted.


Washington School-Porches repaired and exterior painted.


Pratt School-Roof shingled, metal ceilings erected in class-rooms and corridors, plaster repaired throughout the building, inside thor- oughly painted and woodwork varnished.


Shaw'School-Steam heating system installed, with direct radia- tion and univents in each class-room, basement divided into one boiler-room and two play-rooms, boys' and girls' entirely separated, metal lath and plaster placed on ceilings of basement and granolithic floors laid.


20.6


The budget for 1927 calls for $20,000.00 for repairs during the year, which amount is less than 2% of the actual value of the school property. The following repairs or changes should be made :


Adams School-Room on second floor made ready for class room use in September and new heating plant installed. Note :- This room should be used for third and fourth grades, as the primary room now in use has 52 children enrolled, and there will be more next year.


High School-Macadam driveway and better care of grounds.


"ames Humphrey School-Interior and exterior painted.


Washington School-Three hot air furnaces replaced with mod- eru steam heating plant for soft coal.


New Hunt School -- Interior woodwork varnished and walls painted.


Edward B. Nevin School-Interior woodwork varnished and walls. tinted, and exterior painted.


Pratt School-Exterior covered with some form of siding to re- place present shingles, which are worn out.


Shaw School-Interior and exterior painted.


TEACHERS


We have been fortunate in having no more than twelve resigna- tions during the year, four of which were occasioned by marriage.


Of the twenty-three appointments, twelve were made to fill new positions ; eight in the elementary grades, two in the High School and two specials.


Miss Alice A. Conroy, the Dental Hygienist, had been working under the jurisdiction of the Weymouth Visiting Nurse Association since the fall of 1922, but was appointed the first of January by the School Department as one of its regular personnel.


Miss Myra G. Keep, the Elementary Supervisor, was employed the first of September to take charge of the work in the first six grades, and particularly that of the new teachers who have been taken into the system within the last few years. There has never been any objection to placing inexperienced town girls in the grades, provided they could be placed advantageously in buildings with ex- perienced teachers, and provided also that their educational qualifi- cations, their training, personality and disposition were such as to make them desirable members of the teaching force. During the last two years so many have been taken into the schools that it be- came necessary to have their work supervised more closely in order to make them real assets to the system. The habits of a teacher and her general attitude towards school work are formed within the first few years of her experience.


At the present time there is every indication that twelve extra teachers will be needed at the opening of school in September; ten in the elementary grades and two in the High School.


INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL SHOP


According to the recommendation made in last year's report, the sum of $35,000.00 was appropriated for the construction of a shop, separated from the main building, at the High School, the work to be done as far as possible by the boys of the carpentry department. This work was begun in June, and is nearing completion. The lower


Working ON Roof


208


floor is ready for the installation of machinery, and the upper floor should be ready within six weeks. As this is the largest project ever undertaken in the state by industrial school boys, the instructor, Mr. F. Louis Whitford, may well claim merit for carrying it through so successfully.


The building contains an equivalent of ten large class-rooms. The lower story is made of cement; the upper of wood construction, cov- ered with asbestos lumber. The boys have done all the carpentering, with the exception of a few days' labor placing heavy timbers on the first floor. They have also done much of the incidental work around the building, as, for example, grading, fire stopping with brick, paint- ing, etc. There is every indication that the building will be com- pleted well within the money appropriated, and we have every reason to believe that there will be sufficient money left to purchase the necessary machinery and equipment. During the summer about twenty boys worked on the job steadily for eight weeks, receiving $2.00 per day for compensation. They will also receive credit toward their diplomas for the practical work done. The following is a list of expenditures to date :


MATERIALS :


American Railway Express Co.


Miscellaneous $2.00


American Architectural Iron Co.


Miscellaneous 9.50


John J. Gallagher, Inc.


Lime bricks 147.00


John F. Griffin Co.


Iron beams, frames, etc.


687.25


A. W. Hastings & Co.


Windows & Frames


T. J. Kelly 879.00


Miscellaneous 14.85


Loud's Mills


Asbestos Lumber 702.68


J. H. Murray Hardware Co., Inc.


Miscellaneous 1.10


J. H. Pratt


Miscellaneous 5.00


Rhines Lumber Co.


Lumber, doors, nails, etc.


6,291.99


George W. Stone Co.


Miscellaneous


5.98


F. Louis Whitford


Miscellaneous 3.10


E. Stanley Wires Co. Miscellaneous 24.00


Henry N. Worthington Co.


Sand & Gravel 497.40


LABOR & SUPERVISION :


Boys-Summer Vacation-Labor 1,574.47


Julian Gibson-Labor 30.00


John F. Griffin Co .- Labor and Supervision 2,416.29


J. N. Nelson-Labor 35.00


Thomas O'Toole-Labor 114.00


Herbert Ralph-Labor 10.00


Weymouth Water Dept .- Labor


11.76


$9,270.85


4,191.52


The Blue Prints Consulting


-


-


1


210


HEATING & VENTILATION :


Stubbs Bros .- Heating & Ventilation 2,006.39


ARCHITECT :


Howard B. S. Prescott-Plans & Supervision 1,100.00


ELECTRICITY :


E. N. Fisher-Electric wiring 854.45


ROOFING :


Cavanaugh & Earley, Inc.


Skylight, tar and copper roofing 637.00


.


4,597.84


December 31, 1926-Total Expenditures 18,060.21


SHOEMAKING-PART TIME EDUCATION


Shoe manufacturing has always been the chief industry of the town, and still is, as far as the number of people employed is con- cerned, but during the last few years there has been a tendency among our young people to enter other fields of labor. If the shoe industry is to remain a leading factor in the business life of the town, some effort must be made to interest the young people in the possi- bilities of this industry as a means of livelihood.


The School Committee has voted to organize in conjunction with the State Department of Education, a part-time trade school for boys and girls, to be affiliated with the Stetson Shoe Company. This trade school, however, will be run along somewhat different lines from the trade courses we now have. The boys or girls will spend one-half of their time in the Stetson factory and one-half of their time in the High School. For factory work they will be paid at the regular rates. Studies in the High School will be organized to give instruction along the lines most needed. The students will work in two groups, alternating weekly between the factory and the school. The length of the course has not yet been determined, but presum- ably there will be the same opportunity to secure a department di- ploma from the High School as in the trade courses.


The expense to the town will be less than for any of the forms of industrial education that we now have, as the shoe plant furnishes the equipment and the housing. In this course the boys and girls will be able to secure a liberal education, as well as a moderate wage during the time they work. This form of education has been under- taken in very few places in the state, but reports from those plants in which it is being used show very satisfactory results.


We are striving to make these trade courses as far-reaching as possible, for the reason that it is becoming increasingly hard for students to enter college and other institutions of higher learning. The business field is overcrowded. It seems the part of wisdom therefore to direct some of our young people along lines in which they are sure of a reasonable means of living, rather than to encour- age them to strive for success in fields already overcrowded, and cer- tain to be more so within the next few years.


211


WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL


(Report of F. W. Hilton, Principal)


The continued growth of the High School has already taxed the building to its capacity and the relief afforded by our new quarters for the Industrial School will be much appreciated. This branch has occupied four large rooms in the main building which are already needed for class-room purposes.


The present Freshman class, numbering 293, came from the fol- lowing schools :


Boys


Girls


Total


Athens


32


33


65


James Humphrey


48


27


75


Hunt


22


11


33


Nevin


29


23


52


Pratt


9


10


19


Shaw


0


6


6


Other Schools


18


25


43


158


135


293


The coming year will probably see our building crowded beyond its highest capacity. The present enrollment is 846, with a graduating class numbering 112. About 300 in the eighth grades will enter as Freshmen in the fall, and we are likely to have about 1050 for a total enrollment.


The statistical grouping of our students by courses in the various years is shown in the following table :


Freshmen Sophomores Juniors


Seniors


Total


Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls


Classical


35


510


12


38


8 23


35


14


24


69


147 216


Technical


24


0


23


0


1


13


0


83


1


84


Business


41


71


49


63


15


78


6


21


111


233 9


75


Pract'l Arts 0


14


0


18


0


9


0


2


0


43


43


Carpentry


15


0


14


0


12


0


0


0


41


0


41


Printing


10


0


7


0


0


0 1


0 2


0


17


0


17


Agriculture 10


0


1


0


4


Total


158


135


128


120


70


126 48


53


434


838


Post Graduates


5


3


5


3


8


53


56


409


437 846 We have had the usual number of changes in the faculty, with two additions because of the increase in the number of pupils. It has been difficult to supply suitable class-rooms and we have been forced to make use of the laboratories and the teachers' room, as well as one room in the portable.


The work of the school has gone on pleasantly and the standard maintained at a high level. In the college preparatory courses we wish to emphasize the need of regular and persistent home study in order to secure a college rating. With so many desirous of a higher education, the competition is very keen, and only those willing to give much time and effort will be able to acquire the necessary standing for college entrance.


-


2


13


6


66


344


General


23 0


22


1


8


0


17 404


1


18


212


In the business department the ordinary courses of stenography, typewriting, bookkeeping and accounting are in a very satisfactory condition. We need, however, to add suitable equipment for office practice so that students may have real training in various office appliances.


In the trade courses the carpentry boys have had as a project the construction of a new school building for their own use and for that of other trade students. This has progressed very satisfactorily and will be ready for occupancy soon. The printing course is now in its second year. The students have made excellent progress both in the quality of their work and ability to do quantity production. We are planning to increase our facilities in this department as soon as we move into the new quarters, and also hope to introduce courses in sheet metal work, electric wiring and automobile repairing.


The practical arts course for the girls is now entering its third year. While it offers an opportunity for cultural training, in addition to real home training, we have not had any surplus of students elect- ing this course. Many girls who should take work of this type seem to object to the home training and practical cooking and sewing which we feel is a very essential part of the course. It might be ad- visable to provide sewing material sufficient in quantity to supply the needs of certain pupils who find difficulty in procuring material with which to work, and in some cases where students are more or less neglectful in providing the necessities for intensive work of this kind.


; The agricultural department has had a successful year under the direction of Mr. Hilmer S. Nelson, and the boys have demon- strated their ability and good judgment by taking many prizes at the various fairs in this vicinity.


AGRICULTURE


(Report of Hilmer S. Nelson, Director of Weymouth Branch of The Norfolk County Agricultural School)


The fiscal year of 1926 has brought to light some very interesting items and facts. As of December 31, 1926, the total number of students enrolled and now taking the prescribed course in agriculture is eigh- teen, divided as follows :


Freshmen 10


Sophomores 1


Juniors 5


Seniors 2


Total 18


School opened September 7, 1926, with an enrollment of twenty- three, but since that time we have lost two students, who left to work, and three who were graduated (two entering Massachusetts Agricul- tural College and one Wentworth Institute). It is gratifying to know that the majority are securing further agricultural education for self- betterment.




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