USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1933 > Part 15
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Term expires April ·1, 1934 Wey. 1889-M
Term expires April 1, 1934 Wey. 0216
Term expires April 1, 1935 Wey. 0434
Term expires April 1, 1936 Wey. 1198-M Term expires April 1, 1936 Wey. 2175-M
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
PARKER T. PEARSON 590 North Street, East Weymouth OFFICE
Wey. 0520
Weymouth High School, East Weymouth
OFFICE HOURS
Wey. 1460 At High School Daily : 9:00 to 9:30 A. M. 3:30 to 4:30 P. M.
HELEN G. TONRY, Secretary 79 Chard Street, East Weymouth
MYRTLE L. RICE, Assistant Secretary 79 Front Street, Weymouth Wey. 1534-M .
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1933-1934
FALL TERM-Opens September 11; closes December 22. WINTER TERM-Opens January 2; closes February 23. Opens March 5; closes April 27.
SPRING TERM-Opens May 7; closes June 21.
HOLIDAYS-Columbus Day, Armistice Day, Thanksgiving and day fol- lowing, Washington's Birthday, Good Friday, Patriots' Day, Memo- rial Day.
192
NO SCHOOL SIGNAL 2-2-2 2-2-2
At 7:30 A. M., no session in any grade during the morning.
At 8:00 A. M., no session in Grades I to IV, inclusive, during the morn- ing.
At 11:45 A. M., no session in Grades I to IV, inclusive, during the after- noon.
At 12:45 P. M., no session in any grade during the afternoon.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held the first Tues- day of each month at the High School Building at 7:30 P. M.
ENTRANCE AGE
No child shall be admitted to school in September unless he has reached the age of five on or before the first day of April preced- ing. Children entering for the first time will be admitted only dur- ing the first two weeks of school.
BIRTH CERTIFICATES
A birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
VACCINATION
No child shall be allowed to enter the first grade without a cer- tificate of successful vaccination.
Quotation from State Law, Chapter 76, Section 15: "An unvac- cinated child shall not be admitted to a public school except upon presentation of a certificate like the physician's certificate required by Section 182 of Chapter 3."
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES
No child between the ages of fourteen and sixteen shall be allowed to leave school until a signed promise of employment card has been presented to the principal of the building in which he is attending school. Employment certificates are issued by Mr. Charles Y. Berry, at the Hunt School, Weymouth, every week day except Saturday, between the hours of nine and twelve.
1
193
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth :
The School Committee herewith submits its annual report for the year 1933. The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools and the several reports of the department heads will sufficiently record all educational matters pertaining to the schools during the past year.
The appropriation made at the annual meeting in March was considerably less than the appropriation made for 1932, and school expenditures have been kept within the amount appropriated.
Attendance seems to be increasing, although the rate of in- crease is less than that prevailing for the last few years.
During the latter part of the year it became necessary to co- operate with the Civil Works Administration in providing worth- while labor projects for citizens of the town who have been un- able to find employment. This required considerable expenditure beyond ordinary expectation for the month of December for main- tenance purposes, particularly in the purchase of materials.
The largest Civil Works project is the erection of an auto- mobile workshop in the rear of the High School, sixty feet by eighty feet in area, construction of which is now progressing. This shop, when completed, will provide a useful addition to the in- dustrial facilities at the High School, which have lately become overcrowded, and will serve to remove a serious element of danger which has hitherto existed. We have also co-operated with the Civil Works Administration in the painting of school buildings, and in a comprehensive grading project at the Pond School.
The Committee is not making plans for increases in salaries during the coming year, and in submitting the budget which fol- lows, is making every attempt to keep the cost of maintaining the schools as low as possible. It is important that sufficient funds be provided to allow for the employment of citizens of the town in ordinary or skilled labor for the maintenance of buildings and grounds and to a large extent relieve the town of the burden of what otherwise would be a problem for the Welfare Department. A large proportion of the expenditures for maintenance of build- ings and grounds has been for labor, and particularly during the past year has been for labor which, without such employment, would have been entirely unemployed or a burden to the Welfare Department. The Committee has, as far as it could, attempted to
194
relieve this department, and in many cases has furnished employ- ment to taxpayers who needed such work in order that their taxes might be paid.
The following is a summary of expenditures during the past year, and estimates for the coming year :
Expenditures 1933
Estimates 1934
Superintendent
$ 6,500.00
$ 6,500.00
Other General Salaries
3,226.50
3,350.00
Other General Expenses
1,560.34
1,500.00
Teachers' Salaries
276,688.76
275,225.00
Textbooks and Supplies
12,454.77
15,000.00
Transportation
16,993.80
19,200.00
Support of Truants
21.14
100.00
Tuition
349.52
500.00
Janitors
29,538.46
29,300.00
Fuel
10,694.08
11,500.00
Light
1,920.63
2,500.00
Maintenance
23,737.76
25,000.00
Other Expense
1,057.55
1,000.00
Day Household Arts
3,954.34
4,350.00
Day Industrial
25,552.28
23,800.00
Total
$414,249.93
$418,825.00
Respectfully submitted,
PRINCE H. TIRRELL, Chairman
ETHEL G. TAYLOR, Secretary (Mrs. Arthur R.)
JOHN P. HUNT
J. HERBERT LIBBY, M. D.
FRANCIS W. REA
EDWIN R. SAMPSON
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5000
Increase in school population
4000
3000
2000
.
1923 '24 '25 '26 '27. '28 '29 '30 31
'32 JUNE DEC. '33 '33.
In June 1932, school enrollment records showed 4,587; in June 1933, 4,793; and in December 1933, 4,886. The school population continues to increase, apparently at the same rate as it has since 1925.
196
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Members of the School Committee:
I take pleasure in presenting to you my twenty-fifth report, the forty-eighth in the series of annual reports of superintendents of this town.
Reports for special departments and for the High School are also presented herein. Those interested will do well to read them, as valuable information has been included.
POPULATION
Census of 1930
20,799
SCHOOL CENSUS (as of October 1)
1932
1933
Increase Decrease
5 to 7 years
688
687
7 to 14 years
3,134
3,171
14 to 16 years
807
794
4,629
4,652
23
ENROLLMENT (as of June 22)
1932
1933
Total number enrolled
4,587
4,793
206
Average daily membership
4,431
4,604
173
Average daily attendance
4,180
4,317
I37
Per cent attendance
94.34
93.78
.56
Per cent attendance (State)
94.15
93.74
.41
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
1932
1933
Number of buildings
I6
15
I
Number of classrooms
169
170
Number of halls
5
5
Number of gymnasiums
4
+
Number of cafeterias
I
I
INSTRUCTORS
1932
1933
High School
54
55
1
Elementary grades
IIO
109
I
Opportunity class
. 2
2
Special
9
2
-
-
-
I77
175
I
3
I
197
For ninety miles along the Columbia River from Portland to a little town called The Dalles, stretches one of the most beauti- ful highways in the world. This road runs high above the river, and to many the beautiful scenery is its chief merit; but to one interested in construction and engineering, the great buttress walls rising from the edge of the river or from the mountainside to sup- port this road are a source of wonder and admiration. These walls are built of dry-point masonry, a type of construction which was used in the time of the Cæsars, whose memorial arches still stand, despite the shock of earthquake and the wearing action of the elements. To build these walls skilled workmen were brought from Italy, descendants of those who had built the enduring walls of previous ages.
A visitor, noticing the care with which one of the workmen was fitting each individual stone, asked why he was taking so great pains. His answer might serve as a slogan for any type of work or for any class of people: "I am building this wall in order that my grandchildren may be proud of it." The buttress walls which support our educational system have been in the process of construction for three hundred years. They have been built with infinite care and patience. Washington, our first President, laid a foundation stone when he said, "In a country like this, if there cannot be money found for education, there is something amiss in the ruling political power." Our own John Adams, the second President of the United States, and the greatest town meeting orator of all time, laid a second foundation stone when he said, "The whole people must take upon themselves the educa- tion of the whole people and must be willing to bear the expense of it."
It is proper that the people of the present generation should not fall below the standard set by the past. Education must and will continue to be the first duty of the state and the prime re- sponsibility of those who desire to prepare the coming generation for the duties of citizenship which they in turn must assume.
Three hundred years before the birth of Christ, Euclid pre- sented the proposition that a straight line is the shortest distance between two points. This statement has been neither proved nor disproved in a period of more than two thousand years, although many people have made the attempt. It is, however, accepted as a fact.
How easy it would be in school work, as well as in other lines of business, if we could follow a straight line! How easy it would be if we could prove to those who desire to follow a curve that a straight line is the easiest path between two points !
198
It is a well-known fact that a person lost in a forest, becoming bewildered, will walk in a circle, ultimately returning to the point from which he departed. Many during the present period of eco- nomic stress have become bewildered and have lost their bearings. Their tendency is to develop a curve, but in the end they will return to their original starting point. The more nearly the ac- tivities of a school system can be kept in a straight line, avoiding bulges or excesses, the greater will be the efficiency of the system, and the less will be the economic loss to the community from sud- den and drastic changes.
It has been the policy of the School Department for many years to avoid costly experiments in education. It has been its policy to keep the best, eliminate the useless, and add such things as have been proved to be of merit. As an interesting sidelight, it may be well to mention that during the ten-year interval from 1918 to 1929, which covered the period of greatest extravagance and inflation, our schools were run at an average cost of about $20.00 per pupil below the average cost in the state. When the number of children is taken into account, this represents a saving of about $60,000.00 a year, or $600,000.00 for the period. Our cost per pupil is still below the average in the state. I doubt if at the present time any parent would desire to give the children of this town less valuable training than is given elsewhere.
·
199
THIS chart shows the rank of Weymouth among the eighty-three Massachusetts towns having more than 5000 population in respect to tax rate, expenditures for schools, per pupil cost of education, valuation· and size, for the school year ending June 30,1933.
O
4-20
+30
++ 40
-
+50'
.60
70
80
83
78th
73rd
5th
7th
in tax rate $24.00
in portion of local tax used for schools $7.86
29th in per pupil cost of edu- cation $88.01
in valuation $46,455,905
in popula- tion 20,882
From the above chart may be noted that Weymouth con- tinues to occupy a low relative position, both as to tax rate and as to the small amount taken from the tax levy for school purposes.
200
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE
RESIGNATIONS
High School
Pond School
Asst. Drawing Supervisor
Hazel R. Nietzold
APPOINTMENTS
High School
Junior Annex
James Humphrey
Center Portable
Winifred O. Lennon
Pauline Ahern
TRANSFERS
James F. Steele
Joseph K. Whittemore
Philip T. Jones
High to Bicknell
Marion E. Ray
Assistant Drawing Supervisor to Pond
Katherine C. Fogarty
Penmanship Supervisor to Junior Annex
Anita L. Petrucci
Junior Annex to High
M. Alice Owen
Center Portable to Bicknell
Philip T. Jones
Bicknell to High
Josephine E. Ray
James Humphrey to Pond
Marion E. Ray
Pond to Assistant Drawing Supervisor
The net result of changes in the teaching force during 1933 shows two teachers less than appeared on the list at the close of 1932.
In the interests of economy the positions of High School Coach and Penmanship Supervisor were abolished, and the drawing de- partments have been carried on with one less assistant. Although much might be said about the loss to the school children because of these retrenchments, complaints would not be in order under existing economic conditions. It is the hope of all connected with or interested in the School Department, however, that these vacancies may be refilled with the advent of better times.
The Shoemaking School was discontinued on January 1, 1933, and the director transferred to the Vocational School, thus free- ing one academic teacher for transfer to the High School.
The opening of two extra rooms for High School purposes became necessary in September. In order to make this provision,
Fred L. Kennedy
Mildred L. Leonard
Norman R. Loud
Mary B. Thomas (Mrs.)
M. Frances Lebbossiere
Sewing Supervisor
Vocational to High Shoemaking to Vocational
201
an eighth grade room' in the Junior Annex was closed, the four rooms being taken care of by three teachers. The handwork de- partment of the Opportunity Class was transferred to a room ar- ranged in the basement of the old High School by partitioning the area previously occupied by the old kitchen of the lunchroom. With the transfer of two teachers from the elementary grades, the situation has been satisfactorily adjusted for the present school year.
In September two rooms opened in the Pond School enabled the discontinuance of the portable in use at the Edward B. Nevin School. Two teachers and about fifty pupils living in the Pond Plain district were transferred.
One appointment was caused by the resignation of a teacher who was to be married, and one by the retirement of a temporary teacher. The position of sewing supervisor, which had been abol- ished during 1932, was refilled in January because of the insistent demands of parents that the girls as well as the boys in the seventh and eighth grades have the opportunity to profit by weekly in- struction in handwork. The two remaining appointments were for teachers who had previously been on a temporary basis.
ATTENDANCE (For school year ended June 22, 1933)
Total Number Enrolled 4,793
Average Daily Membership 4,603.77
Average Daily Attendance 4,317.49
Per Cent of Attendance 93.70
HIGHEST BUILDING IN TOWN
Jefferson 96.60
HIGHEST ROOMS IN TOWN
Athens, Grade V
97.59
Jefferson, Grade IV 97.40
James Humphrey, Grade VI
97.37
Edward B. Nevin, Grade VII
97.35
Athens, Grade VI 96.70
Athens, Grade III 96.58
Jefferson, Grade I
96.57
Athens, Grade IV
96.51
Jefferson, Grade III
96.32
Adams, Grade VI
96.18
Hunt, Grade VIII
· 96.05
202
HIGHEST ROOMS IN TOWN BY GRADES
Grade VIII
Hunt
96.05
Grade VII
Edward B. Nevin 97.35
Grade VI
James Humphrey 97.37
Grade V Athens
97.59
Grade IV
Jefferson
97.40
Grade III
Athens
96.58
Grade II
Bicknell
95.95
Grade I
Jefferson
96.57
SCHOOL CENSUS (as of October 1, 1933)
5 to 7
7 to 14
14 to 16
years
years
years
Total
BOYS
Ward I
IO1
403
9CI
613
II .
IOI
424
85
610
III
90
277
71
+38
IV
48
275
83
106
V
38
220
57
315
Total
38I
1,599
102
2,382
GIRLS
Ward I
85
415
102
602
II
96
426
III
633
62
270
66
398
IV
32
216
58
306
V
31
215
55
331
Total
306
1,572
392
2,270
GRAND TOTAL
687
3,17I
794
4,652
DISTRIBUTION OF ABOVE MINORS
Public Day School
510
2,864
755
4,129
Private Schools
76
295
32
Not Enrolled in Any School
7
5
Working
O
O
I
I
County and State Schools
0
5
I
6
Total
687
3,171
794
1,652
203
EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES
Weymouth Minors between the ages of 14 and 16:
Total Number in Town, October 1, 1933 794
Total Number Employed in Town, 1933 T
Outside Minors between the ages of 14 and 16:
Total Number Employed Elsewhere, 1933 I
Total Number Employed in Town, 1933 O
Note: The actual number of Weymouth minors between the ages of 14 and 16 employed on December 30 was 2; one boy helping his father on a truck; and one girl doing housework.
HIGH SCHOOL (Report of Mr. F. W. Hilton, Principal)
As a preface to my annual report on the High School, I wish to speak concerning the status of education throughout the coun- try, with the hope of bringing a clearer light upon the situation in our own town.
We are faced with a peculiar situation of distribution, where a large part of our population is in want,-idle, an eager market for goods, without the means to pay. Riches are in the hands of a comparatively small group, but largely in the form of debts which cannot be collected, and manufacturing and transportation facili- ties which are idle. There is no question about the undeveloped wealth of the country, nor is there any question that we have sufficient resources so that all the people might have all and more than all of the necessities of life; but apparently there has been a breakdown in distribution, so that untold suffering will be in- volved unless government planning is able to straighten out our difficulties.
There is little question that with the improvements in ma- chinery, transportation, and invention, we shall be able to pro- duce the necessities in more than ample quantities with less and less hours of labor. What shall be done with this excessive leisure? At present, child labor is frowned upon more and more, because it deprives grown-ups of the opportunity of earning a livelihood ; but something must be done with the youth from the ages of thirteen to eighteen and possibly to twenty or twenty-one. Whether we shall be able to satisfy their needs and keep a con-
204
tented and healthy atmosphere among our youth, depends very greatly upon our public schools.
Considerable talk has been made concerning unnecessary ex- penditures, costly frills, poorly chosen curricula, largely by public spirited politicians who have not been over-careful in their own distribution of the money of the Commonwealth. I do, however, firmly believe that the people who are enjoying the benefits of the schools, and these are increasingly great, appreciate the serv- ice that is being rendered to our communities.
Outside activities, such as carefully directed playground facili- ties, organized theatricals, musicals, sketch classes, and various clubs, are necessary and essential to keep up the morale of our young people whose time is unoccupied by regular employment, and these have added greatly to the duties of our school faculties. Whether or not the communities appreciate these activities may be best known by their interest and attendance.
Something of the added task which has been' thrust upon the high school may be shown in the fact that while in 1890 only 4.5 per cent of the children of secondary school age were enrolled in high school, today more than 50 per cent of such children are enrolled. Throughout the country the numbers of children com- ing back for postgraduate work have increased over 800 per cent. In our own town, the increase during the past ten years has shown quite a remarkable growth. From the school year 1923-1924 to the school year 1933-1934, our enrollment has increased 147 per cent. Our postgraduates have increased 2700 per cent.
The following tables will show the distribution of our stu- dents under various classifications :
BY SEX
Boys
Girls
Total
Freshmen
220
229
449
1
Sophomores
137
171
308
Juniors
153
159
312
Seniors
125
139
264
Post graduates
16
I2
28
Total
651
710
1,361
205
BY COURSES
Fresh.
Soph.
Juniors
Seniors
P. Grad.
Total
Classical
131
102
67
61
6
367
Technical
40
34
35
28
2
I39
Business
172
I35
138
108
16
569
General
13
14
20
28
-
75
Agriculture
12
9
3
+
28
Practical Arts
24
1.4
16
9
63
Vocational
57
33
26
120
Total
449
308
312
264
28
1,361
SOURCES OF FRESHMEN
Bicknell
73
Hunt
67
Junior Annex
130
Edward B. Nevin
79
Pratt
38
Shaw
1.4
Other Schools
20
Repeaters
28
Total
449
-
-
The total increase in school budgets, therefore, would seem to be caused by the enormous increase in enrollment and not by unwise expenditure. Our per pupil cost during this time has varied slightly, but has never been excessive as compared with other towns of similar size. I believe that our schools are giving a maximum amount for the money expended, and I sincerely hope that our people will not act in any way that will curtail their efficiency.
Another rational way of employing leisure time is through the use of our libraries. Everything should be done to assist and foster the reading habit. I am glad to say that our school library is in very efficient hands and through the wisdom of our superin- tendent is not being allowed to suffer from lack of funds. Through this agency, our freshmen are taught how to use a library as a part of their English training. While we are for- tunate in possessing such adequate facilities, we are equally for- tunate in having the hearty co-operation of our public library.
The value of a varied program of studies is a very important factor in the success or failure of our schools. We have been very
206
fortunate in this respect, because in addition to the usual College Preparatory, Business, and General courses, we have added vari- ous Trade courses, Agriculture, and Domestic Arts. There is a general feeling that foreign languages will tend to give way to social studies and economics. However this may be, a considerable demand still remains for foreign language and until this is satis- fied, I believe it is the province of the school to supply these sub- jects and allow the demand to govern the supply rather than to attempt an abrupt upheaval of our curricula.
I believe that a high standard of scholarship is being main- tained under increasingly difficult conditions. When classes grow beyond the thirty mark, it is exceedingly hard for the teacher to look after the individual. Whether or not the work is satisfac- torily done becomes more and more the responsibility of the stu- dent himself. There is sure to be a final check-up, but often a failure is discovered too late to be effectually corrected. We hope that both parents and pupils will understand this situation and assume their share of responsibility for regular and thorough preparation.
We are glad to give prominence to worthy achievement and wish to announce the following scholarship awards :
Monday Club
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth Teachers' Association
Weymouth High School Alumni Association
Weymouth High School Alumni Association
Varsity Club Varsity Club
Catholic Club
Alice W. Dwyer
Medal for Meritorious Progress
Washington and Franklin Medal for Excellence in United States History
Eleanor Bicknell John Bentley Eleanor Bicknell John Chipman Parmys Goodale Russell Theriault Judith Wood Parmys Goodale Russell Theriault John Bentley Paul Foskett John Bentley Mary Jorgensen John Chipman
John Bentley
In conclusion, I wish to thank the faculty and school authori- ties for the faithful way in which they have carried on under adverse conditions. I am optimistic enough to believe that no false economy shall be allowed to hamper our progress, and that a way will be found so that idle hands may again be employed, and a
207
proper distribution of wealth will bring such prosperity to our nation that depression and gloom will be replaced by happiness and a bright outlook for the future.
VOCATIONAL SCHOOL (Report of Mr. Francis E. Whipple, Jr., Director)
In the early part of the year the school was the recipient of a very useful gift in the form of a large Premier cylinder press. This machine, capable of printing a wide range of book and color forms, was owned by Mr. Elmer Blenis of South Weymouth. He found himself without room or ready market for it at his Boston shop and decided to give it away. Through the agency of one of our local printers we received it. To find space for such a ma- chine was a problem easily solved, because all partitions in the building are of a movable nature. By simply reducing the adjacent classroom to a smaller size, we were able to greatly enlarge the print shop.
The press has proved an extremely useful piece of equipment and enables us to expand our course of study to include a branch of the trade which, in ordinary times, pays excellent wages.
The printing department was visited during the year by one of the leading printers of Boston when he was on a tour of in- spection through the trade schools of the State. He complimented us on the wide range of our color work and the excellence of our typographic layout, something not ordinarily found in school shops. It has always been our ideal to produce jobs which are of the highest quality, avoiding the ordinary and commonplace. He also suggested that, to be in line with current practice in the industry, we should have a linotype machine and some type of automatic press. Both of these machines are everyday necessities in commercial shops.
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