USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1934 > Part 15
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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.
Wey. 2354
156
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first Tuesday 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 preceding. Children entering for the first time will be admitted only during 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 certificate of successful vaccination.
Quotation from State Law, Chapter 76, Section 15: "An unvaccinated 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 employ- ment card has been presented to the principal of the build- ing 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.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
The School Committee herewith submits its annual report for the year, 1934.
The annual report of the Superintendent of Schools and the sev- eral reports of the department heads contained therein are appended hereto and made a part thereof.
For the first time in many years the decided increase in school at- tendance has shown signs of disappearing, and it is probable that for the next few years our schools will show no great increase in numbers. There will, therefore, within the immediate future be no building pro- gram for which provision must be made by the town. .
It has been the aim of the committee during the past year to keep all school property in the best of condition and to add such improve- ments as opportunity and conditions would warrant. The program which has been initiated by the federal government to encourage and assist in various public works has been utilized to a great extent by the School Department. During the past year a great many projects which come generally under the heading of maintenance of school property are in the nature of new construction and permanent improvement, and would not ordinarily be done, except through a special provision made by the town. It was, however, highly desirable to meet the de- mand of the Federal Administrator that various forms of useful em- ployment be furnished to citizens of the town who desired to work, and who otherwise had little or no opportunity. Such co-operation meant the readiness to lay out and provide numerous worthy and useful proj-
157
ects, and the ability to furnish needed materials and equipment for the same. The net result of such co-operation has been that work of far . greater value than appears upon the cost sheets of the department has been done. Practically half of the maintenance expenditures during the past year have been for such work. This condition will doubtless prevail during the coming year, and it will be the policy of this department in the future as in the past to see to it that work of permanent value is done.
Although school property in general is in better condition than at any time past, we believe for the reasons just stated that we should ask from the town the means by which this other work can be carried on.
For two years there have been no automatic increases in salaries, but during the last year there have been a few readjustments among the lower paid teachers, which fairness seemed to require.
The following is a summary of expenditures during the past year, and estimates for the coming year:
Expenditures 1934
Estimates 1935
Superintendent
$ 6,500.00
$ 6,500.00
Other General Salaries
3,228.00
3,350.00
Other General Expenses
1,511.28
1,500.00
Teachers' Salaries
275,267.41
274,719.00
Textbooks and Supplies
12,015.06
15,000.00
Transportation
16,204.40
20,730.00
Support of Truants
1.14
100.00
Tuition
376.66
500.00
Janitors
28,882.10
29,684.00*
Fuel
11,452.16
12,500.00
Light
2,260.30
2,500.00
Maintenance
30,548.63
25,000.00
Other Expenses
1,114.40
1,200.00
Day Household Arts
3,664.44
4,350.00
Day Industrial
28,299.00
23,800.00
Total
421,324.98
421,433.00
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
158
7
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Members of the School Committee:
I take pleasure in presenting to you my twenty-sixth report, the forty-ninth in the series of annual reports of superintendents of this town.
Special departments and the High School have been covered in the usual way. Attention is called particularly to the reports of the High School Principal, the Director of the Vocational School, the Director of the Weymouth Branch of the Norfolk County Agricultural School, and the Director of Courses of Study.
POPULATION
Census of 1930
20,799
SCHOOL CENSUS (As of October 1)
1933
1934
In- crease
De- crease
5 to 7 years
687
689
2
7 to 14 years
3,171
3,216
45
14 to 16 years
794
858
64
4,652
4,763
111
(As of June 21)
Total number enrolled
4,793
4,771
22
Average daily membership
4,604
4,566
38
Average daily attendance
4,317
4,296
21
Per cent attendance
93.78
94.08
.30
Per cent attendance (State)
93.74
93.69
.05
SCHOOL BUILDINGS
Number of buildings
15
18
3
Number of classrooms
170
177
7
Number of halls
5
5
Number of gymnasiums
4
4
Number of cafeterias
1
1
INSTRUCTORS
High School
55
57
2
Elementary grades
109
118
9
Opportunity Class
2
4
Special
9
12
3
175
191
16
159
For the last two years the census figures and the enrollment in the schools have been nearly equal, indicating that the peak of our growth has been reached. With no new construction in town, there is every likelihood that the school population will not increase. In fact, that it will decrease is highly probable. If business conditions improve, many of the older pupils in the High School who are attending because of lack of opportunity to work, and post graduates who are increasing their fitness for business positions, will leave. Then too, there is every indication that the number of pupils to enter the lower grades will grow less, due to the smaller number of marriages during the past five years and the consequent reduction in the possible number of children to enter the first grade. School men everywhere recognize the possi- bilities for shrinkage from both of these causes.
The number of buildings now in use has been increased from 15 to 18. This increase is accounted for by: the new garage in the rear of the High School; the reopening of the Old Adams School (recently re- named the John Adams to distinguish it from the New Adams, to be called hereafter the Abigail Adams); and the Center Portable, which has been made into a permanent structure of four rooms, and will be called the Center School.
It is never possible to anticipate change in population, and crowd- ing of buildings usually occurs in those localities least expected. Ex- pense can always be held down by crowding children into inadequate quarters and giving them poor facilities for work. This is poor business practice, although it may keep down the per capita cost.
The opening of new classrooms was caused by crowded conditions at the High School, the Center Portable, and in the Opportunity Class. One eighth and three seventh grades were moved from the Junior An- nex and taken care of by reopening the Old Adams, by dividing one of the large rooms in the Washington, and by using the manual training room in the Vocational School. Two new rooms were added to the Cen- ter Portable.
CHANGES IN THE TEACHING FORCE
RESIGNATIONS High School
Junior Annex Adams School Bicknell School
Washington School
Hunt School Pratt School
Shaw School Edward B. Nevin School LEAVE OF ABSENCE High School
Anna F. Berry Helen M. Walker
Elwood L. Denham
Louise E. Petrucelli
Charlotte F. Murphy Elizabeth G. Stratton Thelma Hatch Mary V. Paul Elizabeth H. Curtin
Margaret S. Towle
Leon C. Fitzgerald Kathleen A. Dwyer Evelyn M. Linscott
Mary H. Benson
Daniel L. O'Donnell Ruth Tirrell
Many changes in the teaching force have taken place during the year. There have been twenty vacancies from various causes: ten re- signed to be married; three left to accept other positions; two asked for leave of absence; three retired under the Teachers' Retirement Act; one left because of ill health; and one died.
160
Miss Annie J. McGreevy, who had taught continuously in the Washington School since 1885, a period of forty-nine years, passed away on October 30, after a period of only three days illness. So great were her tenacity of purpose and consecration to her life work that she insisted on going to school the Friday preceding her death, even against the advice and better judgment of her physician and others. Miss McGreevy's presence will be missed by those who have profited from her instruction, and by her many friends of long standing in the School Department.
Retired
High School
Mary C. Humphrey
James Humphrey School Ina M. Ambach
Pratt School Nellie M. Holbrook
Three more names have been added to the list of those who have retired under the Teachers' Retirement Act, making a total since 1914 of nine, and one retired for disability. There are still nine teachers over sixty years of age who are eligible for retirement.
Miss Nellie M. Holbrook began her service by teaching two terms out of town, and the remainder of her time was spent in the district in which she was born, from 1890 to 1934, a period of forty-four years. The parents, teachers, and pupils of the Pratt School district miss her presence. All who have come in contact with Miss Holbrook during her long period of service are truly grateful for the benefits of her faith- ful and unswerving devotion to duty.
Miss Mary C. Humphrey came to the Weymouth High School in 1916 after a rich and varied experience of twelve years in public and private schools. A woman of high scholarly attainments and the finest of ideals, Miss Humphrey was exceptionally well trained for the teach- ing of English and German. She won the loyalty and respect of many, both pupils and teachers.
Miss Ina M. Ambach taught in the James Humphrey School since- September, 1924, following an experience of twenty-four years in other towns. During that period she was a staunch supporter of all that per- tained to the James Humphrey School and the entire School Depart- ment. Citizens as well as teachers and pupils realize her worth and re- gret her absence from school activities.
Appointments
High School: Barbara R. Bicknell, Eva P. Davis, Dorothy L. Peter- son, Assistant Physical Training; Paul H. Bates, Substitute; Frieda M. Bryant, Substitute; Walter C. Gutterson, Substitute; Dorothy G. Mac- Gregor, Substitute.
Junior Annex: John T. Ghiorse.
Opportunity Class: Wallace T. Driscoll, Mary M. Leonard.
Adams School: Barbara F. Libbey, Annie S. McDowell (Mrs.) Athens School: Alice E. Olson
Bicknell School: Elizabeth A. Murphy, Eva C. Bernier, Josephine M. Caruso, Helen C. Tracy, A. Aileen McGrath.
161
James Humphrey School: Sadie A. Lambe.
Washington School: Mary A. Fitzsimmons, Helen E. O'Halloran, Filomena L. Amoroso, Ruth B. Sylvester, Russell T. Mazzola, Building Assistant.
Hunt School: Dorothy Reilly
Center Portable: Ruth J. Nolan.
Pratt School: Jeanette F. Hawes, John E. Hunt, Mary E. Loner- gan, Building Assistant.
Shaw School: Virginia Nye, Pauline Cassese, Building Assistant.
Edward B. Nevin School: Daniel A. Johnson, Jr., Doris B. Glidden.
Supervisors: Vera B. Freeman, Drawing Assistant; John M. Lyons, Music Supervisor (Part-time)
Norfolk County Agricultural School, Weymouth Branch: John B. Farrar, Assistant.
Transfers
Katherine C. Fogarty: Junior Annex VII to Penmanship Supervisor Ruth E. Henley: Bicknell VII to Pratt III
Mary E. McMorrow: Junior Annex VII to Adams VIII
Dorothy U. Murphy: Pratt VII to Adams VII
M. Alice Owen: Bicknell VII-VIII to Pratt I
Barbara H. Pray: Edward B. Nevin III-IV to Bicknell VII-VIII
There have been thirty-six appointments, covering a wide range of activity from teachers in permanent positions to building assis- tants and part-time teachers. Due to the resignations of so many teachers on the higher rate of salary, it was possible to hire a greater number at the low rate, thus giving assistance in buildings which have needed it for a number of years. Nearly all of these teachers are without experience and require much time and supervision from Mrs. McGrath, who has charge of this type of work. The assistant in the Agricultural ; Department at the High School is furnished by the Norfolk County Agricultural School without expense to the town, and was added to the department owing to the increase in numbers. The excess of appointments over vacancies is due in some measure to the fact that all who were serving on a very small salary have been raised to the minimum amount required by the State and have been elected as regular teachers.
For a short time John M. Kilroy appeared on the pay roll as a teacher in the Commercial Department of the High School, with du- ties as a coach for football. He secured a position in one of the Boston high schools at practically double his salary here, but remained as a coach during the fall period, receiving minor compensation from the Committee.
The spirit shown by the pupils was admirable, large numbers prac- ticing until late in the afternoon. Football requires more attention. The men teachers in the High School have volunteered to give addi- tional training during the winter months to prepare the boys for fall practice. In order to get facility in handling the ball we are now en- couraging all pupils in the seventh and eighth grades to play basket- ball. Two teams have been formed in each of seven buildings. With a second football area now being completed, it will be possible to en- courage the children to play soccer and touch football, thus bringing about a greater knowledge of football technique. We have a splendid field and expect to have creditable teams in the near future. The fence around the field has been completed at no expense to the town. Various activities of the High School have provided necessary funds, the un- paid balance being assumed by the Football Association, which will benefit most actively from its use.
162
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, 1934.
O
-10
I
20
+++- 30
40
50
60
1 70
80
83
69th
71st
25th
5th
7 th
in tax rate $26.00
in portion of local tax used for schools $7.58
in per pupil cost of education $84.18
in valuation $46,658.932
in population 20,882
The function of the Opportunity Class has never been discussed in any of the school reports. The work of such classes is valuable, and is fundamental in any school structure. When pupils enter school at the age of five, they are apparently alike, but from the moment they are placed in a class, they differ. The span of their attention varies. Pupils in a first grade are given instruction at first for a period of ten min- utes. Then this period is increased to fifteen, to twenty, and more un- til in the upper grades, recitations may be held for forty five minutes. Some children, however, never develop the ability to maintain atten- tion and the teachers cannot keep them
interested for a
163
Increase in school population
5000
4000
3000
2000
1923 '24 '25 '26 '27 '28 '29 '30 '31 '32 '33 '34
'34 DEC
JUNE
period longer than from ten to fifteen minutes. These children may be as intelligent and as able as any in the system, but from the moment of entering school they should be separated into small divisions and given individual attention. That is the work of the Opportunity Class. All classrooms are opportunity classes, but this is a special opportunity class according to the need of the individual pupil. I feel that this work should be emphasized even more than at the present time, as by so do- ing children who might perhaps be misjudged become a source of pride to their parents and are given a chance, through specialized op- portunity, to become valuable members of the community.
164
The question is frequently raised as to whether post graduates should be given additional training. Some communities have re- fused; others have made tuition charges. It has been the policy of this department, however, to give educational opportunity to all who can benefit by it, provided the desire for advancement and the willing- ness to work hard are present. The N. R. A. code and union regulations have practically eliminated young people from industrial positions. The duty appears to rest upon the communities through their public school systems to provide for additional training for these young people in order that they may worthily fill positions of responsibility when the occasion offers.
A little over a year ago the federal government started the policy of furnishing labor, both skilled and unskilled, in generous amounts to those communities which were willing to co-operate by providing sup- ervision, material, and equipment. The opportunity for getting valuable work done has been unparalleled, but unfortunately most communities and many departments of communities, as in this town, have been left in the position of the Israelites, who were asked to make brick without straw. With no provision made by the appropriating body of the town to meet this wonderful opportunity, the departments were faced with the necessity of furnishing the money from their own limited funds. In the School Department money has been taken from the mainten- ance, transportation and textbook accounts, and even the coal bins have been depleted to initiate and complete projects which are and will be of great value. Even a novice in financial matters can realize that a quarter of a million dollars to be spent for labor will require a large amount of material. The department was faced with a problem which could be solved in two ways: first, by providing work which would not require much material and would necessarily be of little permanent value; and second, by constructing works of a permanent and lasting value requiring expenditures for material. The last method was em- ployed, but it was necessary to penalize other activities in order to do it.
PROJECT NO. 1
The first project, the building of a garage for the vocational school for the purpose of eliminating the crowded and dangerous conditions under which the boys were working, was completed on June 28. This building, a picture of which will be found in the Vocational School re- port, covers an area of clear space 60 x 80 with no supporting pillars. It is of first-class construction and is a credit to the quality of labor which was secured through the local E. R. A. The building is without question one of the best constructed for the purpose in this state, and accomo- dates at present between 60 and 70 boys who are taking work in auto- mobile repair. Aside from supervision and trucks, the government fur- nished all labor and part of the materials. A tabulation of the expen- ditures upon the garage, together with the construction of the road in the rear of the High School, curbs for the same, and grading, is given below:
Town
*Labor and Material 1933 $2,859.29
1934 6,007.51 $8,866.80
Government
Labor and Material 9,286.55
18,153.35
*Note :- The item for labor and material paid by the town covers not only the work contemplated in the original plans for the shell of the building, but also expense for electric wiring, plumbing, heating, and furnishing the in-
- "terior. Many of these items might not be considered as construction costs.
165
PROJECT NO. 2
The second project, grading of the grounds around the Pond School and the erection of a large amount of wall around the property, together with leveling, grading, and finishing of the drives and walks, did not require so much material, but did call for a large amount of labor. The proportionate costs of this project to the town and to the government are as follows:
Town
Labor and Material 1933 $ 469.23
Government
Labor and Material 4,804.20
5,273.48
PROJECT NO. 3
The third project, painting of buildings, has required the services of from ten to eighteen painters and has covered a period of nearly nine months. The town has furnished supervision and equipment, and the government, labor. An enumeration of the work done in the differ- ent buildings may be of interest:
Bicknell School: Inside work: hall, corridors of first section, eight classrooms, sewing room, teachers' room, principal's office, entrance rooms off lobby, and some work in basement.
Jefferson School: Inside painting throughout.
Hunt School: Drawing room, lunch room floors, and corridors in basement.
High School: Walls and ceilings of entire second wing and hall in first wing.
Edward B. Nevin School: Thoroughly painted outside and inside. New Adams School: Painting outside.
Old Adams School: Thoroughly painted outside and inside.
Center Portable: Four rooms painted outside and inside.
The costs as paid by the town and federal governments were as follows:
Town - Labor and Material $2,981.53
Government - Labor 6,836.40
$9,817.93
PROJECT NO. 4
Pointing and Brick Laying:
Bicknell School: Outside walls of hall and parapets repointed and entrance repaired.
High School: Entire eastern exposure of old building and southern and western walls of first wing repointed; fireproof battery room and a manual training room for the boys of the opportunity class con- structed in basement of old building.
The costs to the town and to the government were as follows:
Town - Labor and material $ 71.04
Government - Labor
1,234.00
$1,305.00
PROJECT NO. 5
The building of the first grand stand on Legion Memorial Field filled a long felt want and has added to the appearance and desirabil- ity of that area for public purposes. The plans were adapted from blue prints, secured through Stone & Webster, of a stand which was built by them in North Easton for Mrs. Louis A. Frothingham in memory of her husband, former Congressman from this district. Mrs. Froth-
166
.
NEW GRANDSTAND AT LEGION MEMORIAL FIELD
167
ingham very generously consented to the use of the drawings for this purpose. The grand stand is built of solid concrete resting upon a ledge foundation, is 200 feet long, 14 tiers high, and will seat approxi- mately 1800 persons. A second grand stand, together with a retaining wall, is now being constructed along the road on the baseball side of the field.
The costs to the town and to the government were as follows: Town - Labor and material $4,503.05
Government - Labor 6,040.80
$10,543.85
PROJECT NO. 6
We have a peculiar condition in the center of the town, in that there are many houses on the shores of Whitman Pond which are rented during the spring, summer, and fall months, but many of the tenants leave during the winter period. In September there were so many pupils at the Center Portable that it was impossible to take care of them. In addition, the pupils suffered so much from the cold last winter it was not advisable to continue the use of the portable without additional heating facilities. A two-room portable was brought from the Edward B. Nevin School, South Weymouth, and connected with the original portable by permanent construction. The new area covers a space 50 x 24 feet, with a fireproof heating room underneath. Both portables were reinforced and made permanent in construction with insulating material on the ceilings and new floors. New toilets and ven- tilation were installed in the new area, making the building conform in every respect to the state law. I believe it is the consensus of opin- ion that this building now has four classrooms as attractive, conven- ient and usable as any in town. In comparison with a new building, this work was done at a minimum of cost. Figures are given below:
Town - Labor and material $4,503.05
Government - Labor 3,960.00
$8,463.05
HIGH SCHOOL (Report of Mr. F. W. Hilton, Principal)
Conditions of unemployment among the young still continue to crowd our school population. We found it necessary last fall to take two additional rooms from the Junior Annex and to increase a large number of our divisions, which, in the past, have been limited to ap- proximately twenty-five, until now many of them run over thirty-five. While the effect of large divisions may not militate against good work, we still feel that it throws a larger burden of responsibility upon the faithful performance of the student, with less and less individual at- tention on the part of the teacher. This may, of course, produce a lar- ger number of failures and repetitions, entailing the loss of a year's work, together with the waste of time and the yearly cost of student education.
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