USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Weymouth > Town annual report of Weymouth 1948 > Part 14
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Balance due January 1, 1948
$ 4,844.02
Charges to December 31, 1948
15,695.04
$ 20,539.06
MATERIAL AND LABOR ACCOUNT CREDITS
Cash Paid to Treasurer
$ 17,992.07
Abatements and Service Transfers
55.76
Transfers to Lien Account
105.37
Balance due December 31, 1948
2,385.86
$ 20,539.06
Respectfully submitted, HARRY I. GRANGER, Collector
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WATER DEPARTMENT
BALANCE SHEET DECEMBER 31, 1948
ASSETS
LIABILITIES
Treasurer's Cash
$185,866.14
Water Construction Deposits Unexpended Appropriation Balances: Major Construction
6,278.69
Accounts Receivable : Water Rates
$48,591.84 2,385.86
50,977.70
ยท Water Construction - Loan 1948 120,013.88 Purchase Land on Pond 2,375.77
Purchase Land off Essex Street
473.99
Water Liens:
Taxes 1947
126.10
Taxes 1948
837.07
999.17
Stock Account
3,645.40
138,357.69
Premium Account
620.73
Revenue Reserved Until Collected
51,976.87
Accrued Interest Account
106.95
Surplus Revenue
43,891.74
$237,843.01
WATER DEBT ACCOUNT
Net Water Debt
$264,000.00 Water Loan - August 15, 1934 Water Loan - October 1, 1946 Water Loan - August 1, 1948
$24,000.00
40,000.00
200,000.00
$264,000.00
$264,000.00
EMERSON R. DIZER, Town Accountant
175
$237,843.01
Purchase Land on Randall Avenue
1,935.49
Equipment Account
3,634.47
$2,889.03
Construction
REPORT OF THE TREASURER FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT
RECEIPTS
Water Loan of 1948
$201,186.95 158,040.38
Water rents received
Construction Account
17,992.07
Water Liens
3,544.63
Interest on Water Liens
23.26
Construction Deposits
14,998.50
Interest East Weymouth Savings Bank
146.56
Interest South Weymouth Savings Bank
1,074.26
Miscellaneous Refunds
119.23
Refund of Massachusetts Gasoline Excise Tax
55.56
Interest on Treasury Bonds 214%
1,125.00
$398,306.40
Cash on hand January 1, 1948
82,690.60
$480,997.00
PAYMENTS
Paid on Selectmen's Warrant for
Notes and Bonds
$ 10,000.00
Interest on Loans
1,287.50
Sundry Appropriations
333,865.06
Total Warrants paid
$345,152.56
Treasury Bonds 214% 1956-59
50,021.70
Cash on hand December 31, 1948
85,822.74
$480,997.00
WATER ASSETS
Amount due for Water Rents
$ 48,591.84
Amount due for Construction
2,385.86
$ 50,977.70
Cash on hand December 31, 1948
135,844.44
$186,822.14
Deposit Checking Account Granite Trust
$ 15,775.82
Deposit Second National Bank, Boston
66,186.95
Deposit in South Weymouth Savings Bank Petty Cash Drawer
150.00
$135,844.44
Water Rents and Constructions Receivable
50,977.70
$186,822.14
Investments in U. S. Savings Bonds
53,731.67
$ 50,000.00
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TOTAL WATER LIABILITIES JANUARY 1, 1949
Serial Notes of August 1934 Serial Notes of October 1, 1946-56 Construction Loan August 1, 1948-63 Incl.
$ 24,000.00 40,000.00 200,000.00
$264,000.00
NOTES AND BONDS DUE 1949
Serial Notes of 1934, Aug. 15 Serial Notes of 1946, Oct. 1 Construction Loan Aug. 1, 1948
$ 5,000.00
5,000.00
15,000.00
$ 25,000.00
Respectfully submitted,
HARRY I. GRANGER, Treasurer Water Department
Weymouth, Mass. February 1, 1949
I have examined the Treasurer's and Collector's accounts in the Wey- mouth Water Department and believe them to be correct. Regular examina- tion of all transactions with a monthly verification of cash with the official statement of the Granite Trust Company satisfies me that the Treasurer has properly accounted for all funds intrusted to him.
Respectfully submitted,
Emerson R. Dizer, Town Accountant
177
Annual Report
of the
School Committee
-162
W 6
VINCER
BORARE MASSACHUSETTS
W
5
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WEYMOUTH, MASSACHUSETTS 1948
WEYMOUTH SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Joseph W. Mahoney, Chairman Mrs. Arthur R. Taylor, Secretary
Joseph W. Mahoney
Term expires March, 1949
21 Pierce Court, North Weymouth 91
Wey. 9-0650
William F. Shields
Term expires March, 1949
236 Pleasant Street, South Weymouth 90
Wey. 9-1610
Wallace 'H. Drake, M.D.
Term expires March, 1950
88 Sea Street, North Weymouth 91
Wey. 9-0450
Mrs. Arthur R. Taylor 44 Tower Avenue, South Weymouth 90
Term expires March, 1950 Wey. 9-2354
Clayton W. Nash Term expires March, 1951
19 West Street, South Weymouth 90 Wey. 9-0740
Harold A. Spalding, M.D. 875 Main Street, South Weymouth 90
Term expires March, 1951 Wey. 9-1770
ADMINISTRATION
Elmer Stephens Mapes, Superintendent of Schools 608 Bridge Street, North Weymouth 91
Wey. 9-3518
OFFICE
Weymouth High School 89 Middle Street, East Weymouth 89
Wey. 9-1460
Helen G. Tonry, Secretary
79 Chard Street, East Weymouth 89 Wey. 9-0966
Myrtle L. Rice, Assistant Secretary 56 Aster Circle, Weymouth 88 Wey. 9-1534-M
Priscilla Dunn, Assistant Secretary 66 Lone Pine Path, Weymouth 88 Wey. 9-3673-R
Office Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on all school days, 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. every weekday, except Saturday, when schools are not in session; at other times by appointment.
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1948-1949
First Term: Opens September 8 - Closes October 29
Second Term: Opens November 1 - Closes December 22 (noon)
Third Term: Opens January 3 - Closes February 18
Fourth Term: Opens February 28 - Closes April 29 Fifth Term: Opens May 2 - Closes June 23 (noon) Holidays: Columbus Day, Armistice Day, Thanksgiving and day following, Good Friday, and Memorial Day
Vacations: Christmas - December 22 (noon) to January 3; Winter - February 18 to February 28; Spring - April 14 to April 25.
Opening Day for 1949-1950: September 7, 1949
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"NO SCHOOL" SIGNAL
All "No School" signals are sounded on fire alarm box 222 (three rounds), and are interpreted to the following schedule:
7:15 a.m. No school all day
All schools
7:45 a.m. No school all day Grades I through VIII
11:30 a.m. No afternoon session Grades I through VIII
In addition to the fire alarm signal, announcement will be made over radio station WJDA.
GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meetings of the Committee
Regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first Tues- day of each month at the High School Building at 8:00 p.m.
Entrance Age
No child shall be admitted to school in September unless he has reached the age of five years on or before the first day of April preceding.
A birth certificate is required for entrance to the first grade.
Children entering for the first time will be admitted only during the first two weeks of school.
Vaccination
No child shall be allowed to enter the first grade without a certificate of successful vaccination.
Employment Certificates
Employment certificates, educational certificates, and newsboys' badges are issued at the office of the Superintendent of Schools in the High School Building from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. every weekday, except Saturday.
All persons must make personal application and present a birth cer- tificate.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Weymouth:
The School Committee submits the following report for 1948. Mr. Elmer S. Mapes, our Superintendent of Schools, also presents his annual report. You will find a separate report of the School Building Committee in another section.
The School Building Program is, of course, one of the important prob- lems facing us. In past reports we have told you of our general plan to meet the needs of increased enrollment. In 1948 this increase was about 300, approximately the increase predicted in the Wilson Survey. The estimates for the school year beginning in September 1949 call for the opening of nine new rooms in the elementary grades. In planning for new buildings and additions the School Committee has tried to keep in mind both the pupils and the taxpayers. We feel that we should have decent housing and educational facilities for each youngster. The pro- gram does not contemplate the replacement of any of our present build- ings, with the possible exception of the Center Portable and the two-room John Adams School. The Center School, which has not been used for
182
the past two years, will be reopened in September 1949; but because of its construction we should like to replace it at some future date. All of our other buildings, some of which are over sixty years old and of wooden construction, will probably be with us for many years.
The School Committee has approved a salary increase of $200.00 for our teachers, principals, and supervisors. In 1948 the janitors and main- tenance men were granted an increase by the Town Meeting members, as were most other town employees. We are entering a period when it will be necessary to hire many additional teachers because of our growth in enrollment. We feel that it would be impossible to get com- petent teachers with our present salary schedule. Our starting salary has been $1,800.00. Under the new plan it will be $2,200.00. There are few communities that pay less than this amount.
The cost of operating our school system has been going up every year. This is due, of course, to our increased growth, increased salaries, and the general inflationary trend. The comparative position of the Weymouth School System is good, however. In a study of twenty towns in the metro- politan area Weymouth ranks fifteenth in the cost per pupil. Our cost is $168.92, and the range is from $148.77 to $275.17. In this list of twenty towns there are only five which have a lower per pupil cost.
Transportation of pupils, which was causing us a great deal of trouble prior to 1948, was handled in a very satisfactory manner during the past year. The South Shore Coach Lines, Inc., to whom we gave the contract on January 1, 1948, did an excellent job, and we hope that the problem has been solved.
The School Committee received a petition from a group of parents whose children attend the Adams Schools requesting one session of school instead of the two that we now have. There has been some newspaper and radio discussion of this proposal. The School Committee felt that our schools were not properly equipped to handle the school lunch prob- lem, if all pupils should bring their lunches. As there are no cafeterias in the elementary grades, it would be impossible for the children to have a hot lunch. One session would add $16,000.00 to the cost of school trans- portation, as it would make necessary five additional busses, because of the fact that the same busses are used to transport high school and elemen- tary school students. We realize that the one-session plan has some ad- vantages, but we feel at the present time, at least, that our pupils would be better off under the two-session plan.
Our objective for the coming year is to provide for our students the best possible education commensurate with the facilities at our disposal.
The budget for 1949 is submitted herewith together with the amounts spent in 1948:
Account Classification
Expenditures 1948
Estimates 1949
ADMINISTRATION
Salaries
$18,491.60
$19,308.33
Other General Expense
1,160.72
1,200.00
Total
$19,652.32
$20,508.33
INSTRUCTION
Salaries of Principals, Supervisors and Teachers
$552,623.32
$608,226.69
Expenses of Principals and Supervisors
5,851.34
5,700.00
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Textbooks Supplies Other Expense of Instruction
16,544.33
16,200.00
18,741.66
20,400.00
298.90
350.00
Total
$594,059.55
$650,876.69
OPERATION OF SCHOOL PLANT
Janitors' Salaries
$52,240.53
$53,965.00
Fuel
23,227.97
22,882.50
Light and Power
5,480.18
5,400.00
Water
2,026.31
1,800.00
Telephones
1,034.34
1,025.00
Janitors' Supplies
4,298.29
3,900.00
Total
$88,307.62
$88,972.50
MAINTENANCE
Salaries
$23,739.46
$29,900.00
Repairs, Outlay, Equipment
41,591.72
51,955.00
Total
$65,331.18
$81,855.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Library Books and Supplies
$352.04
$800.00
Graduation Expense
715.69
732.50
Promotion of Health
8,860.39
10,102.00
Transportation of Pupils
30,385.00
29,535.00
Tuition
1,405.19
1,825.00
Support of Truants
186.00
208.00
Insurance
446.97
475.00
Recreation
0
150.00
Other Expense
333.14
50.00
Total
$42,684.42
$43,877.50
DAY HOUSEHOLD ARTS
Salaries
$4,783.71
$5,981.50
Textbooks and Supplies
816.87
800.00
Outlay and Equipment
220.98
300.00
Total
$5,821.56
$7,081.50
DAY VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Salaries
$50,540.43
$57,950.50
Textbooks and Supplies
8,751.63
7,800.00
Operating Expenses
5,253.15
4,170.00
Outlay and Equipment
12,673.43
6,550.00
Transportation of Pupils
180.00
130.00
Total
$77,398.64
$76,600.50
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EVENING SCHOOLS
Commercial
$646.14
$800.00
Practical Arts
1,207.31
2,000.00
Industrial Arts Adult Civic Education Trade Extension Part-time Apprenticeship
327.05
455.00
6.00
66.00
0
300.00
1,708.07
2,110.00
Total
$3,894.57
$5,731.00
WAR VETERANS' PENSIONS
$2,550.00
$2,550.00
TRAVELING EXPENSE
Out of State
$240.11
$300.00
In State
112.17
200.00
Total
$352.28
$500.00
1948 Expenditures
$900,052.14
1949 Estimates
$978,553.02
CREDITS
The sums listed below are due the Town and are not credited to the School Department appropriation. Therefore, for the purpose of deter- mining net cost of schools to the Town, the amounts listed below should be deducted from the total expenditures.
TOTAL EXPENDITURES
$900,052.14
Credits
State Reimbursement:
Teachers' Salaries
$35,278.00
Transportation
5,624.98
Day Household Arts*
3,453.70
Day Industrial*
26,035.25
Evening Practical Arts*
1,454.42
Evening Apprenticeship*
258.89
Tuition paid to other localities (Trade Schools)
702.60
$72,807.84
*for 1/2 cost of instruction
Tuition :
Day Industrial
$14,411.40
Apprenticeship
Classes
929.50
State Wards
1,795.63
City Wards
370.27
High School
384.96
Agricultural Dept., High School
176.16
Elementary grades
57.44
Home instruction for physically handicapped child
160.00
$18,285.36
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Miscellaneous Cash Receipts:
Day Industrial Sales:
Auto Repairs $304.94
Cabinetmaking 316.40
Carpentry
185.32
Printing
413.43
Sheet Metal
640.87
Supplies, etc.
155.03
$2,015.99
Fines, damages, refunds; sale
of supplies, old books, etc .; telephones 380.53
$2,396.52
TOTAL CREDITS
$93,489.72
TOTAL NET COST TO TOWN
$806,562.42
FEDERAL FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR VOCATIONAL DEPARTMENTS
Smith-Hughes Fund:
Day Household Arts
$392.81
Day Industrial
1,100.80
Evening Practical Arts
12.09
$1,505.70
George-Barden Fund:
Evening Apprenticeship $350.00
(Trade Extension - printing)
Evening Practical Arts
540.00
890.00
$2,395.70
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH W. MAHONEY, Chairman ETHEL G. TAYLOR, Secretary (Mrs. Arthur R.) WALLACE H. DRAKE, M.D.
CLAYTON W. NASH
WILLIAM F. SHIELDS
HAROLD A. SPALDING, M.D.
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Committee:
I respectfully submit my fourth report as Superintendent of Schools, the sixty-third report in such a series.
The reports of the directors, supervisors, and special teachers follow. In some cases portions of these reports are deleted because of space limitations.
1. Art
"The past year has been one of ever increasing activity in the art department of our school system. With a few exceptions, there has been satisfactory progress in the development of the art program and its re- lationship to the growth of the child. The art work should enrich the life, and add to the cultural heritage of the child when handled by sym-
186
pathetic, understanding teachers. The new course of study is now in use in the primary and the seventh and eighth grades. The intermediate grade outline will be ready by spring.
These new courses, outlines, art programs - call them what you will - are planned as guides for the teacher rather than detailed specific lesson plans. The flexibility of approach to educational work today is making all learning more interesting. The ease with which art can be used to add vitality to all other subjects is evidenced by its frequent use to make academic work colorful, attractive and telling. This may be accomplished by the drawing of illustrations, making murals, organizing related material in notebooks and bulletin board displays, three dimensional models, or dioramas based on social studies, language, nature, safety, health or any- thing the individual teacher may feel needs extra emphasis. Art expres- sion integrated in this way is a very powerful teaching aid. What the child can draw he really understands.
In its own right art work contributes to the mental and emotional growth of the child. It provides him with an opportunity to physically express in visual form some of his ideas, interests, and especially his emo- tions. It also becomes an important release or safety valve for the growing child. The art periods are a great joy to the young child and only as he becomes self-critical does his power of expression lessen. The age at which self-criticism handicaps him is usually from the late intermediate grades through the eighth grade. By means of skillful teaching in this pre- adolescent period, art can do very much to orient the child to his pro- gressing physical and mental evolution. It can also become a distinct detriment to him when the teacher, through inadequate ability, lack of interest or understanding fails to make the art program work for him and allows him to develop habits of laziness, carelessness, disorderliness, or sometimes even defiance. These formative years are so important to his whole future attitude toward life, that he needs the guidance of teachers able to stimulate his interest in all phases of factual and cultural knowl- edge by sympathetic leadership.
There are several of our schools where very outstanding art work is being done. The interest is keen and the results are rewarding, for in- terest is always followed by growth in ability and understanding.
Our students submitted work again this year to the Scholastic Art Awards Contest. This was sponsored and exhibited by R. H. White Com- pany of Boston, as in 1947. There were sixty-four items sent from Wey- mouth and they included paintings, etchings, stenciling and woodcarving. About a quarter of them were hung. Three were awarded "Keys of Merit" and were sent to the National Contest in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The students receiving the "keys" were:
Jean Melette - Grade 8 - Pratt School Dorothy Godfrey - Grade 10 - High School Catherine Donnellan - Grade 12 - High School
The Christmas Art Sale this year was largely for the students them- selves and was very simple in organization and arrangement. The variety of things on sale was limited, but many more pieces of pottery and metal work were included than in 1947. The proceeds of these art sales add to the Art Department bank account from which scholarships are given to worthy students in need of financial aid to help in further art training.
The fluorescent lights installed in the art room at the High School last spring have been of such value that one can hardly believe work could ever have been done on dark days under the old lighting conditions.
187
The high school enrollment in the art courses has been increasing and the schedule of classes in the limited space which the art room provides presents many difficulties. One reason for the increasing numbers taking art work has been the continued interest in the two full credit "Design for Living" courses in the junior and senior years. The Junior Design deals largely with general design principles and how they relate to the individual person's dress. The Senior Design applies design principles to the house, planning it for present day needs and as a suitable background for the people who will live in it. This senior group meets in the noon lunch periods and the students are so interested that they often are reluctant to go for the brief late lunch time allowed them.
This fall when we were asked to plan an art room for the proposed new Junior High School, the problem was put to the senior design class to get the students' point of view as to the kind of room in which they would enjoy their work. Each student submitted a rough plan and many very good ideas were shown, some of which were incorporated in the plans and scale model which was submitted to the Superintendent and School Committee by the Art Department Staff.
We very much appreciate the new equipment that has been made possible this year - lights, gas, hot water (and cabinets under way) for the High School art room, and the storage cabinets that will soon be ready for the Nevin and Hunt departmental art rooms. These all will be of great help.
The other essential needs are more floor space and most of all in the upper grades to have teachers handling the art work who are really in- terested, enthusiastic, willing and able to successfully carry out a well integrated program."
2. Music.
"The year 1948 showed a marked increase in interest in music, both instrumentally and vocally. The individual improvement has been gratify- ing on the whole, and has been most noticeable in the ensemble work.
During the year the orchestra performed at three concerts, and played at the senior play and the Monday Club play. This group is seriously lacking in string players, as is the case with orchestras all over the country. The entire group totaled forty-three, which should be about the usual number of strings for a high school orchestra.
In September of 1948, a string program was started in the elementary schools to endeavor to make up for this lack. The unusual thing has been the increased interest and continued growth in the number of violin students.
The high school choir sang at the regular concerts, also at the State and New England Festivals where they received an "A" rating. This group has begun to attract many more students, making it necessary to form a second choir. Members of the choir in the future should be selected from the second choir in so far as voices are available. In some instances, it may be necessary to select special voices from the school at large. The singing in assemblies by the choir has been a help in interesting students in this field. Also the several choruses which meet one period a week have been an addition. The high school choir has just received eighty choir robes and made their first public appearance with them at the Christmas assembly.
The band played at the regular concerts and at the State and New England Festivals. At the State Festival they received an "A" rating
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and at the New England Festival, a "B" rating. They also played for the full football schedule and put on drills and maneuvers between halves. The band was also used at assemblies at the high school and for demon- strations in the elementary schools.
There are many students who are making a serious study of music and some who are planning to make music a vocation. There is a need for a course in harmony taught on a regular course schedule along with history of music and appreciation. These courses would give a well rounded program for any pupil wishing to make music a life's work.
The elementary schools are developing bands and orchestras of good caliber. The level of performance is continually being raised so that the bridge from the elementary grades to the high school is not so great. The newest group is in the Bicknell School, which will have nearly a fifty -piece band by next spring.
There is a real need for some way of financing a program to supply the large bass instruments and cboes, bassoons. baritone saxophones. cellos. violas. and horns. that we may be able to develop the complete choirs of instruments rather than a few of the most common ones. This is true of both the elementary schools and the high school. The parents" group formed last year to help finance festival trips has made a real start with about $700.00 earned to date. It is our hope that all students may take the festival trips this year without expense to them. The group have a planned budget of $2.000.00.
The elementary school program of band work plus the high school vocal and instrumental wor's constitutes a full program for one person. With the interest in strings becoming much stronger. the need for cr- chestras and regular rehearsals in the grades will be apparent another rear. The schedule of one rehearsal per week for elementary school bands is insufficient to produce the desired results and with the addition of or- chestras some cut in this program or an additional instructor seems necessary.
The vocal programs in the elementary schools is of the same quality as last year and with additional help from the regular teachers some good choruses have been produced for assembly programs and for special Christ- mas programs. Prospects for future vocal work in the high school are ex- cellent."
3. Physical Education
"Our present program of Physical Education is being conducted ac- cording to the revisions made in 1946 and operates on a 3-level basis: namely, elementary (grades 1-6). junior high (grades 7 and 8), and senior high (grades 9-12). The program provides for graded and continnous experiences from the first grade through the twelfth.
Miss Peterson, in her work with the elementary grades, reports as follows: "Because of the current interest in square dancing, we have in- corporated more of it in the program. Even the second grade youngsters show enthusiasm for it. This is in line with our attempt to teach activities that have s carry over value for adulthood." The use of pupli leaders for activities as a means of developing poise and self-confidence has been a strong objective in Miss Peterson's work during the past year.
The Director continues to train the instructors for the junior high level and supervises this program. Badminton has been added as a girl's activity for this level. This sport has proved very popular and will be included in the activities for high school girls.
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