USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1925-1927 > Part 13
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The football field is considered one of the best in this part of the country, and some good games were played last fall which were attended by large crowds.
Two large spotlights were installed so that the players could get a chance to practice in the evening.
This winter the field was flooded so that with the spot- lights turned on hundreds of children availed themselves of the chance to go skating on a pond that was perfectly safe.
The Department thinks that there should be a comfort station on the grounds, and have asked the Town for one thousand dollars for that purpose.
The curbing around the grounds in front of the high school has done a great deal to keep the lawn in good shape. There is still a lot of work to be done to improve them and we hope to be able to accomplish some of it this next summer.
At Peggoty Beach, with the assistance of the Scituate Betterment Society, we have erected and equipped a modern comfort station.
The beach was cleaned in the morning and patroled by a life guard seven days a week all the summer. This man was paid by the Second Cliff Improvement Association.
Lawson Park was kept mowed all summer, and was one of the beauty spots of the South Shore.
In regard to the parking space at Minot, we feel that we have filled in enough of the meadow and should now take care of what we have, and have therefore asked the Town for one thousand dollars to regrade it so it can be used to good advantage this next season.
129
Report of the Park Commission
We have also asked for a sum of money to erect and equip a comfort station at this parking space as it is some- thing very badly needed.
We hope to improve some of the small plots in the Town as we think that here, with a small expenditure of money, we can accomplish good results in adding to the beauty of our Town.
-
L. E. COLE, Chairman, JOHN F. DALBY, WALTER GARDNER.
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130
Report of Special Road Committee
REPORT OF SPECIAL ROAD COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of the Town of Scituate:
The Special Road Committee pursuant with customary proceeding held a public hearing in reference to all articles in the Town Warrant referring to road repairs and new construction. Due to the fact that expenditures on new layouts had been referred to the Committee, new construc- tion work was somewhat limited. The Committee viewed all roads and a general survey of the situation was made, after which the Committee recommended that the appro- priation of $20,000 be expended as follows:
Name of Street Construction
Estimate
Cost
Crescent Avenue. . .
Gravel
$500 00
$480 00
Sea View Avenue. .
Gravel
1,000 00
1,110 00
Ocean Side Drive. .
Gravel
1,000 00
1,160 00
Mitchell Avenue. ..
Macadam
500 00
980 00
Lawson Road . ....
Oil and patching 1,000 00
1,060 00
Woodland Road and
Hillside Road . . .
Gravel, oil and
patching
1,000 00
540 00
Briggs Place. .
Gravel
500 00
672 00
Cherry Lane.
Oil and gravel
1,500 00
1,408 00
Buttonwood Lane. .
Oil and gravel
500 00
481 00
First Parish Road . .
Macadam
10,000 00
11,199 72
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $25,000 for the coming year.
The Special Road Committee which also served as the Sidewalk Committee recommended the following expendi- tures :
131
Report of Special Road Committee
Gannett Road.
$208 00
Bailey's Causeway
97 00
First Parish Road
112 00
Booth Hill Road .
304 06
$721 06
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT G. SUMMERS, NATHANIEL TILDEN, ARCHIE L. MITCHELL, WALTER HAYNES, Special Road Committee.
132
Report of Light Committee
REPORT OF LIGHT COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Scituate:
The committee organized with Frederic T. Bailey as chairman and Nathaniel Tilden as secretary. In accordance with the usual policy a public hearing was held June 21, 1926 where the lighting needs of the Town were discussed in detail by various citizens of the Town.
On June 30, 1926, the committee made a general survey of the Town. After a careful investigation the committee voted to locate the following lights:
Beaver Dam Road: One light by railroad crossing, west- erly side; one light opposite Perry's house.
New Parkway: One light extreme end of Parkway; one light ten feet beyond bowling alley.
Front Street: Six additional year-round lights; two spot lights.
Willow Street: One light on pole by house of James S. Barry, Ridge Hill Road; one light by corner of Kent Street, year round.
First Parish Road: One 500-watt light at drinking fountain (at the Harbor) to replace lights on corner at the present time.
Common Street: One light between Frank Cole's and Mrs. Bessie Prouty's.
Tilden Road: One light on each side of the center pole opposite Henry O'Neal's.
Country Way: one light on pole 8-74 near residence of Arthur Merritt; one light by Judge Cushing Tablet at corner of Judge Cushing Road and Country Way.
Elm Street: One light on pole beyond O'Donnell's; one light near residence of Frank Hatch; one light between Hatch and Stewart's; one light near residence of Edward Dunn; one light opposite Otis' barn by oak tree.
133
Report of Light Committee
Border Street: One light on pole 16; one light on pole 18.
Buttonwood Lane: One light, corner of Buttonwood Lane and Baileys' Causeway (summer light).
Mitchell Road: One light on pole opposite Fire Station, year round.
Hatherly Road: One light opposite Graves Avenue; one light near Wood Avenue.
Mann Lot Road: Five lights, not yet installed.
Hatherly Beach: Six summer lights.
Mr. Phillips of the Electric Light Company attended our location meeting and his service proved of great benefit to the committee. We wish to thank him, also all others who have cooperated with us throughout the past year.
It is the sentiment of the committee that the present policy is proving beneficial to the Town and we feel that a committee should be appointed for the coming year.
HERBERT G. SUMMERS.
134
Report of Tree Warden
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Scituate:
I have this year planted two hundred and nine shade trees on our roads and streets.
Some of them are ones reset in place of those that died or were run over by cars.
I have mowed around all trees and have given a fair amount of dressing to most of them.
They are all growing well and will in time make fine shade trees. We have many blind corners that if we do not look after, accidents will be numerous.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM F. FORD.
135
Report of Moth Department
REPORT OF THE MOTH DEPARTMENT
To the Citizens of the Town of Scituate:
The condition of the Town at the present time with regard to Gypsy Moth, Brown Tail Moth, Satin Moth and Elm Tree Beetle is very good.
Our shade trees and orchards are in much better condi- tion than in years past. The Tent Caterpillars are very active and will strip a tree of its leaves if not sprayed and looked after. There are several small colonies of Gypsy Moths, which I hope to suppress the coming season.
We are still fighting against the Satin Moth at North Scituate Beach. Their favorite food is the poplar tree. The Cape is being stripped every year because there are no funds for spraying. It was estimated last season (1926) that about 43,000 acres of woodland were completely ruined, not a leaf left on trees or bushes. The State Forester has urged every Moth Superintendent in the State not to give up fighting until every Gypsy Moth and Brown Tail Moth is suppressed.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM F. FORD, Moth Superintendent.
·
136
Plymouth County Extension Service
1
PLYMOUTH COUNTY EXTENSION SERVICE
Agriculture or County Agent Work
Assistance was given to poultry men in disease control, building, feeding, and other phases of poultry by visits by the agent, letters and circulars.
Aid was given to orchardists by visits, letters and circulars.
We have worked especially closely with the Peters' orchard.
Home Making
A meeting on garment finishes was held in North Scituate.
A series of meetings was held in North Scituate and Scituate Harbor at which the women were taught kitchen improvement under the leadership of Mrs. Rena Cole.
Two Scituate women entered the Plymouth County Kitchen Contest and were given special assistance in arrangement and equipment of their kitchens so as to reduce labor and increase efficiency and cheerfulness. One of the prizes was won by Mrs. Rena Cole.
Junior Club Work
Boys and girls at the Hatherly and Jenkins Schools were organized in poultry and garden clubs and were given instruction in these subjects by the Club Agent.
GARDNER C. NORCROSS, County Agent.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1926
M
J
SETTS
IN
SATUIT
ORPOR
PRINTED BY THE BOUNDBROOK PRESS, NORTH SCITUATE, MASS.
INDEX
SCHOOL CALENDAR. 3
ORGANIZATION 4
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE 6
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 7
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HIGH SCHOOL 13
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC 17
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ART. 19
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL OF HOUSEHOLD ARTS. 21
REPORT OF INSTRUCTOR OF MANUAL TRAINING. 23
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
25
REPORT OF SCHOOL DENTIST
26
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE 28
STATISTICS . 29
FINANCIAL STATEMENT 32
GRADUATING CLASS
34
3
School Calendar
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1927
Schools open January 3.
Schools close February 18 - seven weeks.
Schools open February 28.
Schools close April 15 - seven weeks.
Schools open April 25.
Schools close June 17 to 24 - eight or nine weeks .*
Schools open September 7.
Schools close December 23 - sixteen weeks.
*The statutes require high schools to have one hundred eighty sessions per year.
May 30, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following will be school holidays.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The regular meetings of the Committee are held at the office of the Superintendent, Old High School Building, at 8 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month, September to June inclusive.
Appointments with the Superintendent may be made upon request.
SIGNALS FOR "NO SCHOOL"
The signal for omission of school sessions is sounded from the North Scituate Fire Station at 7.30 a.m., and con- sists of three blasts - pause - one blast - pause - three blasts. It is, however, the policy of the Committee to hold regular sessions whenever it is practicable to maintain trans- portation service.
4
Directory of School Department
DIRECTORY OF SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
W. CLEVELAND COGSWELL
Chairman
MRS. MARION C. ALEXANDER
Secretary
MRS. BELLE H. CHAFFIN
H. C. WINGATE Superintendent
HIGH SCHOOL
L. A. MARTIN
Principal
M. G. GILLESPIE
Mathematics, Science
ROBERT F. RILEY
Manual Arts
ELLEN V. PIERSON
Language
NETTIE E. ELLIOTT
Commercial Subjects
BESSIE M. DUDLEY
English
OLIVE M. BARROWS
Household Arts
ELLEN M. HOWE
Household Arts
JENKINS
LEROY E. FULLER
Principal, VIII
MARION I. DICKSON
VII
JANE L. WELSBY VI
FLORENCE M. TOOMEY V
HELEN PEARL IV
MRS. EUNICE M. COLE
III
E. GERTRUDE GARDNER
II
LILLIAN M. WEEDEN
I
HATHERLY
GEORGE W. BURRILL
Principal, VIII
ANNE L. CUNNEEN VII
BESSIE L. CARTER
V, VI
SARAH M. KANE
III, IV
HELEN G. KNOX
I, II
5
Directory of School Department
SUPERVISORS
JEANNE E. BRADFORD
Music
DORIS D. WARD-
Art
T. B. ALEXANDER, M.D.
School Physician
FRANK A. DERBY, D.M.D.
Dentist
DOROTHY RAYMOND, R.N.
ANNIE M. S. LITCHFIELD
Attendance Officer
JANITORS
CHARLES G. EVERETT
WALTER T. NEWCOMB
FRANK YOUNG
High School Hatherly School Jenkins School
TRANSPORTATION
Front Street Transportation Co. 3 routes
Egypt Garage and Machine Co. 2 routes
J. W. Appleton 2 routes
G. Wilbur Damon
1 route
Aaron Bates 1. route
Nurse
6
Report of School Committee
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Scituate:
It gives the School Committee great pleasure to present Mr. Harold C. Wingate, Superintendent of Schools, who in turn presents his report which covers the school situation very creditably.
W. CLEVELAND COGSWELL, MARION COLLIER ALEXANDER, BELLE HOWES CHAFFIN, Committee.
7
Report of Superintendent of Schools
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Scituate:
In assuming my duties as Superintendent of your schools on May 1, I was impressed with the school organization that had been built up over a period of years. Notwith- standing the fact that the schools had been without a regular supervising officer for approximately two months, it is greatly to the credit of the teachers and principals that things were functioning well. It is always difficult to assume new duties in the middle of a term or period and I am glad to acknowledge at this time the assistance and courtesy extended me by Mr. Bragdon, your former Superintendent.
It is entirely natural that the incoming of a new execu- tive head generally witnesses some unrest in the ranks. The Scituate schools showed no exception to this. During the summer ten resignations were received. The teachers in- volved were called to positions in larger communities or to places in which the advance financially and professionally was recognized. A good deal of care was used in filling the vacancies and I feel sure the schools will continue to make good progress.
A principle of government that equally well applies to school systems recognizes that some careful pruning is bene- ficial but too much tampering with roots retards progress. A revolution is costly and generally disappointing. It is only justifiable when the abuses of a system are most flagrant and no other means of correction possible. As far as the schools are concerned it is my purpose to advise changes and modifications when and where I feel that they will in- crease the efficiency of the schools without damaging their general structure. '
This report embraces six different topics, as follows: transportation, repairs and alterations of buildings with
8
Report of Superintendent of Schools
suggested improvements, the problem of increased school attendance, the heating system at the high school, school building insurance and evening schools.
At the end of the present school year the existing transportation contracts will expire. A careful survey of this phase of our school system with view to making possible adjustments to meet changing conditions is being made. All of the barges are loaded to capacity at the present time, and during the early fall months, partly due to temporary pupils, several of the routes were badly crowded. This condition led to the calling of a conference between the bus men and Committee, the result of which was a decision to put in force a ruling of the Committee to the effect that all children living one mile or less from their assigned school should not be carried in the busses. This was not a new ruling but one that had been decided upon several years ago and invoked at this time to meet the problem of the overcrowded condi- tions. In certain cases - especially where the younger children are concerned - it has caused some inconvenience for parents. The only way to relieve the situation, unless the high school pupils are discriminated against in favor of the younger children, is to plan for more or larger busses.
In addition to the ordinary minor schoolhouse repairs some alterations and improvements were made in the buildings during the past summer. At the Jenkins School a partition was placed in the lower front classroom, making the arrangement on the lower floor similar to the one on the upper floor and thus providing eight classrooms, making it possible to have a separate room for each grade. Also, a new furnace was installed in this school to heat the corri- dors of the building, the other furnaces not being adequate for this purpose.
A great improvement in the interior appearance of the vocational arts building, the walls and ceiling of which had been badly stained over a period of years, was made by painting the walls and whitening the ceilings. A still greater improvement was made at the high school by painting the corridors of that building on both floors.
I strongly urge that provision be made for painting the
9
Report of Superintendent of Schools
hall and classrooms of the high school during the coming summer. These rooms have never been painted and during the ten years in which the building has been used the white walls have necessarily become soiled and unsightly. Alto- gether the rooms seem cold and barren and cheerless, and this appearance cannot act favorably upon either teachers or pupils. Also new window shades are needed for at least half of the rooms and a blackboard should be placed on the front wall of Room No. 10. The park department has succeeded in making the grounds in the front of the building very attractive. May we not have the interior clean and cheerful?
There are no outstanding repairs or improvements that seem to be needed at the Jenkins School this year. A few things in the way of new equipment should be provided and I would suggest that as rapidly as possible window shades be substituted for blinds in the rooms in which the sun shines much of the day. Shades do not exclude light, while the blinds do.
Several of the rooms at the Hatherly School need repainting, and several should be equipped with shades rather than blinds. The roof will need to be reshingled this year and in the near future the building should be painted on the outside.
A very serious and unexpected problem confronted us at the Jenkins School at the opening of the fall term in the size of the entering class, which numbered fifty-eight, whereas the normal class at this school is about thirty. A large class had been foreseen but not one of the size that appeared. In former years two of the grades have always been combined at the Jenkins School, but this year there were no two consecutive grades small enough to combine without crowding, so the eighth room, that had been made during the summer, was occupied.
For those who are not acquainted with the construction of the Jenkins School, let me say that this is a building of eight classrooms, four of these having a maximum capacity of thirty, and the other four a maximum capacity of forty- eight to sixty, depending upon the size of the pupils.
10
Report of Superintendent of Schools
The first grade room was one of the smaller group and it was impossible at the time to make an exchange of rooms. Also the proper size desks were lacking. Under these con- ditions we did the only thing possible - arranged tempo- rarily for two classes of the first grade, one meeting in the morning and the other in the afternoon.
Through the courtesy of the Selectmen and Advisory Board, enough money was allotted to school funds from the emergency fund to allow the purchase of the necessary additional desks and by the third week in October the enrollment in one of the grades occupying a large room was reduced sufficiently to allow for an exchange of rooms between the first and fourth grades. On October 25 the first grade was therefore placed on full time and an assistant provided for the first grade teacher.
The pertinent question now is: What will be the situa- tion next September? In connection with the annual census this year Mrs. Litchfield has made a survey of all children over four years old not enrolled in school. The method used was a house-to-house canvass so that the figures obtained are as accurate as it is possible to secure. These indicate that the number of children now living in town who will be eligible for admission to the first grade next year are twenty-one for the Hatherly School and sixteen for the Jenkins. Allowing for a thirty-three and one- third per cent increase over these numbers for new families moving into town and for the stay-over summer population we should have a possible twenty-eight for the Hatherly and twenty-one for the Jenkins School. These numbers can be handled satisfactorily next year at the Jenkins School, and by a readjustment of grades, also at the Hatherly.
However, the situation that arose this year is bound to arise again. Sooner or later we shall need more room. The problem is being considered carefully. The buildings have been inspected by a representative of the State Department of Education and at the proper time plans will be presented for your consideration and approval.
May I call your attention to that part of the report of the high school principal that deals with the inadequate
11
Report of Superintendent of Schools
heating of the high school building on cold days or par- ticularly windy days in winter. Mr. Martin has not ex- aggerated this condition, and I believe that we should attempt to remedy it. The building has recently been inspected by an expert on steam heating systems, and a report with recommendations will soon be made. This report should be considered carefully and if the changes recommended seem reasonably certain Įto produce the desired results, they should be made at the earliest oppor- tunity.
A matter that has recently been brought to the atten- tion of the Committee concerns the insurance of our school buildings. It would seem wise to make some adjustments in this matter. Of the four school properties, two are appar- ently insured for considerably less than their replacement values. It would be advisable to have the value of the build- ings appraised and adjust the insurance on this basis.
For several years past private individuals or agencies at the north end of the Town have interested themselves in providing an evening school for groups of foreign-born residents of the Town who have been interested in learning to read and write English. Much good has been accom- plished. In several cases it has aided towards making citizens of these residents. Your Superintendent visited one of the classes a short time ago and was impressed with the value of this work. It would seem that it might profitably be incorporated as a part of our public school program. The expense involved is not large and where the work is approved by the State, the Town is reimbursed one-half of the cost. Most of the materials used in the courses are pamphlets published by the State Department of Education. The classes generally meet two or three times a week during the winter months.
Let me thank you for your assistance and cooperation in my work, and assure you that it has been appreciated.
May I call your attention to the reports of the high school principal, the supervisors of music and drawing, the
12
Report of Superintendent of Schools
school physician, the school dentist and the school nurse, together with the statistical tables that have been compiled.
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. WINGATE, Superintendent of Schools.
13
Report of High School Principal
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. H. C. Wingate,
Superintendent of Schools,
. Scituate, Mass.
Dear Sir: Reviewing the work of the past year as a group of teachers we feel justified in reaching the general con- clusion that there is reason to commend the pupils of the Scituate High School for their achievements.
We find evidence of a higher average of individual responsibility and effort. This is the standard which must measure the actual accomplishment in any of our educa- tional institutions. Beautiful buildings, expensive equip- ment and lavish expenditures in the school department do not of themselves assure that very subtle but very definite something which we have called education. The ability of the individual to express himself intelligently both in words and acts determines the level of civilization.
From our school records and careful observation we estimate that at least fifty per cent of the students in this school are applying themselves with good or excellent indi- vidual effort; thirty-five per cent with fair individual effort and the rest with very indifferent or apparently negligible effort.
The problem of real justice in the case of individuals whose presence in the school seems to be of very little value to themselves and at the same time of a very marked detriment to the institution is difficult of solution. We have followed the policy up to the present time of retaining all, if it was possible to do so. We feel sure that the school as a whole has suffered somewhat at least by this policy. There are always some individuals who are not able or will not try to adjust themselves to the necessarily restricted con- ditions of the school environment. Is it wise for these pupils
14
Report of High School Principal
to waste their own time and destroy the opportunities of others? We wish we might know what the real consensus of opinion on this question is among the taxpayers of Scituate. Theoretically of course every town desires an efficient high school. Too often, however, the average citizen fails to realize that the same broad principles of efficient production which apply in any other business operate with exactly the same force in school. Would any really efficient business enterprise retain indefinitely operatives who were constantly negligent to their duty or who practiced actual sabotage? We are merely presenting this phase of the situation for your consideration and shall of course be guided entirely by the wish of the people of the Town.
We take justifiable pride in pointing out a few of the achievements of the large group of students who are using their time intelligently. Four times since the beginning of our school publication The Chimes various pupils have received prize awards or honorable mention for commendable literary work. In connection with the forthcoming January issue of The Chimes we call your attention to a digest of articles on the subject "How Can We Help to Improve Our Town?" It is our hope that many of the sentiments, which have been expressed in rather forceful words, may be found increasingly operative in constructive acts.
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