USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Saugus > Town annual report of the officers and committees of the town of Scituate 1925-1927 > Part 6
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We feel that a Lighting committee should be chosen for the coming year, and that future additions to the system be made by them, after considering all the factors. in detail.
Respectfully submitted, FREDERIC T. BAILEY ERNEST R. SEAVERNS HERBERT G. SUMMERS NATHANIEL TILDEN ARCHIE L. MITCHELL HARVEY H. PRATT
DENNIS H. SHEA WALTER HAYNES CHARLES W. PEARE
Committee.
123
REPORT OF TREE WARDEN
To the Citizens of Scituate:
During the past year I have followed the customary policy of spending as much of my appropriation as was absolutely needed for repairs and up-keep work, in set- ting out and replacing young trees. I have set out one hundred and fifty trees. One hundred Maples, twenty- five Elms and twenty-five Lindens.
The up-keep of growing trees is by no means an un- important part of the tree warden's work. Trees, young and old, must be pruned; dead limbs must be cut out; cavities carefully cleaned and filled with cement.
Splitting and cracking of limbs must be prevented by bolting, and other needs looked after.
Scituate has over one hundred miles of roads. Some of the back roads have a natural growth of Ash, Elm and Maple, which make very good shade trees.
We also have some very dangerous corners about town that must be kept clear and mowed every year to avoid accidents.
I wish to state that the Scituate Tree Warden has no right to prune or order to prune in the State highway be- tween the Cohasset line and Marshfield line. . That work comes under the Public Works Commission, Middleboro, Mass. or State House, Boston.
I wish to thank all who have shown interest in my work in the past year, and hope they will continue to. show interest in the future.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM F. FORD,
Tree Warden.
124
REPORT OF TOWN FORESTRY COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Scituate :
At the last Town Meeting, the sum of one thousand dollars was appropriated for forestry purposes and the same Committee was appointed to serve.
A great showing has been made on the Town Forest, as the lot has been cleaned of briers and dead wood and all debris burned. Unfortunately rubbish had been dumped there during the summer, but this too has been taken care of.
The Town at its last meeting also voted to make the Town Forest a Bird and Game Sanctuary. The committee hopes in the near future to put up signs which will desig- nate this fact.
Interest in town forestry is steadily growing. This past year twenty-four have been added, making a total of sixty-five town forests in Massachusetts, and over one hundred other towns are investigating the possibility of creating town forests.
This movement is not confined to Massachusetts but is nation-wide.
That we have made such a good beginning is a credit to Scituate, and we hope that the Town will con- tinue this good work.
CLARA BROOKS,
Secretary.
125
REPORT OF TREASURER OF TRUSTEES FORE RIVER BRIDGE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1925
Balance brought forward from
1924
$156 94
RECEIPTS
City of Quincy, assessment No. 156-168 inc. $4,290 00
Town of Weymouth, assessment No. 157-168 inc.
1,200 00
Town of Hingham, assessment
No. 157-168 inc.
1,320 00
Town of Cohasset, assessment No. 157-168 inc.
720 00
Town of Scituate, assessment
No. 157-168 inc. 240 00
Town of Hull, assessment No. 157-168 inc. 240 00
Town of Marshfield, assessment No. 150-168 inc. 190 00
County of Norfolk, assessment No. 157-168 inc.
2,400 00
East. Mass. St. Ry. Co., assess- ment No. 157-168 inc.
1,800 00
Interest on Deposits 14 02
Telephone tolls collected at bridge 4 00
Total receipts $12,418 02
$12,574 96
126
Trustees of Fore River Bridge
DISBURSEMENTS
William W. Cushing, services as bridgetender $1,551 25
George A. Stitt, services as bridgetender 1,303 53
Jas. E. Fee, Dir. Ch. G'd'n'ship, wages 2 boy tenders 1,440 00
New England Tel. & Tel. Co., telephone service 57 89
Weymouth Light & Power Com- pany, lighting 34 56
Quincy Elec. Light & Power Company, lighting 36 00
City Fuel Company, fuel. 48 00
William Westland Company, hardware 2 25
Quincy Lumber Company, lum- ber 10 07
F. W. Thompson, light bulbs ... 13 50
Beckford & Lynch, electric fuses and links 9 04
Standard Oil Company, oil and grease 11 90
Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp., Ltd., repairs 1,105 15
W. H. Ellis & Son Company, re- pairs 5,816 20
W. F. Hall, police duty during repairs 132 50
Rollin H. Newcomb, police duty during repairs
132 50
J. R. Worcester, examination and report on bridge
250 00
Perley E. Barbour, services as Trustee 100 00
Theron L. Tirrell, services as Trustee 16 67
127
Trustees of Fore River Bridge
Fred E. Waite, services as Trus-
tee
83 33
Wm. L. Foster, services as Trus- tee, Sec. and Treas 125 00
1
Total disbursements
$12,279 34
Balance carried forward ..
$295 62
$12,574 96
WILLIAM L. FOSTER, Treasurer.
Trustees of Weymouth Fore River Bridge-
Gentlemen: I have examined the accounts of Wil- liam L. Foster, Treasurer of the Trustees of Weymouth Fore River Bridge for the year 1925, reconciled the bank account, and I hereby certify that the same are correct with proper vouchers.
(Signed) J. IRVING BOTTING, Town Accountant.
Hingham, December 31, 1925.
128
ESTIMATED EXPENSES FOR 1926
General Government
$12,500 00
Support of Schools
65,200 00
Libraries
1,600 00
Police
17,000 00
Fire Department
22,000 00
Forest Fires
2,000 00
Hydrant Rental
17,600 00
Support of Poor
12,000 00
Mothers' Aid
1,750 00
Soldiers' Relief
1,800 00
State Aid
700 00
Board of Health
5,000 00
Plymouth County Hospital Assessment.
2,387 04
Park Commission
2,000 00
Public Landing
500 00
Moth
4,401 05
Owners' Liability
1,500 00
Tree Warden
1,000 00
Elm Tree Beetle
300 00
Care of Roads
43,000 00
Snow Removal
12,000 00
Sidewalks
1,000 00
Repair of Bridges
500 00
Guard Rails
500 00
Employers' Liability
500 00
Fore River Bridge
400 00.
Maintenance of Public Buildings
1,000 00
Interest
11,000 00
State Tax
15,000 00
State Highway Tax
2,700 00
County Tax
17,500 00.
Memorial Day
600 00
Sealer of Weights and Measures
500 00
Street Lighting
6,561 00
Bounties
100 00
Unclassified
1,200 00
Refunds
250 00
Signboards
250 00
Reduction of Debt
19,750 00
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF SCITUATE
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1925
row
TS
INC
SATUIT
ORPORA
RAPID SERVICE PRESS, INC. 530 ATLANTIC AVENUE, BOSTON
-
INDEX
Organization 4
Report of School Committee
6
Report of Superintendent of Schools
7
Jenkins School
10
Hatherly School
11
High School
12
Reports of Supervisors
23
Report of School Physician
27
Report of School Nurse
28
Statistics 29
Enrollment 30
Financial Statement 32
Graduating Class 34
3
School Department
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1926
Schools open January 4.
Schools close February 19-seven weeks.
Schools open March 1.
Schools close April 16-seven weeks.
Schools open April 26.
Schools close June 18 or 25-eight or nine weeks .*
Schools open September 7.
Schools close December 22-sixteen weeks.
*The statutes require high schools to have one hun- dred eighty sessions per year.
HOLIDAYS
May 31, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
The regular meetings of the committee are held at the office of the Superintendent, old High School build- ing at 8 p. m. on the first Tuesday of the month.
Appointments with the Superintendent may be made upon request.
SIGNALS FOR "NO SCHOOL"
As soon as the installation of the fire-alarm is com- pleted signals for omission of school sessions for lower grades and for High School will be arranged. It is, how- ever, the policy of the committee to hold regular sessions whenever it is practical to maintain transportation service, because the daily expense, approximating $350, goes on, and it is not good business economy to stop the schools when unnecessary.
4
School Department
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Chairman, Cleveland Cogswell (6) *
Secretary, (Mrs.) Marion Collier Alexander (8) Belle Howes Chaffin (1)
SUPERINTENDENT
Frederick E. Bragdon (8)
Physician, T. B. Alexander, M. D. (13)
Nurse, Alice M. Gaffney, R. N. (8)
Dentist, F. A. Derby, D. D. S. (5)
Attendance Officer, Annie M. S. Litchfield (5)
JANITORS
Jenkins School, Frank Young (12)
High School, Charles G. Everett (6)
Hatherly School, Walter T. Newcomb (26)
TRANSPORTATION
Front Street Transportation Company
Egypt Garage Company J. W. Appleton G. Wilbur Damon Aaron Bates
*Years of service.
5
School Department
SUPERVISORS
Music, Jeanne E. Bradford (6) Art, (Mrs.) Doris A. Ward (5) Penmanship, Maude M. Scott (2) Physical Education, Anne L. Cunneen (3)
TEACHERS High School
Principal, L. A. Martin (6)
Sub-Master, Henry H. Sommerman (2)
Ellen V. Pierson (2)
Bessie M. Dudley (5)
Nettie E. Elliot (5)
Olive Barrows (5)
Ellen M. Howe (2)
Jenkins School
Principal, Clarence B. Washburn (2)
Maude M. Scott (3)
Marguerite I. Blue (3)
Marion A. Stevens (2) E. Gertrude Gardner (44)
Mrs. Eunice M. Cole (3) Lillian M. Weeden (5) Mrs. Jane D. Welsby (1)
Hatherly School
Principal, Carlton A. Burney (4) Anne L. Cunneen (7) Hilda L. Feener (4)
Mary E. Mills (2) Sara M. Kane (27)
Doris A. Tobey (4)
.
6
Report of School Committee
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Scituate, Mass., January 19, 1926.
Extract from the Secretary's Records
Voted, That the report of the Superintendent of schools be printed as the report of the Committee for the fiscal year 1925.
Voted, That we ask for an appropriation of $65,200, and the dog tax for the support of schools in 1926.
CLEVELAND COGSWELL, MARION COLLIER ALEXANDER, BELLE HOWES CHAFFIN, Committee.
7
Report of Superintendent
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the School Committee:
May I call your attention at this time to some statis- tics concerning the financial standing of Scituate among the towns of the Commonwealth? The figures used were compiled at the office of the State Department of Education from reports received from each town in the Commonwealth in July of each year, and are as accurate as it is possible for such records to be.
Notice first that Scituate leads all towns of the State with population less than 5000 in valuation per pupil in school, and is ranked sixth in this respect if all cities are included in the list.
One would expect under these conditions that the tax rate for support of schools, $5.38 per $1000 of valu- ation, would be relatively low. That such is the case, is indicated by the rank 343. There are 355 towns and cities in Massachusetts. 342 out of 355 tax themselves more for education than does Scituate. Only 12 tax themselves less than does Scituate.
It is interesting to note further that the school tax rate is actually less this year than for the two preceding years; that is, although the total appropriation for schools has increased the increase has been taken care of by still more rapid increase in valuation, so that with a smaller tax rate we have had available an actual in- crease in funds for school purposes. This is gratifying to us all.
Another factor in holding school taxes down appears in the amount received from the state as reimbursements from the state tax. By retaining teachers of Class 1 rating, and accepting the provisions of the law relating to state aid for vocational courses, we have secured an increasing reimbursement each year as follows:
21-22 $4793.31
22-23 $5118.04
8
Report of Superintendent
And this year we shall receive from all sources $5735.94. This sum is used annually by the assessors to reduce the levy voted in town meeting.
From the viewpoint of school costs, Scituate is fortu- nate in experiencing a large increase in valuation with a small increase in school population, so that it is rela- tively easy to provide the best equipment for our schools. May it not be true that the fact that Scituate has so con- sistently done this for many years, is one strong factor in bringing desirable people to invest and locate in Scitu- ate?
Again the expenditure per pupil in Scituate, from local taxation only, is $118.94, the eighth highest in the state. It is frequently said, "I pay taxes enough," etc. Let such do a little figuring and be convinced that the $5.38 tax per $1000 of valuation which they pay brings the biggest dividends of financial sort of any money they spend. For if they have only one child in school they must have property valued at not less than $20,000 to have their school tax pay for that one pupil's schooling, and some have several children in the school; in other words, the great majority of us receive in school bills paid, many times what we pay in school tax. These facts are cited for the information of any who care to know and not as arguments for financial expenditure. Arguments of this sort are not needed in Scituate.
Another question a stranger asks concerns the efficiency of the schools. Certain facts are significant. Jenkins School is now almost completely on the one- grade-to-a-teacher plan, each grade averaging less than thirty pupils. This condition has prevailed for three years in the lowest grades.
I am pleased to add my testimony to that of the teachers, to the marked superiority of the work accom- plished, particularly in these three grades. We confi- dently look for splendid achievements from these chil- dren who are getting the benefit of these favorable con-
9
Report of Superintendent
ditions for instruction, as they advance through the grades.
Nor is efficiency found only in the three lower grades. The next three grades are this year in separate rooms, and the results already confirm the contention of those who place the blame for failures on crowded con- ditions rather than on backwardness of pupils or weak- ness of teachers.
Circumstances require that grades seven and eight be together. Neither of these two grades has been by itself since leaving the primary room. We, who are with them continually, are very conscious of the loss this has been to them.
10
The Jenkins School
THE JENKINS SCHOOL The Building-Erected in 1902
Contains an Assembly Hall, six classrooms, Library,. Dental Room. Capacity, 225 pupils. Present enroll- ment, 219. Enrollment last year, 192. Organization by grades and teachers: Principal, Clarence B. Washburn, Grades VII, VIII. Assistant, Maude M. Scott. 44 pupils
Mrs. Jane L. Welsby, Grade VI 39 pupils
Marguerite I. Blue, Grade V 26 pupils
Marion A. Stevens, Grade IV 26 pupils
Mrs. Eunice I. Cole, Grade III 29 pupils
E. Gertrude Gardner, Grade II 22 pupils Lillian M. Weeden, Grade I. 31 pupils
11
The Hatherly School
THE HATHERLY SCHOOL
BUILT IN 1896 CAPACITY, 200 ENROLLMENT, 168, LAST YEAR 145 NUMBER OF ROOMS, 5 DENTAL ROOM AND OFFICE I Very much needed :
For assembly purposes, physical training, music and public exercises-An Assembly Hall.
Organization by grades and teachers: Principal, Carlton A. Burney, Grades VII, VIII
Assistant, Anne L. Cunneen 42 pupils
Mary E. Mills, Grade VI. 37 pupils
Hilda L. Feener, Grade IV, V 38 pupils
Sara A. Kane, Grade II, III 27 pupils
Doris A. Tobey, Grade I. 24 pupils
1
1.2
The High School
THE HIGH SCHOOL
The atmosphere about the High School is noticeably changed for the better this year. The quiet, insistent pressure of Principal Martin and his staff for real scholar- ship and voluntary participation in educational activities which make for good citizenship is evidently bearing fruit. The following facts were collated at my request:
More than 75% of the last three graduating classes went directly from the school into various clerical posi- tions or to some higher institution of learning.
Of the seventeen members of the class of 1925, thirteen are in responsible positions, which they secured previous to graduation or very soon after, or are con- tinuing their education in other schools.
Thirteen members of the present senior class are expecting to carry on their education in other institutions after graduation. At least ten of the class will in all probability be qualified to go directly into office positions.
Of the class of 1926 at least five are preparing to enter a Liberal Art's College next year; three a State Normal School, and five, schools for special training.
The enrollment by departments is interesting. Thirty-four are taking a college preparatory course definitely. Eighteen are in the commercial school, and twenty-two others are candidates for the commercial school when they shall have become Juniors. Twenty- nine girls are taking some, or all of the instruction offered in Household Arts. Twenty-nine boys formed the first year's group in Practical Arts. Sixty-eight pupils are registered in the Fine Art's Department, and an equal number in Vocal Music, twenty of whom are boys and members of the Boys' Glee Club. Eighteen are studying in the Orchestra. Comparison of these figures with corresponding figures of the other schools of one hun- dred and twenty-five pupils is pleasing, both in respect to opportunity given by the school and in results obtained.
Eighty-one pupils have voluntarily formed an Ath-
13
The High School
letic Association. Now that the athletic field is an assured fact, a decided advance in this department of training is expected.
SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES NOW AT- TENDING SOME HIGHER SCHOOL
Kenneth Bates, '22, Mass. Normal Art, '26.
Mildred Driscoll, '22, Boston University, '26.
H. Carlton Litchfield, '23, Boston University, '26. Hilda Stenbeck, '23, Perry Kindergarten, '26.
Wesley Vines, '23, Northeastern, '27.
Amy Frye, '24, Boston Children's Hospital, '27.
John Stonefield, '24, Northeastern, '28.
Ruth Welch, '24, Thayer Academy, '26.
Daniel Appleton, '25, Northeastern, '29.
Herbert Cole, '25, Wentworth Institute, '27.
Margaret Cole, '25, Springfield School for Librarians, '27.
Winifred Elliott, '25, Gordon Missionary School, '28.
Mary Ford, '25, Boston University, '29.
Grace Towle, '25, Fitchburg Normal, '28. Winifred Ward, '25, Fitchburg Normal, '28. .
Evelyn Clapp '22 Graduated from the Boston University Secretarial School '24 and is with the United Shoe Co. offices in Boston.
Alma Jenkins, '22, attended Simmons College three years.
Dorothy Gannett, '23, Teaching at Mansfield.
SCITUATE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES NOW AT- TENDING BUSINESS COLLEGE OR ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL WORK
Jacob Berson, '22, Accountant, Boston.
Ruth Hall, '23, Stenographer, Boston.
Barbara O'Connor, '23, Office, Otis' Market, Scituate.
14
The High School
Mary O'Hern, '23, New England Dairy and Food Council. Helen Lee, '23, Office, Boston.
Velma Pelrine, '23, Office, Boston.
Samuel Reddy, '23, Commercial work, New Hampshire. Eleanor Dwyer, '24, Stenographer, Maine Coast & Can- ada S. S. Co., Boston.
Evelyn Bonney, '25, Stenographer, St. Luke's Hospital, N. Y.
Priscilla Fish, '24, Commercial Work, Welch Co., Scituate.
Mary Flaherty, '24, Stenographer, Boston.
Martha Lincoln, '24, Stenographer, Keith Mf. Co.
George Murphy, '24, Assistant Mgr. Statistical Depart- ment Mass. Bonding and Insurance Co., Boston.
Gertrude Stanley, '24, Employer's Fire Insurance Co., Boston.
John Ford, '25, Stenographer, Boston & Albany R. R. Barbara Brown, '25, Office, Filene's, Boston.
Marion Damon, '25, Office, Young Men's Christian Union. Velma Litchfield, '25, Stenographer, New Englnad Trust Co.
Eulalia Pinkham, '25, Shawmut National Bank, Boston.
Elizabeth Scannell, '25, Sales Department, R. H. White Co.
The views of the pupils expressed in a paragraph written by many of them on the high school are full of interest. Each department has its quota of supporters and there is a very large majority who testify to the change of attitude in regard to scholarship and conduct, which I have already mentioned. The pleas of these pupils for a gymnasium are without exception prefaced by a strongly phrased appreciation of the athletic field toward the using of which all look with great interest. But the most gratifying thing to a thoughtful reader of
15
The High School
these letters is the evidence that the efforts made to emphasize ideals of scholarship and to create a sane and helpful school spirit are succeeding. As a sample of this most commendable spirit I have selected a por- tion of one letter.
WHAT AM I GETTING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL?
Too often I hear people say; "Why don't you take something practical? What good is your History, French, and Latin going to do you ? But then, I never did believe in high school. They never teach anything practical." I am glad that I can answer their questions and tell them that Scituate High School offers prac- tical courses.
When I entered high school I had a vague idea that the English language had always been just as it is today. But when I began to study Latin, and later on, French, I found out where most of our English words come from. When I am reading, I often find words which I have never seen before and my Latin helps me to find out the definitions without consulting a dictionary, and nine times out of ten, I am right.
Then in regard to their statement: "I never did believe in high school. They never teach anything that is practical." Most always I say : "Have you heard about the Manual Training Classes? This course is open to all boys and gives them an excellent chance that they may use in later life, or, a good background should they attend a higher institution, like Wentworth." Or, "Have you heard about the wonderful work Miss Elliott is doing in the Commercial Classes? Have you heard about the certificates and awards for speed and ac-
16
The High School
curacy many of the junior and senior girls are winning? 'Or perhaps you haven't heard all about the Household Art Classes, where any girl who wishes may learn how to sew, cook, etc., or how the Household Art classes carry on our school cafeteria with the help of Miss Bar- rows and Miss Howe?"
Invariably the answer is: "Well, you certainly know how to defend your school. There is nothing like school spirit. I'll take back my statement about high school not teach- ing the pupils anything." But once in a while some one will say: "Oh, yes, I've heard about everything you are doing. But do the pupils take an interest in these things? As far as I can see all high school pupils think about is destroying school or town property or some- thing equally wrong."
I have come to the conclusion that there is no help for that kind of people.
The other day an old friend of my mother said, "I suppose you will have an argument al- ready if I should ask you about your History?" I replied that I certainly should. Then she asked, "Can you tell me why the average pupil does not like History, and what good is it doing you?" I told her that the average pupil did like history, but I also added, that a great many pupils didn't. I didn't know why they didn't. I'm not even sure why I don't like it as well as my English or French. But history is good for one to know because if we study history, we learn how people lived and gov- erned themselves centuries ago and continuing right up to the present moment. I know from my history that we get a little of our govern- ment from the Romans.
17
The High School
When I leave high school I shall know more what good I got from my high school education. I know now, that I am learning how to obey small rules and regulations that will help me later on. I know, also, that high school has taught me the spirit of teamwork and loyalty.
It is gratifying also to know that our efforts to excel in our class of schools are recognized beyond the im- mediate community.
The Art Department through its exhibit at the fair, poster contests and participation of its director in sum- mer school and convention programs is favorably known over a large area, reflecting credit upon Scituate. The same is true of the Music Department. This year the Commercial Department has won recognition of this sort under the energetic leadership of Miss Elliott.
It seems fitting that our people should know the following :
Extract of Letter from Miss Elliott to American Shorthand Teacher, (Mr. Barnhart is Chief, Commercial Education Service, Federal Board for Vocational Edu- cation, Washington, D. C.)
.
Scituate, Mass. Nov. 11, 1925
"The American Shorthand Teacher 16 West 47th Street New York City
Gentlemen :
In Mr. Barnhart's article in the November "Shorthand Teacher," he says that "startling though it may seem to a business man or to an
18
The High School
advocate of vocational training in the public schools, it is safe to say that not one hundred public schools in this country have a minimum of speed and high standard of accuracy in tran- scribing as a prerequisite for graduation from their shorthand course."
I am enclosing my paper (see below) for publication as a very satisfactory program for the small high school, since we do have a definite minimum standard for both promotion and graduation.
Signed NETTIE E. ELLIOTT
Extract of letter from American Shorthand Teacher. December 17, 1925.
Miss Nettie E. Elliott Box 629
Scituate, Mass.
"My dear Miss Elliott :
"Your article on 'Training for Business' has just been set up in type for use in the American Shorthand Teacher.
"We take pleasure in sending you herewith check in payment at our regular rates for the American Short- hand Teacher.
"We feel sure that this article will be of interest and value to many teachers of commercial subjects."
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