USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1913-1916 > Part 12
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25,000 00
Roman Catholic " 6. £
50,000 00
Cong. Society, Greenwood
3,000 00
Methodist Society
18,000 00
Universalist Society .
18,000 00
Montrose Chapel Society . 2,000 00
Mass. Bapt. S. S. Assn. .
12.000 00
Young Men's Christian Asso.
35,000 00
Home for Aged Women 4,700 00
First Cong. Society .
125,000 00°
State Armory . ·
50,000 00
Quannapowitt Agriculture Society
20,060 00
Total
8412,700 00
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, JAN. 1, 1914
School property
Assets £256,500 00
Liabilities £39,000.00
Public Library
10,000 00
Oher buildings and land
162,000 00
28,000 00
Public grounds
62,000 00
Cemeteries
8,000 00
Other real estate
161,000 00
28,000 00
Water works .
305,000 00
218,500 00
Fire apparatus .
16,000 00
'Trust funds
25,980 00
25,980 00 .
209
Sewer system . · 316,500 00 Gas and Electric plant 243,800 00 .
$ 224,500 00
116,000 00
Assets above liabilities
$1,566,780 00
$679,980 00 886,800 00
$1,566,780 00 $1,566,780 00
ABATEMENTS ON 1913 LEVY
Soldiers' polls .
108 00
Soldiers' wives and widows ·
1,601 08
Widows and spinsters
685 31
Poll tax payers de ceased
20 00
Inability
80 50
Errors
28 35
Over val. .
238 66
Moth tax .
12 71
Sworn off and filed
628 53
$3,403 14
Number of residents assessed on property :
Individuals
. 1,781
All others . 286 .
Number of non-residents assessed on property :
Individuals
556
All others . 91
Number of persons assessed :
On property
2,717
For poll tax only
2,438
Number of poll tax payers
3,503
2,204
" acres of land
3,987
" horses
363
" coWS .
323
" neat cattle
6
"' swine .
115
" fowl .
1,930
,9 " pairs of pigeons
2,500
" dwellings
.
210
APPROPRIATIONS
Transfers
.
$175 00
Expended
$157 30
Transferred to street list
.
.
172 30
Balance .
$2 70
Street list ·
$110 00
Expended ·
$125 00
Transferred from Transfer Acct.
15 00
$125 00
$125 00
Writing transcript of valuation book
$100 00
Expended by contract
$100 00
Clerical help .
$300 00
Expended
$197 51
197 51
Balance available Jan. 1, 1914 .
102 49
RECOMMENDATIONS
We recommend that the town appropriate $500 to subdivide our maps, without which in a few years will be of little value to the town. We have stated this before but now it is absolutely necessary.
We have given our best efforts to stem the ever-increasing tax rate. The State charges are getting beyond all reason, prac- tically a one dollar increase on our 1913 tax rate over that of 1912.
Personal property has made a good showing over last year and our new buildings are very satisfactory.
The re-valuation, recommended by the committee of thirty-one and voted by the town, is nearly completed and next year will be finished, and little, if any, added revenue will come from that source in the future.
We would suggest to the taxpayer that the proper place to air their grievances of a high tax rate is in the town meeting and not the assessors' office, as the several amounts raised must be met by direct taxation and that amount determines the rate.
SAMUEL T. PARKER, Chairman,
GEORGE II. STOWELL, Secretary, CHARLES A. CHENEY.
.
.
.
15 00
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1913
SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR 1913-1914
Arthar II. Boardman, Ch'n, 56 Pleasant St., term expires 1914 Mrs. Ida Farr Miller, Sec., 18 Lawrence St., 66 1915 J. Lowe Mc Mahon, Treas., Prospect St., 66 60 1916 Mrs. Eva Gowing Ripley, 4 ) Emerson St., 1916 66
Dr. Charles E. Montague, 15 Richar Ison Ave.
66 1914
Edwardl E. Lec, Greenwoo 1, Mass. 6 6 66 1915
212
SUB-COMMITTEES
Dr. Montague
PUBLIC PROPERTY Mr. Lee
Mr. Boardman
Mr. McMahon
FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS Mr. Lee
Mr. Boardu:an
TEACHERS AND SALARIES
Mrs. Miller
Mr. Lee
Dr. Montague
Mis. Ripley
COURSES OF STUDY Mrs. Miller
Dr. Montague
Mr. Lee
TEXT BOOKS AND SUPPLIES Mrs. Ripley Mr. McMahon
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Willar | B. Atwell, 76 West Chestnut St.
OFFICE HOURS
Monday, 7 to 8 p. m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 to 8.30 a. m. Wednesdays and Fridays 4 to 5.30 p. m.
Office, Flanley Block.
Telephone, Office, 471-W. Residence, 195-MI.
Clerk, Miss Gertrude V. Lofstrom. Hours, 8-12 and 1.30 to 5 on school days.
REGULAR MEETINGS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Second and fourth Fridays of each month at 8 p. m. at Committee Rooms, Flanley Block.
213
Report of the School Committee
The change from a nine to an eight grade system which the committee had contemplated for several years was put into operation in September and has proven to be a less perplexing problem than was anticipated. We expect that by the close of the school year the system will be working as smoothly as before the change was made.
The reduction in the number of grades has made it possible to provide satisfactory accommodations for all the classes at the Greenwood School. Additional accommodations that were sorely needed have been provided for at the Franklin School by the purchase of a portable building. The steady increase in popu- lation will in the near future necessitate additional grammar school accommodations, as some of the buildings are already becoming crowded.
The large increase of pupils at the high school made necessary the lengthening of the sessions one hour, the day beginning at 8.30 and closing at 2.30 o'clock. With the anticipated influx next September it will be a difficult problem to provide suitable accommodations as there are now seventeen teachers with but fifteen c'ass rooms. A new building is needed to provide proper facilities for the present subjects and to give opportunity to enlarge the scope of the school by the addition of courses in manual training and domestic science.
TEACHERS
A large number of changes in the teaching force has taken place during the year, there having been six resignations in the High School, eight in the elementary schools and two from the special teachers.
214
EVENING PRACTICAL ARTS CLASSES
The management of the evening classes in millinery and sewing has been changed to conform to Chapter 106, Acts of 1912. The establishment of the classes under this act, and the conforming to the requirements of the same, place them under the list of state aided schools thus enabling the town to receive reimbursement 10 the amount of one half of the net expen liture
SCHOOL SAVINGS
A school savings bank was started in the Greenwood School in January and recently banks have been started at the Lincoln and Franklin Schools and have met with decided success. 674 scholars have deposited $1096.42 at the school banks and 246 accounts have been opened with the Wakefield Savings Bank. We again ask the hearty co-operation of parents and teachers in order that this system may meet with continued success.
SCHOOL PROPERTY
The committee believe in the wider use of the school buildings for civic purposes and in response to requests gas lighting has been propovided at the Montrose and Woodville buildings and a room in each has been furnished with chairs for the use of the Improvement Societies of these districts. For several years the halls at the Warren and Greenwood Schools have been used by the West Side Improvement Association and the Greenwood Parents' Association, and Room One in the High School has been used by the Wakefield Improvement Association and other civic associations.
The street and yard walks at the Hurd School have been concreted and the usual necessary repairs have been made in the school buildings. The committee has adopted the plan of having the school houses fumigated frequently, it usually being done during the vacations. In accordance with recommendations of Chief Cade of the Fire Department twenty fire extinguishers have been purchased and placed where most needed in the different buildings. From time to time further purchases will be made until all the buildings are fully equipped.
215
Mr. Ashton HI. Thayer whose term of office expired last March declined to be a candidate for re-election. Mr. Thayer had been a faithful and efficient member of the school committee for twenty-eight years, having served as secretary three years, treasurer five years, and chairman ten years.
APPROPRIATIONS
It will be necessary to divide the Evening School appropria- tion into two items in order to receive reimbursement from the state for the Practical Arts Classes. We recommend appropiations as follows :
Salaries .
$63,508 00
Contingent
4,000 00
Supplies
3,700 00
Fuel
4,800 00
Evening School
1,000 00
Practical Arts
650 00
and that the tuitious and receipts estimated at $2000 be added to the appropriation.
The reports of the Superintendent and the Principal of the High School give a detailed statement of the conditions in the schools and are worthy of your careful reading.
ARTHUR H. BOARDMAN, MRS. IDA FARR MILLER, J. LOWE MCMAHON, MRS. EVA GOWING RIPLEY, DR. CHARLES E. MONTAGUE, EDWARD E. LEE.
216
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE :
I herewith submit my third annual report as superintendent of schools for the town of Wakefield.
EIGHT GRADES
During the first part of the year 1913 the School Committee voted to make a change in the number of grades in the elementary schools, this change to consist of reducing the number from nine to eight. The Committee also voted to have the change take effect in September.
The plan which we used for reducing the number of grades from nine to eight was similar to one evolved by Supt. Stanley HI. Holmes of New Britain, Connecticut, and was as follows :
To make the Freshman Class of the High School, promote regularly as usual from grade nine of the grammar school.
To make grade eight, promote regularly from grade eight of the grammar school.
To make grade seven, promote regularly from grade seven of all schools.
To make grade six, promote regularly from grade six and also take 20 per cent of grade five, i. e., the ablest pupils of grade five and then divide grade six into A and B groups.
To make grade five, promote regularly the 80 per cent remain- ing of grade five, and also 40 per cent of grade four, i. e., the ablest pupils of grade four and then divide grade five into A and B groups.
To make grade four, promote regularly the remaining 60 per cent of grade four, and also 60 per cent of grade three, i. e., the ablest pupils of grade three, and then divide grade four into A and B groups.
To make grade three, promote regularly tle remaining 40 per cent of grade three and also 80 per cent of grade 2, and then divide grade three into A and B groups.
217
To make grade two, promote regularly the remaining 20 per cent of grade two and all pupils who would regularly be promoted from grade one, then divide grade two into A and B groups.
To make grade one, take all pupils who are not promoted from grade one and also all who enter for the first time, and then divide into A and B groups.
This scheme was merely a line to guide us. We did not intend that we should work exactly according to the idea. We took the figures as indicating about what proportions of each class should be able to go ahead faster. The pupils in the eighth, seventh and sixth grades would have one, two or three more years to attend school if we continued on the nine grade system ; they would also have one, two or three years, respectively, under a new cig t grade system. Then there were others who we felt would be able to do the three years work in two, or the two years work in one. We gave such pupils a chance.
In the fifth grade, which ordinarily takes four years to complete the course, there should be about one-fifth of the class who ought to be able to do the four years' work in three. As we go down the grades the number probably able to save a grade would increase, because they would have a year longer than the preceding grade in which to make up the work.
The scheme as a whole worked out very satisfactorily. There were only a few complaints. Throughout the year we shall make changes and if we find that some have not gone ahead who shou'd have gone, those pupils will be put up a grade. On the other hand, if we find that some pupil who, we thought might save a year, cannot stand the pressure, that pupil will be dropped back. All those pupils who entered last September and hereafter will spend one year less in the elementary grades than under the nine grade system.
The change in the number of grades, of course, demands a new course of study to satisfy the changed condition, but it will take some time to work out a new course and we shall not make undue haste with it. We have the matter now under consideration.
A course in civics should be added to the eighth grade and correlated with the work in history ; and a more thorough course in physiology and hygiene also must be provided.
218
Last year when we were considering the change in the number of grades we felt that the change would temporarily relieve the congested condition in many of our buildings. Such has proven to be the case. In Greenwood we had ten teachers including the principal. By making the change we needed only nine teachers. This left an extra teacher whom we might use in some other school. Each grade now has a room in the Greenwood School and no room is at all crowded. It looks now as though the Greenwood section would be amply provided for, for a few years.
The Franklin School had a very large entering class, more than the first grade room would accommodate. The primary grades were all overcrowded, and all this necessitated providing some extra room. The committee felt it would be wise to pur- chase a portable building as a means of relieving the congestion. We placed a part of the first three grades in this building. It is probably a question of only a very short time before the town will have the problem of housing more pupils from this rapidly growing district. Unless a new high school building is erected soon, either an addition to the resent building or a new one will have to be provided within the almost immediate future. If the town votes to build a new high school, we can utilize the old building for the eighth grades in the town and ease up not only upon the Franklin School, but upon so ne of the other bail lings in town.
The Lincoln School has only one eighth grade, while last year we had there two ninth grades. The need of only one room for the eighth is accounted for by the fact that no pupils need to go to the Lincoln district from either the Hurd or Franklin districts, as formerly. The change in number of gra les gave us the opportunity to use one room as an un lergra ed room. In this room we place those pupils who come to us without a speaking knowledge of the English language and also those who are having serious trouble with their work in their grades. We cannot fully estimate the value of this room, but these two facts do stand out prominently ; first, the non-English speaking pupil gets a hold on the tongue much quicker; and secon l, those who are having trouble get more individual attention. Even if they do not make more rapid progress than they would by staying in the grade,
219
they do get more thoroughly what ground they cover, and the others in their grade are able to get more time from the teacher. I shall be very sorry to give up this room, for it has proven to be of value ; but I do not see how we can continue this another year, for now we need two rooms for the first grade while next year we shall need two rooms for the first grade, and we shall also need two large rooms for the second grade. I wish it might be possible to make some arrangement whereby we could continue an ungraded room in the Lincoln building.
SCHOOL WORK
The work in the schools should be closely connected up with life outside the school room and buildings. We are trying to impress upon the teachers the idea that they must get away from the text book, for I find that there are some who give almost nothing on any given subject outside of the matter found in the book. The teaching of text-book subjects is by no means all that we should give the pupiis. There are many other things that are fully as important and I am not sure but what there are things that are more important. I refer to such things as neat- ness, punctuality, respect for the rights of others, a feeling of responsibility, and self-reliance. Such things as these are not taught so much by precept as by the living example of the teacher, and are absolutely essential for the well rounding out of the child to fit him to take his place in society at large.
During the present year we are paying special attention to drill upon the fundamentals and as a result we are seeing improvement in all the work.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
Last year I made mention of the fact that many children do. not take school life seriously enough. It sometimes seems as though they feel that they can go to school if it does not happen to interfere with other plans. Many children are conscientious about attending an I make efforts to be present every day. There are many others who do not. From the excuses given it does not appear that all the absences are necessary. Many sudden cases. of headache disappear shortly after the school bell rings.
220
During the school year 1912-13 we had a total of 41,076 absent marks in the schools in town. Based on the average membership for the same period this means 18.76 absent marks for each and every child during the year, and is equivalent to closing all the schools, including the high school, for a period three-fourths of a day less than two weeks or one-twentieth of the entire school year.
I suggest as one means of securing better attendance that the School Committee appoint an attendance officer who may be able to give a large part of his or her time in looking up absences. Every absence could be reported t> the office soon after the opening of each session, where the attendance officer could secure the list. He could then investigate each case during the half- day in which it occurred. Of course such an officer would cost more than at present, for much more time would be required. But I believe that the town would receive full value for the added expense.
The cost per pupil based upon average membership for the calendar year of 1913 was $34.13, while the cost per pupil based upon the average attendance for the same period was 835.95 or a difference of $1.82 for each child because of absences.
HIGH SCHOOL
A serious condition confronted us at the opening of the school in September. On account of the large entering class, which numbers 168, we found it necessary to engage the services of an extra teacher. This made seventeen teachers, outside of the special teacher in music and the military instructor, with only fif- teen rooms available. The situation plainly indicated that some change would be necessary in the session of the school. After careful study, the Committee felt that the advisable thing to do would be to lengthen the session by one hour. This gave a longer recess and added one recitation period. This session now closes at 2.30 instead of at 1.30 o'clock. The crowded condi- tions, small corridors, and the added period make the work very wearing upon the teachers. Perhaps they feel the situation more keenly than do the students. A new building is badly needed, and needed as soon as it is possible for the town to build one.
221
The course of study needs a thorough overhauling; but it is useless to make this change before we have a new building, for we have no accommodations at present to handle some courses that should be adopted. The Committee made two changes last fall by adding courses in General Science and in French in the Freshman year. The work in science is badly needed, for, under previous conditions, some students prepared for college or higher institutions of learning without taking any work in any science.
I commend to your careful consideration the report of the High School principal, particularly to that part dealing with physical education and the course of study.
VACATION SCHOOLS
Many towns and cities in the state conduct vacation schools of one kind or another. In some places the school is merely a place of supervised play during the morning, with a little manual work ; in others the work of the vacation school is practically all manual of various types ; while in a third class academic work is given. In a school system the size of ours it inevitably happens that there are several pupils who do not satisfactorily complete the work of the grade, and there are others who, perhaps, may be conditioned in one or more subjects. Many of these children express a willingness to study during the summer, but the good intentions vanish without some stimulus. If some who fail, or are conditioned, would devote some time during the summer to serious study, they would undoubtedly make the grade. It seems to me that it would be of value to the town to maintain a vaca- tion school. I recommend that during the next summer the School Committee establish, experimentally, a vacation school, and that admission to such school for next summer be limited to those who have failed of promotion or are conditioned in any sub- ject. It might be well to require attendance at the vacation school of all who have received any condition, under penalty of not being allowed to go on with their class unless the condition is worked off in the vacation school or by a tutor.
MANUAL TRAINING
The work in manual training has continued with even better results than before. Larger models or projects are being used
222
with the results that much more interest seems to be manifested than before. These "projects are things that usually appeal to boys, and consequently arouse a deeper enthusiasm, which means better and more accurate workmanship. The boys are encour- aged to make things for themselves or for their homes. Already several articles have been made and some rather difficult ones are under way. No part of this extra work may be started until first a drawing of the same has been approved by the teacher in charge. The School Department sells the material to the students at cost.
The following is an excerpt from the manual training teacher's report: " The spirit of the boy towards the work must be con- siderel, and the exercises should be applied to projects that in- terest as well as instruct, that have an esthetic value as well as a practical one. Concentration is the great factor in all intelligent efforts. This being the keynote of our outline, we have planned the course with the following aims in view : -
I. First, to build up a requisite technique by a careful grad- ing of the projects and insisting upon a definite stand. ard of workmanship.
II. To obtain results by raising the standard of the less talented.
III. To instill an independance by the application of certain principles of joinery to original projects.
IV. To cultivate a sense of construction and applied design.
V. To give a certain mental exercise and knowledge of shop practice by working directly from blue prints.
VI. To open up to the boy the outlook upon the mechanical world."
SCHOOLS AS CIVIC CENTERS
During the past year the school buildings at Montrose and Woodville were connected with the gas mains, and fixtures were installed in one room in each building. The Committee pur- chased one and one-half dozen folding chairs for each room. Improvement Associations of each district hold their regular meetings in the school houses. The High School, Greenwood and Warren Schools are also used on some evenings as meeting
223
places for organizations interested in civic welfare. Opening the buildings for such meetings is along the direction of wider use of the school plant, which should be distinctly encouraged.
SAVINGS BANKS
The following are the reports for the School Savings Banks, as turned in by the principals of the buildings which use this method of teaching thrift. Then I have gathered the reports into another form and tabulated them. The Greenwood School Savings Bank has been in operation just one year, having started on the first of January, 1913. Both the Lincoln and Franklin banks were started during the past fall, the Lincoln bank beginning opera- tion on October 14, and the Franklin bank on November 1.
SCHOOL SAVINGS BANKS
Greenwood School, Jan. 1, 1913, to Dec. 31, 1913
Total number of accounts 215
Active accounts about 190
Total number of deposits
2,013 00
Amount of such deposits
$627 42
Number of withdrawals .
38
Amount of withdrawals .
$36 09
Amount transferred from Trustees' to Pupil's Sav-
ings Bank books $501 68
Balance in custody of Principal as Trustee $89 65
Average weekly deposits
$17 93
Number of pupils to whom Savings Bank books have been issued during the year 140
Lincoln School, Oct. 14, 1913, to Dec. 31, 1913
Total number of deposits
1,079
Total depositors
220
Total cash deposits
$199 89
Stamp cards redeemed
4 43
Total net cash
195 46
Cards received as cash
35 22
Total net cash and total cards
235 11
224
Deposited as Trustee in Wakefield Savings Bank
193 22
Withdrawn by depositors from School Bank 26 88
On band
15 01
Total
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