USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Wakefield > Town annual report of the officers of Wakefield Massachusetts : including the vital statistics for the year 1925 > Part 9
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The total amount of money collected for licenses issued is as follows :
Milk Licenses, 60 Oleo-margarine Licenses, 19
$30.00
9.50
$39.50
Very truly yours
CARL M. SMITH, Inspector
142
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Report of Tuberculosis Dispensary
To the Wakefield Board of Health:
The annual report of the Tuberculosis Dispensary is herewith res- pectfully submitted.
During the past year the Tuberculosis Dispensary has been open every Tuesday between the hours of 3.30 and 4.30 P. M. and every Fri- day between the hours of 8 and 9 P. M. for examination of patients. One hundred and ten examinations were made, and fifty-six patients were examined. Eighteen new cases of Tuberculosis were reported during the year, and eight deaths. There were this year as in past years several cases reported to the Board in the advanced stages of the disease who died shortly after they were reported.
There were more children examined at the Clinic this year than last year. These children were mostly contact cases who were underweight. Through the co-operation of the Visiting Nurses Association and other organizations, ten underweight children were sent to a summer camp on Lake Massapoag, Sharon Heights for eight weeks. A number of these children were contact cases who had been examined at the Clinic, others were underweight children in the schools selected by Miss English the School Nurse. Several of the children returned home with a noticeable gain in weight, others did not gain during their stay at camp, but we feel sure that these children derived some advantages from camp life. Mrs. Boynton of the Welfare Department carried these children back and forth to camp.
At the present time we have ten patients in the different sanator- iums suffering with tuberculosis. There are four at the Rutland State Sanatorium, two at the Veterans' Bureau Hospital in Rutland, one at Barnstable County Hospital, two at Tewkesbury and one in Lakeville. Homes of these patients were visited and advice and instruction given to the members of the family to prevent them from contracting the disease if possible. Sputum cups were given out in all cases where they were needed.
We are glad to take this opportunity to express our sincere grati- tude to Mrs. Boynton for her assistance and co-operation during the past year.
IRA W. RICHARDSON, M. D. NELLIE B. RUSSELL, R. N.
143
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE
Report of the Department of Public Welfare
The Poor Department respectfully submits their report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1925.
:
At the Town Home during the year we have had 17 inmates (12 women and 5 men). Most of the women are invalids and require al- most constant attention and care.
A heavy demand has been made on the department for temporary aid, due to unemployment.
Instead of purchasing milk from dealers the farm has supplied large quantities to the needy and has also furnished vegetables, in season and wood when required.
A new electric refrigerator, costing $3,500.00 has been installed and proves very satisfactory. A substantial saving annually will be the re- sult of this improvement.
Under the efficient management of Superintendent and Matron, Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Brown, the farm continues to improve and their care of inmates is most satisfactory.
The Board wishes to extend its sincere thanks to all who have in any way contributed and co-operated with it in its effort to relieve the needy.
WILLIAM C. STRONG, Chairman CHARLES H. GERRIOR ADELAIDE W. BOYNTON, Secretary
144
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Inventory at Town Farm
Year Ending Dec. 31, 1925.
14 Cows, Heifer and 1 Bull
$1,050.00
6 Horses
1,200.00
60 Brood Sows
2,750.00
7 Sheep
70.00
3 Boars
150.00
37 Shoats
370.00
400 Hens
600.00
16 Geese
48.00
140 Ducks
280.00
550 bushels ear corn (grown on farm)
825.00
36 tons Hay (grown on farm)
900.00
Grain
150.00
80 Cords Manure
500.00
35 cords Wood (for outside poor)
560.00
2500 ft. Lumber
100.00
Manure Spreader
225.00
Motor Ensilage Cutter and Grinders
250.00
Blankets, harness (double and single)
600.00
2 Garbage Wagons
2 Garbage Boxes
800.00
1 Two Horse Cart
75.00
3 Double Wagons
175.00
1 Farm Wagon
75.00
1 One Horse Cart
60.00
4 Sleds
200.00
Mowing Machine
100.00
Sulky Plow
75.00
Plows, Tedder and Farm Tools
350.00
Ford Truck
200.00
Household Furnishings
2,500.00
Household Supplies
920.70
15 Ton Coal
225.00
Electric Refrigerator
3,500.00
Wood, Milk and vegetables to needy families
$19,883.70
$1,000.00
Total receipts from farm .
12,208.62
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Report of School Committee
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Committee for 1925-1926
John B. Sawyer, Chairman, Summit Avenue Mrs. Ida Farr Miller, Secretary, Richardson Ave. Harry B. Allman, Treasurer, Greenwood Ave. Mrs. Eva Gowing Ripley, Emerson Street Leo A. Rogers, Stedman Street
Dr. J. William O'Connell, Fairmount Avenue
Term Expires 1928 Term Expires 1927
Term Expires 1927
Term Expires 1928
Term Expires 1926 Term Expires 1928
SUB-COMMITTEES
Mr. Rogers
Public Property Mr. Allman
Mr. Sawyer
Finance and Accounts
Mr. Allman
Dr. O'Connell
Mr. Sawyer
Teachers and Salaries
Mrs. Ripley
Mr. Sawyer Mr Rogers
Dr. O'Connell
Courses of Study Mrs. Ripley Mrs. Miller
Mrs. Miller
Text Books and Supplies Mrs. Ripley Dr. O'Connell
Superintendent of Schools
Willard B. Atwell, 94 W. Chestnut Street
Secretary to the Superintendent Muriel Lance, 15 W. Water Street
146
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Office, High School Building. Hours, 8 to 12 and 1:30 to 5.
Monday Evening 7 to 8. Saturday 8 to 12. On Wednesday and Friday the office is open until 5:30 p.m.
Office telephone 0122. Superintendent 0363. Secretary 0074. Regular Meetings of the School Committee: Second and fourth Fridays of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Committee Rooms.
Copy from the School Committee Records of January 18, 1926: "Voted to accept the report compiled by the Superintendent, as the report of the Department, and to order the report printed."
Report of School Committee
INTRODUCTION
To the Citizens of Wakefield: This year the School Committee has adopted a different procedure in publishing the Annual Report for the School Department. They herewith present a compilation of the re- ports given to the Superintendent by various heads of the different de- partments within the system.
HOUSING
During the past ten years the town has gained more than 40% in population. This increase carries with it a corresponding increase in the school enrollment. In 1915 we had 2542 pupils enrolled; in 1920, 2842; in 1925, 3341. This means an increase of 13.45% in 1920 over 1915, and an increase of 17.55% in 1925 over 1920; or a total increase in 1925 over 1915 of 31.43%. You will note that the increase in the last five years was greater than that of the preceding five years. Everything now points to a still greater increase in the next few years, for the building boom has already hit Greenwood and it is bound to move towards the upper part of the town.
The increase this year in the enrollment was larger than that of last year in spite of the fact that the Parochial School was opened for the first time with a membership in the first two grades of about 95. Our increase was 131. If the Parochial School had not been opened, we would have had an increase of over 200, which would have embarrassed us considerably.
147
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
3225
--
3125
-
3025 29:5
2025
2725 2625
2:25
2425
2325
2225
2125
2025
1912
1213
19:3
-1915.
9/51
1217
1910
1919
1920
1921
19:2
1923
1924 1925
Total Enrollment Average Member ship Average Attendance
.
148
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
For several years we have used a portable building as an annex at the Franklin School. The completion of the addition released the port- able this summer and made it available for use at the Montrose School. The population in this section of the town is increasing and the school enrollment was so large this fall that we could not efficiently care for the children. This portable will probably take care of the situation for the next three or four years. By that time we shall find it necessary to make an addition to the main building, which was built in such a way that additions can be made without exceedingly large appropriations.
When the Greenwood School addition was completed a year ago, we moved the two-room portable to the rear of the Lincoln School, where we are now using one room of it. Next year we shall probably have to use the other. In two or three years more we shall again have crowded conditions here, which will demand some relief.
We expected to gain one room at the Hamilton School this year, by the opening of the new Parochial School, but we found it necessary to use all rooms as heretofore. There is still room, however, to take care of a larger enrollment.
The Hurd School is practically full, and in a short time will need some relief.
The Lafayette School, which is housed in the old high school build- ing, now uses seven classrooms. There are two more rooms which may be used, but one is rather small. We have shown in former reports that the two large rooms in this building are not suitable for classrooms for they are entirely too large and cannot be divided in a way to leave one part available for classroom purposes because of lack of light. The old laboratories also are out of the question because there is not sufficient light for continuous study. This old building is a white elephant on the hands of the School Department.
In spite of the extensive building program which has been pursued in the past few years, it is apparent that we are faced with the necessity of providing enlarged quarters in at least three sections of the town.
FRANKLIN ADDITION
At the last annual Town Meeting it was voted to enlarge the Frank- lin School. An appropriation was made and a Building Committee ap- pointed. The Committee selected the Frank Irving Cooper Corporation as architects and the John W. Duff Company, Incorporated as con- tractors. As the School Committee was not the Building Committee, we
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149
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
will merely give a description of the accomodations now available as a result of increasing the capacity of the old building. On separate pages are cuts of the floor plans which are worthy of careful study. poned.
The old classrooms were not disturbed, the principal's and teachers' rooms were remodeled and the old auditorium removed to allow for the change from a pitch to a flat room.
A new auditorium was added on the north side of the building, the architect taking advantage of the slope of the land. No excavating was done for this except for the foundations. This new auditorium will seat about 700 people. The rear of the room is built on a series of steps up- on which are fastened permanent seats. About two-thirds of the floor space is level. Movable seats are provided for this section in order to increase the availability of the room for larger community use. We have a stage of the usual size for grammar schools, with anterooms on either side. One of these is equipped as a kitchenette.
There are two small playrooms in the basement which the pupils may enter if they arrive before the main doors are opened. Near these are the tailet facilities.
Formerly there were six furnaces and a small steam boiler for heat- ing the building. The classrooms were heated by the furnaces only. Now we have two steam boilers, with direct radiation in every room, thermostat controls and a blower system for the indirect heat and for ventilation.
Inasmuch as the auditorium is two stories high, there are only two additional classrooms on the first floor. There are six extra classrooms on the second floor, as well as storerooms, a medical room, and emergency toilets for the boys and the girls.
The old building was equipped with spring-drive clocks. These have been replaced with a standard system of electric clocks with a pro- gram movement for ringing the bells. A system of telephones by which the principal may reach every part of the building was added as another convenience for administration.
We have in this new building a modern, up-to-date grammar school. All who are interested in school buildings should take time to visit and inspect it.
150
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
BOYS
01
-
HEATING
STAGE
ANTE ROC
-
10
-
FAN ROOM
BOYS PLAY ROOM
GIRLS PLAY ROOM
Do GIRLS® TO TOILET.
-
TOILET ROOM
AUDITORIUM
CORRIDOR
CORRIDORSTAIR
HALL
ELECTRIC R
YP
YP
VP
BOILER
COAL STORAGE +
ROOM
JANITORS
R
· BASEMENT - PLAN . SCALE 10 15,FT.
BLACKED IN PORTIONS INDICATE NEW WORK
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL BUILDING AT WAKEFIELD MASSACHUSETTS -
FRANK IRVING COOPER CORPORATION . ARCHITECTS . BOSTON MASS
-.
CHAMBER
UPPER PART OF STAGE
PRINCIPAL'S
CLASS ROOM
CLASS ROOM
OFFICE
TOILET O
I
WARDROBE
WARDROBE
R
-
STAIR
UPPER PART
O
HALL
AUDITORIUM
VP
YP
YP
BUILDING
PRESENT
SCHOOL
VESTIBULE
FIRST . FLOOR . PLAN 3 10 15 PT SCALE FEtErin
BLACKED IN PORTIONS INDICATE NEW WORK
PLATFORM
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL BVILDING AT WAKEFIELD MASSACHUSETTS FRANK IRVING COOPER CORPORATION . ARCHITECTS . BOSTON
151
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
M
VESTIBULE
M
MASS
CORRIDO
152
TEACHERS
CLASS ROOM
CLASS ROOM
CLASS ROOM
CLASS ROOM
ROOM
TOILET Of
WARDROBE
WARDROBE
WARDROBE
7 WARDROBE
CORRIDOR
CORRIDOR
0
DO GIRLS
JANS
BOOK
EMERGENCY &
STAIR
DO TOILET R. CLOS.
ROOM
MEDICAL ROOM
HALL
WARDROBE
WARDROBE
PRESENT
SCHOOL
BUILDING
CLASS ROOM
CLASS ROOM
7
BOYS
TOILET
Root
LOOP
SECOND FLOOR - PLAN SCALE 1º 15 FT.
BLACKED IN PORTIONS INDICATE NEW WORK
ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE FRANKLIN SCHOOL BVILDING AT WAKEFIELD MASSACHUSETTS FRANK IRVING COOPER CORPORATION . ARCHITECTS BOSTON MASS
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
7
7
H
153
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
EQUIPMENT OF BUILDING
All buildings built prior to 1917 are heated by hot-air furnaces and are equipped with spring-drive clocks. Many of them are also equipped with fixed seats and desks, and with blackboards consisting of slate paint on plaster walls, or slate paint over paper.
The hot-air furnaces should be replaced by steam boilers to provide for both direct and indirect heating. We could then burn soft coal and ultimately effect a considerable saving for we are now paying more than twice as much for anthracite as for bituminous coal. For example; the Franklin Building is now twice as large as it was before the addition was made, but the estimates for heating as given by Heating Engineers indicates that the fuel bill will be about five hundred dollars less.
We now have manual control fire alarms in the older buildings. These should be replaced by a regular fire alarm system, preferably standardizing on the same system which we have installed in the newer buildings. By means of these we pull in the town alarm when any sta- tion in the building is pulled and at the same time ring an alarm in the building, or we can cut out the town box and ring an alarm in the build- ing for a fire drill.
The old clocks should be replaced with a system of electric clocks in order that the time in all rooms may be uniform, and at the same time we should add a program attachment for ringing the bells. This would automatically take care of beginning and closing school and the recess periods, and would relieve the teacher or a pupil of the responsi- bility of watching the clock closely for the time to ring the bells.
Many windows are loose and rattle. This causes a great loss of heat, resulting in an increased fuel bill. It seems as though it would be wise to put weather strips on these, or at least to put them on those windows which are in exposed places. We have been experimenting some- what with these this fall.
We should make a survey of these items and develop a plan to change some of them each year to bring our equipment up-to-date. It will necessarily increase our regular budget, but it will increase the efficiency of the schools.
HIGH SCHOOL
The registration in the High School increases every year. At the present time we have 689 students enrolled. The registration by classes is as follows:
154
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
Boys
Girls
Total
Post graduates
6
7
13
Seniors
50
66
113
Juniors
72
90
162
Sophomores
69
101
170
Freshmen
107
121
228
304
385
689
Of these 689, 55 come from the Town of Lynnfield, divided nearly evenly among the four classes, and for whom Lynnfield pays tuition. The rate of tuition is based on the per capita cost on average membership.
Like other high schools, we have pupils who take the College En- vard and three entered Radcliffe. The work of these five is not includ- we have had gratifying results. In 1922, 83% of the examinations were passed successfully; in 1923, 85%; in 1924 90%; and in 1925 94%. A pupil who ranks among the first seven in his class may be admitted to Harvard or Radcliffe without examinations. This year two entered Har- vard and three entered Radcliffe. The Work of these five is not includ- ed in the above record. Only 64.5% of the 20,000 College Entrance Board examinations taken last year by pupils of high schools and acad- emies in the United States were passed. Considering this fact we are justly proud of the work done in our high school in preparing for college. This record also answers the comments that we sometimes hear: "The High School does not prepare for college. One must send a student to a preparatory school or academy."
The new building has given impetus to the interest in music. The orchestra has been in existence for three years and has grown from 12 to 34 members. The stage now has to be enlarged by rolling back the doors when the orchestra plays at assemblies.
Increasing use is made of the school library as is indicated by the fact that the number of books taken out doubled during the past year. 197 new books have been added to the shelves. Part of these were pur- chased from the fund of $96.45 donated by the Misses Louise Allman, Frances and Josephine Spero, from the proceeds of a musical entertain- ment which they gave in the auditorium.
The school publishes a successful weekly paper, "The Booster", which is written and edited by the pupils under the guidance of one of the teachers, Arthur A. Fulton. This paper is devoted to fostering a strong school spirit.
Some of the commercial schools and the business administration de-
155
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
partments in some of the colleges are beginning to demand more acade- mic work as an entrance requirement. Some demand two years of for- eign language, algebra, and geometry. We shall have to revise our Com- mercial Course to meet this new need. A similar condition makes the revision of the Domestic Science Course necessary.
When the new shops were opened, the enrollment was much smaller than we had expected. The value of the course has grown upon the boys until now we have about 24% of them taking woodwork as a regular subject or as an elective. So many boys desire it, and as the accomoda- tions are limited, it now looks as though we might have to restrict wood- work as an elective to only three of the courses. The popularity of this course is due largely to the instructors and the kind of work they give. All are first-class mechanics, having the true school attitude towards their work.
The cooking class also is increasing rapidly, and we shall have to re- strict elections to this in the same way as in woodworking.
For the past two years our athletic teams have not been entirely suc- cessful. Last spring the coach resigned and we secured the services of Homer Shellenberger of Springfield Training College. We do not ex- pect a particularly successful year for we have changed the policy and are now building for the future. Last fall no senior who had not play- ed football was allowed to try for the team, since we are now trying to develop a squad that will furnish material from year to year instead of trying to build a team for each season. In this way more boys will get the benefit of the training for competition will be keener, and oppor- tunities to participate in playing will be greater because of the possible development of a second and perhaps a third team in each sport.
The athletic field is completed with the exception of the running track and some filling to correct the settling on the football field. There are two great needs just at present to put the field on a paying basis : First, a wire fence about the field; second, bleachers, so that those who wish may sit while enjoying the game. The bleachers should be portable rather than fixed, for then they may be moved to different parts of the field as may be necessary. The town may well do something towards furnishing these, but it seems as though one of the needs might be made a problem for the High School P. T. A. and the Athletic Association. The total cost for the fence and the bleachers will be about $5,400.
The students have a large measure of control over their own activi- ties, through the Students' Council and the Traffic Squad. They take complete charge of passing in the corridors and of the conduct of the lunchroom. The student body should be complimented for the decorous
156
TOWN OF WAKEFIELD
manner in which they conduct themselves at all times under their leaders. It is interesting to see how orderly they are while in the lunchroom and to see how clean it is after the intermission, for no teacher stands in charge in any part of the room.
Of the 96 students who graduated 27 have entered higher institu- tions of learning.
HEALTH
The present schedule of complete physical examination of the first grade, the fifth grade, and the first year of the High School, calls for about nine hundred fifty such examinations a year. One year more will complete the first cycle and bring the entire school population up to state requirements of examination and record. The second examination should prove more interesting and more valuable than the first. Enough cities and towns are now using the state record cards so that a fair pro- portion of pupils coming here bring their cards with them. It is inter- esting to note the variation in standards. For instance, from one city we rarely see posture noted better than "fair" and usually, it is "poor." It is the custom of the School Physician to mark the average posture "good", and that group includes probably three-fourths of those examin- ed. In a large city not far away, where there are many school physi- cians, it is reported that some of them find ten per cent of the pupils with heart disease, while others find one percent. It is hardly one per cent in Wakefield.
The annual examination of teeth and throats is surely bearing fruit. There are very many less children in school with diseased throats, and it is rare to find a child in the fifth grade or above who has not had some dental work done except the very few who need none. There is, of course, a small number of parents who, from preconceived ideas of health and disease, believe no treatment necessary, and a somewhat larg- er number who, from sheer indolence and shiftlessness, neglect what they recognize as needed. The question of expense is not a large factor, though it does hit quite a good many who hesitate to accept the quasi- charity of hospitals and who really cannot afford anything else. The School Physician states that he knows of no physicians in Wakefield who refuse or neglect needed treatment because of the inability to pay for it.
The detection of communicable disease is a large part of the work of School Physician and School Nurse and must of necessity remain so. Impetigo persists as the bane of physician and nurse with parasitic scalp disease a close second. The right to treat such conditions in school is contingent upon too many factors to make it feasible, and exclusion
157
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
often results in nothing but exclusion. In general our school population is well fed and well cared for, though there are some exceptions. The under-weight and poor posture group is by no means restricted to the indigent.
PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT
It is interesting to note how many teachers have taken advantage of the opportunities offered for professional improvement. There are thirty who have received increases in salary because of advanced study and twenty-two more who have done at least one-third of the work nec- essary. This means that about one-half of our teaching corps has done extra studying during the past five years.
For the past four years a professor from Harvard-Boston Univ., Ex- tension courses has come to Wakefield to give a course to our teachers. All of these are professional in character and have helped very materi- ally in raising the general standard of teaching in our schools. Each Principal reports that he sees a decided improvement in the work in his building as a result of the study and lectures.
SALARIES
The ever present question of salaries is still with us. The normal schools have a larger enrollment than ever before, and the colleges are turning out more students from their educational courses than before, yet the supply of trained, experienced teachers does not yet meet the de- mand. There are still some unplaced teachers available, but they have had no experience. We have taken a few direct from the normal schools, all that we should in any one year in a system the size of ours. We still find that our maximum salary is not large enough to be attractive to the capable teachers whom we desire and ought to be able to hire. We can- not offer enough to interest them. We have therefore added $4,000 to our budget in order that we may increase the maximum in both the grades and in the High School. This does not mean that we shall in- crease the salary of every teacher on the force, but rather that we intend to increase the salaries of the best teachers in order to hold them and make them feel better contented in their stay with us, and to put us in a better position when seeking new teachers.
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