USA > Massachusetts > Berkshire County > Hancock > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Hancock Massachusetts for the year ending 1951 > Part 5
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*Resigned June 30, 1952 tAppointed July 1, 1952
School Committee Regulation on School Entrance
A child must have reached the age of five years by February 15th in order to enter school the following September. No child may begin school unless he or she presents a birth certificate and a vaccination certificate, or an exemption-from- vaccination certificate. These must be presented to the teacher on or before the first day of school.
39
SCHOOL CALENDAR 1952-1953
Opening Day of School-September 3, 1952
FALL TERM
September 3, 1952 to December 19, 1952 inclusive
Holidays: October 13-Columbus Day
October 31-Teachers' Convention November 11-Armistice Day November 27 and 28-Thanksgiving Recess
Vacation Period: December 20 to January 4, 1953 inclusive
WINTER TERM
January 5, 1953 to February 20, 1953 inclusive
Holiday: February 2-Annual Town Meeting
Vacation Period: February 21 to March 1, 1953 inclusive
FIRST SPRING TERM March 2, 1953 to April 17, 1953 inclusive
Holiday: April 3-Good Friday
Vacation Period: April 18 to April 26, 1953 inclusive
SECOND SPRING TERM
April 27, 1953 to June 5, 1953 inclusive Summer Vacation Period: June 6, 1953 to September 8, 1953 inclusive
Total Number School Days-171
Graduation-Thursday, June 4, 1953
Opening Date 1953-1954 School Year-September 9, 1953
No School Policy
The Hancock schools will be in session each school day in conformity with the above school calendar unless the teacher is unable to reach her school due to inclement weather or other reason. Whenever storm conditions of unusual sever- ity arise, the No School announcement for Hancock pupils will be broadcast over radio station WBRK at Pittsfield before 7.45 A. M.
40
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, 1952
To the Citizens of the Town of Hancock:
Your School Committee respectfully submits the following report of expendi- tures for school purposes during 1952.
Salaries
Miss Florence R. Chittenden, Village School, Grades 1-2
$2,240.00
Mrs. Laura A. Page, North School, Grades 3-4 2,240.00
Mrs. Isabel B. Conklin, Gorton School, Grades 5-6
2,240.00
Mrs. Nellie L. Cameron, Village School, Grades 7-8
2,240.00
Dr. Joseph A. Wilk, Superintendent of Schools
1,080.00
Mr. Louis V. Bedard, Supervisor of Music
300.00
Mrs. Ruth T. Bennett, School Nurse
300.00
Mrs. Priscilla S. Conklin, substitute teacher, 5 days
50.00
Dr. Joseph A. Wilk, Supervisor of Attendance and School Census
10.00
Mrs. Johannah W. Hadselle, Janitor, Village School
320.00
Mrs. Ruth Towne, Janitor, North School
200.20
Mrs. Alice Jones, Janitor, Gorton School, Jan .- June 1952
120.00
Perry G. Whitman, Janitor, Gorton School, Sept .- Dec. 1952
80.00
Sherman Derby, Water Boy, Gorton and North Schools
20.00
Francis Trottier, Water Boy, Village School
18.00
Gerald Trottier, Water Boy, Village School
12.00
Dennis LeBarron, Water Boy, Gorton School
12.00
James LeBarron, Water Boy, Gorton and North Schools
8.00
$11,490.20
Transportation
George Harold Hadselle
$3,257.50
New Lebanon Central School
420.00
Dr. Joseph A. Wilk
120.00
John C. Nicholson
110.00
Suzanne Trottier
86.80
Donald Rancourt
63.80
Interstate Busses Corporation
46.50
$4,104.60
Tuition
New Lebanon Central School District, New Lebanon, New York
$1,185.00
Pittsfield (Elementary, High, Vocational, Crippled Children) Schools
1,125.88
Richmond School, Town of Richmond
320.00
$2,630.88
41
Repairs and Maintenance
Floyd Barber, labor at Gorton and Village Schools
$ 48.00
Henry Blair, use of truck
3.50
Emma Blair, cleaning Village School
23.00
Robert Blair, labor at North and Village Schools, lumber
50.00
George Eichenauer, labor
1.65
Delmar B. Ellis, repairing lights at North School
7.78
Harry B. Hicks, lumber for Gorton and Village Schools
163.22
John Kalinsky, snow removal and mowing, Village School yard
10.00
Donald Leab, mowing Village School lawn
10.00
Dorothy Leab, cleaning school
17.00
Marjorie Leab, cleaning school
17.00
Robert Leab, wallboard for North School
2.88
Ernest Maynard, labor at Gorton and Village Schools
118.00
John Maynard, labor, Village School
16.00
Leon Roberts, labor, Village School
11.00
Marjorie Southard, cleaning Village School
23.00
Allen Towne, snow removal and cleaning toilets
9.00
Ruth Towne, kerosene and cleaning North School
31.00
Francis Trottier, snow removal
10.00
Henry Trottier, repairing Village School stove
3.85
Richard Williams, labor
1.65
John Wright, labor, Village School
6.00
$583.53
Fuel
Wayne Bently, wood, Gorton and Village Schools
$148.75
Robert E. Leab, 712 cords wood
131.25
Allen Towne, wood and sawing wood
24.00
$304.00
Supplies
Berkshire Hardware Corporation, coathooks
$ 6.75
R. M. Beutell, wall maps
33.25
Brightwater Paper Company, paper
16.91
Carr Hardware Company
9.68
Cascade Paper Company
71.26
George H. Hadselle
9.53
J. H. Holcomb Company
15.80
Miller Paper Company
56.21
New Lebanon Central School
37.17
Park Street Drug Store
6.46
Edwin P. Shea, Venetian blinds
36.27
Walter C. Sykes
1.33
$299.62
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Books
American Book Company
$ 83.16
Boosey & Hawks
8.28
Silver Burdett Company 35.51
J. E. Davidson Company
4.00
J. Fischer & Brother
7.84
Scott Foresman and Company
3.54
Lyons and Carnahan Company
6.88
Raymond E. Royal
6.00
Webster Publishing Company
4.87
B. F. Wood Music Company
7.57
$167.65
Miscellaneous
Berkshire County Association of School Committees, dues
$ 3.00
Eagle Printing and Binding Company, printing school reports 50.00
J. L. Hammett Company, diploma covers
8.21
Dorothy I. Leab, keeping school accounts and use of car
125.00
Dorothy I. Leab, telephone, postage, and supplies
18.75
Marsten's, Pittsfield, teacher's desk
129.03
Charles McDonald, use of car and supplies
17.98
Mike's General repairs, duplicate keys
1.50
Northern Berkshire Gas Company, lights
55.80
Reynolds and Barnes, insurance
33.03
Raymond E. Royal, graduation speaker
10.00
Stevenson and Company, insurance
37.91
Dr. Joseph A. Wilk, miscellaneous administrative expenses .
5.67
$495.88
Recapitulation
Town Appropriation for Schools, 1952
$19,906.00
Transfer from Available Funds
505.94
$20,411.94
Expenditures:
Salaries
$11,490.20
Transportation
4,104.60
Tuition
2,630.88
Repair and Maintenance
583.53
Fuel
304.00
Supplies
299.62
43
Books
$ 167.65
Miscellaneous
495.88
Total 1952 Expenditures
$20,076.36
Unexpended Balance
335.58
$20,411.94
State Reimbursements for Education in 1952
School Aid, Chapter 70, as amended
$4,421.40
School Transportation
3,442.72
School Superintendent's Salary
597.33
State Wards:
Tuition
480.96
Transportation
141.40
Vocational Education:
Tuition
85.00
Transportation
34.60
Total State Reimbursements in 1952
$9,203.41
Total Hancock Expenditure for Education in 1952
$20,076.36
Less Total State Reimbursement for Education in 1952
9,203.41
Net Cost of Education to Town of Hancock in 1952
$10,872.95
Transportation Contract
With the three-year transportation contract between George Harold Hadselle and the Hancock School Committee terminating on December 1, 1952, new bids were solicited beginning October 20th. When the time for opening sealed bids arrived on November 20, 1952, only one bid was submitted, that of George Harold Hadselle of Hancock. Mr. Hadselle's bid, filed in every detail in accordance with the requirements of the transportation specifications, was as follows:
New Lebanon High School Pupils
$1,750.00
Hancock Elementary School Pupils
1,750.00
Potter Mt. Road Run
300.00
$3,800.00
Whitman Road Run
8.00 per week
The new transportation contract, based on the above amounts, was signed December 4, 1952 and became effective January 1, 1953, continuing for a period of three years from that date.
44
Improvements to School Buildings
Several improvements to all three school buildings were made during the year, notably the protective enclosure to the main entry as well as a new exterior door to the Village School, a new rear door and jambs at the Gorton School, and the enlargement of the North School classroom by removal of the cloakroom par- tition.
Venetian blinds were provided at the North School and for the upper grade Village School classroom.
In estimating the budget requirements for 1953, we recommend the appro- propriation of $22,252.77 for school department purposes.
Respectfully yours,
DOROTHY I. LEAB, Chairman CHARLES McDONALD, Secretary ERNEST MAYNARD
Hancock School Committee.
45
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of the Town of Hancock:
Gentlemen:
I herewith submit my seventh annual report as Superintendent of Schools for the Town of Hancock, Massachusetts.
Foreword
The home and the community educate just as truly as the school does. A child who completes elementary and secondary school in twelve years will have spent only about 20% of his waking hours in school. He is learning from his parents, his church, and his neighborhood about four times as many hours as he spends in school. To be sure, the school deals with a most impressionable period of life. It serves nearly all of the population. It is the chief institution organized ex- pressly for educational purposes. Nevertheless, the school cannot succeed in teach- ing civic duties to a child whose parents do not take the time to vote intelligently. The school finds it difficult to teach appreciation of good literature to a child whose home bookshelves are filled with trash. The school cannot as a rule develop self control and courtesy in a child whose home life is one long series of unrestrained quarrels and uncivilities. The school cannot teach prudence to a child whose parents fritter away income for purposeless extravagances. The school cannot teach children to respect public property if the children see their parents deface local picnic grounds and public highways with rubbish.
The public school cannot act every part in the complex drama of education. Any hope on the part of the general public that schools can do the whole job un- aided is doomed to disappointment. Any attempt on the part of the teaching pro- fession to assume such a staggering responsibility would be certain to end in frustration. The teachers in the schools need partners in this and every community.
Teachers and Instruction
The faculty of the Hancock schools remained unchanged during 1952. The four teachers remained at the same schools to which they had been assigned the last two years. In order to alleviate the overcrowded condition that prevailed at the North School during the early weeks of school last September, and to comply with the rigid requirements of the State Department of Public Safety, it was necessary to transfer the large Fifth and Sixth grade group housed there to the larger Gorton School classroom. In turn, the smaller Third and Fourth grade group was assigned to the North School. These two transfers proved to be a wise move as it appears that the overcrowded North School situation will be solved for several years to come.
New dictionaries were provided all pupils at the Gorton School during the year in addition to the expendable book materials required in all of the three local
.
46
schools annually. Large wall maps of the United States were provided the Gorton and North Schools.
To augment the excellent work being done in the music classes of the three Hancock schools under direction of Mr. Louis V. Bedard, Supervisor of Music, a good quantity of appropriate music publications were purchased during the year. The splendid public performances of the children at the June graduation and Christmas exercises attest to the quality of effort in this phase of the academic program.
Through the kindness of Mr. Gilbert H. Avery of Hancock, pupils of Grades 5-8 of the local schools received beautiful copies of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs, last May. The Bibles, pocket size and in gold embossed red leath- erette covers, were gratefully appreciated by the pupils.
For displaying outstanding interest in birds last Spring, the pupils of the Gorton School were recipients of four large bird charts donated by the Hoffmann Bird Club of Berkshire County.
Teacher Salary Increases
To comply with the amendment to Chapter 71, Section 40, General Laws, made by Chapter 69, Acts of 1952, whereby the minimum salary of teachers in communities of less than $2,500,000 valuation was set at $2,300.00 per year, it was necessary to increase all four Hancock teachers from $2,200.00 to $2,300.00 per year effective September 1, 1952.
Even with this modest increase in salary, the Hancock teachers remain still the lowest paid public school teachers in Massachusetts. I recommend strongly that much thought be given the matter of substantially raising the salaries of these teachers in succeeding years.
Tuition and Transportation Increases
Effective January 1, 1953, the Pittsfield School Committee increased its tuition rates as follows:
1952 Tuition Rate
1953 Tuition Rate
Pittsfield Elementary Schools
$179.77
$201.69
Pittsfield Junior High Schools
238.04
246.00
Pittsfield Senior High School
249.55
278.00
Effective September 1, 1952, the Richmond School Committee increased its annual tuition rate for non-resident pupils from $120.00 to $150.00 per pupil.
Effective September 1, 1952, the New Lebanon per pupil transportation rate was increased from $30.00 to $35.00 per year.
47
ENROLLMENT IN HANCOCK SCHOOLS, DECEMBER 31, 1952
Grades
School
1 2
3 4
5
6
7 8 Total
Village, Grades 1-2
7
6
13
North, Grades 3-4
6
13
19
Gorton, Grades 5-6
14
12
26
Village, Grades 7-8
6 10
16
74
SCHOOL CENSUS
Continuing a practice that has been prevalent in recent years, another com- plete census of the town's children was taken this year. The school census figures for 1952 indicate that there are 155 children in the Town of Hancock. These census figures include all children of pre-school age as well as those of pupils now in attendance at the local Gorton, North, and Village Schools or as public or private tuition pupils in the New Lebanon, Pittsfield, and Richmond schools.
Census Data as of October 1, 1952
Age
Number of Boys
Number of Girls
Total
0-11 mo.
6
1
7
1
5
8
13
2
5
2
7
3
2
6
8
4
2
6
8
5
5
6
11
6
6
3
9
7
1
5
6
8
5
5
10
9
4
10
14
10
5
7
12
11
5
4
9
12
6
8
14
13
4
5
9
14
0
2
2
15
4
3
7
16
1
2
3
17
1
3
4
18
2
0
2
-
Totals
69
86
155
48
The above figures represent individuals whose distribution is as follows:
Number of Pre-School Children in Hancock
52
Number of pupils attending:
Hancock schools
74
New Lebanon High School
14
New Lebanon Elementary School
4
Stearns Elementary School, Pittsfield
3
Richmond School, Richmond
2
Pittsfield High School
2
Berkshire School for Crippled Children
1
Darrow School, New Lebanon
1
Pomeroy Junior High, Pittsfield
1
Pittsfield Vocational School
1
Total
155
MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE SUMMARY Hancock Schools 1951-1952
School
Total
Average Membership Membership
Ave. Daily Attendance
Aggregate Attendance
Pct. of Attendance
Village, Grades 1-2
11
10.36
8.75
1,425.0
87.12
Gorton, Grades 3-4
26
25.46
23.61
4,026.5
92.14
North, Grades 5-6
16
15.22
14.68
2,450.5
96.21
Village, Grades 7-8
15
15.00
14.21
2,391.5
94.62
68
66.04
61.25
10,293.5
92.52
Ave. %
Perfect Attendance for Entire 1951-1952 School Year
Dale Christiansen
Sherman Derby
Dennis LeBarron
Raymond Demary
Howard LaPier
James LeBarron
Pamela Derby
Joyce LeBarron
Perfect Attendance First Half 1951-1952 School Year Beatrice Ellsworth Jeanette LeBarron
Perfect Attendance Second Half 1951-1952 School Year
Rita Demary
Georgiana Miller
Norman Rathbun
Ernest LeBarron
Isabelle Miller
Leata Sumner Henry Whitman
Doris McDonald
49
Outside Schools Attended by Hancock Pupils New Lebanon High School
Grade 12
Grade 11
Grade 10
Grade 9
Elizabeth Maston
Elsie Christiansen
Francis Bush
Harriet Rathbun
Joan Hunter
Evelyn Ellsworth
Florence Snider
Marjorie E. Leab
Arthur H. Rodda
Francis Trottier
Thomas Wadlund
John F. Maynard
Eugene L. Wetherell
Grade 1
New Lebanon Elementary School Grade 4 Marion A. Brewer Margaret Jane Hartwell
Grade 7
Charles Kirk Hartwell
Vivian Gagnon
Richmond School
Sandra J. Rabouin, Grade 5
Sue Ann Rabouin, Grade 2
Stearns School, Pittsfield Jennifer Ellen Nicholson, Grade 1 Allan G. Francis, Grade 2 Diane Helena Spaniol, Grade 4
Darrow School Norman K. Nicholson, Grade 12
Berkshire School for Crippled Children James Garceau
Pittsfield Vocational School
Donald Rancourt
Pomeroy Junior High School, Pittsfield Karen Louise Spaniol, Grade 8
Pittsfield High School
Suzanne Trottier, Grade 12
New Lebanon High School Graduates June 24, 1952 Joan Beverly Maynard Alma Norson Whitman
Mabel Edith LaPier
Annual Tuition Rates Per Pupil 1953
New Lebanon Elementary School
$ 60.00
New Lebanon High School 75.00
Berkshire School for Crippled Children
108.00 ($.60 per day)
Richmond Elementary School
150.00
Pittsfield Vocational School
170.00
Pittsfield Elementary Schools
201.69
Pittsfield Junior High Schools
246.00
Pittsfield High School
278.00
New Lebanon Pupil Transportation Rate $35.00 per contract year for each pupil
Jeanette LeBarron Gladys Miller
50
Conclusion
In concluding this report, I wish to extend my most grateful appreciation to Chairman Dorothy I. Leab, Charles McDonald, and Ernest Maynard of the Hancock School Committee, and to the teachers, other school employees, and town officials for their co-operation and interest in school matters during 1952.
Respectfully submitted,
December 31, 1952
JOSEPH ADDISON WILK Superintendent of Schools.
51
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Dr. Joseph A. Wilk Superintendent of Schools
Hancock, Mass.
Dear Dr. Wilk:
During the school year of 1952 I made 26 regular visits to the Hancock schools and 8 visits for special inspections. 24 home calls were made to discuss with the parents special health problems of their child or children.
All children received the Patch test for Tuberculosis. I feel we are very for- tunate to have these all negative tests.
The Massachusetts Vision test and Audiometer test was given to all children with parents notified of any defects.
Dr. Lawrence Greene, M.D. school physician, conducted his annual physical examination during April and May. A careful and thorough health appraisal of all school children was made at that time and in cases of defects, referred to their family doctors.
All heads and skin received regular inspections. Several health and cleanli- ness projects were carried out. I find these receive a great deal of enthusiasm and help in our health teaching. Several slide films were shown also on health and followed by general class discussion.
I wish to thank you Dr. Wilk, the School Committee, teachers, parents and pupils for cooperating in our health program.
Respectfully submitted,
RUTH T. BENNETT, R.N. . School Nurse.
December 31, 1952
52
GRADUATION PROGRAM Hancock Public Schools, Hancock, Massachusetts Hancock Baptist Church Thursday, June 5, 1952
1. Processional
2. Invocation Rev. Samuel Walker, Williamstown, Massachusetts
3. "Consecration and Praise" (Song by Cain) Hancock School Chorus
4. GRADUATION THEME: Conservation Farming for Abundant Living
Conservation Farming for Abundant Living Gladys Miller
Conservation Farming for Abundant Living Francis Trottier
Conservation Farming for Abundant Living Jeanette LeBarron
5. Grange Conservation Awards Mrs. Helena Christiansen
Master Hancock Grange, No. 325
First Prize Winner-Jeanette LeBarron North School Winner-Dale Christiansen Village School Winner-Charlene Skerkis
6. "Graduates' Farewell" (Song by Lejeal) Hancock School Chorus
7. Introduction of Guest Speaker Dr. Joseph A. Wilk Superintendent of Schools
8. Commencement Address Mr. Raymond E. Royal
Director of Guidance, Drury High School, North Adams, Mass.
9. "A Joyous Song" (Song by Gibb)
Hancock School Chorus
10. Award of Diplomas Mrs. Dorothy I. Leab Chairman, Hancock School Committee
11. Congratulations to Graduates Everyone
Jeanette LeBarron
Graduates Gladys Miller Francis Trottier
Class Advisor-Mrs. Nellie L. Cameron Supervisor of Music-Mr. Louis V. Bedard Piano Accompanist-Mrs. Perry G. Whitman
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