USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1910 > Part 20
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Attendance
Per Cent. of Attendance
High School
73
153
212.5 56.
204.4
96.2
Ninth Grade
40
22
52.5
93.8
Knapp
204
181
366.9
345.2
94.1
Hedge and Spooner
114
113
220.8
208.
94.2
Cornish District Primary
121
114
211.4
195.9
92.7
Cornish
164
174
332.5
313.5
94.2
Burton
101
89
182.
173.
95.1
Mt. Pleasant Primary
33
34
55.
51.
92.6
Mt. Pleasant
106
159
260.
241.3
92.8
Chiltonville
51
49
90.
84.8
93.3
Manomet
36
33
63.
58.6
93.
Vallerville
11
10
14.8
13.6
92.
Long Pond
10
1
7.6
6.5
85.5
Cedarville
5
6
9.4
8.6
91.5
Totals
1069
1138
2081.9
1956.9
94.
Boys
Girls
Read this table in place of the one beneath, which was printed by mistake.
Visits
Personal
examinations
Permits issued by school
physician
Permits signed by
other physicians
Notices sent to
parents
Pupils excluded
Number of diseases and
diseased conditions
Number permits given under employment law
January
19
232
145
12
73
14
108
15
February .
15
312
204
7
88
20
138
3
March
16
328
130
7
110
19
164
5
April
16
363
119
5
109
14
173
7
May
20
508
76
7
268
306
3
June
15
277
28
1
93
50 00 00
140
September
16
193
38
57
125
14
October
19
280
58
102
22
188
November
22
396
44
185
24
293
00
December
14
233
37
110
00
161
10
Total 1911
172
3122
879
53
1195
156
1796
79
Total 1910
166
2275
930
75
604
156
1063
24
Total 1909
137
1459
354
62
632
93
1023
Total 1908
140
1285
469
79
313
125
616
1820
-194 --
REPORT OF ATTENDANCE FOR SCHOOL YEAR ENDING JUNE 23rd, 1911.
1 I
..
:
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REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1911.
The statistical report of the work done by the school physi- cian is given below for each month of the school year, and the totals compared with preceding years.
Visits
Personal
Examina
tions
Permits
i-sued by
Physician
Permits
issued by
Physicians
Notices
sent to
Parents
Pupils
Excluded
No of dis-
eases and
diseased
conditions
No. of per-
mits given
under Em-
ployment
Jan.
15
220
107
13
73
12
118
Feb.
17
198
103
13
62
=
120
March
14
146
69
1
33
00
65
April
17
206
73
3
50
15
108
May
16
253
148
8
55
19
103
June
17
206
84
2
82
co
134
Sept.
15
194
39
1
60
15
101
10
Oct.
22
311
116
A
73
33
139
5
Nov.
20
317
75
23
52
22
89
5
Dec.
13
224
116
7
64
12
86
4
Total, 1910
166
2275
930
75
604
156
1063
24
Total, 1909
137
1459
354
62
632
93
1023
Total, 1908
140
1285
469
79
313
125
616
.
During the past year besides the regular work of inspecting such pupils as are referred to the school physician by the teachers for re-admission, after absence from illness and for
Law
School
other
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suspected defects, a routine examination was made of every pupil in the puplic schools for the first time. This routine examination includes inspection of the mouth, throat, nose, eyes, scalp, facial expression, general nutrition and bearing, any variation from the normal being noted, and if deemed of suf- ficient consequence, a notice sent to the parents. Of the 3122 children examined, 1796 or 57.5 per cent. were found to have some physical defect, and decayed teeth, enlarged tonsils and adenoids contributed 51.5 per cent. of the defects found. .
Of the 1195 notices sent to parents of defects requiring treat- ment, 40 per cent. were for decayed teeth. On account of its prevalence, this condition acquires a significance which .it would not otherwise have, although it is known, as has been pointed out in a previous report, to have a most important bearing upon the physical development and health of the child. It is not necessary to go into the reasons for this here, but the fact has been established beyond question, and the time seems ripe for something to be done here to better the conditions, as has been successfully done elsewhere.
Arrangements have already been made for a free illustrated lecture on the "care of the teeth," by Prof. George A. Bates of Tufts Dental School, under the auspices of the School Com- mittee, with a view to awakening a public sentiment in regard to this matter, and if possible, arrangements will be made to furnish free dental treatment for such school children as are un- able to, or will not otherwise secure proper treatment them- selves.
It undoubtedly often happens. in our public . schools that children are adjudged mentally incompetent, passing a varying number of years in school without benefit, and emerging to be a burden upon the community, whose minds are perfectly normal. These unfortunates are handicapped by one or more physical defects which make them appear mentally deficient. If these defects are not discovered and special instruction given them, they become really deficient through lack of training.
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There is nothing in the work more gratifying to the school physician than to discover one of these minds trying to grope its uncertain way through clouded senses and to watch its development as it is brought into intelligent relation with the outside world by means of special methods of instruction, which take into consideration the child's limitations.
Such a case was that of George L., who, when he was found in the first grade, three years ago, had been practically abandoned as unable to learn by his long suffering teacher who had a large school to care for. She believed that he was mentally incompetent, and there was reason for such a belief. As there were no tasks which he could do, the child spent the long school hours practically unemployed, twisting and turning about in his seat and making strange grimaces.
An examination showed that the right eye could see not more than one-twentieth of what it should, and the left not more than one-fifth. The twisting and turning and the queer faces were now explained. Sitting through the school ses- sion without any intelligent idea of what was going on about him, the child was simply amusing himself getting glimpses of the light which streamed into the room from the various win- dows.
The character of the trouble was such that it could not be remedied, but the school physician became convinced that the child's mind was unusually keen and active. The teacher was informed of the result of the examination, and at once became interested, agreeing to do all in her power to make up for the poor eyesight of her pupil by special attention to his needs, a promise which she generously fulfilled. The parents were in- formed of the serious defect of vision and encouraged to aid the teacher by every means in their power. Inspired with a new hope, they took up the work with enthusiasm, and though of limited means, even secured a tutor for a time. The results have amply justified the special care and attention devoted to the child. He now has excellent standing in his grade, the
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third, sings unusually well, has a wonderful memory and shows a remarkable aptitude for mathematics. The following are ex- amples of his language, spelling and number work. "George L- Dec 20 1911
Oak St School grade III
The Fox and the Crow.
A crow had a piece of cheese. One day a Fox saw The Crow . fly in a tree and th fox said to the crow sing" but The crow wouldn't sing. And The fox said to to the crow sing." So th crow sang. As The crow sang she drope the cheese and The Fox ran away with it."
"George L-
Dec 22 1911
Oak St School grade 111
Christmas
Santa Claus
santa claus
merry
Merry
candles
candles
skates
skates
secret
secret
birthday
birthday
candles
Christmas
Christmas
Santa Claus
Santa claus"
George L-
Dec 21 1911
Oak St. School
grade III
804 434
467 790
942
245
578
804
23
356
689
942
1769 1035 1734 2536
802
943
824
842
-497 -589
-298 -298
305
354
526
544
802
943
824
842
-199 --
923
834
945
853
x 4
X 5 X6
x 4
3692 4170 5670 3412
233
034
493
023
4) 932 3)102 2)986 5)115
233
34
493
23
x 4
x3
x 2
x5
932
102
986
115
So much for his work at school, but one must see him at play in the sunny school yard, his face beaming with happiness and his body swaying in perfect rhythm while he sings in a sweet, clear voice with the other children at their games, in which he is unable to take part, to understand what it has meant to him to have a chance.
Another boy, Joseph B., supposed to be mentally deficient and now in the second grade, is still under observation. He has been found to be very near sighted, having only one-seventh normal vision in the right eye and less than one-sixteenth in the left. He has recently been furnished with correcting lenses, is now doing legible work where nothing could be deciphered before. Moreover he is taking an interest in his work, and the teacher is encouraged.
The necessity for early attention to the optical defects of school children is well illustrated in the work of Olive L., a first grade pupil, who was reported to the school physician as a backward child, doing few of the simple tasks given her, and none of them well. An examination showed that she was far- sighted and suitable lenses were provided, when a remarkable change took place in the character of her work, shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
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Fig. 1.
.
Fig. 2.
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These are both exact reproductions of the original tracings made by the pupil over letters drawn by the teacher, Fig. 1, before the correcting lenses were applied and Fig. 2 afterwards. Note the groping irregularity of the lines on Fig. 1, and esti- mate if you can the nervous energy wasted by the child in trying to drive the unwilling pencil over its blurred and uncertain course. Then look at the easy swing of the lines in Fig. 2 and you can understand something of the relief which the child must have experienced in the removal of such a handicap.
The following rules governing medical inspection in the pub- lic schools of Plymouth have been compiled by the school physician, printed upon stiff cardboard and hung in a con- spicuous place in each school room where they can be readily referred to by the teacher. This gives a definite working basis, especially in regard to contagious diseases, where everything was vague and uncertain before, and is proving a very valuable aid to the work.
MEDICAL INSPECTION.
Rules for Teachers in the Schools of Plymouth.
Children to be Referred to School Physician and how.
1. Children who have been absent from school may be ad- mitted by the teacher at any time provided that such children have not had a contagious or infectious disease, or been ex- posed to such diseases, but they should be referred to the school physician at his first visit thereafter. Teachers, however, are to use judgment in this matter. A short absence for known cause may not require investigation by the school physician.
NOTE .- Children with permits from other physicians should be referred to the school physician as a matter of record.
2. Send one of the cards supplied by the school department for the purpose with each child referred to the school physician, and be sure that it is properly made out and signed.
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NOTE .- There are two exceptions to this rule. (1). Children who have permits from other physicians, and (2) children sent to the school physician at his request for routine- examination need no card. Every other child referred by the- teacher to the school physician should have a card giving the reason for sending the child whether for examination or other cause.
3. If the card is returned signed by the school physician, it .. is to be kept on file for future reference if required.
4. Look for signs of ill health among the children. The following symptoms are suggested as of sufficient consequence to require that the pupil suffering from one or more of them .. should be referred to the school physician :
Emaciation.
Unusual pallor.
Unusual dullness or sleepiness.
Puffness of the face.
Shortness of breath.
Swellings of the neck.
Red or discharging eyes.
Red or discharging ears.
Mouth breathing.
Irritating discharge from the nose.
All skin eruptions.
Constant scratching of any part of the body.
Peculiar position habitually taken at the desk. Restlessness.
Frequent requests to leave the room.
Contagious and Infectious Diseases.
5. Children with smallpox, scarlet fever, chickenpox, tu- berculosis, diphtheria or influenza, tonsilitis, whooping cough, mumps, scabies or trachoma are excluded from the public- schools of Massachusetts by law (Chap. 502, Acts of 1906).
6. Children from a household where a person is ill with a
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contagious or infectious disease or from a household exposed to such disease are excluded from the public schools of Massa- chusetts by law, until the teacher of the school has been furnished with a certificate from the Board of Health or from the attending physician, stating that the danger of conveying such disease is passed (Sec. 6, Chap. 44, Acts of 1906).
(Smallpox, scarlet fever, diphtheria, measles, typhoid fever, infantile paralysis, cerebro-spinal meningitis, whooping cough, mumps, chickenpox and German measles, shall be deemed as within the meaning of this rule.)
7. Children from families where mumps or whooping cough exist, but who have had the disease themselves, may attend school.
8. Children with live pediculi should be excluded at once by the teacher, provided with printed directions for the removal of the pediculi, and instructed to return at once after follow- ing the directions.
9. Children affected with ringworm, scabies, or impetigo contagiosa will be excluded from school by the school physician until such time as the disease is cured or shows evidence of such treatment as not to be liable to cause infection of other children. Cases so excluded should only be admitted upon the written statement of a physician that these conditions have been fulfilled.
10. The minimum periods of isolation for chickenpox, mumps and whooping cough are as follows :
(a) Chickenpox, fifteen days and thereafter until all the- scabs have fallen off.
(b) Mumps, fourteen days and thereafter, until the swelling has disappeared.
(c) Whooping cough, thirty-five days and thereafter, until all spasmodic cough and whooping have ceased.
11. Under no circumstances is a child who has been absent with one of the diseases named in rule ten, to be admitted in less than the number of days given for that disease.
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School Furniture and Temperature.
12. (a) The seat should be of such height that the feet will rest easily on the floor.
(b) The desk should be high enough not to touch the knees, and low enough for the arm to rest on it comfortably without much raising of the elbow, not, however, so low that the scholar must bend down to write on it.
(c) The seat should be near enough so that the scholar may reach the desk to write on it without leaning forward more than a little. This means a distance of ten and one-half to fourteen and one-half inches from the edge of the desk to the seat back. It also means that the seat must not project under the desk more than an inch at most.
13. The health of school children is seriously affected by keeping the rooms too warm. The temperature should not exceed 68 degrees in the schoolroom while artificial heat is being used in the building.
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, M. D. School Physician.
-- 205-
The following diseases have been found among the pupils during the past year :
Diseases of the Skin.
Pediculosis capitis,
70
Pediculosis capitis (ovæ)
239
Scabies,
5
Impetigo,
88
Other skin diseases,
59
Acute Infectious Diseases.
Varicella,
1
Mumps,
4
Pertussis,
19
Tonsilitis,
18
Diseases of the Oral and Respiratory Tract.
Pulmonary tuberculosis,
3
Adenoids,
124
Enlarged and diseased tonsils,
303
Decayed teeth,
486
Other disease of the oral and respiratory tract,
58
Diseases of the Eye.
Defective eyesight,
46
Muscular asthenopia,
42
Conjunctivitis,
42
Other diseases of the eye,
39
Diseases of the Digestive Tract.
Acute indigestion, 10
Diseases of the Bones.
Spinal curvature,
2
Hip disease,
1
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Diseases of the Nervous System.
Chorea, Neurasthenia,
2
2
Paralysis,
1
Unclassified.
Enlarged cervical glands,
43
Wounds, burns, abrasions, etc.,
37
Rheumatism,
1
Valvular heart disease,
1
Tobacco habit,
1
Congenital dislocation of the hip,
1
Aneamia,
2
Enlarged thyroid gland,
1
Malaria,
1
The case of congenital dislocation of the hip found in the schools was taken to the Children's Hospital in Boston recently and successfully operated upon, so that there is every reason to expect that in the course of a year the child will be able to walk normally instead of going through life a cripple.
Respectfully submitted,
J. HOLBROOK SHAW, M. D.
School Physician.
0
FIFTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Water Commissioners,
Superintendent
AND
Collector of Water Rates
OF THE
Town of Plymouth
1911
WATER COMMISSIONERS
JOHN W. CHURCHILL-Term expires March,. 1912. ROBERT C. HARLOW-Term expires March, 1912. JOHN H. DAMON-Term expires March, 1913. HORACE P. BAILEY-Term expires March, 1914. CHARLES T. HOLMES-Term expires March, 1914.
Superintendent-Arthur E. Blackmer. Assistant Superintendent-Richard W. Bagnell. Water Register-N. Reeves Jackson.
Engineer at Pumping Station-John Bodell.
Assistant Engineer at Pumping Station-Albert E. Caswell.
All applications for water must be made at the office of the Water Commissioners.
Superintendent's office, Town Square, near Town House; telephone, office, 532-R; shop, 532-W.
Meeting of the Commissioners to examine bills and claims against the Department, the first Wednesday evening of each month.
Rates payable at the Town Treasurer's office semi-annually in advance, May 1st and November 1st.
Bills against the Department must be rendered on or before the first Wednesday of each month or they will lie over until the following month.
Approved bills paid by the Town Treasurer at the Town Office.
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REPORT OF WATER COMMISSIONERS
The Water Commissioners herewith submit their annual report :
RECEIPTS.
Undrawn balance,
$3,322 55
Water rates, domestic,
31,519 99
Water rates, manufacturing,
3,846 90
Labor and material,
537 15
Miscellaneous,
300 38
Overdrawn balance,
1,842 68
$41,369 65
EXPENDITURES.
Maintenance,
$7,803 70
Pump,
3,874 73
Bonds and interest,
20,193 13
Extension of mains,
1,127 65
Extension of services,
340 18
Meters and setting,
458 52
Bulkhead at Little South Pond,
7,571 74
$41,369 65
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PUMPING STATION.
Salaries,
$1,700 00
Fuel and light,
1,148 63
Heating and lighting engineer's house,
250 26
Parts and repairs to machinery,
1 25
Freight and trucking,
9 51
Material and supplies,
195 66
Tools and repairs on tools,
60 00
Repairs to buildings and grounds,
409 42
Insurance on boilers,
100 00
$3,874 73
MAINTENANCE.
Salaries,
$2,750 00
Labor,
2,813 71
Horse hire,
164 50
Horse feed, care, shoeing and stable items,
250 93
Freight, express and trucking,
52 35
Stationery, stamps and printing,
97 65
Leaks, repairs in main pipes,
187 49
Fuel, light and power,
181 95
Telephone,
63 03
Factory and office repairs and supplies,
179 32
Tools bought and repaired,
182 62
Renewing services,
116 60
Miscellaneous,
651 16
Leaks repaired in service pipes,
112 39
$7,803 70
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BONDS.
Bond paid on issue, June 1, 1885,
$2,800 00
Bond paid on issue, August 1, 1890,
1,300 00
Bond paid on issue, August 1, 1894,
800 00
Bond paid on issue, October 2, 1899,
1,500 00
Bond paid on issue, May 1, 1901,
1,000 00
Bond paid on issue, July 1, 1903,
666 66
Bond paid on issue April 15, 1905,
500 00
Bond paid on issue, April 15, 1905,
500 00
Bond paid on issue, November 15, 1905,
600 00
Bond paid on issue, July 1, 1907,
1,000 00
Bond paid on issue, February 15, 1908,
1,000 00
Bond paid on issue, June 1, 1909,
1,000 00
Bond paid on issue, July 1, 1910,
2,000 00
Total bonds paid,
$14,666 66
INTEREST.
Interest paid on issue, June 1, 1885,
$392 00
Interest paid on issue, August 1, 1890,
364 00
Interest paid on issue, August 1, 1894,
288 00
Interest paid on issue, October 2, 1899,
540 00
Interest paid on issue, May 1, 1901,
367 50
Interest paid on issue, July 1, 1903,
574 97
Interest paid on issue, April 15, 1905,
78 75
Interest paid on issue, April 15, 1905,
78 75
Interest paid on issue, November 15, 1905,
315 00
Interest paid on issue, July 1, 1907,
860 00
Interest paid on issue, February 15, 1908,
860 00
Interest paid on issue, June 1, 1909,
367 50
Interest paid on issue, July 1, 1910,
440 00
Total interest paid,
$5,526 47
Bonds,
$14,666 66
Interest,
5,526 47
Total bonds and interest,
$20,193 13
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COMMISSIONERS' REPORT
The most important piece of work carried out by the De- partment during the year 1911 was the construction of a new screenwell, or intake, at Little South Pond. The completion of this piece of work makes available about seven feet more water in Great and Little South Ponds than we have hitherto been able to get. A more detailed description of this work is given in the report of the superintendent. The contract for this work was let to Mr. Ernest L. Sampson for $6,200. No appropriation was asked for in the spring of 1911 for pipe laying and no large amount of work in that line has been carried out.
METERS.
One of the most important problems now before the Commis- sioners is the question of an extension of the meter system. As will be seen by reference to the report of the superintendent, we have now in use 2,518 services, and have set 120 meters, or about 4.6 per cent. of the total number of services now in use are metered. The Commissioners believe that a metered sys- tem is the logical and proper method of selling water and have discussed the matter at considerable length for the past few years. As the vote of the Town now stands, the Commissioners have the authority to install meters on all services where they believe there is a waste of water, or on any service where the
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owner requests a meter. One of the hindrances to a more rapid extension of the meter system has been the problem of not reducing the water revenue by installing meters. With this thought in mind, when meters were first set, the Commis- sioners established a minimum rate of $12 per year for a 5/8 meter or house service. This, of course, made it no object to a man paying for water under the flat rate system less than $12 a year to have a meter installed, as the water rate would thereby be increased instead of decreased if he was paying less than $12 a year. This is one of the most perplexing ques- tions to settle in advance of metering. It is necessary to have an assured income of about $35,000 a year to run the Depart- ment. If the minimum meter rate is established at a point where it is equal to the least flat rate which is now paid, and a meter is put on every service, the Commissioners have no assurance that the revenue will be more than the total of all minimum charges. If this is the case, the Department would have a revenue of only about $15,000 in place of the necessary $35,000. Being highly in favor of the meter system, however, and desiring to be able to have a thoroughly metered town, we are of the opinion that a satisfactory method of procedure would be to install meters on all new services each year and to meter 10 per cent. of the old services each year in addition. This would mean setting probably about 250 meters each year, which could probably be done for an annual expenditure of about $4,000. In regard to the rates, we believe that the minimum rate of $12 per year should be adhered to for all consumers paying $12 a year or more under the flat rate system, and that no change should be made in the rates of the consumers paying less than $12 a year until such a time as the Town is thoroughly metered. When that time arrives we shall have all the information necessary to intelligently establish a meter rate. Being thoroughly metered, we shall know our total consumption, and knowing about how many million gallons of water we shall sell each year, and about
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what our water revenue must be we can arrive intelligently at a fair meter rate. The Commissioners therefore recommend the Town to give them authority to meter annually all new services of every description and 10 per cent. of the old services.
Respectfully submitted, JOHN W. CHURCHILL, JOHN H. DAMON, CHARLES T. HOLMES, ROBERT C. HARLOW, HORACE P. BAILEY.
-
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SUMMARY OF STATISTICS.
· Published by request of the New England Water Works® Association.
PLYMOUTH (MASS.) WATER WORKS.
Population by census of 1910, 12,000.
Date of construction, 1855.
By whom owned, Town.
Source of supply. Great and Little South and Lout Ponds.
Mode of supply. Gravity for low service and pumping for high service.
PUMPING.
1. Builders of pumping machinery : Barr and Worthington.
2. Coal: (b) bituminous; (d) brand various; (e) average cost per gross ton, $4.95.
3. Total fuel, 493,455 pounds.
5. Total water pumped, 289,539,450 gallons.
6. Average static head, 65 feet.
7. Average dynamic head, 73 feet.
8. Number of gallons pumped per pound of coal, Worthington 419.9, Barr 592.2.
9. Duty of Barr pump 36,715,000. Duty of Worthington pump 26,248,000.
Cost of pumping, figured on pumping station expenses, viz : $3,874.73.
10. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $13.38.
11. Per million gallons raised one foot high (dynamic), $0.180. Cost of pumping figured on total maintenance, viz: $11,678.43.
12. Per million gallons against dynamic head into direct pipe, $40.34.
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