USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1924 > Part 26
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December
292
51,140
21,286,000
25,552,000
824,000
5.83
42.
31.
1,649
3,7971%
650,665
214,514,000
342,203,000
41.01
Hours Run
Total Lbs. Fuel
No. Gals. Pumped
|Ave. No. Gals. to 1 lb. Coal
Ave. Duty
For Year
New Pump Old Pump
3,764 34 3234
645,205
339,846,000
527
32,000,000
5,460
2,357,000
432
26,000.000
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Board of Health
DIRECTORY.
Term Expires
Dr. Walter D. Shurtleff, Chairman and Health Officer, 1928
Herbert Morissey, Secretary, 1927
Herbert S. Maxwell, Port Health Officer,
1926
George W. Wood, Inspector of Slaughtering
Edward K. Morse, Inspector and Fumigating Officer
Daniel J. Sullivan, Inspector of Milk
Michael D. Welsh, Inspector of Plumbing
Arthur A. Sampson, Inspector of Plumbing
Dr. Walter D. Shurtleff, Director of Clinics
Sadie A. Sharpe, Dispensary Nurse
Harry A. Taft, Charles Cranford, and E. E. Farnham, Special Inspectors
The regular meetings of the Board of Health are held on the second and fourth Thursday of each month.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR 1925
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation, March, 1925, $18,000 00
PAYMENTS.
Salaries and Wages,
$942 25
Other General Expenses, 221 97
Quarantine and Contagious Diseases, 4,083 20
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Tuberculosis,
2,887 73
Vital Statistics, 42 75
Other Expenses, 1,360 47
Inspection (Animals, meats and milk) 2,165 95
Public Dump (Labor and Ex- penses) 2,175 69
Tuberculosis Dispensary Expenses,
1,061 84
Dental Clinic Expense,
917 60
15,859 45
Unexpended Balance, $2,140 55
In the matter of contagious diseases, the tabulated table speaks for itself, although undoubtedly a good many cases where there was no doctor called in, were not reported, and we are calling the attention of the householders to the fact that all contagious cases must be reported where a doctor is not called.
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Jan.
Feb.
Mar.
Apr.
May
June
July
Aux.
Sept.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Total
Chicken-Pox,
5
5
Diphtheria, 1
1
1 2
5
German
Measles, 3
7 12 6 1
29
Ophthelmia
Neonitorum,
2
2
Trachoma 1
1
1
3
Lobar Pneu- monia, 3
4
1
1
1
2
2
14
Broncho Pneu- monia,
1
2
1 2
6
Measles,
1
1
3
2
1
8
Mumps,
1
1
1
3
Scarlet
Fever,
3 3
3
4
1
1
1
1 17
/ Pulmonary
Tuberculosis, 1
1
1
1 4
Other Forms
Tuberculosis, 1 2
1
6
1
1 12
Typhoid Fever,
1
1
Whooping Cough,
3
4
7
Scabies,
1
1
9 13 12 18 15 19 4 1 7 12 2 5 117
Report of the Venereal Disease Cases for the year 1925.
Females-107, Males-112.
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GENERAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF HEALTH
Herewith is submitted the Report of the Board of Health for the past year.
We have been very fortunate, as you will see by our tables, in escaping epidemics of Contagious Diseases, which has kept our expenses down a considerable degree.
The Board has suffered the loss of one of our members, well known in Town affairs, and one whom we will have hard work to replace, namely, our Secretary, Capt. Her- bert Morissey.
Capt. Morissey was a good, efficient member, always taking a great interest in Health Department matters, and ready to respond to any call to duty, and will be greatly missed by those left behind on the Board.
We wish to call to your attention the very important matter of Periodic Health Examinations which you should have made by your family doctor, especially when near- ing middle age, when heart troubles, kidney disease and malignant tumors and growths are prone to make their appearance. Plymouth is fortunate in having such an able corps of resident physicians, and we urge that you see yours at least twice or three times yearly in order that he may safeguard you against the ravages of these diseases.
The Health Department maintains a Tuberculosis Clinic in the Gov. Bradford Bldg., that you should also take advantage of, where you will find a nurse and physi- cian in attendance.
The hours are from 2 to 3, and 7 to 8 p. m. on every Thursday, and in addition a Tuberculosis Specialist from
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the Lakeville Sanatarium is present the last Thursday of each month from 2 to 4 p. m.
We urge each and every one who desires advice and examination, to make use of this department, as it is a very important matter to discover this disease early if success is to be met with in its treatment.
1
At the request of the Town Wharf Committtee the Board have temporarily closed the Stephens field dump, and are now filling in a part of the new project in order to save the Town the expense of doing the same.
While there has been some criticism at the action, we feel we are only doing our best for the Town in the long run, and will re-open again at the playground as soon as possible.
We wish to thank the public for the hearty support we have received the past year, and assure you that you may call upon our Department at any time, and we will gladly serve you to the best of our ability.
WALTER D. SHURTLEFF, M. D., Chairman,
HERBERT S. MAXWELL,
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Report of Inspector of Slaughtering
FOR THE YEAR 1925
During the past year the following animals have been slaughtered and examined as required by law:
Cattle
Calves
Hogs
Sheep
January,
19
6
28
February,
14
6
34
March,
16
5
18
April,
16
9
11
May,
16
17
1
June,
13
12
4
July,
15
9
3
3
August,
12
10
2
2
September,
14
3
0
1
October,
17
3
14
1
November,
14
3
21
December,
21
6
30
-
-
187
89
166
7
During the past year five cattle were condemned as unfit for food.
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Report of Inspector of Milk
To the Honorable Board of Health: Gentlemen :
In accordance with the General Laws of Mass., Chap- ter 40, Section 49, I herewith submit report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending Dec. 31, 1925.
During the past year the work of dairy and milk in- spection has been carried along lines previously de- termined upon. Personal talks with many have presented the view-point of the sanitarian, and suggestions for changes of equipment and handling have been made where necessary. The object of this department is to secure the intelligent and hearty co-operation of produc- ers and dealers in furnishing Plymouth a clean, safe, supply of milk.
Work Performed
Licenses or Permits Issued in 1925:
Class A. Class B. Class C. Total
Milk Dealers Licenses, 36 30 35 101
Milk Dealers Permit, 1
Oleomargarine Licenses,
11
Total Licenses Issued, 113
Summary of Inspections Made :
Class A .- Hotels, restaurants, tea rooms, lunch counters, drug stores, 63
Class B .- Stores, markets, or like dealers, 50
Class C .- Producers or those primarily dealing in milk, 55
Total Inspections made, 168 Summary of Tests Made:
Testing milk for Butter Fats, 44; Solids, 44, Total 88.
1
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Receipts- License Fees, Unpaid Fees,
$54 50 50
Expenditures-
Salary of Inspector,
$225 00
Educational Expenses,
44 62
Equipment,
162 19
Plymouth Gas Light Co.,
1 85
Repairs on Equipment,
3 00
Stationery and Printing,
51 85
Painting,
12 55
Auto Expense,
13 17
State Inspection of Equipment,
3 05
Total Expense, $517 28
DANIEL J. SULLIVAN, Milk Inspector.
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF PLUMBING
To the Honorable Board of Health:
I herewith submit my report for the year 1925.
Number of Permits, 117
Number of Inspections, 117
Number of Old Houses,
82
Number of New Houses,
35
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR A. SAMPSON, 140 Summer Street Inspector of Plumbing.
1
SCHOOL REPORT
Elsie Stevens
PLYMOUTH
MASSACHUSETTS
.9620
19
25
Plymouth Seveteen
-
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School Directory
Fred D. Bartlett, Chairman,
, Term Expires
1928
Fannie T. Rowell, Secretary, 1927
MEMBERS
Edward R. Belcher, 1926
Ellis W. Brewster, 1926
Burt H. Corey, 1927
A. Perry Richards, 1928
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.
Superintendent of Schools, Horace F. Turner.
Office open from 9:00 to 12 a. m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p. m. every school day. Saturdays, 10 to 12 a. m., 7:00 to 7:30 every Monday.
Office hours of the Superintendent of Schools 3:30 to 4:30 p. m. Mondays and Fridays. At other times by appointment.
Attendance Officer, John Armstrong.
1
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Report of the School Committee
Last year's report indicated the plan to submit to the Town at the coming annual meeting the proposition for a new school building on the Murray lot,so-called, to re- place the Alden Street and Cold Spring buildings. The Town now owns the necessary land, it having been pro- vided for by appropriation at the 1924 Annual Meeting.
The same consideration that influenced the Committee a year ago to defer submitting the plans to this time; viz., the great increase in the bonded debt of the Town in 1924, has influenced us to again defer action.
The Committee believes thoroughly in the desirability and need of such a building and has no reason other than above stated for postponing action for the second time.
It seems proper at this time to call the attention of the Town to the probable necessity in the near future of additional accommodations at both the Senior and Junior High Schools. The attendance here is increasing at a much faster rate than the general school population and is now more than four hundred in each school. It was necessary this last year to install one hundred por- table desks in the main room at the Senior High School to relieve the situation there.
At the 1924 Annual Meeting the Town accepted the provisions of the law providing for the pensioning of school janitors.
Under the authority thereby provided the Committee accepted the resignation of Mr. B. Frank Walker, the efficient janitor at the Junior High School for many years, and placed him on the pension list.
Mr. Walker is succeeded by Mr. John R. Yates.
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In accordance with a vote and appropriation at the last Annual Meeting, land has been purchased from Luigi P. Cortelli and Louis Pederzani for an addition to the Hedge School playground. To prevent filling from the addition being washed on to adjoining land a low con- crete wall has been built, about 190 feet in length. This wall also serves as a property line between the Town and Mr. Pederzani. Freezing weather intervened to prevent any grading last Fall.
The money for this and for fencing was provided for in the appropriation and both will be done as soon as conditions permit.
The Hedge School lawn on the North, East and West sides of the building has been graded, covered with a good thickness of loam and seeded, with most satisfactory results.
Granolithic walks have been laid to the six entrances. A new flag staff is most desirable here, to be placed in front of the auditorium. More essential things have so far prevented the Committee from incurring the ne- cessary expense. The above mentioned work on the lawn and the walks was paid for out of the regular ap- propriation.
There is a balance of $366.41 remaining of the ap- propriation for the Hedge School addition. This will probably be used during the current year, for a clock system or other equipment.
In behalf of the Town the Committee expresses its thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Mary Ritter for the loan of a piano for the use of the South Street school.
To obviate the necessity of depending upon neighbors for communication a telephone has been installed at the Manomet school.
A new heater of the jacketed type has been placed in the Russell Mills school to secure more uniform heat- ing and better ventilation.
At the request of the School Committee of the Town
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of Carver your Committee agreed to take into our Senior High School for one year not to exceed twenty of their High School pupils at an annual charge of $175.00 per pupil. Under this arrangement about fifteen pupils from Carver have been in the Plymouth High School since the beginning of the school year last September. Transpor- tation is provided by the Town of Carver. Whether our facilities will allow taking additional pupils next year is not certain at this time.
Beginning May 1st, 1924, Mr. Thomas Bodell was ap- pointed for one year to have supervision of all the school buildings, he to make such repairs himself as possible and to oversee all other repairs.
Mr. Bodell is a practical carpenter and builder and his services have been very satisfactory to the Depart- ment.
This arrangement does not necessarily mean any direct saving to the Town, but the Committee believes that in the long run it will be a positive gain. It allows much closer attention to and supervision of the many repairs and alterations necessary in a plant as big and scattered as ours, and permits small repairs to have immediate attention where they were otherwise overlooked, or ne- glected until some more convenient time. Incidentally it relieves the Superintendent and the Committee of much petty detail and supervision which necessarily were often slighted, simply by lack of time. In any future building operations it would be a distinct advantage to have a man of this type available in considering plans and in super- vising construction.
The completion of the Hedge School addition in 1924 left the portable buildings there and at the Knapp School vacant. The first was moved to the Lincoln Street lot, set on a concrete foundation, and is used as a store-room, shop and garage by the supervisor of buildings. Store- room and shop are each about 20x30 feet, and garage 12x20 feet.
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Garage has a cement floor with walls and ceiling wire lathed and plastered. This change including one coat of paint cost about $750.00. A one-half ton Ford truck was purchased for use of the building supervisor, cost $523.00.
The portable building at the Knapp School has had heater and partitions removed, making a clear floor space 70-20 feet, and it is now used for physical exercises.
FIRE PROTECTION
The largest single piece of work along the lines of fire protection this year has been at the Morton school. The hazard at this school is especially great, both because of the large number of scholars, and because of the con- struction of the building, which makes of it practically a three-story school, with the principal exits all by way of the basement. Work here has included hard- plastering the basement stairway walls, the installation of self-closing fire-doors where the exits go through the basement, and also between the domestic science and wood-working rooms and the basement. A direct exit from the girls' toilet has also been provided, to prevent the children being cut off by a fire near this point. An additional pipe has been laid to the school from the water main; the old pipe which had to take care of both domes- tic and fire use was only 1 inch. The new pipe is 6 inch.
A survey of the extinguisher equipment has been made by the Chief of the Fire Department, and a number of adequate and proper extinguishers provided. Old and doubtful extinguishers have been removed.
In addition to these specific things many minor points in the direction of fire prevention have had attention.
The Committee recommends strongly the continuation of this work for 1926. It has in mind the installation of a system in the larger schools-Hedge, Knapp, Burton and Cornish, Morton, High and Mt. Pleasant-which is tied in with the Town fire alarm system in such a way
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that when any station in the school building is pulled, not only will the school fire-bell sound, thus emptying the school, but the Town alarm will be rung as well, thus giving immediate and automatic notice to the Fire De- partment that a school building is on fire. This system, it seems to the Committee, is most desirable. Its in- stallation will eliminate the necessity of telephoning the Fire Headquarters with possible delay and confusion; it will provide at once at the school trained firemen, who may be needed to handle the situation which may develop.
The Committee also recommends the installation of automatic sprinklers in the basement of the Morton School. Reference has been made above to the hazard at this school. The new water pipe, also spoken of above, was installed of a size sufficient to take care of this sprinkling equipment.
For these two principal items, and for general fire protection work, the Committee has included in the budget the amount of $5,000.
Expenditures for 1925 and budget recommendations for 1926 are reported herewith.
FREDERICK D. BARTLETT
FANNIE T. ROWELL
ELLIS W. BREWSTER
EDWARD R. BELCHER
BURT H. COREY
A. PERRY RICHARDS
School Committee.
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Financial Report
RECEIPTS
Appropriation March $233,310 00
Income from Trust Funds
20 34
$233,330 34
PAYMENTS
General Expenses
$7,073 77
Teachers' Salaries
147,263 80
Text Books and Supplies
9,870 37
Transportation
13,353 30
Janitor Service
10,923 87
Fuel
9,869 84
Repairs
17,057 57
Equipment
2,759 03
New Grounds and Buildings
136 00
Medical Inspection
6,128 80
Tuition
1,522 27
Miscellaneous
2,486 04
228,444 66
Unexpended Balance
$4,885 68
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT BUDGET FOR 1926
General Expenses-
Superintendent
$3,700 00
Secretary
1,400 00
Attendance Officer
300 00
Printing, Postage, etc.
450 00
Telephone
100 00
Traveling Expense
400 00
Automobile Expense
500 00
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Freight and Express School Census All Other
250 00
200 00
700 00
$8,000 00
Expenses of Instruction- Teachers' Salaries :
Day
$149,000 00
Substitutes
1,000 00
Evening
900 00
Americanization
1,700 00
Summer
450 00
153,050 00
Text Books and Supplies-
Text and Reference Books
$5,000 00
Stationery
3,000 00
Manual Training Supplies
400 00
Domestic Science Supplies
1,000 00
Typewriters
600 00
Diplomas and Graduation
150 00
10,150 00
Expenses of Operating School Plants -- Janitor Services :
Day and Evening
11,500 00
Fuel :
Coal and Wood
$12,000 00
Gas and Electricity
1,000 00
13,000 00
Maintenance-
Salary of Supervisor of Build- ings $2,600 00
General Repairs
10,000 00
Flags and Flagstaffs 200 00
Janitors' Supplies
1,000 00
-
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Telephones
300 00
Removal of Ashes All Other
500 00
2,400 00
17,000 00
Auxiliary Agencies- Health :
Physician
$1,500 00
School Nurse
1,600 00
Dental Hygienist
1,500 00
Supplies and Expenses
250 00
Dental Clinic Supplies
700 00
Automobile (Nurse)
400 00
All Other
700 00
6,650 00
Transportation :
Automobiles
$10,000 00
Car Fares
4,000 00
14,000 00
Tuition,
$1,500 00
Transportation,
400 00
1,900 00
Outlays-
Furniture and Furnishings
$1,500 00
Lights at Cornish and Burton Schools 1,500 00
3,000 00
Fire Protection
5,000 00
Total,
$243,250 00
1
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Superintendent's Report
To the Plymouth School Committee :
Following is my fourth annual report as Superintend- ent of the Plymouth School System:
There are indications that the people of Plymouth are coming into a fuller appreciation of the Town's resources for betterment of the life of the community. The great- est of these, the one without which all others are use- less, is the never-ending line of children entering the school system.
This human resource calls for the most careful con- servation of physical, mental and moral health, wisdom in its development and assistance in finding its place in responsible citizenship.
The most important step towards the solution of any problem is to understand it clearly. The educational de- velopment of boys and girls, unlike most problems, is one . which includes some factors which cannot be settled permanently.
Changing conditions in our community life make nec- essary constantly changing materials and methods in public school education. The problem is to know what the children of Plymouth need and give it to them, so far as that is possible.
That which is taught and the ways in which it is taught are the results of centuries of experience. Until recently it was assumed that all children need the same instruction and that it must be given them in the same way because of the large numbers in the schools. This is not unlike standardized production in manufacturing plants. This principle applied to a public school system requires the grouping of large numbers of children within
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fixed grade limits studying uniform books, instructed according to a detailed course of study on a rigid time schedule and promoted by fixed examinations. Followed consistently it brings results similar to those of indus- trial plants, - uniform production with minimum cost of operation and facility in administration.
This principle can be justified in public school educa- tion only if we assume that all children are alike and have the same needs. But it has been recognized for a good many years that children differ in ability to progress through the grades. Yet conformity to a standard set for the majority in the grade has been the rule. The slow have frequently remained another year in the same grade; those capable of moving more rapidly have been held down to the rate of progress of the larger group.
Because of this condition, more attention has been given to adapting school work to individual differences of pupils in recent years than to any other movement in school education. In Plymouth the Individual School and Fresh Air School are operating successfully on a basis of individual and group instruction. In some of our schools work is given out in minimum and maxi- mum assignments. Some pupils are able to accomplish only the minimum while others complete all that is given . them. In the schools where there are two or more rooms of the same grade a plan of homogenous grouping has made it possible for pupils of similar ability to work to- gether. Our two regular substitute teachers, when not engaged in substitute work have coached backward chil- dren and materially reduced the per cent. of retarded pupils in some of the schools. The work of the Junior High School is based upon recognition of individual dif- ferences. The ideal is to guide each boy or girl "into that future course of study and life-work for which he is by nature and temperament best fitted." Pupils who have chosen a course unwisely are allowed to test them- selves out in a different course after a trial of two or three months. Throughout the school system each pupil
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is recognized as an individual different from any other, and an attempt is made to keep him from being hindered in development by conformity to any rigid organization.
Plymouth schools recognize the fact that all boys and girls must acquire certain tools of learning such as read- ing, writing and arithmetic and a high degree of skill in using them. Of greater value is the attempt to de- velop right attitudes and habits to function now and to discover the line of possible success for each to follow. Dislike for hard work is a criticism often made concern- ing children and youth. Those responsible for boys and girls know that they will work hard for those things which hold their deepest interest. Under skillful direc- tion of their teachers pupils are forming habits of health- ful living and right attitudes towards life which have their influence now and will continue when occupation or profession has taken the place of school work.
HOME -SCHOOL -COMMUNITY
A well enlightened public will maintain the schools and other educational agencies at the highest possible efficiency in the work of preparing boys and girls for right living and getting them to live as able citizens in Plymouth or wherever they may be.
During "American Education Week," November 16 to 22, a united effort was made to inform parents and gen- eral public with regard to achievements and needs of ed- ucation in Plymouth.
Posters prepared by pupils in the Junior and Senior High Schools were displayed by merchants in their store windows and carried by street cars. "The Old Colony Memorial" made a feature of the program. The Old Colony Theatre put on the screen each afternoon and evening one or more full reels of pictures dealing with educational subjects provided by the School Department. Pupils carried home letters inviting their parents to
$
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visit their schools. Teachers welcomed all who came and showed the regular routine work of the schools rather than specially prepared programs for entertainment.
The most prominent feature of the week was an even- ing session at the High School. The school day complete was moved forward and ran from four to nine o'clock. The response from the public was such that corridors and rooms were crowded. Many parents, employed dur- ing the day, saw and heard their children recite for the first time according to the daily program.
On Sunday, November 22, in the several churches the attention of the people was called particularly to the value of education in the church, in the school and in the home.
Observance of "Education Week" represented a co- operative undertaking which had a wholesome influence for the welfare of the Town.
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE OF PLYMOUTH TEACHERS
"As is the teacher so is the school" is a true maxim. The community which employs and retains first-class teachers maintains the best schools. Good buildings, books and equipment, facilities for transportation, care- ful school organization,-all are incidental to instruction. The inter-play of teachers' and pupils' minds in the shaping of character and laying the foundation of good citizenship is that for which all else exists in the school system.
Successful teaching depends upon the natural charac- teristics and acquired abilities of the teacher. Some are born with adaptation for teaching. None can meet the requirements in a modern school without professional preparation. An incompetent teacher is an extrava- gance at any salary. In filling vacancies the aim is al-
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