USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Town annual report of the officers of the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts for the year ending 1927 > Part 13
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5. A special opportunity class formed at the Junior High School.
This group is composed of many of the boys and girls who had not accomplished all of the regular sixth grade academic work, but are from fourteen to six- teen years of age. At the Junior High School they are receiving special instruction in the fundamentals of arithmetic, reading, writing, language and the social studies. Besides this they are spending two periods a day in special forms of hand work, in which they are showing excellent results. Some pupils, as they have showed ability have been advanced to regu- lar seventh grade classes.
6.
The Chiltonville Primary School Closed.
Owing to the special conditions that would have ex- isted at the Chiltonville School had it been opened in September, and after having discussed the situation with the parents, it was decided best to transport these children to the Mt. Pleasant and Cornish schools for the present year. These children undoubtedly receive better training in these schools than if they were in a single school consisting of six grades, under the direction of an inexperienced teacher, or even a teacher with some experience. After further trial of this change the parents will again be asked what they think is for the best interests of these children.
SCHOOL COSTS IN PLYMOUTH
There are 355 towns and cities in the state of Massa- chusetts. Among these Plymouth ranks as one of the towns that can afford to do more than the average town for its boys and girls because it is wealthier. If the valu- ation of the town be divided by the average membership of the schools, Plymouth ranks 75th in the state. That is 74 towns have a greater valuation per pupil and 280 towns have a lower valuation. Among the 78 towns of 5,000 or more inhabitants Plymouth ranks eleventh in
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valuation per pupil. In each case it ranks in the upper fifth of the group.
In the amount raised per $1,000 valuation from local taxation for support of the schools, Plymouth ranks 252nd in the state as a whole, that is 251 towns raise more and 103 raise less. In the 78 towns of 5,000 or more inhabitants, Plymouth ranks 63rd, that is, 62 towns raise more and 15 towns raise less per $1,000.
In the group of 78 towns and cities Plymouth ranks 12th in expenditure per pupil from all sources. In other words in 11 towns the cost per pupil is more and in 66 towns it is less. The item of cost which is larger than in any town of this group except Barnstable is that of trans- portation. Last year it amounted to $15,648. which is from $5,000 to $13,000 more than in any of the towns of this group except Weymouth, Middleborough, Dart- mouth, Montague, Walpole, Wareham, and Barnstable.
Naturally with its wide area Plymouth's cost of trans- portation would be higher than most of the towns.
The average cost per pupil in Plymouth was $96.73,. the average for the state was $94.15. Thus Plymouth spends a little more than the average.
It may also be interested to compare the budgets for- the year 1918 with the proposed budget for 1928.
BUDGET COMPARISONS
1918
1928
(Proposed)
Salaries :-
Teachers, Supt.
Health Dept.
Truant Officer
$84,480 00 $184,000 00
Building Supervisor Janitors
General office expense,
1,700 00
2,000 00%
Text Books and Supplies, Including graduation,
10,140 00
12,500 00
1
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Transportation,
3,000 0€
16,000 00
Fuel and Light,
12,000 00
15,000 00
Maintenance and Care,
5,200 00
13,000 00
Furniture,
350 00
2,500 00
Health Department,
(Other than Salaries),
500 00
2,000 00
Vocational Courses,
2,750 00
Support of Truants,
225 00
Tuition and Transportation to other towns,
310 00
2,000 00
Total,
$120,125 00* $249,000 00
Note: * Special appropriations amounting to $3,800 were added during the year or early in January to pay up bills. War time conditions made an accurate budget im- possible.
Total Increase,
$128,875 00
(1) Salaries,
$99,520 00
or
77.2%
General Office Expense,
830 00
or .7%
Text Bks. & Supplies,
2,360 00
or 1.8%
(2) Transportation,
13,000
or
10.0%
Fuel and Light,
3,000 00
or
2.3%
(3) Maintenance,
7,800 0.0
or
6.0%
Furniture & Fshgs.,
2,150 00
or
1.7%
Health Dept.,
1,500 00
or
1.2%
Tuition & Trans. to other towns,
1,690 00
or
1.3%
102.2%
Decrease :
Vocational Courses & Support of Truants,
2,975 00
or 2.3%
99.9%
. ..
.
School Report 2
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The largest item of increased cost is salaries.
In 1918 the maximum salary for a grade teacher was $700. and for a high school teacher was $1,200. Today the maximum for a grade teacher is $1,500, and for a college graduate in the junior high school $1,700, in the senior high $1,800, with the men teachers receiving some- what higher salaries. Our salary schedule is no more than average. The schools certainly could not keep up a high standard with any less efficient teachers.
The maximum salary paid to a janitor on full time is $1,500. a year. He is on duty frequently eleven and twelve hours a day during the winter and nearly full time during the summer months.
The second large item of increased cost is that of trans- portation. A part of this increase is due to consolidating some schools or grades. For example, all the 7th and 8th grade pupils are brought together at an expense of about $3,000 for trolley fares. This has meant a saving of several thousands in the way of an increased number of teachers and duplication of equipment. At least two rural schools have been closed and the pupils given the advantages of the better graded schools.
The following are the chief items of cost of transpor- tation.
(1) Transportation to the Cedarville School from a widely scattered area.
(2) Transportation to Manomet School from
(a) Ship Pond and the children in grades one and two from the vicinity of Raymond's Corner
(b) From Warren Avenue - Shore Road -to a distance of over three miles
(3) Transportation to the Junior High School
(a) From Long Pond
(b) From vicinity of Darby
(c) From the Knapp and Hedge school districts
(d) From Manomet
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(e) From Russell Mills
(f) From South Pond
(4) Transportation to Cornish & Mt. Pleasant Schools
(a) Grades V and VI from Russell Mills and Chil- tonville
(b) Chiltonville primary grades
(c) Two pupils from Ellisville by special arrange- ment
(d) From Darby
(5) Transportation to Bourne
(a) Junior and Senior High School pupils from Cedarville
(6) Transportation to Carver
(a) Children very near Carver line
(7) Smaller items
(a) One pupil from Gurnet Light to Duxbury
(b) One pupil to Fresh Air School from vicinity of Obery Road
The third main item of increase is maintenance.
During the war all items of cost were reduced as low as possible. As a result the buildings suffered. Many build- ings have been thoroughly renovated inside and out. In some cases extensive repairs have been necessary. Dur- ing the past year chemical toilets in two one-room schools have replaced the old filthy out-of-door toilets. It is better to spend enough money to keep the buildings in excellent shape than to let them deteriorate.
The other items comprise less than 7% of the budget and are beyond our control as far as cost is concerned.
Every teacher has tried to be as reasonable in the use of books and paper as possible, and every janitor in the use of coal. Careful check is being kept upon these items.
PROFESSIONAL SPIRIT OF TEACHERS
The professional interest of the teachers has been un- usually fine. Last spring over twenty of the Junior and
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Senior High School teachers enrolled in an extension course, given under the direction of Harvard and Boston University Extension Department. The title of the course was "Principles of Reorganization of Secondary Education." It has brought the teachers of these two schools into a close and sympathetic understanding of one another's problems and will pave the way for the re- organization of the work in these two schools.
In the Fall and Winter forty of the grade teachers have taken a course on "Methods of Elementary Education" under the same auspices. This course should give the teachers many new points of view.
Other teachers have taken work at the following schools during the summer :- Hyannis Normal School, Harvard Summer School, Boston University, Simmons College, Columbia, and at the American Institute of Nor- mal Methods. Others took a State Extension Course at. Plymouth.
CHANGES IN IEACHERS
There was an unusually large turn over of teachers during the year. Four teachers, including Mr. George Marsden, Principal of the High School, went to Milton, two retired after teaching over twenty years in Plym- outh and approximately forty years in all, seven stopped teaching because of home conditions, two went to Indi- anna, two returned to Florida, one went to New York, and four to other towns in Massachusetts.
After careful consideration and investigation of many candidates for the position as principal of the High School, Mr. Wayne M. Shipman, Principal of the Walpole High School, was elected. Mr. Shipman has had experi- ence as an instructor in some of the best private schools, also as a teacher at the Milton and Brookline High Schools, and later as an assistant principal at Haverhill High School. For four years he had been principal at Walpole. Mr. Shipman has recently obtained the degree
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of Master of Education from Harvard College, thus by experience and training he is well qualified to guide the reorganization of the high school work.
Of the other new teachers, all are graduates of normal schools or colleges, thirteen have had experience and eight have had none but were especially well prepared for their work and had a high scholastic standing.
SUPPLY OF TEACHERS
There are more normal school graduates in Massa- chusetts than there are calls for teachers. This, how- ever, does not mean that there is a surplus of excellent teachers. Many of these teachers stand in the lowest quarter of their class. Others may have had a good rec- ord but are not of a type whose personality and influence are of the best. Only a limited number of inexperienced teachers can be used without impairing the efficiency of the work. These teachers should not only stand high in their normal school or college, but give excellent promise of being better than an average teacher. There is still a scarcity of capable efficient teachers in whom the schools may feel not only that the class room work will be well done but that their influence both in school and in the community will be of the finest. The teacher must reflect in her community life the high ideals which the school strives to inculcate in its pupils.
TO THE PARENTS
The schools appreciated very much your attendance at the evening sessions of the schools held during Educa- tion Week in November. An approximate record was kept of the visits to the rooms. In some schools seventy- five per cent of the parents saw their children at work.
Parents are welcome at all times to visit the schools. Teachers, principals and the superintendent will appreci- ate suggestions given in the right spirit.
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CONCLUSION
I wish to thank the principals, supervisors and teach- ers for their unusually fine cooperative spirit and their faithful conscientious discharge of their many duties, the School Committee for their valuable suggestions and hearty support, the Board of Health for their cooper- ation, and the other town officials who have so freely given of their time and effort to help the school depart- ment. Such a splendid spirit on the part of every one is unusual and augurs well for the continued success of the Plymouth schools.
Respectfully submitted,
ANSON B. HANDY,
Superintendent of Schools.
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THE SUPERINTENDENT'S SPECIAL REPORT ON CONDITIONS IN THE JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS
For several years the conditions at the Senior High School have been very unsatisfactory due to a lack of proper school facilities. This condition has been fre- quently described in the annual reports of the former principals, superintendents and school committees. Each year the conditions have been more aggravated with the constantly increasing enrollment.
HIGH SCHOOL BUILT 1891
The original high school building was erected in 1891 to accommodate approximately 125 pupils. The enroll- ment increased to 235 pupils in 1913, when several rooms were added. The school increased at once to 312 (1915) and held about that number until shortly after the war.
In September 1921 the enrollment increased to 358 pu- pils. The principal in his annual report states "This large increase (314 to 358) brings to the surface a ser- ious condition - the inadequacy of the present building for accommodating the work of the school. All suitable space is being utilized for recitations and session rooms to the great inconvenience of both pupils and teachers."
CONDITIONS IN THE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
In September 1927 the enrollment had increased to 422, an increase of 64 since the conditions were critical. How has it been possible to accommodate this increase? Briefly, these are the expedients used :
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1. The boys' cloak room has been turned into a class- room. It is lighted by three small windows. At times a teacher has pupils in front of her and in chairs on two sides.
2. Shelves have been used for "home" desks, neces- sitating the pupils standing in chairs to reach their books.
3. A dark basement corridor opening into the boys' toilet, is used for a boys' coat room.
4. Over two hundred girls use one small cloak room.
5. The assembly hall, although poorly lighted, has been turned into a study room. Pupils sit at desks, around tables on the stage, and in assembly seats without any desk or table upon which to write. As an assembly hall it is impossible for all pupils to see the stage when curtains are used.
6. The biology and elementary science rooms have had no adequate facilities to permit pupils to do any individual experiments. The teacher, also, is seriously handicapped by a lack of suitable tables for demonstration.
7. Three rooms are so crowded with chairs or type- writers that it is almost impossible to pass down the aisles.
8. The principal has absolutely no privacy for talk- ing with parents or pupils.
9. There are no facilities for health work.
10. There is no gymnasium for the carrying out of the program of physical education.
11 There is no adequate ventilating system.
12. The lunch room is crowded into the basement and is exceedingly cramped.
The serious handicap of these conditions is more fully discussed in the report of Mr. Wayne M. Shipman, Prin- cipal of the Senior High School.
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CONDITIONS AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
The Junior High School was enlarged in 1917. It, however, is not provided with sufficient room for the needs of the present enrollment. It was built to accom- modate 400 pupils. In September, 1927, there were 475 enrolled. Daily four classes of boys go to the South Street School for Manual Training. One group of pupils uses for a home room the room used for sewing and for drawing, which means they have no place for their books. There is no assembly hall, as the state inspector of buildings will not permit the use of corridors for such purposes, as had been done in the past. There is no gym- nasium for the physical development of the boys and girls. Some classes have numbered 43, 44 and 45 pupils which are too many for one teacher to handle effectively. The lunch room facilities are poor. Practically every pu- pil has to stand and eat his lunch either in the corridor, the manual training room, or out-of-doors. These condi- tions are described more fully in the report of Miss Kath- arine A. O'Brien, Principal of the Junior High School.
NEED OF GYMNASIUM AND ASSEMBLY HALL
No modern school is being built without a gymnasium and an assembly hall, either combined or separate. The value of these is explained fully by the principals of these schools, and by the physical director, and need not be re-stated. Such towns as Middleboro, Rockland, Whit- man, Braintree, Duxbury and Sandwich in erecting new buildings within the past two years have provided for both a gymnasium and an assembly hall.
A STUDY OF SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS
In order to understand the changes in the school enroll- ment during the past few years the following data is sub- mitted relative to the enrollments of the grades, and of the junior and senior high schools.
.
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Enrollmnts in Grades IV-VI
Grade IV
Grade V
Grade VI
April 1, 1919,
235
267
280
April 1, 1920,
241
194
304
April 1, 1921,
268
234
268
April 1, 1922,
292
264
239
April 1, 1923,
333
271
251
April 1, 1924,
290
289
259
Dec. 31, 1924,
288
284
259
Dec. 31, 1925,
284
264
278
Dec. 31, 1926,
251
311
279
Nov. 1, 1927,
277
249
293
These figures indicate no decided dropping off during the past three years. Instead there is a fairly uniform condition.
JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Grade VII
Grade VIII
Grade IX
Total
April 1, 1919,
222
122
47
391
April 1, 1920,
199
159
51
409
April 1, 1921,
204
147
51
402
April 1, 1922,
203
160
37
400
April 1, 1923,
207
124
38
369
April 1, 1924,
202
140
30
372
Dec. 31, 1924,
222
160
31
411
Dec. 31, 1925,
222
189
. .
411
Dec. 31, 1926,
215
196
. .
411
Nov. 1, 1927,
256
219
. .
475
SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Ist yr.
2d yr.
3d yr.
4th yr. Post Grad.
Total
April 1, 1919,
110
90
67
53
0
306
April 1, 1920,
80
83
72
59
6
300
April 1, 1921,
108
74
74
58
0
314
April 1, 1922,
126
111
59
63
3
362
April 1, 1923,
135
115
86
54
8
398
April 1, 1924,
103
112
94
75
2
386
Dec. 31, 1924,
115
88
97
46
0
376
Dec. 31, 1925,
144
107
70
85
0
406
Dec. 31, 1926,
148
129
72
61
0
410
Nov. 1, 1927,
128
117
99
78
0
422
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TOTAL FOR UPPER SIX GRADES
April
April
April
April
April
April
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1924
1925
1926
1927
697
709
716
762
767
758
787
817
821
897
TOTAL FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENT
April
April
April
April
April
April
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
1919
1920
1921
1922
1923
1924
1924
1925
1926
1927
2254 2486 2591 2598 2666 2615 2575 2529 2531 2564
A study of the school enrollment from 1919 to 1927 show that the upper six grades have increased ap- proximately two hundred pupils since April, 1919, and that the total school enrollment has increased only 139. This means that there are less pupils in the first six grades. If some of the other years are compared it may be found that at times there were over 100 pupils more in the grades. This decrease is in part in the rural or one room schools, several of which have been closed and combined with others. There are also less pupils in the grades in the Cornish-Burton district as shown by the closing of one room, and in the Knapp district by the closing of one room. The closing of these rooms is only temporary, however.
The question may well be asked what effect this de- crease in the grades will have upon the future enroll- ments in the Junior and Senior High schools. When one thinks of a hundred pupils divided among six grades and among several schools he will readily see that the effect is negligible both in regard to saving in the cost of edu- cation and in the number affecting the Junior High School, Even fifteen, more or less, entering the Junior High school, when divided among seven divisions will not affect the classes materially.
Another question arises as to why are there more in the upper six grades with less in the lower grades. There are three reasons for this.
First-Pupils are staying in school longer. In Massa- chusetts during the past ten years the High School en-
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rollment has increased 57%, while the population has in- creased only 12%. In Plymouth the population increased 2% from 1915 to 1925, while the upper six grades have increased almost 30%.
Surrounding towns, such as Middleboro, Rockland, and Whitman show a similar trend.
Secondly-There are less opportunities for pupils under sixteen years of age to go to work. Many con- cerns do not care to employ those under 16, while others are seeking grammar or high school graduates and will consider no one not having these requirements.
Thirdly-Many of the over-age pupils are not being retained in the sixth grade, but are being advanced to form a special group at the Junior High School, where they receive a different type of training. Their chief in- terest is not in the intellectual studies but more frequent- ly in manual lines, such as cooking and sewing for the girls, and manual arts in several forms for the boys. They are being fitted to be useful and worthwhile citizens.
From birth records the following data is derived. The average number of births for the six year period 1914- 1920 was 289, while for the period 1921-1926 the average was 283, a very slight decrease. It may be safe to infer that there will be a steady enrollment in the grades and in the Junior High School. The number in the Junior High School should be from 450 to 475 yearly.
The number in the Senior High School should increase as a result of the increased number entering the fresh- man year. With a broader and more attractive course for those not intellectually but mechanically inclined, to- gether with general improved school facilities, the num- ber in the four year senior school should approximate 500 pupils within two years.
Considering the larger numbers in the first three years at the High School and a prospective larger entering class, the High School enrollment in September, 1928, will be approximately 50 pupils more. Undoubtedly this
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will mean the High School pupils will have to be put on part time.
SOLUTION RECOMMENDED
Since Professor Davis made his report his suggestions as well as other suggestions for solutions have been care- fully studied. Two phases of the situation were consid- ered especially, first the relative costs and second, the educational advantages.
Considering these factors, the following plan is recom- mended :
Erect a building between the Junior and Senior High schools to meet the needs of the two schools.
This building would be connected by a corridor to the present Junior High school, and would be located where the tennis court, the portable building used by the build- ing supervisor, and the Lincoln Street School are now. The lot adjacent to the rear of the playground and facing Union Street can be purchased at a reasonable cost and the Lincoln Street School moved. The new building would not interfere with the present playground. It would face Lincoln Street and be readily accessible to the Senior High.
This new building would contain additional class- rooms, rooms for domestic science and manual training which would be used by both schools, as well as a gym- nasium, an assembly hall and a lunch room.
The class rooms would be used to relieve the congestion in the Junior High School, and would also accommodate the freshman class from the Senior High School.
Some of the rooms at the Senior High School would be reorganized for science laboratories and commercial work. More adequate cloak room facilities would be provided.
A central heating plant should be erected between the Junior High School and the new building, which will heat all three buildings. This ought to reduce the cost of
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heating of schools and greatly reduce the fire hazard, es- pecially in the Senior High School, which is an old build- ing heated by eight furnaces.
There should be a complete renovation of the ventilat- ing system of the old High School.
The total cost of the new building fully equipped to- gether with the central heating plant, improved ventila- tion at the Senior High School, and minor changes in some class rooms, should cost not over $325,000. It is hoped to keep it under $300,000.
ADVANTAGES OF PLAN
I The annual operating expense would be less for a combined Junior and Senior High School.
.1 The cost of the administration would be less.
2. Less janitor service.
3. Less special teachers.
4. Less classroom teachers because of a more eco- nomical distribution of pupils.
II The educational advantages of a combined Junior and Senior High School may be briefly stated as follows :
1. A very close correlation of the work throughout all six grades. Heads of departments, or com- mittees of teachers, representing all grades in each subject will coordinate the work.
2. A broader program of studies may be offered. For example, if there were two Junior High Schools, in one school there might be a group of only ten pupils and the same in the other. If these two groups were combined it would make a class of twenty. In the one case the cost could not be justified, in the latter case it could.
3. A closer grouping of pupils according to ability and interest can be secured in a school of 600 pupils than in two schools of half the size, a decided advantage to both the bright pupil and slow pupil.
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4. All Junior High pupils have exactly the same training and are prepared for Senior High School in the same way. In two different schools the two principals will have two different view- points and there would be some lack of uniform- ity.
5. All pupils would work together for the good of the one school. Sectional differences will be ob- literated much more readily.
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