USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1917 > Part 4
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JOSEPH B. PECK, Chairman
CLARENCE A. TERRY, Secretary DR. ANDREW N. BRUCKSHAW, DR. LESTER W. HORNE,
Medical Advisers.
REPORT
OF THE
FIRE ENGINEERS
90
January 14, 1918.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :-
Gentlemen :-
The Board of Fire Engineers herewith present their an- nual report for the year ending December 31, 1917.
During the past year, the department has answered 32 still alarms and 13 bell alarms.
Owing to the exceptional increase in the cost of main- tenance, material, labor, etc., the appropriation made at the last Annual Town Meeting has been considerably overrun. At this same time, $1,000.00 was appropriated for the pur- chase of an automobile chassis, for the No. 2 Engine House, located on Oxford Street. The machine was secured for the above amount and is now in commission and in perfect con- dition.
Recommended that the Town appropriate this year $5,000 for the maintenance of the Fire Department, $1,000 for the purchase of new fire hose, also $7,500 for the pur- chase of a motor pumping engine which we deem an absolute necessity for the efficiency of the Fire Department.
Respectfully submitted,
Board of Fire Engineers, CHAS. E. WESTGATE, JESSE S. GIFFORD, ALEXANDER PRICE, Jr., Clerk.
REPORT
OF THE
Inspector of Animals
92
Selectmen of Fairhaven, Mass .:
Dear Sirs :-
I hereby submit my report as Inspector of Animals for the Town of Fairhaven.
During the past year I have inspected 1,037 animals, of which 587 were dairy cows, 199 young cattle, 20 bulls, 6 oxen, 221 swine, and 4 goats. Only one case of tubercu- losis was reported to the Bureau of Animal Industry. The animal was slaughtered, and the premises properly disin- fected. The owner was paid by the state for the loss. Sev- eral other cases of tuberculosis were suspected, however, and I advised the owners to have the animals slaughtered. In each case post-mortem examination proved that the dis- ease was present, and the premises were cleansed and dis- infected.
In August an epidemic of cholera broke out among hogs, during which the disease was found on the premises of ten hog owners. All animals found diseased were slaughtered, and all suspected cases isolated. The premises were disin- fected and properly cleaned up, subsequent visits being made to see that this had been thoroughly done.
At the time of the general inspection many improve- ments with regard to ventilation, light, white washing, drain- age, and general cleaning up of stables, were recommended and these have been carried out in every case where it was possible for the owner to do so.
I was unable to make a report last January, as the books for the general inspection were not sent until February in- stead of October as in previous years.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM H. SCHROEDER, Inspector of Animals, Fairhaven, Mass.
SCHOOL REPORT
1917
FAIRHAVEN, MASSACHUSETTS.
2
In School Committee, Jan. 11, 1918.
Voted :- That the Report of the Superintendent of Schools be accepted and printed as the Report of the School Com- mittee.
Voted :- That the Committee ask for an appropriation of $24,000 for the ensuing year.
THOMAS A. TRIPP, LEWIS E. BENTLEY, ALTON B. PAULL, LYMAN C. BAULDRY, DANIEL W. KENDRICK, DANIEL W. DEANE.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
THOMAS A. TRIPP,
Term expires 1918
LEWIS E. BENTLEY,
Term expires 1918
LYMAN C. BAULDRY,
Term expires 1919
ALTON B. PAULL,
Term expires 1919
DANIEL W. KENDRICK,
Term expires 1920
DANIEL W. DEANE,
Term expires 1920
Chairman, THOMAS A. TRIPP.
Secretary and Superintendent, CHARLES F. PRIOR.
Superintendent's Office Hours :
Town Hall :- 8.15-9.00 A. M .- Monday, Wednesday, Friday. 4.00-5.00 P. M .- Every school day unless absent on spe- cial business. 7.00-8.00 P. M .- Wednesday.
High School :- 9.30-10.00 A. M .- Monday.
Regularly out of town :- In Mattapoisett a part of Tuesday. In Acushnet a part of Thursday.
Telephone call at Town Hall, Fairhaven, 3891.
Telephone call at residence, 37 Laurel Street, 3499-W.
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SCHOOL CALENDAR.
Wednesday, Jan. 2, Thursday, Feb. 21 Schools close Monday, March 4, Friday, April 19, Friday, April 26, Schools close Monday, May 6, Thursday, May 30, Friday, June 28, Tuesday, Sept. 3, Wednesday, Nov. 27, Schools close (noon)
Patriots' Day
Memorial Day Schools close
Schools re-open Midwinter vacation Schools re-open Legal holiday Spring vacation Schools re-open Legal holiday Summer vacation Schools re-open Thanksgiving recess
Monday, Dec. 2, Friday, Dec. 20, Monday, Dec. 29, 1918,
Schools close
Schools re-open Christmas vacation Schools re-open
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No School Signals.
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remember- ing the significance of the no school signals, the following is submitted for reference :-
The signal at 8.00 a. m. indicates no school for grades one to three, inclusive.
The signal at 8.15 indicates no school for all grades.
The signal at 12.30 noon, indicates no school for grades one to three, inclusive.
The signal at 12.45 noon, indicates no school for all grades.
Note.
Schools are often in session when weather conditions make it unfit for some children to attend, in which case parents must make their own decisions. At such times the schools are available for those pupils who wish to attend.
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REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven, Mass.
Gentlemen :- Herewith is submitted my sixth annual report, the twenty-first in the series of superintendent's re- ports since the formation of the union with Mattapoisett and Acushnet.
The Outlook published recently an interview with the principal of one of the New York city public schools, in which was a statement worthy of consideration in connection with a school report. Said the principal,-"This war is for children .- We are ready to sacrifice life itself-lives and lives and lives-all for children. Could not we ourselves stand tyranny for a little while ? Could any regime be so hard for us that we could not live under it for the length of our own days? Would we not suffer oppression so we would not suffer death? Ah, it is for the children that our men have gone out to fight for our country-and for the world. We must defeat Germany for the sake of our chil- dren. This war must be fought to a finish for the liberty of our children and of the children all over the world."
The statement is profoundly true. America has entered the war not primarily for benefits that will accrue to men and women of today, but that their children and those after them may live in the era of permanent peace, under a dem- ocratic form of government, secure from the evils of mili- tarism. Realization of this truth will lead to increased consideration of the problem of maintaining the schools on a high level of efficiency, even during these difficult war times. It is obvious that if sacrifices are being made for the future opportunities of children, children must be prepared for these opportunities. The public schools have always been supported to train boys and girls for the duties of citizenship. These years of war are furnishing one test of
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the value of the training received. The years of peace, when they come, will furnish a more critical test than has any time of the past. In every department of activity there will be need of better trained minds than ever before. There will be a world to be rebuilt, thousands of trained men, the flower of our youth, to be replaced, leaders to be educated, if the United States is to have the leadership in the world's affairs which its interests and importance demand. The patriotic far-seeing citizen will be more interested in the schools this year than ever before.
Finances.
In the following table the total expenditures of the year for grade schools, including all from various funds, are classified according to the State system of accounting.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT OF FAIRHAVEN SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
For the Fiscal Year, January 1, 1917 to January 1, 1918.
General
Superintendent $ 1,733.28
Control
Clerk
154.56
Attendance Officers
56.75
School Sensus
60.00
Miscellaneous
166.46
$2,171.05
Expense of
Teachers' Salaries
$16,637.81
Instruction
Text Books.
483.93
Supplies
835.96
Expressage
20.86
$17,978.56
Operation of
Janitors' Salaries $ 1,930.00
School plant
Fuel
1,712.99
Light, Water, Janitors' Supplies
434.68
$4,077.67
Maintenance
Repairs
$ 677.70
New Equipment .
214.98
Telephone
21.22
Care of grounds.
29.75
$943.65
Auxiliary
Transportation
1,828.75
Expenses
Medical Inspection
150.00
Miscellaneous
Expenses
Printing, Record Forms .. Disinfectants, Floor Oil. . Cartage, etc. $ 183.05
$1,978.75
$183.05
Total Expenditures for Grade Schools, 1917
$27,331.73
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CREDITS.
Balances from 1916
$ 886.31
Appropriation, 1917
21,000.00
Rogers Fund, 1917
4,416.64
Edmund C. Anthony Fund, 1917
404.00
Pease Fund, 1917
305.34
County Dog Fund, 1917
676.92
Rebate in City Coal Co. Bill
2.75
Total Available $27.691.96
Total Expenditures
27,331.73
Balance, 1917
$ 360.23
Expenditures have increased $1,532.46 over last year. An analysis shows this increase is found mainly in the cost of three items, viz .- teaching, fuel, and books and supplies. Teaching cost more by $580.60, books and supplies by $484.43 and fuel by $395.32, the three items totalling $1,460.35. Teaching cost more because of the new room opened at Ox- ford in September, and the raise in teachers' salaries made effective in November. The other items cost more because of the advance in purchasing prices.
In estimating the cost of schools for next year the fol- lowing facts must be taken into consideration :
1-Two additional teachers will be employed in the new building. They will cost at least $1,200.
2-The increase of the minimum and maximum salaries of teachers to $550 and $650 respectively will cost at least $750 annually. This estimate is based on the assumption that" 25% of the corps will be engaged at less than the maximum.
3-Fuel has cost only $395 more this year owing to the purchase of coal on contract until June, 1917. We have no contract this year. It is probable that with the additional coal needed for the new building coal will cost at least $500 more next year.
4-Janitors' salaries will cost more by $360, including the increase for the new building.
5-The cost of labor and materials will increase cost of necessary repairs and other items at least $200.
The total increase called for by the above items is $3,010. It will be absolutely impossible to maintain the schools on
9
their present level of efficiency without an appropriation of $24,000.
ATTENDANCE.
The usual membership table follows:
Membership Table for School Year, September to June
Year.
Total Membership. Average Membership.
1912-13
1005
870
1913-14
1081
947
1914-15
1167
1014
1915-16
1282
1083
1916-17
1356
1160
Increase in 5 years, 351
290
The enrollment for September of the current year was 1221 as against 1195 last year, while in December the en- rollment was 1263 and the average membership, 1164, com- pared with 1275 and 1182 in 1916. Explanation of the fact that the school year began with an increased enrollment and now shows a decrease over the number at the same time last year is not hard to find. It is not due to decrease in school population hut to the large number of pupils who have left school to go to work. Last year in December there were 65 pupils over 14 years of age in the grades; this year there were 21. The high cost of living and the liberal wages offered children are responsible. The same condition obtains everywhere.
New Building.
Despite the slight decrease in enrollment, the new build- ing is much needed. Three of the four rooms will be occu- pied as soon as finished. Completion has been delayed by difficulties in securing labor and materials incident to the times. It is expected now that the building will be ready to use on or soon after March 1st.
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The town is indebted to Mr. H. H. Rogers for the gift of a building site. This assistance is especially appreciated at a time when building costs are almost prohibitive. A con- siderable sum of money will be needed to grade the lot. When this has been done the school will have a desirable site and that section of the town will be much improved. The location of the building is excellent because it will ac- commodate the increasing population of this part of the town and, at the same time, enable the convenient housing of any overflow of pupils from either Oxford or the Center.
The building is of the single-story type, a type growing in favor all over the country. Several have been erected in Massachusetts this year. Among its advantages may be mentioned (1) its absolute freedom from fire danger to the children, owing to each room having a direct exit to the yard, (2) the easy and effective supervision of the pupils at all times because cloak rooms, toilets, etc., are all on the same floor with schoolrooms, (3) an assembly hall into which each schoolroom opens, thereby enabling union opening ex- ercises, special day observances, exhibits, etc., to be held without inconvenience and loss of time in traversing stairs. A further advantage lies in the fact that rooms may be added more cheaply than to the conventional type. The present building is planned for an addition of three rooms. More might be added. It is certain, also, that a single-story build- ing with an assembly hall can be erected at lower cost than one of two or more stories. Modern schools have an as- sembly hali. Although architectural beauty is not claimed as an advantage of the single-story type, when the present building is completed and the grading finished according to plans, its appearance will be entirely creditable.
When completed two rooms will be used at once to re- lieve the congestion at the Washington Street School. The same conditions obtain there as for two years past. In two first and two second grades are more than fifty pupils per teacher. It is planned to form a first and a second grade, made up of pupils living at an accessible distance from the
11
new building. This will relieve the congestion at Washing- ton Street and enable a full daily session for the first grades of both buildings. Grades seven and eight, now at the old High, will also be housed in the new building.
Teachers.
The problem of securing strong teachers for our salaries, a difficult one in normal times, has been extremely serious this year. Eighteen changes have occurred since the last report. Sixteen of these were in the grades, one in the High school, and one in the manual training department. Only eleven of the twenty-four grade teachers were in the corps last year. Five rooms have each had three different teachers. To parents interested in the progress of their children, to citizens who appreciate the far-reaching importance of good schools, these facts speak for themselves ; to others comment upon them would be futile.
Salaries of teachers were advanced in November. The minimum salary is now $550; the maximum, $650. The in- crease was necessary in order to retain teachers and give them a living wage. Board now costs $8 to $8.50 per week. The purchasing power of money has so decreased that, with the increase in board, present salaries will really net less than the former ones. It needs to be understood that the situa- tion in respect to teachers is unusual. There are fewer good teachers available than ever before because so many have withdrawn froom the service to accept business positions vacated by young men who have been called to the colors, and because many of the brightest young women have abandoned a teaching career for more lucrative employment. Your superintendent has engaged 28 new teachers in his district since the last school report was issued. The worn statement, "Good teachers are scarce," has assumed new meaning to him. In so far as this general scarcity relates to Fairhaven, it is to be remembered that all the larger places and many of the smaller ones have increased salaries sev- eral times in the last two years. Fairhaven has had rather
12
more than its share of strong teachers in the past at less than standard prices. The reputation of the town, its public buildings and educational traditions, its value as a place from which to advance, have attracted strong beginners from the normal schools, promising young teachers from outside the state, and teachers with one or two years of ex- perience, who wished a strategic point from which to go to a first class position. This situation will doubtless continue in some degree, but the types of teachers mentioned can now, as a rule, secure our maximum without waiting for an in- termediate step. The conditions given, and others that might be mentioned, will make it practically impossible to retain strong teachers in Fairhaven at present salaries. Unless provision is made for greater expenditures, the near. future will certainly witness a deterioration in our schools. The increase already granted will help, if able to be con- tinued, but it is not enough. Our maximum is the minimum of New Bedford, while 75% of the grade teachers of that city receive $900. Living expenses in Fairhaven are not lower than in New Bedford. There ought to be such a margin in our appropriation that teachers who are refined, well-trained, skillful, who are deeply in earnest, who possess initiative, and who labor with undivided interest to give their utmost to the children, be retained in service, when possible, for a maximum of at least $750.
Fundamentally, the problem of good schools is that of retaining a strong teaching force. In providing the funds to do this a town will advance immeasurably its means of conserving childhood. Here is a chance for the most patriotic form of conservation. Says State Superintendent Joyner of North Carolina, "In this time of war it is of transcendent importance to take proper precautions against the starva- tion of the bodies of ourselves and of our allies by increas- ing the production of food and conserving food supplies, but let us not forget to take proper precautions also against the starvation of the minds and souls of our children by the preservation and conservation of the means of education.
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Let us not forget that the preservation and perpetuation of the freedom and the civilization we shall save by victory, that the rapid repair of the waste and wreck and ruin of war, that preparation for the new duties of the finer civiliza- tion that shall follow, demand the proper education of the present generation of children."
Among the changes in the teaching corps one deserves especial mention. In June Miss Sara B. Clarke, Principal of the Rogers School, retired from active duty. For nearly twenty years Miss Clarke rendered splendid service in this position. She brought to her work excellent scholarship, breadth of sympathy, intense earnestness and unfailing . cheerfulness. Only those who understand how great is the power of personal contact between a teacher and her pupils can realize the wonderful influence she exerted during this tim.
Miss Bessie C. Verder was elected by the Committee as the successor of Miss Clarke. In making this choice the Committee acted on first-hand knowledge of the qualifica- tions of the candidate. For ten years Miss Verder was a highly successful teacher in Fairhaven High School and as such won the high respect of parents and school officials. Her work as Principal has thus far justified in every way the hope and expectation of the Committee.
School Work.
While no formal changes have been made in the course of study during the year efforts have been made to improve the quality of the results secured.
At the Rogers and the Old High School a beginning has been made in the use of the Courtis Standard Practice Tests in arithmetic. These tests place before pupils from grades four to eight, inclusive, definite standards of accuracy and speed in the four fundamental operations. These are applied individually. When a pupil has reached the standard of his grade in a set of operations, he goes forward to the next,
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without relation to the work of the other members of his class. In this way the progress of each pupil is assured.
At the Oxford School the Ayres Spelling Tests have been given all grades from two to seven, inclusive. The re- sults were favorable to the standing of the school. In near- ly every grade the average was higher than the average of the eighty-four cities, upon the results in which the stand- ards are based. Considering the fact that 11% of the chil- dren of this school are foreign-born, and 55% have foreign- born parents, this record in English spelling is remarkably good.
In both the Oxford and Rogers Schools some splendid work has been done in the teaching of "thrift." This sub- ject, required by law to be taught, has assumed unusual im- portance in its relation to the war. In each of the schools two teachers were designated to outline a general plan to be used as a guide to the teaching in all the rooms of their building. In each case the teachers selected rendered valu- able service. Their outlines are worthy much wider use than in Fairhaven. One of them is, in fact, being used in certain classes of a nearby city.
Measuring scales for handwriting have been introduced in both the Rogers and Oxford Schools. These enable each pupil, with the sanction of his teacher, to measure and score the quality of his penmanship, by comparing it with stand- ard specimens, secured by testing and grading the hand- writing of thousands of pupils.
In the eighth grade at the Rogers School a course in Occupations is being given. Quoting from the report of the Principal : "This course is intended to awaken the pupil's interest in the community life, to lead him to have a health- ful respect for every honest occupation, and to induce him to consider at an early age what his part in the world's work shall be, thereby enabling him to take advantage of any vocational guidance that may be available during the remainder of his school course. The broadening of the vocational horizon leading to a preference for some partic-
15
ular occupation will tend, of necessity, to a thoughtful and wise selection of a high school course. Vocational guidance, as it is furthered by the study of Occupations, is nothing that can be settled once and for all in any school grade; for most pupils will have during the last four years of public school life more than one occupation under consideration. The child will of necessity be trying himself out. This, how- ever, does not lessen the value of an early choice. The fact that he has made such a choice will add zest to all school work. The result of all guidance given during school life ought to be a material reduction in the number of misfits in after years. Fewer pupils ought to say upon leaving school, "I do not know what I want to do."
High School.
The total enrollment thus far this year is 264 as against 258 last year. Of this number 200 are from Fairhaven, 40 from Mattapoisett, 16 from Acushnet, and eight from Roch- ester.
In general the work of the school has been pursued along the same lines as previously. One modification of the course of study has been made, viz : a re-arrangement of the courses in sewing and cooking so as to permit the lower classes to have a larger amount of sewing. The net result of the change is the offer of a maximum course of three years in sewing instead of two, as formerly.
The record of the school in its relation to the war is worthy of just pride. From the beginning an intensely patri- otic spirit has pervaded it, pupils and teachers alike desiring to be of service.
Worthy of first place in a statement of the patriotic efforts of the school is the fact that 88 former members are now hy enlistment or draft in the country's service. This is a splendid record considering the size of the school. The girls of the sewing class have designed and nearly completed a beautiful Service Flag to remind us of what these young men are doing.
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One direction of the service has been along the line of food conservation. In the spring Miss Strong attended the Institute, held in Brookline High School under the auspices of the State Board of Education, to give special instruction in canning and ways of preventing waste. These subjects were especially emphasized in her classes during the rest of the year, and the work was modified so that every girl in school had extra instruction in these topics before school closed. Soon after school closed Miss Strong gave two canning demonstrations open to the public. They were well attended. This fall the school assisted in the canvass to get signatures to the Food Administration Cards. In the lunch room food conservation is taught by example, the wheatless and meatless days being faithfully observed.
The two Liberty Bond campaigns have found the school responsive. During the first one the Senior Class of 1917, of its own initiative, gave up its class banquet and put the money thus saved. together with a sum intended to be used in purchasing a gift for the school, into two bonds. Some- time the proceeds of these will be used to purchase the gift. During the second campaign the pupils conducted a meeting in the Assembly Hall and raised enough money by subscrip- tion to purchase two more bonds, which were given the school. The Athletic Association used a treasury balance to buy two bonds. Fifty-seven pupils of the school own one or more bonds.
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