USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1922 > Part 4
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Signed,
CLARENCE A. TERRY, L. W. HORNE, W. FRED DELANO.
88
REPORT OF THE INSPECTOR OF ANIMALS.
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen :
The Inspector of Animals hereby submits his annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1922.
During the general inspection for the year, 105 prem- ises were visited, and 1048 animals inspected, of which 729 were dairy cows, 193 young cattle, 18 bulls, and 108 swine.
The average conditions of the stables visited were an improvement from last year. Seventeen I found to be poorly ventilated, 15 improperly drained, 8 with insuffi- cient light, 2 with insufficient space, and 5 unclean.
Two cows were found affected with tuberculosis and quarantined, subsequent visits being made to the herds ex- posed, and the regular precautions taken to see that none of them contracted the disease.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM H. SCHROEDER,
Inspector of Animals.
AUDITORS' REPORT.
Fairhaven, Mass., January 1, 1923.
We hereby certify that we have examined the accounts of the Tax Collector, Treasurer, Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and the School Committee of the Town of Fairhaven, for the year ending December 31, 1922, and find them correct.
CHARLES E. SHURTLEFF, RALPH E. LUMBARD,
Auditors.
SCHOOL REPORT
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2
In the School Committee, January 12, 1923.
Voted :- That the Report of the Superintendent of Schools be accepted and printed as the Report of the School Committee.
Voted :- That the Committee ask an appropriation of $76,000 for the elementary schools for the ensuing year.
Voted :- That the Committee ask an appropriation of $17,800 for the High School for the ensuing year.
ALTON B. PAULL, DANIEL W. DEANE, EDWARD L. BESSE, DR. CHARLES E. P. THOMPSON, MISS SARA B. CLARKE, MRS. MARY A. BAKER,
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
ALTON B. PAULL, DR. CHARLES E. P. THOMPSON,
MISS SARA B. CLARKE,
Term expires 1924
MRS. MARY A. BAKER,
Term expires 1924
DANIEL W. DEANE,
Term expires 1923
EDWARD L. BESSE,
Term expires 1923
Chairman, ALTON B. PAULL.
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 special business. 7:00-10:00 P. M .- Wednesday.
High School :-
9:30-10:00 A. M .- Monday.
Regularly out of town :-
In Mattapoisett and Marion all day Tuesday.
In Acushnet a part of Thursday.
The Superintendent's Office is open with a clerk in charge daily from 9-12 and 1:30-5, except Saturdays, when it is open only in the forenoon.
Telephone call at Town Hall, Fairhaven, 3891.
Telephone call at residence, 30 Green Street, 6714-W.
Term expires 1925
Term expires 1925
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SCHOOL CALENDAR.
1923.
Tuesday, Jan. 2 Thursday, Feb. 22, (Holiday)
Friday, Feb. 23 Monday, March 5 Thursday, April 19, (Holiday)
Friday, April 27
Monday, May 7
Wednesday, May 30, (Holiday) Friday, June 29 Tuesday, Sept. 4 Friday, Oct. 12 (Holiday)
Wednesday Noon, Nov. 28
Monday, Dec. 3 Friday, Dec. 21
1924. Wednesday, Jan. 2
Schools re-open Washington's Birthday Schools close Schools re-open Patriot's Day Schools close
Schools re-open Memorial Day Schools close Schools re-open Columbus Day Thanksgiving recess Schools re-open Schools close
Schools re-open
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NO SCHOOL SIGNAL, 22.
For the benefit of those who have difficulty in remem- bering the significance of the no-school signal, the following is submitted for reference :-
The signal at 8:00 A. M. indicates no forenoon session for the three lowest grades.
The signal at 8:15 A. M. indicates no forenoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The signal at 12:30 noon, indicates no afternoon session for the first three grades.
The signal at 12:45 noon, indicates no afternoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
The no-school signals do not apply to the High school.
Schools are often in session when weather conditions make it unsuitable for some of the children to attend, in which case parents must make their own decisions.
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
To the School Committee of Fairhaven :
Herewith is submitted the tenth annual report of the present Superintendent of Schools.
Finances.
The financial statements of the Elementary and High schools follow :
RECEIPTS.
(Elementary Schools)
For the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 1922.
Balance from 1921. $ 226.08
Town appropriation, 1922. 65,000.00
State General School Fund. 9,379.28
County Dog Fund. 1,135.85
Pease Fund
377.90
Edmund Anthony, Jr., Fund.
500.00
H. H. Rogers Trust Fund.
4,246.76
Miscellaneous receipts
346.42
Total $81,212.29
EXPENDITURES.
General Control $ 3714.67
Superintendent's salary $ 2,285.64
Office clerk
584.00
Truant officer 211.50
School census 75.00
Office expenses
258.53
Salaries of School Committee, 1921
150.00
Salaries of School Committee, 1922
150.00
Instruction $56,048.62
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Teachers' salaries
$52,140.88
Text books
1,907.31
Supplies
2,000.43
Operation and Maintenance. $12,417.64
Janitors' salaries $ 4,377.50
Fuel
3,394.38
Building supplies
2,261.57
Repairs
1,497.71
New equipment
316.28
Insurance
570.20
Other Agencies $ 5,501.00
Transportation
$ 5,276.00
Health
75.00
Tuition (pupil in sight saving class)
150.00
Miscellaneous
$ 299.54
Total expenditure $77,981.47
Balance
3,230.82
$81,212.29
The financial statement of the High school follows:
RECEIPTS.
Balance on hand.
$ 406.83
Farmers' Loan and Trust Co. 24,411.00
Appropriation
10,000.00
Tuition, Town of Acushnet 2,227.50
Tuition, Town of Rochester
465.00
Tuition, Town of Mattapoisett
3,396.25
Receipts of Lunch Department.
1,000.00
Incidentals
73.04
$41,979.62
EXPENDITURES.
Instruction . $28,337.98
Teachers' salaries $25,206.24
Text books
847.52
Supplies
2,284.22
·
8
Operation and Maintenance
$11,643.82
Janitors' salaries
$ 5,160.82
Fuel
1,571.97
Building supplies
2,178.23
Repairs
1,043.41
New equipment
1,050.39
Insurance
639.00
Other Agencies
$ 164.00
Health
$ 164.00
Miscellaneous
$
544.54
Total Expenditure $40,690.34
Balance
1,289.28
$41,979.62
Estimates for 1923.
The elementary school pay roll for 1922 has carried three additional teachers since October. The 1923 budget must provide for these for a full year and also for a new teacher, beginning next September. More must be expended for fuel and janitor service because of the increase in size of the Washington Street school. The school appropriation must pay for insurance and salaries of the School Committee, both of which were formerly charged to other accounts. Par- ing very closely, it will require $4,168 more to maintain the schools in 1923. This increase will be solely because of more children to educate. It will provide for absolutely no increase in the rate of expenditure in any direction.
Estimated expenditure for 1923. .$82,150.00
Expenditures for 1922. $77,981.47
Increase $ 4,168.53
The detailed estimates will be found later in this report.
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Method of Appropriation for 1923.
Under the new law flat instead of net appropriations must be asked for. The schools will receive as revenue only the appropriation and such funds as cannot legally be di- verted to other purposes. The General School Fund, tuition of high school pupils, balances on hand and miscellaneous receipts will no longer be credited automatically to the school department, hence an appropriation must be asked which will cover these sums. These sums will accrue to the town and revert to the general treasury where they will affect the tax rate precisely as if applied to school use. The appropri- ation for schools will, however, be apparently larger. In- stead of $65,000 it would have been last year approximately $75,000 as a glance at the following statement will show.
Receipts for schools in 1922. $81,212.29 Receipts from funds that must go to the schools. 6,260.51
Appropriation that would have been required. $74,951.78 Deduct receipts from sources that no longer will go auto- matically to schools 9,951.78
Actual appropriation of 1922. $65,000.00
.
Appropriation for Elementary Schools, 1923.
Amount required for elementary schools. . $82,150
Estimated receipts that must go to schools. 6,260
Actual appropriation required. . $75,890 ($76,000) Deduct receipts that will accrue to Town because of schools 9,950
Net appropriation from taxation 1923 $65,940 .($66,000)
Appropriation of 1922 65,000 ($65,000)
Net increase $ . 940
($1,000)
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Appropriation for High School, 1923.
Amount required for 1923.
$42,191
Estimated receipts that must go to schools 25,411
Actual appropriation required $17,780
($18,000)
Deduct receipts that will accrue to Town because of schools 7,780
Net appropriation from taxation, 1923. $10,000
Appropriation of 1922
10,000
Increase
None
Detailed Estimates, 1923. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
1923
1922
General Control (School Committee, Clerk, Cen-
sus, Truancy, Office Expenses)
$ 3,650
$ 3,714.67
Teachers' salaries
56,000
52,140.88
Text books
1,800
1,907.31
Supplies
2,000
2,000.43
Janitors' salaries
4,900
4,377.50
Fuel
3,600
3,394.38
Building supplies
2,000
2,261.57
Repairs
1,500
1,497.71
New equipment
400
316.28
Transportation
5,000
5,276.00
Health
200
75.00
Sundries
300
299.54
Tuition
150.00
Evening school
500
. . . . .
Insurance
300
570.20
$82,150
$77,981.47
HIGH SCHOOL.
1923
1922
Teachers' salaries
$26,706
$25,206.24
Text books
900
847.52
Supplies
2,300
2,284.22
Janitors' salaries
5,160
5,160.82
Fuel
1,800
1,571.97
Building supplies
2,200
2,178.23
Repairs
1,000
1,043.41
New equipment
1,000
1,050.39
Health
175
164.00
Miscellaneous
550
544.54
Insurance
400
639.00
$42,191
$40,690.34
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Comparison of Fairhaven Expenditures with Those of Other Towns.
The school appropriation will continue to increase as long as there is steady growth in number of children to be educated. That the School Department is far from extrav- agant the following figures show:
In the 113 towns of 5,000 population and over in Massachu- setts, the average per capita expenditure for elemen- tary schools for 1921-1922 was. $64.51
Expenditure per capita in elementary schools of Fairhaven, 1922 $59.08 Expenditure per capita for high school pupils in 113 towns .. $109.64 Expenditure per capita for high school pupils in Fairhaven .. $137.00 (This excess over average is due to the unusual cost of operating and maintaining the plant, not the expenditure for education.)
Expenditure per $1,000 of valuation from local taxation for school support in 113 towns .. $9.05
Expenditure from local taxation per $1,000 of valuation in Fairhaven in 1922 $7.20
COMPARATIVE TABLE FOR TEN TOWNS.
(Nearest in Size)
School Year Ending June, 1922.
Population.
General control.
Per capita pupil in average membership, high and elementary.
Expenditure for School Support per $1,000 of valuation.
Rockland
7544
$4,595.00
64.93
$12.69
Ludlow
7470
4,806.00
64.45
10.48
Reading
7439
2,667.00
82.30
11.40
Marblehead
7324
4,180.00
85.92
7.53
FAIRHAVI N
7291
3,413.00
66.94
6.10
Hudson
7607
4,005.14
68.83
10.05
Montague
7675
5,021.49
80.37
10.90
Stoneham
7873
4,150.56
71.15
9.90
Swampscott
8101
6,498.78
85.05
7.45
Andover
8268
4,760.48
87.08
6.75
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Attendance.
The enrollment for the school year ending June, 1922, was 1,864, the average membership 1,582, and average at- tendance 1,481. The per cent. of attendance was 93. The gain in average membership over 1921 was 59.
The actual membership in your schools on December 15th, 1922, was 1,732, a gain of 130 over the membership at the same time last year. This is more than a normal gain and, with an increase in the number of those attending the parochial schools, indicates the rapid growth of the town.
School Accommodations.
The problem of providing room for the rapidly increas- ing school population requires continual consideration. Formerly growth was chiefly in North Fairhaven, at present it is in all parts of the town.
North Fairhaven.
On December 15th there were 366 children in the eight rooms of the Oxford school, 96 of these were in the first grade, housed in the one room available and attending school a half session daily. At the opening of the winter term a fourth grade was transferred to the Anthony school for the purpose of enabling the first grade to be placed on full time. This would have been done earlier but the delay in complet- ing the Washington Street school made it necessary to use the two vacant rooms at the Anthony school to house pupils from the Center. £ One room only at the Anthony school re- mains vacant. It is the only unused room in North Fair- haven and unless a new building is erected there this year, must care for a year's growth in that section. It is a cer- tainty that without provision of additional rooms there will be congestion in some grades. It is easily possible that there
13
may be more children than the seating capacity of both the Anthony and Oxford schools. By 1924 a new building will be imperative while it may be necessary to purchase a port- able during the current year.
Center.
The remodeling of the Washington Street school fur- nished two new rooms with a seating capacity of sixty-six pu- pils. These are now occupied by two fourth grades trans- ferred from the Rogers school. There is not a vacant room left for increase of school population at the Center or in East Fairhaven. Many new houses are being constructed in these sections and plans must be made to care for children. Port- able schools may be thought of here as well as in North Fair- haven as a means of relief from immediate tax burden. These are, however, a make shift and ultimately expensive and un- satisfactory. They postpone but do not meet the necessity of permanent construction. The cost per room approxi- mates one-fourth that of permanent construction but they are not proportionately durable. They have the additional disadvantages of being difficult and expensive to heat, of hav- ing no connected toilet facilities unless installed at extra cost, and of not being entirely satisfactory in ventilation.
Recommendation.
Next September, 1923, it is a practical certainty that every elementary school room will be filled. It is highly probable that there will be serious congestion in several grades. It is easily possible that even if congestion is per- mitted seating space will be lacking. What then? At the Center, the two rooms in the Town Hall may be used for temporary relief. In North Fairhaven a portable may be purchased. These measures may bring us to 1924 when the Town, judging from present prospects, is likely to face the
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need of two new schools in the same year, one in North Fairhaven, the other in East Fairhaven. Is it best to side- step the problem and not build in East Fairhaven this year ? The personal judgment of the Superintendent is that it is not. He believes the interests of the children will be better guarded by keeping the building program abreast of the needs. There is, however, a possibility that full use of the seating capacity of the buildings, together with the Town hall rooms, may be sufficient to carry us through 1924 with one building only to construct. The possibility that our present rapid growth may not continue, the many other financial problems of the Town, and the high tax rate are among reasons for postponing construction of a building this year. I submit the matter to the consideration of the Com- mittee for its decision as to what shall be recommended to the Town.
Washington Street School.
In last year's report was stated the need of extensive repairs on the Washington Street school if it was to be con- tinued in use. These included installation of a new heating plant, overhauling the ventilating system, re-shingling, paint- ing and tinting rooms, and various other things. Consider- ation of the question of expending a considerable sum on the school raised at once the issue of abandoning it. There were good reasons for doing this. It was a wooden building with a heating plant inadequate and so placed that it might easily set fire to the building. The ventilating system, although it met State requirements for old buildings when the rooms were not crowded, was defective. An offensive odor from the toilets sometimes permeated the rooms. The two rooms on the first floor, formerly the vestry of the church, were so low studded and poorly lighted that children worked by elec- tric light most of the time. The means of egress and en- trance for children on the upper floor were narrow, winding
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stairs, dangerous to life in case of a panic. The playground was entirely inadequate. The building was tolerated by the State authorities but was distinctly a discredit to the progres- sive town of Fairhaven.
While some of the ills popularly attributed to it were fanciful, it was a real problem as to whether it was worth extensive repairing. To abandon it meant replacing six rooms at a cost of at least $60,000. Two new rooms were needed for the ensuing year. It was felt that the town was in no condition to build an eight-room building in 1922. The Selectmen visited the school and de- cided it was not wise merely to repair it. To do so would remedy none of the fundamental defects. A careful exami- nation showed the timbers of the building to be sound. An architect was consulted, plans were drawn and recommended to the Town and an appropriation was made to cover the estimated cost of extensive alterations that would modernize the building, and add two new rooms. While it is true that the cost of alterations exceeded the estimates by a consider- able sum, and the School Department has been badly handi- capped by the well-nigh inexcusable delay in completing the work, I believe, nothwithstanding, that the Town has made a profitable investment and the children will be benefited thereby.
The building has been raised three feet thus providing adequate window space for the rooms on the lower floor. A steam heating plant has been placed in an addition built for the purpose. Modern well lighted and ventilated toilets oc- cupy the upper floor of the addition. The removal of the furnaces and toilets from the main building left space for two new school rooms. A ventilating system which carries a maximum of heated fresh air to each room has been installed. The narrow winding stairs have been replaced by wide stairs with broad landings. Purchase of adjoining land enables an adequate playground. Electric lights have been placed in each room. The lower rooms, both old and new, have new maple floors, the building has been repainted, re-shingled and re-tinted. It will be serviceable for years,
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Estimated cost of six new rooms if the building had been abandoned $60,000 Estimated cost of two new rooms added by alterations (one of them small) $15,000
Total $75,000
Approximate cost of alterations $34,000
Teachers.
Fourteen grade teachers and four of the high school corps resigned during the summer. This is the usual propor- tion. One-third of your teachers are new every year. That isn't the worst of it,-many of these are new also to the work of teaching-they are beginners. However fine in quality-and we are fortunate as a rule in this respect-a beginner cannot do the work of a good teacher of experience. Modern schoolhouses and equipment, the best type of school organization, expert supervision, all of these are subordinate to the quality of teaching in the task of building up a strong school system. I think even Dr. Spaulding, of New Bed- ford survey fame, would admit this. It remains true, there- fore, that while one-third of the teachers leave us every year for better paying positions we shall be unable to reach the high standard of excellence the town desires but seems to feel it cannot afford. The salaries paid teachers in Fairhaven, as shown in many previous reports, are somewhat less than the average in towns of similar size throughout the State. To secure and retain the best teachers more than average sal- aries must be paid.
Suggestive Data.
It is said that the only portion of a school report gen- erally read is that dealing with expenditures and estimates. These are important of course and are always found in their proper places. It is, however, the business of school admin- istrators to keep other records also. There is in the office of every well ordered school department a cumulative record of the school life of each pupil. There are also on file facts
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EXHIBITION OF FINISHED WORK, WOODWORKING CLASSES OF HIGH SCHOOL, CHARLES H. JOHNSON, JR., AND JAMES PARKINSON, INSTRUCTORS.
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in regard to membership and attendance, promotion and re- tardation, persistence of attendance, and other matters. Ex- amination of these often suggests defects in organization and new directions of effort. These facts may infrequently be included in a school report but are at all times available for the consideration and use of the School Department or of any interested citizen. Such data has been kept on file in the Fairhaven office since 1912. A few examples used in connection with questions. they aid in answering are found below.
Are boys and girls of school age in schools?
Number of children in Fairhaven between the ages of 5 and 16 (census of July, 1922) . 1,948
Number of pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 in the public schools December 15th (pupils from Fair- haven only) 1,571
Number of pupils between the ages of 5 and 16 enrolled in parochial schools 436
Number of Fairhaven pupils between the ages of 14 and 16 in New Bedford Vocational school .. 6 Number of Fairhaven pupils between the ages of 14 and 16 in New Bedford Continuation schools. 84
Total .2097
The increase in school population since July is uncer- tain. Not all children five years of age are in school. Some families evade the attendance laws. Real accuracy demands a continual census and a full time truant officer. The figures indicate that the attendance laws are fairly well enforced, in- sofar as enrollment is considered.
Is attendance regular ?
The per cent. of attendance for each of the last five years is herewith given :
1918
1920
1921
1922
93.3%
1919 92.5%
91.4%
93.5%
93.0%
Does the distribution of children in the grades indicate that a large proportion of them are progressing regularly un- handicapped by the failure to be promoted ?
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A grade and age distribution table has been published in the report every year since 1912. This year's is to be found in its usual place. It indicates that 17.6% of the children are over age. The proportion is too large 'tho a decrease from the 30% of ten years ago. The causes of re- tardation are too many for detailed analysis here. Not all cases are due to failure to be promoted.
What percentage of children in the grades fail of pro- motion ?
In June, 1922, of the 1,306 children in the elementary schools at that time 154 or 11.8% were not promoted. The largest percent of the last ten years was 23.
In the high school 12% failed to be advanced to the next class. The percentage of failures in the High school has decreased greatly in recent years. This is particularly evident in the case of first year pupils.
Percentage of non-promotions in the first year;
1916-17. 43.5%
1917-18.
.51.3%
1918-19 61.1%
1919-20.
22.0%
1920-21. 15.1%
1921-22 25.0%
Are children reaching the high school too young in years and, therefore, immature ? This suggests another question, viz :-
Is immaturity the principal cause of failure ?
The results of an exhaustive study by the Principal of the failures occurring among first-year pupils since 1916 re-
19
veal the following significant facts in regard to the effect of age :
Percentage of Failure of First Year Pupils, 1916-1921.
Group 1. Under 13 years. 18 %
Group II. 13 years-13 years and 6 months. 22.1%
Group III. 13 years-6 months-14 years. 19.3%
Group IV. 14 years-14 years and 6 months. 27.0%
Group V. 14 years-6 months-15 years. 20.0%
What proportion of Fairhaven children complete the grades and enter the High school ?
Under ideal conditions with a stable school population the four classes in high school should constitute 33 1/3 % of the total school enrollment. These conditions never exist. Fifteen and six-tenths per cent. of your present enrollment are in the high school. The returns for 1922 show the high school enrollment throughout the State to be 16% of the to- tal. In 1912 nine per cent. of the enrollment in Fairhaven was in the high school.
Children of foreign born parents are often slow in learning to read and use English because they do not hear it at home. This is a frequent cause of retardation. It is true also that fewer children of foreign than of native born complete the work of the grades and enter High school. In judging the efficiency of a school system the relative number of different types of children must be considered. Results in schools made up largely of the children of foreign born parents cannot justly be compared in respect to retardation and persistence of attendance with those attended largely by the children of native born.
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