USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Fairhaven > Town annual report of the offices of Fairhaven, Massachusetts 1933 > Part 6
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The financial accounts of the town clerk were examined and checked. The receipts from dog licenses issued on behalf of the county and for sporting and trapping licenses, the proceeds of which are paid to the State, were checked with the records of licenses issued. The payments to the town, to the county, and to the Division of Fisheries and Game were verified,
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The records of the selectmen for licenses and permits granted, for town hall rentals, and for rentals and wharfage of Union Wharf were examined, the payments to the treasurer were verified by a comparison with the treasurer's books, and the outstanding accounts were listed.
The records and receipts of the building inspector, the sealer of weights and measures, and the health and fire departments were examined, and the payments to the treasurer were verified by a comparison with the treasurer's records.
In addition to the departments mentioned, the available records of all other departments receiving money for the town were checked, and the payments to the treasurer were verified.
The surety bonds filed by the town officials for the faithful performance of their duties were examined and found to be in proper form.
There are appended to this report, in addition to the balance sheet, tables showing reconciliations of the treasurer's and tax collector's cash, summaries of the tax, assessment, tax title, and departmental accounts, together with tables showing the condition of the various trust funds.
During the progress of the audit, co-operation was received from the various officials, for which, on behalf of my assistants and for myself, I wish to express appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
EDW. H. FENTON, Chief Accountant
SCHOOL REPORT
OF THE
TOWN OF FAIRHAVEN
MASSACHUSETTS
FAIRHA
O
N
NM
TO
ASS.
INCORPOR
TOWN HALL
22-1812.
TED
FEB
FOR THE
Year 1933
THE FAIRHAVEN STAR, INC.
School Committee
ORRIN B. CARPENTER JAMES A. STETSON
WILLIAM B. GARDNER
GEORGE F. BRALEY
MRS. ELLA H. BLOSSOM
MRS. ELIZABETH M. KNOWLES
Term expires in 1934 Term expires in 1934 Term expires in 1935 Term expires in 1935
Term expires in 1936 Term expires in 1936
Chairman WILLIAM B. GARDNER, 35 Union Street
Secretary and Superintendent of Schools CHARLES F. PRIOR, 30 Green Street
School Department Clerk BEATRICE DeCOFFE, 212 Main Street
SUPERINTENDENT'S OFFICE HOURS Town Hall
8:15-9:00 A. M .- Every school day. 4:00-5:00 P. M .- Every school day. Wednesday evenings, 7:00-8:00.
The Superintendent's office is open with a clerk in charge daily from 9:00-12:00 and 1:30-5:00, except Saturdays, when it is open only in the forenoon.
Telephone at Town Hall, Fairhaven-3891. Telephone at residence, 30 Green Street-6714-W.
School Calendar
1934
Tuesday, January 2
Schools re-open
Wednesday, February 21st
Schools close
Monday, March 5
Schools re-open
Thursday, April 19
Patriot's Day (Holiday)
Friday, April 27
Schools close
Monday, May 7
Schools re-open
Wednesday, May 30
June 29
Memorial Day (Holiday) Schools close
SUMMER VACATION
Monday, September 10
Schools re-open
Friday, October 12
Columbus Day (Holiday)
Wednesday, Noverber 28
Thanksgiving Recess
Monday, December 3
Schools re-open
Friday, December 21
Schools close (Christmas vacation)
1935
Wednesday, January 2
Schools re-open
The signal at 7:15 A. M. indicates no forenoon session for any of the eight grades of the elementary schools.
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,
Report of the School Committee
To the Citizens of Fairhaven:
Herewith is submitted the annual report of the School Com- mittee for the year ending December 31, 1933.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
(Elementary Schools)
RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation, 1933
$ 96,740.00
H. H. Rogers Trust Fund
4,607.79
Edmund Anthony Jr., Trust Fund
353.06
Pease Fund
266.83
County Dog Fund
1,213.36
Incidentals
10.76
$103,191.80
EXPENDITURES
General Control
$4,939.30
Superintendent's Salary
$3,750.00
Office Clerk
726.59
Attendance Officer
199.50
School Census
125.00
Miscellaneous
138.21
Instruction
$75,411.12
Teachers' Salaries
$70,951.95
Text Books "
1,990.90
Supplies
2,468.27
Operation and Maintenance
$14,199.40
Janitors' Salaries
$7,483.92
Fuel
2,656.83
Building Supplies
1,872.33
Repairs
1,930.80
New Equipment
255.52
5
Other Agencies $6,631.07
Transportation Health Tuition Insurance
$4,560.51
1,425.00
251.76
393.80
Miscellaneous
$209.63
Total
$101,390.52
Balance
1,801.28
$103,191.80
FINANCIAL STATEMENT (High School) RECEIPTS
Town Appropriation
$23,260.00
H. H. Rogers Trust Fund
26,070.55
$49,330.55
EXPENDITURES
Instruction
$37,316.01
Teachers' Salaries
$33,547.42
Text Books
1,930.80
Supplies
1,837.79
Operation and Maintenance
$9,718.31
Janitors' Salaries
$5,360.52
Fuel
1,753.60
Building Supplies
1,712.76
Repairs
482.09
New Equipment
409.34
Other Agencies
$397.50
Health
$397.50
Miscellaneous
$319.84
Total
$47,751.66
Balance
1,578.89
$49,330.55
6
REPAIRS
With a reduced appropriation, it has been necessary to curtail in repairs, particularly in the high school. Uncertainty as to how inuch would be received from the Endowment Fund made it desirable to carry a margin so that, in case of a two thousand dollar prospective loss in income, it would not be necessary to ask the town for an additional appropriation. The loss resolved itself finally into less than $300., but knowledge of this was too late to enable wise expenditure. That is why the sum of $1578. is being returned to the town from the high school appropriation. In the elementary schools, the income from funds has been less than that of the previous years, but savings in other directions have enabled the usual amount on repairs.
The sum of $671. was expended on a new roof for the Edmund Anthony Jr. School. The Johns-Manville Company furnished the original roof twelve years ago. It was put on with no guarantee of its durability, but the Company recommended it strongly. A very bad leakage had developed. After investigation by the Company, and conference with the School Committee and archi- tect, it was agreed that the cause of the leakage was, in all proba- bility, the result of faulty workmanship in laying the roof. The Company was entirely fair in its offer to co-operate in re-roofing the entire building. All shingles were removed and relayed, broken ones replaced, new paper put on,-The Company furnish- ing all material, the School Department paying a low price for expert labor. The original roof cost approximately $3000.
Among other Elementary School repairs were:
Re-building chimney at Rogers School.
Making new smokestack and repairing piping at Rogers School.
Repair of plumbing in urinals at Tripp School, and install- ation of new bubbler.
Repairs to piping and valves on the boiler at East Fair- haven School.
New bowl and drinking fountain at Washington Street School.
New grates for boilers at Oxford, Anthony, East Fair- haven and Rogers Schools.
Re-building furnace in Portable at Oxford School.
Re-painting the exterior of Job C. Tripp and East Fair- haven Schools.
7
Your Committee furnished three projects for the C.W.A., namely, repainting exterior of the Rogers and of the Edmund Anthony Jr. Schools, and re-building the east wall of the stadium. Bills for the material used in this work will be paid in part from the balance left of the School Appropriation. They will amount to approximately $200.
FINANCES
The Committee reduced its budget for 1933 by 10%. With the balance returned to the town, the actual reduction in expendi- tures amounts to approximately 13%. Trust Funds, both Elemen- tary and High, yielded $650. less than the previous year, and the County Dog Fund decreased $254.00-a net loss to the School Department from sources outside the appropriation of $904.00. To meet the reduction in income, the Committee reduced salaries paid to employees, including elimination of activities, in the aggregate $10,436.95. In doing this, it took out German from the curriculum of the High School; dropped sewing of both grades and high school; reduced the time given to physical education; and filled vacancies with beginners at a reduction of 20% from the previous minimum. There has been practiced careful economy in every department. It has been the purpose of the Committee to give to the children, as nearly as possible, within the money available, the same educational opportunities as heretofore. The Commit- tee is aware that its curtailment has worked injustice in some directions. It knows in particular that the large classes at the high school must impair effectiveness in instruction, but this seems unavoidable at the present time. If the uncertainty as to the receipts from the H. H. Rogers Trust Fund is cleared up early enough next year and, if the income from it, and the Town Appro- priation is the same as for this year, it is hoped to add another teacher to the high school staff in September; and thus, to some extent, relieve that situation.
Your Committee believes that the salaries of teachers in Fair- haven, considering the importance of the work they do, the amount of training and experience they have had, are too low. The splendid morale of the teachers is fully appreciated; but despite these considerations, unless business and financial condi- tions are better, it does not seem feasible to ask for more money for schools. Your Committee is asking for the same budget for both elementary and high schools as last year; namely, $23,260. for high school; $96,740. for elementary schools. Details of the budget follow. In asking for the same budget, the Committee knows in advance that it must pay higher prices for fuel, books
8
and supplies, and all other materials that have to be purchased. It faces still the fact that there may be a further reduction in the amount received from the high school endowment. A letter from the Trustees of that Fund, dated December 28, 1933, says,- "Several issues of bonds have shown weakness in price, and this would seem to indicate some doubt on the part of investors as to the ability of companies to fulfill their obligations. We regret that we cannot be more definite in regard to the 1934 income." The Committee is further aware that insurance on school build- ings, which cost for high school and elementary, a total of $393.80 during the current year, will amount next year to $2,519.80. The largest single item in this is on the Addition for $150,000., with a premium of $1,365. which carries the insurance three years. The Committee does not make insurance contracts, but it feels that payments for insurance should be so adjusted as to require approx- imately the same annual appropriation.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BUDGET
Budget for 1934
Budget for 1933
Expended in 1933
General Control, (Including Supt., Clerk, Truancy,
$5,000.00
$5,110.00
$4,939.30
Instruction, (Including
75,400.00
76,500.00
75,411.12
Teachers, Books, Supplies)
14,200.00
14,980.00
14,199.40
Operation and Maintenance (Including Janitors, Fuel, Bldg. Supplies, Repairs and New Equipment)
Other Agencies (Including Transportation, Health, Tuition, Insurance)
8,382.00
7,275.00
6,631.07
Sundries
208.00
350.00
209.63
Total
$103,190.00
$103,665.00
$101,390.52
From Outside Sources
6,450.00
6,925.00
Recd. 1933 $6,440.00
Appropriation required $96,740.00
$96,740.00
Census, Office Expense)
9
HIGH SCHOOL BUDGET, 1934
Budget for 1934
Budget for 1933
Expended in 1933
Instruction, (Including Teachers, Books, Supplies)
$38,000.00
$38,025.00
$37,316.01
Operation and Maintenance, 10,300.00 (Including Janitors, Fuel,
10,250.00
9,718.31
Bldg. Supplies, Repairs New Equipment)
Other Agencies, (Including Transportation, Health, Tuition, Insurance )
900.00
785.00
397.50
Miscellaneous
360.00
500.00
319.84
Total
$49,560.00
$49,560.00
$47,751.66
Received
H. H. Rogers Trust Fund
26,300.00
26,300.00
26,070.55
Appropriation asked
$23,260.00
$23,260.00
$21,681.11
Balance, 1933
1,578.89
$23,260.00
Attention is called to comparative costs of schools in Fair- haven as treated in the Report of Superintendent of Schools.
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM B. GARDNER, Chairman JAMES A. STETSON, MRS. ELLA H. BLOSSOM, MRS. ELIZABETH M. KNOWLES, ORRIN B. CARPENTER, GEORGE F. BRALEY,
Fairhaven School Committee
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee of Fairhaven:
The twenty-second annual report of the present Superintend- ent of Schools is herewith submitted.
ATTENDANCE AND MEMBERSHIP
The total membership for the year ending June 1933 was 2471 compared with 2351 for the previous year; the average member- ship 2218 as compared with 2097; the average attendance 2084 as against 2034 in 1932. The percentage of daily attendance was 94. The present actual membership is 2223 as compared with 2258 last year at the same time.
The tendency of the lower grades to decrease is indicated in the following table :
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
Number in
Grades 1-2-3
678
728
659
650
586
The increase in the eighth grade and in the four-year high school is shown below.
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933
Eighth Grade
127
167
157
199
196
Four-year High School
404
406
500
546
583
Immediate prospects for the five upper grades may be judged by the present enrollment in grades four, five, six and seven.
Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7
Present Membership
195
213
204 218
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SCHOOL COSTS
The School Appropriation for 1932, high and elementary, totalled $133,100; that of 1933, $120,000. Of the latter amount the sum of $3,379 has been returned to the general treasury. This surplus was enabled largely through resignations of seven teachers who were on the maximum salary, and a replacement by beginners at a reduced minimum, $800. There is no apparent possibility of such a saving next year.
There follows the usual statistics and comparisons relating to school costs:
For the year ending-June 1933
Fairhaven per pupil School Costs compared with nearby towns:
Town
Population
Per Pupil cost from Local Taxation
Total per pupil cost
Barnstable
7,271
$102.02
$109.57
Wareham
5,686
75.63
85.03
Somerset
5,398
76.37
83.71
Abington
5,872
65.59
78.68
Whitman
7,638
67.65
78.42
Bridgewater
9,055
64.06
77.88
Middleboro
8,608
58.42
73.45
Stoughton
8,204
64.52
72.95
Dartmouth
8,778
67.37
74.31
No. Attleboro
10,197
68.23
75.05
Fairhaven
10,951
49.69
71.78
*Per capita costs are based on average membership.
For the year ending-June 1933
Fairhaven per pupil cost compared with State and Group II.
Average in 355
Average in 83
Fairhaven
Town and Towns of
Cities
over 5000
Fairhaven's Fairhaven's Rank in Rank in State 83 Towns
Total per pupil cost, including use of all funds:
$71.85
$97.86
$86.25
313
66
Per pupil cost from local taxation : $49.69 $82.46 $76.62
301 79
12
Ten years ago, in 1923, Fairhaven ranked 266th among 355 towns and cities in its total per pupil expenditure; in 1933 it ranks 313.
In 1923 it ranked 303 in its per pupil expenditures from local taxation; in 1933 it ranked 301.
Among the 83 Towns of over 5000 population, in 1923 Fair- haven ranked 47 in its total per pupil cost, and 73 in its per pupil cost from local taxation.
Among these 83 Towns in 1933, Fairhaven ranked 66 in its total per pupil expenditures and 79th in its per pupil expenditures from local taxation.
HIGH SCHOOL COSTS
Attention is called here to facts which illustrate the drastic measures of economy applied to high school education. In 1929 the per pupil expenditure for Fairhaven High School was $139.17; for the year ending June 1932 it was $114.68; for the year ending June 1933 it was $90.93. For the current year, with continuance of the average membership of the last four months, the per capita will be still further reduced. The reduction has been too great to insure continuance of high efficiency. The teachers are carrying on in splendid spirit and with heroic efforts, but it is inevitable that efficiency will ultimately be seriously effected by present conditions. In the last two years there has been an increase of 140 pupils and no additional teachers have been employed. The number of pupils per teacher is altogether too large. For details in regard to the size of classes read the Report of the High School Principal which follows this report. The Superintendent strongly recommends that at least one additional teacher be employed next year.
The following from an address by the President of the Nation- al Education Association expresses the attitude of most Superin- tendents at this time:
"We are confronted now in this period of depression, which we hope is near the end, with those critics who claim that this nation cannot afford to provide free public education to its child- hood and youth. The educational leadership of this country, in the presence of this situation, recognizes the fact that expenditures must be adjusted to the ability of the community and the state to pay. We do claim that the education of children is an essential service and that in the adjustment of public expenditures funds for education should have a priority of consideration."
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TEACHERS
Seven Elementary teachers resigned in June because of pros- pective matrimony. Their positions were filled by the appoint- ment of six teachers whose homes are in Fairhaven, and by one from New Bedford. In normal times two years of successful experience outside the system has been required before a resident teacher was eligible to appointment. The present rule renders eligible any person who graduates in the upper fourth of his or her class at Normal School or College. Under existing conditions, preference is being given to residents of Fairhaven who have thus qualified.
SPIRIT
The constant purpose of every employee in your system this year has been to render superior service. This has been pre- eminently true of the teaching staff. In an experience of thirty- five years as Principal and Superintendent, it is impossible to recall a corps which has shown so unmistakably, conscientious devotion to duty, a desire to do its work in a spirit of utmost co-operation with the home and the community. It has been the apparent wish of the teachers, not merely to hold their positions but, also, to deserve to hold them. Teachers have many personal contacts and personal relationships incident to their work. No human being can make these always and altogether satisfactory; the most that a staff can do is to eliminate as far as possible any just basis for complaint. This has been done this year.
Teachers not only impart knowledge to pupils, but strive to develop in them right attitudes. They cannot inculcate in pupils what they do not have themselves. The essential method of education is the sharing of life. The life of the teacher is the essential of her method. It is the task of the schools to train effectively for social living. The quality and ideals of the teacher measure the level of training possible to be reached. It has not been easy for the teacher in the last two years to abound in enthu- siasm, optimism, hope, nor to retain high professional ideals. In the immediate past there was no public institution to which there was greater loyalty shown by the people than the schools. It is natural that this should be so, because no public institution so touches the lives of everyone as does the school. Since the tax- payer became short of money the disposition of the public toward its schools has apparently changed somewhat. Schools have become more and more a scape-goat. That economy must be applied to schools, as well as everything else, is obvious. It is not this alone that has disturbed the spirit of the teacher; it is the
14
fact that in applying it, there has been revealed a lack of appre- ciation of the importance and complicated nature of her work. As a teacher in our system stated in a report rendered this office on a non-related matter,-"In the last few years, with the reduc- tion of her already small salary, the teacher has lost some of her confidence in her ability and in her mission of teaching. Somehow, she has been made to feel that she occupies an insecure and tainted place in the community. By every law of right the teacher should not feel this. When she loses her respect for herself as a useful and necessary member of the community, her work cannot be vital to her. We all need to be needed." There are kinds of work in the doing of which the intangible thing called "spirit" is negligible; in teaching it is an essential of effectiveness; "Oui of the heart are the issues of life." No higher praise can be given your teaching staff this year than to say that its members have been unusually faithful to the highest ideals of their profession. They have had the welfare of children first in their thoughts and acts.
SERVICE
As evidence, though not the most important, of the spirit of the teachers, may be cited the fact of their 100% contribution to the Community Fund, and nearly so to the Red Cross. Practically every teacher gave for the Thanksgiving Baskets, 150 of which were sent out by the schools. The amount per teacher varied, of course, but in two buildings it was $1.50 each. Every teacher has contributed to the School Milk Fund, and, also, assisted in some capacity in projects for raising money for this purpose. Not less than $300. has been given by the Fairhaven-Mattapoisett Teachers' Association during the year to supply needy pupils. In addition there have been numberless instances of financial assist- ance by individual teachers.
Mention of the giving of the teachers is not made to parade their charitable acts, but to make clear the fact that they have not shirked the part of good citizens in these distressing times.
SNAP SHOTS OF SCHOOL ROOMS
The Superintendent of Schools makes approximately 600 visits to classrooms each year. It is his custom to record what he sees. At intervals a bulletin is issued which includes each time, among other features, "Field Notes" or "Snap Shots." These sometimes serve as suggestions for the work of all teachers in the same grade. The following brief notes are selectd almost at random from the files, They may serve to indicate in a very
15
limited way efforts to make real and interesting to children the subjects taught. Perhaps their publication in this report will lead parents to take some "Snap Shots" of their own.
Number
Grade 1.
Paper tarts, cookies, dogs, lolly-pops, etc., and toy money had been prepared by the teacher. They were exposed attractively on a table; the teacher discussed interestingly with the pupils what they could buy with the money they had. The language skillfully suggested as answers to questions, and connected with pupils' visits to the store, made in itself a good lesson. The obligation to be courteous was also stressed. Here was a number lesson correlated with language and courtesy.
Helpfulness
Grade 1.
The room looked most attractive in its new setting. It seemed a model environment with its homelikeness, cheerfulness, and formal informality. Above all things, the atmosphere was filled with training in the spirit of helpfulness. Even these first graders have clean-up squads,-the captains wearing paper caps. Animat- ing the slogans, the pictures, the plans which make the work interesting to the children, and correlated with reading and language, is the whole soul of the teacher. Without interest in training children to be helpful, unless she sees the far-reaching effect of her work, there is little that can be accomplished. This teacher suggests vividly by her methods and her spirit what can be done in grade 1 toward fitting for more unselfish citizenship.
Language
Grade 2.
Observed a language lesson and, incident to it, a lesson in Home Economics, though not so-called. (The children in this room have to help at home at an early age). A small bed had been brought to the room; the teacher had enlisted the interest of the home by having the children ask their mothers such qus- tions as these: "What do you put over the mattress?" "Why?" "How many sheets do you use?" "How do you put on the blankets?" The teacher asked these questions now, and all were answered in complete statements ;- two or three-sentence stories were told, written on the board, and read by the children. This work was in preparation for the furnishing of the doll house. The whole project is correlated with language, reading, and number. The real things that pupils do, they will tell and write about in vital language.
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Reading
Grade 3.
This was an audience period. A group of pupils prepared the selection themselves, with no help from the teacher. The situa- tion was definitely an audience one. The listening pupils had no books, therefore were real listeners. I heard six pupils read very expressively, and they held the attention of the entire school. The teacher said she used this as a motivation device, that is,-if others were able to read well they too would be given an oppor- tunity to read to the school.
Oral Language.
Grades 3 & 4
In front of the room stood the microphone, which looked like a real one; an announcer had charge who secured from the pupil his subject and announced it; then the pupil gave his paragraph through the microphone. The sentences were good, and the para- graphs well rounded.
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