USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Athol > Town annual report, town of Athol, Massachusetts 1931 > Part 8
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Special emphasis has been placed on the writing of signatures, the making of good figures, and the necessity of putting figures under figures.
"Beauty is always to be desired, speed has its value, but the crucial test of penmanship is ever in its legibility. Plain legible penmanship commands in the business world a money return that is well worth while."
In conclusion, I wish to commend the Athol teacher's for their hearty co-operation, and I wish to thank you, Mr. Farrin, for your splendid support and appreciation.
Respectfully submitted,
EDITH N. FOYE,
Supervisor of Penmanship.
168
Report of School Physician and School Nurse
Leon M. Farrin, Superintendent of Schools.
I respectfully submit to you the report of the School Physician and the School Nurse for the year ending December 31, 1931.
The school year just passed I am pleased to note shows improvement in the health of the pupils and in the care given them by their parents and also by outside sources.
Great thanks should be given the Athol Chapter of the American Red Cross in their making it possible for many pupils to have needed hospital attention, and I wish that the people of Athol would take special note of this and realize that much of the money they give to the Red Cross is really spent on our own town children. The Athol Red Cross has never failed to assist us in caring for needy children.
I also wish in this manner to give thanks to the Athol Rotary Club for their assistance in making it possible to care for more needy children.
As a whole the health of the school children has been very good. In years past we have had as many as five to six hundred children given certificates excusing them from vaccination, but the number of excuses has each year
169
grown less, until this past year only one hundred and forty-nine excuses were given, and of this number it should be reduced at least two thirds.
Our School Buildings which have always been the pride of our town, and well they should be, for the Superin- tendent of Schools and the School Committee have seen to it that all buildings are kept in repair, clean well heated and ventilated.
The interest of the teachers in each building and the co-operation of the janitors have made this possible.
It is rare that a pupil has to be sent home on account of uncleanliness and if so it is usually the fault of the parent.
Visits made by School Nurse to schools 1,249
Visits made by School Nurse to office of School
Physician 172
Children specially examined for Pediculi 883
Children excluded from school on account of Pediculi 30
Children excluded from School for Skin Ailments 14
Regular examination of School Children by School Physician and Nurse 1,628
Children absent at time of examination 36
Children reported to parents for Physical Defects 570
Children excused from Vaccination 149
Physical Defects reported
Malnutrition
167
Hypertrophied Tonsils and Adenoids
320
Heart
1
Feet and Spine
1
Speech
1
Sight
16
Special examination by Physician from East Gardner State Hospital for Children Mentally Retarded
7
170
Malnutrition Clinic
Conducted by State Physician from the Rutland Sanatorium-Children X-Rayed and examined Toxin, Anti-Toxin Clinic
15
Number of children receiving three Inoculations 323 Number of children receiving two Inoculations 4
Contagious Diseases Reported
Measles
19
Whooping Cough
12
Skin Disease
34
Conjuctivitis and Pink Eye
81
Mumps
4
Chicken Pox
20
Ring Worm
4
Ivy Poison
4
Scarlet Fever
32
Infantile Paralysis
6
Operations for Appendicitis
12
Operations of Tonsils and Adenoids
36
Operations for Hernia
2
Accidents on School Grounds
3
Eyes corrected with glasses, number of cases
3
Respectfully,
JOSEPH A. SMITH, M. D., School Physician.
GRACE MacKENZIE,
School Nurse.
:
171
Report of the Athol School Dental Clinic
During the school year of 1930-1931 the following work was completed at the School Clinic.
The mouths of all pupils in the third and fourth grades were examined as they are each year.
Number of clinic days
101
Attendance at clinic
706
Permament teeth filled 561
Permanent teeth extracted
64
Deciduous teeth filled
75
Deciduous teeth extracted
705
Cleanings 179
Since its conception the School Dental Clinic has been a veritable Godsend to a large number of pupils who would not otherwise have had any dental work done, except emergency operations, until they were able to go to work, at which time irreparable damage would have been done to their teeth.
It would be gratifying indeed, if upon a return to nor- malcy, the town could increase its appropriation for the Dental Clinic so that its scope could be widened to in- clude more work in the second grade and possibly the first grade.
At least I should like to see sufficient appropriation so that the mouths of all pupils in all grades could be examined annually.
Respectfully submitted,
H. E. SMITH, Dentist in Charge.
172
Report of Supervisor of Attendance and Superintendent of Buildings and Janitors
January 2, 1932.
Mr. Leon M. Farrin,
Superintendent of Schools,
Athol, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I respectfully submit the following report as covering the work of the Supervisor of Attendance and Superin- tendent of Buildings and Janitors for the year ending December 31, 1931.
CASES
Cases investigated 1102
Visits connected with these 956
REASONS FOR ABSENCE
Truancy
76
Lack of shoes
84
Lack of suitable clothing
49
Parents' neglect
257
Working in home
79
Illness of parents
143
Contagious illness
970
173
Slight illness
1237
Severe illness with medical attention
62
Severe illness without medical attention
4
ENFORCING SCHOOL AND LABOR LAWS
Employment certificates
22
Taken from street to school 15
Taken from street to home
10
Taken from home to school
12
Habitual school offenders (Court action)
2
Larceny (Court action)
1
CO-OPERATION WITH TEACHERS
Misbehavior and tardiness cases
702
Matters between teachers and parents 157
Individual talks with pupils
2122
Parents' complaints investigated
162
Complaints from other sources
350
Talks to schools 241
CO-OPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES
Police Department 176
Worcester School Department
1
Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Children
2
Worcester County Training School 4
Transportation
63
First District Court 7
At Christmas time the different Welfare and Social organizations, Veterans' organizations, Churches, Schools and Private Individuals co-operated so that one hundred and sixty-six (166) families were made happy with Christmas dinners and toys. This work requires much time and consideration so as not to duplicate the work of other workers and vice versa. At this time I wish to thank
174
the different Organizations, Churches, Schools and Private Individuals who so willingly helped at this particular time.
I have been in close co-operation with the Associated Charities and the Unemployment Committee and have obtained shoes, rubbers, clothing and food in 46 cases in- volving 140 children so that they might attend school regularly.
Through the co-operation of the American Red Cross and the Public Welfare Board two cases needing Medical and Surgical attention were given prompt action.
BUILDINGS, JANITORS' SUPPLIES
All Buildings have been inspected three times. I find the Janitors co-operative, efficient and open to sugges- tions. Minor repairs have been made in a number of buildings and there are several more to be made. The fire extinguishers have been recharged in all the buildings through the co-operation of the Athol Fire Department.
A tremendous amount of unnecessary work and quite a bit of expense has been eliminated by having the supplies and books moved from the Memorial Building to the Riverbend School where Mr. Taylor and I made room for them in two store rooms in the basement.
One day a week is given the Teachers for ordering supplies and they are delivered on that day.
Respectfully,
WILLIAM R. COLTON,
Supervisor of Attendance, Superintendent of Buildings and Janitors.
Financial Statement Expenditures for 1931
Teachers
Principals
High $32,661.00 3,300.00
Junior High Elementary $12,010.80 $44,796.00 8,378.00 2,500.00
Total $89,467.80 14,178.00
Supervisors
4,205.81
Administrative Expenses
8,259.04
Books
942.96
282.59
1,889.48
3,115.03
Supplies
2,659.55
514.41
2,151.87
5,325.83
Janitors
2.000.00
1,318.58
6,877.58
10,196.16
Fuel
1,513.14
442.13
4,361.81
6,317.08
Operating Miscellaneous
508.63
312.68
1,046.03
1,867.34
Repairs
360.37
185.05
3,386.45
3,931.87
Health-Nurses's Salary and Supplies
293.30
1,408.49
1,701.79
Transportation
42.72
1,266.42
5,606.13
6,915.27
Tuition
20.96
495.18
516.14
Auxiliary Miscellaneous
342.70
342.70
Manual Training
205.16
205.16
New Equipment
480.47
Outlay
270.83
Athletics
500.00
500.00
Totals
$44,852.03
$19,331,12
$80,397.02 $157,796.32
175
176
SCHOOL CREDITS
General School Fund
$22,859.88
Tuition
2,156.00
Tuition State Wards
821.30
Car Tickets
14.00
Manual Training
3.16
Telephone
3.60
Miscellaneous
7.16
Books
7.41
Supplies
15.00
Graduation Tickets
39.70
Clerk of Court for Damage to School Property
20.00
Stamps
.65
$25,947.86
Net Cost of Schools for 1931
$131,848.46
Graduation Exercises of the Class of 1931 ATHOL HIGH SCHOOL at the ATHOL MEMORIAL BUILDING TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 1931 8 P. M.
GRADUATION PROGRAM
Overture: "Land of Romance" School Orchestra
Frazee
Processional Seniors, Students
177
Invocation
Reverend Clarke R. Trumbore
"Light Triumphant" Ganne
School Chorus Original Story: "The Literary Touch" Claire McRae
"Keep on Hopin' " School Chorus
Heron-Maxwell
Original Essay: "The Joy of Being Down and Out" Norman MacKay
(a) "Song of Evening"
from "Carmen"
Bizet
Dvorak
(b) "Days of Long Ago" School Chorus
Original Essay: "The Youngest Set"
Virginia Atkinson
"In an Old-Fashioned Town" Squire-Salter
School Chorus
Original Essay: "Vale" Roger Lawton
Rodney
"Clang of the Forge"
School Chorus
Presentation of Diplomas
Mr. W. Scott Ward, Superintendent of Schools
Class Song Jane Dexter
School Song Class
Harris School and Alumni All Alumni please stand and sing.
Recessional
Seniors, Students Audience will please be seated during recessional.
CLASS SONG
Dear Athol High School, we're leaving you this year, To go seek our way in the world.
We'll e'er remember the good times we've had here,
178
The joys of our school career. Our ships are launched on the sea of chance; The winds that blow may be fair or cold, But always we'll remember Athol High. Dear Athol High School, we're leaving you this year, To go seek our way in the world.
Dear Athol High School, the day we now find, When we must bid you goodbye. And we must part from the friendships that bind, Our teachers so loyal and kind.
Into the world we now must go, Without the guidance we've had up here,
In dear old A. H. S. so long. Dear Athol High School, the day we now find,
When we must say goodbye.
SCHOOL SONG
Lillian Pilling Edwin Harris
Hail to old Athol High!
For you with loyal hearts we'd do or die.
Onward forever to win the victory.
To you standing on the hill
The air with many a cheer we fill
To give vim and courage to dear old A. H. S.
GRADUATES
Virginia Balcom Atkinson
College Course
Laura Bingham
College Course
Francis Ernest Bruno
College Course
Lucille Cummings
College Course
Jane Dexter
College Course
Doris Elinor Drew
College Course
James Aldei LeBerge
Stanley Anthony Perekslis
College Course College Course
179
Bernice Pichette
College Course
Herbert Oscar Brooks
Floyd Carlton Calvert
Charles Alden Field
Roger Hill Lawton Norman Wallace Mackay
Theodore Carl Schmidt
Raymond Farwell Starrett
Norman Russell Taylor
Iona Elizabeth Abare
Anna Elizabeth Marion Bagdonas
Alice Elizabeth Bassett
Commercial Course Commercial Course
Helen Batchelor
Commercial Course Commercial Course
Isabel Renwick Blair
Edmund Louis Bruno
Pauline Caroline Chandler
Flora May Cucchi
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course
Margaret Lorena Currier
Elizabeth Ann Devlin
Mildred Geneva Foster
Commercial Course
Rita Mae Gilbert Adella Victoria Gilgut Violet Jennie Green
Commercial Course
Pauline Catherine Guilmette
Commercial Course
Evelyn Blanche Haskins
Commercial Course
Arline Elizabeth Hause Emilie Louise Hause
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course
Teresa Harriet Hausmann
Frances Pauline Kuchinsky
Joseph Anthony Kvedar Irene Alice LaChance Grace Elizabeth Mackenzie Arthur Sumner Mann
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course
Norma Catherine Maroni
Maxine Phebe McConville Claire Esther McRae
Commercial Course Commercial Course
Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Technology Course Commercial Course
Commercial Course Commercial Course
180
Jeannette Grace Mercier
Juliet Marion Mercier
Helen Wanda Modzeleski
Doris Eugenia Moffit Alton Frank Moulton Robert Edwin Oliver Alice Louise Perry Geneva Mae Perry
Joseph Robert Porcari
Margaret Louise Reiter
Dorothy Rhona Richards
Kenneth Bigelow Richards
Ellen Corinne Robichaud
Agnes Mary Slavis Arline Mary Snow
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course
Barney Avery Stearns
Commercial Course Commercial Course
Annie Marion Stone
Orisza Cloroda Stone
Elinor Mary Sunderland
John Alphonse Talokowski
Telma Ruth Tandy James Carl Watts
Frances Edward Wiley
Barbara Louise Woodward
Hazel Louretta Worrell Ralph Terry Adams Alphonse Dominic Stanley Bagdonas Vincent Stanley Bagdonas Robert Elmore Barnes
Estelle Mary Blanchard
Enatio Joseph Boccagni Jessie Elizabeth Briggs Robert Ogden Briggs
Doris Louise Buckley Aileen Call Yola Calvi
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course
Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course Commercial Course General Course General Course
General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course
181
Mary Casella Clarence Warwick Cole Vito John Coolidge
Joseph Wilfred DeGrasse Mary DeSantis John Anthony Dudis Geraldine Evelyn Fisher
Thomas Russell Patrick Fitzgerald
Walter Dexter French
Alvin Ray Charles Goddard Robert Hamilton Grover Russell Stewart Hall
Clifton Walter Hastings
George Edwin Hastings William Howard Hastings George Horton Hatch Bernard James Hause John Chandler Hill
Theron Walter Hunter
Dorothy Lucille Jewett Dorothy Brill Katz
Russell Gerhard Keyes Ida Elizabeth Kuchinsky Ethel Maude Lehman
General Course General Course
Ralph Dale Lincoln
General Course
Richmond Cameron Mackay
General Course
Kingsley Ward Marble Louis Maroni
General Course General Course General Course
Edward Danville Masters
Pauline McKenney
Myrtle Mae Miville
Marjorie Alice Murphy Peter Angelo Musante
General Course General Course General Course General Course
John Kendall Newton
General Course
General Course
Louis Gilbert Nylander Helen Vera Petrosky
General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course
General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course
General Course
182
Harold William Proctor Dorothy Madeline Quinn Carlton Herbert Richardson Frank Aleric Robichaud Mary Regina Serapinas Ellen Louise Shepard Warren Walker Sherwood Nevelyn Leone Simonds Richard Thornton Smith Norman Francis Snow George William Spooner David George Stevens Ena Virginia Stewart Anthony Joseph Stone Gwendolyn Thais Stone Anthony Paul Tamasunas Herbert Lincoln Totman Annie Alice Tyler Eleanor Julia Vincent Ruth Lorraine White Wayne Aldrich Wight Lester Davenport Winter Ruth Wood
General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course General Course
General Course
General Course General Course
183
Report of the Board of Public Welfare
To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:
The Board of Public Welfare herewith submits its annual report, covering the year from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 1931, inclusive.
Disbursing public aid during the past year has been the most strenuous and perplexing in the history of Athol. The year 1930 was a record breaker, only to be followed by 12 months of constantly increasing demands, with no signs of brighter prospects.
The close of the year, finds this town in the worst grip of depression. Although one of the last places in the Commonwealth to feel the genuine sting of hard times, we may find some consolation in the fact, that as serious as it may seem to many, Athol as a whole is not affected with the severity of many other places.
Naturally the lack of employment, or insufficient wages from part time work, has been the cause of the greatest number of relief cases. Many of these applicants are thrifty and good citizens, who by prudence and self denial had saved a portion of their earnings for a rainy day. As the depression continued, these individuals were obliged to draw on their resources, until at last all was gone. Without work and without funds, they reluctantly came to the Welfare Board for assistance. There were others who have small equities in real estate, which in ordinary
184
times could be wholly or partly converted into cash, but not today. To sell or secure a loan they found impossible. Without work, perhaps a large family to support and in no way able to raise money on what little securities they had, men in this class, found nothing else to do, but accept public aid in order to subsist.
Ordinarily, the local Welfare Board refuses to aid per- sons wo have equity in real estate, but the depression has made it necessary for Welfare Boards to alter this ruling. That we have the sanction of the State Department is evidence by the following communication from the Com- missioner of Public Welfare:
"Local Boards of Public Welfare have full power to determine whether or not a person is in need of assist- ance and it is within their discretion to aid a poor person even if he has a small equity in real estate.
"The practice of many local Welfare Boards under the old pauper law was to refuse aid unless a person was absolutely destitute. During the last 15 or 20 years the practice under the relief laws has become so liberalized as to be expressed in 1928 by the removal of the word 'pauper' from the statutes.
"The best practice now is to determine each case on its merits and if the real estate is so heavily mortgaged that nothing more can be raised on it, and if it is more advan- tageous to hold the property than to pay rent, the local Board of Public Welfare does not need to bar a person from receiving assistance."
The wording of the fundamental relief law in its pres- ent form as follows:
"Every town shall relieve and support all poor and indigent persons lawfully settled therein whenever they stand in need thereof." (General Laws, Chapter 117, Section 1.)
185
Labor for Aid Rendered
With the opening of the year, the Welfare Board decided to insist on labor in return for aid granted. It was doubt- ful at first how this announcement would be received by recipients. The Board found that with hardly an excep- tion, it was welcomed. The men as a whole, realized that they were bestowing something for what they were re- ceiving, giving them satisfaction that they were not ac- cepting all charity. For each $3 in aid, a slip for one day's work is issued, which is signed by the town department head when the work is finished, and the person to whom the work slip is made out, returns it to the Welfare office before further aid is given.
With this labor, tons and tons of rock have been re- moved from the meadows and grasslands at the infirm- ary. Under the direction of a crew from the Water Department familiar with blasting, nearly $100 worth of dynamite has been used in blasting away huge rocks. The infirmary has been in possession of the town for over 100 years, and probably more rocks have been re- moved during the last few months than during the entire century. Another gang of men is cutting brush and thinning out around the thousands of pine and hemlock seedlings which were planted eight years ago. This work of trimming will continue into the winter if the snow does not become too deep. Welfare labor has cut around 200 cords of wood on infirmary land, mostly white birch. Besides furnishing part of the fuel for the infirmary, much of it has been disbursed to needy families. Up to the present time, our fuel bill has not been above normal, largely due to the supply at the infirmary, and the fact that many of the unemployed have been thrifty enough to cut their own wood. Many were able to make deals with owners of wood land, to secure fuel without cost, by cutting on halves.
186
Not only have the men been employed at the infirmary, but many hours of labor have been transferred to other departments. The parks and cemeteries were never in better condition than this year. These depatments used their resources as far as possible to provide work for the idle, and with additional labor furnished by the Welfare Board, have been able to complete projects which other- wise would not have been attempted.
Causes of Aid
We have given aid to 803 persons outside of the town infirmary and not including those receiving Old Age Assistance. Last year, aid was given to 389 individuals. Assistance was given for the following reasons:
Total or partial unemployment 541
Sickness or infirmity
116
Jail
Widowhood
53
Hospital
12
Children boarded
10
Settlements
Persons having settlement in Athol and aided here
474
Persons having a settlement in Athol and aided elsewhere
64
Persons having a settlement elsewhere and aided here 88
Persons having no settlement or State cases 138
Undetermined settlements 25
Divided settlements 14
During the year 1931 the local Welfare Department expended $39,684.80 and closed with a balance of $315.20. Last year's expenditures were $25,984.02.
187
Old Age Assistance
The Old Age Assistance Act became effective July 1, 1931, putting another burden on the Welfare Department, which at that time was not operating effectively, due to the rush for aid from those hit by the depression, and because the office lacked the services of a permanent man. We estimated that when the new act was in full swing, Athol would have about 16 old persons participating. Instead we have 51 recipients of this new aid; 18 applica- tions now under consideration and new applicants con- stantly appearing.
Each applicant has been visited in his or her home, where histories were taken. In every case where aid is furnished, proof of age has been obtained, check-ups made for securities and the ability of children to care for appli- cants, should they have any. This new branch of work has been aggravating, not only to us, but to many who were apparently misinformed and believed it an old age "pension" due for the asking, if the applicant was 70 years of age. This law does not give an old age pension. It gives public assistance to deserving citizens in need of relief and support, 70 years of age or over. It does not relieve the responsibility of the child, for the support of parents over 70 years of age. Like many new laws, it is impossible now to predict on its success. Had the law he- come effective some time ago, we believe the number of applicants would have been less at the start. In these times of depression, children in many instances are un- able to provide for their parents, but in normal times would gladly share with them.
Reimbursement for Old Age Assistance
Just how much of the money expended by towns and cities will be returned from the State seems to be a ques-
188
tion, but probably fully determined by this year's legis- lation. There were two laws passed by the Legislature, one in 1930 and one in 1931. The original law was that the cities and towns would pay their two thirds and the State its one third in settled cases and all in unsettled cases. The law passed in 1931, which was to provide ways and means, stated that there should be a $1 head tax and this should reimburse the cities and towns in full. The State Bureau of Old Age Assistance has gone along the principles of the first law. It is quite evident that the $1 head tax will not be sufficient for the State to reimburse in full. It seems to be the general consensus of opinion among city and town welfare officers and treasurers, that there should be a State fund and that the State should pay the whole. It is generally felt that the tax on real estate is as high as it should be, and that some method should be forthcoming, whereby the State can reimburse in full, without the burden falling on real estate owners.
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