USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920 > Part 10
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Looking back over the year's work I am reminded of the experieience of the average home-maker who finds her house clean and in good order, yet hardly different from its condition a year before. Every day she has swept and dusted and scrubbed and washed and wiped dishes and made beds and kept the fires going and cooked and tended the baby and done numberless other things-to what end? To change the house into a mansion? No, only to be able to say at the close, "I found my house in good order and have kept it so for a year." This much I can say of the schools with all assurance, giving due credit to the teachers for conscientious and untiring work through the year.
It has not been my policy to inaugurate spectacular work, or, in other words, show work. It is not easy to do this with any real success in schools of two and three grades. The required work is quite sufficient for the average teacher whose two grades are often in reality three or four classes by reason of the wide difference in the ability of her pupils to acquire and retain information of value or to reason well or promptly. Let us see what the schools must do: Such (public) schools
13
shall be taught by teachers of competent ability and good morals and shall give instruction in orthography, reading, writing, the English language and grammar, geography, arith- metic, drawing, the history of the United States, physiology and hygiene, and good behavior. In each of the subjects of phy- siology and hygiene special instruction as to the effects of alcoholic drinks and of stimulants and narcotics on the human system, and as to tuberculosis and its prevention, shall be taught as a regular branch of study to all pupils in all schools which are supported wholly or partly by public money, except schools which are maintained for instruction in particular branches." There are three public schools in Acton-Center, South and West. In the Center three teachers-assisted one- half day each week by the supervisor of drawing-face the above program of subjects for some 185 days in the year. The West school has the same problem ; while the South school has four regular teachers instead of three for the work. More or less ignorance in the above required subjects on the part of pupils is assumed, else it would not be necessary to teach them. Nor is all knowledge of or in them acquired at once, but only after from eight to twelve years of constant and earnest effort. "Good behavior" is well and thoroughly taught in the schools of the town, but too often its practice begins and ends in the schoolroom. That must be evident even to the most casual ob- server as well as to the most critical. The influence of the school day will never extend through the twenty-four-hour day until the public meets the teacher at the school door in the until the public meets the teacher at the schoolroom door in the afternoon and says, "I will be as careful of the behavior of these children until they return to you in the morning as you have been today." This would be real cooperation and would be much appreciated by the schools.
Now let us see what may be taught in the schools. "Book- keeping, algebra, geometry, one or more foreign languages, the elements of the natural sciences, kindergarten training, manual training, agriculture, sewing, cooking, vocal music, physical training, civil government, ethics, thrift, and such other sub- jects as the school committee consider expedient may be taught in the public schools." I have quoted the Revised Laws, Chap- ter 42, showing the required and the permissible subjects. Since their compilation the teaching of thrift has been made compulsory, and last year the teaching of citizenship was also made compulsory. I shall speak of this further on. School practice has put bookkeeping, algebra, geometry, the lan- guages, the sciences (general sciences, physics and chemistry), agriculture and civil government into the high school years. Acton pupils get no kindergarten training; their manual train- ing, sewing and cooking come in the high school years; they
14
get no physical training of permanent value; only in the mat- ter of vocal music are the permissible subjects recognized in our elementary schools.
This year the war has laid its hands upon our schools and added to the responsibilities of our teachers. Pupils have been and are to be urged to do their bit in gardening and in the con- servation of food. The meaning of Liberty Bonds has been explained to them and they have been asked to explain to their parents in the hope that parents would see the advantage as well as the patriotism involved in the purchase of these bonds. The Y. M. C. A. movement was explained ; the Red Cross drive was advertised; and the superintendent has been authorized and urged to sell the War Savings stamps throughout the dis- trict. Every child is to have an opportunity to do something, however little, for the great cause for which the United States is laboring, and no efforts will be spared to inculcate in the minds of the children in the schools the principles of true patriotism so vital to the future welfare of this, our country.
The United States Fuel Administration has designated January 30, 1918, as a National "TAG-YOUR-SHOVEL- DAY," when all school children will be provided with tags for themselves and their neighbors to attach to their coal shovels. The tags will be distributed by the superintendent of schools.
Schools are warned against many mushroom organizations collecting money for war-relief. The Red Cross has been named as the one organization through which such contribu- tions should be made with confidence that money so collected would be used in a manner corresponding to the claims of the organization.
Schools are urged to form Junior Red Cross societies. One at least has been formed in West Acton schools.
It will thus be seen that many extra school activities are demanding our attention. They will be met with as little con- fusion as possible. They demand study on the part of teachers, and time on the part of both teachers and pupils, to accomplish their object without seriously affecting the program of the schools. This study and time we shall give cheerfully ; for even the children realize that the war must be won, and that the winning of the war abroad depends upon the determination to win here.
The teaching of citizenship must be founded upon the old- fashioned virtues. One without character cannot claim to be a good citizen, however loudly he shouts for the things good men and women desire for their town. But to character he must add some intelligent understanding of the community needs and some more or less expert knowledge of the apparatus and machinery and expense necessary to meet those needs. In this connection the water system, the electric light plant, the man-
.
15
agement of the roads, the value of food products, the disposal of waste and garbage, etc., become legitimate subjects of study by the children in their preparation for the duties of citizen- ship. In the upper grades they must acquire some exact know -- ledge of the duties of the officers at the heads of departments, whether town, state or national, and of the manner of electing them. Almost insensibly community civics extend into civil government. The teaching of citizenship is now required, and: it is a great task. Teachers' meetings for the remainder of the school year will be devoted to its solution-if such be possible. No doubt a text book for the upper grades will be desirable and I shall recommend one later that seems best adapted to our needs.
Every school building has been supplied with a set of blanks for every possible kind of work certificate. The teach- ers have been instructed in their use and requirements. Parents and employers should cooperate in making the prelimi- nary requirements plain to those who desire positions between the ages of fourteen and sixteen, and between sixteen and twenty-one. The order between fourteen and sixteen is:
1. The promise of employment (A card).
2. The physician's certificate of health (The reverse side of promise of employment card).
3. The school record.
4. The birth certificate.
With the above cards the child may get from the super- intendent of schools-or at the present time from Mr. Frank W. Hoit of South Acton, also-the final certificate, the employ- ment certificate.
If over sixteen and under twenty-one the child may get an educational certificate from the same sources by presenting the promise of employment card and the birth certificate.
If the birth certificate is not obtainable, evidence of age may be offered in the following order :
1. Baptismal record (Attested transcript).
2. Passport, attested immigration record (Attested tran- script) ; other official or religious record.
3. Register of school first attended in state.
4. Authorized physician's certificate.
It should help to make a better citizen of one to knowv ex- actly how to go about the important business of getting a job with the least trouble to himself and others. Efficiency itself. is summed up in these words: Knowing how to do things with the least trouble to yourself and others.
The interior of the South school house has been made very attractive by its new coat of paint. In one or two places, how- ever, the roof needs repairing if the ceilings and walls within. are to be preserved spotless for any length of time. Much
16
- credit belongs to Miss Taylor, the supervisor of drawing, in the final. selection of the color schemes.
So many of the children of South Acton bring their lunches that the problem of furnishing a place to eat in became acute last winter. A room over the upper hallway was parti- tioned. off, but proved inadequate both in the matter of space and heating. The children were then allowed to eat in one of the school rooms, bringing a newspaper or napkin to keep the crumbs from the desks and floor. For a time one of the teach- ers remained in charge, but afterwards arrangements were made for the janitor to stay in the room during lunch time. The arrangement was much more satisfactory than any that had been followed previously, and will continue practically the same this winter.
The increased cost of living has raised the question whether or not fourteen or fifteen dollars per week is sufficient salary for even the average inexperienced teacher with the de- gree of training required-four years of high school and two or three years of normal school, or four at college. Teachers, generally, think not. They are answering the question in a con- crete way by leaving the profession. Mill girls in one of my towns are receiving more per week than the teachers in the school one hundred yards distant. Tool makers with only a grammar school education receive a yearly salary far in excess of college men who are teachers. Where then is the force of the argument for keeping boys and girls in the schools if their remuneration at the end is to be less than that of workers in other occupations? I ask this question with all respect for those who work with their hands, as well as for those of mod- erate education (in the school), but of extraordinary talents who have won deserved success in special lines. Speaking com- paratively, teaching is becoming more and more a poorly paid profession except for certain experts-and all may not be experts. The average teacher this year is very much better than the average teacher twenty years ago, but she can never be the expert, though she does the work the expert devises. She is the teacher we are familiar with, and we should be glad to have her with us. But I believe that a contented and hope- ful mind is of the same importance in the schoolroom as in the home of the wage earner-and only the best work can be done and the highest ideals entertained when the mind is clear to act above the petty disturbances the lack of sufficient income al- ways causes. Every teacher in Acton ought to receive at least six hundred fifty dollars a year. And even this, averaged for fifty-two weeks, amounts to but $12.50 per week. Principals now receive $570, and other teachers $532. To give the prin- cipals $675 per year and all other teachers $650 would mean an annual increase of $1,141. But I earnestly recommend that
17
increase, to begin immediately after the town appropriates suf- ficient funds. There are certainly men enough in this town who have daughters ambitious to be teachers, or at least appre- ciate the value of the service of teaching to the community to convince the voters of the justice and necessity of this request.
In concluding this report I have to thank you and the teachers for the universal courteous support of the year, and the townspeople for their indulgence and good will.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK H. HILL,
Superintendent of Schools.
Acton, January 17, 1918.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. F. H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools: :
Dear Sir-I herewith submit my second annual report of the work in music in the Acton schools.
I have not made any definite changes in the plan of work this year and for the most part the music is progressing satisfactorily.
Great stress has been laid on tone-quality during the past year, and a gratifying improvement in that respect is notice- able in nearly every room this term.
Individual singing in the lower grades has been continued, resulting in a larger percent of independent singers and also better class singing.
We have also secured better work in part-singing this term. Last year we were able to have three-part singing in only one school, and this year we have it in all three schools.
I wish to thank the teachers and superintendent for their interest and cooperation.
Respectfully submitted, MILDRED L. BRENNON, Supervisor of Music.
Lowell, Mass., December 14, 1917.
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Superintendent F. H. Hill :
Dear Sir-I herewith submit my sixth report of drawing in the Acton public schools.
The drawing course has been somewhat the same as that of last year. We have accomplished a great deal under the picto- rial, decorative and a little in mechanical drawing.
I will give a general synopsis of the whole course:
A. Landscapes in pencil, crayon, and water color: (a) Applied to covers of books, compositions, posters, postcards and book plates for decoration.
18
B. Decorative art in pencil, pen and ink, crayons, and water-color : (a) Horizontal, vertical, oblique and curved lines used to form designs; (b) Lines applied to borders, posters, ·surface patterns, book covers, dress goods, paper boxes, tiles, ihome furnishings.
C. Interior decoration : (a) Plans for living room; (b) Color schemes for woodwork, walls, ceilings, and floors in dark and light rooms; (c) Correctly designed furniture for ordinary homes and the proper placing of furniture in a room; (d) Win- dow hangings and portieres; (e) Proper pictures for living iroom and mantle ornaments; (f) Floor coverings.
D. Perspective principles, applications and renderings ; (a) Object drawing in three elevations : 1. Applied to posters for decoration; 2. Applied to book covers; (b) Street scenes, railroad tracks, buildings; (c) Quick sketches of objects with and without models.
E. Mechanical drawing : (a) Working drawings and their application to wood making tiles, plant sticks, book racks, paper knives; (b) Compass practice making geometric figures. for working drawings and design; (c) Lettering for posters, book-covers, cards, etc.
This comprises, the work for the year and I feel that we have all had a very successful year's work.
I thank the teachers, superintendent and all who have made the year's work pleasant.
Respectfully yours, MARION CELESTE TAYLOR.
101 Comonwealth Avenue, Concord Junction, Mass.
ROLL OF HONOR
Not Absent or Tardy for One Year
South Acton-Sylvia Stannard.
Acton Center-Amelia Marsh.
REPORT OF SIGHT AND HEARING TEST
School examined
Number
Enrolled
Defective
3 8 ~ Eyesight
Defective
0 0 · · Hearing
Parents
1 - Notified
West
84
Center
72
South
134
1
9
Totals
290
18
1
17
19
SCHOOL CENSUS, 1917
Boys
Total
Number children between 5 and 7 ..:
22
Girls 25
47
Number children between 7 and 14 ..
138
121
259:
33
24
57:
Number children between 14 and 16 . Number minors between 14 and 16 who cannot read at sight and write leg- ibly simple sentences in the English language
0
0
0
Number of illiterate children 16 years of age or over, and under 21 years of age
0
0
0
Total
193
170
363
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS' REPORT!
South
West
Center
Number of cases investigated
22
1
0
Number returned to school
19
0
0
Number committed to truant school
0
0
0
Estimated cost
$12.80
50€
0
SCHOOL SAVINGS
Number Depositors
Amount Collected!
South Acton
88
$177.36
West Acton
63
122.65
Acton Center
30
167.80
Total
181
$467.81
Number Graduated from Grammar Schools
Boys
Girls
Total
South Acton
8
4
12
West Acton
4
7
11
Acton Center
4
4
8
Totals
16
15
31
20
Acton Pupils in Concord High
Class of Class of Class of Class of
1918
1919
1920
1921
Total
Commercial course
1
5
10
7
23
College course
2
0
5
15
22
General course
1
2
0
0
3
Scientific course
0
2
1
0
3
Domestic Arts course
5
2
3
5
15
Mech'ics Arts course
6
1
9
2
18
Agricultural course .
1
2
1
0
4
Total
16
14
29
29
88
Number Entering Concord High, September, 1917
Boys
Girls
Total
Acton Center
2
2
4
South Acton
8
5
13
West Acton
2
6
8
Easť Acton
1
3
4
Totals
13
16
29
-
STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1916-1917
School
Grades
Different Pupils
Enrolled
Total Membership
Aggregate
Attendance
Average Daily
Average
Membership
No. between
5 and 7
No. between
7 and 14
No. between
14 and 16
Number
under 5
Number
over 16
West
1-2-3
19
14
35
4919.5
27.23
30.90
8 10
11
4
4-5
9
12
23
3482.0
19.09
21.74
0
0
9
12
6-7-8
16
20
37
5659.0
30.53
33.84
0 0
14
17
2
3
South
1-2
17
16
34
4560.5
25.1
28.90|10 12
7
4
3-4
20
22
45
6383.5|
36.8
40.00
0
0
19
22
1
0
5-6
17
13
32
4527.5
24.85
27.56
0
0
16
13
1
0
7-8
22
11
35
5361.0
29.6
30.03
0
0
18
11
4
0
Center
1-2-3
16
16
37
4567.5
25.30
27.81
6
8
9
7
1
0
1
0
4-5-6
23
11
40
5474.0
30.32
33.03
0
0
22
11
0
0
0
0
0
7-8
11
10
21
2765.5
15.38
19.00
0
0
0087
0
0
210
3
Total
....
BG
BGBGB
G
BGBG
21
0
170 145 339 47700.0 264.20 292.81 24 30 |125 101 17 |10|0 1| 4 3
Attendance
INDEX
Assessors' Report 48
Board of Health
52
Cemetery Commissioners
62
Collector's Report
49
Inspector of Animals
53
Library Trustee's Report
Librarian's Report List of Books Added
54 55 55 51
Overseers of the Poor
26
Town Accountant's Report
Town Clerk's Report
Births
Marriages
Deaths
21 24 23
Non-Resident Burials
Town Officers
3
Town Meetings
8
Town Warrant
6
Treasurer's Report
45
Wilde Library Fund
47
Cemetery Funds
47
Tree Warden
53
Trustees Goodnow Fund
50
SECOND SECTION
School Report
1
School Calendar
3
Special Exercises and Holidays
3
School Officers and Teachers
4
Standing Rules
4
General Report
6
Financial Statement
7
Superintendent's Report
12
Supervisor of Drawing 17
Supervisor of Music 17
Roll of Honor 18
Statistical Tables
19
Selectmen's Report
27 16 17 18
Dog Licenses
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31
1918
F
1735.
ACTON,
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1919
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31
1918
ONI
.1735.
ACTON.
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1919
TOWN OFFICERS, 1918
Selectmen
Charles J. Holton Warren H. Jones
William H. Kingsley
Term expires 1921
Term expires 1920 Term expires 1919
Town Clerk Horace F. Tuttle
Town Treasurer Frank W. Hoit
Assessors
James B. Tuttle
Arthur M. Whitcomb
Ralph W. Piper
. Term expires 1921 . Term expires 1920 Term expires 1919
Overseers of the Poor
William H. Kingsley Warren H. Jones Charles J. Holton
Collector of Taxes Arthur M. Whitcomb
Tree Warden James O'Neil
John T. McNiff
Constables James N. Berry Oliver D. Wood
Field Drivers
John T. McNiff
James N. Berry
Oliver D. Wood
Charles J. Holton
Fence Viewers Warren H. Jones William H. Kingsley
Cemetery Commissioners
Julian Tuttle . Term expires 1921
Fred W. Green Term expires 1920
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1919
School Committee
Edwin A. Phalen
Term expires 1920
Herbert W. Lewis Term expires 1921
Bertram E. Hall Term expires 1919
Trustees Memorial Library
J. Sidney White . Term expires 1920 Lucius A. Hesselton Term expires 1921 Horace F. Tuttle . Term expires 1919
3
Board of Health
Edwin A. Phalen
Term expires 1920
Frank E. Tasker
Term expires 1921
Theron F. Newton
Term expires 1919
Finance Committee Edgar H. Hall Asaph Merriam
James B. Tuttle
Horace F. Tuttle
Arthur M. Whitcomb
APPOINTED BY THE SELECTMEN
Superintendent of Streets Albert H. Perkins
Town Accountant Howard L. Jones
Registrars of Voters
Lewis Willard
Term expires 1919
James McGreen
Term expires 1921
George E. Holton Term expires 1920
Horace F. Tuttle, ex-officio
Election Officers Precinct 1
Warden James W. Coughlin
Deputy Warden
. Edwin A. Phalen
Clerk Horace F. Tuttle
Deputy Clerk Moses E. Taylor
Inspector Arthur F. Davis
Deputy Inspector Willis L. Holden
Inspector James O'Neil
Deputy Inspector
William C. Coughlin
Precinct 2
Warden
Lucius A. Hesselton
Deputy Warden
Theron F. Newton. . Clerk Lorenzo E. Reed
Deputy Clerk .James McGreen
Inspector Lewis C. Hastings
Deputy Inspector Frank A. Merriam
Inspector . Constance O'Neil
Deputy Inspector Benjamin W. Ineson
Precinct 3.
Warden
. Charles J. Holton
Deputy Warden Bertram D. Hall
Clerk
William L. Tenney
4
Deputy Clerk Edwin T. Swift Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb Deputy Inspector Charles H. Mead Inspector . . John T. McNiff
Deputy Inspector Guy P. Littlefield
Cattle Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb
Fire Engineers William H. Kingsley, Chief Precinct 1
Fred W. Billings, 1st Asst. Arthur F. Harris, 2nd Asst. E. P. Gates, 3rd Asst. Precinct 2
Nelson J. Cole, 1st Asst. E. C. Page, 2nd Asst. W. H. Jones, 3rd Asst.
Precinct 3
C. D. Cram, 1st Asst. A. B. Parker, 2nd Asst. W. J. Costello, 3rd Asst.
Forest Warden William H. Kingsley
Deputy Forest Wardens All the above named assistant Fire Engineers
Surveyors of Lumber and Measurers of Wood and Bark J. W. Dupee
Bertram D. Hall E. C. Cheney
Charles E. Smith George H. Reed Frank A. Merriam
Public Weighers
J. P. Fletcher M. E. Taylor E. C. Cheney E. F. Conant Thomas Hearon George H. Reed William H. Teele Howard G. Reed
Sealer of Weights and Measures Theron F. Newton
Superintendent of Moth Work James O'Neil
Police Officers
Charles A. Taylor John T. McNiff
Oliver D. Wood James N. Berry
Inspector of Slaughter Houses Edward S. Fobes
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex, ss.
RATED
ONI
-1735.
ACTON.
'To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton.
GREETING :
In the name of the Commonwealth you are hereby re- quired and directed to notify and warn the inhabitants of said town who are qualified to vote in elections and town affairs therein, to meet in the town hall in said town, on Monday, the third day of March, 1919, at 9 o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 1. To choose a moderator to preside at said meeting.
Article 2. To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following named town officials, to wit : One town clerk for one year, one selectman for three years, three overseers of the poor for one year, one town treasurer for one year, five members of the finance committee for one year, one collector of taxes for one year, one tree warden for one year, four constables for one year, four field drivers for one year, three fence viewers for one year, one assessor for three years, one trustee for the Memorial library for three years, one cemetery commissioner for three years, one member of the board of health for three years, five members of the school committee. Also on the same ballot to vote Yes or No on the following question : "Shall licenses be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in the town ?''
The polls will be open at 9.30 a. m., and may be closed at 4 p. m.
Article 3. To choose all town officers not named in Article 2, and fix salaries of all town officers.
Article 4. To see if the town will accept the reports of the various town officials.
Article 5. To hear and act on the reports of any commit- tees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.
Article 6. To see what sums of money the town will raise by taxation and appropriate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several departments of the town.
6
Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will appro- priate for the enforcement of the liquor law, or act anything thereon.
Article 8. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the due observance of Memorial day.
Article 9. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.
Article 10. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires and fix the price, or act anything thereon.
Article 11. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town, or act anything thereon.
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