Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920, Part 25

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1916
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 512


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920 > Part 25


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Mather, F .- Modern fish culture in fresh and salt water Maynard, S. T .- Landscape gardening as applied to home decoration 71M4711 973M558t 914M645m 918M939u


Mereness, N. D .- Travels in the colonies


Millard, B .- The Mediterranean cruise


Mozans, H. J .- Up the Orinoco and down the Magdalena Orth, S. P .- Five American politicians ; a study in the evo- lution of American politics Packard, W .- Old Plymouth trails


921077f 917.3P1190 27P147a


Paine, T .- Age of reason


McConnell, J. R .-- Flying for France with the American Escadrille at Verdun 940M129f 78M138w 940M145g 940M476g 63M427m


Lossing, B .- Our country


57


Parquin, C .- Napoleon's victories, 1803-1814 944P274n


Payne, G. H .- History of journalism in the United States 973P346h Perry, L. D .- Seat weaving 68P463s


Peters, C .- The Eldorado of the ancients 916.7P481e 14P611s


Picton, J. A .- Spinoza, a handbook to the ethics


Presland, J .- Lynton and Lynmouth


Richardson, R. C .- West Point


914.2P9341 35R524w 914.8R4810


Roberts, G. S .- Historic towns of the Connecticut river valley 973.2R644h 918R697i


Rodway, J .- In the Guiana forest


Roosevelt, K .- War in the garden of Eden


940R781w


Scott, E. J .- Scott's official history of the American negro in the World war


940S425s


Service, C. M .- Parks and memorials of the State of Illinois 977.3S591p 922S534s


Shaw, A. H .- The story of the pioneer


Shelley, H. C .- The British museum; its history and treasures 914.2S545b 955S562s


Shuster, W. M .- The strangling of Persia


Sirois, E. D. and McGinnis, W .- Smashing through the


World war with fighting battery C, 102 F. A. Y. D. 940S619≤


Smith, J. H .- Our struggle for the fourteenth colony, Can- ada and the American Revolution. Two volumes 973.3S6510


Smith, R. H .- Justice and the poor


Steele, Z .- The Indian captive


Stobart, S. and C .- The flaming sword in Serbia and else- where 940S863f


Stone, G .- Wales, her origins, struggles and later history, institutions and manners 942.9S877w


Townsend, M .- An index to the United States of America 973T754a Townsend, W. G. P .- Embroidery, or the craft of the needle 74T752e


Tunney, T. J .- Throttled, the detection of the German and Anarchist bomb plotters in the United States 940T926t 940V235w 61W 446m 36W556s


Vanderlip, F. A .- What happened to Europe Welham, S .- A manual for nurses


Wheat, G. S .- The story of the American Legion


Wharton, A. H .- English ancestral homes of noted Americans 914.2W553e 973.2W724r 917.3W724a


Williams, J .- The redeeemed captive returning to Zion Williams, J. D .- America illustrated


Wood, E. F .- The note-book of an intelligence officer Wood, E. F .- The note-book of an attaché


940W875n 940W875no


Woodbury, C. H .- Painting and the personal equation 75W 884p Young, S. H .- Adventures in Alaska 917.3Y76a 55Z66p


Ziegler, V .- Popular oil geology


34S657j 973.2S814i


Riis, J. A .- The old town


58


FICTION


Ashmun, M .- Isabel Carleton in the West


Bacheller, I .- A man for the ages


Bassett, S. W .- The harbor road


B612w


Bower, B. M .- Her prairie knight


B786h


Bower, B. M .- The flying U's last stand


B786fl


Bower, B. M .- The heritage of the Sioux


B786he


Bower, B. M .- The lookout man


B7861q


Bower, B. M .- The quirt


B786q


Bower, B. M .- The uphill climb


B786u


Brown, A .- The black drop


B8773bl


Chambers, R. W .- The crimson tide


C444cr


Chambers, R. W .- The slayer of souls


C444sl


Cooper, J. A .- Cap'n Abe, storekeeper


C777ca


Cooper, J. A .- Tobias o' the light


C777t


Cullum, R .- The heart of Unaga


C967h


Curwood, J. O .- The river's end


C982r


Day, H .- The rider of the king log


D273r


Dell, E .- The lamp in the desert


D3571


Dix, B. M .- Hands off !


D619h


Dorrance, E. and J .- Flames of the Blue Ridge


D716f


DuBois, M. C .- Comrade Rosalie


D816e


Durkin, D .- The heart of Cherry McBain


D919h


Fletcher, J. S .- The middle temple murder


F613m


Galsworthy, J .- The dark flower


G178d G349c


George, W. L .- Caliban


G548bu


Glasgow, E .- Life and Gabriella


G5481


Gregory, J .- The bells of San Juan


G822b


Grey, Z .- The man of the forest


G842m


Hitchens, R .- Mrs. Marden


H626nı


Johnston, Sir H .- The Gay-Dombeys


J735g


King, B .- The city of comrades


K521c


Leverage, H .- Whispering wires


L659W


Lewis, S .- Free air


L676ť


Lincoln, J. C .- The Portygee


L7372po


Lutz, G. L .- Exit Betty


L975ex


MacGrath, H .- The man with three names


M147m


MacGrath, H .- The yellow typhoon


M1477


MacKowan-Janet of the Kootenay


M159j


Merrick, L .- Conrad in search of his youth


M569c


Merrick, L .- Cynthia


M569cy


Merrick, L .- The actor manager


M569a


Montgomery, L. M .- Further chronicles of Avonlea


M787f


Mundy, T .- The ivory trail


M965i


Norris, K .- Harriet and the piper


N856ha


Ollivant, A .- Boy Woodburn


0425


Oppenheim, E. P .- A millionaire of yesterday


062mi


Bindloss, H .- The wilderness mine


A827i B121m B319h


Glasgow, E .- The builders


59


Oppenheim, E. P .- The Cinema murder


062ci


Oppenheim, E. P .- The great impersonation


062g


Oppenheim, E. P .- The wicked marquis


062wi


Ostrander, I .- Ashes to ashes


085a


Ostrander, I .- The twenty-six clues


085ť


Packard, F. L .- The night operator


P119n®


Paine, R. D .- Ships across the sea


P146sh


Parrish, R .- The mystery of the silver dagger


P261my


Porter, E. H .- Mary Marie


P844ma


Richardson, N .- The world shut out


R524w


Richmond, G .- Red and black


R532re


Rinehart, M. R .- The amazing interlude


R579am


Robins, C .- Camilla


R657ca


Rockwell, F. F .- The key to the land


R684k


Rowland, H. C .- The pedler


R883p


Shed, G. C .- The iron furrow


S541i


Sidgwick, A .- Salt of the earth


S568s


Steele, C. K .- The diamond cross mystery


S814d


Swinnerton, F .- Nocturne


S978n


Swinnerton, F .- September


S978$


Tarkington, B .- Ramsey Milholland


T176r


Tracy, L .- The Bartlet mystery


T761b


Tracy, L .- Number seventeen


T761n


Wallace, E .- Green rust


W188g


Wallace, E .- Kate plus 10


W188k


Wallace, E .- The secret house


W 188s


Walpole, H .- The dark flower


W218d


Walpole, H .- The golden scarecrow


W218g


Walpole, H .- The green mirror


W218gr


Walpole, H .- The secret city


W218s


Ward, F .- The singing heart


W259s W 453g


Wells, C .- The gold bag


Wells, C .- The man who fell through the earth


W453mb


Wells, C .- The mark of Cain


W 453mc


Wells, C .- Patty and Azalea


W453pp


Wells, C .- The white alley


· W453w


Weston, G .- Mary minds her business


W535m


White, W. P .- Lynch lawyers


W58921


Williams, B. A .- The sea bride


W721s:


Willsie, H .- The forbidden trail


W741f


Wodehouse, P. G .- A damsel in distress JUVENILE


W838d


Altsheler, J. A .- The lords of the wild


JA46910


Bishop, A .- Bob Thorpe, sky fighter in Italy


JB622b


Bishop, A .- Bob Thorpe, sky fighter in the Lafayette fly- ing corps Blanchard, A. E .- A little maid of Picardy


JB622bo


JB639li


JB639lu'


Blanchard, A. E .- Lucky Penny of Thistle troop Cadby, C .- Puppies and kittens and other stories


JC121p


.


60


Canfield, F. C .- The refugee family


D'Aulnoy, C .- The children's fairyland JD239c JD996b


Dyer, W. A .- Ben, the battle horse


Eaton, W. P .- On the edge of the wilderness


JE140 JF879u


Hagedon, H .- The boy's life of Theodore Roosevelt


J9R7811


Haines, D. H .- The dragon-flies Ingersoll, E .- The Raisin Creek Exploring club


JH152d JI47r JK291c


Kescel, D. T .- The adventures of Dal Hamilton


JK42a


Lange, D .- The Shawnee's warning


JL274s JL3221


Large, L. A .- Little people who became great


JM115d


MacArthur, R. B .- Daisy Parker, T. D .- The air raider


JP243a


Roosevelt, T .- Theodore Roosevelt's letters to his children


JR781i


Scoville, S .- Boy Scouts in the wilderness


JS432b


Sheridan, S. N .- Billy Vanilla


JS552b


Theiss, L. E .- The hidden aerial


JT376hi


Theiss, L. E .- The young wireless operator afloat


JT376y


Walsh, G. E .- The boy vigilantes of Belgium


JW224b


Weeks, A. D .- Squaw Point


JW395s


BOUND MAGAZINES


Atlantic-January-June, 1919.


Atlantic-July-December, 1919.


Century-May-October, 1919.


Harper's-December, 1918-May, 1919.


Harper's-June-November, 1919.


Popular Mechanics-January-June, 1919.


Popular Mechanics-July-December, 1919.


Review of Reviews-January-June, 1919.


St. Nicholas-May-October, 1919.


Scientific American-January-June, 1919.


Scientific American-July-December, 1919.


Seribner's-January-June, 1919.


World's .Work-May-October, 1919.


REFERENCE


Acton Town Reports-1910-1915.


American and English Geneaologies in the Library of Congress.


Annual Report Smithsonian Institution-1917-1918.


Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Book of the United States. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.


Chamber's Encyclopedia, edition 1894 -- 10 volumes.


Cyclopedia of Useful and Entertaining Knowledge. General Acts of Massachusetts-1919. Heroes All.


Journal, House of Representatives of Massachusetts-1919.


JC2221r


Frentz, E. W .- Uncle Zeb and his friends


Kelland, C. B .- Catty Atkins


61


Journal of the Senate of Massachusetts-1919.


List of the Washington Manuscripts in the Library of Congress. Manual for the General Court-1920.


Mr. Adams' Sermon on the Death of Col. John Edwards.


Municipal Finances of Massachusetts-1917.


Peloubet's Select Notes-1921.


Proceedings U. S. National Museum-2 volumes.


Proceedings G. A. R. Department Massachusetts-1919.


Report Bank Commissioners of Massachusetts Department Savings Banks.


Report Librarian of Congress.


Special Acts of Massachusetts-1919.


Thirty-third Report Interstate Commerce Commission.


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31


1920


FE


ONI


1735.


2.c


FACTON ..


THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1921


SCHOOL CALENDAR


1921


March 18. Winter term closes.


March 28. Spring term opens.


June 17. Spring term closes.


1921-'22


Sept.


5. Fall term opens.


Thanksgiving recess : Thanksgiving and the day following.


Nov. 28. Winter term begins. Vacation : Christmas week and week following, school be- ginning January 2, 1922.


LEGAL HOLIDAYS


January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, July 4, First Monday of September, October 12, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. (The day following when any of the first four days mentioned, the 12th of October or Christmas occurs on Sunday.)


Arbor Day falls on the last Saturday in April and is not a legal holiday.


Flag Day falls on June 14, and is not a legal holiday. It should le observed by proper exercises by any school in session on that day.


3


STANDING RULES


*Rule 1. Children under five years shall not be admitted to the public schools.


Rule 2. Pupils shall be promoted from grade to grade and school to school according to merit. Thorough and satisfactory work will be required of pupils in a lower grade or school before entering a higher grade or school.


Rule 3. Children who have not previously attended any school shall be admitted to the public schools only at the beginning of the fall term, unless qualified in the opinion of the teacher and superin- tendent of schools to do the work.


Rule 4. Pupils shall be held responsible for books loaned to them until returned to the teacher.


Rule 5. No repairs shall be made upon the public property in the care of the school committee except by their authorized agents.


Rule 6. There shall be no signal for "no school" on stormy or other inclement days, but parents shall determine in their individual cases whether it is expedient to send their children to school or not.


*When the birthday of a child falls on or before the fifteenth day of the month it is reckoned as falling upon the first day of that month.


ORGANIZATION


School Committee


Harry N. Brown, chairman Term expires 1921


Mrs. Alice M. Carlisle Term expires 1921


Bertram E. Hall, Secretary . Term expires 1922


Mrs. Elsie F. Parsons


Term expires 1922


Allen C. Flagg Term expires 1923


Mrs. Lily C. Case Term expires 1923


Superintendent


Herman C. Knight, Townsend, Mass.


Telephone : Townsend, 61-3; Littleton, 7-21 (Monday-Friday).


Attendance Officers


Thomas Scanlon West Acton Walter M. French South Acton


Teachers in Service, December 31, 1920


School


Teacher


Appointed


Where Educated


Home Address


Center


Martha F. Smith .... 1902 Lowell Normal


Acton


Florence M. Williams 1919 Hyannis Normal .


Norwell


Ella L. Miller . .. 1899 Framingham Normal


Acton


West


Doris M. Look . 1919 Fitchburg Normal


Leominster


Florence Geary ..... 1920 Lowell Normal


Lowell


Helmi Myllykangas .1920 Fitchburg Normal


Fitchburg


South


Florence Moore .... 1920 Fitchburg Normal


Fitchburg


Julia L. McCarthy . . 1906 Fitchburg Normal


South Acton


Jennie Stowell ..... 1907 Fitchburg Normal


South Acton


Mrs. Helen Cummings '19


Warner, N. H.


4


.


.


5


GENERAL REPORT


Following is our report of receipts and disbursements for 1920, and an estimate of our needs for 1921.


The superintendent in his report, to be found elsewhere, has taken up most of the ground usually covered by your committee's report and at a regular meeting of the committee, on February 3, 1921, it was voted to accept his report as a report of this committee.


There is one item he has not touched, however; that is, the added cost of transportation. Last September all railroad fares were in creased, and in November your committee was petitioned by a very large number of residents of Acton Center and North Acton for better transportation for the high school children from those districts. It was represented that great hardship was entailed by these scholars, owing to the infrequency of train service to and from Concord and they asked for transportation over the road by auto barge. Your committee felt the justice of their complaints and after some inquiry, arrangements were made with Mr. George Noyes to transport these scholars by auto barge, at a cost of $35 per week.


ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1921


For general expenses :


Salaries and other expenses of the com- mittee $175.00


Salaries and other expenses of the super- intendent and truant officers 900.00


For expenses of instruction :


Tuition of pupils attending out of town schools 11,250.00


Salaries of elementary school teachers 13,000.00


For text books :


For elementary schools it is anticipated that the amount to be received from dog tax will cover this item


1,000.00


For stationery and supplies : Elementary schools 500.00


For expenses of operating school plants : Wages of janitors, fuel and miscellaneous expenses 3,000.00


Maintenance and repairs


1,500.00


For auxiliary agencies : Health 250.00


For transportation :


High school scholars 3,100.00


Elementary scholars 2,800.00


Total


$37,475.00


6


Less estimated income, dog tax


300.00


$37,175.00


RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS FOR YEAR 1920 Massachusetts school fund $302.65


Industrial school fund


406.56


Dog tax


301.32


Superintendent of school fund


343.00


Superintendent of school fund


129.77


Tuition


70.10


Miscellaneous


92.00


Appropriation


$1,645.40 27,000.00


$28,645.40


DISBURSEMENTS


General Expenses School Committee


Salaries :


B. E. Hall, salary 1920 $100.00


Other expenses :


Samuel Ward Co.


$5.75


B. E. Hall, postage and telephone tolls


5.67


Huntley S. Turner


12.85


Wright & Potter Printing Co.


6.62


Eliz. W. Cutler


35.00


Harry N. Brown, telephone tolls


1.55


A. W. Davis


5.00


$72.44


Superintendent of Schools and Enforcement of Law Salaries : Herman C. Knight $727.60


Walter M. French


10.60


Miscellaneous


Herman C. Knight


$144.79


Ruth D. Willard


13.75


$738.20


$158.54


7


Expenses of Instruction


Town of Concord high City of Lowell


$8,356.13


583.75


City of Boston


1.00


$8,940.88


Elementary Schools :


Mrs. Helen H. Cummings


$911.62


Tennie E. Stowell


889.80


Julia L. McCarthy


865.44


Florence Moore


375.00


E. Sophia Taylor


514.80


Helmi Myllykangas


453.90


Doris M. Look


832.60


Muriel Fairchild


73.68


Gladys Farnsworth


471.90


Myrtha I. Dimlich


682.14


Ella L. Miller


986.45


Martha F. Smith


889.80


Florence M. Williams


841.48


Irma M. Durkee


143.00


Mrs. Mabel Howd


133.73


Blanche Millard


84.00


DeMerritt A. Hiscar


110.00


Grace Tucker


225.16


Irene Holt


25.00


Rachel Kimball


5.00


.


$9,514.50


Fuel


South Acton Coal & Lumber Co.


$684.41


George H. Reed


269.02


James Grimes


45.00


Hall Brothers Co.


7.50


Warren Hayward


·


8.75


$1,014.68


Miscellaneous


M. E. Taylor & Co. .


$8.25


Edw. E. Babb & Co.


4.27


W. & S. Water Supply District of Acton


37.03


Finney & Hoit


3.17


J. S. Moore


.85


Theron F. Newton


11.40


Henry C. Doughty


5.54


$70.51


8


Maintenance


Repairs


Finney & Hoit


$9.75


L. T. Fullonton


557.62


William Johnson


47.46


B. A. King


44.10


W. B. Holt


50.78


F. Z. Taylor


7.69


Theron F. Newton


1.65


Henry E. Keough


66.02


S. A. Coal & Lumber Co.


84.13


Carl Pickens .


2.50


Stone & Underhill


33.84


H. N. Brown


.40


W. H. Johns-Manville Co.


7.37


Arthur Wayne


77.80


E. A. Phalen


7.20


E. Z. Stanley


21.11


Aver Hardware Co.


27.00


$1.046.42


Text Books


Edward E. Babb & Co.


$18.73


American Book Co.


295.30


John C. Winston Co.


16.11


Silver Burdett & Co.


58.96


D. C. Heath & Co.


1.56


Lyons & Cornahan


13.73


Ginn & Co.


80.51


Hiram Parkin


7.00


Milton Bradley Co.


5.17


The Macmillan Co.


7.55


Theron F. Newton, express


1.15


$505.77


Stationery and Supplies


Edward E. Babb & Co.


$73.10


Squanicook Printing Co.


.55


J. L. Hammett & Co.


143.55


Milton Bradley Co.


56.25


Library Bureau


4.59


Ryan & Baker


40.26


C. C. Birchard Co.


4.14


Theron F. Newton. freight and express


6.21


$328.65


9


Expenses of Operating School Plants


Wages of Janitor


Theron F. Newton


$506.00


Thomas Scanlon


474.00


Carl Pickens


348.93


George Little


48.00


Lowell Jones


10.00


Auxiliary Agencies Health


George B. Robbins Dis. Co.


$100.00


F. W. Green


8.00


Theron F. Newton


1.17


.


$109.17


Transportation


High School :


Boston & Maine R. R.


$1,581.24


N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.


26.40


George E. Murphy


9.24


Ruth H. Davis


1.62


$1,618.50


Lowell Industrial :


Boston & Maine R. R. Co.


$131.34


N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. Co.


104.34


$235.68


Elementary :


Walter M. French


$370.00


A. Christofferson


615.00


Charles Edwards


860.00


!. D. Smith


860.00


$2,705.00


Total for transportation


$4,559.18


Miscellaneous Expenses


Henry C. Doughty


$42.00


('arswell Hawthorne 12.00


$54.00


New Equipment


Nelson H. Brown


$45.53


·


Total disbursements


$28,645.40


$1,386.93


10


Unpaid Bills


Town of Concord : Balance, December, 1920, tuition bill $1,479.46


Respectfully submitted, HARRY N. BROWN, Chairman,


B. E. HALL, Secretary,


ALLEN C. FLAGG,


LILLY C. CASE,


ELSIE F. PARSONS,


ALICE M. CARLISLE.


SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT


Members of the Acton School Committee :


I submit my first annual report, and the twenty-ninth report of superintendents, who have served since the town became a part of a superintendency union.


My work during the past year has marked the finishing of one school year and the beginning of another. Necessarily it has been a period of observation and study.


During the past year the schools have experienced several changes in the teaching force. Your superintendent was informed by the school committee of the resignation of Miss Muriel Fairchild, teacher of the intermediate room at the West Acton school, even be- fore he finished his duties in his former district. Late in the fall term Miss Myrtha Dimlich, who was hired to succeed Miss Fairchild, re- signed to accept a position in Lexington. One other change in the teaching force of this building occurred last summer, when Miss Eula S. Taylor accepted a position in Marblehead. Miss Helma Mylly- kangas, a teacher of experience, was hired to take her place.


At the South Acton school, Mrs. Grace Tucker of Maynard, who had substituted in the grammar room since early in the previous fall, was relieved by Mrs. Helen H. Cummings, who returned to her room in April. The opening of school in September found Miss Florence Moore teaching the primary room in the place of Miss Vera Farns- worth, who had accepted a position in Leominster.


At the Center the teaching force has remained the same all through the year, with the exception of the part time teachers of the special subjects of drawing and music ; both of whom were new to the town in September.


There are two main reasons for the frequent changes in our teaching force; the accessibility of the Acton schools to outside sup- erintendents, and the low average salaries paid to our teachers. It is true that salaries were advanced in January, and again in June, but even so, other towns are paying more to the teaching of the same grade or grades; in many instances, than we are.


The following data taken from, the report of the Special Com- mission on Teachers' Salaries appointed by Ex-Governor Coolidge, and published since August, 1920, is of interest because of the oppor.


11


tunity of studying the salary problem of several towns of nearly the same size, but located in different parts of the state.


Comparative Study of Salaries in Five Massachusetts Towns


Comparison


of


Salaries paid in


average


salaries


of teachers for 1910-11, 1915-16


certain positions, Jan. 1,


1920.


and Jan. 1, 1920


Element'y schools


Town


Population State Census


Valuation


1919


Valuation


pil 1918-19


salaries 1919, per


$1,000 valuation, '19


No. t'chers in El. Sch.


1910-'11


1915-'16


Jan. 1, 1920


P. C. increase, Jan. 1, 1920, over 1910-'11


Lowest


Medium


Highest


Acushnet


2,387|


$1,762,771|


$3,227 |$5.09|12 |$380 $527


$850 124 |$850


$850|


$850


Hull


2,290|


11,005,678


31,593


1.30 11


617


721


1,220|


98


900


1,200


1,400


Shirley


2,251|


1,635,727


7,643


2.67


6


535


485


842


57


750


850


1,000


Rehoboth


2,228|


1,178,373


3,158


5.78|12


325


347


593


82


550


600


720


Acton


(2,151|


2,151,072


6,458


3.23|10


500


509


903


81


790


889|


1,040


You will notice that the salaries of the teachers in Acton made practically no advance from 1910-11, to 1915-16, and that the increase of over 80 percent came in the next five years. You will further note that while salaries of Acton are not the lowest of the group, neither are they the highest.


Last spring the school committee appointed Dr. Annis as school physician for the South Acton school, and Dr. Mayel for the Center and West Acton schools, with very satisfactory results. The health of the child is of prime importance and whatever affects it, affects the work of the child.


During the summer vacation the grammar room, corridors and basement of the South Acton school were wired for electric lights. Later in the year the West Acton school was similarly wired.


In September a new basal reader, the Progressive Road to Read- ing, was introduced in all the lower grades of the town; new arith- metics, Essentials of Arithmetic, by Hamilton, have been placed in the six upper grades. Both readers and arithmetics were much needed, and are proving to be very satisfactory. New geographies and spell- ers should be introduced as soon as possible.


The cost of repairs and upkeep of buildings has been so great that many towns have hesitated to make repairs that were really necessary. The Acton committee has recognized that to delay paint- ing is to increase the amount of stock needed and to increase the cost of labor; with this in mind the building at South Acton was painted, on the outside. The building at the Center should receive a coat of paint during the coming summer, and the sanitary accommodations of all three schools should be painted.


A feature closely connected with the work of the schools is the club work of the Acton boys and girls. Last spring the town appro- priated money at its annual town meeting for the work of the Mid- dlesex County Farm Bureau, with the condition attached that a cer- tain sum should be spent for club work under local supervision. As a result, garden, canning, pig, poultry and home economics clubs have


1915


as of April,


(1918) per pu-


Exp. for teachers'


12


been organized through the cooperation of the schools. These clubs have been very successful, and splendid work has been done under the leadership of Mrs. Howe of South Acton.


Our boys and girls exhibited their canned products, and vege- tables from their gardens, at Acton and Waltham fairs and won many prizes. Two day trips to Amherst were awarded by the Farm Bureau to Marion Forbes and Charles Howe for excellent work done in the pig and garden clubs.


This work justifies our support because of its educational re- quirements. Club members must keep account of money expended and received. Stories of experience have to be written. The work must be finished when once begun. Beside all this, thrift and initia. tive are inculcated.


Recommendations


I recommend that the Center Acton school be painted, and that the walls and ceilings of this school be tinted.


I also recommend that the toilets of the Center and West schools be newly painted. The moral as well as sanitary effect of fresh paint in school toilets is obvious.


In concluding this report I wish to acknowledge the courteous and helpful spirit shown by the school committee, the teachers, and townspeople.


Very respectfully, HERMAN C. KNIGHT, Superintendent.


REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC


Mr. Herman C. Knight, Superintendent Acton Schools :


Dear Sir-In submitting my report as supervisor of music in the Acton schools I have discussed the work by grades, grouping them together as grades one and two, three and four, etc.


GRADES ONE AND TWO


The first thing required of the child is the ability to match tones. One-third or one-half of the class and sometimes more, will at first be unable to match tones, but a large proportion of the class will suc- ceed in matching tones during the first lesson by "playing engine." Seeming monotones have been given special attention, as many times they are the result of mental dullness or bad use of voice, which can be overcome. Much time has been spent to arouse mental preception and to establish good voice use by requiring the head tones. Out of twenty found unable to match tones in September, twelve have been corrected and eight improved.


Half of the period each week is devoted to rote songs; individual and class work.


GRADES THREE AND FOUR


Scale drills on syllables, "lu, la, la, le and lo," introduced, also Italian syllables, sequential scales drill, individually and collectively, oral tonal dictation, rote songs and introduction of sounds to prepare


13


for two-part singing. Reading from books and a monthly written test has been given.


A record of the work of each pupil is kept in order to note the progress made.


GRADES FIVE AND SIX


Scale drills on syllables, "lu, la, la, le, and lo," also Italian sylla- bles to improve tone; sequential scale drill, individually and collec- tively ; oral tonal dictation, Round's two-part singing, as well as uni. son work; reading from books and monthly written tests have been given. A record of the work, both written and oral, is kept in order to note progress of each pupil.


GRADES SEVEN AND EIGHT


Scale drills continued on vowels and also Italian syllables to im- prove tone; sequential scales, oral tonal dictation, Round's two and three-part singing ; as well as unison songs; reading from books and monthly written tests have been given. A record of the work of each pupil is kept in order to note progress.


MABEL B. HOWD, Supervisor of Music.


Acton, January 4, 1921.


REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC From September 9, 1920, to January 1st, 1921


Program :


SOUTH ACTON


10.00-10.30-Miss McCarthy. Grades 3 and 4.


10.30-11.00-Miss Moore. Grades 1 and 2.


11.00-11.30-Miss Stowell. Grades 5 and 6.


11.30-12.00-Mrs. Cummings. Grades 7 and 8. WEST ACTON


1.15-1.45-Miss Look. Grades 1, 2 and 3. Also 9.30-10.00.


1.45-2.15-Miss Geary. Grades 4 and 5. Also 10.00-10.30.


2.15-2.45-Miss Myllykangas. Grades 6, 7 and 8. Also 10.45-11.15.


ACTON CENTER


1.00-1.30-Miss Smith. Grades 1, 2 and 3.


1.30-2.00-Miss Williams. Grades 4, 5 and 6.


2.00-2.30-Miss Miller. Grades 7 and 8.


REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING


Mr. Herman C. Knight, Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Mass. :


Dear Sir-I have the honor of presenting to you the report of the supervisor of drawing for the town of Acton to consider, for the year ending December 31, 1920. This is my first report for the town of Acton.


I have taught a great deal of paper cutting, especially in the lower grades. Paper cutting is one of the best types of handwork, for the small child, or for any size child. Paper cutting helps a child


14


to develop the power of using his hands on delicate work. It also helps a child to make objects on a large scale, whereas, in drawing objects, the tendency is to make things on a small scale.


Don't be mislead! Of course the children have had drawing, with pencils and crayons, also. They have drawn animals from geometric resemblances, drawn from memory, drawn from a model, have had some figure drawing, and have drawn objects, and even people, by the use of squares.


The time allowed for drawing is one hour a week in the grades below the seventh and eighth, and in grades seven and eight, when- ever possible, an hour and thirty minutes is allowed.


In conclusion I wish to express to the teachers, my appreciation of the support I have received from them.


Respectfully submitted,


BLANCHE A. MILLARD,


Supervisor of Drawing.


REPORT OF MEDICAL INSPECTOR OF WEST AND CENTER ACTON SCHOOLS


Mr. H. C. Knight, Superintendent of Acton Schools :


Dear Sir-I submit the following report as medical inspector of West and Center Acton schools :


Number of visits from May 22nd, 1920, to January 1, 1921 : West Acton 14


C'enter 14


Number of pupils examined prior to closing for summer vacation : West Acton


74


Center 83


Number of pupils with impaired vision :


West Acton


Center 5


Number of pupils' vision corrected by glasses :


West Acton


1


Center


3


Number of pupils with imperfect hearing :


1


C'enter 2


Number of pupils' teeth needing attention :


22


Center 16


Number of pupils with both tonsils enlarged :


8


Center 13


Cases of pediculosis found in the schools :


West Acton


1


Center


4


2


West Acton


West Acton


West Acton


15


Two cases of mumps have been reported : West Acton


1


1 Center


At the present time, physical examinations are being made on all pupils, a record made of each pupil, their childhood diseases, etc. E. A. MAYELL, M. D.


ACTON PUPILS IN CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL


Course


Class 1921


Class 1922


Class 1923


Class 1924 10


Total


College .


6


11


2


29


Commercial


2


4


7


9


22


Domestic Arts


4


0


3


2


9


General


0


2


1


0


3


Scientific


1


1


1


4


7


Mechanic Arts


0


3


1


7


11


Total


13


21


15


32


81


REGISTRATION OF MINORS April 1, 1920


Males Females Total


Persons 5 to 7 years of age


43


31


74


Persons 7 to 14 years of age


135


109


244


Persons 14 to 16 years of age


36


32


68


214


172


386


MEMBERSHIP IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS As of April 1, 1920


Grade 1


43 Grade 6


30


Grade 2


37 Grade 7


43


Grade 3


33 Grade 8


30


Grade 4


46


Grade 5


33


295


16


TABLE I .- September, 1919-June, 1920


School


Teacher


Total Ave. P. C. of Grd. Mem. Mem. Dly Att. Attend.


Center .


. . |Martha F. Smith .


1-2-3


38


22.59


24.41


92.1


Florence M. Williams


4-5-6


38


30.64


27.27


89


Ella L. Miller


7-8


29


26.9


24


89.2


West


Doris M. Look


1-2-3


36


31.04


26.55


85.5


Hazel M. Stone


4-5


22


19.85


17.52


88.2


Myrtha Dimlick


Muriel Fairchild


Eula S. Taylor


6-7-8


33


30.99


26.46


85.3


South . .


Gladys Farnsworth


1-2


38


35.4


28.3


79.9


Julia L. McCarthy


3-4


37


34.3


28.9


84.2


Jennie E. Stowell


5-6


28


25.7


23.9


92.9


Helen H. Cummings .


7-8


30


28


24.78


88.5


Grace E. Tucker (Sub)


Ave.


INDEX


Assessor's Report


46


Board of Health


48


Cemetery Commissioners


Collector's Report


Cattle Inspector


Jury List Librarian's Report List of Books Added


Meat Inspector


Memorial Library Trustees


Overseers of the Poor


Selectmen's Report


Superintendent of Streets


Town Accountant's Report


Town Clerk's Report


Births


Deaths


Dog Licenses


Marriages


Non-Resident Burials


Town Meetings


2


Town Warrant


5 26


Cemetery Funds


28


Town Farm Fund


29 28


Wilde Library Fund


Tree Warden


41


Trustees Goodnow Fund


49


SECOND SECTION-


School Report :


Financial Statement


5


General Report


5


Legal Holidays


2 3


Organization


School Calendar


2


Standing Rules


3


Statistics


14


Superintendent's Report


10


Supervisor of Drawing


13


Supervisors of Music


12-13


Teachers


49 47 48 10 54 55 48 53 46 9 45 11 37 38 41 43 39 42 30


Town Officers


Treasurer's Report


WELLS BINDERY, INC.


REFERENCE BOOK ACTON MEMORIAL LIBRARY ACTON, MASSACHUSETTS 01720


OCT


1976


WALTHAM, MASS. 02154


1


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