USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1916-1920 > Part 5
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11
ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1917
For general expenses :
Salaries and other expenses of the committee $100.00
Salaries and other expenses of the superintendent and truant officer 675.00
For expenses of instruction :
Tuition of pupils attending out of town schools 8,000.00
Salaries of elementary school For textbooks:
teachers 5,865.00
For elementary schools it is antici- pated that the amount to be received from dog tax will cover this item 275.00
For stationery and supplies : Elementary schools 425.00
For expenses of operating school plants : Wages of janitors, fuel and mis- cellaneous expenses 2,000.00
Maintenance and repairs 500.00
For auxiliary agencies : Health 90.00
For transportation :
High school scholars 2,300.00
12
Elementary scholars 1,850.00
Balance 1916 tuition 1,243.04
Total $23,323.04 Less estimated income from various outside sources 1,200.00
$22,123.04
RECEIPTS ON ACCOUNT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1916
Appropriated at town meeting $18,000.00
Received from Commonwealth of Massachusetts :
Industrial school, superintendent fund, and tuition
846.46
Dog tax
319.32
Sale of old books :
Finney & Hoit
$29.42
L. D. White
2.50
E. E. Babb
25.00
56.92
Tuition :
E. Sadler
19.50
C. Gouch
15.75
Town of Stow
25.50
60.75
B. & M. R. R., refund
6.00
Total receipts
$19,289.45
13
DISBURSEMENTS
General Expenses
School Committee
Salaries :
Paid B. E. Hall, salary 1916
$75.00 Miscellaneous :
Paid News-Enterprise, printing school reports
$11.00
E. C. Page
1.35
B. E. Hall, telephone tolls, postage 6.28
$18.63
Superintendent of Schools and Enforcement of Law
Paid Frank H. Hill, superintendent . $577.50
W. M. French
3.00
Asaph Parlin 4.00
Thomas Scanlon
5.50
$590.00
Miscellaneous :
Paid Frank H. Hill, stationery and telephone
$14.05
Eleanor L. Hill, secretary to sup- erintendent 61.86
$75.91
14
Expense of Instruction
Paid Town of Concord, high $5,040.42
Town of Concord, agricultural . 573.25
City of Lowell, industrial 200.00
$5,813.67
Elementary Schools
Paid Harriet H. Gardner $570.00
E. Sophia Taylor
505.65
Ruth L. Harrington
490.00
Ella L. Miller
400.50
Martha F. Smith
520.50
Marion H. Barrett
490.00
Emma M. Halliday
547.00
Elizabeth A. Hinckley
520.50
Julia L. McCarthy
520.50
Jennie E. Stowell
520.50
Mrs. Forrest K. Howe
13.50
Alice M. Genthner
121.10
Mildred Brennan
78.98
Marion C. Taylor
212.45
Emma M. Gordon
135.00
$5,646.18
Text Books
Paid Edward E. Babb & Company . . $122.11
Ginn & Company .64
Thompson. Brown & Company . . . 21
American Book Company
9.01
Silver. Burdett & Company
10.56
The Orville-Brewer Publishing Company 3.00
The A. S. Barnes Company 1.88
D. Hennessey . 25
$147.66
15
Stationery and Supplies
Paid Finney & Hoit
$8.58
Fred S. Glines
1.45
The Industrial association
25.00
Edward E. Babb & Company
...
363.11
Ginn & Company
2.38
Huntley S. Turner
2.07
E. C. Page
.50
Dowling School Supply Company
16.10
J. L. Hammett Company
.80
Ella L. Miller
1.20
Thomas Scanlon
1.82
Tuttle & Newton
.87
$423.88
Expenses of Operating School Plants
Wages of Janitors
Paid Fred S. Glines
$380.00
Thomas Scanlon
351.00
Asaph Parlin
304.00
$1,035.00
Fuel
Paid A. H. Perkins
$22.00
W. H. Kingsley
4.00
Hall Brothers Company
1.25
S. A. Coal & Lumber Company .
735.66
T. E. Downie
14.00
L. W. Richardson
5.00
Overseers of Poor
66.25
$848.16
16
Miscellaneous
Paid M. E. Taylor & Company $7.16
W. & S. Water Supply
30.00
C. L. Chase & Son
20.70
American Woolen Company
3.60
Tuttle & Newton
. 42
H. W. Lewis 4.82
Edw. E. Babb & Company
1.12
Fred S. Glines
1.25
Hopkinson & Holden
6.00
D. Hennessey
2.00
$77.07
Maintenance
Repairs
Paid Chandler & Barber Company .. $8.10
F. Z. Taylor
4.76
E. T. Rice
108.50
Davis, King Company
2.75
C. H. Mead & Company
23.35
Tuttle & Newton
2.52
Finney & Hoit
10.20
E. A. Phalen
46.75
Thomas F. Parker
2.40
E. Z. Stanley
7.65
S. A. Coal & Lumber Company .
59.19
J. T. McNiff
. 50
$276.67
Auxiliary Agencies
Health
Paid F. S. Glines $ .50
George B. Robbins Disinfectant
17
Company
70.00
D. W. Hennessey
15.50
Asaph Parlin
1.50
$87.50
Transportation
High School :
Paid Boston & Maine R. R.
$1,491.81
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R. 433.55
H. W. Bursaw
21.30
Mrs. Fred Brill
10.68
A. H. Gilmore
2.00
$1,959.34
Lowell Industrial :
Paid B. & M. R. R.
$14.00
N. Y., N. H. & H. R. R.
71.85
$85.85
Elementary :
Paid W. M. French
$354.00
Charles Edwards
545.00
Jens Mekkelsen
532.00
A. Christofferson
418.00
$1,849.00 $3,894.19
Outlays
New Equipment : Paid West & South Water Supply Dis- trict
$42.78
E. Z. Stanley 180.00
D. Hennessey
2.00
18
William H. Kingsley
40.75 S. A. Coal & Lumber Company . 14.40
$279.93
Total disbursements
$19,289.45
Unpaid Bills
Town of Concord (balance 1916 tui-
tion) $1,243.04
Respectfully submitted,
EDWIN A. PHALEN, HERBERT W. LEWIS, BERTRAM E. HALL,
Acton, January 27, 1917.
Committee.
19
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Gentlemen of the Committee :
Following is my seventh annual report, the twenty-fifth in the series of such reports.
An attempt was made last year to raise the standard of advancement to the Concord high school over that of pre- vious years, with the policy in mind of requiring the same degree of proficiency in grade work for whatever course to be taken in the high school. The result was that several eighth grade pupils were not promoted, and are still in the Acton schools. They will no doubt go on to Concord next fall, and, with a better academic preparation, do much more satisfactory work even in the vocational subjects they may elect. In the agricultural department, age instead of rank is the standard of admission. When a boy is fourteen years of age he is eligible to enter that department whether judged to be entitled to promotion or not.
One of the standing rules of the committee is: "Chil- dren under five years of age shall not be admitted to the public schools." A child who is five in September may enter the schools and be ready to go into the high school at thir- teen. It is too young for the average child to enter high school. It is a period when such a child should be near those who know him. He is not ready for the readjustments that must come in his new environment. He is not ready to choose companions among so many new schoolmates. He is not ready to be trusted alone so many hours from home. If his choice is the agricultural department he cannot enter it until he is fourteen. The same reason should deter him from
20
entering any vocational department until he is fourteen. For these reasons I recommend that the age of entrance to the public schools be raised to six years.
For agricultural students we are being charged $130 per year, one-half of which tuition is paid by the state. For each subject outside the agricultural course, a charge of $16.00 additional is made. As the agricultural students take two subjects, English and science, in addition to the agri- cultural work, the cost to the town per pupil amounts to $97.00. The tuition received for such a course from all courses is $162.00. Add to this about $20.00 for transporta- tion and it makes the agricultural course seem an expensive one. The doubt has arisen in my mind as to whether the agricultural students can do justice to themselves in taking so much work. This may be the reason for some failures in this department in the last year.
I have held two general teachers' meetings in Acton since September. As often as once a month during the re- mainder of the year, teachers' meetings will be held, and the special subject for the year will be English, with the greatest emphasis laid upon oral expression. It is hoped that, as one result of this series of meetings, pupils will be better taught to express themselves logically and fully upon any given subject than now. The influence of this work upon written themes ought to be considerable. "Common Sense Didac- tics," by Sabin, has been selected as a book for general read- ing and discussion. In this way, I hope to make the year professionally profitable for the teachers, both by a general review of school conditions and by the special application of thought to a single subject of the program.
As work certificates and special home permits are based upon birth certificates as one condition, and upon school at- tendance of one hundred thirty days after the thirteenth birthday, as another condition, it would seem reasonable to require that children approaching their thirteenth birthday should deposit their birth certificates with the teacher as a part of the school record. Upon leaving town to acquire a
21
school residence elsewhere, the birth certificate could be. given to the child with his discharge card. More preliminary correspondence, and consequent delay, comes from the lack of a birth certificate when a work permit is desired than from any other cause. If, upon entering school, a birth certificate was deposited, and one required from pupils thirteen years of age, in a few years we should have a complete and abso- lutely correct record. Heretofore, the school register, our only immediate reference, has been very unsatisfactory evidence of birthday data.
Parents having their children educated in any town other than their legal residence should clearly pay tuition for such children. We should all make it an object to see that such parents or guardians are immediately made ac- quainted with the law relating to such pupils, that they may entertain no doubts as to the rights of the town in such cases. As it is not easy to follow up such cases after the child has left the school, as often happens during the year, the simplest way to administer this law might be to send a bill for tuition for a period of ten or twelve weeks in advance, as soon as the child is registered, the teacher to send all necessary informa- tion at once to the secretary of the school committee.
Numerous complaints of a minor nature have come to me in an indirect manner showing some friction between the management of the schools in South Acton and some of the parents of that section. Parents are usually interested to the point of complaining only when the liberties or rights of their children are affected. Liberties and rights are relative and dependent upon the liberties and rights of others, and especially it is the function of the teacher to decide under what conditions certain apparent liberties and rights may be exercised to the end that proper school discipline may be protected. So far as possible teachers are expected to con- sider the individual child and his development; but when that care involves the well being of the school, the school should have first consideration. The average teacher is less inclined to be prejudiced in favor of the individual child
22
than the fond mother; and on the other hand the average teacher is more inclined to stand erect for the school she is responsible for than the parent whose single son or daughter is the only object under her eye. I am sure that all mis- understandings could be cleared away if the parents, including the few with complaints to offer, should meet with the teachers and superintendent for a conference and ex- planation of school ideals and responsibilities. In mutual understanding the cause for any friction should be found preventable. No teacher can afford to lay herself open to the charge of being arbitrary and unreasonable, and parents should be equally anxious to avoid the imputation. I recom- mend to parents and teachers alike the get-together spirit, for the good of all.
Several text-book houses have notified me that prices will be advanced January 1, 1917. Prices of all kinds of school supplies advanced some time ago. It is not expected that the situation will change in the near future. It is pro- bable that the expenditures for books and supplies will increase rather than decrease next year. To be entirely safe seventy-five dollars should be estimated as the possible increase and added to the usual appropriation.
For the benefit of parents who think they have the right to keep children from school occasionally to help about the house and farm, I will quote, in part, the law relating to at- tendance as passed and approved March 18. 1915: "Every child between seven and fourteen years of age and every child under sixteen years of age who has not received an employment certificate . . or has not the written per- mission of the superintendent of schools . . to engage in profitable employment at home, shall attend a public day school in said city or town or some other day school approved by the school committee, during the entire time the public schools are in session. . . The superintendent of schools. or teachers in so far as authorized by said superintendent or by the school committee, may excuse cases of necessary absence for other causes not exceeding seven day sessions or
23
fourteen half-day sessions in any period of six months." And further: "Every person having under his control a child as described in section one shall cause him to attend school as therein required, and, if he fails for seven day sessions or fourteen half-day sessions within any period of six months while such control obtains, to cause such child to attend school he shall, upon complaint by an attendance of- ficer and conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars, and no physical or mental condi- tion which is capable of correction, or which renders the child a fit subject for special instruction at public charge in institutions other than public day schools, shall avail as de- fence under the provisions of this or the preceding section, unless it shall be made to appear that the defendant has employed all reasonable measures for the correction of the condition and the suitable instruction of the child. Who- ever induces or attempts to induce a child to absent himself unlawfully from school, or employs or harbors a child while school is in session, shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten, nor more than fifty dollars."
In concluding this report I have to thank the committee for their generous and continued support throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, FRANK H. HILL, Superintendent of Schools.
Acton, January 8, 1917.
24
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Superintendent Frank H. Hill :
Dear Sir-I submit the following as my fifth annual report on drawing in the schools of Acton, Mass.
Since beginning my work in the schools of Acton I have been very much encouraged by the enthusiasm with which most of our pupils take hold of the work. I can watch from year to year, the improvement and advancement in the in- dividual pupils. I also can recall a few pupils, that simply ignored art at first, but now are some of my best workers. Some are still continuing their good work at the Concord high school. The work of this year has progressed as well as I could expect under the several difficulties we have to contend with, but I do feel, that better work can be accom- plished, if the grade teachers would only have the pupils be more particular. In some cases the papers show untidy- ness and carelessness. That can be overcome in time I feel very sure.
I do not think that I need to repeat the work covered from grade to grade, as it is very much the same as last year's work, with few exceptions. I will say here, though, that I am trying to make the art subject as practical as pos- sible this year by introducing household furnishings, or the study of interior decoration. I am hoping to teach the girls and boys of this town to have very orderly homes and rooms of their own. We are working out drawings of a side of a room and choosing a good color scheme for that picture ; we also are learning how to group objects on a mantel or on the table, to avoid an unbalanced effect or a crowded appearance.
25
Appropriate shades and draperies are chosen and draped artistically, pictures are hung correctly on the wall. In a short time I feel that the pupils will understand the subject quite well. Both boys and girls are interested in this sub- ject, as they can design an imaginary room of their own. After all this work I feel that the Acton schools lack training in any vocation; our boys and girls should be taught sewing and manual training on a small scale. At South Acton the principal of the school has been struggling along with sew- ing, on a small scale, but she has done well under the condi- tions she has to contend with. At Acton Center there is a nice sewing machine, but nobody can spare the time to use it, and at West Acton neither sewing or manual training work have been attempted at all, owing to shortage of time and having three grades in the grammar room.
I could go ahead with this work and devote a half-day in each village if the committee agreed to have the work carried out, but I could not do the work on the present sal- ary. At West Acton a few benches could be put up, in the vacant room and a few tools could be bought for a small amount of money, and some packing boxes could be used up to supply pupils with lumber. A number of articles can be made from cigar boxes, so the expense would not be very heavy.
At South Acton and Acton Center we do not have the extra room, which we have at West Acton, but I know some work can be done and the town would not regret the extra expense, which would not be very heavy. I have felt for some time that the elementary grades are not getting all they should along the vocational line in their education. Some pupils going to Concord high school, taking the me- chanics art course and domestic science course, are unprepared.
I hope that this matter will be considered so we may give our boys and girls in Acton a better education.
In closing my report I wish to thank all that have co-
26
operated and helped to make my work a success throughout the year.
Respectfully submitted, MARION CELESTE TAYLOR, Supervisor of Drawing.
Acton, December 28th, 1916.
27
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. F. H. Hill, Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir-I herewith present my first report of the work in music in the Acton schools. I think that the first three grades cover the most important period of development in music, for the foundation of sight reading and proper tone production is established in these grades.
We are devoting much time in the lower grades to indi- vidual work and every new problem that is presented is being drilled individually. If pupils become able to sing independently in the lower grades the most difficult problem of upper grade work will be solved-that is, part singing.
I have found it advisable in the work of the first four years to give a separate lesson to each grade, even where there are two grades in a room. If two grades sing together the lower grade allows itself to be carried along instead of doing independent work.
All pupils, when they leave the grammar school, should be able to sing correctly in parts the familiar songs, the songs of the people, that are being so widely used in promot- ing "Community Music." We are spending considerable time in the seventh and eighth grades learning these songs. The majority of pupils will eventually become listeners, not performers, and they should be taught to understand and appreciate the best in music. The victrola is of great help in this line of work and in connection with its use I plan to take up the lives and works of famous composers, instru- ments of the orchestra and band, and music forms, such as opera and oratorio.
I wish to thank the teachers and superintendent for their interest and co-operation in carrying on the work.
Respectfully submitted,
MILDRED L. BRENNON, Supervisor of Music.
28
ROLL OF HONOR
Not Absent or Tardy for One Year
West Primary-Haverlock Schnair.
West Intermediate-Warren Boyce.
Center Primary-Louis Livermore, Olga Pederson, Inga Pederson.
Center Intermediate-Roland Flagg.
REPORT OF SIGHT AND HEARING TEST
School examined
& Number
Enrolled
Defective
Eyesight
Defective
~ ~ Hearing
Parents
West
Center
87
South
133
9
()
Total
309
19
1
18
SCHOOL CENSUS, SEPTEMBER. 1916
Number children between 5 and 7 .. . Number children between 7 and 14 .. Number children between 14 and 16 . Number minors between 14 and 16 who cannot read at sight and write legibly simple sentences in the English language
Boys
Girls
Total
27
30
57
132
125
257
26
20
46
0)
0
()
Number of illiterate children 16 years of age or over and under 21 years of age
0
0
0
Total
185
175
360
5 1 - 31 . Notified
5
29
ATTENDANCE OFFICERS' REPORT
South
West
Center
Number of cases investigated
7
6
5
Number returned to school
6
6
3
Number committed to truant school
0
0
0
Estimated cost
$8.05
$1.00
$3.25
SCHOOL SAVINGS
Number Depositors
Amount Collected
South Acton
71
$342.54
West Acton
78
179.89
Acton Center
22
135.60
Totals
171
$658.03
Number Graduated from Grammar Schools
Boys
Girls
Total
South Acton
6
6
12
West Acton
7
4
11
Acton Center
6
3
9
Total
19
13
32
Acton Pupils in Concord High
Class Class Class Class 1917 1918 1919 1920 Total
Commercial course
5
1
5
9
20
College course
0
2
2
5
9
General course
3
1
3
1
8
Scientific course
0
1
1
2
4
Domestic Arts course
3
5
4
4
16
Mechanic Arts course
0
6
3
8
17
Agricultural course
2
1
5
1
9
Total
13
17
23
30
83
STATISTICS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1915-1916
School
Grades
Different Pupils
Enrolled
Total
Membership
Aggregate
Attendance
Average Daily
Attendance
Average
Membership
- No. between
5 and 7
No. between
7 and 14
No. between
14 and 16
Number
under 5
Number
over 16
BG
BGB GBG BG BG
West
1-2-3
20
16
36
5559.5 30.88
34.60 10 9
10
7
0
0
0
0
0
4-5-6
12
12
25
3831.5
21.62
24.11
12
12
0
0
0
0
0
0
7-8
20
17
37
5985.5
33.39
35.20
01
0
16
17
4
0
0
0
7
6
0
0
Center
1-2-3
26
13
39
5495
30.35
31.77|12|11
14
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
4-5-6
19
14
38
5491.5
30.39
32.13
0| 0
18
14
1
0
0
01
0
7-8
12
8
20
3143.5
17.36
18.66
0| 0|
10
6|
2 20
0
0
177 150|341|50390.5|281.20 309. 05 |34 34 128 108 14 8 1 0 0 0
31
South
1-2|
21
21
42
5687
31.90
37.70|12|14
9
7
3-4
14
20
40
5407
30.30
33.50
01 0
14
20
5-6
17
16
34
5222.51
29.51
32.78
0 0
17
16
7-8
16
13
30
4567.5
25.50
28.60|
0 0
8
7
0
0
0
0
0
0
30
Number Entering Concord High, September, 1916
Boys
Girls
Total
Acton Center
3
2
5
South Acton
5
8
13
West Acton
6
4
10
East Acton
3
0
3
North Acton
1
0
1
Totals
18
14
32
Acton pupils in Lowell Industrial school 2
INDEX
Assessors' Report
38
Board of Health
77
Cemetery Commissioners
72
Collector's Report
39
Inspector of Animals
86 87
Overseers of the Poor
74 35 40
Town Accountant's Report
12
Town Clerk's Report
Births
26 31 33
Dog Licenses
28
Marriages
32
Non-Resident Burials
3
Town Meetings
8
Town Warrant
66
Treasurer's Report
69
Wilde Library Fund
70
Cemetery Funds
37
Tree Warden
85
Trustees Goodnow Fund
SECOND SECTION
School Report
1
School Calendar
3
Special Exercises and Holidays
4
School Officers and Teachers
5
Standing Rules
7 8
General Report
11
Financial Statement
19
Superintendent's Report
24
Supervisor of Drawing
27
Supervisor of Music
28
Roll of Honor
28
Statistical Tables
71
Librarian's Report List of Books Added
Selectmen's Report
Deaths
Town Officers
12
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS.
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31
1917
RAFE
ONI
1735.
ACTON.
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1918
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS.
FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDING DECEMBER 31
1917
RATED
ONI
1735.
ACTON
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1918
1
3
TOWN OFFICERS, 1917
Selectmen
Charles J. Holton Warren H. Jones
William H. Kingsley
. Term expires 1918 Term expires 1920 Term expires 1919
Town Clerk Horace F. Tuttle
Town Treasurer Frank W. Hoit
Assessors
James B. Tuttle
. Term expires 1918
Arthur M. Whitcomb . Term expires 1920
Ralph W. Piper 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 Charles A. Taylor Oliver D. Wood
James N. Berry
John T. McNiff
Field Drivers Charles A. Taylor Oliver D. Wood
James N. Berry
Charles J. Holton
Fence Viewers Warren H. Jones William H. Kingsley
Cemetery Commissioners
Julian Tuttle Term expires 1918
Fred W. Green Term expires 1920
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1919
4
School Committee
Edwin A. Phalen Term expires 1920
Herbert W. Lewis . Term expires 1918
Bertram E. Hall
Term expires 1919
Trustees Memorial Library
.J. Sidney White Term expires 1920
Lucius A. Hesselton Term expires 1918
Horace F. Tuttle Term expires 1919
Board of Health
Edwin A. Phalen . Term expires 1920
Frank E. Tasker
Term expires 1918
Edward C. Page Term expires 1919
James B. Tuttle
Horace F. Tuttle
Finance Committee Edgar H. Hall Asaph Merriam 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 1918 Term expires 1920
George E. Holton
Horace F. Tuttle, ex-officio
Election Officers Precinct 1
Warden James W. Coughlin
Deputy Warden
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