USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1926-1930 > Part 16
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At present there are two courses, with variety of subjects, taught in the Acton high school. About one-third of the students are in the college course. The aim is to make the commercial course every bit as high grade as the college course. The courses at present given are :
19
COLLEGE COURSE Freshman Year (25 hours) :
Pts.
English IA 5
Algebra A 5
Latin I 5
World History to 1700 5
Gen'l Sci. and Biol. . .
5
Sophomore Year
(25 hours) :
English IIA 5
Latin II 5
Plane Geometry
5
French I
5
European
Hist.,
1000-
1925
5
French I
5
European Hist. 1000- 1925 5
Junior Year (25 hours) : English IIIA and B . .
5
English III A and B .. 5
Bookkeeping II 5
French II
5
Typewriting II 3
Sten. II
5
Elect One :
French II 5
European Hist. (if not already taken) 5
(Juniors may elect U. S. History if schedule permits) Senior Year (25 hours) :
English IV A and B .. 5
English IV A and B .. 5
U. S. History and Civics 5 U. S. Hist. and Civics, 5
||French III 5
+Office Practice 5
*||Latin IV 5 Economics and Com'l Law 5
*||Trig. and Solid Geom., 5
||Chemistry (Physics in alternate years) .... 5
Elect One :
Accounting,
Steno.
and Type. III ... 5
||Elect three subjects to com- plete requirements.
*Only if sufficient number
+Two years of Steno. required.
elect.
COMMERCIAL COURSE
Pts.
English IB 5
Arithmetic B 5
Elems. Commerce and Industry 5
World History to 1700, 5
Gen'l Sci. and Biol. ... 5
English IIB 5
Bookkeeping I 5
Typewriting 1 3
Steno. I 5
Elect One :
Latin III
5
Review Mathmatics
5
Chemistry (Physics) .. (In alternate years)
5
To be graduated from the Acton high school a student must receive credit in 76 subject-points. To be certified to any college the students must maintain an average of A or B throughout the year in the particular subject. The Acton high school enjoyed the Class A certifying privileges in 1927. These are given only
20
for high grade of work and for one year at a time. A mark as low as a D is accepted for credit towards the high school diploma, but the student is barred from all dependent subjects until the D is raised to a C, either by examination or by repeating the subject. The subjects which require a C, or higher, to admit to dependent subjects are as follows :
C in Latin I. to be admitted to Latin II.
C in Latin II. to be admitted to Latin III. and IV.
C in French I. to be admitted to French II.
C in French II. to be admitted to French III.
C in Stenography I. to be admitted to Stenography II.
C in Stenography II. to be admitted to Stenography III.
C in Bookkeeping I. to be admitted to Bookkeeping II.
C in Bookkeeping II. to be admitted to Bookkeeping III.
Space is too limited in this report to give the outline of sub- ject material and college entrance requirements for each of the subjects given above.
I wish again to express the appreciation of the teachers and students in the Acton high school to the various donors for the special donations of equipment which have made our work in the new building so much easier and brighter. The more they are used, the greater, we realize, are the benefits they give our students.
The Conant library, donated by members of the Conant fam- ily, is becoming a strong factor in the educational work of all the children in the high school building, from Grades VII .. through the high school. Care has been taken to allow as little duplica- tion as possible of the books in the Wilde library, which the cour- tesy of the trustees and the librarian have made available to the high school. The books are selected for their special adaptability for the needs of high school children. They may be divided roughly into two classes, according to their use : Special reference, and gen- eral reading. The reference books are to provide additional background material for subjects, as: Ancient history, medieval history, modern history, U. S. history, general science, physics, chemistry and biology. The general reading list includes the books most commonly called for in book reports, college exams and general information reading, and special reading require- ments for English, economics and even the geography and com- mercial law. The general reading list is the one that needs developing most. It is the desire of the donors and the com- mittee that as many versons as feel that they can, do contribute books or in other ways to this library. One of the things most useful at present would be files, either complete or broken, of magazines, as : The National Geographic, World's Work, Literary Digest, and others that relate to geography, current events. The
21
library already contains over 400 general reading. books or his- tory, and some very fine reference sets and encyclopedias, total- ing over 250 volumes additional. All are in practically constant use.
In addition to the original donors, I wish to thank others, especially Mr. and Mrs. Hobart Mead, and Mr. and Mrs. John Hoar of West Acton, Mr. and Mrs. Murray Brown, and Mr. Horace Tuttle of Acton Center, for their contributions of the past year.
Graduation exercises of the class of 1927 were very appro- priate and colorful, marking a fitting recognition of the achieve- ments of the class. Unfortunately the speaker of the evening. the Hon. John F. Fitzgerald, of Boston, Massachusetts, was unable to be present to give the address to the seniors, because of a severe cold which he was unable to overcome in time. The exercises were very interesting, using the simple features provided by the students and the orchestra.
Graduation Exercises
Blanchard Hall, High School Building, June 10, 1927 Overture-"Bridal Rose" V. Lavalle®
Entrance March-Selections from "Aida" . Verdi Invocation,
Rev. B. S. Batstone
Salutatory, Miss Florence Clifford
Songs-"O Sole Mio" Di Capua "Forget-Me-Not" . Giese
Address,
By the Honorable John F. Fitzgerald, Ex-Mayor of Boston, Massachusetts
Songs-"The Dawn of Maytime" Von Flotow "Royal Summer Comes Apace'' Gounoud Class History,
Miss Marion Stoney
Song-"Olaf Trygavason" Edvard Grieg Selection by Orchestra
Valedictory,
Miss Mary Wheeler
Presentation of Diplomas, Mr. Spencer Taylor, Chairman of School Committee
Reception by Seniors Front of Auditorium Exit March
Class speakers, direction Miss Mabel Noyes. Vocal music, direction Miss Mary C. Willhauck. Orchestra direction, Mr. and Mrs. L. Ashley Rich.
22
It is interesting to note how the graduates of the Acton high school are entering on their life work. The majority are contin- uing their life work. The majority are continuing their educa- tion at college or schools, while the rest are taking up useful work .at home or in industry.
Class of 1926
Grace E. Chickering
Ruth B. Fullonton
Ethel O. Granberg
Marion Fobes
Alberta A. A. Hodgen
Arlene Jones
Dorothy Jones
Viola Merriam Virgina Swift
Mildred Tuttle
Ruth Van Wilkle
John Engman
John F. Enneguess
Charles B. Howe
Albert T. Grimes Thomas Shea
Sumner Teele
William D. Tuttlę
Richard O'Neil
Ruth E. Costello
Florence H. Clifford Doris F. Gardner Emily V. Grala
Inger Pederson Althea R. Richardson Arlene Stuart
Marion Stoney Mary L. Wheeler Mary K. Wooten
George A. Braman James N. Gates Robert C. Holland Lewis H. Whitney
At home Burdett College
Burdett College
Burdett College
Mass. School of Art
Stenographer-Loose Wiles Bis- cuit Co., Boston
Clerk-Mercantile Agency, Bos- ton, Mass. Boston University Middlesex Mutual Fire Insur- ance Co.
At home At home
Bellows Stock Farm
Bentley's School of Accounting
Northeastern University
Hall Bros. Co. Boston College
Hall Bros. Co.
Farming Concord Garnet Mill
Class of 1927
Library Bureau-Cambridge, Mass. Chandler School
Laselle Seminary
Boston University
At home Twin Mutual Insurance Co.
New England Tel. & Tel., West Acton Boston University At home Post Graduate-Acton High
School Acton Drug Company Lawrence Academy Dartmouth College Northeastern University
23
In connection with the operating expenses of buildings, Mr. Thomas Scanlon of West Acton should be commended for his very economical use of fuel last year.
During the year the school committee voted to purchase a new bus chassis and have the old body mounted on it, rather than repair the chassis that had served through two hard years of use. While there is still some dissatisfaction with the present bus arrangements, the school committee is doing the very best it can with the equipment available. It feels that it can not very well make any more changes in arrangements until a third bus is provided.
A number of repairs and alterations have been necessary in the elementary and high school buildings.
It was necessary to install a heavy, sound-resisting partition between the two large front rooms, on the south side, of the high school building, to enable the teachers of grades VII and VIII in these rooms to hold their classes without interfering with each other. These rooms were orginally separated by a large folding partition, which would quickly convert them into one. large room. In a great many cases, this is a big advantage to a school. To allow these doors to be moved without machinery, they had to be made comparatively light. As a result they were far from sound-proof. This made it exceedingly difficult to satis- factorily hold classes in these rooms. It happened literally again and again that a boy or girl reciting in a perfectly normal voice, near the partition, would be heard not only in his own room but couldn't help being heard in, and interfering with, the recitation or study in the adjoining room. To correct this serious situation a sound proof partition was built.
At the same time certain alterations had to be made to the desk and chair equipment in these and the adjoining rooms. To make them less noisy, and fastened firmly in rows.
At the annual meeting in 1926, the town voted and appro- priated money to isure the high school building and contents, to be effective on the expiration of the building insurance which had been placed on the building by the building committee dur- ing construction. This renewed insurance expired November 1, 1927. Prior to the expiration, the school committee considered the matter of reinsurance. They felt that since the town had once specifically voted such protection to its property, the com- mittee should not allow the insurance to lapse until the matter had been brought before the town at its annual meeting. It was voted to reinsure and pay the premium from the funds that would be avalaible at the end of the year, although no provision was made for this insurance premium in the 1927 operating budget. No provision whatever is made in the 1928 operating budget, for this purpose. Therefore the school committee requests that if it is the desire of the town that the insurance be continued, and the-
24
property protected against loss from fire, that a separate appro- priation for this purpose be made.
During the year it was noticed that the effluent from the septic tank, which cares for the sewage from the west wing of the high school building, was not being taken care of in the ground. This was believed to be partly due to the very wet con- dition of the ground after the heavy and long rains of the Sum- mer and Fall. It was hoped that the condition was temporary and would correct itself as the ground dried out. Conditions did not right themselves, consequently the school committee decided to dig a leaching drain from the tank towards the northwest corner of the school land. It was necessary to cut this drain through a considerable amount of ledge to get down to level which would drain the water off. The drain began to function just before the Christmas vacation, 1927, and appears to have corrected the trouble.
Frequently during the year the roof of the high school build- ing has leaked, causing damage to the interior. While the roof is built of high grade standard materials, and covered by a gold bond of a big and reliable bonding company there is a technical point in the bond exempting the roofing company and its bonds- man from leaks wherever the roofing material joins the metal flashing. It is exactly at these points that the leaks have oc- curred. Consequently it has been difficult to hold the builders and roofers responsible and get the work done so as to prevent a repitition of the leaks and damage. However, the committee is taking energetic steps and shortly should have the damage and roof repaired.
Purusuant to a vote of the town meeting in 1927, the select- men, acting with the school committee expended the $2,000 voted to develop the athletic field by the high school. A finan- cial statement of this work appears elsewher in the Town Report.
Very fortunately Waldo Whitcomb of West Acton, who was already familiar with the character of the ground and the ledges, consested to direct the work. Through his planning the work has progressed to an astonisting point, when one considers the quan- tities, of rocks and rooty ground raised and removed, and the grading and levelling done. Funds gave out before he could blast and remove the ledge, or even complete the grading of the southeast corner of the lot. The students have provided equip- ment for two basketball courts on the finished part of the grounds at the rear of the building, which provide for a limited number of students only. The balance of the field is not yet usable for either baseball or football.
It is hoped that it can be used for major sports. It is desired to thank the town for the funds provided and Mr. Whitcomb for the work accomplished.
It is hoped that the town will appropriate sufficient funds to .complete the field.
25
No school system can function efficiently without the willing co-operation of all supervisors and teachers, and janitors, whose care makes our work safe and comfortable. Few people realize the large number of hours that the school committee devotes every month to discussion and plans for school affairs. More than ever, these enterprises are the result of team work, on a large scale. Not only do I want to thank the teachers, each and all, past and present, but also the members of the Acton school com- mittee for their work during the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES W. LAWRANCE, Superintendent of Schools.
REPORT OF THE TEACHER OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
Mr. C. W. Lawrance,
Superintendent of Schools :
Dear Sir :-
In the three grades of cooking that is grades VII, VIII and IX a general survey on all foods is being given, including meal planning, placing of each article cooked or made into a balanced menu and figuring of the costs of simple dishes. It is planned to use everything made to be served in some form on the Cafe- teria table. Cleanliness and order are two main objects im- pressed.
The seventh grade has a lighter course and work their les- sons out step by step on such foods as bread, cereals, fruits, eggs and milk dishes. It is difficult for them to understand meal planning until they have learned measurements and accuracy of following a recipe in a systematic way with the lesson given.
The eighth grade has more lessons on bread, cereals, fruits, milk, eggs, also soups, sauces, beverages and cheese. Each lesson includes, finding the cost of the food, arranging menus for different kinds of meals, and how the foods should be taken care of.
The ninth grade completed their cooking lessons on January 24th. Each lesson included meal planning, costs of ingredients and caloric values. More lessons were given on breads, cereals, fruits, eggs, milk, soups, sauces, plus vegetables, salads, meat, fish and deserts. Their cooking period came the two periods before the noon recess, so the class prepared the school luncheon and helped served.
In sewing the seventh grade has as a first project, and apron to be made by hand. This brings in the first plain stitches and seams. The use of the sewing machine is taught on their second project, a piece of underwear being made. Mending, darning,
26
making buttonholes and studying samples of cotton material and different types of seams are included in their course.
The eighth grade reviews all seams, stitches and buttonholes, makes two undergarments, a dress, does several kinds of mend- ing, and remodels dresses. Each girl prepares a booklet showing styles best suited to her type and how to dress herself well and economically.
Instructions are given on how to oil and care for the machine and the use of the attachments.
The lunch room has the following report to make :
Total sales
Cost of supplies
$1,727.75 $1,457.33
Replacements-New equipment and trans-
fer to Athletic Ass'n.
246.72
Cash on hand 23.70
Totals
$1,727.75 $1,727.75 Respectfully sudmitted,
EDITH AMES,
Instructor.
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Mr. C. W. Lawrance,
Superintendent of Public Schools, Acton, Mass. :
Dear Sir :
At your request I herewith submit the following report con- cerning the music department of the Acton public schools.
Having had charge of this department for only about four months this report must necessarily be short.
The Music Education Series of Books has recently been adopted in the grade; this is one of the new song method series, containing a wealth of material which is very carefully graded.
In the first and second grades much time is being spent on voice placement and rhythm. The children who have poor tone perception learn to sing tunefully by listening to a model class of singers rather than by constantly singing off pitch themslves. The grade teachers are doing excellent work and are giving me fine co-operation.
The work at the Center school is much handicapped by lack of teaching force.
The Junior High school pupils are doing class work and much has already been accomplished.
27
The Senior High school chorus meets once each week and special attention is being given part singing.
Later a course of music appreciation will be introduced in all grades and high school. This is a very important phase in the public school music today, as a great majority of the boys and girls will be listeners in the future and not performers, there- fore they should learn to listen intelligently to good music, for the further enrichment of their lives, if for no other purpose.
I wish to thank the school committee and superintendent for. their hearty cooperation they have given me.
Respectfully submitted, ETHEL LOVLEY,
Supervisor of Music ..
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. C. W. Lawrance, Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Mass.
Feb. 6, 1928.
Dear Sir :
As supervisor of drawing in the schools of Acton, Mass., I herewith submit my third annual report.
There are five real objectives that must be kept in mind in teaching drawing and these objectives are sometimes not compre- hended by the pupils. This is the reason for impressing these ob- jectives on the minds of the pupils at every possible opportunity.
These five objectives are, briefly :
1. The appreciation of the beautiful.
2. Reproduction with the individual touch.
3. The power of listening and observation.
4. Genuine creative effort.
5. Drawing as a universal language.
In some of our representation, scenes, figures, posters and interior decoration, we are accomplishing individual creative ex- pression. In design we are overcoming disorder in balance and color. The construction work is simplified so as to "carry over" a great deal more than complicated work will.
Very few of the girls and boys will ever be accomplished ar- tists, but they will all book back at the art teachings as having helped them to beautify or build up their homes, towns, or busi- nesses.
I wish to heartily thank the superintendent and all of the. teachers for their very kind assistance and loyalty.
Respectfully submitted, JEANETTE C. LANDREVILLE ..
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REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. Charles W. Lawrance,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :
I herewith submit my annual report as school physician.
Physical examinations were completed in November.
During October we had several cases of diphtheria in Acton Center and it became necessary to take cultures of all the children in the Center school, and close the school for a week as a pre- cautionary measure.
We had two positive cases (carriers) and they were isolated and an epidemic avoided.
Our nurse deserves special commendation for her work dur- ing this time also the Board of Health for its cooperation.
The year as a whole has been a healthy one for our school children.
Details will be found in the nurses' report.
I wish to thank the superintendent, nurses and teachers for their hearty cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
E. A. MAYELL, M. D.
Feb. 6, 1928.
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Report of school work from Jan. 1, 1927 to June 30, 1927. Special examinations
859
Clinic
1
Individual instruction
409
Simple dressings
151
Contagious diseases
36
Pupils excluded on acc. of con. diseases
13
Home visits
147
Sanitary inspection
60
Hygiene talk's
42
Examinations by a dentist
432
Dental defects found
404
Cases of Pediculosis
14
Cases excluded on acc. . of pediculosis
12
Pediculosis corrected
10
Home visits for pediculosis ·
S
Hot cocoa introduced at Center school.
Milk introduced at West school.
Health day observed at Centre and West schools.
Visits to Boxboro schools ,
11
Respectfully submitted, ESTHER A. ROBINSON, R. N.
29
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Report of school nursing from Sept. 1, 1927, to Jan. 1, 1928 :
No. of children enrolled 479
No. of children examined 461
Defects found-Tonsils and adenoids 79
Lungs needing special care
4
Thyroid
132
Gland-Anterior and posterior cervical
158
Heart
70
Posture-Very poor
101
Teeth-Very poor
191
Eyes
34
Ear
3
Notices sent for eyes
34
Excluded for sore throats
20
Corrections for eyes made
6
No child should be sent to school with a sore throat.
Communicable diseases 9
Simple dressings
52
Children taken home ill 30
Home visits for corrections and contagion
120
Sanitary inspections
64
Individual instruction in personal hygiene
42
Class room talks on hygiene and posture
22
Individual inspections of children
1,833
Visits to Boxboro 7
Lighting and sanitation at the South school could be greatly improved and should be for the good of the children. The con- ditions existing there are not conducive to good health.
Much work is needed in all the schools in posture and physi- cal education.
Because of three consecutive cases of diphtheria, with no ap- parent connections with each other, the entire Center school was cultured. A carrier located, quarantined and immunized, I would like to suggest, here, all children previously immunized should be reshicked to determine if they are still immune.
It may be determined by a simple skin test called the Shick test, whether or not a child is susceptible to diptheria. A child is schicked to find out if he is susceptible to diphtheria. If he re-acts, he should be immunized. Then six months to one year later, he should be re-schicked to determine, if he is immune or still susceptible. If he is still susceptible, he should then be im- munized again. Ninety-five per cent of all children between the
30
ages of six months and ten years are susceptible to diphtheria. Eighty per cent of this number can be made immune by the first three innoculations. If protection can be had so easily and with- out cost to you, why not give yourself and your child this protec- tion ?
Respectfully submitted,
LILLIAN E. FROST, R. N.
Boys and Girls of Acton Schools, Membership by Age and Grade, October 1, 1927
Grade 5
1
. 12 23
6 7 6
8 2
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Totals
43
2
. .
6 37 5 1 8 21 11 3
43
4
. .
2 5 17 5 3 1 4 17 13 2 8 7
1
37
6
1 10 15
1
42
7
1 11 18 9 8
47
8
. .
2 4 8 13 11
38
9
1 9 15 13
3 1 2
42
10
. .
3 7
9
8
28
12
. .
2 6 14
2
27
Total
462
49
3
. .
33
5
. .
. .
. .
. .
2 2 10 9
6
2 1 3
33
11
. .
INDEX
Accountant
45
Appointments by Selectmen
4
Assessors' Report
35
Auditor
70
Audit of Accounts by State
71
Board of Health
37
Cemetery Commissioners
86
Collector's Report
36
Fire Department
99
Fire House Building Committee
85
Forest Warden
103
Health Nurses
101
Inspector of Animals
103
Inspector of Slaughtering
102
Jury List
6
Library Report
104
Middlesex County Extension Service
98
Public Welfare
13
Police Department
102
Selectmen's Report
12
Superintendent of Streets
100
Town Clerk
14
Births
15
Deaths
19
Dog Licenses
32
Marriages
16
Non-Resident Burials
20
Town Meetings
21
Town Officers
3
Town Warrant
7
· Treasurer's Report
38
Cemetery Funds
40
Elizabeth White Fund
42
Firemen's Relief Fund
43
Nineteenth of April Fund
43
Wilde Library Fund .
42
William Chaplin Fund
44
Trustees Goodnow Fund
116
Trustees Elizabeth White Fund 44
SECOND SECTION
School Report :
25
Domestic Science
Financial Statement
6
Legal Holidays 4
Organization
3
Principal of High School
15
School Calendar
3
School Committee
6
School Nurse
28-29
School Physician
28
Standing Rules
4
Superintendent's Report 15
Supervisor of Drawing 27
Supervisor of Music 26
Teachers
5
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
Several Official Boards
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1928
ED
.1735.
ACTON
THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE HUDSON, MASS. 1929
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