USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935 > Part 15
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3,000 00
Andover Savings
3,000 00
Medford Savings
3,000 00
Marlboro Savings
3,000 00
Leominster Savings
3,000 00
Hudson Savings
4,000 00
North Middlesex
2,999 96
Greenfield Savings
3,000 00
106
Middlesex Institution Lexington Savings
3,238 93
3,000 00
Arlington Five Cent Lynn Five Cent
5,000 00
2,500 00
Winchendon Savings
5,000 00
Framingham Savings
5,000 00
Note, Town of Acton
10,000 00
Middlesex Institution, Balance
141 31
82,380 20
$86,380 26
LUKE BLANCHARD CEMETERY FUND
Balance, January 1, 1932
$1,377 27
Received Interest :
Warren Inst. for Savings
$3 26
Massachusetts Savings Bank
36 99
Charlestown Five Cent
3 96
Charlestown Five Cent
10 24
54 45
$1,431 72
Paid Town of Acton
$25 00
Balance, December 31, 1932:
Warren Inst. for Savings
$84 90
Massachusetts Savings
994 51
Charlestown Five Cent
235 98
Charlestown Five Cent
91 33
1,406 72
$1,431 72
19TH OF APRIL FUND
Balance, January 1, 1932
$228 96
Interest, Middlesex Savings
9 22
$238 18
107
Balance, December 31, 1932: Middlesex Savings
$238 18
FIREMEN'S RELIEF FUND
Balance, January 1, 1932
$500 47
Interest, Middlesex Savings
19 80
$520 27
Paid Trustees Order
$20 00
Balance, December 31, 1932:
Middlesex Savings
500 27
$520 27
WILDE MEMORIAL LIBRARY FUND
Balance, January 1, 1932 :
Principal Fund
$9,000 00
Susan Augusta and Luther Conant Fund
1,000 00
Hiram J. Hapgood Fund
200 00
Luke Tuttle Fund
200 00
John W. Heald Fund
817 00
Susan Noyes Hosmer Fund
2,016 90
Unexpended balance
187 06
$13,420 96
Received interest :
Home Savings
$40 00
Middlesex Inst. for Savings
40 40
Lowell City Institution
37 85
Charlestown Five Cent
136 51
Massachusetts Savings
37 85
Warren Institution
75 70
Middlesex Institution
33 00
Cambridge Savings
85 66
West Shore R. R. Bond
40 00
Maynard Trust Co.
24 99
551 96
$13,972 92
108
Balance, December 31, 1932:
Home Savings
$1,000 00
Charlestown Five Cent
3,000 00
Massachusetts Savings
1,000 00
Warren Inst.
2,000 00
Middlesex Inst.
817 00
West Shore R. R. Bond
1,000 00
Cambridge Savings
2,016 90
Maynard Trust Co.
S400 00
Maynard Trust Co., Balance
2272 40
Middlesex Inst.
1,000 00
Lowell City Inst.
1,000 00
Cash Balance
466 62
$13,972 92
NOTE: The following transfer is due to be made from the Library Funds:
Due to General Cash
$356 05
109
Auditor's Report
I have examined the books and accounts of the Tax Col- lector of the Town of Acton and have found them correct. Notices are being mailed to delinquent taxpayers.
The books and accounts of the Treasurer of the Town of Acton are now being audited by the accountants from the office of the Director of Accounts, Department of Corporations and Taxation, State House, Boston.
HOWARD L. JONES, Town Accountant.
110
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
OF THE
TOWN OF ACTON
MASSACHUSETTS
For the Year Ending December 31, 1932
Our civilization will be measured by the children it produces and by the civilization they, in turn, produce. Ray Lyman Wilbur.
RATED-
ONI
35.
ACTON ..
1933 The Kennison Print Ayer, Mass.
ORGANIZATION
School Committee
Dr. Randall Woodworth, Chairman Term expires 1933
Mrs. Frank Price
Term expires 1935
Mrs. Albertie Mead
Term expires 1933
Mr. Arthur Whitcomb
Term expires 1934
Mrs. Oliver Wood
Term expires 1934
Mr. Forrest Bean
Term expires 1935
Superintendent John F. Hough
South Acton, Mass. Office-High School Building. Tel. 110
School Physician
Dr. E. A. Mayell Acton
School Nurse
Miss Lillian Frost North Acton
Attendance Officer
Michael Foley South Acton
School Calendar
First short term begins January 3, 1933.
First short term ends February 17, 1933.
Second short term begins February 27, 1933.
Second short term ends April 14, 1933.
Third short term begins April 24, 1933.
Third short term ends June 9, 1933, for Grades 1 to VIII, inclu- sive.
Third short term ends June 16, 1933, for High School Gradua- tion-Monday, June 19, 1933.
1933-1934
Fall term begins September 5, 1933.
Thanksgiving Recess-School closes November 29, 1933, and re-opens December 4, 1933.
Fall term ends December 22, 1933.
Legal Holidays
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, July 4, first Monday of September, October 12, November 11, Thanksgiving Day, Christ- mas Day (the day following when any of the first five days men- tioned, 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 be observed by proper exercises by any school in session on that day.
NO-SCHOOL SIGNAL-Time: 7:30 A.M.
Acton Center and South Acton 2-2-2-2 blasts
West Acton 1-1 blasts
2
TEACHERS IN SERVICE, DECEMBER 31, 1932
App. Where Educated Home Address
Center School:
Ella Miller 1899 Framingham Normal Acton
Ruth Brennan 1931 Lowell Normal Lowell
Gertrude Puhakka 1931 Fitchburg Normal Fitchburg
South School:
Julia McCarthy
1906 Fitchburg Normal
South Acton
Florence Merriam 1927 Fitchburg Normal
South Acton
Jessie Kinnevan 1929 Worcester Normal
Worcester
West School:
Harriet Suchovsky 1929 Framingham Normal Clinton
Elise Dickerman 1926 Fitchburg Normal
Ayer
Madeline Allard 1928 Lowell Normal Lowell
High School Building:
Marion Towne 1921 Smith College
Mary Stolte 1931 Middlebury College
Marjorie Jones 1931 Simmons College
Barbara Douglass 1931 Univ. of Vermont
Elsie Bixby 1927 Framingham Normal Boston University
Edith Ames 1928 Simmons College
Margaret Boornazian 1929 Boston University
Walter Holt 1928 Dartmouth College
Robert Dolan
1930 Clark University
Henry Hopkinson 1930 Northeastern Law
John Hough 1927 Middlebury, Har-
vard, Colgate
Concord
Brattleboro, Vt.
South Acton Winchester, N. H.
Woodville
Littleton
Methuen
South Acton
Marlboro
West Acton
South Acton
Supervisors :
Music-Louis Phelps, Arlington Drawing-Phyllis Darch, Fitchburg Manual Arts-James Smith, Adams
3
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Voters of Acton:
The School Committee presents herewith, its report for the year 1932, together with the report of the superintendent of schools, which has been accepted by the committee and is recommended for your study and attention.
The committee has paid continuous attention to the problem of obtaining the best and utmost results for our school children, from our corps of teachers. Inasmuch as a few might feel that even better results might be obtained, the committee sincerely feels, that better- ment to that end, is in evidence.
Our teachers all returned to us this year, which was most gratify- ing, in that changes in the staff tend to cramp continuity of progress and also, in coming back they have created a feeling of contentment, they were willing to carry on with us as were we with them.
One supervisor was replaced, due to pressure from various quarters. In his stead we have one Mr. Phelps, whom we believe will refresh the music in our schools.
Your committee has gone over its budget in many ways, with the idea in mind to effect economies, which seems to be in keeping with the times. The very size of the appropriation, the largest of any, invites constructive criticism or even resentment from some. But by making a brief comparison, with a few representative towns, you might draw some conclusions as to our own position.
Expenditures for Public Schools in Relation to Population, Valuation, Tax Rate, Etc.
School Appro.
Exp. for school sup- port from local tax- ation per M val.
Tax Rate
Hopkinton
Pop. U.S. 1930 2563
Valuation $2,810,843
$39,833 43
$10 71
$31 50
Acton
2482
3,905,065
44,863 47
9 34 22 00
Hatfield
2476
2,853,720
48,571 44
11 60
26 50
Hardwick
2460
2,658,060
47,104 78
12 72
25 00
Groton
2434
4,324,338
45,513 21
9 47
33 00
These figures are for the year 1931, as 1932 figures are not avail- able as yet. Our own appropriation for last year was considerably lower.
Comparing the towns in this group, with Acton, our average is below the line. You must not forget to take into consideration the fact that assessed valuation governs the reimbursement from the State. In other words, Hopkinton with a much lower assessed val- uation than Acton, is reimbursed $7,180.39 against our own of $5,301.37, the lower the valuation, the more state aid is available to the smaller towns.
4 .
Comparative Cost Per High School Pupil exclusive of STATE Reimbursement and Out-of-Town Tuition
Hopkinton
$107 08
Acton 107 99
Hatfield
124 62
Hardwick
102 45
Groton
116 79
In the High School we are neither above or below; we are, you might say, holding our own.
Comparative Cost Per Elementary Pupil on the same basis
Hopkinton
$60 66
Acton
79 84
Hatfield
54 38
Hardwick
84 42
Groton
74 74
In the elementary schools we are above the line of average. The reason is quite apparent after you know the facts. It is due to the necessarily, yet unduly expensive physical operation by reason of antiquated and inefficient heating and ventilating systems, the undue use of artificial light because of lack, and improper placement of windows, and the inordinate requirements of repairs.
It might interest you to know that the High School building, as large as it is, is heated better and cheaper than any one of the Ele- mentary buildings.
A central elementary school building in time to come, with full transportation of pupils, will be a great stride toward better ele- mentary education and more efficient physical operation. However, a survey by you, of the school buildings in general, will convince you that they are in better physical shape than they have been for some time, and that the whole machine is functioning about as effi- ciently as is possible, under the limitation of our appropriation and physical handicaps.
We have been rather unfortunate this past year, in that we have been subjected to fire at four different times in the new High School building, due to the improper electrical wiring of the building and have been forced into a complete checking up and re-wiring of most of the building by the State, an item of no small account and one over which we had no control.
Now, as we are in no way responsible, and as we are trying to pare our budget and not take it out of the children, we are going to ask for a special appropriation to handle this emergency and hope that you will see it in the same light as we do.
· If the committee finds that it becomes necessary to effect a cut of any sort in order to meet the exigency, it will not, in fairness to all, make a selective one; it will include everyone on the payroll, and it will take the form of a voluntary contribution, and we want you all to feel that it will not be done in any other spirit than a direct
5
demand from the tax-payer, who is having his troubles as you all know.
However, if such a step is found necessary, let everyone pull to- gether and work all the harder, which is the only solution to any setback.
Respectfully submitted, THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE, By: R. N. WOODWORTH, Chairman.
COMPARISON OF COSTS FOR OPERATING ACTON SCHOOLS
Massachusetts School Fund
1932
1931
1930 $3,610 00
1929 $3,560 00
Part 1
$3,530 00
$3,736 00
Part Il
1,879 92
1,565 07
1,909 84
State Wards
801 77
580 58
151
76
131 25
Total from State
$6,211 69
$5,881 65
$5,671 60
$3,691 25
Out of town tuitions
1,692 01
2,486 15
2,670 15
2,775 28
Total
$7,903 70
$8,367 80
$8,341 75
$6,466 53
Expended from appropria- tion
$42,999 13 $44,863 47 $44,534 21 $44,845 92
Net cost to town
** $35,095 43 $36,495 67 $36,192 46 $38,379 39
Appropriations
$43,000 00 $45,000 00 $45,000 00 $45,000 00
Special appropriation
3,500 00
$48,500 00
* Acton did not participate in distribution of Massachusetts School Fund, Part Il, of 1928 awarded in 1929.
** Boxboro Tuition from September to December, 1932, in the amount of $979.02 has not been paid. When this is paid the net cost to the town in 1932 will be $34,116.41.
ESTIMATES FOR THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 1933
Salaries and other expenses of Superintendent's Office $2,2 00 00
Salaries of Teachers and Supervisors
27,000 00
Textbooks
500 00
Supplies
750 00
Operating Expenses (Fuel, Janitors, etc.)
5,900 00
Repairs
1,000 00
Auxiliary Agencies (Health, Transportation)
4,280 00
Miscellaneous Expenses
1,370 00
$43,000 00
6
SUMMARY OF EXPENSES FOR SUPPORT FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1932
General Control
Salary and other expenses of Superintendent $2,706 45
Expenses of Instruction
Salaries of Teachers and Supervisors:
Elementary
$14,127 30
High School
10,200 00
Principal of High School
1,145 83
Supervisors
907 80
26,380 93
High School Textbooks
$285 81
Elementary Textbooks
450 71
High School Stationery and Supplies
400 84
Elementary Stationery and Supplies
417 13
1,554 49
Total Expenses of Instruction
$27,935 42
Expenses of Operation
High School:
Wages of Janitor
$1,300 00
Fuel
622 84
Miscellaneous
674 36
$2,597 20
Elementary :
South
West
Center
Wages of Janitor
$722 00
$684 00 $624 00
$2,030 00
Fuel
513 70
336 05
308 51
1,158 26
Miscellaneous
75 24
53 20
59 91
188 35
$1,310 94 $1,073 25 $992 42 $3,376 61
Total High and Elementary Operating Expense
$5,973 81
Maintenance and Repairs
High School
$ 540 56
South
Center
Elementary
$155 29
West $62 23
$866 52
1,084 04
Total Maintenance and Repairs
$1,624 60
7
Auxiliary Agencies
$214 85 4,000 00 65 73
172 45
216 12
89 70
$4,758 85
Total Expended Unexpended Balance
$42,999 13
87
$43,000 00
PAID FOR SUPPORT FOR YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1932
General Control
Superintendent, Salary
$2,000 04
Secretary
572 76 15 00
Travel Expenses
$2,587 80
Office Expenses :
N. E. Tel. and Tel. Company
$50 06
J. L. Hammett Company, envelopes
1 73
Wright & Potter Printing Co., office paper
4 16
Murphy & Snyder, warrants 7 00
School Service Company, office record cards 6 37
Hobart Cabinet Company, file cabinet 9 50
D. C. Heath & Company, office book
1 71
Post Office, South Acton, stamped envelopes
38 12
$118 65
Total general control
$2,706 45
Expenses of Instruction
Supervisor's Salary, Music
$400 00
Supervisor's Salary, Drawing
280 00
Supervisor's Salary, Manual Training
227 80
$907 80
Principal's Salary, High School
$1,145 83
High School Teachers' Salaries:
Henry Hopkinson
$2,000 00
Walter Holt
1,800 00
Robert Dolan
1,400 00
Elsie Bixby
1,700 00
Margaret Boornazian
1,500 00
8
Health Transportation Library New Equipment Tuition Miscellaneous
Barbara Douglass Edith Ames, part
1,100 00 700 00
$10,200 00
Elementary School Teachers' Salaries :
Marion Towne
$1,350 00
Mary Stolte
1,000 00
Marjorie Jones, part
477 30
Edith Ames, part
700 00
Ella Miller
1,400 00
Ruth Brennan
1,000 00
Gertrude Puhakka
900 00
Julia McCarthy
1,400 00
Jessie Kinnevan
1,100 00
Florence Merriam
1,250 00
Harriet Suchovsky
1,300 00
Elise Dickerman
1,200 00
Madeline Allard
1,050 00
$14,127 30
High School Textbooks:
D. C. Heath & Company
$44 22
Henry Holt & Company
14 96
John C. Winston Company
17 43
The Macmillan Company
27 71
Allyn and Bacon
11 04
Benj. H. Sanborn & Company
8 33
Iroquois Publishing Company
6 56
Oliver Ditson Company
6 05
South-Western Publishing Company
6 15
Ginn & Company
77 32
Edward E. Babb & Company, Inc.
36 68
American Book Company
14 83
Gregg Publishing Company
11 53
Chamber of Commerce of United States
3 00
$285 81
Elementary Textbooks:
Beckley-Cardy Company
$6 12
Charles Scribner's Sons
20 88
D. C. Heath & Company
28 02
Silver Burdett & Company
69 43
World Book Company
79 07
South-Western Publishing Co.
6 46
R. H. Hinkley & Company
6 50
Milton Bradley Company
4 71
The Macmillan Company
65 05
Dura Binding Company
63 15
Scott Foresman & Company
67 66
Webster Publishing Company
2 45
9
The Baker & Taylor Company 3 90 Ginn & Company 6 88
American Book Company Charles E. Merrill Company
13 76
3 47
Bobbs Merrill Company
3 20
$450 71
High School Stationery and Supplies:
Boston Music Company, music
$6 60
Doubleday Doran Company, Le Petit Journal 1 00
Edward E. Babb & Company, inkwell tops, etc. 29 07
Charles Scribner's Sons, Denney Prac- tice Unit 3 96
John C. Winston Company, practice sets 29
28
Central Scientific Company, lab. supplies 29 39
Cambosco Scientific Company, lab. supplies 3 23
George E. Cram, map 8
4.3
Office Appliance Company, stencils
10 63
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, pencils 14 33
Sears, Roebuck & Company 4 20
Laidlaw Brothers, music 3 01
J. L. Hammett Company, paper, supplies 212 50
Woodstock Typewriter Company, ribbons 3 90
Yawman & Erbe, Junior Business supplies
14 21
Murphy & Snyder, lab. paper 12 50
Eastman Kodak Company, camera supplies
3 18
National Map Company, map
4 90
Underwood Elliott Fisher Company, ribbons 5 00
M. E. Taylor & Company 1 52
$400 84
Elementary Stationery and Supplies :
Webber Lumber & Supply Company, Manual Training wood $5 88
Edward E. Babb & Co., Inc., books, paper, supplies
90 13
World Book Company, primary tests
4 83
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, pencils
44 10
Palmer & Parker, wood for Manual Training
22 50
J. L. Hammett Company, notebooks, supplies
84 92
Louisa N. Wood, blankets
3 50
Wilbur D. Gilpatric, drawing supplies
125 49
Milton Bradley Company
34 43
Henry Holt & Company, Hartford Reading Lists 1
$417 13
10
High School Operating Expenses
Daniel MacDougall, Janitor $1,300 00
A. W. Davis Company, coal, glass, etc. 672 05
Leavitt Farm, wood 6 00
Dallman Company, mops, dusters, jani- tor's supplies 23 80
Fuelite Natural Gas Company
84 00
John Evans, janitor work
4 00
Finney & Hoit, cord
4 70
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, Inc., basket, door handle 23 35
West Disinfecting Company, paper towels 72 60
Cooper Radio Electric Company, tungar bulbs 13 00
Masury-Young, dust pans, oil 59 80
Edison Electric Illuminating Company 207 42
Strong & Tracy 1 03
Commissioner of Public Safety, boiler inspection 5 00
38 57
West & South Water Supply
10 01
Chelmsford Ginger Ale, distilled water
1 00
Burditt & Williams, brass striker
3 95
J. L. Hammett Company, brushes, mop wringers 10 58 The Holmerden Company, tacola 28 25
C. B. Dolge, tink, deodoroma
28 09
$2,597 20
Elementary Operating Expense
South
West $684 00
$624 00
2,030 00
Fuel
513 70
336 05
308 51
1,158 26
$1,235 70
$1,020 05
$ 932 51
$3,188 26
Miscellaneous
South
West
Center
Edison Elec. Ill. Co.
$32 10 $21 90 $22 95 65
J. S. Moore, step-ladder
1 50
Masury-Young, dust pans
2 50
2 00
2 00
West & South Water Supply
12 96
15
17
23 53
South Acton Coal & Lumber
1 85
L. C. Hastings, supplies
13 36
George H. Reed, broom
80
John Evans, taking off storm door
1 25
West Disinfecting Co., soap
11 29
11 27
11 27
$75 56 $53 04 $59 75
Total Miscellaneous $188 35
Total Elementary Operating Expense
$3,376 61
11
Center
Janitor
$722 00
South Acton Coal & Lumber Company
William B. Holt, coal hod
High School Maintenance and Repairs
Frank L. Weaver & Sons, repair roof
$80 95
Chamberlin Metal Weather Strip Company, weather stripping 150 00
New England Flag Pole & Rigging Company, flag pole
89 00
Christian Jensen, masonry
14 50
Benjamin H. Sawyer
14 40
B. A. King, electrical work
86 18
Albert E. Sims
33 48
J. F. Chapin Company, tuning piano
6 00
Larkin Lumber Company, repair wood
5 15
Barnes & Jones, service heating system
22 95
L. T. Fullonton, setting glass
10 60
Massachusetts Reformatory, material to repair chairs
8 70
C. A. Milbery, repair switch
1 25
R. M. Prentiss, electrical work
11 00
E. R. Sanborn, coal bin door
6 40
$540 56
Elementary Maintenance and Repairs
South
West
Center
Albert E. Sims
$ 9 63
O. D. Wood
$ 35 50
Benjamin H. Sawyer
77 90
E. Z. Stanley, firepot
and repairs
109 21
South Acton Coal & Lumber Co.
48 31
11 99
36 14
J. T. McNiff
3 25
James N. Berry
44 49
Frank Fiske, shingling
383 83
B. A. King
6 45
Samuel Knowlton,
painting
59 25
L. T. Fullonton & Co.
149 50
Christian Jensen
15 00
Ralph Jones
12 00
A. H. Perkins
28 35
George A. Braman, repair bells
1 00
J. W. Livermore
5 00
· E. R. Sanborn
2 50
Claire A. Milbery, clock
1 00
Albert E. Sims
43 74
$155 29 $ 62 23 $866 52 $1,084 04
12
Health
Dr. Ernest Mayell, examinations in high and elementary schools
Scales
$200 00 14 85
$214 85
Transportation
A. W. Davis
$4 000 00
Library
John C. Winston Company $ 3 33
The Literary Digest 12 90
R. H. Hinkley Co., Doubleday Encyclopedia
49 50
$65 73
New Equipment
Beckley-Cardy Company, shades
$ 12 45
Remington Rand, Inc., typewriters
160 00
$172 45
Tuition
City of Lowell
$210 92
City of Worcester
5 20
$216 12
Miscellaneous Expense
E. F. Conant, School Census
$30 00
C. C. Cullinane, express
5 60
John F. Hough, express
1 50
Acton Drug Company, cotton
50
Murphy & Snyder, programs
3 50
Vannah Lithograph Company, diplomas
39 40
Kenney Bros. & Wolkins, Inc., express
1 70
Ralph Jones
5 00
E. Z. Stanley, express
2 50
$89 70
Total expended during fiscal year
$42,999 13
13
Report of School Superintendent
To the School Committee and Voters of Acton:
I, herewith, submit my third annual report as Superintendent of Schools and Principal of the High School.
The number enrolled in our schools this year is 510. This in- cludes about 10 post graduates who came back in September and who, up to the present time, have conducted themselves in such a way that it has been a pleasure to have them back again. The ex- pense of their instruction is not noticeable. However, should the number increase materially, there would be need of another teacher.
The 510 pupils in school are distributed as follows:
Grade
I
II
III
IV
VI
VII
VIII
IX X
XI XII
P.G.
Center
9
7
12
17
V 12
10 16
.
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
South
18
16
14
16
20
. .
. .
. .
. .
.
. .
West
10
18
15
11
17
11
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
. .
High School
61
43
47
34
37
28
10
.
The total number of pupils for whom the town furnishes trans- portation is 107. Of these 37 are in the vicinity of South Acton and 70 in the vicinity of Acton Center. 40 go to high school. The others are carried to the grade school buildings.
According to information gleaned from town reports and from reports of the State Department for the last seven vears it has cost considerable less to educate each child in school in Acton during the past year than at any time before since the high school has been in operation, with the exception of the year 1928 when there was a difference of only one cent per pupil per day.
The high cost of 1929 was due to the fact that that year the Town received no school return under Part II, and the high cost of 1930 was due, of course, to the $3,500 special appropriation for the High School playground, which, in fact, has never been completed. Part II of the School Returns, mentioned above, refers to the apportion- ment to towns of the income from the Massachusetts School Fund, reckoned upon the proportionate amount paid by a town of every thousand dollars of state tax established by the preceding valuation.
You will see that the net cost to the town for educating one child one day in the schools of Acton for the past school year was thirty- seven cents. That sum includes, of course, all transportation, heat- ing, instruction, etc., and is about as low as it is possible to go and have efficient instruction. It is cheaper than one could hire a gov- erness for his children if he were to not send them to school at all, or if he were sending his children to a community center for being taken care of with no instruction whatever. Of course we all are interested in doing the best thing for the children at the lowest pos- sible expense, but there is a figure below which it is dangerous to go. In the long run one gets what he pays for, whether it is a pair of shoes or a job of educating children.
14
Net Cost of Operating All Schools
Year
1926
1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
Appropriation Total expended from ap- propriation
$44,000 00 $44,000 00 $44,000 00 $45,000 00 $48,500 00 $45,000 00 $43,000 00
41,485 62
43,987 67
43,984 70
44,845 92
48,034 21
44,863 47
42,999 13
Total returned from state Tuition from out-of-town pupils
4,330 39
6,026 54
6,994 84
3,691 25
5,671 60
5,881 65
6,211 69
1,260 43
1,927 40
2,010 56
2,775 28
2,670 15
2,486 15
2,671 03
Net cost to town (raised by taxation )
35,894 80
36,032 73
34,979 10
38,379 39
39,692 46
36,495 67
34,116 41
Cost per annum per pupil
71 79
74 00
68 45
86 05
82 20
71 56
66 89
Cost per diem per pupil
40
42
38
48
46
40
37
Number of pupils in school
-500-
-487-
-511-
-446-
-483-
-510-
-510-
15
When we commence to compute the cost of persons and their value we have commenced a difficult task. What is the value of a boy or girl, ten dollars, fifty, a thousand, forty-five thousand? Well, some are worth much less than others, no doubt. And it seems that the more you spend on some the more worthless they are. But if from the many who come to us for their education and go away hav- ing received the foundation of education from us, a few make their mark in the world and make it honestly, and most of the others become good citizens, the cost has been repaid, if not in money then in good works.
The cost of operating the schools, of course, is by far the largest item in the town budget, representing about forty per cent of the whole, and the cost of instruction takes about 60-70% of the school appropriation. But what can be of more value to a school or to a town than a good teaching staff? It is through the teachers them- selves that the type of education above mentioned must come, not through text books or pencil and paper.
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