Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935, Part 16

Author: Acton (Mass.)
Publication date: 1931
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 766


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1931-1935 > Part 16


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Most of us can remember one or more teachers who have had a great influence in our whole lives. We may not have realized that they were having this influence while we were in school, but later in life we can often look back upon happenings of that time and know that they were a great determining factor in our period of greatest susceptibility. Teachers of this sort are worth more to a town than can be estimated in money, and if a town is fortunate enough to have them in its employ it ought to afford to keep them.


Our teaching staff returned this year one hundred per cent and that with no raises in salaries. The teachers seem to be enjoying their work this year, especially those who were new last year and have become more accustomed to the school and the town. It is essential to have a contented teaching staff if not a satisfied one. A teacher ought to make herself a part of the town where she teaches and the townspeople ought to try to make her stay in the town a pleasant one.


On account of the increased number of pupils it has been neces- sary to divide several classes into two divisions. This has been ac- complished in the Senior High School in English and United States History. The best teaching can be done with classes of from fifteen to twenty members. When they get larger, they become unwieldy, and so, much cannot be accomplished. In the smaller class more individual work can be done. In the Junior High School these classes, 7A and 7B, 8A and 8B, are more or less interchangeable, i.e., if a pupil is put in 7B and shows that he is able to do the work better than most of the others there he is given a trial in 7A. Like- wise if he falls far below in 7A he is put into the 7B division. The same holds true to a great degree with the eighth grade. This gives a greater opportunity for the slower pupil.


And yet the crying need in our town is for a special class for the benefit of those who will never be able to derive much benefit from our formal instruction, who need more manual training courses.


16


Some of these could, no doubt, become quite adept with their hands, but since we have few facilities for that sort of education, we are at a loss to know what to do with them. The Manual Training Course, once a week, cannot answer the purpose.


This year we have not been able to carry out our program of physical training for all pupils in the Senior High School. It is, therefore, being given to only the Freshman and Sophomore classes twice a week. Lack of time on the part of teachers who can do this work has been the reason for this curtailment. Football drew about twenty-four from the Senior High School this year and basketball furnished recreation for about eighteen boys and the same number of girls. Practices for all these sports are held outside school time, as are the contests with other schools.


It is quite a task to keep these sports going. They are paid for by dues which pupils who are members of the Acton High School Athletic Association pay and the returns of the magazine campaign which the pupils have carried on each fall for the past four years. A great deal of our football equipment was bought second hand from some of the private schools in this vicinity at a great saving. The pupils in order to keep in good standing in the Association pay five cents a week. This gives them free admission to all athletic contests of the High School played at home and also entitles them to a free copy of the final issue of the high school magazine "The Torch", a printed magazine of about the same proportionate im- portance to high schools that the year book is to colleges.


The Auditorium is being used this winter for the third season of basketball and physical training. There has no noticeable harm come to the room, more than would be expected to a similar room in any school building if it were not used for physical training.


The athletic teams which Acton High has been able to put into contests against other high school teams, and the good competitive sport which so many find during the physical training periods dur- ing the winter have helped the spirit and the morale of the school more than can be estimated by one who is not in close touch with it every day.


There are not many unruly boys or girls in our schools at the present time. The Superintendent is doing all that he can to get the few that are troublesome to come to school and help teachers and other pupils to solve together whatever problems present them- selves for solution rather than continue to be problems themselves.


Now and then it is necessary to call in the truant officer. On these occasions Mr. Foley has been the ideal truant officer, studying care- fully the case in hand, and making the culprit understand that he, as well as the school authorities, is his friend, holding open for him the door of opportunity which the school affords in education. Finally if the boy or girl will not see the thing that is best for him or her, stern measures must be taken. As much as we dislike to inflict punishment in some form or other it sometimes becomes neces- sary for a Superintendent of Schools to bring into effect whatever


17


penalties are at his command. In these cases he finds a good truant officer indispensable. I wish to publicly thank Mr. Foley for the cheerful assistance which he has given during the past year to the school management.


On the whole I consider the year a successful one in spite of the fact that we have been operating with a budget $2000 less than it has been for the past three years and $1000 less than it had been for the five years previous to that and at the same time have in- creased our transportation expense because of the new busses bought. The result of prolonging this smaller budget cannot be gauged with accuracy. Not a little difference has been made by the lower prices of coal, paper, and other supplies. If prices start to rise during the next year we may find ourselves severely handi- capped. If some other parts of the school buildings give out suddenly and need repairs we shall be confronted with another difficulty.


The Superintendent feels that he is a part of the town, that his best interests should be for the town and as long as he is here that he should do all in his power to give the town at least as good an educational system as it has had in the past at as low a cost as is consistent with good educational principles.


I think all the teachers in the Acton Schools feel much the same way.


In an emergency we expect to meet the requirements of good citi- zenship to as great a degree as our conscience and common sense tell us is right and reasonable.


But the taxpayers and parents of Acton cannot expect to have a fifty-thousand dollar job of education for forty-thousand dollars. It is possible to do a forty-thousand dollar job of schooling in this town. It is possible to go much lower than that even. But when too low a level is hit more harm is done in neglect to buildings, text- books, and in inferior teaching than can be recovered from in a great many years with a great deal higher budget than it requires to run a moderately good and efficient educational system.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN F. HOUGH, Superintendent.


18


What the Graduates of 1932 are Doing


Baker, Leota Bean, Forrest


Bulette, Annie


Byron, Walter


Condon, William


Coombs, George


Putnam's Farm


Costello, Eleanor


At home


Cunningham, Doris


Burdett College


Davis, Dorothy


Fisher Business College


Duggan, Mary


At home


Framingham Union Hospital


At home


Fitchburg State Teachers College


Hagen, Robert


Heath, Margaret


Post Graduate


Post Graduate


At home


Post Graduate


Post Graduate


Concord Nursery School


Curtiss Radio School


Housekeeper


E. M. Parks-Optometry At home


Northeastern University


Doctor Clark's Secretary


Post Graduate


Thompson, Roy


Tompkins, Mary


Tuttle, George


Young, David


At home Post Graduate Mother's Helper


At home Post Graduate


Flerra, Pauline Gorton, Virginia


Grala, Victoria


Tufts College


Ineson, Louise


Jones, Edna Laird, Marion Lawrence, Walter Massie, Alison


Massie, William


Morison, Eleanor


Parks, Milton


Reynolds, Lyle Sadler, Albert Soares, Mary Stevens, Woodbury


B. U. Business Administration At home


Post Graduate Burdett College


19


Acton High School


COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM Monday, June 20, 1932 Blanchard Hall


Entrance of Seniors 0


War March of the Priests


High School Orchestra


Invocation


The Reverend Russell May


Salutatory Address


Walter Byron


Chorus: "Song of the Armorer"


"A-Hunting We Will Go"


Commencement Speaker Miss Florence Tuttle


Orchestra Selection: "Barcarolle" from "Tales of Hoffman" Offenbach


Presentation of Awards


Chorus: "Afterwards"


Valedictory Address


Victoria Grala


Song


Senior Class


Presentation of Diplomas


Finale March: "America's Finest' High School Orchestra


Reception to Seniors


Honor Pupils


Victoria Grala Walter Byron Roy Thompson


Margaret Heath


Dorothy Davis


Two pupils chosen for best rank in scholarship, loyalty, and achievement:


Victoria Grala Roy Thompson


20


Report of Domestic Science Teacher


Mr. John Hough,


Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


There are thirteen pupils in the Eighth Grade Sewing Class. A discussion with them on their first lesson showed that they all had aprons, so we started their lessons on making slips, something they all needed. Next came pajamas, and in another month they will start on simple school dresses. It was felt their time should be spent on individual needs this year.


I have four classes of Cooking, two in both the Seventh and Eighth Grades. All classes prepare food especially for the Cafeteria Lunch. Each pupil prepares a proportional amount of the cooking, then she has some special duty toward preparing the Cafeteria Table and cleaning in the Kitchen. The system of duties are so planned that a pupil receives a different share of the work each week.


More responsibility is given to the Eighth Grade Pupils.


The Cafeteria is self-supporting and has the following report to make:


Cash on hand January 1, 1932 $ 16 76


Total sales for fiscal year


1,443 65


Cost of supplies


$1,424 70


Athletic Association


15 00


Cash on hand December 31, 1932


20 71


$1,460 41


$1,460 41


Respectfully submitted,


EDITH M. AMES.


21


Report of Music Supervisor


Mr. John Hough,


Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Mr. Hough :


It gives me great pleasure to submit to you my first report as supervisor of music in the Public Schools of Acton.


The regular schedule of theory and singing is being successfully carried out, a course in appreciation has been introduced also in the grade schools, and this course is being made more interesting by a series of beautiful pictures of the instruments of the orchestra.


These pictures are placed where the children can see them while the records are being played on the phonograph.


Two part singing is being developed in the grade schools and is progressing favorably. In the 7-8 grades, stress is being exerted on theory and sight reading, in both soprano and bass clefs.


All this work is being done in a very careful manner, in order that we may not destroy the love for singing.


The High School chorus is doing very fine work. They have de- veloped an attitude toward the music period which is very gratify- ing and the vocal work of this chorus is of a very high order. The Glee Club is at work on a number of songs, and like the chorus has a very high morale. I have recently organized the orchestra, and the various instruments are now playing music from standardized copies.


It is my purpose to instruct the players, not only in music, but also in the methods used in governing symphony orchestras.


The Glee Club and Orchestra alternate with a rehearsal every two weeks. It is my desire to make the music periods of such a pleasant nature that the pupils will find them inspiring and healthful.


In closing, may I take this opportunity to extend to the school committee, to Mr. Hough, the teachers and janitors, my sincere thanks for their support and co-operation in my work.


Respectfully submitted,


LOUIS T. PHELPS, Supervisor of Music.


22


Report of School Physician


Mr. John Hough,


Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


I herewith submit my annual report as school physician.


Physical examinations were completed in October. During the past year we have had some scarlet fever in West Acton and Acton Centre, but we were able to isolate the cases early and had no con- tact cases in either school. Previous to and during the Christmas vacation there were a number of cases of measles in South Acton. Our greatest difficulty comes from cases not reported to the Board of Health.


The general health of the school population has been very good. Details will be found in the nurse's report.


Again I wish to thank the Superintendent, teachers and nurse for their valuable assistance.


Respectfully submitted, E. A. MAYELL, M.D.


Report of School Nurse


Mr. John Hough,


Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir :


I herewith submit my annual report as school nurse.


The Physical Examinations for the school year were completed by the school physician early in the Fall, with the following results:


Total number of examinations: 518


Defects found :


Tonsils and Adenoids (diseased)


39


Glands


150


Poor Posture 129


23


Teeth (decayed and needing attention)


250


Heart 20


Report of school examinations during the school year by the school nurse as follows:


Special examinations


1936


First aid dressings


191


Individual instruction


217


Sanitary inspections


186


Home visits 241


Pupils excluded because of communicable diseases 78


Pupils taken home ill


18


May 4, 5, and 6, Pre-School Conferences were held in the grade schools. There were fourteen children examined.


Schicking was done in the three grade schools in May. Forty children were schicked; of this number all but three were immune to diphtheria. These three together with twenty-eight new pupils were given three injections of Toxin-anti-Toxin. Six of this num- ber were pre-school children entering school in September for the first time.


One child was taken to the Middlesex Hospital for X-ray and examination.


Six children have been taken to Waltham for eye examination and fitted to glasses.


Three children were sent to Bolton Summer Camp and all three benefited greatly by same.


Respectfully submitted,


LILLIAN E. FROST, R.N.


24


B


Report of Drawing Supervisor


Mr. John Hough,


Superintendent of Schools, Acton, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir:


Every child should be encouraged at school and at home, to ac- quire a growing knowledge of Art. This should be developed from the primary grades through the finishing years of school.


All Art training and the simple work taught in the grades has a definite purpose and may be correlated with the other school work. A knowledge of color harmony may be applied to clothes and home decoration. Figure drawing and an understanding of the laws of perspective help us to explain an idea more clearly than a whole paragraph of descriptive words. Long before writing was invented, primitive man made himself understood by picture writing. These same primitive pictures are the first grade child's expression of his idea.


We acknowledge that Art has a definite place in culture, but it also has a definite place in industry. The automobile factories engage artists to direct the lines and color schemes of their cars. Furniture and household manufacturers feel a need for the trained artist to help the planning of their products. A world educated to appre- ciate the beautiful will demand merchandise of artistic value.


Ruskin says: All the greatest art the world has ever produced is fitted for a place and subordinated to a purpose. The best sculpture yet produced has been the decoration of the front of a temple: the best painting, the decoration of the walls of a room. Michael Angelo's greatest painting is on a ceiling in the Pope's private chapel. Leonardo da Vinci's greatest work is the decoration of a wall in a dining room for monks: while the Roman aqueducts, those marvel- ous creations of architecture, enriched by noble sculpture, were merely troughs for carrying water.


Respectfully submitted,


PHYLLIS LEATHA DARCH.


25


ยท Index


Accountant - ..


-


-


-


72


Auditor - -


-


-


-


110


Appointments by Selectmen


-


-


-


-


-


-


44


Board of Health -


.


-


-


41


Cemetery Commissioners


-


-


-


59


Elizabeth White Fund


-


-


-


-


45


Finance Committee


.


-


10


Fire Department -


.


-


-


-


38


Forest Warden -


-


-


-


-


39


Goodnow Fund -


-


-


-


47


Health Nurse -


-


-


-


41


Inspector of Animals


-


-


-


-


45


Inspector of Slaughtering


-


-


41


Jury List -


-


-


-


6


Librarian's Report


-


-


48


Middlesex County Extension Service


46


Old Age Assistance


13


Police Department -


-


-


-


33


Presidential Election -


-


-


-


20


Public Welfare


-


-


-


13


Selectmen's Report


12


Superintendent of Streets


-


-


40


Tax Collector


42


Town Clerk


.


-


-


-


-


22


Births


.


-


-


-


-


24


Deaths


-


-


-


-


28


Dog Licenses -


-


-


-


30


Marriages


-


-


26


Non-Resident Burials


-


-


-


29


Town Meetings -


14


Annual Meeting


-


.


-


14


Special Town Meeting April 20, 1932


-


18


Special Town Meeting July 18, 1932


-


-


19


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


4


Assessors


Town Officers


-


.


-


3


Town Warrant


Treasurer


-


-


-


-


-


-


102


Elizabeth White Fund


104


Firemen's Relief Fund


108


Luke Blanchard Cemetery Fund


107


Nineteenth of April Fund


107


Susan Noyes Hosmer Cemetery Fund


105


Wilde Library Fund


-


108


SCHOOL REPORT


Commencement Program -


20


Comparison of Cost


-


-


6


Domestic Science


-


-


-


-


21


Estimates for 1933


-


-


-


-


6


Legal Holidays


-


-


-


-


2


Organization -


-


-


2


School Calendar - -


-


-


-


2


School Committee


4


School Nurse


-


-


-


-


23


School Physician -


23


Summary of Expenses


-


-


-


-


7


Superintendent -


-


-


-


14


Supervisor of Drawing -


25


Supervisor of Music -


22


Teachers


-


-


-


-


3


What the Graduates are Doing


-


-


-


19


-


-


-


7 100


Cemetery Funds


-


-


.


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


-


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTON


MASSACHUSETTS


For the Year Ending December 31, 1933


RATEL


R


INC


-1735.


ACTON.


The Kennison Print Ayer, Mass. 1934


ANNUAL REPORT


OF THE


SEVERAL OFFICIAL BOARDS


OF THE


TOWN OF ACTION


MASSACHUSETTS


For the Year Ending December 31, 1933


RATED


OONI


-1735.


ACTON.


The Kennison Print Ayer, Mass. 1934


Town Officers, 1933


Moderator Albert P. Durkee Selectmen


Wendell F. Davis Howard J. Billings Waldo E. Whitcomb


Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Town Clerk Horace F. Tuttle Town Treasurer William Henry Soar


Assessors


Warren H. Jones Albert P. Durkee Henry L. Haynes


Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Collector of Taxes Charles A. Durkee


Tree Warden James J. Knight


Board of Public Welfare (One Year)


Howard J. Billings


Wendell F. Davis


Waldo E. Whitcomb


Constables Michael Foley, Alan B. Frost, John T. McNiff, Charles A. Durkee Cemetery Commissioners


Horace F. Tuttle Fred. W. Green Wendell F. Davis


Term expires 1934


Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


School Committee


Louisa N. Wood Arthur M. Whitcomb


Term expires 1934 Term expires 1934


Forrest E. Bean


Term expires 1935


Louise M. Price


Term expires 1935


Albertie M. Mead Randall N. Woodworth


Term expires 1936


Term expires 1936


3


Trustees of Memorial Library


Horace F. Tuttle J. Sidney White Frank A. Merriam


Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Board of Health


George H. Tuttle Raymond F. Durkee Frank E. Tasker


Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Trustees of the Elizabeth White Fund


Charlotte Conant Warren H. Jones


Term expires 1934


Term expires 1935


Waldo E. Whitcomb


Term expires 1936


Trustees of the West Acton Fireman's Relief Fund


A. N. Hederstedt C. D. Cram H. Stuart MacGregor


Term expires 1934


Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Trustees of Goodnow Fund


Horace F. Tuttle


Term expires 1934


Charles E. Smith Charlotte Conant


Term expires 1935


Term expires 1936


APPOINTMENTS BY THE SELECTMEN Finance Committee Alfred W. Davis George A. Richardson


Murray Brown


William T. Merriam William Rawitser Webster S. Blanchard


Superintendent of Streets A. H. Perkins Town Accountant Howard L. Jones Registrars of Voters


Edwin A. Phalen Clarence D. Chickering


Daniel W. Sheehan, Jr.


Term expires 1934 Term expires 1935 Term expires 1936


Horace F. Tuttle, Ex-Officio


Election Officers Precinct 1


Warden-James W. Coughlin Deputy Warden-George A. Murphy


4


Term expires 1934


Clerk-Arthur W. Wayne Deputy Clerk-Spencer H. Taylor Inspector-Arthur F. Davis Deputy Inspector-Willis H. Holden Inspector-Leo F. McCarthy


Deputy Inspector-Harold Coughlin


Precinct Il


Warden-Theron F. Newton Deputy Warden-Theron A. Lowden Clerk-John J. Manning


Deputy Clerk-Thomas Murray Inspector-Lewis C. Hastings


Deputy Inspector-Frank A. Merriam


Inspector-Timothy Hennessey


Deputy Inspector-James Brown


Precinct Ill


Warden-Bertram D. Hall


Deputy Warden-Fred S. Whitcomb


Clerk-David R. Kinsley Deputy Clerk-Frank McDonald


Inspector-A. R. Beach


Deputy Inspector-Harry Holt


Inspector-James Kinsley


Deputy Inspector-Guy P. Littlefield


Fire Engineers H. Stuart MacGregor, Chief Alan B. Frost, Capt. Precinct I David Clayton, Capt. Precinct II A. Hazelton Perkins, Capt. Precinct III


Cattle Inspector Fred S. Whitcomb


Forest Warden Alan B. Frost


Sealer of Weights and Measures Ralph Littlefield


Superintendent of Town Forests Charles A. Durkee


Burial Agent Charles A. Durkee


5


Bertram D. Hall


Surveyors of Wood and Lumber Charles E. Smith George H. Reed


Michael Foley


Field Drivers Alan B. Frost John T. McNiff


Superintendent of Moth Work James J. Knight


John T. McNiff


Police Officers Michael Foley, Chief Alan B. Frost C. A. Durkee


Jury List


Revised 1933


Precinct I


Spencer H. Taylor E. Faulkner Conant James W. Coughlin George S. Tucker George A. Richardson


Precinct II


James Brown Herbert Pratt Lewellyn T. Fullonton David Clayton Henry Cappelle


Precinct III


David R. Kinsley Bertram D. Hall Howard C. Tracy Eugene L. Hall


Allen Brooks Parker James A. Grimes John T. McNiff Benjamin Coolidge


Clarence D. Chickering


6


Edward S. Fobes Fred Billings Frank E. Parsons Simon Taylor


Charles Miles Fred Sims Carl Flint Ralph T. Jones


Town Warrant


COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS Middlesex ss.


RATE


NI


1735.


ACTON.


To either of the Constables of the Town of Acton, in said County, Greetings:


In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts you are hereby directed to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, qual- ified to vote at town meetings for the transaction of town affairs, to meet in their respective precincts, to wit:


Precinct 1-Town Hall, Acton Center


Precinct 2-Universalist Church, South Acton


Precinct 3-Fire House, West Acton


at 12 o'clock noon, on Monday, the fifth day of March, 1934, by posting a copy of this warrant, by you attested, at each of the places as directed by vote of the town, seven days at least before the fifth day of March.


To bring in their votes on one ballot for the following town offi- cers: One moderator for one year, one town clerk for one year, one selectman for three years, one assessor for three years, three for department of public welfare for one year, one treasurer for one year, one collector of taxes for one year, four constables for one year, two for school committee for three years, one for board of health for three years, one cemetery commissioner for three years, one trustee Memorial Library for three years, one tree warden for one year.


The polls will be open at 12 o'clock noon, and close at 8 o'clock P. M.


7


You are further requested in the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to notify the legal voters of said town of Acton, as aforesaid, to meet at the Town Hall, in said Acton, on Monday, the twelfth day of March, at seven o'clock in the evening, then and there to act on the following articles:


Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers and committees, and fix salaries of all town officers.


Article 2. To see if the town will vote to accept the several re- ports of the town officers.


Article 3. To hear and act upon the reports of any committees chosen at any previous meeting that have not already reported.


Article 4. To see what sum of money the town will appropri- ate to defray the necessary and usual expenses of the several depart- ments of the town and determine how the same shall be raised.


Article 5. To see what sum of money the town will raise for the observance of Memorial Day.


Article 6. To see what action the town will take in regard to the collection of taxes.


Article 7. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the maintenance of the fire department, or vote any- thing thereon.


Article 8. To see if the town will pay for fighting brush fires, and fix price thereon.


Article 9. To see what action the town will take toward the sup- pression of the brown-tail and gypsy moth.


Article 10. To see if the town will appropriate a sum of money to insure the employees of the town or act anything thereon.


Article 11. To see what amount of money the town will appro- priate for the payment of premiums on the treasurer's and collector's bonds, or act anything thereon.


Article 12. To see if the town will authorize the treasurer, with approval of the selectmen, to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1934, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, any debt or debts incurred under this vote to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.




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