USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Acton > Town annual reports of Acton, Massachusetts 1936-1940 > Part 27
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clearing wood
3.00
L. C. Hastings, labor
5.00
Henry Thatcher, labor
2.00
South Acton Dept.
Store, curtain .
2.50
The Town Shop, clock
2.25
W. J. Scanlon, labor
2.00
Gledhill Bros., toilet seats
7.73
Security Fence Com- pany, fence 94.00
N. H. Tenney, radia- tors
26.45
George Turner, paint- ing
7.20
Donald Ferguson, elec- trical work 21.37
C. H. Batchelder, flag pole
50.00
W. B. Case & Sons, burlap
.75
$248.04 $107.15 $241.13
Total Elementary Maintenance and Repairs . . $596.32
Auxiliary Agencies
Health :
Middlesex Family Laundry $1.75
Dr. Ernest Mayell, examinations in high and elementary schools 200.00
Libraries :
Allyn & Bacon .49
Civic Education Service, weekly reviews 4.20
Christian Science Publishing Co., Mon-
itor 6.50
$201.75
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Graylord Bros. Inc., cards
4.55
Herman Goldberger Agency, magazines
37.15
Southern N. E. Book & Bible House
1.20
$54.09
Transportation :
A. W. Davis
$5,500.00
Tuition :
Middlesex County Training School, tu- ition of-
Clayton Quimby 52.00
Carmen Hickey 70.00
City of Boston, tuition of- Francis Rahberg 94.36
Daniel Sweeney
23.40
City of Waltham, tuition of James
Espie
61.52
$301.28
New Equipment :
Austin D. MacRae Co., frigidaire
$90.00
Miscellaneous :
C. C. Cullinane, express . 6.10
Commissioner of Public Safety, boiler inspection 5.00
Bon Marche, diploma ribbons
6.00
Murphy & Snyder, graduation pro-
grams and tickets 8.50
National Senior Honor Society, charter fee
5.00
Vannah Lithograph Co., diplomas 52.65
$83.25
Total Expended
$47,098.63
Unexpended Balance
1.37
$47,100.00
Special Appropriation for Repairs
High School : Air Conditioning and Engineering Co., fan and ventilator $140.00
G. L. Forand, weatherstripping 50.00
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E. P. Gates, irons 4.75
Leonard Godfrey, drain
26.00
M. D. Jones Co., plates for audit. win- dows
16.00
B. A. King, electrical work 30.27
Montgomery Hardware Co., bell pipe, etc.
28.14
Parker Hardware, material
2.70
Wm. P. Proctor Co., nails, lumber
42.64
H. J. Schnair, painting auditorium
120.00
Albert E· Sims, plumbing
25.95
J. D. Smith, floors, brick wall
483.00
Frank L. Weaver & Son, roof 287.45
O. D. Wood, carpentry
168.85
$1,425.75
Elementary :
South
West
Center
John Clayton
$11.20
L. T. Fullonton, painting
247.00
Otto Fonsell, plastering
46.30
23.55
Leonard Godfrey, drain
154.34
J. L. Hammett, blackboards
18.41
18.39
18.39
B. A. King, electrical work .
18.37
15.68
Montgomery Hardware, bell
pipe
10.66
Wm. P. Proctor Co., lumber ..
4.72
27.84
H. J. Schnair, painting
30.00
15.00
Albert E. Sims, plumbing
1.08
40.00
N. J. Tenney, heating
573.31
35.79
Frank L. Weaver & Son
65.00
86.48
86.48
O. D. Wood, carpentry
25.00
$748.94
$340.11
$483.44
Total Elementary Special Repairs
$1,572.49
Total Special Appropriation Expended 2,998.24
Unexpended Balance
1.76
$3,000.00
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Report of the School Superintendent
To the School Committee and Voters of Acton:
I hereby submit my fourth annual report as superintendent of schools and high school principal. According to the practice of the two previous years, the reports of the special teachers of music, drawing, physical education, domestic and manual arts will be incorporated; the reports of the school physician and school nurse have been printed separately.
I. School Costs
1. Per Capita Costs
The real per capita cost of the 497 pupils enrolled on October 1, 1938 based upon $39,680.44, the estimated cost of schools in 1938, exclusive of the special appropriations of $3,000.00, was $79.84; that for 1937, upon corrected net cost, $78.07. The in- creased cost was due to hurricane damage, trade school excess, and certain necessary repairs not anticipated at the beginning of 1038.
2. Allotment of School Dollar in 1938
Cost of instruction (salaries, textbooks, supplies) ... $ .65
Cperation (janitors, fuel, expenses) .15
Transportation .11
General Control (supt., enforcement, expenses) .05
Repairs .03
All others .01
According to the best standardized figures available, instruc- tion elsewhere runs from 70c to 75c on the dollar, operating expenses 10c to 12c, transportation 3c to 5c, repairs 2c to 3c. In other words, Acton is high in transportation and operating expenses, and fairly low in instruction costs. The geographical size of the town and the quality of bus service justify the cost of transportation; the antiquated elementary school buildings account in part for higher operating expenses. Yet such pro- portionately high costs must necessarily detract from other items on the budget which ought to be higher.
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3. Maintenance and Repairs Proposed for 1939
The work done in 1938 will probably be covered in some detail in the report of the school committee. That recommended for 1939 is as follows:
a. Elementary Schools: outside painting of two or three buildings ; ceiling in South School; driveway at the South School; improved lighting in all three schools; base plugs and hot water attachments in all three schools; new window sashes; insulation, especially at Center School, and weather-stripping; playground equipment.
b. High School: Extension of gravelling back of school; several new shades; outside painting of window sills and sashes ; further painting of floors in science laboratory and typewriting room ; sound proofing auditorium. To carry out several of these proposals and purchase of needed textbooks and supplies, $47,- 000 should be appropriated.
II. School Membership and Attendance
1. Membership by Age and Grade, October 1, 1938
Boys-
Age
Grade 1 4 13
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 Total
18
2
7 11 6
25
18
6
21
7
2 10
21
8
8 9
24
9
4 9
3 1 2
1
1 16
11
1 12
4
1
18
12
2 10
3
15
13
1
1 2
1
24
3 5 17 2 1 4 5 9 3 1 5 4 5 8 1 4 12
18
3 2 6 2 1 7
17
10
4 8
237
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Girls- Grade
Age
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 Total
24
2
7 12 1 1
21
3
8 11 1
20
4
7 13 4 5 13 3
21
6
5 10 2 1
18
7
8 10
6
24
8
7 11 15 1
34
9
6 7
4
17
10
1 3 7 5 1 2
19
11
5 14
6
1
26
12
4
4
1
1
10
13
2
2
260
Total
497
The total membership for Grades 1-6 of 252 is six less than the average for the past twelve years; that of 245 for Grades 7-12 is one more. While the total school population remains fairly numerically stationery, many students move in and out each year.
2. Percentage of Attendance
From September 1937 through June 1938 the percentage of attendance in Grades 1-6 was 95.59; that for Grades 7-12, 95.39, both, of which are good for a rural district and constitute the best record for several years. In the same way, comparing the period September to December 1938 with similar periods in previous years, our tardy cases of 72 for Grades 1-6 and of 44 for Grades 7-12 total less than previous records show. Much of this improvement is due to an excellent transportation service and careful check-up by school nurse and attendance officer. Probably our attendance and tardiness records ought to be even better, because students are often absent or late for insufficient reasons. Any ordinary rainy day should not keep so many from attending high school, to which 235 of the 245 are transported.
1
7 15 2
24
5
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3. Teacher Loads in Grades 1-6 (October 1, 1938)
Grade
Center
West
South
1 and 2
21
28
38
3 and 4
15
29
43
5 and 6
21
32
25
57
89
106
The extra teachers at the West and South are justifiable. After a survey of the possibility of transferring certain pupils from the South to the Center School, the transfer did not appear ex- pedient.
4. Holding Power of the High School
The present senior class of 26 members is retaining 60% of its original number. The average retention for the last four years has been 59%. In the country as a whole, the average holding power in rural districts is 54% ; in urban districts over 60%.
III. Health and Physical Education
1. General
A full account of physical examinations and of testing and at- tention to eyes, ears, teeth, home visits, etc., is carefully treated in the reports of the school physician and school nurse. The superintendent feels very grateful to Mrs. Creeley for her con- scientious service and excellent co-operation on all occasions. Doubtless, much credit is due her for helping to eliminate epidemics and thereby improving school attendance.
As pointed out in the report of the school nurse, a cross- section survey by the State Department of Health would reveal the serious situation in regard to teeth. During the dental clinic service in the three fall months, 72 pupils received treatment. Much remains to be done. Eye testing in April and December showed many defects. In certain cases glasses were secured for needy pupils. There is still need of assistance. Ear tests demon- strated several defects. 387 quarts of free milk were furnished pupils in Grades 1-6.
To help in our corrective work the donations of local organi- zations were much appreciated. The resulting funds will be exhausted in June and must be replenished in September. Let
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us bear in mind that the need for assistance noted above is particularly pressing in rural districts such as Acton, removed from the free clinics of large cities.
2. Physical Education and Athletics
Physical education and organized athletics are properly part of health education and should not be treated separately.
a. Girls :
The girls, fortunately, are under the same instructor in every grade. To be sure, during the past year, we have had three different lady instructors, all equally efficient. Miss Eleanor Jones, after excellent service, resigned in March to accept a much more lucrative position in Rhode Island. Her successor, Miss Eleanor Davenport, resigned in May to accept a position in Revere. She was followed by Miss Arlene Hanson, who like Miss Jones, graduated from Boston University-Sargent School, and has followed the same system. This includes in- formal exercises and games, health habits, and posture work in the early grades, and, in the upper grades, organized games in soft ball, baseball, volley ball, field hockey, and basketball, in addition to posture work and personal hygiene. The purpose has been the same as last year, namely, care of body and mind, cul- tivation of qualities of good character, desire to participate in games, and proper sportsmanship, whether the girls are winning or losing.
In organized athletics, both inter-group and interschool, girls have participated proportionately much better than boys. Their improvement in physical education has been remarked upon by Dr. Mayell.
b. Boys :
Unfortunately, the boys in physical exercise in Grades 9-12 have four different men instructors, all regular teachers, be- cause of curriculum requirements. The boys seem to enter into in- ter-group games with more interest than varsity contests. Health movies have been given to boys and girls, as well as health talks on the art of long-living, and the care of teeth, eyes, ears, etc. In varsity athletics, the boys played 12 games of basketball, winning a first place at Fitchburg; 12 games in baseball, but only four games in football, one of which was the new six-man
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type of play. In spite of the usual hard work by Mr. Dolan, victories were few. To help matters, Acton has entered new baseball and basketball leagues with schools of our own size and is now trying to form a six-man football league. This form of football team organization is rapidly gaining popularity in the smaller schools. At this point, the superintendent wishes to express the gratitude of the students to the town for taking over and maintaining Jones Memorial Field.
In financing athletics, the high school athletic association continues to have difficulties and, in consequence, has adopted a policy of "pay-as-you-go." Good equipment, transportation, and officials have been furnished, although losing teams do not draw a large "gate." Hence, the biggest part of expenses must be met by various forms of subsidy, as the following table will show :
A. A. Financial Statement
1938
Receipts
Expenditures
Cash on Hand, Jan.
Equipment $123.64
1, 1938
$64.93
Transportation
111.40
Gate
118.97
Officials
82.00
Dues
46.55
Janitor 12.00
Magazine drive
59.57
Miscellaneous 18.57
A. A. Dance
3.72
Cash on hand
61.64
Gifts (class, etc.)
28.51
Movies
31.02
Pin Sale
15.97
Amateur Show
40.01
$409.25
$409.25
Favorable Balance, January 1, 1939 $61.64
This means $139.32 less receipts and $176.53 less expenditures than last year. If the school committee had not helped by pay- ing a bill of $62.24, there would have been a deficit.
.
1
:
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3. Other Activities
a. High School:
Though not part of the health program, it might be logical to add after organized athletcis a brief list of other student activities. The following organizations have continued to func- tion in the upper grades: an agricultural club for boys as a regular course, along with a 4-H club for girls; student coun- cil; several student assemblies and assemblies with outside speakers; the school magazine of good quality; class organiza- tions with their customary socials, plays, food sales, and card parties; and music clubs. There have been field trips to supple- ment science, domestic arts, manual arts, agriculture, and music. There were several outside essay contests, as well as the local history essay competition, in which Marjorie Nelson won first award and George Rifford second.
In particular, more extended reference should be made to the following: The Senior Play, "Happy-Go-Lucky," given in December under the direction of Mr. Greenman, was equally as successful as that in 1937. The three trips to the afternoon youth concerts of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, also under Mr. Greenman's supervision, permitted 22 students on each occasion to listen to excellent music.
The agricultural club has continued to function well. During a period of thirty weeks the boys will study and discuss care and feeding of poultry and cattle, repair and maintenance of farm equipment, farm management and accounting, the green- house industry, and bee culture. Twelve outside speakers, specialists in various fields, will visit the group. In brief, this class of 22 boys, under Mr. Frank Braman, is having a real opportunity to find out many valuable facts in farming, without any cost to themselves or the school department.
All of our activities and school news have received ample pub- licity through the columns of the "Acton News," which has generously granted special front page space under a selected caption. Such publicity includes also the 4-H club activities and other happenings in each elementary school, where organized teams have competed even with the seventh and eighth grades.
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IV. Improvement of Instruction
1. Supervision
According to the best educational theory, 30% to 40% of a school superintendent's time should be devoted to supervision of instruction through class room visits, teacher conferences, . and faculty meetings. It has not been possible to visit classes sufficiently, but there have been numerous and regular faculty meetings of a professional nature. On the first Wednesday of each month, the superintendent meets the teachers of Grades 7-12, and, on the first Thursday, the teachers of Grades 1-6. At these meetings, discussion of routine matters and individual student cases are usually kept out. These are handled by con- ferences with individual teachers and by bulletins. On the other hand, a consistent series of topics bearing upon current pro- blems, selected by the teachers themselves, have been conducted under the guidance of a steering committee. Usually two teachers lead the discussion at each meeting in a professional manner. Bulletins summarize the chief points raised at one ses- sion and prepare for the next. Carefully chosen teachers' refer- ence library, steadily being augmented, is utilized. The experi- ment appears to be working well, in that faculty meetings are far more interesting and profitable.
2. Scholastic Achievement
a. Elementary Schools :
By the Metropolitan Achievement Tests given to Grades 1-8 in May 1938 (similar to tests given in 1934, 1936, 1938), Grades 1-5 appeared to be lower than standard in mental age, that is, lower in general intelligence than the grade level standard. On the other hand, only Grades 2, 3, and 4 were below average accomplishment in all subjects tested. In particular, reading ability was above the standard mean in every grade but Grade 3, while the average in arithmetic and spelling was generally below. History and geography, on the whole, rated satisfac- torily. The low averages in arithmetic and spelling may be due in part to over attention given to reading or to difficult text- books. Already, reading, history, geography, and other basic textbooks had been standardized for all three schools. However. it was felt that easier revised arithmetics of the same text and
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more effective spellers should be secured, with special emphasis upon drill in these two subjects. This has been done and im- provement is expected.
So far as retarded children are concerned, the Worcester Clinic tested 46 doubtful cases. After several days of testing, they recommended that one pupil be placed in an institution, eight be put in special classes, five repeat the grade, and thirty- two continue where they were. It is interesting to note, however, that they called especial attention to 15 cases of eye defects, 24 cases of teeth defect, and 11 cases of throat defects. If we have this proportion in 46 examined, we must have several other defective cases, as indicated above under health. These defects are, without doubt, an important factor in retarding particular pupils in their school work. To adjust matters, teachers throughout the system have access to confidential lists of in- telligence quotients and of eye, ear, and teeth defects, so that they may make due allowance in class work. Records are of no value if kept in files without being used.
b. High School:
In the high school, achievement in scholarship has improved, if study habits and honor rolls are trustworthy evidence. Per- iods have been reduced in number and lengthened in time to provide supervised study. At present, 24 of the 31 periods per week are 51 minutes in length.
The guidance program has been continued and extended through questionnaires, individual conferences, outside speakers, and visual education. A new Bell and Howell silent motion pic- ture projector was purchased, along with the weekly service in educational films provided by Boston University. In addition, considerable material has been borrowed from museums near Boston.
The library, under the supervision of Miss Stolte, has been steadily improved in organization and use. The student libra- rians are supervising very effectively. Many additions have been made during the past year from a fund liberally provided. At least 40 students use the library daily for reference and 40 books are drawn out weekly, in addition to books drawn for school use from the town libraries. At present, there are be- tween 1,000 to 1,100 books, including 23 reference sets, 21
1
1 -
:
1
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magazines, and the newspapers. We are still short of the stan- dard of 1300 books set by a national survey for high schools of this size.
In May, the school formed a chapter in the National Honor Society, which provides emblems for the ranking upper 15% of the graduating class, and additions have been made to the scholarship fund, now amounting to $336.79. Last year, it was hoped that this fund could be increased under a trust arrange- ment, so that students might soon begin to use the interest for entering college. The need for contributions is still urgent, for we have many deserving and promising students who cannot continue their formal education after high school. As to recent graduates from the high school, 17 are attending institutions granting AB or BS degrees; of the Class of 1938, 8 are attending higher institutions, 1 a preparatory school, 4 are post gradu- ates, 15 are engaged in gainful occupations, 9 are at home, and 2 married.
c. Change of Curriculum Needed :
In spite of certain encouraging signs noted above, however, a large number of students are not book-minded nor particularly interested in the present program of studies, which comprises college preparatory (55 enrolled), business (45 enrolled), and general (42 enrolled.) This situation is not peculiar to Acton. Our offering is similar to that found in most New England rural districts, and the problem is the same. In fact, school men everywhere are wondering what the proper solution may be to adapt our educational plan in secondary schools to the numerous young girls and boys who, a generation ago, would have left school for work. We realize that attitude is more im- portant than facts ; that individuals differ in abilities, attitudes, and interests ; that there must be found a way to help education- ally as many as possible. Under these circumstances, we are striving hard to fit limited offerings to student use by the most interesting methods we can devise, with the object constantly in mind of gradually changing the curriculum. In this effort, we have for study the numerous experiments tried in various parts of the United States, some of which have worked out success- fully.
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V. Domestic Arts (Girls)
Domestic arts is offered only to girls in Grades 7-12; under a consolidated grade system; it might be started earlier. Miss Leavitt has suggested a course or two for high school boys, similar to courses elsewhere, because men have been compelled during the depression to work more at home. The outline of work attempted by the girls in Grades 7-12 does not differ from last year. The interest remains good and the enrollments satis- factory. Each year an attempt is made to render working con- ditions more efficient and up-to-date. For example, Grades 7 and 8 have each been divided into two smaller groups. An electric sewing machine was added to the equipment, and a fine electric refrigerator and improved wiring installed by the school de- partment. The manual arts department added shelves for sew- ing boxes. In the future, it is hoped that a second modern gas range may replace the old one and another electric sewing machine may take the place of the remaining ancient treadle machines.
In general, domestic arts courses attempt to prepare girls for ordinary household work, for healthy living, and for wholesome home relations. To further these purposes, certain girls are given one period out-of-doors for recreation or indoors for special problems in nutrition.
An important daily project of this department is the manage- ment and operation of the noon luncheons. The following finan- cial report for 1938 shows progress :
Cash on hand, January 1, 1938
$58.59
Total sales for year
1,934.95
Expenses
$1,963.35
Cash on hand, January 1, 1939
30.19
$1,993.54 $1,993.54
The business for 1938 exceeded that of 1937 by $222.86 and permitted a profit for the year for replacements. These re- placements included trays and other equipment, after making a substantial gift to the athletic association. This does not mean that prices are too high nor the quality of the food, cheaper. In fact, the noon luncheons have never been more satisfactory and might well compare with menus in any good high school.
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VI. Manual Arts
Lik domestic arts, manual arts is not taught below Grade 7. Three years ago, an attempt was made to introduce the general shop in all upper six grades. This idea has been changed at the request of the superintendent, so that the fundamental technique of woodworking or sloyd is practiced in Grades 7 and 8 and general shop in Grades 9-12. But even here the tendency is to prepare a boy in household mechanics for ordinary repair and handy work, rather than to teach him to perfect himself in the fundamentals of woodworking, metal working, electrical work, and shop practice. This year, an introductory course has been offered to upper grade boys in "motor mechanics, involving armature turning, ignition work, valve grinding, bearing work, turning, and wiring." Boys practice on an engine block and on their own cars. To further this work, the donation of a gaso- line or electric motor would be appreciated.
In all this manual arts work, while equipment is fairly ade- quate, space is inadequate. Groups must be limited to twelve, thereby preventing a few boys from enrolling. Results are not yet satisfactory. This fact is to be regretted, because many boys in this type of community should develop far in hand work over a period of six years. However, certain boys after graduation have continued mechanical training in higher institutions or have gone into industrial work as a means of livelihood.
VII. Drawing and Art
Mr. Frank Braman teaches free hand drawing and elementary art in all the grades and mechanical drawing in Grades 10, 11, 12 in connection with manual arts. Drawing is compulsory through Grade 8 and thereafter elective. One and one-half days are spent in the first six grades and two and one-half days in the upper six. While fewer students elect art than we had hoped, two recent graduates now attend art schools and a third is earn- ing money to continue art study later.
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