USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1943 > Part 3
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$158.60
*Memorial Press
4.10
*Rev. Glen Lamb
10.00
Ball Game, Umpire
5.00
Henry S. Pink, Post Cards
1.00
Harry Jordan, Dogs and Rolls
12.70
Blanche Roby
3.00
George Raymond
4.00
58
Plymouth Bottling Works 12.44
Money Order and Postage .19
Myrtle L. Atwood, Car and Service
6.00
Ebenezer Shaw, Ice
.75
Total Expenditures $217.78
* Money spent out of Town Appropriation.
Old Home Day - Sunday, August 1st.
Respectfully submitted,
MYRTLE L. ATWOOD,
Treasurer.
REPORT OF TOWN AUDITORS
We, the Auditors of Carver, have completed an audit of the records and books of the Town, and find them to be correct and in good order, as of December 31, 1943.
ROGER V. WESTON, WARREN L. CHANDLER, ALLENA E. WARD,
Board of Auditors.
1
59
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Eunice A. Bailey, Chairman Term expires 1944
Harriet J. Snow, Secretary
Term expires 1946
John Carter Term expires 1945
George R. Austin, Superintendent of Schools 10 Elm Street, Middleboro
STAFF
Center School-Henry M. Shaw, Principal Marion L. Griffith
Sybil H. Eshbach
Loraine C. Merrill
Alice R. Shurtleff
E. Tillson Pratt School-Gladys E. Burgess, Principal Florence R. Kaski
Benjamin Ellis School-Florence L. Gordon, Principal Eva J. Leonard
Music Supervisor-Antionette Garrett, 150 Court Street, Plymouth. .
Supervisor of Drawing and Manual Training-Stella F. Morrison, Plympton.
School Physician-Dr. L. M. Chase, North Carver. School Nurse-Doris E. Brown, R. N., RFD 2 New Bed- ford.
60
SCHOOL CALENDAR
1943 Fall Term: Begins Wednesday, Sept. 8; Closes Dec. 22.
Holidays : Oct. 12, 22; Nov. 11, 25-26.
1944 Winter Term: Begins Monday, Jan. 3; Closes Feb. 18.
Vacation : Feb. 21-25.
1944 Spring Term: Begins Monday, Feb. 28; Closes April 14.
Vacation : April 17-21.
School reopens Monday, April 24; Closes June 9.
Holiday : May 30.
Closing Exercises, Thursday, June 8.
1944 Fall Term: Begins Wednesday, Sept. 6; Closes Dec. 22.
Holidays : Oct. 12, 27; Thanksgiving Day, with both the days preceding and following it.
1945 Winter Term: Begins Monday, Jan. 2.
61
1943 REPORT OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Carver:
The Carver School Board has carried on its work this year with the same organization and membership, meet- ing with Superintendent Austin on the first Monday of each month.
We were obliged this year to give up our school lunch program which had operated with such marked satis- faction. After the close of the school year in June gov- ernment commodities were non-existent and without them plus the added burden of planning menus with the exist- ing shortages and finding help to prepare the meals it seemed wiser for the time being to abandon the project.
The committee has given careful consideration to the subject of teachers' salaries. This year the state passed a law regulating the minimum salary of a teacher accord- ing to the valuation of the town in which she is hired to teach. The minimum salary in Carver became $1,200.00, a sum considerably more than it has been our custom to pay. This necessitated a complete revision of our salary schedule allowing adjustments for our other teachers not affected by this ruling. We plan to begin these adjust- ments during 1944.
Looking ahead to better and more normal times the board has had some discussion on the possibility of plan- ning for a new and more adequate school building at the center. We would hope to correct the present sanitary condition now existing which we feel is no asset to our school system or our town. At present pupils are grad- uated from Grade VIII and go to Plymouth Junior High
62
School where they are graduated from Grade IX the fol- lowing year. This condition could be corrected if we had room for our own Grade IX, from which the pupils would go directly into Plymouth Senior High School. We also feel that a gymnasium, assembly hall, an adequate work shop for the boys' wood-working classes, and edequate rooms for girls' work in sewing and cooking would be of great advantage to our school system.
Respectfully submitted,
EUNICE A. BAILEY, Chairman HARRIET J. SNOW, Secretary JOHN CARTER.
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1943
Appropriation Expenditures
$37,833.94 37,004.72
Unexpended Balance
$829.22
SUPERVISION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
School Committee :
Salaries
$138.00
Expense
47.12
Superintendent :
Reimbursements 1943
Travel
162.50
Expenses
50.34
Superintendent of Schools Small Towns $735.46
Clerical Assistance
198.24
School Census
25.00
Attendance Officer
33.03
$1,807.47
EXPENSES OF INSTRUCTION
Supervisors
Teachers and Substitutes
$629.00
11,074.01
Chapter 70, Part I
Teachers
$1,683.00
63
Salary
1,153.24
Textbooks Supplies
443.03 370.05
State Wards, Tuition and Transportation $1,037.60
$12,516.09
OPERATING EXPENSES
Janitors' Salaries $1,566.00
Fuel 1,952.93
Cleaning, Lights, Tel., Jan. Supplies and
Miscellaneous 788.30
$4,307.23
Town of Middleboro Tuition and Transpor- tation Sept., Dec. 1942 $231.00 Jan., June 1943 255.96
MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY Repairs and Miscellaneous $117.13
$117.13
AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Transportation :
High School
$5,563.66
Elementary School
5,437.06
Insurance on Buildings
206.40
Tuition, High Schools
5,228.81
Health
318.38
Miscellaneous Auxiliary Agencies
58.49
Transportation High School $5,041.72 Wards, City of Boston Tuition and Transporta- tion $334.94
$16,812.80
64
OUTLAYS
Equipment $456.23
$456.23
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Tuition
$439.00
Transportation
103.80
Vocational Education Tuition and Transporta- tion $243.35
$542.80
AMERICANIZATION CLASSES Teaching, Books, Supplies and Janitor $444.97
$444.97
Total Expenditures
$37,004.72
Reimburse-
ments
$9,563.03
65
66
FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE
SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNT
1943
Town Appropriation
$4,900.00
Expenditures
2,814.95
Unexpended Balance
$2,085.05
Classified Expenditures
C
Labor
$1,290.25
Food Supplies
1,448.81
Fuel
44.07
Equipment
13.15
Freight, Miscellaneous
18.67
$2,814.95
The school department was able to maintin a favorable balance between money collected daily by the principals of the three schools from pupils in payment for lunches, and the amount spent for food, fuel, equipment and mis- cellaneous. The comparison is shown here:
Amount collected in payment for lunches and deposited with town treasurer $1,559.77
Expenditures for Food $1,448.81
Expenditures for Fuel 44.07
67
Expenditures for Equipment 13.15
Freight, Miscellaneous 18.67
$1,524.70
Collected in excess of costs, exclusive of labor
$35.07
Summary, showing net cost to town:
Appropriation
$4,900.00
Deposited with treasurer $1,559.77
Unexpended balance
2,085.05
$3,644.82
$3,644.82
Net Cost
$1,255.18
68
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT
To the Members of the Carver School Committee:
I hereby submit my third annual report as Superin- tendent of Schools for the Town of Carver, a part of the Superintendency Union No. 45, which includes the towns of Carver, Lakeville and Rochester.
The past year represents a continued effort on the part of the school staff to maintain as high standards as possi- ble consistent with the increasing difficulties which con- front the public school. There is no doubt that current problems find their origin in the war and, hence are prac- tically unavoidable. An increasing number of homes have been touched by the war in some manner or other, espec- ially through the draft of the male members. Such a condition often produces an undesirable emotional situa- tion in the child which makes learning processes difficult. Added opportunities for employment have encouraged both parents in some families to take work; in instances where there are small children, this has upset their daily living habits and increased the obstacles in their way for learning. Many communities have been concerned with migratory families, but we seem to have escaped this aspect of trouble. Generally speaking, the enrolment in the local schools shows a slight decrease over last year, and the enrolment in the tuition schools is also slightly smaller. The prospect for enrolment next year in the tuition schools seems slightly larger, although this figure is somewhat unpredictable in these times.
There have been two changes in our staff of full-time teachers since the last report. Mrs. Helen H. Griffith, Principal at the Center School retired at the close of school in June, 1943, after thirty years service to educa-
69
tion, twenty-nine of which were for the Town of Carver. The town, through its school department, is considerably indebted to Mrs. Griffith for her many years of faithful and conscientious service. Her presence is missed from the department. Henry M. Shaw was appointed to suc- ceed Mrs. Griffith as principal of the Center school. Miss Loraine C. Merrill of Hingham, Mass., a graduate of the Gorham, Maine, Normal School, was appointed to the position left vacant by Mrs. Ella S. Donovan. Miss Merrill has had two years' experience in New Hampshire. The balance of the teaching staff remained with us. The latter point is of great importance to the town, for most small towns are experiencing trouble in obtaining and securing effective teaching service during these times of war. The faithfulness of our employees is commendable. I was unable to secure a fifth teacher to take over the teaching fields left vacant through the resignation of Mrs. Helen H. Griffith. After some time had elapsed, with Mrs. Alice Shurtleff substituting in the vacancy, Mrs. Helen Griffith was invited to reconsider and return to the Center school. This she declined to do, wishing to retire from regular, daily teaching. Finally Mrs. Shurtleff very graciously consented to substitute for the remainder of the school year.
Among the part-time teachers, there has been one change. Miss Olive Spaniol, Music Supervisor, resigned to take another position in May, 1943. The position was left vacant until September, 1943, when Miss Antionette Garrett, of Bellows Falls, Vermont, a graduate of the Boston University School of Music with experience in Woodstock, Vermont, was elected to the position in co- operation with the towns of Kingston, Lakeville and Rochester.
Regarding the securing of teachers, the recent study which the committee has made on salaries paid to teachers
70
throughout the Commonwealth of towns of valuation approximately equal to or less than that of Carver, will have a beneficial effect on hiring and retaining good teach- ing service, inasmuch as the decision has been made to raise existing levels and establish a maximum salary equivalent to that of other towns.
We have not been called upon to participate extensively in the war activities this year. The teachers were re- quired to issue War Ration Book No. 4 which they did with their customary cheerfulness and care. Principals and teachers of our schools have cooperated in urging the sales of War Savings Stamps and the three post- masters in the town have each cared for the school nearest his office through a weekly trip to the school for the ac- commodation of the pupils wishing to make a purchase. The total value of the stamps purchased during the year by the pupils was approximately $1,200.00.
At the close of school in June it appeared necessary to discontinue the school lunch program until such a time as circumstances warranted a resumption of service. Ra- tioning problems, due to insufficient 'blue points' avail- able under existing regulations, and the withdrawal of federal commodities made it impossible to continue the work. Our inability to retain sufficient help for the wages we could pay was also a contributing factor to closing. Another section of the school report carries a financial statement about the program. It may be noted that the daily fees collected from the pupils more than paid the daily operating expenses, with the exception of the item of help, which was covered by the town appropriation. I have never doubted the value of the program and will recommend its return when circumstances permit.
A major change in the textbook equipment for our schools was made during the past year. In keeping with
71
the union policy adopted some years ago of renewing one obsolete series of books each year throughout the union, it became time to study available English texts suitable for the elementary grades, and make a selection. The teachers of the union examined samples and the majority favored the use of the series published by the Houghton Mifflin Co. entitled "Language Through Meaning". These books are now in use in grades II through VI. The teachers of grades VII and VIII in the three towns were unable to find books in either technical English or Literature which were to be preferred to the material now in use. Therefore an adoption in this particular field was post- poned, pending a better selection of texts from which to choose.
I am able to report progress in preparing the Course of Study. The teachers have worked with me, and, while there is yet much to be done, we have in use an outline of the minimum requirements in some of the major fields of study. I cannot overemphasize the importance of this work, as I believe it extremely unfair to set teachers to work without some delineation of the scope of the re- quirements for their particular grade or group. The Course of Study in its present state leaves much to be desired, but does represent a sound beginning. Further progress may be expected in 1944. We are beginning to emphasize, particularly in the primary grades, the value of allowing the child to receive a variety of opportunities for learning, and, if he is capable enough and has mas- tered the minimum requirements, to provide an oppor- tunity for his use of other books and learning situations, rather than simply mark time while waiting for the less capable. In isolated instances with the parents' consent, pupils have been advanced a grade when it appears their enthusiasm for learning is dulled by waiting and all in- stances tried have turned out successfully. The thought has already appeared in some educational circles that
72
eventually grade demarkations will disappear, and in their place will appear three schools or divisions-primary, intermediate, and junior high; in these a pupil may pro- gress as fast as he is personally able. There may come a time when this principle may be feasible for use in the Carver schools, inasmuch as there are three separate school locations in use which would lend themselves very satisfactorily to the program.
A successful evening school session was concluded last May. While the numbers enrolled were not as great as the previous year, it may be said that the only purpose of those attending was to learn so as to apply for citizen- ship. Sessions were resumed this fall, but increased opportunities for employment together with transporta- tion difficulties resulted in a smaller enrollment. The town is not required to maintain the class when the en- rolment falls below fifteen registered members. At the writing of this report there is some indication that the class will have to be discontinued as the membership is not holding up. Sessions can be resumed when the demand again appears.
I believe this year is the proper time to begin to ex- amine the future educational program for Carver. A study of past records will show that there have been other times when the Center school building has been under consideration, from the point of view of what is best to do about it-either to rebuild or build a new school. For your consideration, I recommend that the committee and the superintendent begin immediately to study the prob- lem, to view other schools as models and in general to obtain sketches and ideas, with the end in view that with the resumption of peace-time activities and nearer-normal building costs, we can be prepared to have a new Center school designed and built for the Town of Carver. There are numerous features to be thought of under such a proposal; some of the more important are as follows :
73
1. In view of the fact that our secondary school pupils attend Plymouth High School, the new school should be sufficiently larger to accommo- date the ninth grade. I believe this would prove to be more economical over a period of years, when the estimated saving in tuition and trans- portation is calculated against the added costs of keeping the ninth grade in Carver.
2. Gymnasium space should be provided.
3. Proper rooms should be built for the teachng of manual and domestic arts, creative art and music.
4. Proper sanitary facilities could be made available in place of present arrangements.
5. The school should provide for a minimum of six classrooms, with a possible allowance for eight.
6. Proper facilities for the noon-day meal should be included.
7. Suitable facilities for medical and dental work could be provided.
There are many items one might put into such a list; the above gives only some of the more important items. The very fact that we send the tuition pupils to Plymouth indicates that a change on our part regarding Grade IX is both necessary and inevitable. We provide little or no opportunity for the physical training of our pupils. We carry on instruction in the practical and creative arts under poor circumstances at best. The present building will soon need complete refinishing and some repairs, and we have trouble in heating certain parts of it, in spite of excellent janitor service. While the present is not the
74
time to build, it is the time to do the planning. By doing all this preliminary work, by deciding what is best and what we want during this period, we can be ready to go ahead at the earliest reasonable opportunity.
Please accept my appreciation for your continued in- terest in the problems of public education and for your careful and open-minded analysis of the important prin- ciples which we have already considered. It is with such a situation that we can obtain the best for Carver.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. AUSTIN, Superintendent.
75
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
To the Superintendent of Schools :
I wish to submit my annual report of work done as school nurse in the Town of Carver.
In March the Tuberculosis School Clinic in charge of the staff of Plymouth County Hospital was held at the Center School. Seventy-seven pupils had skin tests made, seventy-two of which we're negative. Eleven pupils were. X-rayed ; eight of these were negative and three remained the same as in previous years. Ten pupils were continued on the follow-up clinic.
A Diphtheria prevention clinic, conducted by the Board of Health, was held in May with Dr. L. M. Chase in charge. Fourteen school children and four pre-school children were immunized.
During September and October the annual physical ex- aminations were made by Dr. L. M. Chase; 187 pupils were examined. Notices of defects as found through the examination were sent to the parents.
Hearing was tested by means of the Audiometer for all pupils; two were found to be deficient in this respect. Proper classroom adjustment has been made in each case.
Eyes were examined for poor vision; six pupils were found to have defects of some sort. After notification to the parents, corrections were made for five of the six pupils.
76
The annual dental clinic took place during December. Dr. E. F. Tobin of Brookline examined 102 pupils ; fifty- one of these had a total of 179 operations performed.
I have made 105 school visits, 111 home visits and have taken twenty-seven pupils home for various reasons. During the summer months I made sixteen pre-school visits.
I wish to express my appreciation to parents and teachers for their cooperation and interest.
Respectfully submitted,
DORIS. E. BROWN, R. N.
77
SCHOOL CENSUS
Age-Grade-Distribution, October 1, 1943
Ages 5-7 7-14 14-16 16-21 Totals Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls
Elementary
E. Tillson Pratt School
Grade
I
6
4
1 7
1 1
11
III
0
0
9
5
14
IV
0
0 10 3
13
Benjamin Ellis School
Grade
I
7
6
13
II
2
3
6
7
18
III
0
0
6
8
14
IV
0
0
6
8
14
59
Center School
Grade
V
13
11
24
VI
16
7
3
0
26
VII
9
8
2
1
20
VIII
5
7
4
3
19
89
Total Elementary Enrolment
198
Middleboro High School Grades IX-XII
3
0 1 4
4
Plymouth High
School
IX
1 10
7
18
X
6
6
0
1
13
XI
3
2
5
XII
1
2
2
3
8
44
Total High School Enrolment
48
Pre-school Pupils
10
11
3
0
1
4
8
Miltary Service
33
1
34
Out of School
1
5
1
16
39
62
-
50
12
II
0
3
-
In Other School
Grade
78
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENCY UNION, No. 45
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY FOR 1943
The Union Committee of School Superintendency Union No. 45 held its annual meeting in Rochester at the Pierce- ville School on April 12, 1943. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :
Chairman, Leslie H. Norton, Lakeville
Secretary, Ina A. Washburn, Lakeville
As Mrs. Washburn was absent, Mr. Baker was ap- pointed secretary, pro tem.
The committee voted to raise the superintendent's sal- ary and to pay the same travel allowance as paid last year. Voted that the percentage of the superintendent's salary and travel allowance to be paid by each town be as follows: Carver 40% Lakeville 30%, Rochester 30%. It was agreed that the salary of the school nurse be paid by the towns as follows: Carver 35%, Lakeville 31%, Rochester 34%. Mrs. Doris E. Brown, R. N., of Lake- ville, was elected to serve as school nurse for the Union. The superintendent presented a report showing the dis- tribution of his time to the various phases of his work. The committee considered suggestions for a written form to be used in contracting with teachers. A suitable agree- ment was adopted and ordered printed.
The semi-annual meeting of the committee was held in Lakeville, at the Assawompsett School, November 15, 1943. The superintendent presented a detailed report re-
79
garding the Course of Study which was being prepared by the teachers for use in the schools of Union No. 45.
On November 20, 1943, the committee met in Carver at the Benjamin Ellis School at the call of the chairman, Mr. Norton, to determine whether or not the committee would apply for deferment of the superintendent from military service, notice having been received that he would be called in the near future. The committee voted unani- mously to apply for his deferment and proper application was sent to Local Draft Board No. 138, Somerset, Mass., signed by the chairman and secretary of the Union Com- mittee.
Respectfully submitted,
INA A. WASHBURN,
Secretary.
-
TOWN WARRANT
AND REPORT OF
FINANCE COMMITTEE
OF THE
TOWN of CARVER
MASSACHUSETTS
Annual Town Meeting, March 6, 1944 at 12:00 Noon
83
TOWN WARRANT AND REPORT OF FINANCE COMMITTEE
Plymouth, ss. To either of the Constables of the Town of Carver, Plymouth County, Greetings :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are directed to notify the Inhabitants of the Town of Carver qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs to meet at the Town Hall in said Carver on Monday, the sixth day of March 1944 at twelve o'clock noon, then and there to act on the following article, namely :
Article 1. To choose all necessary town officers, the following officers to be voted for all on one ballot, viz :- Moderator, Treasurer, Town Clerk, Collector of Taxes, Three Auditors, Three Constables, Three Herring Com- mitteemen, One Tree Warden, and One Highway Surveyor, each for one year. One Assessor, One Selectman, One School Committeeman, One Cemetery Commissioner, One Park Commissioner, One Member of Public Welfare and Two Library Trustees, each for Three Years.
The polls will be open for at least seven hours.
And you are directed to further notify said Inhabitants of said Town that as soon as the ballots have been counted the meeting will adjourn to Tuesday, March 7, 1944, at nine o'clock A. M. and at that time will reconvene at said Town Hall in said Carver, then and there to act on the following articles, namely :
Article 2. To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Town Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen,
84
to borrow money from time to time in anticipation of the revenue of the financial year beginning January 1, 1944, and to issue a note or notes therefor, payable within one year, and to renew any note or notes as may be given for a period of less than one year in accordance with Section 17, Chapter 44, General Laws.
Article 2. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article 3. To raise and appropriate such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year.
Article 3. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article 4. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate a sum of money not to exceed eight hundred dollars ($800.00) from the free cash in the town treasury for the sole purpose of meeting charges against the cemetery funds in the town treasury.
Article 4. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
Article 5. To see if the Town will vote to accept the cemetery fund or funds paid into the town treasury under the perpetual care statutes, or act anything thereon or thereto.
Article 5. Recommended by the Finance Committee.
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