USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > Town annual reports of Carver 1951 > Part 4
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From records of the School Committee:
Voted: That the report of the Superintendent of Schools and other officers of the school system be hereby adopted as the report of the School Committee for 1951.
JOHN CARTER, Chairman DORIS E. DUNKLEE, Secretary FRANK H. COLE
School Committee.
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FINANCIAL REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 1951
Balance Balance Expended Appropriation Funds
Appropriation
$71,470.00
$71,460.49 $9.51
E. Tillson Pratt Fund
52.50
52.50
0.00
Benjamin Ellis Fund
181.59
181.59
0.00
Totals
$71,704.09
$71,694.58 $9.51
0.00
Expenditures
SUPERVISION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
School Committee, salaries
$148.25
School Committee, expenses
56.96
Superintendent, salary
1,884.26
Superintendent, travel
200.00
Union Office, incl. Clerical Assistance
and Administrative Expense
962.17
School Census
25.00
Attendance Officer
$3,276.64
EXPENSES OF INSTRUCTION
Supervisors
$1,147.00
Teachers and Substitutes
25,656.00
Textbooks
317.58
Supplies
955.83
28,076.41
OPERATING EXPENSES
Janitors' Salaries
$3,051.25
Janitors' Supplies
280.33
Fuel
1,850.78
Lights, Tel., Misc.
729.07
5,911.43
MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY
Repairs and Miscellaneous $189.15
189.15
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AUXILIARY AGENCIES
Transportation-High School
$7,465.96
Transportation-Elementary School
8,295.60
Insurance
1,005.27
Library
2.36
Health
1,049.03
Tuition: High Schools
14,406.56
Miscellaneous Auxiliary Agencies
284.48
32,509.26
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION
Tuition, Day School
$207.84
Tuition, Evening School
8.40
Transportation
86.40
302.64
OUTLAYS
New Construction, Grounds
$755.33
Equipment
673.72
1,429.05
AMERICANIZATION CLASSES
0.00
0.00
Total Expenditures $71,694.58
Table of Reimbursements
and other income received during the fiscal year 1951 on account of schools
School Aid (Chap. 70, G. L., as amended)
$9,750.79
Transportation (Chap. 71, G. L., as amended)
13,382.11
Superintendent of Schools, Small Towns
1,300.31
Division of Child Guardianship
State Wards: Tuition and Transportation City of Boston
2,431.13
Wards: Tuition and Transportation
722.50
Vocational Tuition 2.25
$27,589.09
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ESTIMATES of School Aid and other reimbursements to be received in 1952, these estimates being furnished as required under Section 10, Chapter 643, Acts of 1948:
School Aid (Chap. 70, G. L., as amended) $9,500.00* Transportation (Chap. 71, G. L., as amended) 14,500.00
Superintendent of Schools, Small Towns 1,300.00
Other anticipated income:
Division of Child Guardianship
State Wards: Tuition and Transportation 1,600.00
City of Boston Wards: Tuition and Transportation 500.00
$27,400.00
*This figure subject to change if the Legislature revises the table of equalized valuations for the towns. Present figure set by Acts of 1945.
Estimated Reimbursement on Account of
Schoolhouse Construction, (Chap. 645, Acts of 1948)
Due for 1951 $4,800.00
Due in 1952 4,800.00
(The exact amount of this reimbursement cannot be quoted by figure until the Building Committee closes the account with the School Building Assistance Commission.)
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the School Committee:
Once again it is my duty to present a brief report on the affairs of the public schools of Carver, which is a member-town of the superintendency union #41. This becomes the eleventh such report which I have filed. Your attention is called to the reports of others of the system who touch upon special features of their work.
The program of public education in Carver has reached another milestone in its onward development and it is time once again to examine the status of it. The opening of the new school has made possible the opportunity to develop the school program at its best in Carver. For the first time the pupils are gathered at one spot, they share in equal opportunities for teaching and use of facilities, a superior lunch program is available, the chance to develop a good program in health education is here and with these new features goes a strong enthusiasm for what they are doing, both from teachers and pupils. It is thus that we are entering upon a new era in the training of the Carver children at the elementary and junior high level and we expect to make the most of the opportunity. We are engaged at the moment in becoming acquainted with the physical plant and learning to avail ourselves of the new features. The transition from the old, traditional-type building to the modern facility makes it necessary to re-direct the teaching approach so as to get the most from the building. The program of studies is up for revision and the time allotment for grades and subjects can be re-evaluated. All of this leads to a better program and we expect to spend the year doing these things while the school program is under way.
A brief note will be found in the principal's report concerning the additions to the staff. The persons elected to the staff have worked out well and are a welcome addi- tion to the teaching force. In setting up the school, much
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more time had to be set aside for the principal to give to administrative duties and he consequently had that much less time for teaching classes. On account of this and so as to offer additional work in physical education and science in the school program, Mr. Costa was added to the school staff. In the field of music education there has been no supervisor since the spring of 1945. At that time the committee voted to leave the position vacant until better facilities would be available and until the time when it might be possible to retain a qualified supervisor whose services could justify the expenditure. With the opening of the new building it was possible to return this service to the schools, and Mrs. Eunice M. Sherman, living in Middleboro and an experienced supervisor of music, was hired for one day, weekly. The services of both the new teachers have been very satisfactory and the opportunities which are offered in their departments represent added enrichment in the curriculum for the pupils.
This report would not be complete without a compli- ment to the teachers in general for the fine way in which they all assisted in that most disagreeable task - moving three schools into one. They were available for service as needed and most patient with the petty inconveniences and annoyances connected with moving and sorting out the materials used in the teaching program. Mr. Shaw was available throughout the entire summer and on call for whenever needed.
The transportation routes which were laid out last spring were put to public bid and sealed bids were filed for opening at a public meeting on April 2, 1951. Specifi- cations had been previously adopted by the committee covering miles travelled, size and age of busses, etc. Bids were awarded to Theo Thomas, G. Roger Williams and Aime Desroches for the several routes, Mr. Thomas being low bidder on two routes and the others low bidder on one each. The erection of the central school has increased the transportation needs in terms of number and size of
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busses and consequently the expense of transportation. However, the generous formula for state aid in the matter of transportation makes the net cost to the town no greater than before the change. The greater expenditure is offset by a greater reimbursement as shown in the table for anticipated reimbursements for 1952, elsewhere with this report. Two of the four busses do double duty on ele- mentary runs, each having a short second run so as to permit handling the number of pupils we do with four busses. Without this doubling feature six busses would be necessary. The conduct of high school pupils being trans- ported on busses has had our attention this year a number of times and we have endeavored in as patient a way as possible to obtain cooperation of pupils and their parents in the problem cases. It may be that we are guilty of being too considerate in the matter and that more strin- gent measures will have to be taken to protect the welfare of all the children being transported. During the fall months I have conferred with the Department of Educa- tion, the Registry of Motor Vehicles and other superin- tendents of schools on the questions involved and it may be possible that the law respecting pupil transportation which is general in nature now will have to be amended specifically so as to remove the possibility of dual inter- pretation.
The school lunch program, new to the school and town, is discussed in some detail in the report of the principal, with attention given to personnel and finance. We are indebted to those running the program and Mr. Shaw for the fine financial record made to date. When the program was organized it was impossible to do other than predict whether or not we would be able to make it operate on a price of 20ยข per complete lunch. More systems than not have already abandoned this price for the meal and raised it in order to have more income to meet the bills. Except for the indirect subsidies of light, heat and water, this program is operated entirely without town appropriation
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and it is our intention to continue to keep it self- supporting. It is operating in a superior manner in every respect.
Rising costs for the support of education continue to be with us and there is no immediate prospect of a decrease from this pressure. Yet a consideration of the value of the several reimbursements and other income to the town on account of schools helps to reduce the net local cost. Referring to the financial reports elsewhere, it will be noted that the reimbursements for the year just closed amounted to approximately 38% of the gross amount expended. The expected income for the next year is esti- mated to be about the same, as closely as can be determined so far in advance, and, in addition, the town should begin this year to receive the aid due on account of schoolhouse construction. In order that some com- parison might be had which would better enable us to see our position with respect to averages, both state-wide and in towns of the class of Carver, the following figures are included in this report:
Cost Per Pupil
Cost Per Pupil
Item
State Average Class IV Towns (1)
General Control*
$8.48
$11.47
Carver's Cost Per Pupil, 1951 $9.34
Salaries
151.75
106.21
97.11
Textbooks
2.59
3.26
1.15
Supplies
7.46
5.27
3.46
Operating Expenses
25.65
22.52
21.42
Repairs
10.78
4.76
.69
Libraries
.24
.17
.00
Health
3.37
3.06
3.76 **
Transportation*
6.14
40.50
44.91
Tuition*
2.22
47.79
41.04
*These items figured over total average enrolment, in- cluding high school; others figured on average enrol- ment in local schools only.
** Not including school doctor.
(1) Towns under 5,000 population and not maintaining high schools.
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In view of the costs per pupil shown above Carver need have no fear of being out of line in any item and we will continue to strive to keep costs within all reasonable bounds as we advance into the future.
The conclusions of our study conducted the last month of this year concerning the advisability of retaining the grade 9 in Carver, beginning in September, 1952, are included herewith, together with my recommendation. From the outset of the study, two principal points have been kept in mind, first, how the pupils might fare under such a change and, second, the costs or savings to the town through such a program. An examination was made of the program of studies as offered to our pupils in the Plym- outh Junior High School and efforts made to see how the same might be adapted to the local school, if the grade were to be retained here. Briefly summarized, the evi- dence, both from the point of view of what would be offered the pupils and the cost, is entirely in the favor of retaining the ninth grade here. The important points follow:
A. Educational
1. A program could be developed locally that would offer separated courses in English, Mathematics and Science to correspond with Plymouth courses. Latin instruction could be worked in, when and if needed.
2. The availability of a modern building would meet every need which a ninth grade program would demand.
3. The need for being graduated at the eighth grade in Carver and the ninth and twelfth in Plymouth will be removed. Under this plan the pupils will graduate from the ninth in Carver and the twelfth in Plymouth.
4. The change between the grades and high school can be better met on this proposed plan. A program of train-
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ing can be worked out which will meet the principles and ideals of Junior High school training.
B. Financial
5. The additional cost to the town would be the salary for an additional teacher plus a first-year expense for necessary textbooks and an annual expense for the sup- plies used.
6. No large scale saving can be anticipated the first year the plan is put into operation as the ninth grade will be opened in September thereby relieving the budget only of 4/10 of the annual tuition charge for each pupil of this classification. Following the year the program starts, however, there will be a reduction of an estimated $5,000 in the tuition item. Against this saving would be the salary of the added teacher and the supplies used, etc., but there should be a saving of at least $2,000 annually in the local appropriation on this account. Even with the year 1952, I estimate the school committee will have to request the town for an additional $1,000 more than the amount it presently plans to request if the ninth grade is sent to Plymouth in September, 1952.
7. The ninth grade located at the new school will not add to the local transportation problem. They can be absorbed into the local runs as they are now operated.
8. Retaining grade nine locally will relieve what may develop into additional transportation for high school pur- poses. If the town were to continue under its present plan it is possible there would be a total of 95 pupils to be transported to Plymouth next year. While we use busses having a registered capacity of 60, this is in terms of the registry's figure of 13" per child, (elem.) three to a seat. This is not adequate for high school pupils and about 40 per bus are all that can be handled with any degree of comfort. It is entirely possible that a third bus might
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have to be added to the high school transportation if the grade nine were to be continued at Plymouth.
9. The formulas in the present state aid laws base the calculation of aid, whether as school aid, transportation, or whatever it is (except aid on salary of superintendent) on the numbers of children living in town, regardless of their school location, in town or out. The amount of aid which the town will continue to receive will not change whether the ninth grade is local or out of town.
C. General
10. There is more than sufficient space for seating a ninth grade in the new building and still leave some space for growth.
11. The time for the change will never be more ideal than it is at present while the building is new and the children are enjoying the pleasure of living in a new building.
It is my recommendation at the close of this year that plans be made to open the ninth grade of instruction locally in Carver, in September, 1952.
Most people agree that it is impossible to stand still - that one must either go forward or backward. The citizens of Carver have taken the necessary forward step in pro- viding a modern school plant for their children's needs. We in the schools will do our best to carry on in the same direction. We are ever appreciative of the many hours spent by the members of the school committee in deciding upon the best policies to be set up as a basis for operating the schools.
Respectfully submitted,
GEORGE R. AUSTIN,
Superintendent of Schools, Union No. 41.
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REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE CARVER CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The last class to graduate from the Center School num- bered twenty-nine. Graduation exercises, featuring a pro- duction of EVANGELINE adapted and directed by Mrs. Hattie Griffith, were held Thursday evening, June 7, 1951. The prize in the essay contest sponsored by the Julian Southworth Post of the American Legion was awarded to Cynthia Simmons and was presented by Commander George Harriman. A list of graduates follows:
Irene Amado a Marjorie A. Kingman a
June Arponen a Manuel F. Lopes a
James Beal
a
Margaret J. Maki a
Louis J. Brier, Jr. a Sonja E. Maki a
Jean M. Caron a Joan Mosher
a
Elaine A. Desroches a Ronald W. Patterson a
Mary Ferriera b Johnathan A. Perkins a
Ronald R. Gomes
a Danine E. Potter a
Robert G. Gonsalves c Priscilla I. Russell a
Curtis B. Holmes a Peter R. Saisa a
Fred Hurd b Robert F. Shurtleff a
Edwin L. Jokinen a Cynthia Simmons a Patricia E. Keating a John E. Thornhill d
Lois E. Kenny c George B. Williams a
Shirley A. Williams a
a-Enrolled in Plymouth
b-Not in School
c-Moved from Carver
d-Bristol County School of Agriculture
The opening of the new Carver Consolidated School was postponed from September 5 to October 8. The school was opened for public inspection on Thursday, October 11,1951. One hundred and eighty visitors signed the register. Since
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that date we have been hosts to people from such far away places as Hawaii, Ontario, and Alaska.
The enrollment on the opening day was two hundred and seventy-four. The grades ranged in size from twenty- seven to thirty-nine. A grade numbering thirty-nine pre- sents a problem: it is too big for one teacher to handle effectively, and it is too small to warrant the expenditure of dividing it into two classes. We have tackled this problem in two ways. In one case an outright division was made. In this particular grade it was felt that the progress to be made by the pupils would justify the extra teacher. The other solution of the problem was to make three home rooms out of two grades. Thus we have one room devoted to grade II, one to grade III, and a third which is a combination of these two grades. In this way we divide seventy-two pupils among three teachers rather than thirty-nine between two.
Two additions to the teaching staff have been made. Mrs. Eunice Sherman of Middleboro comes to the school once a week as music supervisor. Mrs. Sherman has had teaching experience in Westport, Mass., and Little Comp- ton, Rhode Island, and now teaches in a similar capacity in Lakeville and Rochester. She has aroused much enthusiasm for the instrumental lessons which are now being carried on. More of this will be found in her report as music supervisor. Mr. Lawrence Costa, a graduate of the Massachusetts State Teachers' College of Bridgewater, has been engaged to teach manual training, science, physi- cal training, and to do departmental work in the upper grades. Mr. Costa came to us highly recommended by the staff of the Teachers' College and his stay with us has confirmed this opinion given us by the teachers of that institution.
Changes in the teaching schedule have been made. Mrs. Morrison now devotes all of her time to art teaching. Mrs. Gordon who formerly taught grades III and IV now has the above mentioned combined section of grades II and
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III. One section of grade VI has been departmentalized.
What changes in the school program have been made possible by the erection of the new school building? For the most part we have done away with the combined grades. Before we came to the present building there were five rooms out of ten housing two or more grades. At the present time there is one, and this was made by choice rather than necessity. In this way a greater part of the teacher time is spent at a level within the range of the pupils in the room.
Under the present set-up all the visual aid equipment is accessible to all the pupils in the system. Up to this time the schools at the north and south ends of the town were in no position to make use of the visual equipment owned by the town.
With the consolidation of the schools no supervisor time is spent in traveling from one school to another. Mrs. Sherman in her day spent in Carver is able to visit all the grades in the course of a day, devoting thirty minutes to the lower grades and forty to the upper grades. Such a schedule would be impossible if any of the school day were spent in travel.
The all-purpose room has enabled us to undertake a definite sports program. Carver is now a member of a league made up of schools from Marion, Rochester, Mid- dleboro, Lakeville, and Wareham. Ten basketball games have been scheduled for the coming season. Later in the year baseball will be added. During the fall tag football games were played with Rochester and Lakeville.
Mention should also be made of the auditorium programs. Since the installation of the curtains in the all-purpose room, two opening assemblies, a Christmas program, and a demonstration of the instruments of the orchestra have been held. Such programs give the student body a sense of unity which would be difficult to obtain in any other way.
The addition to the school program which has received
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the most publicity is the school lunch. A modest but practical kitchen was installed at a cost exceeding four thousand dollars. The lunches are served in cooperation with the Office of School Lunch Program of the Massa- chusetts Department of Education. Requirements of a complete lunch which should provide one-third to one-half of a day's nutritive requirements are:
a One-half pint of whole unflavored milk.
b Two ounces of fresh or processed meat, fish, or cheese; or one-half cup peas or beans, or one egg.
c Six ounces of raw, cooked, or canned vegetables and/or fruit.
d One portion of bread or muffins.
e Two teaspoons of butter or fortified margarine.
Certain commodities such as canned fruit and vegetables, dried milk and eggs, and fresh apples have been supplied by the federal government. Nine cents per student meal is contributed by the Commonwealth. The cost of a meal to the pupil is twenty cents; to the teacher, thirty cents. All expenses of the program are paid from the money received from the lunch program. None of the expense is met by appropriations from the town. We are fortunate in the personnel engaged to carry out the program. Mrs. Eveline McLure is head cook, Mrs. Irene Williams is serv- ing as her assistant, Mrs. Albert Raymond is part time helper. The success of the program can be best demon- strated by the increase in the average number fed daily from month to month. The daily average for October was 244 pupils fed; for November, 246; and for December, 250. The receipts for the period covering October 8 to Decem- ber 31 are as follows:
Pupil Lunches
$2,365.35
Teacher Lunches 152.40
Received from Commonwealth 358.17
Other 8.03
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The expenditures for the same period:
Wages
$570.00
Food
1,882.06
Transportation
22.05
Services
109.65
Other
14.83
The success of the program rests, I believe, on several factors. We are feeding the maximum number of pupils that can be cared for by the number of workers engaged, the quality of the meals served, and our policy of serving seconds whenever possible. The program has brought one change much noticed by the teachers - the absence of afternoon fatigue and the resulting restlessness.
Great pride in the new building is shared by pupils and teachers alike. We appreciate the generosity of the voters which made this school building possible. It seems a fitting year to rededicate ourselves to the education of our young people that they in their turn may be citizens worthy of Carver's trust. To you and to the School Com- mittee we of the Consolidated School are greatly indebted for guidance and support.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY M. SHAW, Principal.
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF ART
Mr. George R. Austin Superintendent of Schools, Union #41
Dear Mr. Austin:
In compliance with your request, I herewith submit the annual report of the Art Department for the year 1951.
The Art Program, as in the past, endeavors to meet the conditions of child growth and to develop art ability in each individual, according to his own powers.
Areas of Interest for Art Experiences which have been
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carried out in every class are as follows: Activities On the Farm, In the Home, Out-of-doors, At School, Buildings, People, Transportation, and Nature with studies of Birds, Animals and Butterflies, Trees, and Flowers.
The Farm Unit includes work on various activities, as people, buildings, trees, animals, vegetables and fruit, represented by posters, murals and panels. Construction work, through the medium of clay, paper craft, boxes for buildings and corrugated paper for roofs, was used in making sand tables and dioramas.
All classes represented Special Areas of Interest for Art Experiences in Seasonal subjects as Hallowe'en, Book Week, Good Citizenship, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Wash- ington's Birthday, Easter, Mother's Day, Health, Safety, Animal Posters observing "Be Kind to Animals Week," and Junior Red Cross Activities.
Making gifts developed creativeness and good workman- ship. Useful, worthwhile objects emerged from cereal and dairy cartons which were covered with colored con- struction paper, decorated with designs in tempera or finger paint, and finished with a coat of shellac.
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