USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Medfield > Town annual reports of Medfield 1920-1929 > Part 50
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SUSAN M. CLARK, Secretary of Committee.
School Calendar, 1928-1929
Year 1929
Term
Weeks
Opens
Closes
Winter
7
January
3
February 17
Spring
7
February
25
April
12
Summer
9
April
22
June
21
Fall
16
September 3
December 20
1930
Winter
7
December 30
February 14
Spring
7
February 24
April
11
. Summer
9
April
21
June: 20
School Holidays
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, October 12, November 11 (the day following if any holiday falls on Sunday) ; Thanksgiving and the day following.
In the fall the teachers will be at the schoolhouses on Tues- day, September 3, from 9 a. m. to 12 m. to receive any parents who wish to consult them in regard to their children. The pupils will be enrolled and begin school on the next day, Wednes- day, September 4.
149
FINANCIAL REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Town Appropriation $32,564.00
From Town Treasurer, Interest on School Fund 178.23
$32,742.23
Expense of General Control School Committee
Orion Wight.
$ 23.33
Dr. Wm. E. Crocker 5.83
Dr. Frank H. Clough
29.17
Susan M. Clark.
35.00
Susan M. Clark, Sec'y
50.75
Richard Johnson
11.67
A. Howard Williamson
Supt. of Schools. 875.00
A. Howard Williamson, ex- penses.
127.11
Ambrose Press.
10.00
Millis Press.
1.25
$1,169.11
Expense of Instruction Salaries of Teachers
High
Alton H. Hartford
$2,500.00
Theresa E. MacMurray
1,500.00
Marion A. Bagley
1,400.00
Mary E. Rush
1,400.00
Alice V. Donahue.
900.00
Dorothy M. Titus.
480.00
Elizabeth B. Ludlow
1,240.00
$9.420.00
150
Elementary
Umberto Palumbo
$1,500.00
Ethel C. King
114.00
Helen M. Bower
1,295.00
Helen A. Macdonald
1,140.00
Elizabeth B. Buck
1,200.00
E. A. Maude Craig
1,200.00
Dorothy J. Brown.
1,300.00
Grace E. Whelan.
1,200.00
Mildred A. Kingsbury
12.00
Mildred Phelps.
18.00
M. E. Lawrence.
25.00
Katherine B. Ehnes.
3.00
$9.007.00
Special
Evelyn F. Judd.
$ 390.00
Nettie A. Hamant.
312.00
Lewis J. Maxwell
420.00
Alice V. Donahue
100.00
$1,222.00
$19,649.00
Text Books
High
Elementary
American Book Co
$ 4.79
2.01
D. C. Heath & Co.
35.47
42.77
Edw. E. Babb & Co.
35.49
Ginn & Co.
63.76
9.38
John C. Winston Co ..
22.18
1.01
Scott Foresman Co.
1.58
Charles Scribner's Son
1.50
5.28
Gregg Pub. Co.
6.88
Doubleday, Doran & Co.
...
2.25
Charles E. Merrill.
20.50
Arlo Pub. Co.
5.84
C. C. Birchard & Co.
9.53
City of Manchester.
1.25
151
Lyons and Carnahan
$ 41.29
J. F. Hammett Co.
1.55
Iroquois Pub. Co
22.48
Benj. H. Sanborn Co
9.63
Barnes and Noble
.72
World Book Co
2.77
The MacMillan Co.
19.61
3.04
W. F. Quarrie & Co.
55.00
G. P. Putnam's Sons
2.40
D. Appleton & Co.
.60
Houghton Mifflin Co
3.26
$ 275.27
$ 158.55 $ 433.82
Supplies
High $ 325.20
Elementary $ 218.21
Edward E. Babb & Co.
Wm. Leavens & Co
83.50
Morandi Proctor Co.
107.57
Milton Bradley Co.
84.89
79.58
A. P. W. Paper Co.
66.50
6.50
Remington Rand Co
61.44
Underwood Co.
3.75
.
Office Appliance Co.
19.56
C. C. Birchard & Co.
18.91
Manfg., Equip. and Engi- neering Co.
3.07
Irene Wight.
9.00
Bertha Conners.
2.00
Walter A. Coulter
8.00
Fuelite Nat. Gas Co.
8.00
Visiting Nurse Assoc.
71.67
Flax. Manfg. Co.
2.00
Walter A. Gilbert.
.45
2.20
Lyons and Carnahan
9.03
Dorothy Brown.
1.00
Helen M. Bower
1.19
J. F. Hammett
2.21
152
Iroquois Pub. Co
$ 30.00
Kenny Bros. and Wolkins ..
9.19
Mass. Reformatory
6.07
F. A. Owen Pub. Co.
1.50
$ 875.51 $ 366.68 $ 1,242.19
Expense of Operation
High Elementary
Martin W. Sweeney
$1,334.00
John Dyer
$1404.00
$ 2,738.00
Janitor Supplies
High
Elementary
Edward E. Babb and Co. ..
$ 16.00
Frank D. Kennedy
2.25
Masury-Young Co
38.25
$ 44.38
Ira S. Noyes.
1.50
1.50
Walter D. Gilbert.
28.40
6.00
L. M. Glover
105.52
Waldo A. Fitts.
2.25
Blood Bros.
15.15
Workshop for the Blind.
1.28
Mass. State Prison
4.52
Boston Branch.
1.00
$ 216.12
$ 51.88 $ 268.00
Fuel
High Elementary $1,603.25
Blood Bros.
$ 304.80
W. K. Gilmore.
706.09
$1,010.89
$1,603.25
$ 2,614.14
153
Water
Town of Medfield, Water Department. $ 70.00 $ 70.00
$ 140.00
Expense of Maintenance
High
Elementary
John N. Wills.
63.80
$ 8.88
Allan A. Kingsbury
15.00
20.38
Carl A. Johnson.
33.75
Geo. H. Sauer
240.76
John Newell.
43.75
Newell's Stable.
16.00
E. R. Kerr
2.35
J. F Hummer
5.00
Frank V. Weaver
5.00
3.00
James F. Clark
2.50
7.00
Weiker's Express.
6.10
2.95
C. F. Read.
8.68
H. E. Whitten.
18.06
Plumbing and Heating
1.59
Edwin F. Penniman
12.75
Edison Elec. Ill. Co.
180.10
64.63
N. E. Tel. and Tel.
53.23
45.72
$ 613.17
$ 247.81
$ 860.98
Promotion of Health
Dr. Frank H. Clough $ 30.00
Dr. H. L. Park
115.00
Emma C. Newcomb
200.00
Martha H. Blood.
250.00
Clement Drug Co.
8.04
$ 603.04
154
Transportation
Miss Amie Newell
$ 2,442.00
George J. Ehnes.
233.75
L. W. Wheeler, Insurance
130.00
Alex. Allan, Insurance
53.78
Medway and Dedham Bus Line.
80.50
$ 2,940.03
Summary
Expense of General Control.
$ 1,169.11
Instruction
19,649.00
Books
433.82
Supplies
1,242.19
Janitor's Salaries.
2,738.00
Janitor's Supplies
268.00
Water
140.00
Fuel
2,614.14
Maintenance
860.98
Health.
603.04
Transportation
2,940.03
$32,658.31
Unexpended Balance.
83.92
$32,742.23
Special Appropriation $3,000 for Ralph Wheelock School
John N. Wills.
$ 1,230.44
James F. Clark
117.78
Framingham Foundries.
84.40
Medfield Plumbing and Heating
246.81
Wm. J. Hayward.
66.84
E. R. Kerr
259.25
John J. McGrath.
750.00
E. Roy Kerr
151.67
C. A. Engley.
91.50
$ 2,998.69
Unexpended Balance.
1.31
$ 3,000.00
155
Special Appropriation Cement Walk, High School, $150.00
C. E. Simpson and Son.
139.00
Unexpended Balance 11.00
$ 150.00
Correct:
W. E. GARDNER,
Accountant.
156
SCHOOL RECEIPTS
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
For Massachusetts School Fund.
$1,074.37
For High School Tuition
1,250.00
For Teachers' Salaries.
2,558.20
For Superintendent.
483.34
For Tuition Walpole
212.91
For Tuition, Dover.
100.49
For J. B. Hunter Refund
1.50
For Telephone Calls.
3.95
Net Cost of Operating the Schools.
-
$ 5,684.76 $26,973.55
Respectfully submitted,
SUSAN M. CLARK, Secretary of Committee.
157
SCHOOL BUDGET FOR YEAR 1929
General Control
$ 1,200.00
Instruction.
21,000.00
Text Books.
700.00
Stationery Supplies
800.00
$23,700.00
Ralph Wheelock School
Janitor
$ 1,404.00
Supplies.
65.00
Fuel
1,300.00
Water
70.00
Maintenance
300.00
$ 3,139.00
Hannah Adams Pfaff High
Janitor
$ 1,404.00
Supplies
65.00
Fuel.
1,000.00
Water
70.00
Maintenance
400.00
$ 2,939.00
Promotion of Health
Physician
$ 300.00
Nurse.
500.00
Health Supplies.
25.00
$ 825.00
Transportation.
3,000.00
Ralph Wheelock School, Special, $2,500.00
$33,603.00
Respectfully submitted by the Committee,
SUSAN M. CLARK, FRANK H. CLOUGH, RICHARD E. JOHNSON.
158
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee and Citizens of Medfield:
This annual report is presented to you with the plea that its frank discussion and groups of tables be given careful con- sideration from the point of view of what is best for the future growth of our schools.
I. The Public Schools of Tomorrow
In 1620, life for the Pilgrims was a severe struggle, but its duties were comparatively simple.
In 1928, life for the Pilgrims' descendants is more pleasant, but its duties are greatly increased.
Our schools form one of the leading agencies to train us for this very complex life of today. We need information from books, from the experiences of others, from the latest experi- ments in science, from manufacturing and commerce, and from the increasingly complicated social and political life of our citizens.
Millions of persons in America now see these needs. As a result, the following changes are taking place:
1. Enrollment in America's schools is increasing by leaps and bounds.
2. Pupils are remaining in our schools later and and later to get more education.
3. Employers of labor are seeking those with the greatest knowledge and are refusing more and more to employ persons under sixteen.
4. Laws, made to raise standards of living, are limiting en- trance into many occupations or are raising the age at which boys and girls may begin work.
In short, the citizen of tomorrow should be taught how to play, study, and work; should be developed into a builder of a home, a community, a nation.
159
Chart I
Year Elementary Increase High Increase Total Increase
1875
289,950
15,826
305,776
1927
595,645 105% 133,884 746% 729,529 138%
The Cost of Today's Schools
While building tomorrow's citizen, we are confronted with questions about the cost of the process. Today's figures will give us some thought about future budget trends.
A recent careful investigation was made in the United States to determine the ability of the states to support education. In so far as this affects Massachusetts, these conclusions were drawn.
1. The burden of education is not heavy, as "a smaller per- centage of the Commonwealth's population is children than is found in the nation as a whole."
2. "Massachusetts has more than average ability to support its schools no matter what measures of its economic power are selected." It ranks twelfth among the states in wealth per child, third in average annual total income per child, and fourth in average annual current income per child.
3. "Massachusetts is making approximately 23 per cent less effort than is being made in the nation as a whole" to support its schools. This statement is based on the cost of public ele- mentary and high schools.
4. "If school efficiency demands, however, the facts indicate that Massachusetts can substantially increase its expenditures for education before it will have reached the place where it is devoting as large a percentage of its economic power to school support as is being done by a large majority of the states of the union."
Other reasons for increased school costs are found in the fact that society is demanding the following:
1. That our changed habits, tastes, and needs be met by the schools.
160
2. That character training is of sufficient importance to be taught in the class room.
3. That as home discipline has become more difficult, so respect for law and order should be gained at school.
4. That the slow pupil should not be pushed too hard nor the bright one be dragged down by the dull; therefore, more individual help in school is necessary.
5. That men and women spend one-third of their time earning a living, for which the school should begin their preparation.
All this has come during the time that school enrollment has rapidly increased and while the purchasing power of the dollar has decreased.
As one agency puts it, "our schools have become 'shock- absorbers' in the effort to stabilize thought, conduct and action."
Chart II
Massachusetts Expenditures for Public School Support and Outlay
1911-12
1926-7
Total for support.
$18,769,205 $64,616,658
Percentage.
100%
344%
Support per pupil
$38.12
$94.15
Percentage.
100%
247%
Value of dollar.
$1.00
$0.624
Support per pupil in terms of 1912 dollar
$38.12
$58.75
Percentage (1911-12 as base)
100%
154%
Total for outlay
$3,733,730 $13,797,187
Percentage (1911-12 as base)
100%
370%
Outlay per pupil
$7.58
$20.10
Percentage (1911-12 as base)
100%
265%
Outlay per pupil in terms of 1912 dollar
$7.58
$12.54
Percentage (1911-12 as base)
100%
165%
Support and outlay per pupil in terms of 1912 dollar
$45.70
$71.29
Percentage (1911-12 as base)
100%
156%
161
Expenditure per Pupil: Local and State, 1927
Local
State
Total
Group I (cities)
$87.52
$ 6.82
$94.34
Group II (towns over 5000)
75.31
7.44
82.75
Group III (towns under 5000 with High School)
74.76
12.73
87.49
Group IV (towns under 5000 with no High School)
69.19
23.65
92.84
State.
83.26
8.03
91.21
Medfield is in Group III
.:.
70.53
12.24
82.77
III. The Cost of Tomorrow's Schools
Three hundred years ago our schools cost as little as other public improvements. Aside from money spent by the rich for tutors and college education, only small sums were paid to give a little "learning" to a few children. The "little red schoolhouse" was a wonderful institution in its day. So was the grist mill at every waterfall. Our bread and cereals today do not come from the little old grist mill, but from factories of a thousand windows and through hundreds of processes. Like- wise, our education today comes from the centralized school of many rooms with many subjects in its course of study.
The cost of many of our modern factories runs into the millions; the same is true of many schools. The factories are places where thousands work and earn; the schools are places where thousands study and learn. Factory products are now numbered by the thousands; educational products have like- wise expanded.
Statesmen, lawyers, public spirited citizens, business men, labor leaders, social minded persons-in short, men and women from all walks of life have ceaselessly demanded greater service from the schools.
As the greatest public service institution ministering to nearly every human need, education will cost in proportion to the demands made upon it by society.
Close students of United States history realize that education
162
has played no small part in the tremendous economic and scientific development of the nation.
Greater emphasis laid on the careful expenditure of money appropriated for the schools and more scientific application of the principles of cost-production will bring about greater re- turns for every dollar so appropriated.
As educational agents for all the people we are looking on our school costs, not as direct taxes, but as future investments. The principal-our annual appropriation-is being put out to work for the best interests of our community. Its dividends are returnable to the community in the increased usefulness of everyone within the community.
Attendance and Enrollment
Attendance has been one of our pressing problems the past year. Our drive here has been to get pupils in school on time every day, so that they will form the habit of punctuality. In addition, time lost means knowledge lost. Teachers cannot be expected to take time from thirty or more pupils to help the few who could be in school with a little effort or more careful planning. A study of the causes of absence shows the following reasons frequently given. "No rubbers," "Went to Boston," "My mother did not get up in time," "Slept late after a party," and many others like these. Such excuses are made all the way from Grade 1 to the Senior Class in High School. The pupils place the blame squarely on the shoulders of the fathers and mothers in most of the cases. Are you among this number?
Also do you know that poor attendance means less money from State Aid Funds?
Our enrollment continues to increase. It is spread over nearly every grade so that we can still take care of all comers without overcrowding. However, a glance at our enrollment table will show that each grade is getting to the point where the teacher's efficiency is being lessened by too large a group. If Medfield continues to gain pupils at the rate of the last few years, we shall soon have to think about plans for lessening the size of classes.
163
Health Activities
This part of the report will cover a group of topics:
The new nurse began her duties in September. During the summer she laid out a definite program of work to carry on throughout the year. An exceptionally busy time she has had, as her report will show. With the new School Physician, who began his duties late last spring, a very careful physical ex- amination of each child has been completed this fall. Eyes and ears have been tested, physical record cards have been carefully checked over, and notices have been sent home to parents requesting that they help us to clear up the diseased conditions. A careful follow-up to clear away the defects will be carried on throughout the year. It is hoped to get another careful physical examination this coming spring to see what improvement has been made in each child's physical con- dition. We strongly feel that it costs much less to keep a child strong, healthy, and able to resist disease, than to cure him after he is sick.
A survey of the schools showed that several children scat- tered throughout the grades had not been vaccinated. State departments of health and leading doctors in this country tell us that the number of cases of small pox is on the increase in the United States. At present these cases are mild, but urgent requests are made that people protect themselves so that serious outbreaks may not occur. Most colleges and private schools admit no one without a certificate showing vaccination or reasons for exemption. The State law relating to this subject says: "An unvaccinated child shall not be admitted to a public school except upon . .. presenting a certificate, signed by a registered physician." In the interests of public health the schools are holding rigidly to this State policy.
Small towns are often unable to undertake many phases of health work that seem necessary in our modern complex life. To aid such communities the State Department of Public Health works hand in hand with the State Department of Education. Health surveys of schools, physical education programs, aids to school nursing problems, and several types
164
of clinics are offered to the interested towns. Medfield is getting its share of this help. A clinic to study underweight, its causes, and possible results is to be held shortly. Many fathers and mothers have been anxious to take advantage of this opportunity and are cooperating with us to make Medfield boys and girls among the healthiest in the State.
Fine work to build better bodies is being done in some of the rooms and on the playgrounds. Various kinds of physical exercises are given a definite place in the school studies. Group games under leadership of teachers and older pupils are being carried out on the school playgrounds-at recess in the lower grades, after classes in the high school.
Needs
A study of last year's report will show that the same needs are still before us.
With the Town's special appropriation for improvements at the Wheelock school, a fine piece of work has been accomplished. Toilets have been made more sanitary, dangerous ceilings re- paired, new blackboards installed or the old ones bettered, the interior refinished to improve the lighting, and the roof made tight. More is still required. The building needs painting on the outside and many seats should be changed. One-half the seats and desks in the building cannot be adjusted to fit the pupils. Many of these are the ones previously used when the high school classes were held in those rooms. They are much too large for many of the grade pupils.
An additional teacher to relieve the teaching load at the high school is still as necessary as a year ago. Though we have lengthened the high school day one-half hour and are developing a new plan of supervised study, we are badly handicapped by overloading our teachers with classes.
ยท A teacher-coach to handle athletics for the boys is also greatly to be desired. The girls are at present receiving considerable help in some of their games from one of the teachers, but the pressure of school work limits the amount she can do. The boys are receiving practically no help under the present system.
165
They are either getting no athletics or else are earning the money to buy their own equipment and then planning their own practice and games. They need the benefit of regularly or- ganized and directed athletics. It would be the finest kind of training for our pupils.
Respectfully submitted,
A. HOWARD WILLIAMSON, Superintendent.
166
REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Mr. A. Howard Williamson, Superintendent of Schools: Dear Sir:
I submit the following report of the work in the Medfield High School for the year 1928.
In June a class of 18 was graduated. A copy of the gradua- tion exercises will be found at the end of this report. Of this class, one is attending the New England Conservatory of Music, one is attending Burdett College, and three are taking courses at Franklin Union. Four girls have obtained positions as office girls directly from our commercial department.
The chief problem which the teachers of the school have been trying to solve recently is the elimination of failures among the pupils. The first step towards solution was taken two years ago when the marking system was revised to eliminate all numerical values, a schedule of letter marks prepared, and the requirements for the various marks clearly outlined. Copies of these requirements were given to each teacher and to the pupils. Last year a considerable advance was made toward allowing for individual differences in pupil ability. Minimum assignments and unit assignments, with extra credit for ad- vanced work on the part of the more brilliant pupils, were used with marked success.
This year, with the consent of the Committee, we are trying a longer school day with periods 52 minutes in length, giving the teachers a greater chance to supervise study and help the slower pupils during class time. Most of the work is assigned on a unit basis and pupils may work as fast or as slowly as their natural ability permits. To encourage the brighter pupil to do his best work, higher marks or extra credit are given for ad- ditional work beyond the minimum amount required. The results of the lengthened period with extra credit for the first
167
four months of this school year have been very noticeable. Most of the pupils are working more nearly to their capacity, and the marks for December of 1928 show only 3% of failures, or 26 marks out of a total of 838. During the same marking period last year there were 91 failures out of a total number of 953 marks, or 92%.
A new departure in methods of instruction this year is in- struction by radio. The Edison broadcasting station is co- operating with many of the schools of greater Boston by giving school work over the radio twice each week. The lessons are arranged by a committee of teachers and instruction over the radio is given by people who are well-versed in the subject matter of the lesson. In order to avail themselves of the opportunity to get these educational broadcasts the pupils of the school have generously contributed towards the purchase of a radio receiving set. The senior class (1929) gave the sum of $25 towards the cost of the radio and the remainder of the cost was contributed by individual donations from pupils. This gift by the senior class will be their regular graduation gift to the school. We have received several broadcasts of French diction which have been of considerable value to the more ad- vanced French pupils. The general science class has received several science lessons which have supplemented their regular work, and the English and history classes have had several instructive talks on books and on current history topics. Doubtless this form of supplementary instruction will increase in amount and in value very rapidly in the future.
A regular schedule of assembly programs has been laid out for this entire school year giving each class an opportunity to appear before the rest of the pupils at least once. In ad- dition to these class assemblies we have planned four formal debates, and assemblies by the commercial department and the language department which will illustrate to the rest of the pupils the work of those departments. Several assemblies with speakers from outside the school have also been planned The main drawback to the effectiveness of the assemblies is the fact that at present we have not chairs enough to seat the entire student body. The purchase of about forty additional chairs is really necessary.
168
For the fourth consecutive year the pupils of our high school are publishing their school paper "The Peak." They are trying in this paper to give a complete survey of the school life. I would recommend that people who are interested in the progress of the school might well keep in touch with us through the accounts of school events which are published in this paper.
Respectfully submitted,
ALTON H. HARTFORD, Principal.
169
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. A. Howard Williamson, Superintendent of Schools, Medfield, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:
I submit the following annual report of my work as Super- visor of Drawing in Medfield.
In the Ralph Wheelock School, general improvement is noted throughout the grades. While this is partly the result of several consecutive terms under the same Supervisor, with the inevitable growth of understanding of the teachers and children concerned, there are other reasons for the favorable trend.
First, better organization of the school work as a whole has made improvement in this branch, too. Definite time set for each class has resulted in more visits from the Supervisor. As the teachers are ready on time, more work is accomplished in these periods.
Second the Drawing Outline, used by the teachers, is be- ginning to show results. There is better understanding of the aims of the lessons, and more intelligent variations of the problems to meet the particular needs of individual groups.
Third, it has become possible to allow time for some original problems in Free Representation. While this type of work is not so showy for exhibitions, it is of more real benefit to the child and we intend to do more of it as it becomes practical.
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