USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Sunderland > Town annual reports of officers and committees of the town of Sunderland, Massachusetts 1918 > Part 11
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The new building is most satisfactory and a school that the Sunderland people can well be proud of, for years, to come. Great credit is due the building committee for the enthusiasm, devotion and intelligence displayed in its con- ception and construction.
Arrangement.
When the schools opened in the fall, the new building was filled and fifty-four first graders were left for one teacher in the old building. Since this was impossible, for one teacher of any grade, certainly so, for a teacher of foreign-speaking beginners, Miss Gerda Norrell, who had one year of Normal training, was secured and a second room in the old building was opened.
The north room in the old building has been fitted up for a Domestic Science room. This is a large, warm room, finely adapted for this work, a great relief from the base- ment room, formerly used. We are now using three rooms in the old building, and when the present, large first and
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second grades are advanced, in all probability, they will be too large for one room and a fourth room in the old building may be needed.
School Population
The following table shows the growth in the number of pupils in the last seven years :
1915-16
216
1916-17
221
1917-18
257
1918-19
253
1919-20
270
1920-21
280
1921-22
305
1922-23
334
This shows a steady growth of the school population in the town of about fifteen pupils a year for the past seven years.
Attendance
The average per cent. of attendance for the Sunderland Schools for the four months just passed was 95.9%. This is an unusually high per cent. of attendance. It is secured by the active cooperation of the schools and homes. There is a competition among the various rooms each month to see which one will secure possession of the flag which is given to the school having the highest per cent. for the preceeding month. This flag serves as the best attendance officer the town could have.
Lunches
For a time last winter hot cocoa was served, at cost, to the children who brought their lunches. This was made pos- sible by the aid of the American Red Cross, which paid for having the cocoa prepared. This has not been continued so far this winter. Plans are under consideration by which this beneficial practice shall be continued.
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School Hours
At present the Sunderland schools open for the morning session, at nine o'clock and close at twelve M, with a recess of fifteen minutes. The primary rooms close at fifteen minutes before twelve, in order that the children may eat their lunch under the supervision of the teacher. The afternoon session is from one to two forty, when the first transportation team leaves, and three o'clock for the remaining pupils.
This is a very short school day. Perhaps the essentials can be kept up if the whole school session is devoted to them, but there are the drawing, music, manual work and organized play, that suffer, owing to this short session. It may be nec- essary to patronize the Street Railway, for it is a great hind- rance to the schools, to close at three o'clock.
Reading
Reading and English are the most important subjects for the Sunderland schools. Reading, both oral and silent must occupy the greater part of the daily programme. It is most difficult to keep the reading up to grade in schools with so large a per cent. of foreign speaking population. In the center a reading test was given to all the children above the third grade. These tests have been given to thousands of children all over our country, the standard or medium estab- lished. The result was as follows:
Number above and below medium in speed and comprehension.
Speed
Comprehension
Above
Below
Above
Below
Grade
VIII
14
14
12
16
Grade
VII
5
12
5
12
Grade
VI
18
13
8
23
Grade
V
8
21
10
19
This shows that we are keeping well up to the medium. Since silent reading is more generally used than oral reading, a greater effort is being made to give training in silent reading.
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The Special Subjects
The music is progressing under the enthusiasm and in- spiration of Mrs. Bullis.
The drawing is being directed by Mrs. Bessie Higgins, who comes to Sunderland one day in two weeks.
The domestic science is under the conscientious direction of Miss Faith Shedd, a graduate of Simmons College.
A teacher of physical education and organized play would be inexpensive and of much benefit, in Sunderland for one day in each week.
What to do with the boys when the girls have cooking class, has always been a problem. This year the eighth grade boys are studying scientific agriculture. Some of the other grades are attacking other problems, either in wood wooking or reed and cane construction.
I hope some day the work of the boys can be organized and be made more instructive.
Health
A step in advance was made this year by the introduc- tion of a school nurse. We were most fortunate in securing Miss Elsie Smith, a nurse of experience and a social worker, with tact and energy. Your attention is called to her report and the report of other special teachers.
Change of Teachers
Last June three of our experienced teachers resigned. With two added teachers, this gave us five new teachers, three of whom were directly from the Normal school. These teachers are earnest and are succeeding. We were very happy to have Mrs. Emma Smith return. A few conscien- tious, devoted permanent teachers are of great assistance in a school system, where changes in the teaching force are frequent.
Before closing this report, I wish to commend the teachers and janitor of our schools. It is a pleasure to go into the
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Sunderland school buildings. The halls are clean and orderly. The efficient janitor stands with brush in hand, ready to remove all litter after each exit, and entrance of the children.
The establishment of orderly conduct about the building and systematic exit and entrance of the children reflect great credit upon the teachers. The habits of order formed at the opening of a new building will last for years. Sunderland can be proud of her buildings and the way her schools are conduct- ed.
of a new building will last for years. Sunderland can be proud of her buildings and the way her schools are conducted.
Immediate steps should be taken by the towns people to have vines planted about the exterior of the new building, more pictures secured for the school rooms, and a piano bought for the new building.
In closing I wish to thank the committee for their cour- tesy, cordial relation and support.
Respectfully submitted, ANDREW S. THOMSON.
Attendance Report for September to December, 1922
Name of Teacher
Grade
Total Membership
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Percent Attendance
Salaries
Lilllian Dill
8
30
28.7
28.4
98.9
$1150
Wilholmena Sparrow
7
22
20.4
19.5
95.3
1000
Olive Coornes
6
33
31.3
30.2
96.6
900
Dorie Hathaway
5
30
29.6
28.5
96.5
900
Olive Cornine
4
45
39.6
40.6
9.76
1000
Emma Smith
3
35
33.4
32.4
97.1
1050
Pauline Hathaway
2
43
39.3
38 .=
96.7
1000
Mary Pomeroy
1&2
40
37 .=
36.4
98.4
950
Sabina Neil
1
28
25.8
23.9
85.3
850
Gerda Norrell
1
26
2.52
24.3
96.3
750
Total
.
332
310.3
310.3
95.9
Statistical Table, September 1921 to June 1922
Name
Grade
Total Membership|
Average Membership
Average Attendance
Present of Attendance
Salaries
Lillian Dill
8
21
18.9
19.2
97.4
Margaret Dipping
7
28
20.8
22.1
93.8
Marie O'Donnell
6
38
29.5
30.9
95.3
Olive Comins
5
46
41.2
43.5
94.6
Cora Quimby
3&4.
49
41 .-
42.8
95.8
Pauline Hathaway
2
49
40.6
42.1
96.3
Irene Kinnedy
1&2
34
31.2
33.5
93.3
Sabina Neil
1
30
25.6
28.4
90 .=
295
248.8
248.8
94.4
1
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Report of Supervisor of Music
Andrew S. Thomson,
Superintendent of Schools.
Dear Sir :-
Among questions frequently encountered is. this one,- "Are you teaching music as usual?" The response, "Much better, I hope," is especially pertinent just now as there have been made some distinct gains during the year.
The first six grades have worked steadily with fairly good results through the various steps of sight singing, our aim being to secure satisfactory part singing in the sixth grade. Music appreciation which has been carried along in a hit or miss fashion has been somewhat systematized giving a definite amount of work to be done by the pupils of grades seven and eight. This has been made possible by the rise of the phono- graph which has recently been installed. The boys and girls have listened to records, learning to sing parts of them either with some well-known setting of words or without words; have studied the kind of music, whether patriotic, march, waltz, church music or secular, etc., have learned something of the life of the composer and how his mode of living has helped to form the general character of his music. While only a beginning has been made the work has been of interest.
In June the eighth grade prepared special music for its graduating exercises. All grades prepared special music for Memorial Day and for Christmas. By combining two or three rooms in one we are able to manage a little chorus . singing which children all enjoy and which is good for them.
Yours very truly, BELLE T. BULLIS,
Supervisor of Music.
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Report of School Nurse
Mr. Andrew S. Thomson,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :--
The objective of all healt hwork in the schools is to build up the health of the pupils and enable them to do more efficient school work. Since underweight is one of the many causes of lack of health, it has seemed wise to watch the weight of the children as closely as possible. Frequent individual advice, as well as group advice has been given, regarding food, sleep, fresh air, etc. Children decidedly underweight were referred to the Chest Examination Clinic held in June under the auspices of the Franklin County Public Health Association. Forty-one out of seventy-four, 10% or more underweight were examined. Eleven were found to need careful advice to build them into strong boys and girls.
The most appalling health need was that of clean heads. A constant fight has been waged against pediculosis or head lice.
Fifty-nine children have not been vaccinated. The School Physician has suggested that a "vaccination day" be held in the spring giving every child a chance to be vacci- nated before school closes.
Through the efforts of many cooperating agencies, one child has had both legs straightened. The helpful coopera- tion of parents, superintendent, physician, teachers and janitor, is greatly appreciated. It has been a pleasure to work in a school in which good sanitary conditions are maintained.
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Following is a statistical report :
Every child has been weighed and inspected. Those markedly underweight have been weighed repeat- edly. Total, 620
Spcial inspection in addition,
72
No. of pupils referred to family physician
44
No. of pupils referred to school physician,
34
No. of pupils referred to family dentist,
280
No. of pupils given first aid,
6
No. of pupils recommended for exclusion from school for health disabilities, 9
School physician assisted in inspection of 321
School visits, 19
Home visits,
75
No. of days of service
17
At two different times every child in school was inspected for inflamed eyes.
Respectfully submitted,
ELSIE F. SMITH, R. N.
Home Economics Department
Mr. Andrew S. Thomson,
Superintendent of Schools,
Dear Sir :-
During the past term the emphasis in the study of foods has been laid upon the praparation of food in relation to health. The importance of milk for the whole family, and especially for growing children has been made as clear as possible, and the pupils have shown an encouraging interest.
The upper grades are now somewhat familiar with the general types of foods, and their purpose in the diet. The necessity for the daily use of fresh fruit and vegetables has been repeatedly called to their attention. Practically every recipe prepared has been used to illustrate the facts set forth in the classroom.
If additional equipment may be had the work of the next term will correlate that of the first in that definite meals will be planned and prepared by the pupils to give them a more concrete knowledge of a balanced diet. The serving of meals will also provide the necessary practice in table-setting, and afford an opportunity for instruction in correct table-manners.
The beginners in serving have learned to recognize and use the simpler, but fundamental stitches in the construction of a holder and removable cover. The materials for the holders were brought from home by the children in order that they might learn to utilize pieces of cloth which, in all probability would otherwise be wasted.
The seventh grade problems in sewing have thus far included only such articles as can be well-made by hand. During the second term some "cutting-out" will be done to demonstrate the methods of using paper-patterns.
Respectfully submitted,
FAITH MAY SHEDD.
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Library Treasurer's Report
RECEIPTS
Balance in treasury January 1, 1922, $ 1.30
Received from town appropriation, 200.00
Received from dog money,
143.58
Received from Woman's club,
15.00
Received from interest on trust funds,
351.25
$
711.13
PAYMENTS
For books and magazines,
$ 246.93
Amherst Gas Co.,
20.65
W. A. Clark, janitor,
100.00
F. C. Kidder Co., coal,
40.00
Sunderland Water Co.,
5.00
Binding books,
24.00
Mary B. Pomeroy, librarian,.
46.44
Rose Sharkey, assistant,
100.04
R. Graves, wood,
10.00
-$
593.06
Balance in Treasury,
118.07
$ 711.13
LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS
Penn. R. R. Bond 7's, 1930,
$1,000.00
American Tel. & Tel 5's, 1946,
1,600.00
U. S. Liberty Bond 41/4, 1942,
500.00
Oklahoma Real Estate Mortgage 6%,
500.00
Local Real Estate Mortgage 6%,
2,500.00
$ 6,174.89
A. W. HUBBARD, Treasurer.
January 15, 1923.
I have examined the above account of the Treasurer of the Sunderland Public Library and find it correct.
RALPH D. HEPBURN, Auditor.
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Report of Librarian
Number of valumes belonging to the library Dec. 1922, 5838
Added during the year 128
Discarded during the year 520
Belonging to the library to date, 5446
Loaned during the year, 7107
In circulation at date
The Free Public Library Commission has loaned us, dur- ing the year 75 books in the Polish and Lithuanian language.
The Commission has given us the World book in 10 v. and 30 juvenile books.
Following is a list of books added and the periodicals taken by the library during the year.
MARY B. POMEROY, Librarian.
Sunderland, January 10, 1923.
Books Added to the Library
FICTION
Success
Adams
Mistress Anne
Bailey
Grey angels
Bartley
Dreamy hollow
Britton
Roof tree
Buck
Master of man
Caine
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One third off
Glen of high north
Rescue
Story of Foss river ranch
Heart of Unaga
Flaming forest
Top of the world
Obstacle race
Hundredth chance
David Copperfield
Dickens
Underwood mystery
Madonna of the hills
Black Bartlemy's treasure
Sea stories
To let
Mysterious rider
Man without a country
Divine event
My son
If winter comes
Pride of Palomar
Main street
Tryst
Rilla of Ingleside
Ransom
Children of the market place
Top o' the mornin'
Manslaughter
Beloved women
Cabbage and kings
O. Henry O. Henry .
Four million
O. Henry
Gentle grafter Heart of the west
O. Henry
O. Henry
' Roads of destiny Rolling stones Sixes and sevens Trimmed lamps
O. Henry
O. Henry O. Henry
Cobb Cody Conrad Cullum Cullum Curwood Dell Dell Dell
Dutton Empey Farnol French
Galsworthy Grey Hale Harben Harris Hutchinson Kyne Lewis Lutz Montgomery Mathews Master McManus Miller Norris
49
Voice of the city Waifs and strays Whirligigs Profiteers
O. Henry
O. Henry O. Henry Oppenheim Pocock Parker
Curley
No defenses
Her father's daughter
Quin
Big town round up
Tangled trails
Mrs. Red Pepper
Poor man's rock
Ellen Levis
Laramie holds the range
Wild heart
Treasure Island
Wild brother
Raspberry jam
Rose dawn
Willsie
Helen of the old house
Wright
JUVENILE BOOKS
Little men
Under the lilacs
Tom Swift and his electric rifle
Tom Swift and his search light
Alcott Alcott Appleton Appleton
Nero
Barnum
Adventures Mistah Buzzard
Burgess
Bird book
Adventures Paddy the Beaver
Poor Mrs. Quack
Alice in wonderland
Lost in the jungle
Stair case stories
Last of Mohicans
Blithe McBride
Carroll Chailler Chischolm Cooper Dix
Porter Rice Raine Raine
Richmond Sinclair Singmaster Spearman Squier Stevenson Underwood Wells White
Enchanted canyon
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Early cavemen Miss Pat at her sisters Miss Pat at school Wigwam stories Mutmeer Baby reindeer
Baby polar bear Heroes Water babies
Jungle book (2 vol.)
Puck of Pook's hill
Tales from Shakespeare
Yellow fairy book
Watched by wild animals
Little lame prince
Cornelia
Puritan twins
King Arthur and his knights
Robin Hood
King of the Golden River
Pyle Pyle Ruskin Seaman
Dragon's secret
Running eagle
Schultz
Sinopath
Schultz
Puritans of Old Hadley
Smith
Hans Anderson's fairy tales (2 vol.) Heidi
Stickney Sypri
Twenty four unusual stories
Tyler
Grimm's fairy tales (2 vol.)
Wiltse
BIOGRAPHY (Collective and Individual)
Americanization of Edward Bok Boyhood of Burroughs Mirrors of Washington Roosevelt in the bad lands
Boy's life of Abraham Lincoln
Women who make our novels
Bok Burroughs Gilbert Hagedorn
Nicolay Overton
Dopp Ginther Ginther Judd Haines/ Kilbourne Kilbourne Kingsley Kingsley Kipling Kipling Lamb Lang Mills Mulock Perkins Perkins
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TRAVEL
White shadows in the South seas Oregon trail
Obrien Parkman
RELIGION
In his steps, today Sheldon
SOCIOLOGY
Revision of the treaty
Peace negotiations
Keynes Lansing
ESSAYS
Uses of adversity
Chesterton
GENERAL REFERENCE
World book (10 vol.)
Ed. by O'Shea & others
PERIODICALS
American Boy Saint Nicholas.
Little Folks
Atlantic Monthly
Scribners Illustrated World Harpers Review of Reviews Century
Outlook Independent National Geographic Pictorial Review Garden Our Dumb Animals World's Work Sunset School & Arts magazine
Road Report
To the Selectmen :-
I have the honor to submit the following as a road report for the year 1922:
Due to an open winter we were able to commence work on the roads earlier than some years and due to a heavy rain while the snow was melting but when the roads still had two icy ruts (where the automobiles ran) that held the water in the road on the hills and caused bad washouts, we were obliged to start work on the 8th of March. With the increase of winter use of autos it is going to require very much more work to keep water from running in the ruts down hills and causing bad washouts, especially along towards spring. While previously very little has been done on the roads in the winter months other than to keep them passable for teams, it would seem to be necessary hereafter to do a considerable amount of work on draining water out of the highway.
In this connection the question of keeping the highways open for autos in all kinds of winter weathe rnaturally comes up-and perhaps a recommendation that they be made pass- able the year around would be favorably received. At this time, without going into the arguments pro and con, I am not convinced that it should be done however. Perhaps if the State wanted to do something to make life more enjoy- able on the farms during the winter months it would under- take to keep the roads open so that farmers could use their autos whether their income allowed them to or not.
The two outstanding features in connection with the road work this past year were the shortage of labor and the very heavy rains that resulted in bad washouts. It was nec-
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essary to spend about $500. to repair these washouts caused by the extremely heavy early-summer rains. The shortage of labor delayed the work considerably and had it not been a very favorable fall for this kind of work the chances are that some money would have remained unspent.
One job that had been laid out for this year and a man hired to do, still remains undone. The job was to point up the stone walls of the culvert on the River Road. In order to save extra expense it should be done on some warm day toward spring before the river sets back there causes another settlement in the highway.
Plank were ordered for the culvert north of F. L. Whit- more's but did not arrive in time to be used this season. It should be replanked very early next season however as one truck very nearly fell through it in the fall. Perhaps the repair of culverts next year will be the important task of Road Superintendent, owing to the increased use of heavy trucks. The two culverts west of the home of T. M. Walsh should be concreted, in my opinion, before the present ones are so far gone that they cannot be used as forms for new culverts. Two culverts on the Plain Road are also in need of immediate attention.
It is probable that the Pound Road will need consider- ably more tarvia next season than it had the past season but the North Sunderland Road will need very much less.
In several ways it is becoming quite a problem to know what is best to do with Hungarian Avenue. Not only is it hard traveling in the summer but in winter the snow piles up there quickly and to quite a depth. Preventing the water that accumulates in the spring of the year from causing bad washouts in that sandy soil will require more attention than it has been given in the past.
About $800. was spent on the section of road above C. E. Hubbard's, stone, sand and gravel being used to raise the road about a foot higher than it was before, in an effort to
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do away with the bottomless mud-hole that comes there every spring. Because this piece of work was done so late in the year it will require some attention next year.
Strict watch should be kept on the iron culvert a short distance south of the North Sunderland church. It has a habit of freezing solid full of ice in the winter and forcing the water to pass over the road, which in that place is quite liable to cause a serious washout. The state engineers, under whom the road work is now done and whose advice is ordi- narily very helpful, have failed as yet to discover a very practical method of preventing this freez-up.
The amounts spent on the various roads are as follows :
Name of road
Mileage
Amt. spent
1.
Bull Hill Road,
1.0
$ 184.85
2. Hubbard's Hill Roads
1.2
13.75
3. Plain Road
2.2
236.90
4. Pound Road,
2.6
1,076.65
5. River Road,
1.4
64.85
6. Hungarian Avenue,
1.9
128.35
7. Gribko Cross Road,
0.2
00.00
8. Back Road,
1.4
192.77
9.
Upper Montague Road,
2.4
307.28
10.
North Sunderland Road,
3.0
1,413.20
11. Gunn Cross Road,
0.6
8.80
12. Whitmore Cross Road,
1.0
27.15
13.
Leverett-Montague Road,
0.6
56.00
14. Reservation Roads,
1.0
55.25
15. Middle Lane,
0.4
73.70
16.
Cemetery Road,
0.2
49.00
17. Meadow Street,
2.1
115.95
18.
Brown Cross Road,
0.2
34.40
19. Tomoles Cross Road,
0.6
00.00
20. Kulessa Cross Road,
0.3
4.85
21. Burek Cross Road,
0.2
6.20
22. Plain Branch Road,
0.4
12.50
,
55
23. North Mountain Road,
2.0
66.25
24. Middle Mountain Road,
2.5
77.90
25. South Mountain Road,
2.0
43.42
26. Clark Mountain Road,
1.0
00.00
27. Gunn Mountain Road,
0.5
00.00
28. Cross Mountain Road,
0.5
00.00
Totals,
34.8
$4,249.97
Respectfully submitted,
T. L. WARNER,
Superintendent of Roads.
Report of Building Committee
The problem of providing a new school house has been before the town for more than eight years previous to 1921.
At the annual town meeting in 1914, a committee con- sisting of the selectmen and school committee were appointed to consider plans for the construction of a new school house. Previous to that time, the school committee had considered plans for increased accommodations. This committee held several meetings, considered many plans and not being able to agree on a location for a permanent building, the two room portable building in the rear of Lincoln townhall, recently removed, was the result.
This relieved the situation for about two years. On account of increase in the number of children and crowded condiions of rooms, at the annual town meeting in 1917, a committee consisting of the school committee, C. F. Clark and Chester Warner was appointed to consider the needs for a new school building. The war in Europe and the abnormal conditions caused the rise in the cost of both labor and ma- terial. Contractors and builders unwilling to make any esti- mate of costs, prevented this committee from taking any defi- nite action.
Need of more room became especially pressing, on August 9th, 1919 at a special town meeting the school com- mittee, C. F. Clark, Chester Warner and F. D. Hubbard were appointed to see what could be done to give more school accommodations and, if possible, to bring in plans for a new building. This committee organized with A. C. Warner, chairman and G. P. Smith, clerk. After investigating the cost construction of a building, the committee reported at the annual town meeting in 1920, that it was not feasible to build
56
57
at the present time, owing to the abnormal condition of ma- terials and cost of labor. Accordingly to prices received at that time the cost of building an eight-room building would be about $90,000 or about $11,000 per room.
In the fall of 1921 conditions appeared more favorable for building prices were down somewhat and many builders were out of work and wanted a job. The building committee de- cided to recommend to the town to build an eight-room school building, if it could be done at a reasonable expense.
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