USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oxford > Town annual reports of officers of the town of Oxford, Massachusetts for the financial year ending 1932 > Part 11
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12
We have received our largest State reimbursement for teachers' salaries, $11,485.90. This represents a return from the State of from $300 to $400 for each of the teachers employed depending on whether he has had no experience, one year's experience or two years' or more experience. Next year owing to increased school membership, the total reimbursement may be increased to $13,450 or approxi- mately $2,000 more. Twenty-six of our teachers will be entitled to the maximum re-imbursement of $450. Three to a reimbursement of $400 and one to a reimbursement of $370 and one part time teacher to $180, a total of $13,450. In addition to this there is reimbursement for the superin- tendent's salary of $773.33 making the total reimburse- ments for 1933, $14,223.33. Besides these there are tuition reimbursements of over $1,100 for State Wards and Charlton pupils making altogether over $15,000 to be expected from these different sources.
To receive, however, the reimbursement of $450 a
16
teacher the town must pay a teacher not less than $950 for the school year from September to June. If less than $750 is paid there is no reimbursement. As it is, the town by shortening the school year in 1932 and by reducing the salaries of low paid teachers has already lost the right to $1,000 of the above possible reimbursement of $13,450. Thirteen of the thirty teachers have already had their sala- ries placed so low as to lose the town from $50 to $100 apiece. It will readily be seen that in the desire to reduce salaries it is possible to lose more money in reimburse- ments than the reduction in salaries would total. The re- duction for the period from January to June of $45 apiece in the salaries of three teachers, Misses Bradley, Clement and Nye would mean a loss in State reimbursements of $1,050. The minimum salary for the State for teachers is $750.
WHAT ABOUT MANUAL TRAINING AND SEWING?
We have eliminated them to save money. No one doubts it is a useful thing for every boy to know something in regard to the correct use of carpenter tools and of the making of things with these. Such a knowledge never fails to be of practical and economic use to every man in his home. In leisure time it may well be worth money to him by sav- ing in making repairs and household improvements. No one doubts but that it is a good thing for a girl to learn to sew sufficiently well to do her own mending, to make and re- model many of her own garments. Where there is little money to spend, if the wife or daughter can make her own clothes or make over old clothes, money is saved for other things and there will be less need of welfare work. Wel- fare workers not infrequently when they provide the needy with good clothes which may be made over find that the recipient either cannot sew or does not know how to re- model the clothes for her family. We all know that boys and girls do not learn the handicrafts at home as they did
17
formerly. If the schools do not provide such instruction the child does not receive it and becomes handicapped in the doing of these necessary things.
It seems to me the question is not whether we can af- ford to pay for this instruction but whether we can afford not to do so. A man would say it is very little to pay $1 a lesson for 80 minutes once a week for the instruction of his child in woodwork or making of clothing by a specialist yet we will object to have this done in the schools where this instruction in both subjects would cost him much less than $1 a year.
The more we can train boys and girls to do useful things for themselves, the less the community will have to do for them in times of economic stress.
THE HIGH SCHOOL
It is important that our High School retain its Class A rating. Our certificate privileges are dependent on this. Without them no pupil graduating at our High School can go to college or normal college or technical schools without difficult examinations covering the work of their High School course. The loss of prestige of not being able to cer- tify graduates would also bring the school into discredit in the community. Can we afford to take any chances of this by providing too few teachers, too few books and inade- quate equipment, by the employment of less well trained or experienced teachers? As has already been said we are now employing in the High School for 190 pupils seven and a half teachers where in 1927-1928 we employed six for an average of 95 pupils. We have also in prospect for next year a possible increase of about 50 pupils which means ad- ditional cost for instruction and for books and seats.
The school now has every privilege for certifying to
18
college that any high school has. We assume that the people want nothing to happen that will hazard the retaining of this privilege.
We are fortunate in our High School principal and teachers. Mr. Sannella has been untiring in his efforts to improve the work of the school and the progress of the pu- pils. The teachers are now handicapped by the shortened school year of 1932 and the necessity thus produced of at- tempting with larger classes to accomplish more work in less time. No school even with the most favorable condi- tions with experienced, efficient teachers, with small classes with long year and splendid equipment finds it a simple matter to prepare its pupils successfully for college and other higher institutions of learning. We as a rule cannot have experienced teachers. Our classes are large and our equipment only passable. It will be seen our problem is a more difficult one.
THE SHORTER SCHOOL YEAR
Our children have had their work organized on a forty week basis. This work has been laid out in great detail in for each year. This also calls for a definite time allotment the courses of study. There is a definite amount of work for each year. This also calls for a definite time allotment for every school day of approximately forty minutes for each of the major subjects, reading, language, arithmetic, history and geography, and shorter daily periods for writ- ing, music, spelling. Other subjects required or approv- ed by law are taught once, twice or three times a week. It will be seen that with a daily and yearly program so defini- tely laid out for a forty-week schedule, anything that re- quires the children in much less time to do the year's allot- ment of work must be hard on them and on their teachers. Bright children can do more than the standard require- ment, slow children only by making their work more super-
19
ficial and consequently less thorough. It would obviously be unfair to retard a large number of these children at the end of the year for a condition that they are not to blame for and that they could not prevent. We cannot fairly demand the usual standards for promotion next June that we re- quire in an ordinary year of forty weeks.
RELATIVE COST OF OUR SCHOOLS
In these days of mounting costs of education, people naturally wish to know something about the relative cost of their schools compared with those of other communities. Fortunately, the figures for the State year ending June 30, 1932, are available.
PER PUPIL COST
Mass. Oxford State Year Town Year
Items
1931-1932
1932
Control
$3.78
$2.11
Teachers
69.89
35.46
Books and Supplies
4.35
1.89
Janitors, Fuel, Misc.
10.48
5.91
Repairs
4.58
.92
Health
1.61
.99
Transportation
2.67
7.93
Tuition
1.11
3.79
Totals
$99.19
$59.00
EXPENDITURES
1931
1932
Control
$1,985.95
$1,934.17
Teachers
36,240.26
32,484.41
Text-books & Supplies
2,887.67
1,730.60
Janitors
3,324.92
2,882.86
1
1
1
I
I
1
1
1
1
I
I
1
1
1
I
1
1
1
1 1
I
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
I
1
I
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
20
Fuel
3,592.41
1,787.70
Miscellaneous
920.40
743.85
Repairs
1,128.80
844.59
Health
1,081.46
903.81
Transportation
7,721.47
7,264.43
Tuition
2,998.47
3,475.06
Total
$61,881.81
$54,051.48
Expenditure 1931
$61,881.81
Expenditure 1932
54,051.48
Reduction 1932
$7,830.33
Per Pupil Cost December registration 1932 (916) _ $59.00
Per Pupil Cost December registration 1931 (863) _ 71.70
Reduction 1932 or over 24% per pupil 17.30
School reimbursements $14,003.53
Total net cost of schools
$40,047.95
I
1
1
1
1
1
I
I
1
1 1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Changes in Teachers
Resignations School Appointments
Elizabeth Reed (June 20) High John Chaffee, Sept. 12
Malcolm Pratt (Dec. 24) High John Ambrose, Dec. 30
Miss Marcia Colby, teacher of music was made a full time teacher devoting one half her time to instruction of classes in the Junior High School. Mr. Chaffee and Mr. Ambrose are graduates respectively at Brown University and the Catholic University of Washington.
Mr. Brannen, Misses Sullivan and Massei who had very satisfactorily worked as supervisors respectively of
1
21
manual training, physical training, and dress making finish- ed their work with the discontinuance of their courses in June.
Dr. Herbert F. Hale has carried on efficiently as school physician the work so well begun by Dr. Robert S. Fletcher.
I wish to express my deep appreciation of the cordial co-operation received from your Committee and from the teachers during the past year. Many things have happened to disturb the even running and progress of the schools. Your wise counsel has helped to straighten out many a se- rious difficulty.
C. C. FERGUSON,
Superintendent of Schools.
22
REPORT OF PRINCIPAL
Mr. C. C. Ferguson
Superintendent of Schools, Oxford, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Ferguson :
I respectfully submit the following as my third annual report :
The Oxford Junior and Senior High School opened in September with the largest enrollment in the history of the school, that of the high school being 192, an increase of more than 30 over that of last year. I might add that the percentage increase in the high school within the last six or seven years has been over 100%.
The enrollment by classes including the Junior High was as follows: Seniors 35, Juniors 43, Sophomores 50, Freshmen 64, Post Graduate 1, Eighth Grade 64 and Sev- enth Grade 65.
On Thursday evening, June 16th, the largest senior class in the history of the Oxford High School was grad- uated, 28 members of the school receiving their diplomas. From this number more than one half are continuing their education in higher institutions of learning.
During the spring of the year 1932, the various school organizations continued their programs and activities be- ginning with an operetta, successfully staged by Miss Mar- cia Colby.
The debating teams did splendid work winning in the
23
preliminary debates and competing in the finals of the In- terscholastic Debating League at Clark University.
The school has continued to put on successful school and class plays and this past fall staged two short plays in the Town Hall as part of the town's George Washington Bi- Centennial Celebration. All of our dramatic work is very ably coached by Miss Helen Lupien.
The various clubs and other organizations are all do- ing an active work and the Commercial Club under the supervision of Miss Marguerite Burke has been especially active in getting speakers and commercial demonstrations. All of our teachers are interested in some form of extra- curricular activity.
The athletic teams, coached by Miss Miriam Manning, Mr. Carl Richardson and Mr. Malcolm Pratt, made credit- able showings considering the difficulties encountered in carrying on the athletic work. At the present time the Ox- ford High School is the only school in our basketball league which does not have a gymnasium or a hall of its own.
This past fall we again sponsored the Worcester Coun- ty Cross-Country Interscholastics, which to the best of my knowledge was the only high school interscholastic meet of its kind put on in New England. The meet was won by the Millbury High School team, but from a group of eight teams Oxford came in a good second. The Oxford boys won all of their dual meets for which Mr. Pratt deserved much credit.
Realizing more and more the vital importance of citi- zenship and character building we are making plans to carry on a systematic program in this line of work. The plan is to set aside one week of each month to conduct a drive in some phase of citizenship and character training.
24
During this "drive" week, talks will be given by the principal, a guest speaker or the teachers on a topic; for example, manners and conduct. All during that week in various ways attention will be constantly drawn to the value of these particular things. Some of the objectives we will work on are-Co-operation, Perseverance, Loyalty, Courtesy, Cleanliness, Good Sportsmanship, etc.
During the past school year various prizes were offered by individuals and organizations for excellency in athletics and scholarship. As in the past Dr. Fletcher offered a prize to the girl or boy receiving the highest scholastic marks who, at the same time, made a letter in athletics. The Dr. Fletcher prizes were awarded to Sarah Riel and Samuel Agababian.
The L. G. Balfour key for all around excellency by a member of the senior class was awarded to Samuel Aga- babian.
Nancy Mitchell received the medal awarded for excell- ing in United States History.
At this time I take the opportunity of again express- ing my sincere gratitude to the Junior and Senior High School teachers for their hearty co-operation and to the Superintendent and School Committee for their encourage- ment and support.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK SANNELLA,
Principal.
25
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION PROGRAM June 16, 1932
Processional March Marcia Colby, Director of Music
Salutatory and Essay, "Pirates of Beauty" , Nancy Jane Mitchell
Song, "Evening Wind,"-Saint-Saens
High School Glee Club
Essay, "Compulsory Unemployment Insurance" Wilfred Francis Flagg
War March of the Priests, "Athalie"-Mendelssohn High School Orchestra
Essay, "George Washington, Proprietor of Mount Vernon" Jessie Mildred Farrar
Selection, "Pilgrim's Chorus from Tannhauser" by Wagner High School Glee Club and Orchestra
Essay, "The Great God Advertising" Samuel Agababian
Essay and Valedictory, "Some Contributions to Happiness" Etta Helen Riel
Saxophone Solo, "Evening Star"-Wagner
Samuel Agababian
Awarding of Prizes Frank Sannella, Principal
26
Awarding of Diplomas
Walter L. Dimock Chairman of School Committee
Song, "Winter Song,"-Ballard High School Glee Club
Benediction Rev. Archibald Cullens
Recessional March
Marcia Colby
CLASS OF 1932
Samuel Agababian
Alice Elizabeth Barnes
Pauline Agnes Brodeur
Irene Elenor Cazeault
Mary Emma Corey
Hilma Elizabeth Dahlberg
Lorette Rena Dansereau
Ralph Warren Dimock Marion Lillie Dodge
General Commercial College Commercial General Commercial General General
Charles Joseph Dupont Howard Edward Faneuf
General General Commercial Commercial General
Jessie Mildred Farrar
Wilfred Francis Flagg
College
Philomond Joseph Gagne Dorothy May Gould
General
Henry Lawrence LaPlante
General
Evelyn Frances Moffitt
College
Frederick Joseph Oldenburg Etta Helen Riel
General
Ruth Irene Russell
General
Henry Alphonso Sawin
General
Wynola Jenette Shortsleeves
General
-
College
27
Irving Chester Sibley Stephen Philip Stafford
General
College
Robert Alexander Thompson
General
Veronica Claire Vancour
General
Peter Joseph White Nancy Jane Mitchell
General
College
28
REPORT OF SCHOOL PHYSICIAN
Mr. C. C. Ferguson
Superintendent of Schools :
The following is a report of the work of your school physician so far this year.
In August, twenty-five pupils were operated on for tonsils and adenoids at the Webster District Hospital. Four were done during the Christmas holidays.
Every pupil was examined by Dec. 20 and the records completed. Some pathology was found in every room. Hypertrophied tonsils, adenoids, and diseased teeth con- stituted the major part of the defects. Several pupils were found with heart disease, two with suspected hilum tuber- culosis which will be studied further. There were two pu- pils with thyroid disturbance and several with scoleosis and flat feet.
There have been fewer than the usual number of skin diseases and the pupils have been relatively free of vermin.
The physical condition of the pupils has been very good this year as indicated by the attendance records.
Respectfully,
HERBERT F. HALE.
29
REPORT OF SCHOOL NURSE
Mr. C. C. Ferguson,
Superintendent of Schools, Oxford, Mass.
Dear Mr. Ferguson :
I hereby submit my report as School Nurse in the Ox- ford Schools.
Although the routine work in the health program has increased the past year through extra follow-up visits to the homes as the result of clinics we have had a very satis- factory year.
It is pleasing to state each year more attention is be- ing given by parents to correcting defects found by the school doctor and nurse. Some of the most important work done is as follows :
The annual clinic to prevent tuberculosis conducted by the State Department of Health reports as follows: X- rayed, nine, re-examined, nine, improved, seven, unimprov- ed, two, recommended for summer camp, two, three dis- charged at our request, one new case was examined and X- rayed.
A pre-school clinic was held in June, forty-two chil- dren attended and were examined by the school doctor as- sisted by the school nurse. Enlarged tonsils and carious teeth were the most important defects found. Six of the eight children with enlarged tonsils had them removed be- fore entering school.
30
Child Health Day was repeated this year, grades one to six taking part. Tags were worn by all children holding a dental certificate. The third grade at the Joslin School, Miss Mildred Brown, teacher was the only 100% room, this being the third year this grade reached 100%.
A very fine dental clinic was held from January until June. At present we are holding three clinics a month. At the recent physical examination the school physician found so many carious teeth we feel there is cause for grave con- cern.
The report on the dental clinic follows : 27 clinics, 334 appointments and 161 examinations.
A very satisfactory series of clinics conducted by the Board of Health for the prevention of diphtheria was given in April, about 500 children were treated, 114 of these were pre-school children.
The clinic for retarded children and special cases bring about a better understanding of the child and what his needs are.
Seven children were examined at the clinic held this year.
Several children with cardiac disturbances were given rest periods during the day to prevent fatigue.
Our annual tonsil clinic was held in August in charge of Dr. Hale, school physician. Twenty-five children had their tonsils removed. In December four more cases were taken care of by the kindness of the Southern Worcester Health Society. Two girls through the sale of Christmas seals were sent to Sterling Health Camp for four weeks.
1
31
Our usual program of weighing and measuring, ex- amining of eyes and ears, taking children to clinics, ex- amining heads and trying in every way to keep our chil- dren healthy and our schools free from any epidemic have all been carried out.
In closing I wish to thank you, Mr. Ferguson, the teachers and all who have helped me to do the health work.
Respectfully,
MAY A. STAFFORD, R. N.
32
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Mr. C. C. Ferguson, Superintendent of Schools, Oxford, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I hereby submit my fifth report as Supervisor of Draw- ing in the Oxford Public Schools.
The chief aim of the art course is to give all pupils the power to enjoy beauty and to enable them to recognize the value of art as applied to everyday life.
With this end in view the lessons in art education have been divided into several groups.
The Representation group teaches the child to draw nature forms with crayon or paint. He becomes familiar with the general characteristics of trees, birds, flowers, ani- mals, human figures and landscapes. It stimulates his crea- tive imagination demanding concentration and helps him to form correct habits of thinking.
The Design group helps the child to understand some of the elementary laws of design emphasizing the decora- tive quality of nature and its application to decoration.
The child is taught to create designs from flowers, trees, birds, butterflies and fish. He learns to distinguish a good design from a poor one. He is taught to draw letters correctly and easily.
33
Every day there is a demand for individuals to choose color in one form or another. Lessons in color acquaint the child with many color harmonies and he is taught to apply them to interior decoration, clothes, designs, and posters.
Through picture study, the child becomes familiar with the fine and useful arts of all times.
Posters covering many topics such as health, thrift, and school activities have been made throughout the grades and the High School.
Pupils submitted posters to the Humane Animal Poster Contest and a list of the awards may be found in Mr. Fer- guson's report.
Problems in construction develop the habit of inven- tion and creative expression in materials. In the primary grades pasting, paper-folding and cutting are great aids in familiarizing the child with the characteristics, possibilities and limitations of various materials, processes and results. Application of this project has been carried out in the making of candy and nut boxes, toys, holiday place cards and calendars.
In the Junior High School the drawing is carried on by Miss Hofstra and the supervisor. The children have work- ed out problems in nature study and design, figure draw- ing, lettering, posters, animal drawing, composition, crea- tive expression, free brush work, holiday projects and win- dow decoration.
The High School course gives the pupils an understand- ing of line, form, color and their adaptation to everyday use in the field of design. The classes have had a course in fashion drawing, lettering, nature study, design, poster work and color harmony.
34
Mr. Ferguson, teachers and parents please accept my sincere thanks and appreciation for the interest and co- operation you have shown me in my work during the year.
Respectfully submitted, LEONA T. BUTKIEWICZ.
-
35
REPORT OF SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Mr. C. C. Ferguson
Superintendent of Schools
Oxford, Mass.
Dear Sir:
I herewith submit my third annual report as Super- visor of Music in the schools of the Town of Oxford.
In general the work in music has progressed the same as the past year.
During each year an achievement test in music is given to every child from the third grade through the eighth.
The first year under the present supervisor's direction enjoyment of music and an extensive song repertoire was sought; the second and third, this year, technique of music is stressed, with the ability to read rapidly.
The operetta "Sailor Maids" was given by the senior high school to a very appreciative audience.
The orchestra had a successful year last year and al- though most of the members graduated there is more promising material coming along.
More is being done in the Junior High School this year in the form of study. Heretofore the two periods per week were devoted almost exclusively to increasing the song repertoire.
Under the present regime in the high school of each
86
class having one period in two weeks for music not a great deal can be done, but the learning of folk songs and commu- nity songs.
The supervisor appreciates the splendid co-operation of the Superintendent, the Principal and each and every one of the teachers.
Respectfully submitted,
MARCIA P. COLBY.
-
37
AWARDS
PALMER PENMANSHIP AWARDS
Junior High School, Miss Hofstra, Teacher January, 1932 to January, 1933
FIRST AWARDS
Ernest Renaud
John Saad
Gordon Dimock
Robert Allen
Henry Matteau
Donald Hamilton
Victor Renaud
Richard Christensen
Joseph Dumas
Charles Stone
David Cazeault
Frances Siddall
SECOND AWARDS
Ellen Christensen
Annie Lang
Ruth Mckay
Dora Barratt
Leona Vassar
Olive Wood
Louis Gardner
John Wheeler
Rolland Racine
Gertrude Frink
Marie Christian
Ernest LaRose
Ruth West
Louis Pariseau
Albert Germain
Joseph Plante
Doris Goss
Mabel Davis
Ethel Barratt
Ruby LaPearl
John Pietrewicz
Charles Stone
Benny Sokolowski
Richard Christensen
Francis Laplante
Mitchell Roukat
Rogernette Paige Kenneth Williams
Paulena Chickering
38
THIRD AWARDS
Rita Miner Eva Dumas
Marjorie Dexter Florence Barlow
Elizabeth Roy
Curtis Tarbell
Esther Clementson
Wayne Olney
Francis Lender
Eugene Schofield
THE AMERICAN PENMAN CERTIFICATE
NELLIE HERBST
Business and High School Certificate
Louis Perry
Julia Anne Klok
Roslyn Shapiro
Eleanor Thompson
Marguerite Cameron
Antoinette Vitkus
Edward Skarbek
Esther Stearns
Dorothy Brown
Vincent Gill
Alice Perry
Rita Berard
Mary Shivick Olive Coonan
Charles Mowry Doris Lapan
Elvira Saad
Student's Certificate
Yolanda Esposito Joseph Brodeur Barbara Cota
Lena Bercume Lena Dudek Ursula Donovan
Argenette Gongeon
-
Ellen Welch
Pauline Gendron
39
AWARDS
PALMER PENMANSHIP AWARDS
Allen L. Joslin School, Miss Turner, Teacher January, 1932 to January, 1933
FIRST AWARDS
Warren Chaffee
Elizabeth Paige
Elnora Chickering
Norma Goss
Anthony Vegnone
Elizabeth Herbst
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.