USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Mendon > Town annual reports of the officers of Mendon, Massachusetts 1938-1942 > Part 3
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Mendon's share of cost of operating
Surplus Commodities Ware House, Milford
175 04
Supplies, Postage and Telephone calls 28 00
$7,097 64
PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF ABOVE EXPENSE.
State of Massachusetts
$2,416 64
Other towns 276 15
Mendon's share
4,404 85
$7,097 64
AID TO DEPENDENT CHILDREN.
Town appropriation
$1,000 00
Received Federal Grant
337 96
$1,337 96
EXPENDITURES.
Four cases
$1,310 00
Unexpended
27 96
$1,337 96
PROPORTIONATE SHARE OF ABOVE EXPENSES.
Federal Grant
$387 96
State's share
614 36
Town's share
307 68
$1,310 00
59
OLD AGE ASSISTANCE.
RESOURCES.
Town appropriation $5,000 00
Transferred Overlay account (by vote
of Town)
692 75
Transferred from reserve fund
151 60
Received Federal Grant
5,078 80
$10,923 15
EXPENDED. 6
For assistance $10,921 55
Unexpended
1 60
$10,923 15
DETAIL OF EXPENDITURES.
Mendon settled cases receiving $30.00
per month or less :
30 cases
$8,313 55
Cases residing in Mendon, settled in other Towns :
5 cases 1,209 00
Cases residing in other Towns with Mendon settlement :
7 cases 336 00
Cases residing in Mendon with no set-
tlement :
5 cases .... 1,063 00
$10,921 55
Proportionate share of above assistance:
Federal Government $5,121 50
State's share
3,967 54
Other Towns
90 75
Mendon's share
1,741 76
$10,921 55
60
FEDERAL GRANT FOR ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES FOR OLD AGE ASSISTANCE.
Received from Federal Grant $189 68
EXPENDED.
Printing and supplies
$67 73
Office expense 42 88
$110 61
Unexpended (to be carried forward in-
to 1939 Administration fund) 79 07
$189 68
CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND.
Boy Scouts' sale of Holly
$30 00
Bright Oak Club
10 00
$40 00
Expended for cheer baskets
40 00
SURPLUS COMMODITIES.
The Surplus Commodities Ware House, Milford, delivered in Mendon for the year 1938, goods valued as follows :
Food $2,540 34
Clothing 1,346 60
Respectfully submitted, ROY A. BARROWS, Chairman, HAROLD METCALF, WILLIAM A. BOWEN, Board of Public Welfare,
61
BOARD OF HEALTH.
Appropriation
$800 00
Transferred from Board of Health to
Tree Warden
$200 00
Daniel Leone, transportation 74 00
William Bowen, transportation
27 00
Fred Bagg, sign for dump
1 00
Daily News, advertising
6 20
A. Hackerson, burying dog
2 00
State Board of Health, 1/2 fee, Miscoe Spring License 10 00
F. Phillips, Meat Inspector
10 00
Diphtheria Clinic
32 50
J. Taylor, labor
2 00
H. Ward, labor
2 00
Town dump 43 57
G. M. Billings, printing
7 00
Pondville Hospital, one patient
25 00
William Bowen, placarding and use of auto 15 00
Worcester County Sanatorium, two
patients
310 75
$768 02
Unexpended
31 98
$800 00
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM R. BOWEN, Chairman, HAROLD METCALF, ROY A. BARROWS,
Board of Health.
62
REPORT OF FIRE ENGINEERS.
Town appropriation $800 00
EXPENDED.
LABOR.
Harold Lowell, salary as chief $75 00
Charlotte Lowell, blowing fire whistle 34 50
William F. Irons, labor on apparatus 1 00
George A. Johnson, janitor
11 30
FOR FIRE CALLS.
Pay Roll-No. 1. Seibert fire $6 00
No. 2. Hickmot fire 7 50
No. 3. Tetreault fire 6 00
No. 4. Walter Gaskill fire
7 50
No. 5. Salaries
72 00
No. 6. Kenneth Taft fire
3 00
No. 7. D. H. Barnes fire
7 50
No. 8. Bert Harding fire
3 00
No. 9. Island House fire
1 50
Woleck No. 10.
Walluck fire
58 50
No. 11. John Powers fire 4 50
No. 12. D. H. Barnes
6 00
$304 80
REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES.
Fitzhenry-Guptill Co., supplies for pump
$12 36
Charles E. Clark, electrical supplies and labor 50 24
63
W. E. Corey, supplies and labor 7 95
Forbes Press, printing 4 50
Harold Lowell, supplies 3 90
H. S. Chadbourne Co., supplies 1 30
F. H. Hannaford, battery rental 2 00
Farrar Co., supplies
22 85
C. C. Shattuck, supplies 24 96
$130 06
HEAT AND POWER.
.
Clark & Shaughnessy, fuel oil
$27 73
Worcester Sub. Elec. Co., power for
whistle
60 00
$87 73
NEW EQUIPMENT.
C. F. Hardy, 300 ft. 11/2" hose .. $196 00
Mid-Western Mfg. Co., fireman's coat 81 07
$277 07
Total expended
$799 66
Unexpended
34
$800 00
Special appropriation for Fire Truck
$2,000 00
Expended-Farrar Co. $2,000 00
Respectfully submitted, HAROLD F. LOWELL, Chief, RAYMOND L. DALEY, ROY A. BARROWS, Clerk, Fire Engineers.
64
REPORT OF FOREST WARDEN.
Town appropriation
$300 00
EXPENDED.
Harold Lowell, salary as Warden $25 00
Pay Roll-No. 1. Hickmot fire
17 00
No. 2 Carbaneau fire 5 00
No. 3. Carlson fire
10 50
No. 4. Scott Farm fire
13 00
No. 5. Sara Staples fire 5 00
No. 6. Lewis Gaskill fire
19 00
No. 7 Mendon Hill fire ....
12 00
No. 8. Airport fire 6 50
No. 9. Uxbridge fire
25 00
$138 00
SUPPLIES AND OPERATING EXPENSES.
Harold Lowell, toll calls $2 40
Leslie C. Wentworth, supplies 2 10
Maxim Motors Co., supplies
11 29
Perkins & Butler, supplies
3 12
$18 91
NEW EQUIPMENT.
Farrar Co., 300 ft. forestry hose ........ J. A. McCarthy Co., battery and sal- vage covers 13 57
$78 50
65
J. B. Hardy, helmets and parts
51 00
$143 07
Total expended
$299 98
Unexpended
02
$300 00
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD F. LOWELL,
Forest Warden.
66
REPORT OF THE TREE WARDEN.
-
Appropriation
$100 00
Transferred from the Reserve Fund ....
500 00
Transferred from Board of Health ap- propriation
200 00
$800 00
EXPENDED.
For labor
$468 40
Trucks
228 50
Supplies
99 13
Filing saws
1 00
Unexpended
2 97
$800 00
Respectfully submitted,
HERBERT S. WOOD,
Tree Warden.
67
REPORT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Appropriation
$450 00
Transferred from Reserve Fund
76 88
$526 88
EXPENDITURES.
Court Fees
$71 23
Toll Calls
14 55
Fire Arms Book
35
Instruction Books
3 00
Police Duty May 30
19 50
Police Duty July 3 and 4
57 50
Police Duty October 31
29 00
Investigating Accidents, etc.
201 50
Police Duty on Road
99 25
Meals for Prisoners
6 25
Investigating Triple
Murder and
Suicide
18 75
Use of Automobiles
6 00
$526 88
During the year the following arrests were made 18
For Breaking and Entering
8
For Drunkenness
4
For Non-Support
2
For Receiving Stolen Goods
1
For Bigamy
1
For Assault and Battery
1
Summons to Court
1
68
Investigated Breaks at Cottages 27
Investigated Complaints 33
During the year the automobile accidents were reduced considerable due to the patroling of the Highways of the Town. The accident figures as compared to the year before are as follows :
1937 1938
52 Accidents
20 Accidents
36 Injured
11 Injured
Respectfully submitted,
HAROLD C. BARROWS,
Chief Police Dept.
69
REPORT OF SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES.
Platform scale over 5000 lbs. (free)
1
Platform scale under 5000 lbs.
1
$ 50
Spring scales under 100 lbs.
5
50
Computing scale under 100 lbs.
1
10
Gasoline pumps at 50 cents each
9
4 50
Kerosene pumps at 50 cents each
1
50
18
$6 10
I have inspected the following licenses :
Meat peddler
1
Vendors
3
Fish peddlers
2
Fruit peddlers
4
Bread peddlers
5
Junk peddlers
1
Range oil
2
-
18
I have collected $6.10 for fees and have turned same over to the Town Treasurer.
Respectfully submitted,
WALTER TAYLOR, Sealer.
Mendon, January 2, 1939.
70
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING.
To the Honorable Board of Health:
Following you will find a report of animals slaughtered in my presence and inspected by me in the year 1938:
Cattle
Calves
Hogs Sheep
1
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
1 3
Totals
1
- 4
Respectfully submitted,
FRANK R. PHILLIPS, Inspector of Slaughtering.
71
FINANCIAL REPORT OF BUILDING COMMITTEE. MENDON PWA PROJECT 1395 DS.
Expended in 1938:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
$4 00
American Bank Note Co. 46 13
Engineering Services
2,210 80
Insurance during construction 154 13
Notary Public services
16 35
Advertising
134 25
$2,565 56
Construction :
Di Sandro Bros.
$43,684 91
Dunn-Galvin Corp.
2,106 55
$45,791 46
$48,357 02
Respectfully submitted,
DONALD B. LOWELL, Chairman,
SILAS H. DUDLEY, Clerk,
ERNEST E. SOULS, HAROLD METCALF,
ROY A. BARROWS,
GEORGE G. DAVENPORT,
Building Committee.
72
FORTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Another year of Library work has now come to a close.
To this committee, the death of Mr. Edward F. Blood is a great loss. His vision and ability lead to a steady growth of this library which has meant much to the pupils of the school and the townspeople. May we carry on the work of the library as efficiently and with as much interest as Mr. Blood.
The circulation of books shows a slight decrease, due to the loss of lights and chimney caused by the hurricane, mak- ing it necessary to partially close the Library for six weeks.
New books have been purchased with the Fletcher Fund which is a help in keeping the Library supplied with the latest books of Travel, History and Fiction. This fund is greatly appreciated by the Committee.
A new ceiling has been installed of Armstrong Temlok, and this year we are asking for an appropriation to cover the walls with the same material which is sound deadening, an insulator and very good looking. The roof will also have to be repaired due to the damage caused by the hurricane.
Respectfully submitted, ERNEST SOULS, Chairman, EDWARD T. WHITING, Secretary, MRS. LENA W. GEORGE, JULES I. PHILIE, HAROLD METCALF,
Library Trustees.
73
REPORT OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY.
Appropriation
$675 00
EXPENDITURES.
Wor. Sub. Elec. Co., lights
$13 26
Barney Coal Co., coal
23 25
H. W. Wilson, binding
11 50
Edward Whiting, repairs to ceiling
150 00
Lester Hill, wiring
1 00
Verena Daley, salary, librarian
225 00
Remington Rand
9 00
Personal Book Shop, books
81 18
H. J. George, insurance
60 00
Carl Taft, wood 5 00
Cahill's News Agency, magazines
32 00
Nancy Dudley, janitor service
52 00
Louis Bronson, repairs to chimney
11 81
$675 00
FLETCHER FUND EXPENDITURES.
Expended
$110 81
$110 81
UNPAID BILLS.
Louis Bronson
$8 19
H. J. George 34 44
Respectfully submitted, EDWARD T. WHITING, Finance Committee.
74
LIBRARIAN'S REPORT.
TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE TAFT PUBLIC LIBRARY :-
The circulation for the year (96 days) was 11054 volumes. The largest given out in one day was 195, the smallest 21, the average 115. The circulation by classes was as follows: Fic- tion, 7825; Magazines, 2163; Biography, 290; Travel, 119; History, 172; Literature, 158; Useful and Fine Arts, 156; Science, 22; all others 149.
There are 816 volumes in the library. 174 were added this year. 63 were bought by the town, 77 with the Fletcher Fund, 28 by the Massachusetts Division of Public Libraries and 6 by gifts.
The library subscribes to the American, American Boy, American Home, Boy's Life, Child Life, Children's Playmate Magazine, Collier's, Current History, Good Housekeeping, Harper's Monthly, Instructor, Ladies' Home Journal, Popular Mechanics, Reader's Digest, Life, McCall's, National Geo- graphic, Parent's Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, Woman's Home Companion. Dumb Animals, Elk's, Specialty Salesman are given.
$7.52 was received in fines during the year.
Respectfully submitted, VERENA R. DALEY,
January 1, 1939.
Librarian.
75
AUDITOR'S REPORT.
TO THE CITIZENS OF MENDON:
Pursuant to Chapter 41, Section 50, of the General Laws, I have examined and checked the accounts of the various Town Officers receiving and disbursing Municipal funds for the fiscal year ending December 31, 1938, and find their ac- counts correctly cast and vouchers carefully filed.
Respectfully submitted,
WM. A. BARRY, Auditor.
January 18, 1939.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE
TOWN OF MENDON
MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE
YEAR ENDING DEC. 31, 1938
78
SCHOOL FINANCIAL REPORT.
RECEIPTS.
General Appropriation $18,821 67
Dog Tax, 1938
322 33
Total Receipts
-
- $19,144 00
Total Expenditures
$18,430 56
Balance
$713 44
REIMBURSEMENTS.
General School Fund, Part 1 $1,825 00
General School Fund, Part 2
2,466 72
Superintendent's Salary 773 33
Tuition from State 207 83
Tuition from City of Boston 40 20
Tuition from Industrial School 66 27
High School Grant
707 14
Total Reimbursement $6,086 49
TAXATION COST OF SCHOOLS.
Total Expenditures $18,430 56
Reimbursements 6,086 49
Net Cost by Taxation - $12,344 07
EXPENDITURES.
Superintendent's Salary
$969 97
Superintendent's Expenses
167 99
79
Salaries of Teachers
$9,495 08
Textbooks
157 72
School Supplies
301 52
Janitor's Wages
1,291 60
Miscellaneous Operation
339 18
Fuel
599 14
Repairs and Replacements
298 18
New Equipment
548 84
Health
378 00
Transportation
3,147 20
Insurance
736 14
Total Expenditures
$18,430 56
SCHOOL DIRECTORY, 1938-1939. SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Ernest E. Souls, Chairman Term Expires 1940
Donald B. Lowell, Secretary
Term Expires 1941
Silas Dudley
Term Expires 1939
Regular meetings held at the Center School building on the first Monday of each month at 7.30 P. M.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS-JULES I. PHILIE, A. B.
Office-Bellingham High School, South Bellingham Telephone, Woonsocket 237 80
The Superintendent may be met every Wednesday morning between 9 and 12 at the Mendon Centre High School or by appointment at any other convenient time.
SCHOOL PHYSICIAN.
Telephone, Milford, 102 K. A. Campbell, M. D.
SCHOOL NURSES.
Helen C. Grady, R. N. Milford District Nursing Association Mildred Salmond, R. N., Assistant Telephone, Milford 862.
TEACIIERS.
Name.
Subject or Grade.
Preparation.
or Yrs. in Town
HIGH SCHOOL. Henry P. Clough, Principal Math., Science, French
Dartmouth College and B.S. Eleventh
New Hampshire University
Ed.M.
Helen Wannamaker
English, Latin
Tufts College A.B.
First
Frances White
Commercial, History
Salem Teachers' College
B.S. First
81
Jane Sroczynski
Domestic Science
Mary Washington State
B.S. Second
Geography, History
Teachers' College
Orilla F. Park
Grades 5 and 6
Castleton Normal, Vermont,
Three Thirteenth
Mildred Collins
Grades 4 and 5
Lowell Teachers' College
B.S. Second
Alice Comer
Grades 2 and 3
Lowell Teachers' College
B.S. First
Marjorie Horne
Grades 1 and 2
Boston University
B.S. First
David N. Gellatly
Music Supervisor
Boston Conservatory of
Grad. Third
Music-Private Lessons
Degrees Yrs. Ser.
JANITOR.
Raymond Barrows
Center School
TRANSPORTATION AGENTS. Harold C. Barrows Kenneth Taft
TRUANT OFFICER. Harold C. Barrows
82
83
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR PERIOD FROM JANUARY, 1939 TO JUNE, 1940. HIGH SCHOOL.
Open January 3, 1939
Close April 14, 1939
Open April 24, 1939 Close June 23, 1939
Open September 6, 1939 Close December 22, 1939
Open January 2, 1940
Close April 12, 1940
Open April 22, 1940
Close June 14, 1940
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
Open January 3, 1939
Close February 17, 1939
Open February 27, 1939 Close April 14, 1939
Open April 24, 1939 Close June 9, 1939
Open September 6, 1939
Close December 22, 1939
Open January 2, 1940
Close February 16, 1940
Open February 26, 1940 Close April 12, 1940
Open April 22, 1940 Close May 31, 1940
HOLIDAYS
October 12 November 11 November 23-24 April 19 May 30
84
AGE OF ADMISSION TO SCHOOL.
Any child who becomes six years of age on or before January first of the year following the term when he wishes to enter school may be admitted into the first grade, but in every case the admission of a child under six shall be de- pendent upon the fitness of the child to profit by the work of the school, such fitness to be determined by the superin- tendent. Pupils under seven years of age who have not previously attended school shall not be permitted to enter later than thirty days after the opening of school in Sep- tember.
REPORT OF SIGHT AND HEARING TESTS.
OCTOBER, 1938.
Number of pupils examined 276
Number found defective in eyesight 25
Number found defective in hearing none
Number of parents or guardians notified 25
AGE AND GRADE CHART AS OF OCTOBER 1, 1938.
GRADE
AGE
5 6 7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18 19
20
Total
I
B
5
12
....
....
...
....
..
..
....
....
....
....
....
...
....
...
....
14
G
4
10
....
..
..
. . ..
.. ..
..
....
..
..
....
..
..
....
..
..
..
..
....
II
B
....
2
5
6
1
1
..
....
..
.. ..
....
.. ..
..
..
....
..
....
10
III
B
...
...
4
2
2
1
7
2
6
....
....
....
....
..
....
..
....
12
G
...
....
....
....
5
2
4
5
2
1
.. ..
.. ..
.. ..
...
..
..
....
18
G
..
....
. . ..
....
2
8
7
1
....
....
....
....
. .
..
....
..
....
12
VI
B
. .
...
..
....
....
....
2
2
2
1
....
....
..
.. ..
..
..
....
..
..
....
..
..
....
..
..
. .
..
...
6
G
....
....
....
....
....
..
....
3
6
2
1
1
VIII
B
...
...
..
..
..
...
....
..
4
3
1
1
....
..
....
....
11
IX
B
....
..
..
..
....
...
..
....
....
2
4
4
....
...
...
....
10
X
B
.. ..
..
..
.. ..
....
....
..
..
....
....
....
2
3
2
1
....
..
....
1
XI
B
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
....
..
....
....
1
1
1
....
..
..
..
..
..
..
...
..
..
....
..
..
..
..
....
1
1
3
2
1
8
XII
B
..
..
..
...
..
..
...
..
..
..
..
....
....
5
3
..
....
G
..
..
..
..
..
..
. .
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
....
..
....
XIII
B
....
..
....
....
....
....
..
....
..
....
..
....
..
..
..
....
....
2
Total
9
26
18
17
33
19
25
31
21
24
16
12
14
6
1
272
Boys
5
14
7
14
18
7
16
19
13
16
10
9
5
2
...
1
156
Girls
4
12
11
3
15
12
9
12
8
8
6
3
9
4
....
....
..
..
....
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
.. ..
..
..
..
..
..
....
3
5
1
....
1
....
..
....
8
G
..
....
....
....
..
..
..
..
..
....
..
1
..
.. ..
..
..
....
3
G
8
G
....
....
....
....
....
...
....
....
....
....
....
....
1
1
....
....
116
..
..
..
....
..
.. ..
....
..
..
. .
..
....
..
..
....
G
....
2
7
1
2
6
5
2
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
..
....
9
IV
B
...
...
....
11
1
...
..
..
...
..
..
.. ..
..
..
....
19
V
B
....
....
....
..
..
. .
..
....
7
VII
B
...
....
. .
..
..
....
13
....
.. ..
..
..
..
9
G
1
1
....
..
....
G
..
..
3
6
....
...
..
....
18
1
8
3
5
1
..
..
1
....
....
....
...
..
..
..
....
..
..
..
....
..
..
..
..
G
....
...
..
..
....
.. ..
....
....
4
5
3
G
..
85
..
..
15
..
...
15
..
..
..
. .
..
..
..
10
..
..
..
..
....
..
..
5
....
2
17
17
86
REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF THE TOWN OF MENDON:
In reviewing another school year as members of your com- mittee, we look back with pleasure and satisfaction on the completion of our new High School completely modern and adequately equipped. There is no doubt that the new school is a decided asset to the Town, as it makes for better educa- tion and citizenship for our young people for years to come.
The closing of the East Mendon Grade School has made it possible to centralize our school activities in our new school building, making for better administration and economical operation of our school system.
We are sure the students of East Mendon are benefiting by the change.
There is full co-operation between your committee and Superintendent to raise our schools to the highest possible standard within our means.
Your committee has made every effort to keep costs of school administration as low as possible, keeping in mind to maintain as high a standard in its teaching force as it was able to obtain. By very close supervision of our expenditures we have kept within our appropriation during the year 1938, the Town of Mendon has expended under the direction of the school committee $18,430.56 from an appropriation of $19,144.00 leaving a balance of $713.44 to be turned back to the Town.
87
The School Committee sincerely thanks the citizens of the Town for their moral and financial support during the past year.
Distribution of accounts and other school department in- formation can be obtained from the Superintendent's report, which follows.
Respectfully submitted,
ERNEST E. SOULS,
Chairman.
88
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE OF MENDON :
GENTLEMEN :
I hereby submit to you my first report as Superintendent of Schools for your consideration along with the reports of the Principal of the High School, the Supervisor of Music, and the School Nurse. In view of the fact that I have been here only since last August, you will find that the report is brief yet concise. I will endeavor to picture for you, as clear- ly as possible, what I have seen and what has been done dur- ing my short stay here. I will also take the liberty of pre- senting to you some of the plans that I have for the future. The people of Mendon are fortunate, indeed, in having a cen- tralized school unit in which are found all the school children of the community. The rural school has served a noble pur- pose in the past, yet it has out-lived its usefulness. The ad- vantages of having all the pupils under one roof are numer- ous. If we are to educate children to enjoy more fruitful lives, we must, at all times, endeavor to raise the standards of their social lives by bringing all the children into closer social relations. In Mendon we have raised the standard of this social life to a high level by grouping them into one large school organization. If we consider the academic side of this question, we observe that they have been given greater edu- cational facilities to work with. I sincerely feel that the people of Mendon ought to congratulate themselves and ought to feel gratified in knowing that they have such a splendid centralized school.
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It will be interesting to note that there are enrolled this year in the Mendon Centre School 165 boys and 116 girls, giv- ing us a total of 272 pupils. This is an increase of 11 pupils over the enrollment of 1937.
In regards to homework, I think that the ideal situation in the homes today for real concentration and study does not exist. If we but realize that today practically every home has its radio, its parties, social callers and other family group- activities, we must come to the conclusion that it is both un- fair and inexpedient to ask and to expect a child to do from two to three hours of homework every night. An ideal situ- ation for proper study in the home would be a quiet room set aside in which the child could isolate himself and in which he could do real thinking. This condition does not exist in all homes today. With these thoughts in mind I have asked all the teachers to devote the latter part of each recitation to what is known as "supervised study." During this period of time the pupils are to begin to do their home assignments. While they are doing this homework, the teachers are in the classroom with them and are available to assist all the pupils individually so that the pupils will have an opportunity to ask innumerable questions pertaining to the subject matter. The amount of time given to supervised study is so alloted that by the time the recitation period is over, each pupil will have accomplished at least 1/3 of his homework for the next day. When the pupil finds himself at home with at least 1/3 of his homework accomplished and corrected with the assistance of his teacher this in itself is an incentive to the child to com- plete his homework by himself.
While this report is being printed your Superintendent with the help of Mr. Clough, the Principal, and the teachers are preparing a course of study. There is no course of study at the present in Mendon and I feel that it is desirable and necessary to have one. The purpose of this course of study is to unify all subject matter and to avoid omissions and over- lapping of the various subjects. In the future the teachers
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will have definite information to guide them in their various classes in such a way that they will know how much of each subject they will have to cover from January to June. This course of study ought to be completed and printed within a few weeks. I feel that it will be a valuable asset to the school.
In conclusion I wish to thank the members of the School Committee and all other school officials for their hearty co- operation and assistance in providing for the children of Mendon the best type of education available.
Respectfully submitted, JULES I. PHILIE,
Superintendent of Schools.
Since September we have been unfortunate in having three resignations among which are the following:
Miss Dorothy Covell, teacher of Commercial subjects, replaced by Miss Frances White.
Miss Ethel Benson, teacher of grades 2 and 3, replaced by Miss Alice Comer.
Miss Lucille Small, teacher of grade 1, replaced by Miss Marjorie Horne.
We are very sorry to lose these teachers yet we have been very careful in filling the positions to the end that these changes have not been detrimental to the pupils.
In health education we have had the skin test, the Tub- erculosis clinic, the X-Ray clinic at the Hopedale High School and the regular physical examinations.
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You will find an Age-Grade Chart of all the pupils of the building on another page of this report. I am happy to note that the group of over-age pupils is very small, the percent- age being 6.6. You will also notice, according to the financial report, that the net cost by taxation in running the schools in the year 1938 was $111.38 less than that of 1937. This is the lowest minimum cost yet on record which proves that our schools have been operated at a minimum cost to the tax- payer.
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REPORT OF HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL.
TO MR. JULES I. PHILIE,
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS :-
I herewith submit my annual report as Principal of the Mendon High School.
Completion of the new school building and the thorough renovation of the wooden section have entirely transformed the physical appearance of the school plant during the past year. The changes have been so extensive that there is little remaining which reminds one of the older structure. Ex- cellent classrooms of sufficient size and number to accommo- date all pupils, have made possible the reunion of the entire school population in one building. Improved facitities par- ticularly in the high school have allowed a better internal or- ganization which should be advantageous to all concerned. The Town of Mendon and its people can very well be proud of their new school. It is a pleasant privilege to work in such a building and it should prove to be a source of inspiration to pupils and teachers alike.
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