USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1909-1912 > Part 32
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The savings bank suit was decided against the town and a verdict of $23,141.00 was returned, the judgment was paid in full by using the money recovered from the Fidility Trust and Bond Co .. of Baltimore. Md., and money from interest account and unappro- priated funds.
All accounts coming under the jurisdiction of the Selectmen have a balance to the credit of the account with the exception of the interest and unappropriated funds which were overdrawn, this overdraw is the result of the settlement of the bank verdict against the town which had to be met at once.
We wish to call the attention of the voters the necessity of appointing a special committee to draft
124
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
rules and regulations governing the construction of new buildings, especially in the business district, what rules we have now are entirely inadequate and unsatisfactory.
Three months ago the State Board of Health noti- fied the Selectmen, that they had condemned the police station as unfit for use; since that time we have con- sidered the question of building a new police station very carefully, and we think it would be better for the town to repair the present building and arrange at the same time for a court room. Plans have been drawn and estimates will be made and presented at the next annual meeting, an article has been inserted in the warrant for this purpose.
The time seems to have arrived, when the town should consider, the question of getting Main street, in a better condition for travel.
The Selectmen last September, awarded the con- tract, for the paving of Hamilton and Main streets, and building concrete walks on same, to Aimee Langevin, who was the lowest bidder, the several bids being as follows, viz :- F. H. Cowin Co., Boston, $37,642.50; Hassam Paving Co., Worcester, $31,722.00; Worces- ter Paving Co., Worcester, $31,581.17; Field, Barker & Underwood, Philadelphia, $29,832.00 and Aimee Lan- gevin, $29,467.00. This amount did not include the repairing of the retaining walls along Hamilton street. The contractor was unable on account of bad weather, to finish the contract as called for, and as soon as weather conditions will permit, the work will be completed. When this piece of work is completed, the town will have a street. excelled by none in any town or city in the State.
125
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
The town hall building is in very good condition and needs only slight repairs. A town of this size should make arrangements for the different town boards to have offices in its town building, at the present time only three rooms are available for the use of the officers. and some of the boards are meeting in stores, and one of them at engine house No. 1. The State officials are continually notifying the Selectmen, that arrange- ments should be made, so that each board, should have fireproof vaults, this cannot be done at the present on account of the few rooms available.
The new steel shelving for the town hall vaults were set in place during the current year.
The Selectmen have petitioned the Highway Com- mission for money to help build a macadam road, from the state road on Worcester street, to the corner of Worcester and Mechanic streets and hope for a favor- able result.
River street was practicably rebuilt, by raising the retaining wall, the travelled way and sidewalk, about four feet above the old grades. This was much needed. so as to permit householders to connect houses with the sewers, also to make it more easy to drain the street. This was done at minimum costs. because of the mater- ial that was taken from Hamilton street.
The sidewalks on Chapin. East Main. Union and Brochu streets were all completed and added much to the condition of these streets.
A new concrete bridge was built on Mill street to replace the frame wooden bridge. we believe it is a wise investment for the town to build one of these
126
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
small bridges when they must be rebuilt, enough money should be voted in the regular bridge account to build one of these bridges each year.
The Board would recommend the building of a con- crete culvert, running across Main street at the Rail- road bridge, because with the building of a new rail- road, north of the present road, would make this point an extremely dangerous one, this culvert would do away with the Chestnut street bridge.
At the present it seems as if the new railroad (The Southern New England) has overcome all legal obstac- les and will soon be able to start the work of giving Southbridge a new railroad outlet. This road would mean a great deal to this town, we then would be on a main line, connecting us with Providence, R. I., the great Canadian Northwest and the great western cities. The railroad according to the plans would change the layout of several streets, including the straightening of River street, making it in a straight line with Walcott street, thereby making a much needed improvement. upper Mill street would be widened, straightened and the grade reduced, Cliff street would be raised fourteen feet at the lowest point and made more convenient for the public.
The tax rate was again reduced this year and we hope that with moderate appropriations at the town meeting, it might be reduced this year.
We believe it advisable at the present time, to call the attention of the voters, to the question of taxation, a large amount of property is held in the town by people who do not care to improve it. This amount of un-
127
REPORT OF SELECTMEN
improved property, especially in the business district, is very large and is being assessed from 25% to 40% of their market value and sometimes as low as 20% of the value fixed on the same real estate, by some who refuses to improve and even to keep their property in repair. We believe it would be in the interest of the town, if that class of real estate, was assessed nearly full value.
If that class of property had to pay a fair valua- tion, the owers would improve the same or sell to other persons, who would put up good business blocks. In this way the town would receive more taxes and Main street would be improved.
All the town finances are in good shape and the different town boards are working in harmony. It seems to us that it would be a good plan to hire and pay a time keeper, to keep the time of all men and teams working on town work.
This would be a source of protection to the town and would work no harship on any official.
This question should be considered very carefully, as we beleive that this would be an economical move. whereby the town would save more than the salary paid.
ALEXIS BOYER, JR., CHARLES PROULX. JAMES F. EARLS,
Selectmen of Southbridge.
ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
TREE WARDEN
Much attention was given during the year to the work of preserving public shade trees and I have been ably assisted by private owners in every way, they being . always ready to confer with me as to the best means of of saving the trees.
At the begining of the year as in previous years, it was found that the elm trees were infested with beetles to an alarming extent and work was begun at once spraying the trees, every tree was thoroughly sprayed, and where there was need of it they were trimmed, and such other work done as would tend to prolong the life of the trees.
Although much was done, there still remains need for care of the trees, and with the equipment now at hand much should be accomplished the coming year.
PIERRE BENOIT,
Tree Warden.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Committee
1
School Committee for 1911
Joseph A. Genereux. . Term expires 1912
H. S. Cheney, Term expires 1912
P. H. Hebert, Term expires 1913
F. A. Wald,
Term expires 1913
Albert J. Thibault,
Term expires 1914
J. A. Whittaker,
Term expires 1914
Officers of the School Board
J. A. GENEREUX, Chairman. P. H. HEBERT, Vice Secretary. Regular monthly meeting first Tuesday evening.
F. E. CORBIN, Superintendent of Schools and Secretary of the Board. Office, Town Hall.
Office hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 4 to 5 p. m .. 7 to 7.30. Wednesday and Saturday evenings.
Report
of the School Committe
TO THE CITIZENS OF SOUTHBRIDGE:
The School Committee herewith submit the follow- ing report of the finances of the School Department of the town for the year closing Dec. 31, 1911, together with their recommendations of appropriations for the coming year. As to all matters connected with the policy and management of the schools, the Committee refer to the Report of the Superintendent of Schools. Mr. F. E. Corbin, which is hereby submitted as a part of our report.
Financial Statement
High School
RECEIPTS.
Balance February 1, 1911,
$8 98
A propriation, 5,200 00
Tuition from other towns.
190 00
$5.398 98
EXPENDITURES.
Salaries of teachers,
$4,275 00
Books and incidentals.
766 47
$5,041 47
Balance January 1, 1912. $357 51
Common Schools
RECEIPTS.
Balance February 1, 1911. $735 68
Appropriation, 18,300 00
Tuition from other towns,
12 00
Car tickets sold. 12 50
$19.060 18 -
EXPENDITURES. Salaries, superintendent and teachers. $12,995 52 1,818 42
Janitors.
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Fuel,
1,428 30
Transportation,
699 70
Tuition,
66 50
-$17,008 44
Balance January 1, 1912, $2,051 74
Contingent Schools
RECEIPTS.
Balance February 1, 1911,
$13 73
Appropriatoin,
4,010 50
Books, etc., sold,
41 86
$4,055 59
EXPENDITURES.
Incidentals,
$1.227 01
Repairs,
1,575 63
Supplies,
1,095 47
Books,
95 32
$3,993 43
Balance January 1, 1912,
$62 16
Evening Schools
RECEIPTS.
Balance February 1, 1911, $78 32
Appropriation, 700 00
$778 32
135
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
EXPENDITURES.
Teachers, Janitors,
56 00
Fuel and lights,
58 68
Incidentals,
160 08
$760 76
Balance January 1, 1912,
$17 56
Apparatus
RECEIPTS.
Appropriation,
$250 00
$250 00
EXPENDITURES.
Apparatus, chemicals and books of reference,
$244 23
$244 23
Balance January 1, 1912,
$5 77
Estimates for the Ensuing Year
· High school,
$6,700 00
Common schools,
18,000 00
Contingent schools,
4,000 00
Evening schools,
750 00
Apparatus,
250 00
$29.700 00
$486 00
136
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The necessity of a new high school building has been felt more this year than ever before.
'The increase of the number of pupils and enlarge- ment of the carriculum have made demands upon the present quarters, which the committee have been able to meet only in a very unsatisfactory manner.
In order that the standard of our high school may be maintained, new courses must be added which will require more room.
There have been some calls for a commercial course which is an entirely new and distinct course from the present one, which if adopted calls for another teacher and added space.
The committee have considered the advisability of reducing the common grades to eight. This plan seems to meet the approval of the majority and for various reasons should be adopted soon.
One year in life is very valuable to a child in his education and if it is possible to concentrate his time that he may be able to receive a course in the high school we feel that it ought to be done.
These are a few of the many reasons why we believe the time has come for the town to consider the building of a new high school.
Respectfully submitted in behalf of the Committe,
H. S. CHENEY, Chairman. January 2, 1912.
Superintendent's Report
TO THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CF SOUTHBRIDGE:
Gentlemen: I have the pleasure to present to you my tenth annual report, it being also the twenty- seventh of the series of reports issued by the superin- tendents of the public schools of this town. Through- out this report the year relative to attendance extends from September 1910 to July 1911 ; the year relative to expenditures from February 1911 to January 1912.
Statistics
I. Population and Valuation
Population of town, census of 1910.
12,592
Asessed valuation of town, $6.295,875
Number of polls, 3,623
Rate of taxation, $19.80
Valuation of school houses and lots.
$127,900
Valuation of other school property, $6.880
II. School Houses
School houses, occupied, 11
School rooms, occupied, 29
Unoccupied, 8
Number of sittings, 1.463
138
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
III. Teachers
Number of male teachers, 2
Number of female teachers, 30
Number of special teachers, female, 2
34
Number of teachers in evening schools,
males, 1; females, 9; 10
IV. Pupils
Number of children in town September 1, as re- ported by the census enumerator:
1910.
1911.
Between the ages of 5 and 15 2156
2224
Between the ages of 7 and 14
1575
1739
Total enrollment Sept. to June
1380
971
Average number belonging
1100.84
811.97
Average daily attendance
1017.29
749.53
Per cent. of attendance. 92.41
92.28
Number under 5 years of age .8
1
Number over 15 years of age
125
85
Number between 5 and 15.
1244
881
Number between 7 and 14. 924
613
Number enrolled at Notre Dame
797
775
Number under 5 years of age.
.0
9
Number between 5 and 15.
794
766
Number between 7 and 14.
704
650
Average number belonging 715.2
693.7
Average attendance. 676.16
653.3
Per cent. of attendance
94
94.5
Number of teachers
12
12
Number enrolled at Sacred Heart
404
-
Number over 15 years of age. .3
2
139
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Number under 5 years of age.
7
Number over 15 years of age
5
Number between 5 and 15
392
Number between 7 and 14
148
Average number belonging
343
Average attendance
334
Per cent. of attendance
97
Number of teachers
8
Number enrolled at St. Mary's
182
173
Number under 5
.0
0
Number over 15
10
7
Number between 5 and 15
172
166
Number between 7 and 14. 141
122
Average number belonging. 182
173
Average attendance ..
175
164
Per cent. of attendance.
90.6
95
Number of teachers
.6
6
Evening Schools
Number
Enrolled
Average
Attendance
Average
Membership
Per cent of
Attendance
Number of
Evenings
Morris street boys.
91
82.2 88.39 92.99
41
River street boys.
42
38.24 .40.83 93.67
41
Morris street girls
35
21.66 28.81 70.43
41
River street girls . ..
44
28.23 31.47 89.56
41
140
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Cost Per Pupil
Total expenses for the grades. $21,001 87 Cost per grade pupil based on total enrollment .... 21 64 Cost per grade pupil based on average enrollment 25 86
Total expenses for the high school.
$5,041 47
Cost per pupil based on total enrollment 57 95
Cost per pupil based on average enrollment
63 98
Physical Tests
Children examined 841
Eves defective 98
Ears defective 26
Parents notified
59
Change of Teachers
The following is the list of the changes of teachers from February 1, 1911 to January 1, 1912.
RESIGNED.
Month Teacher School.
June. Harriet Parmenter,
High
June. Elinor Buckingham, High
June. Marguerite Smith, Marcy
June. Mary Connolly,
School IV
June. Margaret McCarthy,
Elm IV Music
June. Mary Carey,
Oct. Jennie Gilbert,
Oct. Jane Farquhar,
Dec. Mary Coonan,
Mechanic III
River II Marcy IV
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
141
TRANSFERRED.
Sept. Margaret Butler,
Mechanic 111 to Mechanic IV
Sept. Agnes Meagher, School I to School IV
APPOINTED.
Sept. Katherine Smith, Music
Sept. Marion Atherton,
High
Sept. Fannie Stockbridge. High
Sept. May Simpson,
Main IV
Oct. Gertrude O Neil.
Marcy VII
Oct. Elsa Clark,
Oct.
Olive Bushel.
Mechanic III Substitute
142
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Corps of Teachers January 1, 1912
NAME
DATE OF FIRST
ELECTION
GRADE
EDUCATED
F. E. Corbin
1902
Supt. Prin. H. S.
Williams College.
F. E. Corbin
1886
Clarence W. Bosworth.
1910
Assistant
Brown University.
Laura Williams
1890
Normal & Boston U.
Anna Berry
1911
Radcliffe.
Marion Atherton
1911
..
Mt. Holyoke.
Fannie Stockbridge
1911
..
Mt. Holyoke.
Laura E. Shepardson
1897
IX
Nichols Academy.
Mary E. Meagher
1887
VIII
Southbridge H. S.
Alice Holmes
1878
VII
Palmer H. S.
Gertrude O'Neill
1911
VI
Worcester Normal.
Blanche Harwood
1903
VI
Southbridge H. S.
Annie Simpson
1900
V
Worcester Normal.
Maud Forsythe
1910
V
Westfield Normal.
Margaret Butler
1893
IV
Southbridge H. S.
Agnes M. Meagher
1886
IV
Southbridge H. S.
May Simpson
1911
IV
Worcester Normal.
Mary Chase
1906
III
Home School.
Bertha Harwood
1901
Southbridge H. S.
Elsa Clark
1911
II-III
Worcester Normal.
Mary Boardman
1891
II
Southbridge H. S.
Mary Ellis
1882
I
Southbridge H. S.
Mary McCabe
1890
I
Quincy Training.
Mabel Chamberlain.
1902
I
Southbridge H. S.
Mary Butler
1907
I
Southbridge H. S.
Nellie Stone
1898
I
Southbridge H. S.
Bertha Johnson
1907
I-II-III
Worcester Normal.
Stella Wood
1907
Ungraded
Ethel Brady
1910
Miriam Lovell
1910
6 €
Normal Art School.
Susie Knight
1858
Assistant
Olive Bushel.
1911
Anna Eager
1896
Normal Art School.
Katherine Smith
1911
Drawing Music
Southbridge H. S.
Worcester Normal.
Southbridge H. S.
N. E. Conservatory.
II-III
143
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Statistics From School Registers
FOR SCHOOL YEAR ENDING
JUNE 1911
GRADE
NUMBER OF BOYS
REGISTERED
NUMBER OF GIRLS
REGISTERED
TOTAL
AVERAGE
MEMBERSHIP
AVERAGE
ATTENDANCE
PER CENT OF
ATTENDANCE
High School
39
48
87
79.9
76.3
95.3
Marcy Street.
IX
2-2
19
41
35.85
32.05
93.73
VIII
29
15
44
38.76
36.97
95.31
VII
29
22
51
12.31
39.71
93.84
. .
VIe
19
29
48
38.63
36.49
93.1
Elm Street.
IV
14
18
32
29.22
27.51
94.01
Mechanic Street
IV
17
20
37
37.13
33.50
89.99
School Street
IV
13
18
31
26.54
24.60
92.55
Main Street.
III
23
17
40
34.76
27.41
83.26
School Street.
III
20
9
29
21.45
20.38
95.05
Mechanic Street
II-III
13
16
29
29.45
24.74
90.89
Main Street
II
24
17
41
34.7
32.3
93.55
River Street.
II
15
8
23
18.03
17.26
95.83
School Street
II
11
+
15
8.96
8.63
96.34
Elm Street
I
20
21
41
33.32
30.97
92.91
Main Street.
I
17
18
35
28.33
24.80
87.73
Mechanic Street
I
33
15
48
41.35
37.93
91.77
River Street.
I
13
17
30
24.98
24.11
96.65
School Street
I
26
10
36
22.57
21.43
94.91
Sandersdale
15
11
26
18.86
16.88
89.21
Dennison
15
11
26
22.02
21.08
95.80
Lebanon
8
15
11.20
9.50
84.00
Morse District.
8
15
10.00
9.53
92.00
VIw
22
30
.52
44.56
41.04
91.92
Ve
25
25
50
41.36
38.80
93.63
26
23
49
37.73
35.38
94.00
516
455
971 811.97 149.53 92.28
In Memoriam
JOSEPH A. GENEREUX, M. D. A member of the School Committee for six years and Chairman of the Committee during the last two years of his service. Died December 22nd, 1911.
A man of generous instincts and interested in the wel- fare of the pupils.
145
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
School Hygiene
A few years ago the country was shocked by the disastrous fire in the Collinswood, Ohio, school building where so many children lost their lives.
Laws were then passed in Massachusetts and also in other states directing that all doors in school build- ings should open outward and that in certain classes of buildings, fire escapes should be provided.
We complied with the requirements of the law and also instituted monthly fire drills. I have never known of any serious accident to a pupil from fire in any New England school, but no one can doubt the wisdom of such laws.
We all have a dread of fire as its work is so self evident.
Attention now is being directed to the more in- sidious causes of disease.
By state law common drinking cups have been ban- ished as one of the certain instruments of carrying dis- ease. Contests have been carried on in various places and prizes given for the destruction of the largest quan- tities of flies.
But dust is the worst enemy of mankind and carries on its work in the stealthiest manner. Not only is it an annoyance, but it is a positive danger. Germ bear- ing dust performs its evil mission so insidiously that its results are looked for elsewhere. If there were no dust there would be no contagious diseases.
Professor Cooley, who is an authority on school hygiene, says. "The dust evil is the greatest problem of sanitation remaining for school authorities to solve.
146
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Without great care the school houses become the dis- ease clearing houses of the community."
Various expedients have been tried to mitigate the nuisance. The floors have been oiled, while this keeps the dust down it renders the floor unsightly and some- time works injury to the clothing of the pupil. Dust powders, made mostly of sawdust and oil, have been used in sweeping and are quite efficacious. While both of these methods are an improvement, yet some dust would necessarily be stirred up to settle again.
After considerable discussion the committee de- cided that the most sensible way would be to remove the dust and dirt at one operation. A sub-committee was appointed to look into the matter of vacuum clean- ing and after inspecting machines of various makes in operation at Springfield, Worcester, Boston and Hyde Park recommended the installation of a vacuum clean- ing system at Marcy street. The plant was installed in September and is giving good satisfaction.
Also the use of paper towels in place of the roller towel, now forbidden by the Boards of Health of some cities, was begun.
Some statistics issued by the department of child hygiene of the Russell Sage Foundation are interesting in this connection.
Medical inspection of schools was begun in Boston sixteen years ago; ten years ago eleven cities had medi- cal inspection, now four hundred forty three.
The first school nurses were employed by New York city nine years ago.
147
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Sixty-nine cities are employing dentists to care for the teeth of the school children.
Eight hundred cities are equipped with drinking fountains. Eighty nine cities are cleaning their school rooms by means of vacuum cleaners. I sometimes wonder if the citizens realize in what kind of a town they are living. We have here the American Optical Co .. the largest company of its kind in the world: the Litchfield Shuttle Co., the largest company of its kind in the United States; and the leading shoe knife shops of the country. We have then a town of thir- teen thousand population which is the center of three leading industries. We believe that the schools show an equal improvement and are as fully abreast of the times as the mills and shops.
School Savings
In 1910 the legislature passed a law making the teaching of thrift compulsory in the pubic schools.
In furtherance of this idea the legislature in 1911 passed an act authorizing savings banks to receive de- posits from school children. It is the purpose of the act to encourage thrift among the children by having them save their pennies which may be collected by the teacher or a representative of the bank and deposited in the bank.
The substance of the act is as follows: ".In order to encourage saving among the children in the schools of this commonwealth, any savings bank may, with the written consent of and under regulations approved by
148
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
the commissioner and, in the case of public schools, by the commissioner and the school committee in the city or town in which the school is situated, arrange for the collection of savings from the school children by the principal or teachers of such schools or by collectors. All moneys so collected shall be entered on an indivi- dual deposit card furnished by the savings bank, but the total collections received by the savings bank from any one principal or teacher may be entered in the name of such principal or teacher as trustee. When. however, the amount deposited by any one pupil and credited on the deposit card equals the minimum amount upon which interest is allowed. the savings bank shall issue a pass book to such pupil and thereaf- ter, when the amount deposited by the pupil and cred- ited on the deposit card equals the sum of $1.00 it shall be transferred to the deposit book by the savings bank. The principal, teacher or person authorized by the sav- ings bank to make collections from the school children shall be deemed to be the agent of the savings bank, and the savings bank shall be liable to the pupil for all de- posits made with such principal, teacher or other per- son and entered upon the deposit card, the same as if the deposit were made by the pupil directly with the savings bank."
The details for carrying out this plan are now being worked out by Mr. Charles Chapman, treasurer of savings bank and we expect that the bank will be ready to receive the pupils' deposits by midwinter. All ex- pense in this matter is borne by the bank.
This work will be carried on in both the public
149
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
and parochial schools having a total enrollment of 2,323.
In the town of Attleboro, with an enrollment of 2,506, where a stamp savings system has been in use for three years the sum of $4,198.25 was deposited in 1910.
Industrial Work
At Marcy street wood turning lathes have been added to the equipment. It is not to be expected from this industrial work that is being done that dexterous workmen will be turned out but we do expect that the boy will become familiar with simple tools and inci- dentally will get the idea that work is a part of the world's necessities. The time allowed for the two lower classes of the high school is one hour on alternate weeks. The class recites on Friday afternoons and their work in no way interferes with the regular school work.
If it will make the boy grow into a man who is handy about the house the object of the course will have been accomplished.
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