USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1947-1951 > Part 18
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Andrews, Harold A.
3,558.34
3,558.34
Benson, John L.
3,548.34
3,548.34
Braman, George H.
3,577.50
3,577.50
Couture, Francis E.
3,518.92
3,518.92
Delaney, William V.
3,640.00
Hilltopper Mag.
$50.00
3,690.00
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
Howe, Persis Kyrios, Barbara Kyrios, Lewis
3,300.00
Glondek, Walter Grenier, Leo Hall, Ernest
3,565.00
3,565.00
3,548.34
3,548.34
500.00
500.00
Johnson, Nels
4,737.57
4,737.57
Julien, William A.
3,479.16
3,479.16
Lavallee, Emery A.
3,440.00
Guidance & Supervision Bldg. Main. Officer
560.00
500.00
4,500.00
Nickerson, William
3,540.00
3,540.00
Paul, William
3,585.84
3,585.84
Pelligrini, Mario
3,125.00
3,125.00
Skinyon, Frank
3,640.00
Fund Raising Act.
100.00
Fac. Dir. Athletics
200.00
3,940.00
Swenson, Lawrence
3,477.51
3,477.51
CHARLTON STREET SCHOOL
Racine, R. Joseph, Prin.
$3,216.67
Principal
$400.00
Athletics
300.00
$3,916.67
Curtis, Elizabeth
2,800.00
Athletics
50.00
2,850.00
Finnerty, Theodore
2,900.00
2,900.00
Golden, Helen R.
2,500.00
2,500.00
Gough, Irene
2,759.18
2,759.18
Howes, Gladys
2,800.00
2,800.00
Locke, Dorothy
2,528.00
2,528.00
Maynard, Josette
2,000.00
2,000.00
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
6
10
Richardson, Ann I. Salviuolo, Eva
2,600.00
2,600.00
2,600.00
2,600.00
Saunders, Marie
2,738.34
2,738.34
Sullivan, Alice
2,650.00
2,650.00
Tarquinio, Florida
2,750.00
2,750.00
EASTFORD ROAD SCHOOL
Lataille, Raoul O.
$3,200.00
Principal Athletics
250.00
$3,700.00
Callahan, Patricia
3,016.68
3,016.68
Campbell, Marjorie
2,900.00
2,900.00
Foley, Bertha
2,800.85
2,800.85
Jenness, Ellwood
2,500.00
Athletics
50.00
2,550.00
Jodrey, Myrtle
2,404.17
2,404.17
Mahan, Ruth
2,600.00
2,600.00
Maxwell, Cathryn
2,300.00
2,300.00
McSweeney, Bridie
2,900.00
2,900.00
Morrill, Julia
2,796.43
2,796.43
Thornton, Mary V.
2,100.00
2,100.00
L'Ecuyer, Constance Chamberlain, Mabel
MARCY STREET SCHOOL $3,050.00 Principal 2,700.00
$200.00 $3,250.00 2,700.00
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
Gross Salary
Salary
Special Duties
$250.00
Dintini, Camella Hachey, Elsie
2,938.34
2,938.34
2,650.00
2,650.00
Henderson, Charlotte
2,600.00
2,600.00
Huson, Ruth
2,741.67
2,741.67
Sweet, Celestine
2,746.67
2,746.67
Wallace, Bertha
2,805.01
2,805.01
Wilkie, Robert W.
2,500.00
Athletics
50.00
2,550.00
RIVER STREET SCHOOL
Reed, Clara M.,
$2,695.84
Teacher-in-Charge
$100.00
$2,795.84
Beaudette, Francis
2,300.00
Athletics
50.00
2,350.00
Bisbee, A. Freda
2,600.00
2,600.00
Towse, Evangeline
2,875.00
Athletics
50.00
2,925.00
WEST STREET SCHOOL
Boyer, Laurenda, Prin.
$2,900.00
Principal
$225.00
Gymnasium Schedule
200.00
$3,325.00
Beaudreau, Corinne
2,900.00
2,900.00
Casavant, Eva
3,200.00
3,200.00
Holmes, Everett
2,808.33
Athletics
200.00
3,008.33
Nash, Malcolm
2,600.00
Athletics
250.00
2,850.00
Randall, Edith
2,738.34
2,738.34
Roberts, Emily
3,033.35
3,033.35
Sampson, Ruth
2,721.67
2,721.67
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
11
Sheriffs, Dorothy Small, Elinor
Salary
Special Duties
Salary
2,300.00
2,300.00
2,525.00
2,525.00
SECRETARIES
Hofstra, Elsie A., Supt's Sec.
$2,400.00
$2,400.00
Adams, Nora, High School Clerk
1,900.00
1,900.00
Connolly, Margaret R., Trade School Clerk
2,200.00
2,200.00
Baybutt, Maureen, Trade School Clerk
1,760.00
1,760.00
JANITORS
Alger, Frederick P.
$2,500.00
$2,500.00
Caron, Philias
2,400.00
(Jan. Supplies)
2,400.00
Craite, John B.
2,400.00
2,400.00
Favreau, Valmore O.
2,600.00
Maintenance
$200.00
2,800.00
Gaumond, Armand
2,400.00
2,400.00
Leduc, Theophile
2,600.00
2,600.00
L'Homme, Rudolph
2,400.00
School Supplies
100.00
2,500.00
Moore, Joseph R.
2,500.00
2,500.00
DOCTORS AND NURSE
Langevin, William E., M.D.
$1,500.00
Eccleston, Adah B., M.D.
$1,500.00 350.00
350.00
Pinsonneault, Edna C., R.N.
2,650.00
2,650.00
12
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
Gross
EVENING HIGH SCHOOL*
Total
Kyrios, Barbara
Gross Salary $2,766.67
Jan. 12 to May 21.
Oct 4 to Dec. 17
$252.00
$3,018.67
Varnam, Lindzay JANITORS
2,950.00
Oct. 4 to Dec. 17
30.00
2,980.00
Caron, Philias
2,400.00
Oct. 4 to Dec. 17
318.00
2,718.00
Craite, John
2,400.00
Oct. 4 to Dec. 17
24.00
2,424.00
Favreau, Valmore O.
2,800.00
Oct. 4 to Dec. 17
150.00
2,950.00
ELEMENTARY EVENING SCHOOL*
Callahan, Patricia
$3,016.68
Jan. 5 - Apr. 30
$90.00
$3,106.68
Dintini, Camella
2,938.34
Jan. 5 - Apr. 30
Oct. 18 - Dec. 31
246.00
3,184.34
L'Ecuyer, Constance
3,250.00
Oct 18 - Dec. 31
551.00
3,801.00
Nichols, Marjorie
3,700.00
Oct. 18 - Dec. 31
228.00
3,928.00
Reed, Clara M.
2,795.84
Oct. 18 - Dec. 31
312.00
3,107.84
Themistocles, Liberty
2,550.00
Oct. 18 - Dec. 31
117.00
2,667.00
*The amounts disbursed for Evening High, Elementary Evening, Evening Vocational are on a reimbursable basis from George-Barden (Federal) Funds and from State Department of Education Funds.
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
13
14
EVENING VOCATIONAL SCHOOL*
Morrell, Clark H. Andrews, Harold
Gross Salary $5,000.00 3,558.34
Feb. 1 - May 14
Feb. 1 - May 14
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
234.00
3,792.34
Braman, George
3,577.50
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
240.00
3,817.50
Couture, Francis
3,518.92
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
168.00
3,686.92
Glondek, Walter
3,565.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
12.00
3,577.00
Grenier, Leo
3,548.34
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
192.00
3,740.34
Julien, William
3,479.16
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
132.00
3,611.16
Nickerson, William
3,540.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
234.00
3,774.00
Paul, William
3,585.84
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
150.00
3,735.84
Pellegrini, Mario
3,125.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
48.00
3,173.00
Skinyon, Frank
3,940.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
162.00
4,102.00
Swenson, Lawrence
3,477.51
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
120.00
3,597.51
CLERK
Connolly, Margaret
2,200.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
80.00
2,280.00
Total $100.00. $5,100.00
*The amounts disbursed for Evening High, Elementary Evening, Evening Vocational are on a reimbursable basis from George-Barden (Federal) Funds and from State Department of Education Funds.
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
JANITORS
Craite, John Gaumond, Armand
2,424.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
124.00
2,548.00
2,400.00
Nov. 8 - Dec. 15
83.00
2,483.00
SUMMER PLAYGROUNDS
McMahon, Harry J.
$3,835.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
$300.00
$4,135.00
Golden, Helen
2,500.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
164.50
2,664.50
Henderson, Charlotte
2,600.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
162.50
2,762.50
Kyrios, Lewis
4,000.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
195.00
4,195.00
Maxwell, Cathryn
2,300.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
162.50
2,462.50
Maynard, Josette
2,000.00
July 12 - Aug. 20
170.00
2,170.00
Reed, Clara M.
3,107.84
July 12 - Aug. 20
195.00
3,302.84
Sweet, Celestine
2,746.67
July 12 - Aug. 20
195.00
2,941.67
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
15
16
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the Members of the Southbridge School Committee and to the Citizens of the Town of Southbridge :
It is my privilege to submit herewith a third annual re- port, the sixty-fourth in the series of reports by the Superin- tendents of Schools.
Another year finds the challenge to Education never greater in any period of our country's history than it is at the moment. The critical problems of today's world upon which the very issues of war or peace and democratic survival seem to hinge have reached the heart of every community and have taken their toll. This is a period of stress, strain and confusion. But education has a stake in the solution of those problems beginning on the community level; to that end, it has the responsibility of develop- ing those understandings, attitudes, and that kind of citizenship that will guarantee the preservation and the promotion of civic betterment. The only thing the members of a free society need fear is ignorance.
Education is not a destination, it is a journey-always we are en route. Through the myriad administrative details the reason for the schools' existence has not been overlooked. We have endeavored to focus our attention upon the child-your child-in whatever grade he may be-his needs, interests, apti- tudes and aspirations. Education has continued its process of preparing the future citizens and leaders of tomorrow with the same underlying principles : accepting the child, or the youth, where he is, helping him to make effective adjustments to his en- vironment while providing for the fullest growth and develop- ment of that individual as a person.
We will not be deterred in our belief that education must strive continually to attain complete realization of the individu- al's abilities at each stage of his development. Education will then have best prepared him to cope with those problems which every day life in all its aspects will present. The school of to-
17
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
day functions with a deep concern for the whole child-physical, mental, emotional-with the child's interests, tastes and habits of conduct, as well as with his abilities: those powers to reason and to remember. We are concerned with his personality, with his social understanding and social skills, as well as with his intel- lectual mastery of subjects. But, we are not interested in the mastery of subject matter : it is more in what this mastery does to improve his understanding of and interest in himself and his physical and social world. In other words, we feel that, as the child reacts to the very first experiences of learning the 3 R's, or as the youth reacts to the more mature considerations of the basic psychological and social aspects of current world problems, he should profit by these experiences to improve his behavior and to establish those patterns of conduct that make him more ame- nable to the exigencies of life itself.
We realize that schools must be flexible to meet changing conditions as well as to allow for more pronounced individual dif- ferences among children and youth : cultural values need to be stressed more accurately ; spiritual values need to be rediscovered while every attempt needs to be made to elaborate human rela- tions in all its aspects. Education is a continuous process and to that end we will maintain continuous research and planning in our educational program in order to meet the needs of the children and the youth of today, to develop better-disciplined minds as we move forward confidently to equip these same youngsters to face the world of tomorrow.
ยท
ENROLLMENT
The enrollment in the Public Schools on October 1, 1948 was 1800 as compared with 1788 on October 1, 1947.
The enrollment in the Elementary Schools on October 1, 1948 was 1141 as compared with 1091 on October 1, 1947.
The consequences of the increased birthrate during and since the war years have necessitated the opening of two addi- tional first grades: one at the Charlton Street School, which also accommodates a group from the Marcy Street School, and one at the Eastford Road School.
18
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
The enrollment in the Public Schools as of January 3, 1949, is as follows :
Charlton Eastford Marcy
Grade
Street
Road
Street
West Street
River Street Total
1 A
31
25
30
32
18
1 B
32
19
187
2 A
24
23
34
34
12
2 B
23
150
3
37
34
35
37
143
4 A
24
34
23
38
142
5 A
25
32
31
40
145
6 A
30
22
32
22
130
7 A
22
27
18
23
112
8
32
22
21
23
98
Man. Arts
19
29
48
319
261
243
273
59
1155
Mary E. Wells High-Freshmen
131
Sophomores
112
Juniors
102
Seniors
116
461
Cole Trade High
-Day
169
Cooperative
64
233
GRAND TOTAL
1849
The facilities of our Elementary Schools are overtaxed to a great extent-
1. The Charlton Street School is using the stage of the audi- torium-gymnasium for a small classroom, and one class is being held in a partitioned portion of the gymnasium.
4 E
23
5 B
17
6 B
24
7 B
22
19
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
2. The Eastford Road School has had to use its library to take care of a class, as well as its activity room.
3. The West Street School is still using its library for a class- room.
4. The Marcy Street School with only eight rooms has lost a portion of its first grade which was combined with an over- flow in the first grade at the Charlton Street School to form the first grade class that is using the Charlton Street School gymnasium.
In the High School Building all available space is being used to best advantage. In fact, there is need of an additional room to take care more adequately of the recently created Manu- al Arts class, as a preparatory course for Trade School aspirants.
THE SCHOOL BUDGET
The Town Meeting of March, 1948, voted the School Depart- ment the total amount of $384,450.61, which was a decrease of $10,000.00 from the original Estimate of Expenditures voted by the School Committee on December 19, 1947, in the amount of $394,450.61. The results were as follows:
All Other
Salaries
Expenses Total
Original Request
$323,898.67
$61,085.00
$384,983.67
Town Meeting Vote
310,000.00
64,983.67 374,983.67
The salary increases for "the teachers and all other academic personnel" voted by the School Committee on December 19, 1947 was denied by the voters. However, on August 10, 1948, the School Committee, under certain mitigating circumstances, voted "to abide by the original vote of the School Committee of De- cember 19, 1947," and the teachers and all other academic per- sonnel were granted the $200.00 raise of salary as originally re- quested and voted.
By the same vote in March, 1948 the All Other Expenses Ac- count was increased by $3,898.67. This permitted the school com- mittee to authorize much needed repair and maintenance work, as well as to meet more adequately the ever-increasing costs of school materiel.
20
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
The Estimate of Expenditures for the fiscal year 1949, as voted by the School Committee on December 6, 1948 shows the following increases :
1948
1949
Salaries
$310,000.00
$336,862.31
Increase $26,862.31
All Other Expenses
64,983.67
66,417.40
1,433.73
The increase in salaries is accounted for by normal yearly in- crements, according to the salary schedule, and by the increases due to the establishment of "Service Pay." The total service pay increase amounts to $2,825.
The increase in All Other Expenses is accounted for mostly by the needed repairs for the reopening of the Mechanic Street School, which will eventually accommodate four Kindergarten groups and one first grade. Numerous details of repairs and maintenance must also be attended to without much delay.
STATE AID FOR SCHOOLS
By virtue of an Act of the State Legislature in June, 1948, the dawn of hope for relief to the taxpayer became a reality. The Commonwealth increased its aid to Public Schools from 5 to 15 millions, for the purpose of promoting "the equalization of educational opportunity in public schools of the Commonwealth and the equalization of the burden of the cost of schools to the respective towns." According to the new formula on which the redistribution of State Income Tax will be made, the Town of Southbridge will receive on account of its Day High and Ele- mentary Schools the sum of $82,999. Based on the old formula, Southbridge has averaged receipts of slightly more than $13,000. This means an actual increase of $69,747.00, over the amount in school aid from the state in 1948.
It is true that there is "no new money," originating from some new form of tax levy in the State, but the new formula is definitely a redistribution of tax money in the State and accord- ing to most reliable sources, the Town of Southbridge should benefit by an additional 40 to 50 thousand dollars. This amount as derived from the new formula "must be considered as aid to schools. This is both the spirit and the letter of the law. Con- trary statements are open to serious challenge," as expressed in a
21
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
communication from the Massachusetts Council for Public Schools.
TUITION RATES
The School Committee voted, as in past years, to increase the per capita tuition rates, effective January 1, 1949 for the en- suing year . The tuition rate is determined according to a formu- la specified by the State Department of Education ; it inevitably reflects the rising costs of education.
FORMULA: "The expenditure for support, exclu- sive of general control and transportation to the school within the town for the year ending June 30, 1948, divided by the average membership of the school for that year."
Comparative figures for the last three consecutive years will bear out the rapid rise in school materiel and salaries :
1947
1948
1949
High School
$135.00
$145.00
$179.00
Elementary School
110.00
120.00
141.00
SALARIES
Teachers' salaries are still considered low-low in absolute terms ; low in relation to the importance of their work ; low in re- lation to earning possibilities in other fields. The present maxi- mums are :
Non-Degree
$2,600.00
Bachelor's Degree
2,900.00
Master's Degree
3,200.00
The Trade School salaries are now $3440 and $3640 depending on requirements of the State Department.
The present cost of living index has completely offset the previous increases in teachers' salaries. Teachers in most com- munities are not able to maintain the standard of living that is expected of them. They are reacting by demanding further in- creases in salaries, by accepting higher paying teaching positions elsewhere or by leaving the profession.
It must be remembered that there is still a definite short- age of teachers, especially for the elementary schools, and par-
22
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
ticularly in the primary grades. Salaries of teachers have been recently increased in most communities, due to increased State Aid. Our schedule is still not high enough to be a strong draw- ing power. In many instances, salary schedules that were adopt- ed last year are now inadequate and fail to meet the prevailing competition of even those communities nearest us. Teaching is a profession and due consideration need be given your teachers- the teachers in your schools. They are the ones who are sharing with you the duty of bringing up your children. Is it not only fair that your teachers should be given the same consideration that you yourselves would expect to receive. They in turn will give you all that service commensurate with your best expecta- tions.
KINDERGARTENS
The establishment of Kindergartens in the Southbridge Pub- lic School System will fulfill a long-felt want. It was voted by the School Committee on September 13, 1948 "to open kinder- garten classes October 1st pending a meeting with the Board of Selectmen and members of the Finance Committee."
Due to the need of many repairs at the Mechanic Street School, delay in opening has been inevitable. It is planned, however, that if kindergartens are opened only for the second half of this school year they will have served their purpose for this year. The children who would normally have entered the first grade in September, 1949, will be that much better prepared to cope with their first classroom problems.
A kindergarten is not an institution devoted only to the en- tertainment and care of small children. It recognizes certain edu- cational responsibilities such as development of health concepts, instruction in organized community life, development of manual skilles, introduction of the pupils to rhythm, music, art, and other expressions and appreciations.
It is obvious that children who have the benefit of kinder- garten training have a distinct advantage when they enter first grade. Kindergarten pupils are given opportunities to partici- pate in actual social situations and they are initiated to the ele- mental phases of reading, writing and numbers. Interests are developed and widened as they progress with the group. It is a
23
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
foundation without equal for the first grade; it is the threshold of those first experiences that are most meaningful in a child's life.
TRANSPORTATION OF PUPILS
The following is a quotation from Chapter 71, Section 68 of the General Laws: "If the distance between a child's residence and the school he is entitled to attend exceeds two miles and the nearest school bus stop is more than one mile from such resi- dence and the school committee declines to furnish transporta- tion, the department, upon appeal of the parent or guardian of the child may require the town to furnish the same for a part or for all of the distance between such residence and the school. ... "
The present policy, as established by vote of the School Committee on October 4, 1948, is to provide transportation for pupils in grades 1 to 4 who live a distance of one mile or more from school, and to pupils in grades 5 to 12 who live one and one- half or more miles from school. The busses in general follow the main traveled roads and it is necessary for some pupils to walk a short distance to and from their homes to regular bus stops.
Definite routes have been established and adequate service is being given. It is only in extreme bad weather or when roads are in icy condition that the busses will have difficulty in making their scheduled runs.
Pupils given transportation as of January 1, 1949 :
School Attended
No. Pupils
Mary E. Wells High
40
Marcy Street
56
West Street
16
River Street
8
Cole Trade High
9
Eastford Road
17
Charlton Street
16
Notre Dame
87
St. Mary's
20
Sacred Heart
25
Total
294
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TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE
BEHAVIOR OF PUPILS
Several reports from bus drivers as well as parents have been received from time to time regarding misbehavior, loud disturb- ing talk, and unnecessary roughness on some of the busses. It is only fair to expect that pupils behave themselves in an orderly manner on all school busses, and the cooperation of all parents is requested in this important matter. Any pupil who persists in disobeying the elementary rules of good conduct will be put off the bus and be forbidden further use of school bus transpor- tation until the matter is settled with the parents and the Super- intendent of Schools.
It is most appropriate at this time to point out the provisions of the recent SCHOOL BUS LAW. During the sessions of the Legislature in 1947, there was passed the SCHOOL BUS LAW, a law having to do with the approaching of or passing of school busses on the highway by other vehicles. The following is the law in regard to passing or approaching school busses :
"In approaching and passing a school bus which has been stopped to allow passengers to alight from or board the same, the person operating a motor vehicle shall, except when approaching such school bus from the opposite direction on a divided highway, bring such motor vehicle to a full stop immediately before passing said school bus, and shall not thereafter pro- ceed at a rate of speed in excess of ten miles per hour while passing such school bus ; provided that such school bus bears the words 'School Bus' in letters of such size and types as are visible at a distance of at least three hundred feet in the direction toward which it is facing and in the reverse direction."
SCHOOL AND HOME RELATIONSHIPS
It is universally recognized that a good educational pro- gram is concerned with public relations and our nearest public are the parents of these children and youngsters in our schools. Schools do not belong to the teaching profession, nor to any other single group of citizens. Schools operate for the general public good. They are the most public of public institutions. Besides paying the bills, the public should be deeply concerned with what
25
ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT
their schools are doing. Experience in many other communities has shown that only through public interest, alertness, and par- ticipation can a community have an outstandingly good school system.
It is gratifying indeed to the present Administration to have seen founded in recent months the several Parent-Teacher Asso- ciations in the various elementary school districts. Since mod- ern schools emphasize close home and school relationship, par- ents need to become active participants in school programs if they are to grasp the significance of school, and it is equally true that teachers cannot work understandingly with children until they are acquainted with home backgrounds. This partnership should be a UNION HAVING MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING FOR THE SINGLE PURPOSE OF BENEFITTING THE CHILD. This is a basic philosophy and to that end teachers will even be encouraged to promote it by home visits. Every effort will be made to create a mutual understanding between the school and the home.
It may very well be that we have reached a point in the de- velopment of our town when every citizen is confronted with the choice as to whether the town will slip back or move ahead; whether it will deteriorate or grow; whether it will decline or progress. Only one answer is to be expected ; we shall not be con- tent to gaze backward with resignation when we can look forward with confidence.
As the citizens of Southbridge take steps to solve some of the most baffling problems of their corporate existence, their schools, too, look with confidence to the opportunity of helping to build a better town through better schools.
The above observations have been a mere consideration of some of the important topics concerning the administration of your schools.
In conclusion, I wish to express my intense appreciation to the entire personnel of the department for their loyalty and co- operation, for their conscientious and efficient work during the year. To the citizens of Southbridge my heartfelt thanks for their cooperation in assisting to solve the many problems of the
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