USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Southbridge > Town annual reports of the officers of Southbridge for the year ending 1957-1961 > Part 44
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Mechanic Street Type "I" Resurfacing: Oil or Asphalt
$ 331.99
Manhole Frames and Covers
960.30
Materials and Supp.
4,379.08
Labor or Salaries
2,928.63
Equipment Hire
400.00
9,000.00
Mosquito Control:
Equipment Hire
603.00
Disinfectant
226.24
829.24
National Guard Account:
Rent
$ 1,980.00
Maintenance of
Quarters
120.00
2,100.00
North Street Sewer Repair: Ciesla Bros., Inc. $ 2,435.32
Benoit Bros.
143.50
204
Engineer
1,241.66 3,820.48
Oliver Street Reconstruction:
Advertising
$ 14.70
Ciesla Bros., Inc.
4,403.23
4,417.93
Orchard Street Reconstruction:
Materials and Supp. $ 749.24
Salaries or Labor
3,253.37
Build Forms
189.00
Bituminous Concrete
1,758.08
5,949.69
Outstanding Bills for 1958: Police
275.06
Park Street Reconstruction:
Materials and Supp. $ 2,204.98
Equipment Hire
360.00
Mason Work
112 00
Salaries or Labor
2,422.74
5,099.72
Pleasant Street Reconstruction:
(Chapt. 90, Cont. #17636 and #18309)
Frank J. Shields, Inc. $ 55,220.84
Materials and Supp. 2,201.88
57,422.72
Police Officers Training School:
Training Expense $ 100.00
Salaries
269.72
369.72
Polish-American Veterans: Rent
625.00
Proulx Avenue Storm Drain: Labor 61.86
Purchase of Land from
Southbridge Finishing Co .: Land Purchase
1.00
Southbridge Housing Authority:
Stationery, Supplies and
Postage $ 4.00
Printing and
Advertising
16.44
All Other
3.75
24.19
205
New High School Construction and Addition to Cole Trade High School:
Architect's Fee $ 51,100.00 254.99
Advertising
Contingency 27.05
Steel
35,775.00
Clear Sight
50,830.00
Panel With Constr. and
Glazing 27,450.00
Salary or Labor
155.76
Perimeter Survey
424.00
Field Layout and
Construction Inspect. 247.00
All Other, Travel or Mileage
9,062.12
Test Borings
234.00
175,559.92
Repairs and Alterations to Existing School Buildings:
Advertising $
10.35
Materials and Supp.
39.91
F. X. Laliberte & Son
6,660.40
Priscilla Paint Co.
126.34
Southbridge Lumber Co.
2,163.00
9,000.00
School Music Account:
Materials and Supp. $
1,767.89
Insurance
29.11
All Other
196.81
1,993.81
Southbridge School Planning Committee:
Architect Fees $ 1,500.00
Clerical Services
15.00
Mileage or Travel
72.40
All Other
74.50
Brochures
264.00
1,925.90
Southbridge Public Improvement Committee:
Town Hall Survey $ 2,500.00
Materials and Supp.
12.00
Appraiser Fees
100.00
2,612.00
Old Sturbridge Road Storm Drain: Materials and Supp. $ 1,426.30
Equipment Hire 250.00
206
Manholes and Catch Basins
123.00
1,799.30
Swimming Pool Drain, Clean Bottom and Fill In:
Labor
$ 103.81
Materials
316.16
Water
240.17
660.14
Town Hall Alterations and Repairs:
Materials and Supp. $
685.93
All Other
138.41
Labor
696.49
Equipment
495 50
Fuel
436.85
2,453.18
Harding Court Oak Tree Removal: Remove Tree
60.00
Summer Street Tree Removal: Remove Tree
350.00
Remove 12 Dead and Diseased Trees:
Salaries and Labor $ 462.30
Equipment Hire
263.70
Labor on Trees
234.00
960.00
Tree Feeding Account Main Street:
Labor $ 152.80
Fertilizer
147.20
300.00
Woodycrest Avenue Storm Drain:
Materials and Supp. $ 2,034.40
Equipment Hire 637.50
2,671.90
Total Special Accounts
$ 482,987.86
Interest and Maturing Debt
Interest:
Temporary Loans:
Anticipation of Revenue 7,384.57
Municipal Indebtedness:
Temporary Loans 700,000.00
207
Total Interest and Maturing Debt
$ 707,384.57
Agency, Trust and Investment
Agency:
County T. B. Hospital Tax
$ 34,759.12
State Auditing Tax
1,691.07
State Examination of Retirement System
55.30
State Parks and
Reservation Tax
8,418.07
County Tax
73,507.73
Dog Licenses for County
1,853.50
School Lunch Program-
Revolving Fund
32,852.86
School Athletic Fund
11,018.40
Group Insurance- Blue Cross
35,120.54
Federal Withholding Tax
129,209.32
State Withholding Tax
8,879.57
337,365.48
Trust and Investment:
Ella M. Cole Fund
$ 340.12
Mary Mynott Fund
17.50
Adah Stedman Fund
24.00
Mabel Murphy Fund
63.00
Cemetery Perpetual Care
2,050.00
Post War Rehabilitation
Fund
1,687.50
Pension Accumulation Fund
33,480.78
37,662.90
Total Agency, Trust and Investment $ 375,028.38
Refunds
Refunds:
Taxes
$ 1,620.85
Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes
2,395.22
Tailings
2.00
Plans and Bids
61,270.00
All Other
42.00
Ambulance
50.00
208
Federal Tax Blue Cross
9.00 2.00
Total Refunds
$ 65,391.07
Total Payments for 1959
3,676,800.29
Cash on Hand December 31, 1959
$ 533,183.91
$4,209,984.20
209
TOWN OF SOUTHBRIDGE BALANCE SHEET - DECEMBER 31, 1959
ASSETS
$
18,289.14
Cash
$ 533,183.91
Accounts Receivable:
Taxes: Levy of 1599
$ 51,711.31
1,210,000.00
Levy of 1958
9,369.70
Levy of 1957
2,240.03
Levy of 1956
180.90
63,501.94
Deposits on Plans and Bids Trust Fund Income:
Motor Vehicle Excise:
J. J. Angell Fund $
31.27
Levy of 1959
$ 23,978.93
Alexis Boyer, Jr., Fund
11.29
Levy of 1958
1,624.83
Elle M. Cole Fund
385.44
Mabel Murphy Fund
61.47
Mary Mynott Fund
47.85
Adah Stedman Fund 100.46
Ruth Stedman Fund
29.17
666.95
Unapportioned Sewer Assessments
$ 221.40
1959 Sewer Assessments- Added to Taxes
131.55
1959 Committed Sewer
2,910.86
Assessments Interest
46.30
399.25
Dog Tax Fees (Reserved for County) 16.50 1,000.00
Sale of Land Account
Sale of Cemetery Lots and Graves Fund
2,325.00
Tailings
159.31
425.00
Sewer Assessment Reserve ....
1,095.42
Tax Titles Tax Possessions Departmental: Selectmen Ambulance
$
389.41 2,232.70
..
$ 1,800.00
Parking Meter Fees Loans Authorized -Unissued: New High School and Cole Trade High School Addition Loans in Anticipation of Revenue
150,000.00 290.00
Levy of 1957
193.31
25,797.07
Special Assessments:
School Athletic Fund Federal Lunch Program (Rotating)
4,136.71
Town Hall Public Welfare Aid to Dependent Children-State
40.00
794.06
7,580.74
Old Age Assistance- Cities and Towns
2,740.20
Veterans Benefits- State 33,734.18
Employment Security- Town Hall
390.00
Schools
1,729.08
Cemetery
49,663.26
Aid to Highway:
State
$ 4,139.58
County
2,069.79
6,209.37
County T.B. Hospital
Maintenance Tax
4,615.76 $ 13,326.03
Loans Authorized: New High School and Cole Trade High School Addition
1,210,000.00
105,000.00
Aid
19,692.32
28,035.81
$ 4,719.91
Levy of 1958
6,062.75
Levy of 1957
4,246.86
Levy of 1956
205.70
Levy of 1952
169.47
15,404.69
Old Age Assistance:
1782.79
Overlays Reserve Surplus ...
Revenue Reserved Until Collected:
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax Revenue $ 25,797.07
Sewer Assessment Revenue 399.25
Tax Title Revenue 2,622.11
Departmental Revenue 49,663.26
Highway Aid Revenue
6,209.37
84,691.06
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Overestimates - 1959: State Parks and Res- ervation Tax $ 822.65
County Tax
7,887.62
182,433.22
Excess and Deficiency Federal Grants: Aid to Dependent Children: Administration
$ 8,343.49
Post War Rehabilitation Fund Overlays: Levy of 1959
Disability Assistance: Administration Aid
$ 1,669.42
6,068.17
7,737.59
430.00
Overdrawn Accounts: 1959 Chap. 90 Road Maintenance
7,593.52
Appropriation Balances:
Board of Appeals $ 199.60
By-Laws Revision
188.87
Police - Spec. Compensa- tion and Medical Acct. ..
700.66
Fire - Jeep Account
800.00
Health - Tuberculin and Diabetic Screening Acct.
415.30
Sewer - Expense
800.00
Swimming Pool -New Construction
627.57
Alumni Field - Storage Shed
176.10
Airport Maint. Account
51.59
Damage to Persons and
Property
195.24
Cemetery Improvement Account
2,632.18
Airport Reconstruction, Enlarging & Improve- ments
118,263.34
Airport Loam Transporta- tion to Three Recreation Fields 404.00
Construction of Bridge Across Cady Brook on
Administration $ 10,089.17 47,326.71 Aid 57,415.88
Randolph St.
15,000.00 Cady Brook Channel Clearance Account 50,200.00 Caron Street Sidewalk Reconstruction 1,300.00
Construction on Chestnut Street 607.67
Cisco Street Bridge
200.00
Cohasse Brook Channel Clearance Account 10,200.00
Chap. 90 Construction- Cont. #17677 and #18309 Pleasant St. Reconstruc- tion 2,449.58
Everett Street Sidewalk Reconstruction 772.00
Installation of Water Serv- ice Line and Meter Pit from Glover St. to Swim- ing Pool 180.89
Goddard St. Parking Lot Lease 1.00
Rental of Parking Lot, God- dard and Main Streets 930.70
Guelphwood Road Guard Rail Erection 1,554.94 Blue Cross - Blue Shield- Group Insurance - Employees Payroll De-
ductions 61.79 Italian-American World War Veterans of U. S. Post #66 60.49
Land Damage Appraisal Account 1,009.85
Chap. 90 - Cont. #18244- Resurfacing with Type "I" Mechanic Street 1,685.32
Tuition and Compensation for Beat Replacement of 4 Police Officers 370.28
New High School and Addi- tion to Cole Trade High School 31,440.08
Schools - National De- fense Education 959.52
Schools - Science Program 959.52
Southbridge Housing Authority 106.00
Southbridge School Plan- ning Committee 931.07
Southbridge Public Im- provement Committee ...
1,281.10
Swimming Pool Drain- Clean Bottom of Pool, Filling 171.71
Town Hall Alterations and Repairs 46.79
West Street Sidewalk West St. Storm Drain 2,100.00 Woodycrest Avenue and High Street Storm Drain 1,928.10 ..
1,100.00
253,062.85
$2,019,375.12
$2,019,375.12
--
SCHOOL REPORT
PROGRESS
SOUTHBRIDGE, MASS. 1959
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS SOUTHBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
DECEMBER 31, 1959
THE SOUTHBRIDGE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
1959 - 1960
Edgar J. Bourgeois, 42 Goddard Street, Chairman 1960
Lorenzo Beaupre, 131 Central Street 1960
Armand Bellerive, 176 Dresser Street 1962
Mario DeAngelis, 12 Lebanon Hill
1960
Dr. Ralph R. Racicot, 192 Chapin Street 1961
John Rossi, 18 Lyons Street 1962
Belmore St. Amant, 401 Elm Street 1961
MEETINGS OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The regular meetings of the School Committee are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:00 P.M. in the office of the Superintendent of Schools, Mary E. Wells High School Building.
There are no regular meetings in July and August.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Robert L. Fox
Residence: 46 Columbus Avenue Tel. 4-8400
Office: Mary E. Wells High School Tel. 4-3285
SECRETARIES
Margaret R. Connolly, 14 South Street Tel. 4-6513
Mrs. Leona Lavoie, 62 Glenwood Street Tel. 4-6733 The Superintendent's office is open from Monday through Friday, from 8:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
SCHOOL PHYSICIANS
Dr. William Langevin, 24 Everett Street Tel. 4-7358 Dr. Adah B. Eccleston, 62 Elm Street Tel. 4-8141
2
SCHOOL NURSES
Mrs. Lottie A. LeBlanc, 54 Westwood Parkway Tel. 4-3359 Mrs. Pauline Boucher, 13 Edwards Street Tel. 4-7772
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Winter term, seven weeks
January 4 - February 19
Spring term, seven weeks
February 29 - April 15
Summer term, nine weeks
April 25 - June 24
Fall term, sixteen weeks
September 7 - December 23
NO-SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENT
The official No-School Announcement for all schools will be given over Stations WESO, WTAG and WAAB at 7:00 A.M. and 7:45 A.M. There will also be two sets of eight blasts of the fire siren at 6:45 A.M. When it is necessary to make such a decision in the morning, schools will be closed for the en- tire day.
ENROLLMENT OCTOBER 1, 1959
Grades Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys
Girls
5 - 7
7 - 14
14 - 16
16 Up
Total
1
89
96
6
7
95
103
2
16
6
75
62
91
68
3
109
79
109
79
4
89
95
89
95
5
83
85
83
85
6
113
82
2
115
82
7
101
102
10
3
1
112
105
8
66
90
20
9
3
2
89
101
9
25
35
51
33
3
1
79
69
10
11
52
48
14
8
66
67
11
15
33
37
51
52
84
12
4
9
40
61
44
70
Trade
1
51
104
156
Special
13
4
8
1
21
5
Total 105 102
681 652 213
136 202
123 1201
1013
Total Southbridge Public Schools
2214
Total St. Mary's School
313
Total Notre Dame School
864
Total Ste. Jeanne d'Arc School
242
Grand Total (all pupils attending school in Southbridge)
3633
3
4
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appro- priations
Ex- penditures
Reimburse- ments
Balance on hand Dec. 31 1959
Salaries
$545,598.30
$543,031.58
$2,566.72
Other Expenses (Including Transportation,
Tuition, Medical Expenses, Textbooks, Supplies, Operation and Maintenance of Plant, Equipment, Capital Outlay, etc.)
158,512.50
158,509.13
3.37
Contingency
5,000.00
4,976.15
23.85
Audio-Visual Aids
1,500.00
1,499.66
34
Music
2,000.00
1,993.81
6.19
Playgrounds
4,500.00
4,452.79
47.21
Driver Education
1,500.00
1,281.92
218.08
Federal Lunch Program (Cafeteria)
3,400.00
3,400.00
Smith-Hughes Fund
1,310.00
1,310.00
General Athletic Fund
2,373.26
2,373.26
School Planning Committee Account
2,856.97
1,925.90
931.07
Safety Renovations
9,000.00
9,000.00
State Aid for Schools (Chap. 70 as Amended 1948 Chap. 643)
Vocational School, State Grant
131,613.91 35,603.25 785.20
Vocational School Day and Evening Tuition and Transportation
10,295.19
Refund Retirement Board (Military Leave)
42.00
Evening High - Russian Course
20.00
Refund on Subscription .. Smith-Hughes (U. S. Gov. Fund)
44.05
1,310.00
High School Tuition (State Wards)
Cole Trade High School Clerical Services Veterans' Reports Transportation Vocational Pupils Reimbursement - Vocational Tuition Reimbursement - Special Classes (Mentally Retarded Children)
113.00 179.95 675.23
8,049.66
TOTALS
$737,551.03
$733,754.20
$188,731.44
$3,796.83
IN BRIEF:
Total Expenditures
$733,754.20
Total Receipts to Town Treasurer 188,731.44
NET COST TO TOWN $545,022.76
A detailed financial statement will be found in the Town Accountant's report.
5
SCHOOL PERSONNEL
The name, date of appointment, official title, and degree appear in that order.
Robert L. Fox-1954, Superintendent of Schools M.Ed.
Claire Birtz-1937, Director of Art Department (Grades VII-XII) B.S.Ed.
Lewis Kyrios-1938, Director of Physical Education Department D.Ed.
Gilbert Lamarre-1954, Director of Guidance and Place- ment Department M.Ed.
Rosalie Rubenstein-1959, Supervisor of Elementary School Music
Paul J. Sweet-1950, Director of Instrumental Music Department
Mary E. Wells High School
James M. Robertson-1837, Principal
D.Ed.
Edward Desroches-1949, Assistant Principal
M.Ed
Nora Adams-1947, Secretary to Principal
Pauline Aucoin-1921
B.S.
Kathryn Beauregard-1922
M.A.
Rose Brodeur-1939
M.A.
Eva Casavant-1933
M.A. B.S.
Constance Coderre-1929
Paul Duhart-1949
M.Ed.
Thecla Fitzgerald-1926
M.Ed.
Robert Hart-1952
M.A.
Genevieve Hetu-1959
B.A.
Persis Howe-1930
B.S.Ed. B.A.
John Kowalksi, Jr .- 1955
M.Ed.
Barbara Kyrios-1940
B.S.Ed.
Constance E. Langlois-1958
B.A.
Harry J. McMahon-1926
M.Ed.
Donald Marino-1958
B.A.
William Nickerson-1941
B.S.Ed.
Eugene Remian-1959
B.S.
Anthony Sapienza-1954
M.Ed.
Celestine Sweet-1932
B.A.
Frances Troy-1927
B.S.Ed.
Robert Windheim-1959
B.S.
Robert Young-1959
B.S.
Cole Trade High School
Raymond L. W. Benoit-1949, Director M.Ed.
Frank P. Skinyon-1934, Assistant Director B.S.Ed.
Maureen Prokos-1946, Secretary to Director
6
Joseph Jordan-1959
Elsie Hofstra-1933, Clerk
Robert V. Beals-1957 M.A.
George Braman-1938
Anthony Chlapowski-1956 M.Ed.
Walter J. Glondek-1938
Leonard W. Keyes-1959 Assoc.Eng.
David Knight-1956
Lucian Manchuk-1956
William B. Paul-1942
Edwin J. Waskiewicz-1952
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
R. Joseph Racine-1944, Supervising Principal of Charlton Street, Marcy Street, and Mechanic Street Schools M.Ed.
Charlton Street
Camella Dintini-1940, Teaching Principal
M.Ed.
Kathleen Burns-1958
Mary Chambers-1959
Francis C. Clark-1959
B.S.
Lorene Fierro-1954
B.S.Ed.
Helen Golden-1948
B.A.
Myrtle Harrald-1957
Claire A. Kirk-1949
B.S.Ed.
Dorothy Locke-1954
Dorothy M. Sheriffs-1945
Agnes Stone-1958
Marcy Street
Anita Sfreddo-1953, Teaching Principal
B. Music
Alice Dion-1926
Josette Dupuis-1948
A.B.
Francis P. Jankowski-1959
B.S.Ed.
Harold E. Kinnear-1959 B.S.Ed.
Edith A. Manzi-1957 B.S.Ed ..
Raymond L. Renaud-1959 B.S.Ed.
Eva Salviuolo-1943
B.S.Ed.
Mechanic Street
Francis B. Flanagan-1956, Teaching Principal
B.S. in Bus.Adm. B.S.Ed.
Walter McSherry-1959
Marie J. Saunders-1924
Donald G. Xenos-1959
B.S.Ed ..
Raoul O. Lataille-1939, Supervising Principal of Eastford Road, Pleasant Street, and West Street Schools ... M.Ed ..
7
Eastford Road
Constance L'Ecuyer-1940, Teaching Principal
M.A.
Dorothy Berthiaume-1954
Laurenda Boyer-1927
Irene Gough-1914
Myrtle Jodrey-1944
Joan Little-1957 B.S.Ed.
Julia Morrill-1914
Constance Morse-1959
B.S.Ed.
Marie Skaza-1949
Beverly St. Martin-1959
B.S.Ed.
Florida Tarquinio-1942
B.S.Ed.
Pleasant Street
Patricia Callahan-1939, Teaching Principal
M.Ed.
Elizabeth Curtis-1944
M.Ed.
Marjorie Duminie-1957
B.S.
Mary Winston-1951
West Street
Vincent J. Puracchio-1950, Teaching Principal
M.A.
John R. Bower-1958
M.Ed.
Nicholas Costa-1959
M.Ed.
Faith Dostal-1956
Thomas Flanagan-1959 B.A.
Martha Koprowski-1954
B.S.Ed.
Madelene Proulx-1954
B.S.Ed.
Lee Viafora-1959 M.Ed.
Anne L. White-1958
B.S.
Special Teachers
Stanley Naumnik-1954
B.S.Ed.
Clara Reed-1941
William E. Rinehart-1952
B.S.
Cafeteria Personnel
Edith Freeman-1953, Manager
Viola Galligan-1953
Germaine Gravel-1959
Isabel Laforce-1953
Blanche Metras-1959
Change of Teachers
Resigned
Ernest Pappas-Feb. Mary E. Wells High School
8
A.B.
Charlotte Ryan-1959
Gail Griffin-June Laura Chapman-June
Elizabeth Haynes-June
Theodore Mathieu-June
Sylvia LeBlanc-June
Mary Chauvin-June Kathleen Marino-June
Irma Buckminster-June
Eunice Maloney-June
Christo Nasse-June
Eastford Road School
Edward Steeme-June
West Street School
Beverly St. Martin-Dec.
Eastford Road School
Leave of Absence
Shirley Demirjian-June
Mary E. Wells High School
Maureen Moriarty-June
Mary E. Wells High School Mechanic Street School
Anne L. White-Nov. West Street School
Appointed
Leonard W. Keyes-Feb. Cole Trade High School
Francis Clark-Sept. Charlton Street School
Nicholas Costa-Sept. West Street School West Street School
Thomas Flanagan-Sept.
Genevieve Hetu-Sept. Mary E. Wells High School
Francis Jankowski, Jr .- Sept. Marcy Street School
Joseph C. Jordan-Sept. Mary E. Wells High School
Raymond Renaud-Sept.
Rosalie Rubenstein-Sept.
Charlotte Ryan-Sept.
Elementary Music Supervisor Eastford Road School Eastford Road School
Robert Windheim-Sept.
Mary E. Wells High School Mechanic Street School Mary E. Wells High School
Robert Young-Sept.
Walter McSherry-October
Mechanic Street School West Street School
Lee Viafora-October
Retired
Bertha Foley-June
Eastford Road School
Ruth Sampson-June
Charlton Street School
Deceased
Lawrence Swenson-January Cole Trade High School
Change of Janitors
Resigned Eugene Ledoux-Nov. Cole Trade High School
9
Elementary Music Supervisor
Mary E. Wells High School Mary E. Wells High School Mary E. Wells High School Charlton Street School Marcy Street School Mechanic Street School Eastford Road School Eastford Road School
Fayne Kowalski-Nov.
Eugene Remian-Sept. Mary E. Wells High School Marcy Street School
Beverly St. Martin-Sept.
Donald Xenos-Sept.
Appointed Raoul Arpin-November
Pleasant And Mechanic Street Schools
Janitors
Joseph Brouillard-1954
Head Janitor
Raoul Arpin-1959
Pleasant and Mechanic Street Schools
Telesphore Beauregard-1957 Mary E. Wells High School
Anatole Bombardier-1957 Cole Trade High School
Wilfred P. Gauthier-1952 West Street School
Adelard Lavallee-1952
Marcy Street School
Theophile Leduc-1943
Charlton Street School
Joseph Moore-1941
Eastford Road School
George St. Martin-1953
Mary E. Wells High School
10
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
FOR 1959
To the School Committee and Citizens of Southbridge:
I hereby submit my sixth annual report as Superintendent of the Southbridge Public Schools, the sixty-eighth in a series of such reports.
Introduction
When historians have evaluated the progress engendered during the decade which has just come to an end, it will proba- bly be described as the most dynamic period in our history. Every important phase of living has felt the impact of pres- sures which bring about change. It has been a decade during which technology has taken practical form under the heading of automation; when, although labor and management have is- sues still unsolved, there has been a clarification of the reasons for this gigantic struggle. Labor would like a ceiling put on profit making, while management seeks a halt in the upward trend of wages. Both fear inflation and each feels that the other could prevent it. The question of equal rights for all Americans has finally been brought into the open and bared to the cold, hard scrutiny of public opinion. America has been faced with the first challenge to its supremacy as a world power since it took its place among the leading nations.
Education, too, has undergone many changes since 1950. Rising costs of education, a population which is becoming more enlightened and alert with each passing year, the intense rivalry between nations, and a greatly increased pupil enrollment are some of the pressures which have resulted in new approaches to and philosophies of education. In our state the certification law guarantees not only better preparation for the profession but also a greater degree of specialization. Teachers on the secondary level must be trained as specialists in their subjects, and elementary teachers must show proof of many courses which contribute to educational skill. The slow learner has his place in the educational world protected for him by law, while the rapid learner is gradually being recognized as deserv- ing special attention. New buildings are springing up every- where not only to provide needed space, but also-and this is gratifying to educators-to provide for programs which will better prepare young people for life as it is today.
Guidance in education had its beginnings many decades ago, but its progress, especially in rural and industrial areas, has been slow until comparatively recently. The past ten years have resulted in almost universal acceptance of the idea that vocational, educational, and personal counseling in the hands
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of trained personnel is an important need in the development of youth. Visual education, including television, has a permanent place in our education system.
Although there has been a renaissance in American edu- cation during the past ten years, the movement toward educat- ing each child according to his ability, according to his needs, and toward a better life for him has hardly begun. To the degree that it is possible, public education must meet the chal- lenge of discovering the educational potential of individual pu- pils. It must then be in a position to develop these varying talents and to give to each child as great a chance for success in life as it is possible to give him. Only then can we say that we have equal educational opportunities for all the children of all the people. An unknown author gives this advice to teachers:
"Look well, and pray you may have eyes to see The gifts they hold so lightly, unaware
That in themselves are talents yet undreamed, These dormant possibilities that lie
By none perceived, perhaps, except by you, And which, save for your knowing, might so die."
Safe School Buildings
As a result of the fatalities in a fire in a Chicago school a little more than a year ago, there has been a concerted effort on the part of building inspectors throughout the country to bring schools up to a standard of safety which would preclude the possibility of a similar occurrence.
The Massachusetts Department of Safety has, through its inspecting officers, alerted School Committees throughout the Commonwealth to the need for changes in school buildings wherever such changes would assure an increased margin of safety for students and personnel in our schools. Such altera- tions are costly. At Mary E. Wells High School it was neces- sary to install intercommunicating doors so that a second exit corridor would be available to all pupils and teachers; to re- place plain glass on all doors with safety glass; and to provide four smoke screens in the corridors. Wherever it was neces- sary, the same thing has been done in all other buildings, ex- cept the Marcy Street and Mechanic Street Schools, which will be abandoned as school buildings when the new high school is ready for use. In these two latter buildings the School Com- mittee followed the recommendations of the local fire chief to avoid spending large sums of money for alterations.
Reading Program
The School Committee has initiated a reading program in the high school. It is evident that too high a percentage of
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failures and low grades is due to the fact that some, perhaps many, pupils have difficulty in reading for comprehension. This may be caused by a lack of attention in the early grades, by a lack of concentration, by a block even in able students for which compensation must be found, or even by long periods of ab- sence from school due to illness at critical times in a pupil's development. The program is being administered by the Eng- lish teachers and, as the reader will discover in the guidance report, progress is already discernable.
Further plans along this same line include the employment of a reading specialist if one can be procured for the elementary grades beginning September 1, 1960. This is not to intimate that elementary school teachers have not been cognizant of reading weaknesses, nor that they have not done all in their power to eliminate them. Two separate investigations at the Charlton Street School two years ago, one by an official of the State Department of Education, the other by a professor from Worcester State Teachers College, resulted in excellent reports to the Superintendent's office. However, a classroom teacher with approximately thirty pupils under her charge can give only a limited amount of individual attention. A trained person in this area will enrich the entire reading program.
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