Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1956, Part 12

Author: Pepperell (Mass.)
Publication date: 1946
Publisher: [Pepperell, Mass.] : [Town of Pepperell]
Number of Pages: 682


USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Pepperell > Town annual reports of the officers of the town of Pepperell, Mass 1956 > Part 12


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30


Harry Dow


33.30


6,177.11


Balance


.99


57


Snow and Ice Removal


Appropriation


Reserve Fund


6,000.00 1,500.00 201.06


Continued Fund


7,701.06


Central Grain Co.


671.10


International Salt Co.


196.00


Theodore Palmer


2.07


John H. Laitala


22.25


Roy Elliott


135.00


1,026.42


6,674.64


W. E. Chapman, Trucks


1,420.43


Frank Ford, Truck


522.00


John Marks, Tractor, Truck & Bulldozer 1,442.70


Joe Allen, Tractor


28.00


Ernest Blood, Team


132.00


Victor Gieger, Team


282.00


John Blood, Tractor


35.00


Pepperell Trucking Co.


990.00


4,852.13


1,822.51


W. E. Chapman


312.00


Edward Drinan


252.60


William Clark


343.55


J. J. Sullivan


174.40


Arthur Greenwood


169.65


William N. Blood


83.40


Albert Stratton


67.05


Bruce Geiger


85.10


Leon Geiger


24.80


Raymond Blood


121.30


Everett Scott


4.00


John Blood


19.60


Freeman Erickson


14.40


Douglas O'Neil


22.40


Howard Grainger


7.20


58


Roger Greenwood Freeman Simmons


21.00


12.60


14.70


37.80


8.10


1,810.05


Balance


12.46


Outstanding Pay Rolls and Bills Chapter 90


842.50


State 500.00, County 500.00, Town 1,800.00


2,800.00


Koppers Company


1,520.57


Massachusetts Broken Stone Inc.


129.04


Socony Vacuum Oil Co.


271.27


1,920.88


879.12


W. E. Chapman, Trucks


114.00


Frank Ford, Truck


87.50


Joe Allen, Tractor


396.00


597.50


281.62


W. E. Chapman Edward Drinan


16.50


31.50


Freeman Simmons


72.80


Louis Parker


88.50


Anthony Gedrin


20.80


Reginald White


43.00


J. J. Sullivan


8.10


281.20


.42


59


Wallace Greenwood Harold Lynch Lawrence Baker Donald Morse


14.40


Construction, River, Main and Mill Streets Town 3,000.00, County 3,000.00, State 6,000.00 Spent 1946


12,000.00


9,734.67


Balance Jan. 1, 1947


2,265.33


A. Soucy


235.50


2,029.83


W. E. Chapman, Trucks


411.50


Roy Elliott, Shovels


774.00


John Marks, Bulldozer


605.00


1,790.50


239.33


W. E. Chapman


96.00


William Clark


141.00


237.75


Balance


1.58


Construction, River Street


6,000.00


State 3000.00, County 1,500.00, Town 1500.00 A. Soucy


154.08


Wachusett Bitumas Product Co.


219.80


Socony Vacuum Oil Co.


474.78


Massachusetts Broken Stone Co.


1,363.19


Machinery Fund


41.65


W. E. Chapman, Trucking Stone


89.39


Frank Ford, Trucking Stone


70.07


2,412.96


3,587.04


W. E. Chapman, Trucks


1,121.50


Frank Ford, Truck


190.50


Roy Elliott, Shovel


507.00


Roy Elliott, Trucks


138.00


John Marks, Bulldozer


607.25


Roy Elliott, Trailer


18.00


2,582.25


1,004.79


60


W. E. Chapman William Clark Arthur Greenwood Edward Drinan


J. J. Sullivan


248.00


273.00


216.30


135.98


130.73


1,004.01


Balance


Townsend Street Sidewalk, Appropriation


Massachusetts Broken Stone Co.


100.94


Hume Pipe of N. E., Inc.


41.98


Clinton Parmenter


8.08


151.00


399.00


W. E. Chapman, Truck


144.00


Frank Ford, Truck


32.50


176.50


222.50


W. E. Chapman


16.00


Edward Drinan


11.70


J. J. Sullivan


11.70


William Clark


16.20


Arthur Greenwood


16.20


Douglas O'Neil


18.00


Alfred Erickson


16.20


Freeman Erickson


26.10


132.10


Balance


90.40


Chase Avenue Drainage


250.00


Hume Pipe of N. E., Inc.


119.95


119.95


130.05


W. E. Chapman, Trucks


30.00


30.00


100.05


61


.78 550.00


William Clark Freeman Erickson


14.40


14.40


28.80


Balance Drainage, Balance January 1, 1947 Townsend Street and Mill Street Hume Pipe of N. E. Inc. 183.62


71.25 1,899.85


183.62


1,716.23


W. E. Chapman, Truck


402.00


1,314.23


W. E. Chapman


88.00


Edward Drinan


13.50


William Clark


108.00


Arthur Greenwood


89.10


Douglas O'Neil


42.30


Alfred Erickson


65.70


Freeman Erickson


52.20


458.80


Balance


855.43 Respectfully submitted W. E. CHAPMAN, Highway Surveyor.


62


Report of Water Department


For the Year Ending December 31, 1947


RECEIPTS


Sales of Water


13,149.65


Sales of Material


151.97


Sales, Labor


3.00


Total Receipts


13,304.62


EXPENDITURES


Salaries and Transportation


4,699.00


Service-Labor


529.45


Service-Material


1,348.12


Pumping Station No. 1-Labor


183.90


Pumping Station No. 1-Material


185.27


Pumping Station No. 1-Expense


1,951.56


Piping System-Labor


44.40


Piping System-Material


277.32


Meters-Maintenance


512.99


Pumping Station No. 2-Labor


106.97


Pumping Station No. 2-Material


237.66


Water Commissioners


-


120.00


Collector-First National Bank


20.00


Sundry Account


193.76


Total Expenditures 10,410.40


Under Article 20. Town Meeting of February 1947 re- lating to extending the Water Main on Townsend Street and including part of Willow Street.


Requests for bids on this extension were advertised in the Pepperell Free Press and Turners Public Spirit pa- pers, and were mailed to fourteen different contractors.


Bids were closed August 15, 1947. We received three bids for this extension as follows : $3,450, $3,700 and $4,441. None being within the amount allocated for this exten- sion of $2,950, the bids could not be accepted.


Under the vote of the Town at a Special Town meet- ing in regards to replacing water main on Tucker Avenue.


63


Requests for bids were advertised in the Pepperell Free Press and Turners Public Spirit, and were mailed to four- teen different contractors. Bids were closed October 22, 1947. We received two bids on this replacement, one of which was under the amount allocated; $5,600. Due to the fact that the contractor who made this bid was unable to obtain the pipe by October 31, 1947, and could not guarantee when he could obtain the pipe, this bid was not accepted.


The other bid we received was above the amount al- located for this replacement and delivery of pipe could not be made before May, 1948. This bid, being over the amount allocated, was not accepted.


Fay, Spofford and Thorndike, Engineers of Boston, Mass., submitted their proposal for an investigation and recommendations for improvement and expansion of the water system. The cost of this report would be $4,500.00, also the Town would be required to furnish two men when- ever they needed them, and to furnish materials required in the investigation.


The expense was more than the $500.00 allocated and in the judgment of the Water Commissioners, more than the town should pay for a survey and recommendations. The Water Board voted to invite the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Board to form a committee to formulate plans for further improvements and extension of the water system, to be presented to the voters of the town for their decision at a future town meeting.


Respectfully submitted,


LYMAN F. ROBBINS CHARLES L, MANNING WILLIAM STRAITIFF


Board of Water Commissioners


-... .


64


Report of Trustees of Lawrence Library


January 14, 1948


To the Honorable Board of Selectmen:


The Trustees of the Lawrence Library respectfully submit the following report for the year ending December 31, 1947:


Organization


Chairman, John R. Shugert Secretary, Helen G. Whalon


Executive Committee


John R. Shugert Pat J. McDermott George A. Gillis


Finance Committee


John R. Shugert Pat J. McDermott George A. Gillis


Book Committee


Beatrice Parker Helen G. Whalon Irene T. Attridge


The Trustees of the Lawrence Memorial Library feel the year ending December 31, 1947, was most successful from the standpoint of achievement.


A gift of a new semi-circular desk through the courtesy of the State Division of Public Libraries was accepted and placed in the most advantageous spot in the Library. Be- fore the desk could be installed, it was necessary for some extensive repairs to be made in the entrance to the stack room such as removing the old permanent desk and finish- ing off the job so as to still be in keeping with the general architectural design of the library. We believe all will agree that the desk is indeed an improvement to the library, not to mention the added convenience for all concerned includ- ing the librarians.


After the desk was placed it was found that due to the present lighting arrangements a desk lamp was needed and this was purchased and installed.


.65


Since the purchase and installation of the oil burner last fall, the librarians as well as Mr. Gray, the janitor, have done everything possible to conserve fuel but still maintain suitable temperature in the library for the com- fort of the public. One step taken in the fuel conservation program by the Trustees was the closing off of the large west trophy room that is not used extensively in the winter.


Another large step just taken that will help in the drive to save fuel was the installation of the storm door at the entrance. Considerable improvement has already been noted by construction of this last project.


Out of our regular budget, salary adjustments went into effect the last half of 1946 to the head librarian, Miss Wiley, the assistant librarian, Mrs. Tower, and the janitor, Mr. Gray. The increases were the first any of these loyal and faithful employees had received for many years.


We are in hopes that in the near future we can work out some arrangement for an attractive children's room. When this goal is attained we will then feel our library will be equal to other libraries in towns of the same size.


After carefully studying over our budget for 1948, it was decided not to ask for an increase from the town over the original appropriation of $1,800.00 that was given us last year.


Respectfully submitted,


JOHN R. SHUGERT, Chairman.


1


66


Report of Treasurer of the Lawrence Public Library


Receipts


Cash on Hand Jan. 1st., 1947


161.44


Coupons on Bonds :


Northern Pacific R. R.


300.00


New York Central R. R.


245.00


Detroit River Tunnel


180.00


Chicago & Indianapolis R. R.


80.00


Bangor & Aroostock R. R.


120.00


New England Tel. & Tel. Co.


100.00


Baltimore & Ohio R. R.


358.34


Holyoke Street R. R.


34.38


Government Bonds


125.00


1,704.16


Stocks :


First National Bank of Boston


112.50


Shawmut National Bank of Boston


77.00


Town Appropriation


1,800.00


189.50 1.800.00


Serial G Government Bonds


150.00


150.00


Interest from Savings Accounts :


Worcester North, Fitchburg


51.46


North Middlesex Savings, Ayer


46.30


Lowell 5c Savings, Lowell


203.21


Cambridge Savings, Cambridge


63.02


Charlestown 5c Savings


3.30


367.29


Total Income


4,210.95


Cash on Hand Jan. 1, 1947


161.44


Receipts for 1947


4,049.51


Total Receipts


4,210.95


Total Payments


3,904.65


Unexpended Balance


306.30


1


67


SECURITIES OWNED BY THE LAWRENCE ยท PUBLIC LIBRARY


1 10 Northern Pacific R. R. Bonds 10,000.00


7 New York Central R. R. Bonds 7,000.00


4 Detroit Terminal R. R. Bonds 4,000.00


2 New England Tel. & Tel. Co., Bonds


2,000.00


2 Baltimore & Ohio R. R. Bonds


2,000.00


2 Chicago & Indianapolis R. R. Bonds


2,000.00


3 Bangor & Aroostock R. R. Bonds


3,000.00


2 U. S. Government Bonds


2,000,00


1 U. S. Government Bond


500.00


8 U. S. Government Bonds (Serial G.) 8,000.00


1 Holyoke Street R. R. Bond 500.00


Stocks and Savings Accounts


50 Shares First National Bank, Boston 2,900.00


77 Shares Shawmut National Bank, Boston 2,772.00


22 Shares Holyoke St. R. R. (Value Unknown) Worcester North Savings Bank, Fitchburg 3,430.00 Cambridge Savings Bank 2,801.28


North Middlesex Savings Bank, Ayer 2,315.00


Lowell 5c Savings Bank, Lowell 2,036.62


Charlestown 5c Savings Bank, Charlestown 165.05


First National Bank, Pepperell 118.48


Note :


The above listed amounts is the Par-Value of the various issues.


Respectfully submitted,


PHILIP R. McCLAIN


Treasurer.


68


Report of Librarian of the Lawrence Public Library


To the Trustees of Lawrence Memorial Library : The Librarian respectfully submits the following report for 1947:


STATISTICS


Circulation :


Number of days the library was open


201


Number of new patrons


76


Number of books and magazines circulated during 1947


13,426


Classified circulation of books. Adult


General works


1


Fine arts


150


Philosophy


61


Literature


344


Religion


18


History


320


Social science


84


Travel


381


Language


9


Biography


537


Science


66


Fiction


7,237


Useful arts


163


Magazines


1,397


Classified circulation of books:


Juvenile


Religion


14


Literature


38


Social science


57


History


22


Science


100


Travel


34


Useful arts


54


Biography


58


Fine Arts


53 Fiction


2,228


The adult circulation was 10.768. The juvenile circu- tion was 2,658. The adult circulation showed a gain of 425 over 1946. The juvenile was 689 less than 1946.


Through Inter-Library Loans we have borrowed 37 books from other libraries.


Number of volumes in library, January 1, 1947: According to accession book


26,684


Number of volumes added in 1947


By purchase 247


By gift 26


Number of volumes in library January 1, 1948


26,957


69


List of magazines for 1948


American Magazine


Mademoiselle


Atlantic Monthly


National Geographic


Book Review Digest


Nature Magazine


Booklist


Newsweek


Catholic World g.


Our Dumb Animals g.


Child Life


Pepperell Free Press g.


Children's Activities


Photoplay


Christian Century


Congressional Record g.


Readers' Digest


Flying


Readers' Guide to periodicals


Rotarian g.


Saturday Evening Post


Soviet Russia Today g. Time


Turner's Public Spirit


Woman's Day g.


McCall's Magazine


Popular Mechanics


Harper's Magazine Holiday


House and Garden Hygeia Ladies' Home Journal Life


HELEN M. WILEY


Librarian


70


The


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE


SCHOOL DEPARTMENT


OF THE


TOWN of PEPPERELL


MASSACHUSETTS


ERCI


A DI


LAR DERDE


For the Year Ending December 31,


1947


ORGANIZATION FOR 1947


Sidney F. Mason, E. Pepperell, Ch'rm'n Term expires 1949


Lucy J. Spring, E. Pepperell Term expires 1948


Guy Murchie, Pepperell, Secretary Term expires 1950


Superintendent of Schools


Charles L. Stephenson, Pepperell


Telephone at office (Shattuck School) Pepperell 22


Telephone at Residence Pepperell 72


Telephone at High School Pepperell 68


Telephone at C. M. Shattuck School Pepperell 22


Telephone at Groton Street School


Pepperell 2


School Physician


Charles T. Porter, M. D., East Pepperell, Mass. (in general charge of diagnosis, first aid sanitation, and cer- tificates for return after communicable diseases).


School Examiner


Charles T. Porter, M. D., East Pepperell Mass. (In charge of annual physicial examination and pre-school clinic) .


School Nurse


Mrs. Ellen Dee, R. N., East Pepperell, Mass. (Nurse of Pepperell District Nursing Association) (Office in Town Hall). Telephone at office : Pepperell 433 Telephone at Home: Pepperell 311.


Janitors Peter Fitzpatrick John F. Cullinan


Bus Drivers


Harold B. Olsen Harold C. Gilbert


Roger Ryan


Oak Hill Nashua Road and North Pepperell South Road


Supervisor of Attendance Harold C. King No School Signal At 7:30 on fire alarm: Three blasts followed by three (33) means all schools, both High and Elementary, will be closed all day. Also broadcast from WBZ several times be- tween 7:00 and 8:30 A. M.


72


SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1948


January 5 to February 20


7 weeks


March 1 to April 16 8 weeks


April 26 to June 11 (Elementary)


7 weeks


(High School - to be announced later)


September 8 to December 21


16 weeks


School opens January 3, 1949


The schools will close on all legal holidays, the day after Thanksgiving, and the days allowed for teachers' conven- tions and visiting schools.


Schools close at noon Thanksgiving and Christmas holi- days.


COMPARISON of PROPOSED BUDGET FOR 1948 WITH BUDGET for 1947


1


Budget 1948


Budget 1947


School Committee Salary


180.00


180.00


Expense


250.00


150.00


Supervision Salary


2,100.00


2,100.00


Expense


800.00


600.00


Teachers' Salaries


47,020.00


38,267.00


Supervisors' Salaries


2,600.00


1,880.00


Janitors' Salaries


4,200.00


4,100.00


Text Books


2,000.00


1,400.00


Supplies


1,500.00


1,000.00


Fuel


4,000.00


4,065.00


Operating


2,000.00


1,997.81


Health


350.00


350.00


Repairs


1,000.00


1,000.00


Transportation


8,000.00


7,865.00


Transportation-Teams


400.00


250.00


Tuition


1,000.00


855.00


Grounds


600.00


600.00


Equipment


1,000.00


600.00


Playground


500.00


350.00


Lunch Room


240.00


Athletic Equipment


500.00


500.00


Total


80,000.00


67,449.81


73


Budget for 1948


Budget for 1947


80,000.00 67,449.81


Increase for 1948


12,650.19


Increase in Reimbursements


6,420.52


NET INCREASE 6,229.67 This is about a 9% increase or $1.80 increase in taxes.


REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Financial Statement December 31, 1947


Feb. 1947 Appropriation


Dog Tax


67,000.00 449.81


Total Resources


67,449.81


Total Expenditures


67,391.05


Dec. 31, 1947


Balance


58.76


Expenditures


General Control


Salaries of School Committee


180.00


Other Expenses


141.94


Salary of Superintendent


2,100.00


Expenses of Superintendent


594.15


3,016.09


Expense of Instruction


Salaries of Supervisors


1,880.00


Salaries of Teachers, High


18,101.00


Salaries of Teachers, Elem.


20,306.00


Text Books, All Schools


1,373.77


Supplies, All Schools


987.81


.


42,648.58


74


Expense of Operation


Janitor, High


1,300.00


Janitors, Elem.


2,790.10


Fuel, High Fuel, Elem.


1,732.76


Janitor's supplies, All Schools


1,913.57


Repairs and Replacements High and Elementary 1,338.63


1,338.63


Auxiliary Agents


Health


358.10


Transportation


7,865.00


Tuition


776.70


8,999.80


Outlays


Grounds and Buildings


81.86


Equipment


212.85


294.71


Summer Playground


Salaries and Expense


324.18


324.18


All Other


Lunch Room


240.00


Transportation of Teams


201.40


Physical Education


503.44


Athletic Equipment


85.62


1,030.46


Total Expended


67,391.05


Total Appropriated


67,449.81


Balance December 31, 1947


58.76


2,002.17


9,738.60


75


REIMBURSEMENTS


Sale of Material


108.10


Part One-School Funds


5,741.00


Part Two-School Funds 4,356.47


City of Boston-Tuition


211.67


Vocational Education 292.59


Reimbursement Union Superintendent 1,156.09


Transportation


4,863.00


Tuition, Town and Individuals


513.82


These reimbursements reduce the actual cost of Schools to the Town by $17,242.74


17,242.74


SIDNEY F. MASON


Chairman of School Committee


76


Report of the Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee and Citizens of the Town of Pepperell:


I have the honor to submit my annual report of the administration of the School Department.


It has been said by competent authority that the money used for education is not an expense but an investment. Undoubtedly many will disagree with this statement but I think that all of us will admit that we are investing in the future of our Government through the expenditures for education. It is probable that most of us will admit that of necessity we must continue to improve our educational systems in order for this nation to survive the political war now in progress. Whether education be considered an ex- pense or an investment the cost to the taxpayer is increasing.


Let us consider the situation with which we are faced here in Pepperell. The school population is increasing and our facilities are not adequate to take care of the present elementary grades. Due to the size of the classes at the Clara M. Shattuck School, all of which are well over forty and some over fifty, some remedy of the situation must be found at once. It is absolutely necessary to reduce the ratio of the number of pupils per teacher in order to pro- vide adequate instruction. Classes should not be larger than thirty-five per teacher and it would be much better if there are thirty pupils per teacher.


There are several ways of solving the problem, one is to remodel the Clara M. Shattuck School. This would in- clude the installation of a new heating system which is so badly needed and provide additional class rooms, also make available room in the basement for domestic science, cafe- teria, and manual training. Another possibility would be to double the size of the Groton Street School and a third solution, build a new building. In order to arrive at a prac- tical answer to the solution it is necessary that we have some preliminary sketches and estimates on each of the above mentioned possibilities.


In order to relieve the crowded condition at the Clara M. Shattuck School we divided one of the class rooms on the second floor and have assigned seventeen of the third grade pupils to Mrs. Ramsey and fifteen of the first grade pupils to Miss Sanford in the morning and about the same number


77


of second grade pupils to Miss Sanford in the afternoon. While this arrangement is not satisfactory, it was the best we could do under the circumstances. It is probable that we will have to divide another room unless additional space is provided by the opening of school in September. The only other solution would be to run double sessions and this would be a very expensive method for caring for the situation as we would practically double our transportation costs as well as our instruction costs. Double sessions are very in- advisable, especially for the elementary grades as it dis- rupts the entire day for the whole family and makes it al- together too long a day as the school would have to be op- erated from eight in the morning until five in the afternoon. I, personally, am very much opposed to double sessions.


The budget for 1948 of necessity shows an increase over last year. It has been necessary to revise our salary schedule and to provide for the increased costs in all text books, supplies and fuel. However, the town is fortunate in that we have received a new reimbursement from the State on the cost of transportation in the amount of $4,800.00. This reimbursement, together with our other reimburse- ments, very materially reduced the actual costs to the town.


The reports of the Principals of the several schools cover the detailed changes in organization and personnel during the past year. You are urged to read these indi- vidual reports.


During the past year, under separate appropriations, we have been able to make some very necessary repairs on the Groton Street School and have reinstalled an entirely new oil burner at the High School. It is very essential that the repairs on the buildings be kept up from year to year rather than making it necessary to expend such large sums in one year. Regardless of whether or not the Clara M. Shattuck School is remodeled it is essential that adequate lights be installed and a new heating system be installed to take the place of the present six hot-air heaters.


I want to take this opportunity to particularly thank the members of the faculty for their loyalty and' efforts during the past year. The co-operation of the School Com- mittee and the citizens has been splendid during the past year and it has been a real pleasure to have worked with you. Respectfully submitted,


CHARLES L. STEPHENSON,


Superintendent of Schools


78


Report of the Principal of the High School


Colonel Charles Stephenson,


Superintendent of Schools,


Pepperell, Massachusetts.


Dear Sir :


The three new members of our faculty are working well into the system. Mr. Robert Patch, our new sub-master is doing a good job as coach and an excellent job as teacher of science and mathematics, although hampered by overlarge classes. Miss Madeleine Richard has made herself popular as teacher of social studies, girls' coach, and advisor to the Pro Merito Society which is benefiting from her extensive experience in public speaking. Miss Clare Carrigan, head of the Commercial Department, is doing a fine job in keeping up the high standards of her department. This year the principal has given most of his time to supervision which seems necessary in a school of this size but the result has been too many classes and too large classes for the teachers and too few classes for the pupils. A school with this en- rollment requires the services of nine full time teachers. The appointment of Mr. Robert Thomas to take effect after mid-years should make it possible for the teachers to give a little more individual instruction than is now possible in oversized classes as well as to do away with the double study hall.


This year the town is financing our athletic programs for the first time, which will necessitate a larger budget but make very little difference to the taxpayers as the pro- ceeds of our basketball games going back into the town treasury should nearly pay the cost of the program and the public will not be bothered by drives to make up the differ- ence.


My first Latin teacher told us that the chief value of Latin was teaching a pupil to work. Isn't this one of the chief values of any high school course? Many of the facts we learn in school are soon forgotten but the habits we acquire there long endure. Exclusive of lunch time a pupil spends only five hours a day at high school. He is expected to spend another two hours on home work. Slow pupils will need more time as will any pupil taking five or more sub- jects. Seven or eight hours a day are a far cry from the hours our grandparents spent at that age in shop or on the


79


farm. The school committee has asked all pupils failing in their subjects to spend another half hour after school for special help. We are doing all we can to prevent the failure of any pupil but the toleration of haphazard work is a poor preparation for life. I realize that many of our pupils are working long hours after school but when the job interferes with the schooling or the schooling interferes with the job it is time to give one up. What is worth doing is worth doing well. You cannot have your cake and eat it too.


Last spring I had personal conferences with every pupil to assist in a wise selection of courses. In many cases the courses selected were satisfactory neither to me nor to the pupil due in part to a poor selection in earlier years and in part to the limited number of courses a small school can offer.


Respectfully submitted, TRESCOTT T. ABELE


Principal of Pepperell High School


80


Report of the Principal of Shattuck School




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.