USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts 1923 > Part 2
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Stories of Useful Inventions
Winning Declamations
Woman Voters Manual Vital Records of Acton, Deerfield, Gloucester, Mendon, Plympton
Children's Books
Adventures of a Grain of Dust Cracker Joe Chel
Dusty Star.
David Ives
Days of the Colonist
Dog Heroes of Many Lands
A Dutch Boy Fifty Years After
Fortunes of the Indies Girls of True Blue
43
TOWN OF OAKHAM
A Little Brother of the Bear
The Mouse Story Memoirs of a London Doll
More Mystery Tales Og, Son of Fire Story of Our Constitution Seizer of Eagles Silver Shoal Light Strange Adventures of a Pebble
Tales of Lonely Trails
Tales of Captains and Conquest
Tales of Far-off Days
Voyages of Dr. Doolittle
We All Wisp, a Girl of Dublin
The Whelps of the Wolf
In closing this report I wish to thank the Board of Trustees and all who by their courtesy have contributed to the welfare of the Library.
Respectfully submitted, (MRS.) GRACE E. BAXTER
44
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Receipts
Town-Support of Schools $3200 00
State return-School fund 2326 50
State return-High School tuition 1320 50
State return-School Superintendent
290 00
State return-High School transportation
916 00
State return-Income Tax, for general school purposes
640 00
Rutland Tuition
36 00
Total
$8729 00
Expenses
School Committee
Paid Thomas C. Baxter, services $15 00
Sylvester R. Dean, services 10 00
Walter O. Babcock, services 10 00
Minnie M. Day, services
20 00
$55 00
Superintendent's Salary and Expense of Office
Paid James R. Childs, salary $427 50
James R. Childs, travelling ex- penses 68 49
James R. Childs, car fare, phones,
express and supplies 11 28
$507 27
45
TOWN OF OAKHAM
Teachers
Paid Miss Florence E. Bothwell $1044 56
Miss Ethel M. Braman 1044 56
Miss Ruth E. Butterfield 1044 56
Mrs. Ruth B. Dwelly 252 00
$3385 68
Supplies
Paid Edward E. Babb & Co.
14 63
J. L Hammett
18 51
Milton Bradley
5 85
$38 99
Books
Paid The Macmillan Co. $4 00
Edward E. Babb & Co.
21 21
F. A. Owen Publishing Co. 8 40
$33 61
Care and Cleaning
Paid William A. Nye
$190 00
For Coldbrook School 42 00
$232 00
Fuel
Paid Frank Boyd for 412 cds. @ $8.50 $34 00
Frank Boyd for 11/2 cds @ 8.50 12 75
Charles B. Daniels, 6 cds. @ 8.50 51 00
$97 75
46
ANNUAL REPORT
Sawing Wood
Sawing and throwing in wood at
Coldbrook $8 00
Sawing wood at Center School 2 25
$10 25
Repairs
Paid Charles B. Daniels, painting Cold-
brook schoolrooms $35 20
C. H. Parker & Son, paint 28 00
Walter O. Babcock, removing fence 4 00
Amos Harwood, repairing clock 1 00
$68 20
Promotion of Health
Paid Dr. E. S. Douglas, school physi- cian 25 00
Dr. E. S. Douglas, services of
school nurse
25 00
$50 00
Grade Transportation
Paid William G. Mann
$400 00
Morton Lincoln
504 00
Bert S. Reed
320 00
John O'Donnell
256 00
Eldridge Lacount
96 00
Nathan Fiske
320 00
Peter Yablonsky
35 50
$1931 50
47
TOWN OF OAKHAM
High School Transportation
Paid William Krafve
$47 20
Patrick O'Donnell
76 00
Sidney Dean
102 00
Walter J. Bruce
73 40
Esther M. Briggs
52 00
Hazel Briggs
75 20
John Dwelly
51 60
J. C. Rutherford
97 20
C. R. Knight
75 20
Thomas C. Baxter
51 60
William H. Parkman
98 40
Benjamin Atwood
44 00
Oliver O. Wilkins
24 00
O. A. Carpenter
24 40
Edward J. Crawford
24 40
$916 60
High School Tuition
Paid City of Worcester
$225 00
Town of Holden
300 00
Town of Amherst
30 00
Town of North Brookfield
80 00
Town of Hardwick
610 50
$1245 50
Miscellaneous
Paid Minnie M. Day, taking school census $5 00
Total expenditures $8577 35
48
ANNUAL REPORT
Total receipts
$8729 00
Total expenditures
8577 35
Unexpended balance
$151 65
Respectfully submitted, SYLVESTER R. DEAN, WALTER O. BABCOCK, MINNIE M. DAY,
School Committee.
49
REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS
Holden, Mass, Dec. 31, 1923
To the School Committee of Oakham :
The sixth report of the present superintendent is presented herewith for your consideration, it being the twenty-fourth in the series since the formation of the present union. The tables that follow indicate the changes since a year ago. We find that the total en- rollment has increased from 78 to 90, this being due chiefly to the growth of the Coldbrook school.
We have the same teachers who have served Oak- ham so successfully in the past and the school work has progressed satisfactorily. A good proportion of our graduates are attending high school and doing excellent work. After careful consideration of the situation in Oakham as compared with other towns it was decided that teachers' salaries should be made to conform to those paid for equal service elsewhere. They should not be determined by the fact of local residence so much as by the question of a necessary replacement salary.
The Age and Grading chart indicates that we have some retardation but very little compared with many other schools and not enough to necessitate the estab- lishment of special classes as mentioned last year. The law requires a special class for retarded children if ten or. more are found in the town.
At a meeting of the School Committee held last June it was voted to adopt the eighth-grade system in Oak- ham schools, thus bringing us into line with the great
A
50
ANNUAL REPORT
majority of schools. This is supplementary to the ac- tion of the Committee taken some time ago fixing the entrance age at six years. We are in the process of making the change and another year should see the sys- tem in full operation. It is of interest in this connec- tion to note that the law defines a high school as "that part of the school system which gives instruction be- yond the first eight grades." In many places practi- cally all the work we are now doing is covered in the first six grades, and the Junior High School represents the work of grades seven, eight and nine, with three years for the Senior High.
In the combined report from the School Physician and the School Nurse you will note very little improve- ment over past years in the number having some physi- cal defects that might be remedied if attention were paid to the advice of the physician and the nurse. The law requires the employment of both a physician and a nurse. It may be of interest to present briefly some of the duties of the nurse as outlined in a School Journal. Her duties are in the school and in the home. In the school she assists the doctor in routine health examina- tions, makes class-room inspections in order to detect communicable diseases, weighs and measures the pupils monthly, gives instruction to the pupils in various de- tails of hygiene through talks, demonstrations, and drills for the purpose of establishing right health habits, works to establish clinical facilities for corrective work, keeps complete records of the physical and health condi- tions of all pupils, works for improvement of sanitary conditions, holds health conferences with pupils and parents. Her duties in the home consist in explaining
51
TOWN OF OAKHAM
the significance of physical defects, in securing coopera- tion of parents, investigating cases of sickness, and in general in the endeavor to carry over into the home the health teaching of the school. It is obvious that we are not able to accomplish all these things unless we em- ploy a nurse for several days each week, but we should each year endeavor to extend the services of both phy- sician and nurse and make an appropriation large enough to accomplish results.
A law approved last April provides that transporta- tion may be paid for pupils attending vocational schools as well as public high schools, and reimbursement allowed as for the latter. Another law recently passed provides that the State shall reimburse for transporta- tion to high school, three-fourths of the excess above forty cents, but not for any excess beyond eighty cents per day. We are now allowing forty cents per day for transportation and we get this amount back from the State, but this law provides that if we pay more than forty cents the State will pay back three-fourths of the excess up to eighty cents. If we pay eighty cents a day we shall get seventy cents in reimbursement. But this holds good only when a pupil has to travel three miles or more by some conveyance other than steam or elec- tric railway or other public conveyance.
During the past year we have made necessary minor repairs, have hung double roller shades at all the wndows, painted the Coldbrook interior, and cleared away the fence that had broken down. We should have a wire fence to replace the old one and the exterior should be painted. Through the efforts of the pupils at Coldbrook new books have been added to the school
52
ANNUAL REPORT
library and new pictures hung on the walls. At both schools there should be swings and see-saws for the younger children. Paper towels and toilet fixtures should be provided at once for both buildings, and I would urge that toilets for the boys be provided in the basement of the Center building. It is not right that they should use the public toilet as at present.
As the stream will not rise above its source so the schools will not exceed the hopes and aims of its sup- porters-the taxpayers. Shall we not all resolve this coming year to expect big things from Oakham schools and to support them to the limit? With our "book learning" we need to learn the value of money, the dig- nity of labor, the joy of doing a good piece of work and the happiness that comes from clean living and right thinking.
I am glad of the opportunity again to express my deep appreciation of the friendliness and loyalty of teachers, parents and pupils.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES R. CHILDS,
Superintendent of Schools.
1
53
SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1922 - 1923
School
Teacher
Training®
Began Total Ave. Ave. Per cent. here mem. mem. atten. atten.
Center Grammar Florence E. Bothwell N. Brookfield H. 'S 1897
25
23
21
91
Center Primary
Ethel M. Braman
Northfield Sem'y
1907
36
33
29
88
Coldbrook
Ruth E. Butterfield
Worcester N. S.
1904
26
22
21
98
Music
Ruth B. Dwelly
Northampton
1909
87
78 71 92
ANNUAL REPORT
REGISTRATION OF MINORS (Census) April 1, 1923
Children in Oakham
Boys Girls Total
Between 5 and 7 years of age
5
5
10
Between 7 and 14 years of age
30
35
65
Between 14 and 16 years of age
10
6
16
Illiterate minors 16 to 21
0
0
0
-
-
Totals
45
46
91
ENROLLMENT, FALL TERM, 1923
Grade 1 II
III IV V'VI VII VIII
IX
Total
Boys 6
6 7
1
2
6
5
9
4
46
Girls 3
4
5
4
8
7
5
5
3
44
Totals 9 10 12
5 10
13 10
14
7 90
PROMOTION BY GRADES, JUNE, 1923
Grade
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Total
Full pro.
9 7 5 6 12
8
11
6
7
71
On trial
1 302 2 1
3
0
0
12
Total
10 10 5
8 14
9
14
6
83
-
55
TOWN OF OAKHAM
AGE AND GRADING CHART. APRIL 1, 1923
Age
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Total
Grade
I
4 6 2 12
II
26 1
9
III
1
2
1
4
IV
1 3 2
6
V
1 9 3 2
15
VI
1 43
8
VII
5 4
3 1 1
14
VIII
2 21
5
IX
3 2 2
7
Total
4 8 10 7 12 8 10 6 8 4 3
80
56
ANNUAL REPORT
ROLL OF HONOR
Perfect attendance for FOUR YEARS, except as indi- cated :
Raymond Crawford (1)
Perfect attendance for ONE YEAR, except as indicated :
Corinna F. Loring
Roscoe Crawford (1)
Charles Dean (1/2)
Herbert Sullivan
Burton Mullen
Emma Bruno (1)
Barbara Sullivan
Norman E. Baxter Arthur Braman Albert Sullivan Oliver Wilkins Alla Carpenter Rose Bruno (1) Helen Sullivan
Perfect attendance for two terms, except as indicated :
George Macia
Victor Smichinski (1)
William Myska (1/2) Edna Dwelly (1)
Perfect attendance for one term, except as indicated :
Anthony Lupa (1)
Stephen Lincoln
Ruth Mann
Vivian Loring
Barbara Bullard (1) Isabel Daniels
Charles Daniels (1) William Wareing Myrtle Reed Emily Wareing (1/2) Ethel Trumble Katherine Winsky (1)
57
TOWN OF OAKHAM
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Fall Term-Sept. 4, 1923 to Dec. 21, 1923-16 weeks.
Winter Term-Jan. 7, 1924 to March 14, 1924- 10 weeks.
Spring Term-March 31, 1924, to June 6, 1924-10 weeks.
Fall Term-Sept. 2, 1924, to Dec. 19, 1924-16 weeks. 1 Winter Term-Jan. 5, 1925 to March 13, 1925-10 weeks.
Spring Term-March 30, 1925, to June 5, 1925-10 weeks.
Holidays
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, Labor Day, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
58
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL PHYSICIAN AND SCHOOL NURSE
South Barre, Mass., Dec. 31,1923
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The following is the report of the pupils examined in the Oakham schools :
Ctr. Gram. Ctr. Prim. Coldbrook
Number pupils examined 28
35
27
Number pupils absent 2
1
0
Number with defective
teeth 8
9
14
Cases of excessive wax in ears
4
3
1
Cases of enlarged tonsils
2
3
0
Cases of adenoids
2
3
0
Notice sent to parents
11
11
15
Respectfully submitted, E. S. DOUGLASS, M. D., School Physician.
RUTH P. DOUGLASS, R. N .; School Nurse
59
TOWN OF OAKHAM
REPORT OF THE MUSIC SUPERVISOR
Mr. J. R. Childs, Superintendent if Schools :
Dear Sir :--
I herewith submit my report as music supervisor.
During the past year I have given my best effort to maintaining the system efficiently, taking advantage of every opportunity for development.
In general this course is modeled to give the stu- dent the power of appreciating the best in music. This is gained through ear-training, voice culture, sight read- ing and learning of songs.
The songs throughout the course are chosen for their genuine musical worth suitable for children of all ages, well adapted to stimulate a love for good music. They include songs suited for all occasions, such as songs of the seaons, national and folk songs, and songs of nature and child life. The ultimate ends sought are : Song interpretation and musical appreciation.
The quality of tone which the child is to produce in singing and the vocal habits found are of the utmost importance.
The value of note reading cannot be over-estima- ted. The attention is given to individual work. Each pupil is trained to rely on himself, to be an independent thinker and doer. This work not only affords excellent training for the individual child, but also aids greatly in raising the standard of the class.
60
ANNUAL REPORT
The results have differed according to the pupil, some principles unconsciously becoming more evident than others.
Respectfully submitted, RUTH B. DWELLY Supervisor of Music
61
TOWN OF OAKHAM
AUDITOR'S REPORT
-
This is to certify that I have examined and approved all bills of the Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, School Committee, Road Superintendent, Cemetery Committee, Tree Warden, Fire Warden, Library Trustees, and ac- counts of Moth Superintendent and found them to be correct. I have also examined the accounts of the Treas- urer and Tax Collector and found them to be correct.
JOHN ROBINSON.
Auditor.
62
ANNUAL REPORT
LIST OF JURORS
George W. Dean, Treasurer John O'Donnell, Farmer
E. J. Crawford, Salesman Herman Dean, Laborer Frank Cheever, Carpenter Clarence Grimes, Farmer W. E. Swindell, Farmer
63
CONTENTS
Auditor
62
Cemetery 37
Charlton Poor Farm 34
Collector's Report 25
Fobes Memorial Library 38
Jurors, List of 63
Librarian's Report 39
Overseer's of the Poor 33
Road Commissioner 28
School Committee 45
School Statistics
54
Selectmen's Report 19
Superintendent of Schools
50
Town Clerk's Report 11
Town Officers 3
Treasurer's Report
15
Warrant
7
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