USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Oakham > Town annual reports of the officials of the town of Oakham, Massachusetts 1925 > Part 2
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school year 1925-1926
108 00
Total expenditures
$1659 00
$10132 00
Respectfully submitted SYLVESTER R. DEAN WALTER O. BABCOCK MINNIE M. DAY
School Committee.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1926.
To the School Committee of Oakham-
This report of the work done in the schools is the twenty-sixth since the formation of the present union, and the eighth by the present superintendent. The tables of statistics that follow in- dicate practically no change in membership and attendance since last year. The year has been one of steady progress and faithful application to work on the part of pupils and teachers. The same teachers who have served Oakham so loyally in the past have been here during the year and have been the chief factors in the success of the schools in preparing our boys and girls for useful citizenship. The spirit in the school room is excellent and reports from high school testify to the thorough teaching that is done.
The action of the Joint Committee in deciding to employ teach- ers of Music and Drawing and a School Nurse for the four towns, made it possible for Oakham to secure this service at much less expense than if we were to employ such teachers and health officers independently. We secured Miss Helen E. Mills as Drawing teacher, Mrs. Frances B. Settle for the Music and Mrs. Naomi A. Cunningham as School Nurse. Miss Mills is a gradu- ate of the Massachusetts Normal Art School, Mrs. Settle of the American Institute of Normal Methods and Mrs. Cunningham is a Registered Nurse, a graduate of Massachusetts General Hospi- tal, and a special student in the School Nursing classes held at Hyannis Normal School. Taking into consideration the decrease in salary paid the superintendent as a result of redistribution of time, we are securing these teachers and the School Nurse for less than $150 per year additional. We are perhaps too much in- clined to estimate the value of each new move in connection with
42
TOWN OF OAKHAM
the schools, in terms of dollars and cents. This is, in my judg- ment, the most important step that has been taken since I have been here, and it gives to our boys and girls the same oppor- tunities and advantages that we have in the other towns of the union. I ask your special attention to the reports presented by the Nurse and the new teachers.
A few standardized tests have been given during the year, and comparison with results secured in other school systems have shown us that Oakham pupils are able to compete favorably with those in any other schools. Such tests demonstrate the excellent quality of the teaching. Some time ago a state-wide spelling test was given by Boston University and Oakham stood first. In another test in language, Oakham stood sixth. We have just given a third test in Arithmetic sent out by the University in December, but the results have not yet been determined. Such tests involve a great deal of extra work and I want to take this opportunity to thank the teachers for their hearty co-operation whenever we have given them.
The Honor Roll is longer than usual this year, and reflects much credit on the teachers and on those who have made such fine efforts to attend school regularly. Our percent of attendance for the year was 93. The state average was 93.3%. Holden had 93%. Paxton 90% and Rutland 90.5%. Can we do better next year ?
In determining the appropriation for 1926, we should consider the need for more supplementary reading, music books, geogra- phical readers, and new texts in English. Considerable extra expense was caused this year by damage to books from mice. I think we should have doors on the book case in the Grammar room. The Coldbrook building needs painting and the play- ground should be fenced in, preferably with wire fence. We should have some playground equipment at both schools, at least a few swings and see-saws, which could be made at little expense by local carpenters.
43
ANNUAL REPORT
I deeply appreciate the fine spirit of co-operation that has pre- vailed throughout the year, and want to thank the Committee, the parents and the teachers for their unfailing interest and sup- port.
Respectfully submitted, JAMES R. CHILDS, Superintendent of Schools.
SCHOOL STATISTICS. 1924-1925
Teacher
School
Training
Began here
Total Mem.
Ave. Mem.
Ave. Att.
% Att.
Florence E. Bothwell
Center Grammar
No. Brookfield H. S.
1897
32
29
28
92
Ethel M. Braman
Center Primary
Northfield Sem'y
1907
33
30
26
87
Ruth E. Butterfield
Coldbrook
Worcester N. S.
1904
26
26
25
99
Ruth B. Dwelly
Music
Northampton
1909
Totals
91
85
79
93
45
ANNUAL REPORT
REGISTRATION OF MINORS (Census) April 1, 1925
Children in Oakham
Boys Girls Total
Between 5 and 7 years of age
6
12
18
Between 7 and 14 years of age
35
37
72
Between 14 and 16 years of age
8
9
17
Illiterate minors 16 to 21
0
0
0
Totals
49
58
107
ENROLLMENT FALL TERM 1925
Grade
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII
Total
Boys
5
8
7
4
7
2
1
6
40
Girls
9
8
4
4
8
3
8
5
49
Totals
14
16
11
8
15
5
9
11
89
PROMOTION BY GRADES, June 1925
Grade
I
II
III
IV
V
VI VII VIII IX
Total
Full pro.
10
6
4
10
2
6
10
8
7
63
On trial
5
3
3
2
1
2
1
17
Repeat
1
2
Special
1
1
2
1
5
Totals
17
9
7
13
4
10
11
9
7
87
AGE AND GRADING CHART
April 1, 1925
Age
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Total
Grade
I
7 7
2
1
17
II
3
7
10
III
2
4
1
7
IV
1
5
5
3
14
V
3
1
4
VI
3
1
4
1
9
VII
2
6
1
2
11
VIII
3
4
1
8
IX
4
3
7
Totals
10
12
9
9
10
13
6
8
3
87
-
1
-
-
-
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TOWN OF OAKHAM
ROLL OF HONOR
Perfect attendance for SIX YEARS except as indicated : Raymond Crawford (2)
Perfect attendance for THREE YEARS except as indicated
Roscoe Crawford (2)
Albert Sullivan (1)
Barbara Sullivan Helen Sullivan
Perfect attendance for TWO YEARS except as indicated :
Stephen Lincoln (1) Vincent Mullen Evelyn Wilbur
Perfect attendance for ONE YEAR except as indicated :
Helen Green
Emma Bruno
Samuel Bruno
Burton Mullen (1) Marion Wilkins
Perfect attendance for two terms except as indicated :
Florence Baldwin (1)
Anthony Lupa
Freddie Baldwin
Albert Parkman
Ann Daniels (1)
Ethel Trumble
Charles Dean
Mildred Wilkins
Vera Hall (1)
Kenneth Wilkins
Louis Kitchen
William Wilkins (1/2)
Perfect attendance for one term except as indicated :
Fabius Beckwith (1/2)
Esther LaCount (1)
Edna Bullard (T)
Vivian Loring
Alexander Crawford (1)
William Myska (1)
Charles Daniels (1)
Charles Potter
Isabel Daniels
Frank Potter
Emily Hipkins (1)
James Potter (T)
Raymond Hipkins (1)
Dorothy Reed
Irna Karp
Damie Winsky (1)
Eldridge LaCount (1)
Katherine Winsky (1)
47
ANNUAL REPORT
STATE READING CERTIFICATES
To encourage the reading of good books, the State Division of Public Libraries issues a list of books that form good read- ing for children in the Grades, and offers a Certificate for read- ing and reporting to the local Librarian on five books chosen from the list. A special Honor Certificate engrossed with the State Seal is given for reading twenty books, five of which are to be non-fiction. In addition to these Certificates, the Oakham Grange offered a book as a reward for any who would read ten more than the specified twenty.
The following boys and girls have read the number of books opposite their names and have received the awards mentioned.
Charles Dean
5 Raymond Crawford 20
Edna Dwelly
5 Isabel Daniels 20
Rose Dufresne
5
Helen Green 20
Raymond Hipkins
5 Mary Kitchen 20
Irna Karp 5 Burton Mullen 20
Eldridge LaCount
5
Vincent Mullen 20
Dorothy Reed
5 Albert Parkman 20
Helen Sullivan
5 Stephen Lincoln 20
Kenneth Wilkins
5 Stanley Lupa 20
Mildred Wilkins
5 Norman Baxter
30
William Wilkins
5 Alwyn Beckwith 30
William Myska
10
Ernest Bullard 30
Evelyn Wilbur
10
Sophie Lupa
30
Della Winsky
20
Barbara Sullivan
30
Thais Beckwith
20 Ethel Trumble 30
Barbara Bullard
20
Annie Winsky
30
Damie Winsky
30
48
TOWN OF OAKHAM
SCHOOL CALENDAR
Fall Term-Sept. 8, 1925 to Dec. 18, 1925. 15 weeks Winter Term-Jan. 4, 1926 to Mar. 19, 1926 11 weeks
Spring Term-Apr. 5, 1926 to June 11, 1926 10 weeks
Fall Term-Sept. 7, 1926 to Dec. 24, 1926 16 weeks
Winter Term-Jan. 10, 1927 to Mar. 18, 1927 10 weeks Spring Term-Apr. 4, 1927 to June 10, 1927 10 weeks
Holidays
January 1, February 22, April 19, May 30, Labor Day, October 12, Thanksgiving Day and the day following.
49
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF MUSIC
Holden, Mass, Dec. 31, 1925.
To the Superintendent of Schools:
The outlines which I have given have been followed carefully, and the students are doing splendid three-part work in the Gram- mar room. This class has been most interesting to work with, for their enthusiasm has made progress unusually good.
The victrola has been employed to give the classes an oppor- tunity to hear the works of the master composers and musicians, that they may intelligently listen and appreciate the best there is in music.
I have given talks on the instruments of the symphony orches- tra, playing recordings of each instrument and showing pictures so that the students may learn to associate the sound of an in- strument with its appearance.
We have been fortunate enough to secure a very fine book on the lives of the greatest composers, and shall use these as the subjects for our English compositions. Later we shall put them into note-book form.
In the Primary room we are greatly handicapped by our lack of books. We have but one for all the children, so the work has to be put on the board for the most part.
We have used the rote songs and have done some drill work, in which the children show good ability. The tone quality is not as fine as I hope it will be. Here, too, the outlines are fol- lowed very carefully and I am very grateful to the teachers for the work they are doing. In these lower grades records have been played which have helped to provide good musical back- ground for the work in upper grades. Folk dancing, marching and skipping are all employed to aid us in developing a sense of rhythm.
At Coldbrook we have been fortunate enough to have a new set of books, which help immensely in our work. These "Pro-
50
TOWN OF OAKHAM
gressive Songs" are adapted to the needs of a one-room school and give the girls and boys the finest music from all countries.
Though there are many grades and the time must of necessity be limited, the work covered has been done thoroughly. The tone quality throughout the school is unusually good. The teach- ing has been such as to impart to the students a realization of the joy there is in learning and this makes an ideal condition under which the supervisor may work. The victrola has been used here in the same manner as at the Center.
Respectfully submitted,
FRANCES B. SETTLE, Supervisor of Music.
51
ANNUAL REPORT
REPORT OF THE SUPERVISOR OF DRAWING
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1926. To the Superintendent of Schools :
Drawing is being taught in the public schools to help each child appreciate beauty, observe keenly, and develop a fair ability to draw from observation, memory and imagination.
With this in mind, I have outlined my work in this way. Sep- tember and October were devoted to Representation. This in- cluded drawing from imagination and memory, figure sketching and Nature Study. In November we took up studies in the principles of Design, following it with problems in Construction during December. We are now to study Color, its theories and practical adaptations to everything. Lettering will then precede Poster making. A month will be given to Picture Study, and the rest of the time will be used for class projects.
The teachers have co-operated with me in every way. We have completed some interesting problems and have others planned for the remaining lessons.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN E. MILLS Supervisor of Drawing.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL NURSE
Holden, Mass., Jan. 1, 1926
To the Superintendent of Schools :
This report of the work of the School Nurse covers the period from September 8, 1925 to December 31, 1925.
Visits to Schools
12
Number of Choldren examined by Dr. Story 84
Number of children with enlarged tonsils 28
Number of children with carious teeth 35
Number of children 7% or more underweight 18
52
TOWN OF OAKHAM
Five children are reported as having had their tonsils removed, and this is a good step in the right direction. There are a few children who should be vaccinated, and this should be attended to at once. We have been very fortunate in having no epidemics other than severe colds. The percentage of physical defects is not large, except for tonsils and teeth.
People are beginning to realize what a serious matter it is to have diseased tonsils and decayed teeth. They are the cause of much sickness and poor health. Surely our children are entitled to the best start possible that we can give them. I hope to arouse interest and cooperation in helping them to have the best of health.
I would recommend that some standard regulations be adopted relative to quarantine of children who have any contagious disease or who have been exposed to diseases that may become epidemic. The regulations of the State Board of Health cover the require- ments well.
I wish to thank the teachers and pupils and parents for their very pleasant co-operation in my work among them.
Respectfully submitted,
NAOMI A. CUNNINGHAM, R.N.,
School Nurse.
After years of kindly service in the schools, Dr. Douglass was taken from us by death, and it became necessary to appoint an- other School Physician. I want to take this opportunity to ex- press our appreciation of his service and real interest in our boys and girls.
J. R. CHILDS.
Superintendent of Schools.
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, Fire Warden, Library Trustees and accounts 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.
ORTON O. BUTLER, Auditor.
Town Warrant
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
WORCESTER, SS.
To either of the constables of the town of Oakham in, the county of Worcester.
GREETINGS :
In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you are required to notify and warn the inhabitants of the town of Oak- ham qualified to vote in elections and in town affairs, to meet at the Town Hall, known as "Memorial Hall," on Monday, the first day of February next, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, then and there to act on the following articles :
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside at all town meet- ings except for the election of State Officers, during the coming year.
Art. 2. To hear the annual report of the several town officers, and act thereon.
Art. 3. To choose one Selectman, one Assessor, one Over- seer of Poor, one School Committee, one Library Trustee, one Cemetery Committee for three years, one School Committee for two years, Collector of Taxes, Treasurer, Auditor, Tree Warden, six Constables, shall licenses be granted for the sale of non-in- toxicating beverages in this town, all on one ballot. The polls will be opened at ten o'clock in the forenoon and may be closed at two o'clock in the afternoon.
Art. 4. To choose all necessary town officers and committees for the ensuing year, not required to be elected by ballot.
Art. 5. To see what compensation the town will allow the Selectmen, Treasurer, Collector, Auditor and Constables for the ensuing year.
Art. 6. To see what compensation the town will allow for men and teams in repairing highways and opening roads for the ensuing year.
55
ANNUAL REPORT
Art. 7. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a sum of money to bond their Treasurer and Collector and Town Clerk.
Art. 8. To raise such sums of money as may be necessary to defray town charges for the ensuing year, and make appropria- tions for the same.
Art. 9. To see what sum of money the town will raise and appropriate for the relief of poor and needy soldiers, as required under Chapter 79, Section 18, of the Revised Laws.
Art. 10. To see if the town will authorize the Treasurer, with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the current financial year, in anticipation of the revenue of said year, such sums of moneys as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town, giving the note or notes of the town therefor, these notes to be paid from the revenue of said financial year.
Art. 11. To see if the town will appoint some person as agent, to prosecute and defend all suits that may be brought for or against the town in the ensuing year.
Art. 12. To see if the town will employ some person or per- sons to care for the Town Hall, Town Clock, and Library Build- ing for the ensuing year.
Art. 13. To see what sum the town will raise and appropriate for the suppression of the browntail moth.
Art. 14. To see if the town will vote to insure its employees and make an appropriation for the same, or pass any vote rela- tive thereto.
Art. 15. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a cer- tain sum of money as a reserve fund, to be used as an emergency or overdraft.
Art. 16. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a cer- tain sum of money to have its valuation and taxes printed.
Art. 17. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a cer- tain sum of money to purchase a Ford truck with a dump body, for the use of the highway department, or pass any vote relative thereto.
FRANKLIN CENT
CO
56
TOWN OF OAKHAM
Art. 18. To see if the town will vote to discharge the electric light committee, or pass any vote relative thereto.
Art. 19. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate a certain sum of money to purchase and care for kerosene street lights in Oakham and Coldbrook villages, or pass any vote rela- tive thereto.
Art. 20. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a cer- tain sum of money to employ counsel to defend its interest pro- viding the village of Coldbrook is taken for a reservoir by the state.
Art. 21. To see if the town will raise and appropriate a cer- tain sum of money to install shutters in the church steeple, and make repairs, or pass any vote relative thereto.
Art. 22. To see if the town will raise and appropriate $500 to improve the Rutland road from the new park toward Reed corner, provided the county and state each appropriate a like sum.
And you are directed to serve this warrant by posting up three attested copies in public places in said town seven days at least before time of holding said meeting.
Hereof fail not, and make due return of this warrant, with your doings thereon, to the Town Clerk, at the time and place of meeting as aforesaid.
Given under our hand this twentieth day of January, in the year one thousand nine hundred and twenty-six.
JOHN P. DAY, EARL C. PARKER, C. B. DANIELS, Selectmen of Oakham.
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