USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1924 > Part 5
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given a passing mark in stenography if doing steno- graphic work in a satisfactory manner for the employer, in typewriting, if doing satisfactory work in typewriting for the employer. In all other subjects which a pupil is taking at school, he when absent must make up the work as in English, that is, by oral recitation or examin- ation, or both, in a manner satisfactory to the principal.
* A diploma credit is a unit for satisfactory work in any subject having not less than three prepared reci- tations per week throughout one year.
30
HARWICH HIGH SCHOOL Program of Studies
The first column of figures indicates the number of reci- tations per week, the second the number of units in di- ploma credit. Twenty-four units are required for gradu- ation with not less than three in any one of the last four years.
SEVENTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE: Take Two
P
C
English
4
1
French
4
1
Arithmetic
4
1
Science
4
1
Geography ¿ yr.
4
Domestic Arts
4
2
History ¿ yr.
4
Manual Arts
4
Reading, Spelling, Penmanship
4
Music
2
Drawing
2
Physical Culture
2
1111
EIGHTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE: Take Two
P
C
English
4
1
French
4
1
Arithmetic
4
1
Latin
4
1
Geography } yr.
4
Science
4
1
History ¿ yr.
4
3
Domestic Arts
4
Reading, Spelling. Penmanship
4
2
1111
Manual Arts
4
Music
Drawing
Physical Culture
NOTE: The latter part of the period in grades seven and eignt should be devoted to the study of the next day's lesson under the personal direction of tle teacher.
31
NINTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE: Take Three
P
C
English, Spelling
5
1111
French
5
1
Music
2
Latin
5
1
Drawing
2
Algebra
5
1
Physical Culture
2
Science
5
1
Bookkeeping
5
1
Penmanship
Phys. Geog. ¿ yr.
5
Com. Geog. ¿ yr.
5
Ancient History
5
1
Domestic Arts
8
1
Manual Arts
8
1
TENTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE: Take Three
P
C
English, Spelling
5
1
French
5
1
Music
1
Latin
5
1
Physical Culture
2
1
Geometry
5
1
Bookkeeping
5
1
Science, P. ZB
5
1
Med. and Mod. Hist.
5
1
Domestic Arts
8
1
Manual Arts
8
Drawing
2
Harmony
1
1141
Penmanship
32
ELEVENTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE Take Three
P
C
English, Spelling Music
1
Latin
5
1
Physical Culture
2
Economics*
5
1
English History
5
1
Physics
6
1
Stenography
5
1
Book-keeping
5
1
Typewriting
5
Adv. Alg. andReview Math.
5
1
Arithmetic
5
1
Household Econ.
4
Manual Arts
4
Harmony
1
Drawing
2
111111 1
TWELFTH YEAR
REQUIRED
P
C
ELECTIVE
P
C
English, Spelling
5
French
5
1
Amer. History ¿ yr.
5
Latin
5
1
Civics } yr.
5
Chemistry
6
1
Music
1
Stenography
5
1
Physical Culture
2
Com. Law Żyr.
5
Business Cor. ¿ yr.
5
Typewriting
5
Accountancy
5
1
Solid Geom. ¿ yr.
5
Trigonometry ¿ yr.
5
Household Sanita- tion
4
Science
5
Drawing
2
Music App.
1
1111
5
111
French
5
1
* Alternating with American History and Civics in the Senior Year.
33 Physical Culture
Some attention is being given to the play activities of our children. We have provided a little material for these activities. We need to do more. The time is at hand when we should insist upon a more purposeful direction of the play activities of the children while at school. Good health and good physique concern the school as much as.any other consideration, yet they have been and still are neglected to our sorrow. If we con- serve the health of the children we may expect them to do better school work.
Respectfully submitted, WILLIAM FISHER SIMS, Superintendent of Schools.
Harwich, Mass., January 6, 1925.
Report of High School Principal
Attendance
Regularity in attendance is an ideal sought for universally. Perfection is seldom attainable. With an average attendance during the fall term of over ninety- five percent I can report a far more satisfactory con- dition than existed last year. While this is about the same as the state yearly average, it is a record unsur- passed in this school for fifteen years.
Scholarship
The scholastic Honor Roll contains the names of those pupils who receive on their report cards marks of "A" or "B" in studies and conduct. In the terms just completed there has been a greater general inter- est in school work. This condition, coupled with better attendance, has made for fewer deficiencies and a higher average scholarship. The persent Honor Roll includes thirteen names, a commendable number for a school of this size.
Curriculum
I would like to call your attention to the fact that during the past twelve years only about one in ten graduates of this school has entered college, while about one in four has been admitted to normal school. These proportions are likely to continue, and should be
35
considered in any discussion of change in curriculum. Where over half of our graduates do not continue their education, and a very much larger proportion if non- gaduates are included, it would be advisable to deter- mine whether or not the present courses might be profitably improved, perhaps by domestic science, per- haps manual training, perhaps a commercial course. One or more of these subjects is offered to pupils in all the other towns of this county with one exception, and most schools like ours find it a decided advantage to offer something of a vocational nature to those who do not desire a strictly academic course.
Respectfully submitted,
FLAVEL M. GIFFORD,
Principal
Report of Supervisor of Music
Monotones
The usual task of working with the monotones in the lowest grades was the one which confronted me when I visited Harwich schools for the first time last February. At once it also came to my attention that we need more work in the fundamentals of music in the lower grades, so we are trying to do more individual work to give the younger children an earlier training in preparation for the music period in the upper grades.
Music Fundamentals
Lazy mental habits and lack of interest and poor chorus singing is the inevitable result of a too prolonged indulgence in rote singing in the lower grades. When a child acquires mental power through carefully plan- ned lessons in music and becomes efficient enough to read music as he would read a story he discovers gen- uine pleasure in doing his part with the others during a music period. And, still more, good High School music is assured.
High School Music
The quality of work done by the High School chorus is improving perceptibly. There are good voices and good spirit with which to work, and our music
37
periods are becoming more and more satisfactory. We have a small mixed Glee Club which practices every other week, and we hope to improve to a better de- gree as time continues.
My work in Harwich is very pleasant because all teachers and principals, the superintendent, and the committee assist me so generously.
Respectfully submitted,
MABELLE B. DUMONT,
Supervisor of Music. December 31, 1924.
Report of School Physicians
Harwich, January 8, 1925.
To the School Committee of the Town of Harwich: Gentlemen :
The Harwich School Committee in 1905 put into oper- ation a form of medical and school inspection being one of the pioneer towns in the Commonwealth to introduce this work.
The School Physician's work naturally divides itself into two divisions. First-The prompt detection and isolation of contageous diseases. Second-The investi- gation and correction of those conditions which improve and protect the health of the school children, such as care of eyes, teeth, etc.
We take a considerable pleasure in presenting this report of the condition of the health of the schools of the town because of the exceptional freedom from any epidemic.
There is an improvement in the general nutrition in the lower grades and cleanliness is also a marked feature.
The usual hunt for pediculi was rewarded by an almost unbelieveable absence of cases, only a very few children having any evidence of being affected.
A few cases of scabies and conjunctivitis yielded to proper treatment and a few days at home.
39
We feel that Harwich is to be congratulated in . having the services of so good a school Nurse. The follow up of the cases being especially well done.
Beyond a doubt the best public work in existence is the protecting of children's health in the public schools. If it is worth the government's while to educate the children it is most certainly worth while to protect the health which alone can make the education useful and beneficial to the public later on. The tax payer is be- ginning to realize that it is much more profitable to pay for prevention of disease than to care for hopeless wrecks in later years. It is in this great and important work that we urge the cooperation of parents and those most interested to push vigorously the intelligent pro- tection of children at school.
Respectfully,
JOHN P. NICKERSON, M.D., H. D. HANDY, M.D.,
School Physicians.
Report of School Nurse
I am pleased to report no serious epidemic among our children. We have had a few cases of chicken-pox, measles, pink-eye and scabies.
During the summer several children had their ton- sils removed, but there are still more who need attention. Two eye clinics at Hyannis were attended and several children had their eyes tested and glasses adjusted. The children's teeth show a little more care, showing the parents are realizing more and more the need of the dentist, but there is still room for improvement.
Taking the schools as a whole we have few children who are more than 10 per cent. underweight. The homes are visited and advice given in regard to nourishment. Children are urged to bring milk with their lunches.
Schools have been visited weekly and total number of home visits 157.
Respectfully submitted,
MARIA PUTNAM, R. N.
January 6, 1925.
School Nurse.
41
SCHOOL CENSUS, APRIL 1, 1924
Boys Girls Totals
Persons in town between 5 and 7 years 10 18 28
Persons in town between 7 and 14 years
99 101 200
Persons in town between 14 and 16 years 15 23 38 Illiterates between 16 and 21 years
none reported
124 142 266
ATTENDANCE DATA, JUNE, 1924
Number State wards attending
17
Number resident pupils enrolled
300
Total enrollment
317
Aggregate attendance
46,973
Average daily attendance
273
Average membership
297
Percentage of attendance
92
Number of days in session, High
186
Number of days in session, Elementary
169
..
42
ENROLLMENT BY GRADES DECEMBER, 1924
SCHOOL
GRADE
BOYS
GIRLS
TOTALS
High
XII
5
1
6
XI
7
6
13
X
0
11
11
IX
9
17
26-56
Grammar
VIII
11
14
25
VII
8
7
15 -- 40
Intermediate
VI
5
6
11
V
5
5
10
IV
12
6
18-39
Primary
III
10
5
15
II
7
6
13
I
14
14
28-56
Port Grammar.
VI
5
4
9
V
7
8
15
IV
1
1
2-26
Port Primary.
III
6
8
14
II
4
5
9
I
10
7
17-40
North Grammar.
VIII
3
2
5
VI1
3
2
5
VI
0
2
2
V
3
5
8
IV
4
3
-27
North Primary
III
5
1
6
II
3
3
6
I
8
5
13-25
West
VI
1
5
6
V
1
2
3
II
4
2
6
I
1
2
3-18
Grand Totals
162
165
327
-
CORPS OF TEACHERS, JANUARY, 1925.
NAME
SCHOOL
PREPARATION.
DATE OF APPOINT- MENT.
SALARY
HOME ADDRESS
Flavel M. Gifford
Prin. High
Mass. Ag. College
April, 1923
$2100
Harwich
Natalie Norris
Asst. High
Wellesley College
June, 1924
1200
Hyannis
43
Lillian J. Anderson
Asst. High
Radcliffe College
June, 1924
1200
Medford
Hillary M. LeClaire
Grammar
Lincoln Academy
Dec. 1919
1350
Harwich
Allie C. Crowell
Intermediate
Salem Normal
April, 1923
1125
W. Dennis
Ethalene B. Nickerson
Primary
Johnson, Vt. Normal
July, 1921
1125
S. Dennis
Gladys F. Lovejoy
Primary
Hyannis Normal
June, 1924
1000
Barnstable
Flossie H. Chase
Port Gram.
Hyannis Normal
Nov. 1917
1050
Harwichport
Cora E. Doane
Port Prim.
Hyannis Normal
May, 1923
950
Harwichport
Mary C. Eldredge
West
Hyannis Normal
June, 1924
1000
Pleasant Lake
Mary A. Sylvia
No. Gram.
Harwich High
Willimantic Summer
Sept. 1920
1050
Harwich
Katherine A. Moriarty Mabelle B. Dumont
No. Prim.
Rust Kindergarten
Sept., 1913
1050
Harwich
Music
N. E. Conservatory
Feb., 1924
750
W. Chatham
.
44
BROOKS MEDAL WINNERS
Helene S. Cahoon, High School, grade X Wilhelmina Doane, Center Grammar, grade VIII Harriett E. Crosby, Intermediate, grade V Sidney Brooks Moody, Jr., Center Primary, grade I Dorothy C. Eldredge, Port Grammar, grade VIII Miriam Frances Baker, Port Primary, grade IV Osa Farham, West, grade V
Rose Pena, North Grammar, grade VII
Alyrio P. Nunes, North Primary, grade III
45
HARWICH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION EXCHANGE HALL, HARWICH Wednesday, June 18, 1924 At 8 p. m.
Program
1 Invocation Rev. L. V. Farnsworth
2 "O'er the Hills Away," (Old English Melody)
Boys' Glee Club
3 Greeting, Class Poem Dorothy F. Eldredge
4 Class History Lawrence F. Nickerson
5 Essay "Practical Aviation" Norman P. Wixon
6 "Winter Dreams,"Protheroe Girls' Glee Club
7 Class Will Virginia D. Small
8 Essay, "Former Cape Cod Industries" John G. Rose
9 Class Prophecy Stella M. Ellis
10 "When Dawning Springtime," E. di Capua Boys' Glee Club
11 Valedictory, Essay Alta B. Chase
46
12 Award of Diplomas
William F. Sims Superintendent of Schools
13 "Olav Trygvason," Grieg
School Chorus
14 Benediction
Rev. B. F. Lindsay
CLASS ROLL
* Alta Blachford Chase *Dorothy Flavia Eldredge
Stella May Ellis Lawrence Francis Nickerson
John Gideon Rose Virginia Dustin Small
Norman Parker Wixon
* With highest credit.
Class Motto-En Avant Class Colors-White and Gold Class Flower-Jacqueminot Rose
Report of Investigating School Committee
For the Annual Town Meeting, February, 1925.
A new importance is attaching to the cause of edu- cation. A new realization of its urgent necessity is taking hold of the Nation. A new comprehension that the problem is only beginning to be solved is upon the people. A new determination to meet the requirements of the situation is every where apparent. The economic and moral waste of ignorance will little longer be toler- ated. This awakening is one of the most significant developments of the times. It indicates that our nation- al spirit is reasserting itself. It is a most reassuring evi- dence that the country is recovering from the natural exhaustion of the war and that it is rising to a new life and starting on a new course. It is intent, as never before, upon listening to the word of the teacher, whether it comes from the platform, the schoolhouse, or the pul- pit .- President Calvin Coolidge.
'SSVW - MOIMVYH
-
49
At a meeting of the Committee held Tuesday, Decem- ber 23, 1924, it was voted that the Secretary have the following report printed and placed in the hands of the voters before the annual Town Meeting in February, 1925.
Charles D. Holmes, Secretary.
Report of Investigating School Committee
To the Citizens of the Town of Harwich:
Your committee appointed to investigate the con- ditions prevailing in our schools and to make suggestions for the improvement thereof beg leave to submit the following report.
In our endeavor to fulfill the duties for which we. were appointed we have held many regular and special meetings during the past year. We have given serious consideration to the physical conditions of our schools and have also inquired into their organization for carry- ing on the work of instruction. That there is urgent need for improvement in both of these matters none will deny.
As to the physical conditions we find that without exception all our school buildings are decidedly out of date, improperly heated, poorly ventilated and inade- quately lighted. The sanitary conditions likewise are far from being commendable for any progressive com- munity.
As to the organization of the schools for the purpose of instruction we find that too many grades are given to each teacher. The most efficient school systems of this
50
Commonwealth give only one grade to a teacher while in our schools some teachers have as many as six grades. We do not see how any teacher under such conditions can do as efficient work as the present day demands. We commend our School Committee for the slight im- provement that has been made this year in the organiza- tion of our schools, but this little improvement is very far from the desired goal and has been secured at a substan- tial increase in the cost of transportation of our pupils.
Our inquiry into the cost of the transportation of our pupils leads us to the conclusion that it is fully as high as it would be if our schools were consolidated and yet it brings very little of the benefits that result from consolidation.
Such then are our findings, woeful and undesirable physical conditions and inefficient and inadequate organ- ization of the forces of instruction.
In seeking a remedy for these two very sad condi- tions, we have considered not only the problem of better schools but also the best welfare of our town as a whole. Our suggestions for improvement, therefore, are made in the belief that the best welfare of the town as a whole will be very greatly enhanced by what we have to suggest. We believe that our suggestions if carried out by the town will greatly enhance the value of all property in the town. We believe that you, our fellow-citizens, will feel better satisfied with our town as a more desirable place to have your homes and to rear your children. We believe that summer residents, in consequence of the better schools that will follow, will come earlier and stay longer with us. We believe that on account of the fine climate,
51
excellent roads and better schools a very desirable class of citizens will seek to establish permanent homes with us.
In addition to the benefits enumerated above our suggestion has these two supreme advantages, first, it is easily within our means, and second, it permits of an unimpeachable school organization.
Before deciding to recommend to you a central school building we carefully considered the desirability of remodeling our present school buildings. We found that the cost would be so large as to equal a very con- siderable part of the cost of a new central structure and that while it might improve to some extent the present undesirable physical conditions, we readily saw that it would not permit of any improvement in school organi- zation. We, therefore, abandoned further consideration along this line and decided that any considerable outlay on our present buildings would be a useless and uncalled for expenditure of public funds.
We next directed our attention in detail to the kind of structure needed to house our pupils in a healthy, economic and efficient manner. We present as a part of this report plans for such a structure. The building will be very compact. It will contain no waste space. It will be economical to operate. It will be readily adaptable to our particular conditions and to such an organization of our schools as will provide the most efficient instruc- tion. Useless ornamentation for its own sake has been discarded. Frills and fads in education have been rigidly pruned away. We have sought to make provision only for such phases and forms of education as are in accord- ance with long tried educational practice in our Common-
52
wealth, that meet with statute requirements, that consider carefully the needs of our children and that satisfy the desires of the parents.
Now as to the cost of such a building as we believe is needed. Knowing the cost of like construction and equipment in Massachusetts, we are recommending an appropriation of $94,000.00 for land, building and equip- ment.
We also recommend that this amount be divided into ten equal yearly instalments and that the first be paid from the 1925 tax levy and that the other instalments be cared for by serial bonds. We also recommend that the bonds as far as possible be taken up as rapidly as possible with the proceeds from our present school real estate.
By this plan the average taxation cost would be less than $3.00 per thousand dollars.
Is it fair to our children to deprive them of the bene- fits of a better education than they are now getting, especially when that better education can be had so easily ?
Respectfully submitted, For the Committee,
By Charles D. Holmes, Secretary.
53
DOMESTIC SCIENCE
ROOM
DALLA
Att keert
AIR XCON
KITCHEN
TURL STORAGE
TOILET
.. R
TIILCT
CIALI
......
LAY
STIME
-
TOOLS
OFFICE
DOYS TOILET
GIRLS TOILET
MINUEL TRAINING
SHOWCR 3
11
PLAN OP DASEMENT SCALE 4.1.0
WHITEA TAIWANNICE LIPPERFIELD , ARCHITECT.
, HAMILTON PLACE, BOSTON, MAIS.
L
LUNCH ROOM
... ₦
BOYS SHOWERS
54
-
CLASS ROOM
....
-
CLASS ROOM
Nooy
0.56
5 TACE
A
4
RECITATION
ROOM
AJJEHOLY HALL JO.0 X 40-0
1
-
COMMITTEE L .....
116.0
PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR SCALE /4-1.0
WALTER TROWONINGA LITTLEFIELD , ARCHITECT
9 HAMILTON PLACE DOSTON, MAIS
55
CLASS ROOM
3 ... . ....
CLASS ROOM a ... . ....
.... ....
4
P
A
1
.
.
T
CLASS ACOM 110.11.6
BALCONY
COMMERCIAL
........
TTH WRITING
. ......
PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR A CALE 4-1.0
........
INDEX
Town Officers. 3
Selectmen's Report .
5
Tax Abatements
5
State and County Tax
5
State Macadam Roads
5
Anticipation of Revenue
6
Outside Poor
6
Almshouse
7
Poor of Other Cities and Towns
7
Miscellaneous
7
Town Officers
9
Election Officers
10
Schools and Transportation
11
State Aid
11
Insurance
11
Board of Health
12
Inspector of Animals
12
Repairs Public Buildings 12
Fire Warden
13
Exchange 14
Suppression of Crime
14
Interest 15
Hearings
15
Treasurer's Bond 16
Fish Wardens
16
Second District Court 17
Moderator
17
Chase Library 17
Harwichport Library
18
Sealer of Weights and Measures
18
Milk Inspector
18
Wire Inspector
19
Ambulance
19
Electric Street Lights
19
Culvert at Pleasant Lake 20
Town Pump Trust Fund 20
Barnstable County Sanitarium
20
Town Dump
20
Assessors' Map
21
Hearse House Building
21
School Medal
21
Farm Bureau
21
Visiting Nurse
22
Adding Machine
22
Allen's Harbor
22
School Investigating Committee
22
Soldiers' Memorial
22
Herring Brook
23
Cemetery Trust Funds 23
24
Bridges
24
Snow 24
South County Road 24
Crane Shepard Road 25
Brewster-Harwich Road 25
General Repairs on Roads, Chap. 81 25
Gypsy and Brown Tail Moth 26
Fences and Railings
Settlement with Town Treasurer 27 Assets and Liabilities 27
Assessors' Report 28
Abatements for 1923 29
Abatements for 1924 31 Brooks Medal Fund 33
Auditors' Statement. 34
Tax Collector's Report 35
Tax Collector's Report, 1923 36
Tax Collector's Report, 1924 36
1922 Tax Account 37
Report of Overseers' of Poor 38
Almshouse 38
Outside Poor 39
Poor of Other Cities and Towns 41
Summary of Poor Account 41.
Report of Superintendent of Streets. 42
No. 3 Section, Removing Trees after storm. . 42
No. 2 Section, Removing Trees after storm. . 43
No. 1 Section, Removing Trees after storm. . 44 45
Burning Dump
Fences and Railings
46
Bridges 47
Crane Shepard Road 47
General Repairs, Chap. 81 48
South County Road 48
Report of Park Commissioners 50
Brooks Library Account 51
Librarian's Account 52
Report of Trustees Caleb Chase Fund 53
Report of Treasurer 55
Cemetery Trust Funds 57
Benj. D. Eldridge Town Pump Trust Fund 59
Report of Town Clerk. 60
Report of Annual Town Meeting, Feb. 4
60
Report of Annual Town Meeting, Feb. 5 62
Report of Special Town Meeting, Oct. 17
69
Births
71
Marriages
73
Deaths 75
Town Meeting Warrant 77
Report of School Committee
Calendar
2
Teachers' Salaries 5
Supervisor of Music
6
Superintendent's Salary
6
Health
6
Janitors
6
Transportation
7 7 8
Office
9
Books and Supplies
10
Agriculture
11
Recapitulation 11
Estimates for 1925
12
Superintendent's Report
14
Perfect Attendance Record
15
Faithful Attendance Record
16
Fuel
Repairs and Incidentals
Table of Comparative Finances 26 Course of Study, Harwich High School 28
Program of Studies 30
Report of High School Principal . 34
Report of Supervisor of Music. 36
Report of School Physicians 38
Report of School Nurse 40
School Census
41
Attendance Data 41
Enrollment by Grades
42
Corps of Teachers 43
Brooks Medal Winners
44
Harwich High School Graduation 45
Report of Investigating School Committee
47
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