USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1940 > Part 5
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Article 41. To see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Five Thousand ($5,000.) Dol- lars for the purpose of widening and dredging the outer channel of Wychmere Harbor in Harwichport, providing the State or Federal Governments will contribute a like amount; and act fully thereon.
Article 42. To see if the Town will vote to trans- fer from Surplus Reserve or available funds the sum of Fifteen Thousand ($15,000.) Dollars for the purpose of reducing the tax rate for 1941.
Article 43. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Hundred ($400.) Dollars for the purpose of resurfacing the road in West Harwich, called Riverside Drive, providing the State will contribute Four Hundred ($400.) Dollars and the County Four Hun- dred ($400.) Dollars, the work to be done under Chapter 90 Maintenance.
Article 44. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Four Thousand ($4,000.) Dol- lars for the improvement of the Harwich-Orleans Road; said sum, or any portion thereof, to be used in conjunction with any money which may be allotted by the State or County, or both, for this purpose.
Article 45. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of One Thousand ($1,000.) Dol-
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lars for the purpose of improving the Harwich-Chatham Road with oil and grading, providing the State and County will contribute a like amount; this work to be done under Chapter 90 Maintenance.
Article 46. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.) Dollars for the purpose of planting shell fish in the waters of the Town of Harwich.
Article 47. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Twenty-five Hundred ($2,500.) Dollars to be used under the direction of the Selectmen for the promotion of public recreation and amusement, in accordance with Legislative Acts of 1930, Chapter 12, Section 1, and any acts and amendments thereto.
Article 48. To see if the Town will vote to accept the lay-out of a town way in Harwichport, from the Har- wich Port schoolhouse yard northerly to Pleasant Street, so called, with the boundaries and measurements as reported by the Selectmen under date of January 10, 1941 and in- struct the Selectmen to take by purchase or by eminent domain the lands or interests in the lands within the lines of said lay-out for a Town way, and for this purpose raise and appropriate a sufficient sum of money.
Article 49. To see if the Town will vote to finish widening and surface with oil, the road called Forest Street beginning at the junction of Sisson Road and said Forest Street, in Harwich Center and ending at the junction of South Street and said Forest Street, in Harwich Port, and raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500 for the same. By request.
Article 50. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Six Hundred ($600.) Dollars to be used in conjunction with any money the State and County or both may contribute for the protection of the shore property, from Chatham to Dennis for the years of 1941 and 1942.
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Article 51. To see if the Town will vote to raise and appropriate the sum of Two Hundred ($200.) Dollars for the purpose of improving the Town Parking Lot at the foot of Bank Street and act fully thereon.
Given under our hands the 22nd day of January, 1941.
CHARLES D. HOLMES, CHARLES T. CHASE, HOWARD C. CAHOON, Selectmen of Harwich,
A true copy.
ATTEST :
Constable.
....
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ACCOUNTANT'S BALANCE SHEET
$$51,786.04
Cash
Accounts Receivable :
Taxes : Levy of 1936
$4.00
Levy of 1937
34.84
Levy of 1938
172.74
Levy of 1939
13,228.90
Levy of 1940
38,828.26
62,268.74
Motor Vehicle Taxes :
Levy of 1936
$11.35
Levy of 1937
151.12
Levy of 1938
80.99
Levy of 1939
237.00
Levy of 1940 .
412.30
892.76
Special Assessments :
Moth: Levy of 1939
$67.95
Levy of 1940
244.35
312.30
Tax Titles
5,086.39
Departmental :
Highways,Harwich-Orleans Rd. $243.35
Public Welfare 1,540.84
Old Age Assistance
808.50
Aid Dependent Children
685.37
Health
835.01
State Aid
150.00
4,2630.7
$114,609.30
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LIABILITIES
Federal Grants :
Old Age Administration
$463.88
Old Age Assistance 1,894.91
Aid Dependent Children
105.43
Aid Dependent Children-Adm. 46.52
$2,510.74
Unexpended Balances :
Foreclosure Tax Titles $122.11
Repairs Public Buildings 1,488.44
Water-Emergency Extension 356.95
Bound Stones 272.00
Care of Cemetery Lots
10.00
2,249.50
Overlay Reserved for Abatement of Taxes:
Levy of 1936 4.00
Levy of 1939
1,480.36
Levy of 1940
2,586.80
4,071.16
Revenue Reserved until Collected :
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax $892.76
Special Assessments-Moth Tax 312.30
Tax Titles
5,086.39
Departmental
4,263.07
10,554.52
$19,385.92
Surplus Revenue
95,223.38
$114.609.30
DEBT ACCOUNT Assets
Net Funded or Fixed Debt
$190,000.00
ยท Notes Payable
3,450.00
$193,450.00
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Liabilities
School House Bonds
$72,000.00
Water Bonds
112,000.00
Water Extension Notes
6,000.00
Temporary Loan
3,450.00
$193,450.000
FRANKLIN D. UNDERWOOD, Town Accountant.
Omitted by error from Page 28
CEMETERY COMMISSIONERS
John T. Wood
Term expires 1943
John Condon
Term expires 1942
Earl Eldredge
Term expires 1941
Omitted by error from Pag 5
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND THE
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
TOWN OF HARWICH MASSACHUSETTS
For the Year 1940
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ORGANIZATION FOR THE YEAR 1940
School Committee
Wilbur H. Crowell, Chairman
Mary C. Eldredge James Baldwin
Term Expires 1942
Term Expires 1943
Term Expires 1941
Superintendent of Schools Charles H. Pratt, A. M.
School Physicians H. F. Rowley, M. D. John P. Nickerson, M. D.
School Nurse Adelyn J. Peabody, R. N.
Supervisor of Attendance
Victor S. Ryder
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FINANCIAL STATEMENT
GENERAL CONTROL:
School Committee-
Salaries & Expenses $450.00
Superintendent of Schools- -
Enforcement of Law-
Salaries
2,320.00
* Other Expenses
263.60
$3,033.60
$2,884.00
INSTRUCTION:
Supervisors
$1,628.00
Principals & Teachers
28,222.50
Textbooks
715.12
Supplies
1,150.32
31,715.94
32,402.00
OPERATION :
Janitors
$3,778.11
Fuel
2,780.56
** Miscellaneous
1,867.37
8,426.04
8,265.00
MAINTENANCE:
Repairs, Replacement
and Upkeep
$1,983.41
1,983.41
3,000.00
AUXILIARY AGENCIES :
Libraries .
$154.82
Health
667.38
Transportation
4,822.00
*Miscellaneous
3,621.09
9,365.29
9,660.00
OUTLAY :
New Grounds and Buildings
New Equipment
$383.15
383.15
200.00
'Total
$54,807.43 $56,411.00
Total
Appropriated for 1940
$55,642.02
Refund
10.00
$55,652.02
Expended in 1940
54,807.43
Balance
$844.59
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* Includes Office Supplies, Stationery, Postage Legal Advice
** Includes Gas, Water, Electricity, Floor Treatment, Sanitary Supplies, Cleaning Equipment & Supplies, Janitors' Supplies Includes Cost of Lunch Supplies, Cook's Salary, Senior Class Service, Athletics, Express, Cartage, Telephone, Newsboys' Badges, Graduation, Laundry, Films, etc.
NET COST OF SCHOOLS
Expenditures during 1940
$54,807.43
Receipts and Reimbursements Due On
Account of Expenditures of 1940:
Mass. General School Fund Part. I
$4,000.00
State Tuition
$66.88
State Transportation
17.60
84.48
Boston Tuition
$1,371.19
Boston Transportation
209.45
1,580.64
Receipts from School Lunch
3,296.86
Town of Chatham
8.23
Town of Eastham Telephone
3.00
Town of Orleans Telephone
18.43
Receipts from Rental of Auditorium
82.50
Payment for lost book
.40
Standard Electric Time Co. refunds
10.00
Free Milk from Visiting Nurse Association
1.90
Telephone Calls billed 1939, Received in 1940
Chatham
$2.80
Eastham
1.15
Orleans
18.75
22.70
9,109.14
Net Cost
$45,698.29
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REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
To the School Committee of Harwich :
Herewith I submit the annual school report for the year 1940.
The schools have enjoyed a year of work under con- ditions favorable to growth. On October first this year we find a total enrollment of 483, five less than a year ago. The trend of increase observed last year seems to have changed. We note for the first time since 1935 there is an increase in numbers in the elementary grades and a drop in the junior-senior high school. Thirteen less appear in that school on October first and eight more in the first six grades. We find our schools at this time adequately and comfortably housed which is quite a contrast to con- ditions in 1938. There was then a total enrollment of 532. This was four years before the new high school was completed.
MAINTENANCE
The Old High School, the Center Elementary and the North Harwich buildings each received one coat of paint in the summer of 1940. We hope to give them an- other coat next summer. Numerous small repairs were also made such as topping out the chimney, repairing fence, replacing split clapboards and building a new front step at the Old High School and replacing some broken sash and building a new step at fire exit at North Harwich. Entrances to the Center Elementary building were re- paired. Interior work included the sanding and finishing of floor of one classroom. We are pleased to say that the entire floor area of all classrooms in town has been sanded, sealed, waxed and is being maintained in excellent condi- tion. A new floor buffing machine purchased in 1940 makes it possible to do a good job of floor maintenance. Tile floors at the high school in particular require buffing.
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We acknowledge the interest of the Garden Club as shown by the beautiful planting of shrubs and evergreens around our school buildings. We value these tokens of community interest and care. The buildings and grounds are thereby beautified and a valuable lesson of civic pride is taught.
Some changes in the faculty of the High School have come during 1940. After a year's leave of absence Mrs. Ada M. Lovering decided to tender her resignation. This was received with extreme regret by her many friends and associates. She will be remembered as one of those out- standing teachers who was always enthusiastic, friendly and efficient. Her associates recognize the value of her rich experience and inspiring service.
Mr. Robert Raymond accepted a position in Bangor, Maine. Miss Rose Glynn resigned to be married. Both resignations became effective during the summer of 1940. Length of service is shown in connection with the table "Corps of Teachers" on another page. These people ably assisted in organizing their departments when the new High School was first occupied. Mr. Carl Sorensen of Springfield College now has Physical education for boys of junior-senior high school and acts as Supervisor of Physical Education for the grades. Miss Nancy Caldwell of Sargent College of Boston University teaches physical education for junior-senior high school girls as well as some academic subjects. Miss Elizabeth P. Cantwell of Framingham Teachers College succeeds Miss Glynn in the department of Home Economics.
The elementary grades have profited by a second year without change in faculty. They have shown much interest in their school library which has been set up by the cooperation of all. Particular credit for this should be given to Miss MeBreen and the members of her special class for organization, cataloguing and decoration of the room on the second floor of the Elementary building for- merly used as a school office.
1
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Mr. Hooper has, with the help of all his faculty, arranged an excellent program of playground supervision and safety education. A fine spirit of cooperation prevails among the faculty and pupils of this school.
The room on the first floor of the Old High School is now used for school assemblies and other small group meetings. Graves IV to VI and Special Class are now in the Elementary Building while grades I to III occupy the Old High School.
I would call attention to the well-planned reading program for Elementary grades. A year ago a new reading system was adopted after careful study of several methods by the Elementary School faculty. They are giving great care to study of modern methods and individual problems. Last summer Mrs. Nickerson attended a conference on this subject arranged by the State Department at Bridgewater Teachers College. Mr. Rucker of the Hyannis Teachers College has been generous with his help .in examination of individuals and in suggesting practical methods for planning individual work. Our teachers have found Hyan- nis Teachers College very helpful. Courses offered them in summer and during winter months are of much value to us here.
The High School Principal gives us the following :
"You will remember that the year just passed was one of unusual expansion in our school program. Five new courses were added : viz, Consumer Science for Juniors and Seniors, a new Bookkeeping for Sophomores, General Business, and General Mathematics for Freshmen, and a short term Pre-Driving course for Seniors and Juniors.
Our experience with these new courses is short. They have not yet proved themselves. Teachers have not been able as yet to readjust the teaching technique to carry on the new program to our entire satisfaction. This takes time.
One addition which has been made to the program during the present school year is the inclusion of a full credit course in Home Problems for the girls of the senior
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class who are registered in the General Course. This gives ten hours of work a week to these girls.
An analysis of our records shows that we have gradu- ated 103 pupils in the last five years,-47 boys and 56 girls. By courses, the graduates have been ; College Preparatory, 24 boys and 17 girls; Commercial, 9 boys and 39 girls ; General, 14 boys. A further study of the individuals who have graduated shows that of the 24 boys who graduated from the College course, 16 have gone on to other schools after leaving Harwich. Of the 17 girls of the College course, 8 have gone on to school. These figures two thirds of the boys and one half of the girls, is a high record.
In the Commercial course, 5 of the 9 boys who have graduated have employment where the school training is of definite value to him. However, only 7 of the 39 girl graduates have similar records. One fact should be borne in mind, namely, that of our 56 girl graduates, 11 have married.
From this I draw a conclusion, that it would be more profitable for the girls to put more time in the Household Arts Department than in the Commercial Department. We know that opportunity for employment in Commercial work in this town is limited."
ART
Mr. Brayton is responsible for the organization and presentation of the work in art for his second year. He comments on his method thus :
"In this method we do not dictate or copy, but rather discuss a given subject and allow the child to create his picture in his own way, with guidance enough to enable him to cross over the rough spots.
Creative illustration teaches the child to think, not to copy. In our educational system today there is great need to develop the child's mind so that he may plan and work out problems for himself.
In the first six grades we draw subjects of everyday life, subjects that are close to the child such as holidays, playtime, indoor and outdoor activities.
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The general background of design is started in the grades with the use of shapes and the three laws of order, repetition, alternation, and progression.
In the Junior High School grades a great deal of stress is laid upon design and color theory. Before the beginning of High School drawing the child must have a good understanding of color and its use in art and in everyday life.
With the High School students, art is an elective. The program calls for practical subjects such as advertis- ing, color, design and sculpture. There is an opportunity during the latter part of the year for the student to carry out some of his individual interests."
An exhibition of work at the high school enabled those interested to observe results.
Miss Kelman gives us the following outline of her year's work in Vocal Music :
"In all our schools we strive to cultivate a deep and lasting love for music. This is attained through sing- ing many beautiful songs, through listening to music, and participation in rhythm activity. In the first grade the children may learn as many as 100 rote songs throughout the school year-these songs pertain to everyday experi- ences in the home, school, and community, special occasions, and seasons. Listening and rythm are tied together. The children listen to a march, then act it out. Emphasis is laid also upon recognition of songs. Individual attention is given to all so-called monotones. In nearly every case the child can sooner or later be taught to use his voice correctly.
This same program extends into the second grade with the addition of some note-reading. This is carried further in the third grade. Simple, rudimentary notation such as finding "do" with sharps and flats, time value of notes, and clapping the rhythm are also begun in the third grade. In the fourth grade not only the meaning of. key signatures but the meaning of time signatures is under-
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stood. By this time, the pupils are able to read notes by themselves with accuracy. Harmony is first experienced here through the singing of rounds, and two-part songs -- the teacher singing the alto.
In the fifth and sixth grades the technique of musical notation gradually becomes more advanced. Expression marks are studies, also the names of various keys and how to find them. The children themselves sing alto and soprano in the fifth grade. In the sixth grade three-part music is sung with great interest. To bridge the gap be- tween the seventh and sixth grades the reading of sylla- bles is replaced by sight-reading the words. This tends to stimulate interest.
Every four of five weeks throughout the year in these six grades the children have the pleasure of listening to records on the victrola. Some of these records suggest a rhythm activity and others are played for the sheer joy of the listener.
Last Christmas the sixth grade so successfully put on a simple operetta that in the spring they performed a one-act musical which brought out singing, unison and two- part, dancing, expression, and drama. It was put on three times. This year's sixth grade is learning some sixteen Christmas carols comprising unison, two-part, three-part, and a round.
The seventh and eighth grades have been very for- tunate this year for they have a new set of books. They are "Highways and Byways" written especially for ado- lescent boys and girls. Appreciation, beauty, humor, dig- nity are all cleverly combined to make this book a favorite with these two grades and a great joy to the teacher. The bass part is introduced in the eighth grade as the voices are found to carry it. Two-parts are nicely sung in both seventh and eighth grades, and the repertoire of memory songs is enlarged.
This year in the High School I have had the words of several songs typed and we have learned them by rote
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as supplementary songs. Four-part music has continued and this year we have added SS'AB-this doubles the alto. The chorus is larger this year than in previous years."
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
Mr. Nassi has a record of achievement with instru- mental music in Harwich extending over a period of over eleven years. During this period he has become almost an institution among us. Few indeed are the people who do not know him. In him enthusiasm never fails. We quote from his report :
"The fact that music groups are called upon by the citizens to participate in every worth-while function is in itself a proof that music makes better citizens. Service is the prerequisite of good citizenship and no other school group as such is called upon more often than the music group whether it be a soloist, ensemble, band, orchestra, or the chorus.
The citizens of Harwich have given music all the financial support it needs. But far more important than this is their moral support. Visit any school in our Cape communities and you will find that wherever the parent, the teacher, and the principal cooperate the most, there will be the largest and best school orchestra and band. This rule has never failed through my long years of experience. There is nothing more discouraging than to be under a principal that is not interested or a teacher that is so en- grossed in his own subjects that he will permit nothing to interfere with his classes. Music needs the tolerance, co- operation, and encouragement of all, especially of the par- ents and teachers. Fortunately there are very few of these educators who are either interfering or passive and I am making an appeal to them through this paper to give us their full support.
Perhaps educators do not realize the direct benefit that music brings the school and how much it actually helps the children in the other subjects. In a recent survey, 196 out of 200 colleges and universities stated that musically
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trained students were very superior to all others in school work. This does not mean that music will make brains. No university in the world can do that. It does mean, however, that of any two individuals with a similar degree of educa- tion, the one with musical training has a marked advantage.
Although we are forced to train our children for the satanic skills of war, let us not lose our heads. We must also think of the future and train our children in the gra- cious arts of peace.
The Harwich Instrumental groups are as follows :
Beginners 16
Orchestra 23
Band 22
Drum Corps and Baton twirlers 12
Our newly acquired sousaphone obtained through the generosity of the Harwich citizens and the help of the school committee is helping the band very much. The band has already played its first concert. The band has great possibilities and efforts are being made so that all members may arrange to attend rehearsals.
The orchestra rehearses after school hours. Efforts are being made to interest the pupils to stay after school. As a result of this change, the orchestra has lost some members. "
HEALTH
Health and safety are items which call for increasing emphasis. Successful teaching results only in the event that someone learns. Learning follows only where there is interest and an effort to learn. Habits eventually protect us to some degree if they are strongly fixed.
Our School Physicians and Nurse are generous with their time and cooperation. Their reports follow :
"Compared to other years, the general health and physical condition of the pupils continues to be very good. Occasional isolated cases of contagious diseases have ap- peared in town but the total number of days lost from school by reason of such illness is very small.
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It is our intention to make the work of each year a little more efficient than that of the preceding one and it is our wish to expand and increase health benefits for stu- dents. Having observed for the past two years the results of excluding from schools children with acute colds, we are gratified with the results and feel that the experiment should be extended and that teachers suffering from acute colds be excused from teaching.
In the physical examination we are pleased to note the generally good nutrition exhibited by the pupils. This is in sharp contrast to the malnourishment so common about five years ago. We feel that providing milk at school has been a real aid in this accomplishment.
In the High School we are disappointed at the poor care given the teeth by a large percent of the pupils. Many cases were noted whose records showed that no care had been given to badly decayed teeth for three years. This is certain to damage a pupil's health eventually and we feel that parents should see that this situation is corrected.
Never in the history of the Town have the children enjoyed the facilities and opportunities placed before them as at the present. Modern buildings, various clinics for prevention, detection and correction of defects, exercises and games under leadership of a trained instructor, are all evidence that Harwich believes that a useful citizen should be a healthy citizen in mind and body."
The School Nurse gives the following :
"Each child is weighed, measured, eyes and ears tested, immunized against diptheria and given a physical examination by the school doctors, Dr. Nickerson and Dr. Rowley.
Defects are corrected either by referring the child to the family doctor or when family income is low to a clinic or social agency. Five children were allowed to go to summer camp at Pocasset this year and a decided change change has been noticed.
The school docter have asked that all children with
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colds remain at home. Will the parents please cooperate by keeping the children at home and not on the street or in the movies ?
Again may I sincerely thank the doctors, Kiwanis Club and Salvation Army for the help and cooperation they have given me this past year."
A Supervisor of Attendance is official successor of one who, in years past, was called a Truant Officer. We find that we have few truants but there are many problems which effect school attendance. Since attendance is neces- sary for school progress, it follows that we have a person who is designed "Supervisor of Attendance." His field covers problems of enumeration of the school census. He is delegated to issue work permits and newsboys' badges. He watches to see that these interfere as little as possible with attendance at school. He is expected to inquire into problems of health, food and clothing if such things cause absence from school. In other words a Supervisor of At- tendance acts as the friend helping the child to enjoy those opportunities for education which are available to him at public expense.
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