Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956, Part 12

Author: Harwich (Mass. : Town)
Publication date: 1956
Publisher: The Town
Number of Pages: 204


USA > Massachusetts > Barnstable County > Harwich > Town annual reports of the selectmen and overseers of the poor of the town of Harwich 1956 > Part 12


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172


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Expended 1956


Needed 1957


General Control:


Superintendent of Schools Enforcement of Law: Salaries


$5,712.03


Other expenses of General Control


1,372.61


$7,084.64


$7,452.00


Instruction:


Salaries of Supervisors,


Principals and Teachers


$150,070.94 .


Textbooks


2,778.30


Supplies


7,243.15


$160,092.39


192,379.00


Operation:


Janitors


$14,088.93


Fuel


7,650.12


Miscellaneous (Electricity, Gas,


Janitor Supplies, etc.)


7,436.01


$29,175.06


33,500.00


Maintenance:


Repairs, Replacement & Upkeep


7,695.13


9,000.00


Auxiliary Agencies:


Libraries


$1,130.58


Health-Nurse, Physicians, Supplies


1,441.80


Transportation


13,677.38


Miscellaneous (Graduation, Telephone, Rubbish disposal, Teachers' expenses, etc.)


3,096.29


$19,346.05


22,545.00


Outlay:


New Equipment


2,481.97


4,000.00


Contingencies:


3,000.00


$226,875.24


$271,876.00


Appropriation 1956


$227,108.00


Refunds


51.51


$227,159.51


Expended 1956


226,875.24


$284.27


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NET COST OF SCHOOLS


Expenditure


$226,875.24


Accounts Receivable:


School Funds and State Aid-Chap. 70


$28,413.66


All School Transportation-Chap. 71


6,475.66


Commonwealth of Massachusetts


Reimbursement of Trainable and Educable Special Classes


6,343.77


Commonwealth of Massachusetts:


Tuition and Transportation


902.00


Tuition:


Town of Chatham


$617.36


Town of Dennis


218.40


Town of Yarmouth


692.92


Town of Barnstable


116.56


Telephone Reimbursements:


Town of Chatham


$113.32


Town of Eastham


32.76


Town of Orleans


128.60


Miscellaneous (Cash turned in for shop


127.23


44,182.24


Net Cost of Schools-1956


$182,693.00


HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACCOUNT-1956


Appropriation-1956


$800.00


Brought forward from 1955


45.24


Receipts-1956


583.80


$1,429.04


Expended-1956


1,421.55


Carried forward to 1957


$7.49


Funds requested for 1957


$1,500.00


VOCATIONAL EDUCATION


$1,000.00


Expended-1956


796.50


Unexpended


$203.50


Received on account of Vocational Education for year ending August 31, 1955


$325.40


Funds requested for 1957 $1,000.00


.


Appropriation-1956


materials to pupils-lost books, etc.)


174


SCHOOL COMMITTEE


Appropriation-1956 Expended


$750.00 712.50


Unexpended


$37.50


Funds requested for 1957 $750.00


SPECIAL SCHOOL LUNCH ACCOUNTS-1956


High School


Receipts


Expenses


Carried forward from 1955


$967.75


Sales of Lunches and Federal


8,340.66


Subsidies received in 1956 Salaries


$3,540.96


Equipment


13.89


Food and Supplies


5,410.38


$9,308.41


$8,965.23


Carried forward to 1957


$343.18


Funds requested for 1957


None


Elementary School


Receipts


Expenses


Carried forward from 1955


$245.63


Appropriation-1956


500.00


Sales of Lunches and Federal Subsidies received in 1956


18,922.18


Salaries


$6,316.50


Equipment


198.31


Food and Supplies


12,393.79


$19,667.81


$18,908.60


Carried forward to 1957


$759.21


Funds requested for 1957


$500.00


REPORT OF THE JOHNSON-ULM MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND .


Total of Fund


$35,000.00


Working Fund, January 1, 1956


701.53


Refund


50.00


March Dividend


437.50


September Dividend


437.50


$36,626.53


Expended for Scholarships-1956


1,250.00


Statement of Account as of December 31, 1956


$35,376.53


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Tuition scholarships have been granted to the following persons for the school year 1956-57.


Nancy Andersson


New England Deaconess Hospital


George Baldwin, Jr.


Burdett College


Mary Belle Barker


Bridgewater College


Charles Corkum


Northeastern University


Ellen D'Elia Simmons College


Michael D'Elia


Dartmouth College


Lee Hancock


Mass. School of Art


Richard Joy


Worcester Junior College


Josephine Keefe


Regis College


Elaine Hopkins


Univ. of Pennsylvania


James Leonard


Univ. of Massachusetts


Kay Perisho


Mass. School of Art


Evangeline Robbins


Fisher Junior College


CHAUNCEY D. MacKAY, Chairman H. WILLIAM MOREY


MRS. MARGARET LEONARD


MRS. PRISCILLA BALDWIN


RALPH U. BRETT


DONALD T. BATES


SYDNEY G. PIERCE, Secretary


Johnson-Ulm Memorial Scholarship Committee


176


Report of the Superintendent of Schools


To the School Committee and Citizens of Harwich:


I am pleased to submit my second in the series of annual reports of the School Superintendents for this town.


UNION #16


I have not learned the date of the formation of this superintendency union, involving the towns of Chatham, Eastham, Harwich and Orleans. But it appears to have been formed some time before the turn of the century. Through the years since its organization it has come to take a place among the largest superintendency unions in the state, with a combined, full-time teaching and supervisory staff cur- rently numbering more than 100 people, and a total pupil enrollment approaching two thousand.


In 1954, in order to meet the demands of an expanded organization, the Committees of the Union made a wise move in the establishment of the position of elementary supervisor and they made a wise choice in the person of Dr. Harriett Chace to fill the position. Dr. Chace's work is of real value to the schools, providing, as it does, for the supervision of instruction, a function for which the duties of the superin- tendency provide little opportunity.


Despite the addition of this service, the multiplicity of administrative demands indicates the need for additional administrative personnel, or a subdivision of the Union. The latter move was also suggested by my predessor, Herbert E. Hoyt.


At this writing, the newly-formed region (Eastham, Or- leans, Wellfleet) involving two of the towns of this Union, may serve to precipitate the dissolution of the Union. Indi- cations are that a move toward this objective may be made early in 1957, with consummation coming during the year, if a majority of the constituent school committees and the State Department of Education approve.


Among the union supervisors, two changes occurred dur- ing the year. Mr. Edward Bolton was elected art supervisor, replacing Mr. Leo Ferris. Mr. Bolton is responsible for the direction of the art program for the entire union, and the duties of instruction are shared by Mr. Vernon Smith.


177


Mrs. Iris McKenney was elected to teach some of the vocal music at Harwich, relieving Mr. Whitney Tileston of some of his work, so that he would have time to meet with the increasing number of classes in other towns.


Instrumental music in all the towns waxes encouragingly. I look forward to the day, not too distant, when this program will match the accomplishment it once knew.


SCHOOL FACILITIES


The need for improved and additional space for grades 7-12 is not a new proposition, but it is one of increasing acuteness. At the present time there are approximately 275 pupils housed at the High School and Brooks Academy. It is likely that within ten years we shall have at least one-third more pupils in grades 7-12 than we have now, or approx- imately 370 pupils.


Some of the problems of space are spelled out in this year's report of the High School Principal.


The Harwich School Committee has sponsored an article for the warrant of the next Town Meeting, requesting the establishment of a committee which will make a thorough study of the situation and report on the means for solution.


There are observations related to our problem which I should like to make for whatever consideration they may be worth.


1. The trend across the nation is away from the small school organization. An impressive number of authorities concur that the broad curriculum needed at the secondary level, to keep pace with present-day competition, and to pro- vide adequately for individual needs, can not be provided economically in a school of less than approximately 500 pupils in grades 7-12. Harwich is not likely to reach this total in the foreseeable future. The special facilities and broader course offerings to be found in larger schools can be provided by the small school, but the expense is usually pro- hibitive. It is not only expensive to offer courses desired by just a few students, but most educators agree that the lim- ited competition and exchange reduce the educational value of such courses.


2. Here on the Cape we see evidence of the trend toward larger schools. Dennis and Yarmouth have formed a region and are building now for an ultimate enrollment around 600. Recently Eastham, Orleans and Wellfleet voted to form a region. If consummated, their plans will provide facilities for an enrollment between 500 and 600 within ten years. Some of the other towns on the Cape already have high schools as large or larger than this.


T


178


PERSONNEL


Changes among members of the teaching staff were comparatively few. Miss Thora Walker resigned at the close of school to marry and to take a teaching position in a western state. Miss Worraine Albee, who had been teaching at Groton, Mass., was elected to take Miss Walker's place in our physical education department.


Miss Meredith Drew was elected to teach commercial subjects, replacing Miss Ruth Roberts who resigned to pursue a program of advanced study. Miss Drew has several years of teaching experience, the most recent in the public schools of Waltham, Mass.


Mrs. Winifred Reynolds resigned in August, accepting a position in Whitinsville, Mass., and Mrs. Barbara Ford was elected to teach English at the High School. Mrs. Ford is a graduate of Wheaton College, and has done considerable substitute teaching.


Mr. James Bolton, a graduate of Rhode Island School of Design was added to the High School staff to teach mathe- matics, science and technical subjects. Mr. Bolton has a background of experience in mechanical engineering.


Mrs. May Cooper brings several years of experience in the public schools of New York to her teaching of biology and science. Some of her classes were taught formerly by the teacher of girls physical education. With this relief the lat- ter now has time to teach physical education in the lower grades, and we now have a physical education program cov- ering all grades.


The only change at the Elementary School was the addi- tion of Mrs. Ruth Norris to teach fourth grade. This is the first year we have had three divisions in grade four. Next year we shall need an additional fifth grade teacher, and the following year one for sixth grade, as the large classes make their way up through the grades.


Harwich now has a corps of thirty-seven full-time teach- ers and receives the services of nine supervisory personnel on a part-time basis.


FINANCE


In keeping with custom the following table is included to compare school operating costs over the past five years.


179


1952


1953


1954


1955


1956


Total Cost of Schools:


$136,509.06


$136,921.76


$154,762.98


$189,520.58


$226,875.24


Reimbursements:


20,487.53


22,787.82


24,125.98


34,457.10


44,182.24


Net Cost to Town:


116,021.53


114,133.94


130,673.00


155,063.48


182,693.00


Valuation of Town:


12,281,040


13,203,960


13,945,610


14,192,350


14,275,000


Tax for Schools:


9.45


8.64


9.34


10.93


12.80


Number of Pupils Oct. 1:


543


591


598


674


729


Gross Cost per Pupil:


251.40


231.28


258.80


281.19


311.08


Net Cost per Pupil:


213.67


192.79


218.51


230.06


250.65


The figures above reflect the rise in costs for school operation. This increase is comparable with that of other school systems of our size in the state. Also, Harwich enjoys one of the lowest rates of tax for schools in Massachusetts- the median for towns in our category being in the neighbor- hood of $25.00 per $1,000 valuation.


SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM


Hot lunches are served in all three of our schools. Food is prepared at the High School and at the Elementary School, and, from the latter, prepared food is transported to Brooks Academy. We have a well organized program which amounted to a business of $27,873.00 in 1956. It employs eight cafeteria workers-four at the Elementary School, three at the High School and one at Brooks Academy. The success of their efforts is indicated in the percentage of pupil participation (70%), which runs well above the average for the state.


CONCLUSION


Those taking the time to read the reports in this section of the Town Report are availing themselves of an opportunity to become better acquainted with their schools.


I wish to express my pleasure to be associated with the schools of this town and my appreciation for the cooperation of school personnel and townspeople. Interest and cooperation concerning the schools has bearing on the product.


Respectfully submitted,


SYDNEY G. PIERCE, Superintendent of Schools


180


Report of the Principal of the High School


C. D. MacKAY


Following is my fourth annual report for the Harwich High School:


The high school is beginning to receive the increase in enrollment from the elementary school. If all the present members of the senior class graduate, thirty-seven students will receive their diplomas in June. Approximately sixty students will enter the eighth grade in September. The en .. rollment at present is over two hundred. Next year the facilities of the high school will be used to the maximum. After next year, it will be extremely difficult if not impos- sible to offer adequate educational opportunities to our high school unless additional facilities are provided. We shall need more classrooms and more teachers. Some of our pres- ent facilities, such as those of the household arts and of the science departments, will need to be expanded.


During this school year many of our resources have been used to capacity. The cafeteria has been crowded. The or- chestra has been forced to practice in the school parlor ad- jacent to the household arts classroom, while classes were held, since the auditorium is in almost constant use and was therefore not available. Our auditorium-gymnasium was not adequate for our graduation exercises or for our senior play, and many were turned away from our gymnasium during the basketball games because the seating capacity was often reached by advance sales even before the games had started. There have been several times when it was necessary to use the library for the doctor's physical examinations of stu- dents, or for visitors, because every other room in the build- ing was in use. Our single storage room for supplies is woe- fuly inadequate.


In view of the increasing enrollment, a secretary or of- fice worker is sorely needed in the principal's office. Many of the details, letters, filing, recording, could be done by a worker thus leaving the principal free for other more im- portant duties. Such an office worker could also help Mr.


181


Alcock, our Guidance Director, in the clerical work which takes so much of his time thereby depriving students of the more important functions of guidance and counsel.


Mr. Alcock could well spend all of his time in Harwich instead of dividing his time between Chatham and Harwich. Because of our increasing enrollment, his services are re- quired by more students with the resulting less time for each student. Testing, recording, counselling, parental con- ferences, etc., gets spread very thin in only 21/2 days.


Last June a Program of Studies a mimeographed booklet of 15 pages was distributed to the students of the high school for the first time. This booklet contained informa- tion for the requirements for a diploma, the determination of the class to which a student belongs, the description of each subject as it is taught, the courses of study, an election blank and other pertinent information.


Two subjects, American Government, and Principles of Electricity were introduced in September. Principles of Electricity is designed primarily for those students who wish to enter civilian or military technical schools. This subject alternates with a class in the study of engines. American Government is taught during the senior year. A balanced study of federal, state and local government is made. This is the last year of opportunity the high school has of im- pressing the student with the importance in intelligent cit- izenship.


It has been possible to departmentalize the subject classes as taught in the high school. A teacher who has majored in English teaches only English classes; a social science teacher has no subject to teach but social science classes. Specialists in each field are teaching only in that field.


Mrs. Barbara Ford, recently elected a teacher of Eng- lish, at the writing of this report is cataloging the books in the high school library. Mrs. Ford is a trained and exper- ienced librarian and is devoting much time to organizing our library. We expect that we shall soon have a well- furnished and a well-organized school library.


It has been a pleasure to work with the school person- nel during the past year. The superintendent, school com- mittee and teachers have been very helpful in all that we have done.


182


REPORT OF THE PRINCIPAL OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL


DONALD C. NESMITH


It is with pleasure that I submit my third annual report as principal of Harwich Elementary School.


I would like briefly to indicate that many of the routine items mentioned in my two previous reports are currently in effect; that is, the banking program, the school safety patrol, assembly programs commemorating the major na- tional holidays, the invaluable school lunch program, the work of the school health department, the conscientious work of the school bus drivers.


Each year there are a certain number of changes which occur which are worthy of note. Perhaps the most salient item is the opening of the Brooks Academy building for the purpose of housing the seventh grade classes. Your ele- mentary school building is now accommodating the grades for which it was constructed. Since September of 1956 we have had two sessions of kindergarten, three first grades, three second grades, three third grades, three fourth grades, two fifth grades, two sixth grades, one class for the train- able mentally retarded and one class for the educable men- tally retarded.


The members of the faculty have formulated plans for the revision of several areas of the academic curriculum. Committees are meeting in the fields of arithmetic instruc- tion, social studies, and English and language arts. The mem- bers of these committees have as their primary purpose the improvement of the academic program throughout all of the schools of Harwich. This work will be an ongoing and con- tinuing program involving two or three years of effort.


Another continuing program which I feel is invaluable is the attendance of all our sixth grade pupils at the classes in library science presented by Mrs. Virginia Doane at the Brooks Free Library. Many essential skills and understand- ings are gained which would be unobtainable without this fine service.


Since the submission of the last report, a program of music appreciation has been organized by Mr. Samuel Grif- fiths, elementary instrumental music supervisor. These pro- grams are broadcast on alternate Friday mornings through


183


the facilities of the fine new inter-communication system. We feel that youngsters in grades four, five, and six profit greatly by hearing and learning about fine music.


I would like to repeat a section of my report of 1954.


Audio visual education is a necessary part of the mod- ern educational scene. Many times audio-visual aids make the transition from the abstract to the concrete a clear and understandable one. Audio visual education is not an end in itself but is rather a means to an end. It is necessary that audio-visual materials be planned and developed to meet the learning situation.


The problem of the use of audio-visual materials in the school program involves making accessible to the teacher all the audio visual services needed to help him provide a good learning situation. It is imperative that certain basic services be provided in order to have the proper tools to use. Some of these services are:


1. A person in the building trained in the use of audio- visual materials.


2. The following equipment should be available at all times.


A. A standard lantern slide projector.


B. A combination 2 x 2 and film strip projector (now in the building)


C. An opaque projector


D. A magnetic tape recorder


E. A three speed record player (several now in the building)


F. A sound motion picture projector (now in the build- ing)


G. A daylight type projection screen (now in the build- ing)


H. A radio (now in the building)


3. Supplies for making learning materials should be avail- able. (Some are now available).


A. Materials for hand made lantern slides


B. Photographic materials


C. Materials for bulletin boards


D. Poster and exhibit materials


E. Materials for sound recordings


4. Opportunities should be provided for field trips, work experiences, etc.


5. In service training in the proper utilization of mate -- rials and equipment should be provided for all staff mem- bers.


184


6. An audio-visual library service should be maintained in the school in order to acquaint the teacher with the lit -. erature. Some materials that should be readily acces- sible are:


A. Films


B. Slides of all types


C. Strip films


D. Recordings


E. Live radio and television programs


F. Picture collections


G. Exhibits


Teachers often fail to use audio-visual materials simply because they are unaccessible at the time they are needed. Availability of these materials is of primary importance.


This report would not be complete without further men- tion of our wonderful intercommunication system. Perhaps a brief indication of the work the intercom does would be interesting to the reader. Our system incorporates the three channel service-this means that several school rooms may listen to a phonograph program, several other rooms may listen to a radio program, and several rooms may be reached by an announcement from the principals office-all three being transmitted at the same time. We appreciate having this system very much.


I wish to express my appreciation to the teachers, par- ents, and pupils for their cooperative interest in the school.


I am grateful for the assistance and cooperation given me by Mr. Pierce, Dr. Chace and the School Committee.


REPORT OF THE GUIDANCE DIRECTOR


JAMES W. ALCOCK


I am pleased to submit my third annual report as Guidance Director for Harwich High School.


Twenty-six students were graduated in the Class of 1956. Six are employed, three are married, four entered military service, and fourteen are continuing their education.


In recent years education and training beyond the high school level have become increasingly important. Gradu- ates of the commercial program at Harwich are qualified for entrance positions in the business field, but more employers today are requiring additional training of applicants for at- tractive positions. Not too long ago graduates of the general


185


program would enter work at a non-skilled level and work their way up. Now there is a demand for business and tech- nically trained personnel, and there are openings in schools for graduates of good standing from the high school general program.


It is becoming more difficult to gain admission to four- year colleges. Competition for entrance is forcing scholastic standards up. Surveys indicate that by 1960 the flood of college applications is expected to exceed those during the peak of post-World War II years by approximately 30 per cent. Maximum increase in facilities planned by present four-year colleges appears limited to 5-10 per cent.


Many educators feel that careers of future high school graduates depend upon the development of junior or com- munity colleges. Interested parents should give serious con- sideration to the establishment of a Cape Community Col- lege with a dual program, two-year terminal (business or technical) and two-year transfer (general college).


The guidance record developed last year has been print- ed, but much clerical work must be accomplished to put these records into working order. Part time clerical help will be needed if these records are to be maintained for effective use.


The guidance record is important in the student-cen- tered method of counseling used in our program. This meth- od, which requires students to make their own decisions, is necessarily time consuming. Mrs. Kimball's help this year is greatly appreciated for, in addition to the extra periods of counseling, daily continuity is assured. Because of the amount of counseling to be covered I would like to encourage parents wishing to discuss student problems to utilize ap- pointments after class hours.


During the past year I have served as a member of the Test Institute sponsored by the State Department of Edu- cation and also as a member of a team sponsored by the New England Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools to evaluate Plymouth High School. Both these functions will effect the future operation of our guidance program.


Guidance can never be the work of a few, and I wish to express my appreciation for the cooperation and support given to guidance efforts during the past year.


186


REPORT OF THE ELEMENTARY SUPERVISOR


I am happy to submit my third annual report as ele- mentary supervisor in the schools of Union No. 16 and to show how I am carrying out the work of this position.


A careful testing program is being continued, records kept, and the total elementary school program studied with aim to better progress. Mental ability testing has been done with group tests at first, third, and sixth grade levels and individual testing wherever group results or class perform- ance indicated a need. In addition to achievement tests given all children in May, some special reading diagnostic tests have been given.




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