USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > West Bridgewater > Town annual reports of the selectmen, overseers of the poor, town clerk, and school committee of West Bridgewater for the year ending 1920-1924 > Part 9
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UNCLASSIFIED.
Printing and distributing Town Reports, $288.60 Hall grounds:
Cement work,
785.62
Seeding lawn,
33.60
Insurance (liability),
306.86
(fire),
247.35
Boulder and bronze tablet,
500.00
Moving bronze tablet,
36.00
Welcome home,
48.00
Plymouth County Hospital Mainten-
ance,
665.93
Plymouth County Hospital Construc-
tion,
6,026.84
Eastern Street Railroad bond,
138.95
$9,077.75
WATER DEPARTMENT.
Administration :
Commissioner's salaries,
$150.00
Clerks,
222.50
City of Brockton, water,
3,997.04
Stationery and postage,
42.00
Printing and advertising,
53.38
Bonds,
3,700.00
Interest,
3,035.60
Insurance (liability),
84.20
(truck),
8.17
88
General:
Labor,
1,656.25
Teams,
3.81
Pipes and fittings,
470.43
Meters and fittings,
20.27
Equipment and supplies,
631.30
Repairs,
134.00
Reserve fund deposits,
170.86
$14,379.81
CEMETERIES.
Care of cemeteries, $92.15
INTEREST.
On temporary loans,
$358.37
On highway loans,
780.00
$1,138.37
MUNICIPAL INDEBTEDNESS.
Temporary loan,
$10,000.00
Highway loan,
6,000.00
$16,000.00
Taxes:
State Tax,
$5,740.00
Special State Tax,
270.60
Civilian War Poll Tax,
2,334.00
County Tax,
3,710.90
$12,055.50
89
REFUNDS.
Taxes,
Departmental,
$71.11 25.00
$96.11
$165,343.31
Cash balances: General, Water,
$8,062.33 402.25
$8,464.58
$173,807.89
Balance Sheet, December 31, 1921.
GENERAL ACCOUNTS.
Cash:
ASSETS.
LIABILITIES.
In banks and offices: General,
Water,
$8,062.33 402.25
Water Department, 402.25
$562.66
Water Reserve Fund,
1,168.47
Water Construction Re-
serve Fund, 1,681.89
Town Farm Account Re-
serve,
6,000.00
Overlay (reserved for abate- ments):
Levy of 1919, $79.55
Accounts receivable :
F. L. Howard, collector:
Taxes 1919,
$602.23
Taxes 1920,
4,277.78
Taxes 1921,
14,823.30
-
Water rates,
Water Revenue, 3,425.40
Excess and deficiency,
13,422.22
·
$690.00
Civilian War Poll Tax,
6.00
$696.00
$35,139.65
$35,139.65
$8,464.58
Brockton Savings Bank:
Water Reserve Fund, $1,168.47
East Bridgewater Savings Bank:
Water Construction Re- serve Fund, 1,681.89
$2,850.36
Levy of 1920, 2,520.96
Levy of 1921, 320.66
$2,921.17 957.84
Surplus Overlay Reserve Revenue Loan, anticipation of taxes,
5,000.00
Due from State: State Aid,
$19,703.31 3,425.40
Appropriation balances: Reserve Fund, $160.41.
TRUST ACCOUNTS.
Trust Funds: Cash and Securities, $19,937.85
Cemetery Perpetual Care Funds:
South Street fund. $256.93
Mrs. Henry Copeland fund, 107.84
Isabel Howard fund, 107.22
Charles C. Thayer fund,
151.00
Oren Smith fund,
159.11
Rosa R. Shaw fund,
260.41
Martha K. Crosby fund,
106.64
Henry J. LeLacheur fund, 101.88
Mary A. Dewyer fund, .
100.00
$1,351.03
Library funds:
Cornelia Alger fund, $762.33
Mary N. H. Edgerly fund, 525.65
Francis E. Howard fund, 525.05
Nathan Copeland fund, 423.79
Mary P. Whitman fund,
16,350.00
$18,586.82
$19,937.85
$19,937.85
DEBT ACCOUNTS.
Water loans, Highway loans,
$73,540.00 20,000.00
Net debt, $93,540.00
$93,540.00
$93,540.00
92
1
STATEMENT OF TRUST FUNDS.
CEMETERY PERPETUAL CARE FUNDS.
Savings Bank deposits beginning of year,
$1,134.61
Savings Bank deposits end of year, 1,351.03
Receipts
Payments
Interest,
$52.42
Deposited in bank
$252.42
Bequests,
200.00
$252.42
BALANCE.
Name of Fund
Jan. 1, 1921
Receipts
Withdrawn
Balance
Mrs. Henry Copeland, $110.82
$5.02
$8.00
$107.84
South St. Cemetery,
245.77
11.16
256.93
Isabel Howard,
110.22
5.00
8.00
107.22
Charles C. Thayer,
144.45
6.55
151.00
Oren Smith,
163.68
7.43
12.00
159.11
Martha K. Crosby,
109.67
4.97
8.00
106.64
Rosa R. Shaw,
250.00
10.41
260.41
Henry J. LeLacheur,
101.88
101.88
Mary A. Dewyer,
100.00
100.00
$1,134.61
$252.42
$36.00 $1,351.03
93
LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS.
Savings Bank deposits beginning of year,
$2,282.09
Savings bank deposits end of year,
18,586.82
Receipts
Payments
Interest,
$1,425.98
Deposited in bank, $16,425.98
Bequests, 15,000.00
$16,425.98
Balance
Balance
Name of Fund
Jan. 1, '21
Receipts Withdrawn Dec. 31, '21
Cornelia Alger,
$792.53
$19.80
$50.00
$762.33
Mary N. H. Edgerly,
528.02
23.26
25.62
525.65
Francis E. Howard,
548.08
22.59
45.62
525.05
Nathan Copeland,
413.46
10.33
423.79
Mary P. Whitman,
16,350.00
16,350.00
$2,282.09 $16,425.98 $121.25 $18,586.82
ARTHUR C. PECKHAM, Town Accountant.
Town Clerk's Report.
BIRTHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1921.
DATE. CHILD'S NAME.
PARENT'S NAME.
Jan.
18 Arline Frances Keith
21 Cynthia Asack 25 Leslie Roscoe Bruce
Feb.
7 Doris Christina Johnson
15 Leo Logan Cassidy
15 Ruth Lorraine Tavis 26 Jean Roberts
March
3 Josephine Polus
15 Lester Alfred Ellis
17 Gladys Swares Chaves
21 Harold Keith Marland
21 Leo Charles Lupien
April
2 Audrey Virginia Sturgis
3 James Calvin Tingley
20 Helen Beatrice Hazelton
20 Winthrop Alger James
May 1 Harold Olof Lindskog
3 Stillborn
3 Mary Rita Crowley
4 Natalie Helen Barker
4 Illegitimate
11 Virginia Lee Winslow
12 Daniel Warren Baker
16 Howard Manley Hayward
29 Barbara May Keller
31 Illegitimate
Sumner D. and Bernice E. Martin Mike J. and Sofia Thomas Malcolm L. and Hattie G. Holt
Samuel C. and Esther E. Johnson John J. and Edith J. Erickson Henry M. and Anna V. Hatton E. Marion and Alice Orr
George and Libby Morses Alfred W. and Leola W. Asprinwall Frank and Elemia R. Almenada John Y. and Bernice H. Keith Leo C. and Lillian R. Molito
Harold S. and Grace W: Cyr Samuel I. and Mabel F. Lynch Harry R. and Mary H. Goodwin Locke L. and Catherine B. Alger
Elof I. and Edna A. Miner
Daniel F. and Delia Duggan Andrew W. and Helen M. Denley
Edward F. and Elva H. Thayer Everett C. and Abbie E. Godbout John L. and Avora J. Lyon Everett W. & Florence M. Nickerson
95
June
19 James Souza 21 Grace Moore Hayes
23 Leroy Homer Porter, Jr. July
2 Robert Tilden Katwick
13 David Adolph Johnson
13 Jesse Souza Chaves
14 Adolph William Schramm.
14 James Louis Finch
16 John Keenan
August
10 Robert William McFarland
11 Anna A. B. Fratis
14 Harriet Marion Hertzberg
21 Joseph Frank Kukausaas
29 Alice Virginia Burke
Sept.
8 Edward Cram
26 Mary Elizabeth Hannan
27 Eileen Jeannette Vandyke
28 Hellen Adele Kates
30 Francis Adolor DiGiano Oct.
12 Rose Elsie Andrea
24 Royal Kinney Snell Nov. 1 Doris Eleanor White 3 Doris Margaret Horne
6 Earle Herbert Barnes
13 Edna Ruth Peckham
15 Joseph Chester Rossi 22 Ruth Lorraine Berthiaume
23 Janice Ruth Williams
Dec.
12 Phyllis Miner
18 Caroline Emma Austin
25 Sarah Elizabeth George
29 Lawrence Crowley
Antonio and Isabel Travis John T. and Margaret E. Murphy Leroy H. and Beatrice E. Briggs
John J. and Ellen F. Lynch Joseph T. and Anna B. Johnson Antonio S. and Mary Souza Theodore and Minnie Behraus James C. and Lelia M. Holyoke Bernard F. and Annie A. Nee
John W. and Marjorie E. Sullivan Joseph and Isabel Borgess Samuel and Nettie Shick Frank and Mary Sinburiz Thomas F. and Mary T. Gormley
Percy E. and Elizabeth Brown Francis J. and Lila H. Pillsbury Harold D. and Eileen J. Dearth Sidney E. and Zelda Sagarin Frank and Theresa M. J. Carrinolo
Manuel J. and Virginia B. Gabriel Horace R. and Marion F. Kinney
Dallas E. and Emma Casey Lawrence W. and Myrtle C. Mooly Earl V. and Aldia E. Duragon Fred G. and Eunice E. Salisbury Giuseppi and Ernesta Roynoni Albert J. and Lulu F. Hall Harold C. and Ruth H. Smith
Charles E. and Florence E. Beal Charles A. and Susie M. Bodge David and Annie George Walter D. and Margaret M. Cotter
Number of Births recorded, 58.
Any person noticing any errors or omissions in the report of Births, Marriages or Deaths, will please notify the Town Clerk.
96
MARRIAGES RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1921.
Jan. 3. Arthur Chassey of West Bridgewater and Albertina A. Boulanger of Fall River, at Fall River.
19. Martin D. Fallon of West Bridgewater and Kath- erine N. Wilbur of East Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
22. Giuseppie Rossi and Ernesta (Lucchetti) Roynoni, both of West Bridgewater, at Boston.
29. Leroy M. Burt and Mary E. Bannister, both of Bridgewater, at East Providence, R. I.
30. William O. Chatfield of West Bridgewater and Hazel I. Hopkins of Bridgewater, at Bridge- water.
Feb. 20. Irving B. Reed of Whitman and Gladys A. Nicholas of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
Mar. 11. Lloyd C. Kimball and Blanche M. Young, both of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
26. George I. Chassey of West Bridgewater and Meriel Damon of Scituate, at Bridgewater.
Apr. 2. Forrest C. Bailey of Derry, N. H., and Fannie M. Tighe of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
2. Harold D. Vandyke of West Bridgewater and Eileen J. Dearth of Brockton, at Brockton.
20. Henry W. Weatherill of West Bridgewater and Anna L. Pratt of Brockton, at Brockton.
29. James McCarthy and Grace I. Vosmus, both of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
May 14. Forrest E. Ohlson of West Bridgewater and Mil- dred L. Connor of Boston, at Boston.
26. Homer G. Wilcox of Bridgewater and Blanche B. Chassey of West Bridgewater, at Fairhaven.
97
June 6. Arthur E. Ryder of West Bridgewater and Mar- guerite B. Smith of Springfield, at Springfield.
8. Austin P. McCarthy of Middleboro and Ethel G. Williams of Brookline, at West Bridgewater.
11. Eugene F. Martin of Brockton and Katherine A. Madden of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
14. Samuel D. Irwin of West Bridgewater and Dorothy B. Willey of Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
14. Ernest W. Gleason of Brockton and Mabel S. Irwin of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
14. Nahum P. Gillespie and Marjorie D. Barker, both of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
14. Harvey A. Scranton of Brockton and Arlene M. Barker of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
18. Chester R. Ripley and Marion T. Kinney, both of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
July 18. Arthur F. Cunningham and Evelyn W. Smith, both of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
23. Harold C. Washburn and Alice M. Oliver, both of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
Aug. 12. Austin C. Cole of Easton and Gladys L. Packard of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
13. Horace R. Snell and Marion F. Kinney, both of West Bridgewater, at Avon.
24. Charles W. Millay of West Bridgewater and Alice M. Harvey of Brockton, at West Bridgewater.
27. William Curtis, Jr., of Stoughton, and Helen C. Howard of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
28. Edgar H. Roscoe and Harriet E. Chadwick, both of Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
98
Sept. 3. George A. Sweet of West Bridgewater and Cather- ine L. Talbot of Easton, at Easton.
4. Robert D. Keith of Brockton and Phyllis Logue of West Bridgewater, at West Bridgewater.
10. Leslie F. Bishop of Fairhaven and Dorothy E. Bingham of New Bedford, at W. Bridgewater.
19. Lester W. Reynolds of W. Bridgewater and Alice L. Swift of Brockton, at Brockton.
24. Ralph W. Bingham and Rhoda A. Beal, both of Rockland, at West Bridgewater.
25. Jose M. Marshall of Cambridge and Judith G. Couite of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
Oct. 5. Robert A. Monroe of Easton and Gladys L. Hol- brook of West Bridgewater, at Easton.
12. John F. McFadden of West Bridgewater and Mary V. Fitzpatrick of Brockton. at Brockton.
15. Brenton K. Hobbs and Adel N. Sanders, both of Middleboro, at West Bridgewater.
15. Francis S. Smith of Brockton and Mabel A. M. Nelson of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
16. Earle R. Gummow of West Bridgewater and Ruth C. Jones of Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
22. George G. Merrill of West Bridgewater and Ella F. Daley of Brockton, at Brockton.
Nov. 1. Oliver D. Ellis and Lilla E. Howe, both of West Bridgewater, at Brockton.
18. Louis E. Trow of Brockton and Frances M. Mur- ray of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
20. Anthony Lopes of Taunton and Catherine A. Mediros of West Bridgewater, at Taunton.
23. Jose S. Chaves, Jr., and Mary S. Moura, both of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
99
24. Joseph F. Venture of Bridgewater and Phœbe B. Piva of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
Dec. 14. George E. Baker and Virgil B. Philbrook, both of Brockton, at West Bridgewater.
20. £ Robert D. Kingman of Brockton and Elsie A. Brown of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
22. Harold E. Brooks of West Bridgewater and Beat- rice F. Lawrence of Brockton, at Brockton.
24. Lawrence E. Burt of Brockton and Ethel M. Holy- oke of West Bridgewater, at West Bridge- water.
25. Edward Stephens of Bridgewater and Hilda B. M. Hindle of West Bridgewater, at Bridgewater.
26. Lewis B. Codding, Jr., and Louise Ray Tracy, both of Hartford, Conn., at West Bridge- water.
Number of marriages recorded, 51.
100
DEATHS RECORDED IN WEST BRIDGEWATER IN 1921.
DATE.
NAME.
AGE.
CAUSE OF DEATH.
Jan.
Y
M D
18 Mary George
46
Carcinoma of breast
22 George H. Holmes
66
3
30
Angina Pectoris
Feb.
16 Mary L. Stetson
91
4
10
Arterio Sclerosis
18 Emma Alger
57
9
10
Broncho-pneumonia
23 Jean B. Irwin
49
10
22
Carcinoma of Pancreas
March
5 Joaquina B. Pain
55
Bronchial-pneumonia Bronchial-pneumonia
25 Lawrence S. Goodrich
7
4
7
Scarletina
April
6 Channing F. Dunbar
61
9
10
Facial Erysipelis
19 John A. Bittencourt
1
4
3 Cerebro spinal meningitis
22 Henry Parry
90
2
14 Mitral insufficiency
May
3 Stillborn
4 Hannah M. Doody
52
1
Drowning Cerebral hemorrhage
7 Antonio M. Salvador
54
24 Ellen A. Hartwell
77
25 Daniel F. O'Leary
44
25 Cerebral hemorrhage Alcholism
June
5 Kenneth R. Grover July
1
11 Syphilis
4 Francisco de Leca
24
Abdominal hemorrhage Chronic Endocarditis
9 Isadora R. Ripley
70
3
16
15 Mabel Hefler
15
11
17
Cerebral spinal meningitis
August
4 Edwin H. Lothrop
77
9
16
Carcinoma of Bladder
11 Alfonzo J. Pillsbury
66
11
2
Pulmonary hemorrhage
Sept, 3 Murial G. Ryder
2
6
10
Cholera Infantum
25 Nathan K. Leonard Oct.
60
Chronic Bright's Disease
19 Ella A. Peckham
72
17
Hypostatic pneumonia Angina Pectoris
30 Winthrop A. James
6
Fracture of skull
Nov.
14 Olive V. Crawford
85
4
4
Gastric Entritis (Old Age)
27 Rupert L. Raymond
21
8
7
Pulmonary tuberculosis
30 Cora B. Packard
51
--
15
Acute Illiocellitis
Dec.
1 Philip Sullivan
80
8
Arterio Sclerosis
5 Mary E. Brick
82
4
9
Aortic Insufficiency
7 Charles H. Taylor
66
3
8 Chronic Catarrhal Bronchitis
144 Phyllis Miner
Atelectasis
Number of Deaths recorded, 35.
-
6 Sadie D. George£
3
6
23
Bronchial-pneumonia
20 Melvin O. Raymond
29 Freeman H. Kaizer
65
IOI
ABSTRACT FROM CHAPTER 99 OF THE REVISED LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Sec. 3. Physicians and midwives shall, within forty-eight hours after the birth of every child in cases of which they were in charge, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a notice stating the date and place of the birth, giving the street number if any, color and the family name. They shall within fifteen days after the birth, mail or deliver to the clerk or registrar of the city or town in which the birth occurred, a report of the birth, stating the date and place, the name, if any, of the child, its sex and color, and the names, ages, places of birth, occupations and residences of the parents, giving the street number, if there be any, and the number of the ward in a city, the maiden name of the mother, if the full return is not made within the forty-eight hours.
The fee of the physician or midwife shall be twenty-five cents for each birth so reported. A physician or midwife who neglects to report each birth within forty-eight hours or fifteen days thereafter, shall for each offence forfeit a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars.
Sec. 6. Parents, within forty days after the birth of a child, and every householder within forty days after a birth in his house, shall cause notice thereof to be given to the clerk of the city or town in which such child is born.
The facts required for record, as stated in section 3, shall, so far as known or obtainable, be included in every notice given under the provision of this section.
Sec. 8. A parent, or other persons who, by section 6, is required to give, or cause to be given, notice of a birth or death, who neglects to do so for ten days after the time lim- ited therefor, shall forfeit not more than five dollars for each offence.
Sec. 24. The Town Clerk will furnish blanks for returns of births to parents, householders, physicians and midwives who apply therefor.
REPORT
OF THE
SCHOOL COMMITTEE
AND
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
OF THE TOWN OF
WEST BRIDGEWATER
FOR THE YEAR 1921
A. H. WILLIS, PRINTER BRIDGEWATER, MASS.
1922
Report of School Committee.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR 1922.
HOWARD HIGH SCHOOL.
First Term-January 3 to March 24. Twelve weeks. Vaca- tion, one week.
Second Term -- April 3 to June 23. Twelve weeks. Vacation, ten weeks.
Third Term-September 6 to December 22. Sixteen weeks."
GRADE SCHOOLS.
First Term-January 3 to February 17. Seven weeks. Va- cation, one week.
Second Term-February 27 to April 14. Seven weeks. Va- cation, one week.
Third Term-April 24 to June 23. Nine weeks. Vacation, ten weeks,
Fourth Term-September 6 to December 15. Fifteen weeks.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
Mrs. Corelli C. Alger, term expires 1922.
Dr. W. C. Whiting, term expires 1922.
*Mr. Albert D. Barker, term expires 1922.
Mrs. Laura W. Worthing, term expires 1923.
Mr. Walter C. Dunbar, term expires 1923.
106
Mr. Edwin H. Thayer, term expires 1924.
** Mr. Lester M. Fairbanks.
*Elected in accordance with the law by the Board of Select- men and School Committee to serve until the annual Town Meeting in March 1922 in place of Lester M. Fairbanks, who resigned.
** Resigned in October 1921.
ORGANIZATION.
Chairman, Edwin H. Thayer.
Secretary, Corelli C. Alger.
Supply Agent, Supt. Thomas E. Gay.
Truant Officers, J. C. Howard, Thomas E. Gay, and N. John Wilbur.
Superintendent of Schools, Thomas E. Gay.
Office at the Howard High School.
Office hours, by appointment.
Nothing in educational work is permanent, not even mem- bership in the School Committee. It has been a source of deep regret that removal from town forced Mr. Lester M. Fair- banks to resign in October. In accordance with the Statutes of the Commonwealth at a joint meeting of the Seleetmen and School Committee, Mr. Albert D. Barker was unanimously elected to serve until the next annual Town Meeting in March. Mr. Barker by education and training in the affairs of the business world is well equipped for the office and has dis- played a deep interest in the educational welfare of the child- ren of our community.
Our teachers continue to leave us for more attractive pos- itions in other fields. Mr. Stuart R. Race, Principal of the High School resigned in July and was succeeded by Mr. Henry D. Carle, as permanent principal in October. Beside Mr. Race, five other high school teachers resigned. While we were very sorry to lose them, we still feel some consolation
107
in the fact that we had teachers who had displayed their worth and efficiency. We feel that Mr. Carle has the high School situation well in hand. His task has not been easy be- cause of the many resignations and the fact that he could not take charge of the school at the opening in September.
The Parent-Teachers' reception under the direction of the Committee seems to have succeeded in bringing together a larger number of parents than we anticipated and we trust has been the means of establishing a better understanding and more cordial relationship between parents and teachers.
For additional information regarding our schools, we respectfully urge a careful reading of the reports that follow.
We respectfully suggest the following appropriations for the coming year and also urge readers of this report to read carefully that part of the Superintendent's report that deals with State reimbursement.
APPROPRIATIONS RECOMMENDED.
General control,
$2,100.00
Teachers' salaries,
31,000.00
Text books and supplies,
2,000.00
Janitors,
2,100.00
Janitors' supplies,
100.00
Repairs,
1,500.00
Fuel,
2,000.00
Transportation,
3,100.00
School Nurse,
800.00
Medical Inspection,
100.00
Miscellaneous,
300.00
$45,100.00
EDWIN H. THAYER, Chairman,
CORELLI C. ALGER, Secretary, W. C. WHITING,
WALTER C. DUNBAR,
LAURA W. WORTHING,
ALBERT D. BARKER,
School Committee.
Report of the Superintendent of Schools.
To the School Committee of West Bridgewater, Mass .:
I have the honor to submit herewith my second annual report as Superintendent of Schools. In spite of the news- paper reports that the teacher shortage is a thing of the past and that the teachers are flocking back to the school-rooms, your superintendent has found that there is a dearth of really capable teachers. It is true that the worst of the shortage is over and it is equally true that more students are enrolled in the normal schools. The situation cannot be entirely relieved for a number of years yet and it will not be relieved then, unless the present level of salaries is pretty generally maintained throughout the country.
As is well known we lost six teachers from the high school faculty of eight during the summer vacation. Com- mercial enterprises measure their efficiency by their labor turnover. Upon such a basis the efficiency of our high school at the beginning of the fall term was about 25%. Due to the fact that three of the instructors besides the principal had had experience, the school rapidly improved in efficiency. At the same time it must be remembered that any concern experiencing such a loss of efficiency annually would soon be in bankruptcy. Our high school has now reached such a size that we ought to require teachers with some successful experience elsewhere. We can only do this by maintaining an adequate salary schedule. It should be borne in mind that teachers fresh from college were demanding and receiving
109
$1,200 last summer. As far as can be determined the same level will be maintained the coming year. For the first time in the history of the school, a man has been employed as an instructor. This has been a decided success. Mathematics and Mechanical Drawing are usually better taught by a man than by a woman. An additional man has relieved the Prin- cipal of a certain amount of routine and made it possible for Mr. Carle to devote his energies to the big problems of administration. Finally, a man can handle large classes and from a financial standpoint is a good investment.
The report of the High School Principal follows. It is the desire of your Superintendent that the parents of High school pupils should read with particular care, Mr. Carle's recommendations for a longer school day. There is not the slightest doubt in the mind of the writer that there should be a six hour day in our high school. Home study for many reasons has become a lost art, not only among high school students in West Bridgewater, but in many other places. Every high school pupil should study from two to three hours outside of school but as a matter of fact very few do any- where near that amount. An additional hour in school would be worth almost twice that amount of so-called home study.
STATE REIMBURSEMENT.
Most citizens and tax-payers have a more or less vague idea that we receive certain sums from the State as reim- bursement for money spent for educational purposes by the Town. I doubt if many realize the sums that we receive and are familiar with the process-if we may use that term-of reimbursement.
There is not the space in this report to explain this mat- ter at great length. Reimbursement consists of money distributed from the Massachusetts School Fund, from the
110
Income Tax, and upon payments made for salary of the Superintendent and his traveling expenses.
Claims for reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Fund are filed on February 1st of each year and paid in the following March. Claims for reimbursement under the dis- tribution of the Income Tax are filed on August 1st and are paid in the following November. Claims for reimbursement upon payments made for salary and expenses of Superintend- ent are filed August 1st and paid the following November.
From these different sources we received the following amounts in 1921:
Massachusetts School Fund, $4,608.67
Income Tax distribution,
6,050.50
Reimbursement on Superintendent's sal-
ary and expenses, 1,152.96
Total, $11,812.13
Certain changes that were made in the laws covering reimbursement by the last legislature should give us in 1922 quite a little more money.
Since September we have had a school nurse for two days per week. Her report follows and should make inter- esting reading and furnish food for thought for those inter- ested in the well-being of our children.
A "Know Your School Week" early in December brought out quite a number of parents and citizens to visit the schools. It is to be hoped that many will acquire the habit of visiting the schools and becoming acquainted with the work.
That our schools are growing will be seen by glancing at the table of enrolment. There are at present 31 more than were enrolled a year ago. Additional room at the Center is needed at the present time and it would seem that the satis- fying of that need cannot be postponed very long. There is
an overflow room at the high school building where, thanks to the good work of Miss McElhiney, the teacher, the child- ren are making satisfactory progress under conditions that are not the best.
The thought that the writer would like to leave with his readers is best expressed in the words of the following mes- sage sent from the fields of France during the war by Dr. Finlay, Commissioner of Education for the State of New York:
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