USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1921-1925 > Part 11
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3. HOUSING CONDITIONS
The new building will be taxed to its seating capacity to accommodate the six upper grades this coming Sep-
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tember. If the number of grades are reduced to 12, it would not be possible to organize your grades on the 6-3-3 basis, because of the lack of room in the new school. You could, however, organize your schools according to the 7-2-3 plan. By that disposition of your pupils the elementary schools would take care of the first seven grades. There would be two years in the Junior High School course and three years in the Senior High School course. The 7-2-3 plan would place the burden of hous- ing upon the elementary schools.
4. HOW TO MAKE THE CHANGE IN NUMBER OF GRADES
The best plan to adopt, if in your judgment you deem it wise to change the number of grades in your system, may be termed the absorption plan. The point of attack in the absorption plan is the ninth grade. At present we are absorbing the last half of the ninth grade period by giving the pupils of that grade regular high school work. It would be possible, by careful grouping of the children in the seventh and eighth grades over a period of two years, and by giving special work to these grades, to start the high school work at the beginning of the ninth grade. Of course, accompanying this plan there would be a readjustment of the work in all of the grades.
5. THE AGAWAM JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE LIGHT OF THE SEVEN FUNDAMEN- TAL OBJECTIVES OF SECONDARY EDUCA- TION.
This is the day when generalities are being swept aside and specific situations are being set up in their place. Educators have come to believe that the type of education which fits the individual for anything and everything in the end fits him for nothing. On the other hand their belief is increasingly strengthened in the view
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that the type of education most worth while is that which functions in the lives of the pupils, not at some future date, but at the present; in other words, real edu- cation must be specific in character.
If education is to become specific in character then it must have some objectives, certain ends in view, for which plans are made and to the attainment of which the teachers and pupils will strive. What are the funda- mental objectives of modern education? The report of the Commission on the Reorganization of Secondary Education, appointed by the National Education Associa- tion, has recommended the seven following aspects of secondary education as being fundamental : Health, Com- mand of Fundamental Processes, Worthy Home Member- ship, Vocation, Citizenship, Worthy Use of Leisure, Eth- ical Character.
A careful study of the above objectives give the im- pression that they are fundamental-the sumum bonum in education-the goal toward which our citizens, school committee, teachers and pupils should strive. At this point the question naturally arises-what is Agawam doing in secondary education in the light of the above- mentioned objectives ? This part of my report will answer that question point for point.
HEALTH
Your pupils have in the new building at present ideal housing conditions. Each pupil has a seat in a room that is not overcrowded. There is an abundance of light in each room and the air space for every pupil is ample. The heating and ventilating of the building could hardly be improved.
A very modern gymnasium, second to none in the state, makes it possible to offer to your pupils excellent courses in physical training. The large floor space in the gymnasium affords an opportunity to play basket-
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ball, indoor baseball, volley ball and all indoor games. Connected with the gymnasium is a large play ground for out of door sports.
In taking an inventory of the health factors in your High School one must not overlook the lunch room, for here, too, you measure up to a high standard. Each pupil has a seat at a table and can procure from the lunch counter at a nominal price a hot dish of food to supplement his box lunch.
In addition to the above mentioned health provisions mention should be made of the work done by the school physician and school nurse. These two officials watch over the health of your pupils and co-operate in full measure to keep the spread of contagion down to the minimum level.
COMMAND OF THE FUNDAMENTAL PROCESSES
Although much of the energy of the elementary schools is devoted to teaching the fundamental processes, such as reading, writing, arithmetical computation, and the elements of oral and written expression, yet the facility that a pupil promoted from our elementary schools may have acquired in the use of these tools is not sufficient for the needs of modern life. In the Junior High School emphasis is placed on drill in the subjects above mentioned. And in the Senior High School, in English, in Mathematics, in History and in Science par- ticular effort is made to secure clear and accurate think- ing on the part of the pupils.
WORTHY HOME MEMBERSHIP
Courses in History and Civics deal with the home as a fundamental, social institution, and emphasize its rela- tion to the wider interests outside.
Our splendid Domestic Science equipment makes it possible to give courses in cooking and sewing, which
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will prove of great benefit to the girls when homemaking becomes their life-long occupation. It seems proper to record here the fact that Domestic Science is not an optional subject in the Junior-Senior High School; it is required by all girls in grades 8, 9, and 10.
Manual Training is a required subject for all boys of grades 8, 9, and 10. A knowledge of tools and how to use them is of great worth in the home life of any youth or adult.
VOCATION
More and more as the years go by the idea that our schools should be vocational in nature is gaining head. way. At least our schools should give a firm foundation in the mastery of the fundamental processes and at the same time present an opportunity to the pupils to explore their own capacities and aptitudes, to the end that they may select their vocations wisely.
In the Junior High some try-out courses are given in the last part of the ninth grade. These courses are exploratory in nature and should assist the student to find his proper sphere in the system.
In the Senior High School the Commercial Curricu- lum is distinctly vocational, and as such it is fulfilling its purpose.
The College Preparatory Course and the General Course must also be considered as vocational for those pupils who are planning to enter some higher institution in order to prepare themselves for one of the professions.
Agawam is for the most part a rural community, and it would seem that if the interests of Agawam were given due consideration in working up the various cur- ricula, an Agricultural Curriculum should be added to our program of studies. The School Committee have had this project presented to them by the State Director of Agriculture.
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CITIZENSHIP
The crying need of our country is, at the present time, co-operation and harmony. It is the duty of our schools to train the youth in the fundamentals of good citizenship. To that end we are offering strong courses in History, Geography, Civics, and English. During the coming school year, when we shall have in the upper school a Senior class, courses will be given in Elementary Economics and Problems of a Democracy. Both of these courses should help in the making of good citizens.
WORTHY USE OF LEISURE TIME
"Education should equip the individual to secure from his leisure the recreation of his body, mind, and spirit, and the enrichment and enlargement of his per- sonality." The children of this day and generation, in the lives of whom the eight-hour day is going to function, will have, when they reach adult life, a greater period of leisure time than their forebears. How shall their time be spent? What is our school doing to help out in this important problem? The agencies in our school which contribute to a worthy use of leisure time are as follows : Art; Music; Literary Appreciation ; and Extra Curricula Activities, which includes Orchestra, Glee Club, Dramatic Club, Debating Association, Football, Baseball, Basket- ball, and all forms of Athletic activity.
In all of our courses in English an effort is made to inculcate a taste for good literature that will carry over into adult life. We are in need of a good working library in order to get the best results from our work in English.
At present our Glee Club and Dramatic Association are preparing entertainments, the proceeds of which are to be donated to the Library Fund. I hope that the School Committee will appropriate a suitable sum each year for the purchase of reference books until our library equipment is adequate.
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ETHICAL CHARACTER
In a democratic society ethical character becomes paramount among the objectives of the secondary school. Agawam seeks by selecting wisely the content of the subjects studied and by using the proper methods of instruction to arouse the initiative of the pupils and to create within them a true sense of personal responsibility. We may say then that there is an ethical tone in all of our courses. Our extra curricula activities contribute to this end also, and for that reason are given due emphasis in the organization of the school.
CONCLUSION: From the foregoing paragraphs it will be seen that the Agawam Junior-Senior High School, when measured in the light of the seven objectives of secondary education, is headed in the right direction. These objectives are far reaching in influence, and will serve as beacon stars beckoning the administration on and on to expend every effort to make the Agawam Junior-Senior High School an ideal school. At present there are the following needs to be satisfied : We should inaugurate a course in First Aid and Home Nursing. We should add an agricultural curriculum to our program of studies. The number of volumes in the library should be increased at once. The Athletic Field should be graded and put into proper condition for out-of-door athletics.
III. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
1. HOUSING CONDITIONS
Although the Junior-Senior High School now accom- modates the eighth and ninth grades and one seventh grade, the housing condition still remains a problem. A survey of conditions shows that most rooms are taxed to seating capacity ; two rooms have more pupils than can be seated, and in one case a part-time schedule is in operation.
The promotion forecast offers no hope of relief
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from the burden of over-large classes. The congestion at the Springfield Street School on the plains can no longer be relieved through transfer of pupils to North Agawam and Feeding Hills, as these schools cannot take care of the overflow. Such transfer would result this year in a class of at least sixty in one instance and in another case would mean that a group would have no class room. This will necessitate a part-time schedule for four groups, and would continue the very undesirable problem of transfer.
2. PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT
There is no one agency that contributes more to the creating and maintaining of a good school spirit in a pub- lic school than good playground activity under proper supervision. At nearly all of your schools there is ample playground space, but there is a lack of playground equipment. Playground and athletic equipment are ex- pensive and I hesitate to ask the Committee to give an appropriation for this need when there are so many other drafts on the school funds. The pupils in the various districts have helped out somewhat along this line by purchasing soccer balls and volley balls. They have shown that they are ready to co-operate, and I feel that such co-operation should be met half way, at least, by those who have the direction of their educational welfare in their hands. At a very little expense to the town, through the help of the manual training department, the following equipment could and should be installed on the various playgrounds-jumping standards ; a court for the running and standing broad jump with pit; volley ball court ; basketball court; soccer ball field.
3. COURSE OF STUDY
Since every community has its own peculiar prob- lems to work out in the conduct of the schools, it is quite
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necessary that there be at hand a course of study for the information and guidance of the teachers and super- visors. Assistant Superintendent Nathalie Forbes Moul- ton is writing a course of study for the elementary grades and in this project she has the hearty co-operation of every member of the teaching staff.
4. BOOKS
For the successful working out of any course of study, good books are essential. In fact, most of the more recent books which have been written for the elementary schools are books based on the best method of teaching the subject portrayed. For this reason the new books are usually a great improvement on those editions which have gone before.
Agawam needs new books in two important depart- ments ; namely, in basal reading and in elementary geog- raphy. Since the basal readers now in use have served their time and will have to be replaced by new books, I recommend that a new basal reader be purchased for the elementary schools. What has been written above in regard to reading books is also true in regard to the geographies. The geographies are badly worn and are not up to date; they must be replaced; and here, too, I recommend the purchase of a new book.
CONCLUSION: In closing my report I wish to take this opportunity to commend the teaching force of your schools. I have found the teachers a very capable and conscientious group, showing at all times and under all conditions a helpful, co-operative disposition. I will add that this splendid spirit on their part is reflected in the conduct of the pupils under their control, in conse- quence of which there is real progress in your schools.
Finally, Gentlemen of the School Committee, I wish to express my appreciation of the unstinted assistance
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and support I have received from you. No previous School Committee has shouldered the responsibility of establishing in Agawam a Junior-Senior High School Department of Education. It was within your power to meet this responsibility by makeshift plans and meas- ures. You preferred, however, to face the project ani- mated with the zeal to give Agawam not only a new building but also to install in that building the best pos- sible working equipment, to the end that a capable teach- ing staff should not be handicapped in the least in their efforts to produce substantial results. You have built not only for today, but for the days to come. You have rendered unqualified service to a lofty ideal, the ideal of giving the coming citizens of the town an environment that will stimulate the growth of sound character. It has been a pleasure for me to work with you.
Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN J. PHELPS
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SCHOOL DIRECTORY, 1923
Name
Position
Date of Appointment Home Address
Benjamin J. Phelps
Superintendent of Schools
July 1922
Agawam
Nathalie F. Moulton
Asst. Superintendent of Schools
Sept. 1922
Kittery Depot, Me.
Hazel Clark
Supervisor of Music
Sept.
1922
Kennebunkport, Me.
Mary F. Pierce
Supervisor of Drawing
Sept.
1922
Rutland, Vt.
Katherine G. Danahy, Prin.
North Agawam, Grade VII
Sept.
1899
North Agawam
Mae Pauline Lynch
North Agawam,
Grade VI
Sept.
1919
14 Gunn Square, Springfield
Olive A. Fox
North Agawam,
Grade V
Sept.
1914
18 Hampden Street, Westfield
Annette E. Deely
North Agawam,
Grade IV
Sept.
1921
22 Cliftwood Street, Springfield
Anna M. LaSalle
North Agawam,
Grade III
Sept.
1921
18 Montpelier Street Springfield
Kathryn M. Roach
North Agawam,
Grade II
Sept.
1922
167 Prospect Street, Springfield
Jennie M. Lucas
North Agawam,
Grade I
Sept.
1900
Plantsville, Conn.
Viola W. Phillips, Prin.
Agawam Center, Grade VII
April
1920
85 Belmont Ave., Springfield
Cora E. Halladay
Agawam Center, Grade VI
Sept.
1915 Suffield, Conn.
Lena E. Collis
Agawam Center, Grade V
Sept.
1917
39 Central Street, Palmer
Minetta M. Jurgenson
Agawam Center, Grade IV
Sept.
1920
Great Barrington, Mass.
Mildred E. Simpson
Agawam Center, Grade III-IV
Sept.
1921
Westboro, Mass.
Gertrude C. Lawrence
Agawam Center, Grade II-III
Esther J. Stevens
Agawam Center, Grade I
Sept.
1922
32 Huntington Street, Springfield
Marion C. Poole, Prin.
Feeding Hills, Grade VI-VII
Sept.
1922
161 Hickory Street, Springfield
David Mckenzie
Feeding Hills. Grade V-VI
Sept.
1922
Thorndike, Mass.
Clara S. Johnson
Feeding Hills, Grade III-IV
Sept.
1921
Brookfield, Mass.
Beryl W. Stodden
Feeding Hills, Grade II-III
Sept.
1922
North Adams, Mass.
Bessie E. Sprowl
Feeding Hills, Grade I
Sept.
1921
Searsmont, Me.
Faolin M. Peirce, Prin.
Springfield Street, Grade I
Sept.
1909
20 Riverdale Street, West Springfield
Springfield Street, Grade II
Sept.
1920
20 Riverdale Street, West Springfield
Viola E. Hopkins
Springfield Street, Grade III
Sept.
1921
179 Montgomery Street, Chicopee Falls
Isabelle M. Cogswell
Springfield Street, Grade IV
Sept.
1922
162 Fort Pleasant Avenue, Springfield Northampton, Mass.
Mary E. O'Shea
Springfield Street, Grade V-VI
Sept.
1922
1922 Monson, Mass.
Freeda R. Fitts
Suffield Street, Grade I-II-III
Sept.
1922
Peterboro, N. H.
Mildred M. Trask
Sept.
1922
Cora M. Barnes
Junior High, History and Civics
Sept.
1922
Wm. J. Burke, Jr.
Junior High, Science and Mathematics
Sept.
1921
35 Washington Road, Springfield
Olive Lewis
Junior High, English
Sept.
1922
East Longemadow
Minta A. Locke
Junior High, Mathematics
Sept.
1921
Pembroke, N. H.
Catherine T. Powers
Junior High, Geography
Sept.
1917
Hazel M. Sullivan
Junior High, History and English
Sept.
1914
11 Smith Avenue, Mittineague
Nellie I. Button
Senior High, English
Sept.
1922
Wallingford, Vt.
Edith J. Best
Senior High, Science and Mathematics
Sept.
1922
Bernardston, Mass.
Catharine Keeler
Senior High, French and Latin
Sept.
1922
Wallingford, Conn.
Clara L. M.Intire
Senior High, Commercial Subjects
Sept.
1922
33 Salem Street, Springfield
Eleanor H. Smith
Senior High, Latin and Mathematics.
Sept.
1922
90 Franklin Street, Northampton, Mass.
Marjorie Ward
Senior High, History and Civics
Sept.
1922
57 Church Street, Athol, Mass.
Abbie L. Burlingham
Junior and Senior High, Physical Tr.
Sept.
1922
20 Myrtle Terrace, Springfield
Hazel S. Cook
Junior and Senior High, Domestic Sci.
Sept.
1922
23 Pleasant Street, Westfield, Mass.
Frederick T. Dacey
Junior and Senior High, Manual Tr.
Sept.
1922
17 William Street, Fitchburg, Mass.
Evelyn L. Moulton
South Street, Grade I-II
Sept.
West Street, Grade I-II-III-IV
Woronoco, Mass. Bradford, Me.
39 Maple Terrace, Mittineague
Harriet D. Carson
Sept.
1920 630 Dickinson Street, Springfield
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Articles in the Warrant for the Annual Town Meeting
MARCH 7. 1923
Art. 1. To choose a Moderator to preside in said meeting.
Art. 2. To choose two or more Fence Viewers, and two or more Field Drivers.
Art. 3. To hear and act upon the reports of the Town Officers.
Art. 4. To see what method the Town will adopt for the support of the Poor for the ensuing year.
Art. 5. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the observance of Memorial Day and provide for its expenditure.
Art. 6. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the payment of a proper charge of an insurance company for acting as surety on the official bond of its officers.
Art. 7. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for liability insurance of its employees.
Art. 8. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing permanent pavement on School Street, and authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Se- lectmen, to borrow said sum or any portion of the same, or act in any way relating thereto.
Art. 9. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of three hundred dollars or any other sum, to be expended by the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture of Hampden County, in
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accordance with the provisions of Chapter 273, Acts of 1918, or take any other action thereon.
Art. 10. To see if the Town will authorize its Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen, to borrow during the current municipal year beginning January 1, 1923, in anticipation of the revenue for said year, such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the Town.
Art. 11. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the payment of a Fish and Game Warden.
Art. 12. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for extending the work of numbering the houses of the Town.
Art. 13. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for the purpose of constructing permanent pavement or any other improvement of Meadow Street, and authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow said sum or any portion of the same, or act in any way relating thereto.
Art. 14. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money for reconstruction of Main Street, providing an equal amount is available from both State and County.
Art. 15. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for purchasing a motor truck for snow removal and other trucking purposes.
Art. 16. To see if the Town will appropriate a special sum of money for snow removal in the highways.
Art. 17. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to investigate housing conditions in the public schools and instruct the same to report their findings with recommendations at an ad- journed meeting.
Art. 18. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for extension of its water system on Adams Street or any other streets.
Art. 19. To act on a resolution requesting legislation : (1) To fix the maximum price for which coal may be sold in any Congressional District or part thereof; (2) To provide for prior sales and shipments to consumers and to retailers of coal.
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Art. 20. To see if the Town will vote to change the time of holding its annual Town meeting.
Art. 21. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money for one continuous piece of sidewalk on Bridge Street or any other street in North Agawam with the provision that abutters shall pay one-half of the expense.
Art. 22. To see if the Town will vote to take for highway purposes a certain tract of land in said Town, bounded northerly by the Agawam River, easterly by land of Emma I. Reed and southerly and westerly by the highway and appropriate money for the same.
Art. 23. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for constructing a waiting station at Agawam Bridge.
Art. 24. To see if the Town will adopt the provisions of Section 120, Chapter 94, of the General Laws.
Art. 25. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
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Annual Report of Town Officers of the
Town of Agawam Massachusetts
INCORP
15.1855
PORA
For the Year Ending December 31 1923
Town Officers 1923-1924
1
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health JOHN R. LLOYD GILES W. HALLADAY H. PRESTON WORDEN
Town Clerk, Treasurer and Tax Collector HENRY E. BODURTHA
School Committee
J. ARSENE ROY Term expires 192+
SIDNEY F. ATWOOD Term expires 1924
PERCIVAL V. HASTINGS Term expries 1925
EUGENE P. LOWELL
Term expires 1925
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER Term expires 1926
EDNA DOANE Term expires 1926
Assessors
R. MATHER TAYLOR Term expires 1924
WILLIAM H. PORTER
Term expires 1925
WILLIAM A. DUCLOS Term expires 1926
Auditor JAMES C. ATWATER
Library Trustees
GRACE M. DUMAS .Term expires 1924
CARRIE W. KENDALL .Term expires 1925
CLARENCE H. GRANGER Term expires 1926
3
Trustees of Whiting Street Fund
ALBERT H. BROWN Term expires 1924
FREMONT H. KING Term expires 1925
Cemetery Commissioners
WILLIAM D. RISING Term expires 1924
DELOS J. BLOOM Term expires 1925
FRANK W. RANDALL Term expires 1926
Water Commissioners
JOHN L. BURKE Term expires 1924
DENNIS M. CROWLEY Term expires 1925
WALTER S. KERR Term expires 1926
Tree Warden EDWIN M. HITCHCOCK
Constables
WALTER E. ALLEN EDWARD S. CONNOR
DWIGHT E. BAILEY
WILLIAM A. DUCLOS
FRANKIE H. CAMPBELL RILEY S. FARNSWORTH
DANIEL O. CESAN ARTHUR H. ROWLEY
JAMES W. CESAN CHARLES H. WYMAN
Game and Fish Warden EDWARD S. CONNOR
Surveyors of Lumber
EDWARD A. KELLOGG N. G. KING
FREMONT H. KING GEORGE H. TAYLOR
Measurers of Wood
FRANK W. KELLOGG N. G. KING
C. W. HULL, JR. L. S. JENKS
4
Public Weighers
HARVEY PORTER FRANK WHITTAKER ARTHUR RYAN
Sealer of Weights and Measures EDWIN U. LEONARD
Chief of Police EDWARD S. CONNOR
EMIL A. ROY
Registrars of Voters CHARLES W. HULL, JR. PHILIP W. HASTINGS
Inspector of Animals JAMES H. CLARK
Inspector of Meats JAMES H. CLARK
Fire Engineers
WILFRED F. DUMAS CHARLES H. WOOD FRANK T. GOSS
. Superintendent of Streets CHARLES H. WYMAN
Fence Viewers
CHARLES F. BARDEN THOMAS KERR
Field Drivers WILLIAM S. HALLADAY FRANK H. CAMPBELL
Burial Agent JAMES F. KIRBY
5
Town Clerk's Report
TOWN ELECTION, MARCH 5, 1923
Precinct Number of ballots cast
A
B C
Total
235
171
159 565
RESULTS OF COUNT OF BALLOTTS
For Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health :
Giles W. Halladay
96
140
132
368
John R. Lloyd
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