USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1921-1925 > Part 16
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6. ATHLETICS: During the past year the High School has been represented by a boys' basket ball team; a girls' basket ball team; and a boys' baseball team. These teams have been managed by the boys' and girls' athletic associations under the supervision of the coaches and the High School Principal. The aim of the management of athletics is to establish and maintain high standards, and to that end the following principles have been established :
Any team representing the Agawam High School must be properly uniformed; must have met the scholastic requirements of the school; and must play hard and fair in all contests. It is the judgment of the writer that our athletic teams have made a good appearance whenever playing before the public; have won a reasonable number of victories; and at present, enjoy a good reputation with all opponents. This is as it should be.
In conclusion on this point let it be said that athletics are considered of secondary importance to scholarship; the represen- tatives of the various teams must have a passing mark in 15 credits of regular work. No games are scheduled which will necessitate
87
long trips or require a pupil to be absent from class room work. Evening games are played Friday nights and, as a rule, not more than one game a week is scheduled. The coaches are full time instructors in the school who look upon the school and the ath- letic teams not as disassociated factors in the systems but as com- ponent parts of the system.
7. MOVING PICTURES: The moving pictures given in the school are under the management of the Moving Picture Club and the supervision of the Principal. Three moving picture shows have been given to the public. The proceeds of these exhibitions have been used to purchase films for class room in- struction and pictures of educational value. During the month of December three films were exhibited depicting the life and habits of the Bee, the Spider, and the Ant. These were very instructive pictures. During Educational Week films of a civic nature were presented to the pupils. Several scientific and edu- cational films are booked for January. The moving picture has powerful potentialities of an educational value, and plans are being developed to make good use of the school machine.
8. SOCIAL LIFE IN THE SCHOOL: The social life of the school is under the management of Miss Edith Best, teacher of Science in the Senior High School. There are four social entertainments during the school year, they are celebrated on the following occasions : Hallowe'en, Christmas, Junior Prom- enade and Senior Reception.
III. JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL
1. Scholarship: The progress of the Junior High School pupils from grade to grade has been accomplished with a mini- mum of friction. The following table of retardation is sub- mitted as evidence of the above condition :
TABLE OF RETARDATION, AGAWAM JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE YEAR 1922-1923
Grade
Enrollment Promoted Failed in Two or
% Promoted % Failed
June 1923
June 1923
More Subjects
June 1923 June 1923
IX
45
43
2
951/2
41/2
VIII
62
57
5
92
8
VII
31
31
0
100
0
88
2. INCREASED ENROLLMENT: Overcrowded class rooms in nearly every part of the school district presented a serious housing problem last June. Only one solution of the problem was apparent, namely, to transport as many seventh grade pupils as the new building could accommodate. That plan was adopted by the Committee. When young pupils of seventh grade age are suddenly placed in a departmentalized school many problems of adjustment arise. Because of splendid co- operation on the part of these pupils there has been a minimum of friction. The nature of this co-operation will be noted in the following paragraphs.
3. CREED: Self-imposed standards of good conduct pro- duce better results than any code set up by exterior authority. The Junior High School Creed was developed early in the present school year by the pupils themselves. Obviously its purpose is to serve as a basis of good conduct. The Creed is as follows :-
On my honor I, a pupil of the Agawam High School, will do my best to live up to the following ideals :
I At all times to be loyal and true to my school
II' To be trustworthy
III To keep the building and grounds clean
IV To be courteous
V To be respectful
VI To help the teachers by doing my best work
VII To be cheerful
VIII To be clean
IX To play fair at all times
X To repay the citizens of Agawam by making the school a success
4. CLUBS: With the Creed as a background the path was clear to start club work in the Junior High School. Or- chestra, Glee Club, Home Room Clubs, Radio Club, and Traffic Officer's Clubs were formed. This work is only in its initial stage but has already proved its worth.
5. THE GUIDING PRINCIPAL IN INSTRUC- TION AND CLUB WORK: The burden of responsibility in the learning process rests upon the individual pupil. He must make the effort, do the best possible with the talents with which he is endowed. In the class room he should be given the op- portunity to weigh values, and to pass judgment upon the mul- tifarious facts which he has discovered. In order that he may
89
have such an opportunity, the class room procedure and the club work of the Junior High School are so ordained that the pupil is made the all important factor. Such a method trains for Leadership, one of the basic functions of education.
IV. ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
1. ENROLLMENT: A study of the enrollment table given in the first part of this report shows that even though a large number of the seventh grade pupils has been brought to the Junior High School there is still overcrowding in three parts of the township, namely, at Agawam Center, North Agawanı, and the Plains School.
Last year at the opening of the schools in September the Parochial School at North Agawam closed and above 120 ad. ditional pupils were sent to the North Agawam School. In order to take care of these pupils two teachers did double work, in the first and fifth grades. This policy could not be continued for the obvious reason that no teacher can stand such a strain and then, too, such a policy is not just to the pupils. It was, therefore, necessary to place two extra teachers in the North Agawam School this year to care for the overflow from the Parochial School.
At Agawam Center the serious overcrowding of last year was remedied, somewhat, by bringing the entire seventh grade to the Junior High and placing an extra teacher in the sixth grade.
After transferring the seventh grade from the Plains to the Junior High School Building, there was no class room avail- able for the sixth grade. The only solution to the problem was to hire an extra teacher and to place the fifth and sixth grades on part time.
The fact of the case is that the school enrollment is in- creasing in Agawam at the rate of three class rooms per year. The increases in enrollment are presented in the following table :
Year
Enrollment
Increase
1920
1110
1921
1245
135
1922
1349
104
1923
1433
84
90
You will realize how acute the housing situation is when you consider that there will be 133 seventh grade pupils to care for next year. There is no building in the elementary schools in any part of the district which can adequately house its seventh grade.
Overcrowding in the Junior-Senior High School makes it impossible to accept more than a small number of these 133 pupils. The only answer to this problem is to adopt a building program. Unless this is done it will be necessary to go on part time in all parts of your district, and the cost for several extra teachers will add materially to your school budget.
COURSE OF STUDY: Largely through the efforts of Nathalie Forbes Moulton, Assistant Superintendent of the Aga- wam schools, a course of study for the elementary grades, after being adopted by the Committee, was placed in the hands of each teacher at the beginning of this school year. This step is a decided innovation in the Agawam schools. The course as outlined is not intended to curb or cramp the individual initia- tive and originality of the teacher. The course does set up some specific objectives as a year's work in Reading, Writing, Geography and Arithmetic. In such a sense the course will be valuable for both teachers and pupils.
NEW BOOKS: In my last report the need of new text books in Reading and Geography was set forth. The Committee has met this need by adopting the Winston Series of Readers as a basal text in reading, and by replacing the old Dodge Geographies with Smith's Human Geography. The elementary grades were also equipped with Silent Readers in order that more emphasis could be placed on that important feature of the read- ing process. In every case the books selected are modern in all respects. Modern text books are written from two points of view, namely, to arouse the interest of the pupils and to teach good citizenship. We are experiencing profitable results from the above adoptions.
EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENTS: Educational measurements applied to public school children have already passed the experimental stage and are now being incorporated in the program of work of any forward looking school system. Such being the case Agawam wishes to make use of the best tests on the market. To that end the Superintendent of Schools has been investigating the field of Educational Measurements and recommends that Achievement tests be purchased and given
91
during the first part of the present year in the following sub- jects : Reading, Arithmetic, English Composition and Spelling. It is also recommended that group Intelligence Tests be given to the Junior and Senior High School pupils.
SPECIAL DAYS: There seems to be a profusion of special weeks to be observed in our public schools. Early in this school year nearly every week was a special week. A partial list of the special weeks is as follows: Fire Prevention Week, Good English Week, Thrift Week, American Education Week, and Children's Book Week. All of these weeks are worthy of note and the point emphasized in each week is important, but in my judgment there should be a longer time interval between these various weeks so that the work to be accomplished could be better organized and carried out by both pupils and teachers. We observed special days in most of these weeks and in particular stressed American Education Week. The parents of all our pupils were given a special invitation to visit school during that week and a large number of parents accepted the invitation.
Too few parents visit school in spite of the fact that the school as an institution is most akin to the home, being attached to the home by such intimate bonds as the character growth and intellectual progress of the children. Herewith, an invitation is given to all parents to visit the schools of their township not only upon special occasions but at any time when the schools are in session.
TEACHERS: The School Committee has a well defined policy in regard to the teaching staff. The main factors in that policy are here presented in brief form.
Teachers are sought after who have shown in training and experience exceptional merit in their chosen field of work. After they take up their duties in the class room they are given proper supervision and a good working equipment by way of books and supplies. Those of the staff who have proved their worth are provided with an annual salary increase reasonable enough to retain their services for a period of years. The retention of good teachers for a period of service is conducive to good results in the class room and makes for progress and efficiency in the entire school system. Measuring your schoo's by this policy we find that comparatively few changes were made in the teaching force
92
during the past year. The following table shows the number of changes made :
School No. Teachers
Agawam 7 Changes New Teachers Added
0
North Agawam 7
1
Springfield St. 5
2
Feeding Hills 5
+
0
Rural Schools 3
2
0
High School 15
1
2
Supervisors 2
0
1 0 1 2
At this point I wish to go on record in praise of the sincere devotion to duty on the part of the entire teaching force in- cluding the supervisors, assistant superintendent and nurse. They give of their strength that we may have a better citizenshin.
CONCLUSION: I think that I would be remiss in my duty if I failed to emphasize in the conclusion of this report the anxiety which is confronting those to whom you have entrusted the welfare of your schools. The cause of this anxiety is over- crowding-overcrowding in the new building, and overcrowding in the other buildings in the district. This condition can be overcome only by the continued co-operation of the citizens of Agawam, and great sacrifices on their part-sacrifices for one of the highest ideals and yet the most practical ideal known to man- kind, namely, education.
I feel that too much cannot be said in praise of the co- operative spirit prevalent in your entire school system; the lack of factions in the teaching force; the presence of harmony in the various pupil groups; and the unanimity of disposition exist- ing between the School Committee and the executive branch of your school system are the factors which are yielding good re- sults and which give promise of a reasonable amount of progress in the coming days.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. PHELPS.
93
SCHOOL DIRECTORY, 1924
Date of Salary per
Name
Position
Appointment Month *
Home Address
Benjamin J. Phelps
Superintendent of Schools
July 1922
$300
Agawam
Nathalie F. Moulton
Asst. Superintendent of Schools
Sept. 1922
220
Edith J. Best
Senior 1ligh, Science
Sept. 1922
170
Bernardston, Mass.
Nellie 1. Button
Senior High, English
Sept. 1922
180
Wallingford, Vt.
Erika C. Jauch
Senior High, French and Latin
Sept. 1923
140
Clara L. McIntire
Senior Iligh, Commercial
Sept. 1922
165
Mildred 12. Sanderson
Senior High, Commercial
Sept. 1923
135
Greenland, N. H1.
Eleanor H. Smith
Senior High, Mathematics
Sept. 1922
165
Marjorie Ward
Senior High, History
Sept. 1922
150
Cora M. Barnes
Junior lligh, History
Sept. 1922
150
Olive Lewis
Junior High, English
Sept. 1922
140
East Longmeadow
Minta A. Locke
Junior Iligh,
Mathematics
Sept
1921
140
Pembroke, N. Il.
Roger W. Pease
Junior High, English
Sept. 1923
150
Amsterdam, N. Y.
Catherine T. Powers
Junior High, Geography
Sept. 1917
150
John W. Quirk
Junior High, Science
Jan.
1923
190
Hazel M. Sullivan
Junior High, Science and Mathematics
Sept. 1914
155
Abbie 1 .. Burlingham
Supervisor of Physical Training
Sept.
1922
150
20 Myrtle Terrace. Springhe'd
Hazel S. Cook
Supervisor of Domestic Science
Sept. 1922
170
23 Pleasant St., Westfield
Frederick '1'. Dacey
Supervisor of Manual Training
Sept. 1922
220
Hazel Clark
Supervisor of Music
Sept. 1922
170
Mary F. Pierce
Supervisor of Drawing
Sept.
1922 170
Rutland, Vt.
Katherine G. Danahy, Prin.
North Agawam, Grade V1
Sept. 1899
185
12 Tower Terrace, No. Agawam
Eleanor C. Daly
North Agawan, Grade VI1
Sept. 1923
110
55 Willard Ave., Springfield
Mae P. Lynch
North Agawam,
Grade VI
Sept.
1919
130
14 Gunn Square, Springfield
Olive A. Fox
North Agawam,
Grade 1V
Sept. 1914
135
18 Hampden St., Westfiehl
Ruth C. Grady
North Agawam, Grade V
Sept. 1923
110 36 Underwood St., Springfield
Alice Mckeown
North Agawam,
Grade III
Sept. 1923
110
33 Parkwood St., Springfield
Kathryn M. Roache
North Agawam,
Grade 11
Sept. 1922
125
167 Prospect St., Springfield
Mrs. Anna M. LaSalle
North Agawam,
Grade 1
Sept. 1921
125
36 Harding Ave., Springfield Plantsville, Ct.
Jennie M. Lucas
North Agawam,
Grade 1
Sept. 1900
145
April 1920 165
Sept. 1915
135
Lena E. Collis
Agawam Center, Grade V
Sept. 1917
135
9 Spring St., Palmer, Mass.
Louise A. Garland
Agawam Center, Grades 1V-V
Sept. 1923
135
97 Spring St., Springfield
Minetta M. Jurgenson
Agawam Center, Grade 1V
Sept. 1920
125
Great Barrington, Ma s.
Mildred E. Simpson
Agawam Center, Grades 11-11]
Sept. 1921
120
Westboro, Mass.
Gertrude C. Lawrence
Agawam Center, Grade 11
Sept. 1920
125
41 Biltmore St., Springfield
24 Montmorenci St., Springheld
33 Salem St., Springfield
90 Franklin St., Northampton
57 Church St., Athol, Mass. Woronoco
39 Maple Terrace, Mittineague 105 Oswego St., Springfield 11 Smith Ave., Mittincague
32 Fairview Ave .. W. Springfiel .: Kennebunkport, Me.
85 Belmont Ave., Springfield Suffield, Conn.
Mrs. Viola W. Phillips, Prin. Agawam Center, Grades VI Cora E. Halladay Agawam Center, Grade V1
Kittery Depot, Mc.
94
Name
Position
Date of Salary per Appointment Month*
Home Address
Esther J. Stevens
Agawam Center, Grade I
Sept. 1922
110
32 Huntington St., Springfield
Mrs. Fannie B. Chase, Prin.
Feeding Hills, Grades VI-VII
Sept. 1923
155
Feeding Hills
Marjorie King
Feeding Hills, Grades IV_V
Sept. 1923
115
10 Malone Ave., Westfield
Alice P. Woodruff
Feeding Hills, Grades III-IV
Sept. 1923
110
500 Isabella St., Pembroke, Ont.
Helen C. Ripley
Feeding Huls, Grade II
Sept. 1923
120
So. Union, Me.
Mildred M. Trask
Feeding Hills, Grade I
Sept.
1922
120
Bradford, Me.
Faolin M. Peirce, Prin.
Springfield Street, Grade I
Sept. 1909
177.50
20 Riverdale St. W. Springfield
Mrs. Harriet D. Carson
Springfield Street, Grade II
Sept. 1920
120
20 Riverdale St., W. Springfield
Viola E. Hopkins
Springfield Street, Grade III
Sept. 1921
125
179 Montgomery St., Chicopee Falls
Anna M. FitzGerald
Springfield Street, Grade IV
Sept. 1923
125
157 Bowdoin St., Springfield
HIelyne D Mousley
Springfield Street, Grade V
Sept 1923
110
Lee, Mass.
Gladys M. Hall
Springfield Street, Grade VI
Sept. 1923
115
Ashley Falls, Mass.
Evelyn L. Moulton
South School, Grades I-II-III
Sept. 1922
105
Monson, Mass.
Ilelen L. Spelman
Suffield Street, Grades I-II-III
Sept. 1923
110
61 School St., Westfield
Bessie A. Barber
West Street, Grades I-II-III-IV
Sept. 1923
110
48 Southworth Ave., Williams-
town, Mass.
*Teachers are paid on a basis of ten monthly installments, except the Superintendent.
95
Articles in Warrant for Town Meeting MARCH 5, 1924
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 Com- pany 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 the sum of four hundred dollars or any other sum to be expended by the Trustees for County Aid to Agriculture of Hampden County in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 273 Acts of 1918 or take any other action thereon.
Art. 9. 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, 1924 in anticipation of the revenue of said year such sums of money as may be necessary for the current expenses of the town.
97
Art. 10. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for purchasing a motor truck for snow removal and other trucking purposes.
Art. 11. To see if the Town will vote to construct, equip, and furnish a four room addition to the Springfield Street School with needed alterations in the present building as outlined by plans presented by the School Committee, or take any action re- garding the same.
Art. 12. To see if the Town will vote to appropriate the sum of fifty thousand dollars or any part thereof for the purpose of constructing, equipping and furnishing a four room addition to the Springfield Street School, and authorize the Treasurer with the approval of the Selectmen to borrow said sum, or act in any way relating thereto.
Art. 13. To see if the Town will request its Selectmen to complain to the Department of Public Utilities that the regu- lations of the Springfield Street Railway Company and its rates, fares, charges and zoning plan in Agawam are unjust and un- reasonable and should be changed by advancing the first fare limits from the Agawam Bridge to Hall's Turnout on the Feed- ing Hills Line, and to Agawam Center waiting station on the Agawam Line; by eliminating the second fare limit at the Plains Schoolhouse on the Feeding Hills line and at Adams Street on the Agawam line; by establishing the second fare limit at Feed- ing Hills Center on the Feeding Hills line and at the Connecticut state boundary on the Agawam line; and by determining the just and reasonable fare for each zone at seven cents each and for through tickets to include both zones at eleven tickets for one dollar.
Art. 14. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money to be used for expenses which might be incurred in carry- ing out the above article.
Art. 15. To see if the Town will accept the provisions of Sections 42 A, 42 B, 42 C, 42 D, 42 E, 42 F of Chapter 391 Acts of 1923 relating to the collection of water rates.
Art. 16. To see if the Town will adopt any by-laws rela- tive to smoking on street cars and certain motor vehicles.
Art. 17. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money to build a sidewalk on the Northerly side of Agawam Bridge.
98
Art. 18. To see if the Town will appropriate the sum of twenty thousand dollars for rebuilding Main Street, providing the State and County appropriate the sum of sixty thousand dollars in total for said purpose, and provide for the payment thereof.
Art. 19. To see if the Town will appropriate any sum of money for a permanent police officer to be placed in North Aga- wam.
Art. 20. To see if the Town will appropriate a sum of money for setting curbing in North Agawam.
Art. 21. To see if the Town will vote any appropriation for extending its water system on any streets of the town.
Art. 22. To see if the Town will vote to change the hour of holding its annual town meeting.
Art. 23. To see if the town will appoint a committee to study the advisability of establishing a Town Forest and re- port at the next annual town meeting.
Art. 24. To make the necessary appropriation for the ensuing year.
Art. 25. To transact any other business that may legally come before said meeting.
99
Annual Report of Town Officers
of the Town of Agawam Massachusetts
F
NCORE
5.1855
OR
PORA
JI
For the Year Ending December 31 1924
Town Officers 1924-1925
Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor, and Board of Health GILES W. HALLADAY JAMES L. HANCHETT. JR. JAMES F. KIRBY
Town Clerk, Treasurer and Tax Collector HENRY E. BODURTHA
School Committee
J. ARSENE ROY Term expires 1927
SIDNEY F. ATWOOD Term expires 1927
PERCIVAL V. HASTINGS. Term expires 1925
EUGENE P. LOWELL.
Term expires 1925
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER Term expires 1926
EDNA DOANE Term expires 1926
Assessors
R. MATHER TAYLOR Term expires 1927
WILLIAM H. PORTER Term expires 1925
ADOLPHUS PROVOST Term expires 1926
Auditor JAMES C. ATWATER
Library Trustees
GRACE M. DUMAS. Term expires 1927
CARRIE W. KENDALL Term expires 1925
CLARENCE H. GRANGER. Term expires 1926
3
P
Trustees of Whiting Street Fund
ALBERT H. BROWN Term expires 1926
FREMONT H. KING. Term expires 1925
Cemetery Commissioners
WILLIAM D. RISING. Term expires 1927
DELOS J. BLOOM. Term expires 1925
FRANK W. RANDALL Term expires 1926
Water Commissioners
JOHN L. BURKE. .Term expires 1927
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
RILEY S. FARNSWORTH
FRANKIE H. CAMPBELL ALVIN R. KELLOGG
DANIEL O. CESAN ARTHUR H. ROWLEY CHARLES H. WYMAN
ARTHUR W. TAYLOR
Game and Fish Warden EDWARD S. CONNOR
Surveyors of Lumber
EDWARD A. KELLOGG N. G. KING
FREMONT H. KING EDWARD J. GOSSELIN
Measurers of Wood
FRANK W. KELLOGG N. G. KING
C. W. HULL L. S. JENKS
4
Public Weighers
HARVEY PORTER ARTHUR RYAN
FRANK WHITTAKER PRENTISS JENKS
Sealer of Weights and Measures EDWIN U. LEONARD
Chief of Police EDWARD S. CONNOR
Registrars of Voters
EMIL A. ROY CHARLES W. HULL PHILIP W. HASTINGS
Inspector of Animals JAMES H. CLARK
Inspector of Meats JAMES H. CLARK
Fire Engineers
WILFRED F. DUMAS RILEY S. FARNSWORTH FRANK T. GOSS
Superintendent of Streets CHARLES H. WYMAN
Fence Viewers
CHARLES F. BARDEN THOMAS KERR
Field Drivers WILLIAM S. HALLADAY FRANKIE H. CAMPBELL
Burial Agent FRANCIS K. BRUTNELL
5
Town Clerk's Report
TOWN ELECTION, MARCH 3, 1924
Precinct Number of ballots cast
A
B C
Total
242
160
208 610
RESULTS OF COUNT OF BALLOTS
For Selectmen, Overseers of the Poor and Board of Health :
Giles W. Halladay.
113
133
170
416
James L. Hanchett, Jr.
92
79
167
338
James F. Kirby
185
77
70
332
John A. Warner
33
37
37
107
H. Preston Worden
71
83
143
297
Angie Hess.
0
0
2
2
Howard W. Pond
0
0
4
Blanks.
232
71
31
334
For Town Clerk, Treasurer and Tax Collector :
Henry E. Bodurtha
131
108
159
398
Clarence H. Granger.
0
0
4
1
Clifford M. Granger.
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