USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1926-1930 > Part 4
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By Lynne P. Townsend, Asst. Managing Director.
71
Report of Library Trustees
BOOKS
Number at Agawam
6,584
Number at Feeding Hills
5,124
Number at North Agawam
1,421
CIRCULATION
Agawam
13,199
Feeding Hills
7,373
North Agawam
4,235
BORROWERS
Agawam
600
Feeding Hills
336
North Agawam
543
CLARENCE H. GRANGER, ANNA H. RUDMAN, IDA BERNATCHEZ, Library Commissioners.
72
ANNUAL REPORTS of the
School Committee and the
Superintendent of Schools of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.
O
CORP R
5.1855.
ORAT
ED
For the Year Ending December 31
1926
Agawam Public Schools
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD
Clifford M. Granger, Chairman Term expires 1929 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Mrs. Grace B. Reed Term expires 1929 Post Office Address, Agawam
J. Arsene Roy Term expires 1927 Post Office Address, Mittineague
Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary Term expires 1927 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Arthur Rudman Term expires 1928 Post Office Address, Agawam
Harry A. Spaight
Term expires 1928
Post Office Address, Agawam
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Benjamin J. Phelps Telephone: Walnut 7219-R
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1927
Winter Term-January 3 to April 1.
Spring Term-April 11 to June 10, Elementary Schools. Spring Term-April 11 to June 17, Junior-Senior High School. Fall Term-September 6 to December 23.
77 /
OFFICE HOURS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT High School Building-School Days, 8.30-9.00 A. M., and by appointment.
SECRETARY Emma Mellor Telephone : River 1967-M
HOURS OF SESSIONS
Elementary Schools 9.00-12.00 A. M. 1.00- 3.30 P. M.
Junior High School 9.00-12.00 A. M. 12.30- 3.00 P. M.
Senior High School 9.00-12.30 A. M. 1.00- 3.00 P. M.
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REPORT OF School Committee
We herewith present for your consideration our annual report as a Committee. We wish to make you familiar with a few of the outstanding problems presented to us in the year just closed, and at the same time we feel it necessary to bring to your atten- tion our recommendations for the year 1927.
You may remember that in our 1925 report we commented at considerable length upon the wretched condition of the sanitaries at the Feeding Hills Center School. At the last annual Town meeting a committee was appointed to make a careful investiga- tion of the situation there, with instructions to report their findings and recommendations at a later meeting. At a special session of the voters, held in June, money was appropriated for the con- struction of an entirely new system of toilet facilities at that school. The installation of the modern scheme of sanitation adopt- ed at that time, made necessary the renovation of a large part of the basement. As a result, we are now able to report a greater efficiency and a better morale at the Feeding Hills Center School.
Since the opening of school in September, the State examiner has finished her task of checking up on the mental capacity of all our Agawam school children. According to her report, we have in town quite a number of mentally retarded pupils, and, in fact, several border line cases. The State has ruled in other towns that special instruction be provided for such children, the major part of such training to be along Domestic Science and Manual Training lines. Our Superintendent will discuss this topic more in detail in his report, but the point we wish to impress upon you is the item of expense. If we follow out State requirements and State recommendations we must provide funds for special rooms at certain central points in town, with highly trained teachers
79
therein, and an entirely new and expensive form of equipment. This is a very serious problem and its solution must be found at the earliest possible date.
In spite of our comparatively new four-room addition at the Springfield Street School we are obliged to report a lack of proper school accommodations there. When school opened in September we were so overcrowded that it was a very difficult problem to handle the situation efficiently. Some grades num- bered over 50 pupils, with practically every grade well up in the forties. Where possible, our Superintendent transferred pupils to other schools. However, it was finally found necessary to fit up the janitor's room to take care of the overflow from the largest grade. This necessitated the addition of an extra teacher at that school and the purchase of additional school equipment. As many of you know, the "Plains" section is building up very rapidly; in fact, there are now a large number of new houses in that locality as yet unoccupied. When they are all occupied conditions at the Springfield Street School will be much worse. It would seem to us the best policy to begin at once preparations for another four- room addition to that school in the near future.
As a Committee, we are grieved to report the loss, by death, of one of our most valued teachers, Harriet Peirce Carson, of the Springfield Street School. Mrs. Carson died in May after a very brief illness. Ever loyal and faithful to her duties, she was an inspiration to all those who came in contact with her. She was always courteous and considerate in her dealings with parents and children, always patient and cheerful with her pupils, and, above all, she showed an unusual loyalty to the Agawam schools. We feel that the school department has lost one of its most zealous and conscientious workers, and that her pupils have lost a patient and loving friend. Her influence, we believe, will endure for many years in the hearts and lives of those who knew her.
In our last report we called to your attention the matter of either improving or adding to the High School Athletic Field. At the Spring Town meeting a committee of six, two from each precinct, was appointed to consider this matter, with a request for a report and recommendations at a later meeting. This Com- mittee looked into the matter very carefully, interviewed adjoining property owners and had several sketches made of proposed tak- ings of land. The recommendation of this committee called for
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the taking of a strip of land about 200 feet wide and about 400 feet in length along the boundary of the present school lot. This plan was unanimously adopted at a special Town meeting in the latter part of June, and, at the suggestion of members of the Finance Committee, a sum of money was appropriated towards paying for the purchase of the land in question. Some time after this vote was taken members of the Athletic Field Committee were requested by the Selectmen to consider another plan for a field. The alternate proposal of the "Town Fathers" was rejected by that committee for two reasons; first, because of its inadequacy for a suitable baseball field and, second, on account of its probable greater cost. Since then, so far as can be learned, the Selectmen have done nothing towards taking the land the voters instructed them to acquire. The School Committee has been keenly inter- ested in this proposed acquisition of more land for our High School. The longer this matter is delayed the greater the cost will be to our town, and this opportunity already within our grasp should, we believe, be accepted at once. We suggest that imme- diate pressure be brought to bear in the proper direction in order that this deal may be put through at the earliest possible date. The policy of procrastination pursued in this matter has deprived our 1927 High School nine of a convenient home diamond. Our High School teams have made an enviable record during the past year and we should all feel proud of them. Let's get together now and put across this field proposition with a bang and show our boys and girls our appreciation of their clean playing and fine sportsmanship.
By practicing economy to the nth power we were in hopes of keeping within our budget. However, in order not to exceed the sum granted us we have been obliged to pass on to the 1927 ac- count a few unpaid bills. Several things unforeseen at the time our 1926 budget was figured were responsible for this excess expenditure. An increase in our school population of about 100 pupils necessitated the purchase of additional books and a greater amount of general school supplies. The transportation bill has been unusually heavy this past year and at present writing this item seems likely to become very burdensome in the near future unless some remedy for existing conditions can be found. The equipping of another room at the "Plains School," and the hiring of an extra teacher there were other items of expense not foreseen. Our operating expenses and our repair bills have been the largest
81
we have had for years, one of the biggest repair bills being entirely unexpected. For the coming year we feel that a larger allow- ance must be made for our schools if we are to maintain the highest standard of efficiency. Our voters should know that the entire amount appropriated for schools is not raised by direct tax- ation, but that a large amount is received from the State each year. During the year 1926 Agawam received from the State upwards of $15,000. The larger part of this amount was re- ceived from the Massachusetts General School Fund, on account of our teachers, and the balance of that sum was derived princi- pally from refunds to our Town from Vocational and Continuation School bills.
Several years ago our Town voted to adopt the "State system of Accounting." Two state accountants spent a number of weeks going over, with a fine tooth comb as it were, the books of prac- tically every department in our Town. When they finished their survey they installed a new system of bookkeeping and accounting for our Town officials. The School Board does not know how much their work cost the town as a whole, but we do know, that in the process of readjusting the old and the new, the School Department suffered considerable financial loss in its 1926 budget. As a result of the new order of things bills, formerly paid by other departments, were charged up to our budget. Other ac- counts, which, according to the auditors, should not be carried by us, they forgot, apparently, to charge over to the proper authori- ties. It seems to us that some amicable agreement should be adopted by the various departments concerned in order that all friction and misunderstanding may be avoided.
We feel that as little money as possible should be wasted in the conduct of Town business. We have, however, one leak in our department which we have no means of controlling. All bills for fuel and lights in our Town buildings are paid from our school funds. Some of our halls are in use any where from two to four nights a week throughout the Winter months, and in many instances nothing but the janitor's fee is charged. It would seem to us, as long as our department is footing the bills, that the so- called "Town Halls" should be so repaired and furnished that any group, club or organization would be willing to pay enough for the use of said Halls to cover the heating and lighting items, as well as janitor's fees. This matter is not, perhaps, within our jurisdiction, but we believe that the majority of our taxpayers
82
would be willing to appropriate money sufficient to renovate and equip the Halls at Agawam Center and Feeding Hills Center.
In closing our annual report, we wish to thank you all for your very kind and hearty co-operation during the year 1926.
Respectfully submitted,
GRACE B. REED, HARRY A. SPAIGHT, SYDNEY F. ATWOOD, J. ARSENE ROY, ARTHUR RUDMAN, CLIFFORD M. GRANGER.
83
Financial Statement of Schools
General expense
$ 6,332.78
Expense of instruction
80,411.50
Text books
1,978.19
Stationery, supplies, miscellaneous
3,499.33
Janitors
8,183.45
Fuel
7,365.18
Miscellaneous operating expense
1,790.74
Maintenance-repairs, etc.
1,567.91
Library
41.86
Health
1,998.45
Transportation
4,402.59
Tuition
2,158.60
Miscellaneous expense
349.12
Outlay-new equipment
919.86
Total
$120,999.56
84
Superintendent's Report
To the School Committee of Agawam:
Gentlemen: I hereby submit my report as Superintendent of Schools for the year ending December 31, 1926.
This report, for the most part, is a brief survey of the Aga- wam public schools in the Light of an Equal Educational Oppor- tunity. Herein is presented also the reports of the heads of the various departments, and the usual school statistics with pertinent comments in regard to the same.
1. THE AGAWAM PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE LIGHT OF AN EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OP- PORTUNITY
It is a frequent assertion that the door of the schoolhouse is open to all of the youth of the land, and that the educational opportunity is equal for all in this country. That the educational opportunity is more just and more nearly equal today than ever before in the history of our Democracy, is a true statement. But the open door of the schoolhouse does not as yet necessarily mean an equal educational opportunity to all who enter thereby. Upon what, then, does an equal educational opportunity depend? It is deeply rooted in the recognition of great individual differences, and in the consequent provision of a curricula which will meet the requirements for the training of these differences. Such is the educational ideal that can be called in a full sense democratic and equal. How does Agawam measure up to this educational ideal ?
85
Elementary Schools
In the elementary schools, that is, in the first six grades, the chief emphasis of instruction for all pupils is placed upon the tool subjects-reading, writing, arithmetic, and spelling. Ninety-three per cent of the children are able to successfully com- plete these grades in six years. Seven per cent of the pupils are retarded from one to three years; and of this seven per cent, three per cent are hardly able to cope at all with the prescribed ele- mentary curriculum. Under our present grading system, they are placed with the other more capable children. At a glance it is evident that they are not receiving an equal educational oppor- tunity.
In other words, among the 1631 pupils in the Agawam public schools there are thirty-three pupils who should be enrolled in special auxiliary rooms, where in ungraded classes they would re- ceive a mental stimulus to which they could respond, and where adequate provision could be made for giving them some hand work, such as Manual Training and Domestic Arts.
This problem of special auxiliary classes is made rather com- plex in Agawam because of the scattered condition of the pupil population. Since there are not enough of such pupils in Agawam Center to make up a special room, it would be necessary to transport said pupils to North Agawam; and because of the same situation in Feeding Hills, special pupils from that locality would have to be transported to the Plains School. Both the Plains School and the North Agawam School are large enough in pupil enrollment to provide a room for special pupils.
Junior-Senior High School
In my last report no little space was given to a discussion of a possible change in the number of grades in the Agawam public schools. A plan was presented whereby such a change could be put in operation by September, 1927. Subsequently, the Committee voted in favor of the new organization. The details of putting the plan into action are herewith presented. In Sep- tember, 1926, Grade VIII, composed of 122 pupils, was divided into three divisions. The pupils who had been, by their records, class leaders in the elementary schools, were placed in the first division. Scholastic standing, however, was not a selective factor for determining the membership of the other two divisions. In fact, in those divisions the grouping was heterogeneous. The three groups were given the same program of studies; that is, the regu-
86
lation eighth grade work. The selective group is doing more intensive and extensive work than the other two groups. To date, this group has made an excellent record in the class room and, with few exceptions, the group as a whole should receive promotion to High School in June. The class leaders of the other two groups should also receive the same promotion. This means that about fifty per cent of the pupils of Grade VIII should be promoted to the Freshman class of the high school in June, and this Freshman group will then be designated as Grade IX-A. The pupils of the grade who do not receive this double promotion will be graded as IX-B next September, and will be given an enriched program of studies similar to the work of the present ninth grade. By this plan, the pupils of the eighth grade who are prepared to carry on the work of the high school depart- ment will not be denied that opportunity, and provision is also made for those pupils of the eighth grade who need another year of pre- paratory work before they enter the high school.
The ultimate aim of this program of organization is to elimi- nate the ninth grade from the elementary school system; a policy which has been adopted in most of the schools of our state. This procedure must be gradual in character and not too abrupt, so that the change can be made without undue confusion. As the school system becomes adjusted to this change of organization, the num- ber of pupils from year to year graded in IX-B will decrease. At the end of a period of four years, the few pupils who remain in that grade might well be re-classified with Grade VIII.
Two significant benefits will follow as a result of the re- organization: Our Junior-Senior High School can be definitely organized as a six-year high school-the type of school for which our building was constructed; the type of school, also, which is most efficient for the present status of our town. But more than that, this reorganization is a recognition in greater measure than ever before of the fact of individual differences as they are found in our pupils: for in a definite six-year high school program pro- motion by subject will receive greater recognition. Such promo- tion is the pure essence of individual differences.
In a junior-senior high school with an enrollment of 425 pupils, there are always present a few pupils who know definitely what vocation they wish to follow in life. Agawam recognizes this type of individual difference, and by the courtesy of the Springfield Vocational School, Agawam is able to offer an educa- tional opportunity of great value.
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Again, in the Junior-Senior High School curricula a number of courses are offered, such as College Preparatory, Commercial, and General. These courses are designed to meet individual dif- ferences as they are found in the pupils-that is, if these courses are properly administered. An example of mal-administration of the College Preparatory Course could be instanced in the for- mer policy of most educators to compel everybody in the freshman class to take up the study of Latin and algebra. Such a procedure was based on the fallacy that everybody was' equal, and totally ignored individual differences. Today, in the Agawam School pupils are registered in such a manner that a minimum number find themselves in the presence of an unsurmountable wall.
At this point, mention should be made of the Manual Train- ing and Domestic Science Departments in the High School. These courses are compulsory in the Junior High School, but are elective in the Senior High School, where a large number of boys and girls elect them. Such courses afford an opportunity for selective factors to operate-factors based on individual differences.
In the report of the Principal of the Junior-Senior High School some interesting details are presented in regard to the number of pupils participating in Extra-Curricula Activities. It is not the policy of our schools to turn out finished athletes. We recognize individual differences in Extra-Curricula Activities, and for that reason offer a great number of such activities so that the opportunity may be equalized for all. For we hold that these activities, when wisely administered, are important educational factors; and we realize that such interests broaden the outlook of a high school pupil and make his life more abundant. We do not, however, give such activities the place of honor in our program of work; we seek rather to make them secondary and helpful to the work of the class room.
My conclusion on this topic of Equal Educational Opportuni- ty is summed up in this statement: For the great majority of the pupils in the school system, because of the foresight of the School Committee and the progressive spirit of our citizenship, there is an equal and attractive educational opportunity. In the elementary schools there is a group of pupils who are three or more years below the average of their respective grades. In order to give them the best educational opportunity, they should be segregated, and more attention should be given, in their case, to work with the hands. This group always increases as the total number of pupils in the system grows. At the present time the number of such
88
pupils is large enough so that, when the next building program is launched, adequate room and equipment should be provided in their behalf.
TEACHING STAFF
The following table gives the number of changes in the teaching staff, and also records the total number of teachers in the system.
School
Number Teachers
Resig- nations
Transfers
New Teachers
North Agawam
10
0
1
1
Agawam Center
8
5
1
0
Feeding Hills
5
2
0
0
Springfield Street.
9
2
0
1
High School
18
2
1
0
Rural Schools
3
2
1
0
Supervisors
2
2
0
0
-
-
Totals
55
15
4
N/ 2
There were more changes in the teaching staff during the past year than usual. Possibly the increase this year was due to the fact that during the three previous years there had been few changes. The causes of the changes, for the most part, were more attractive salaries in other school systems, and matrimony. In justice to those teachers who have left the system, it is a pleasure to record that, with hardly an exception, they had given their best to the Agawam schools over a period of years. The teachers who have taken their places have entered upon their work, in our schools, with such a spirit of cooperation that their contact with the other teachers and also with the pupils has produced results highly gratifying.
It is with much regret that we report the death of Mrs. Harriet Carson. Mrs. Carson served the Town of Agawam faithfully and efficiently for six years. She was beloved by both parents and pupils, and her death is a distinct loss to our town.
The teaching force as a whole may, without reservation, be characterized as progressive in spirit. There is prevalent a healthy desire to grow in the service. The words said of the clerk in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, "Gladly would he learn and gladly would he teach," may well be written of the Agawam teachers.
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Inspired by such a purpose, many of the staff have taken courses in summer schools; while others have kept abreast of the times by doing college extension work as offered in Springfield and Boston.
There can be no questioning the fact that the proper educa- tion of the youth of our land is the most important problem that faces parents, town officials, and citizens of the state and nation. The solution of this problem, from the standpoint of high ideals- and what other solution is worth while ?- is made possible only when the teaching staff is composed of sympathetic, intelligent, earnest, progressive teachers. The responsibility resting upon the School Committee and its Executive Officer is indeed heavy. But that responsibility is cheerfully borne when supported by the desire of the citizens for good schools. My work during the past year, because of the co-operation on the part of both citizens and School Committee, has been found in pleasant places.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. PHELPS, Superintendent of Agawam Public Schools.
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HIGH SCHOOL REPORT
Mr. Benjamin J. Phelps, Superintendent of Schools, Agawam, Mass.
My dear Mr. Phelps :
I present herewith a brief report for the past year.
The accomplishments of the Junior-Senior High School are steadily being increased in all departments. This is made possible to a large extent because there have been few changes in the teaching force. The school has carried on the work with prac- tically the same body of teachers as in the preceding year. The students are measuring up well to the requirements in the various phases of the work. Besides doing what is required for promotion, a large number of pupils have taken part in some voluntary activity outside of the curriculum. This feature will constitute my report.
A study has been made and it was found that, in the senior division, 80% are taking part; and in the junior division, 70%. This represents extra time or extra effort beyond what is required in any regular subject. It speaks well for the interest of the pupils in the school. It also shows the enthusiasm and cooperation of the teachers in these affairs, because every organization within the school has a faculty adviser or coach who is responsible for its activities.
In the senior high school, the activities include competitive athletics, public dramatics, musical events, special assembly pro- grams, art-poster and literary work, class meetings and commit- tees, and participating management in athletic and student councils. In the junior high school, there are clubs of varied interests, and a beginning of the activities of the senior high school.
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