USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1931-1935 > Part 15
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Expressing appreciation for community, student, and faculty cooperation each year is much like the sending to friends an annual "Merry Christmas" card. While the words are the same, the sincerity and spontaneity are kept ever fresh by repeated acts of thoughtfulness and great good faith.
Respectfully submitted. F. EARL WILLIAMS,
Principal
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REPORT OF THE MUSIC DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
In trying to fill all the musical needs of the children it has been an extremely busy year-unusually so, for two reasons. The first is that since fewer children can afford to take private music lessons, more children ask for help on their personal problems. Fingering, reading, names of compositions heard over the radio, stories for operas, help on time or pitch and many other problems are solved. The Supervisor is always ready to give help, but the increase in requests has been quite marked.
The second reason is that the annual High School pro- duction was given in February of this year instead of the previous fall. The reason for this delay being that the music department was busy with the production "Hia- watha," given for the Hampden County Teachers' Conven- tion in the Springfield Auditorium on October 28. The High School Production was "Captain Crossbones," and was very well done by cast, chorus and orchestra. Then the orchestra played, as is customary, for the Senior Play.
A new feature which proved very pleasurable was the Song Fest for the Junior High Schools near Springfield, to which Agawam sent a hundred children for the chorus and two soloists. This was so inspirational that we are looking forward to having a Song Fest in Agawam this spring.
The Recital for Commencement was of high standard and extremely well received. The orchestra played the 'Prelude" from "Le Deluge" by Saint-Saens, and the chorus sang "Lovely Appear" from "The Redemption" by Gounod, with solos by Marguerite Tatro, "The Viking Song" by Coleridge-Taylor, and "Homing" by Del Riego.
This fall the attention of the department was focused on the most ambitious production ever attempted here-
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the comic opera, "Pinafore," by Gilbert and Sullivan. All departments and friends of the school were most generous with their help, so the affair was a success from every standpoint in spite of misfortunes. In presenting these performances the chief aim has been to give the children training in public performance of worthwhile music. So it was extremely gratifying to work on and present some- thing that will always be a pleasure to the children. The orchestra received commendation for the excellence of their accompanying, from high authority, which might well be the envy of a more experienced mature group.
And last, but not least, comes the Christmas Music. In the grades, we have tried a plan of teaching the Carols and Christmas Customs of a different country to each of the upper grades. So by the time children reach High School, they have learned a wealth of French, English, German and Russian Carols in addition to the better-known carols which they sing together each year. At the Christmas Assembly in the High School, a Girls' Vested Choir presented a short candlelight program.
These things just mentioned were additional features. The grades had their regular work carried on through the cooperation of teachers in the primary grades and Miss Deely in the Junior High School. For the past two years we have worked out and printed not only a course of study for the grades but a bibliography of songs for each month for each grade. This is being enlarged from time to time.
Perhaps I should mention at this time that money raised by some of these activities has brought us the prop- erty closet which the school has needed for so long, and has also paid the first installment on the school printing press. The remainder of our fund is to be turned in toward the cost of the oratorio which the chorus is singing.
It seems to me that the aim of the Music Department is best expressed by the following quotation :
"Music that knows no country, race or creed, But gives to each according to his need."
Respectfully submitted, RUTH A. PERRY, Supervisor of Music
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REPORT OF THE ART DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
"One picture is worth ten thousand words"-Chinese Proverb.
The past year it has been the aim of the art department to develop the principles of beauty, and to integrate the art work with that of the other school subjects. This has been achieved to a marked degree in both the elementary and junior high work, and has, I believe, proven to be more val- uable, more practical and interesting to pupils and teachers. Instead of detached "drawing lessons," the drawing, letter- ing, decorating and constructive designing has been made for a definite purpose ; to illustrate, explain, and present in a graphic and attractive manner the subject studied during the term.
Art expression could be taught as a school subject, as an end in itself. Through the illustrating of ideas in his- tory, geography, nature study, conservation and health, art becomes a means to an end, the end being a more complete and better understanding of the other subject or subjects studied. One's observation and interpretation of what is seen must be correct. Some people learn more rapidly when they work out a problem with materials, they learn by doing. Others have strong visual minds and can re- member clearly and for a long time what they see. Art is a means of better learning to both the motor-minded and the visual-minded. Then, too, the fusion of art with other school work brings into the classroom the occasional touch of beauty which should be apparent in all school products. In this respect art education fills a need which can be cared for by no other subject.
In the Agawam schools this year units of work in sci- ence, literature, civics, geography, history, and conserva-
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tion have been beautifully developed, and have shown great artistic ability on the part of the pupils who made them. For pupils of junior and senior high school age, the making of objects of beauty, and the study of man's creative ex- pression down through the ages for purposes of culture and appreciation, become the chief objectives in the course in art.
Many poster contests and exhibitions were held the past year. In January the Agawam Women's Club gave prizes of five dollars each for the best black and white drawing, and the best color study. These prizes were awarded at the Club meeting. An exhibit of the works submitted was ar- ranged in the hall, and the prizes were awarded to Belinda Vandersingel and Helen Rachek.
In March the sixth and eighth grades contributed post- ers for the annual S. P. C. A. Humane Week Exhibit held at Boston. These posters won five first prize medals, three second prizes and four honorable mentions.
Several attractive pieces of hand work made by the Junior Achievement group in the special class, under the supervision of the art department, were awarded blue and red ribbons at the annual exhibition in Springfield-Irving Fyhr's hand-painted screen winning for him a trip to Boston.
In cooperation with the Beautification Committee of the Agawam women's clubs, posters and projects showing civic improvement were made in both elementary and junior high school classes.
The annual school exhibition of art and hand work was held in June.
Respectfully submitted,
MARY M. CROWLEY,
Supervisor of Art
IIO
REPORT OF THE GIRLS' PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
During the year 1932-1933 the Physical Education pro- gram for girls in Junior-Senior High School had a two-fold aim : First, to provide wholesome activity for a mass rather than for a small selected group; second, to increase the physical efficiency of the group.
The Junior High School pupils had Physical Educa- tion classes two hours a week with a balanced program of organized team games, dancing, and free activity and skills such as tumbling. An opportunity for every girl to feel the joy of competition was provided for with team games played at noon, every girl playing when her room partic- ipated in the contests. No selection of teams prevailed.
In Senior High School every girl, except the Seniors, took Physical Education two hours a week, the course be- ing elective for Seniors. A new system was inaugurated during the 1932-1933 school year wherein every girl took Personal Hygiene two hours a month and six hours of reg- ular Physical Education. It was a lecture and discussion course solely for the benefit and betterment of each and every individual.
The physical activities for the High School group con- sisted of highly organized team games such as field hockey, basketball, and volley ball, apparatus, tap and folk dancing and Danish Gymnastics.
An earnest effort was made to correct faulty postural conditions with every girl. Anyone who possessed such an abnormality was requested to report once a week for spe-
III
cial help and training. The health again was checked through the weighing of every child once every other month.
Near the close of the school year in May, a May Day was given in which nearly two hundred girls participated. It was a demonstration of the work done in the classes dur- ing the year and it was indeed a pleasure to see the keen enjoyment the children reaped from the activity. It also showed that even in a great depression the children pos- sessed some wholesome activities that they might exercise during their leisure, and healthful bodies with which they might carry on. Thus the two aims of the Physical Educa- tion classes for girls were fulfilled.
Respectfully submitted, MARIAN A. EDGELL
II2
REPORT OF THE BOYS' PHYSICAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The following is a very brief resumé of the boys' physi- cal department program for the past year.
After a preliminary health examination all students found physically fit were assigned to gymnasium work two periods a week as advocated by the State Board of Educa- tion.
The gradual steady growth of Physical Education has featured and fostered many different schools and phases of physical training. Although marching, calisthenics, ap- paratus work, games, etc., are still a vital part of the pro- gram, the idea of general recreation and a sport in season for everyone has come in for particular emphasis-an activ- ity that might be carried on in later life after the high school period. With this idea in mind every boy has been given an equal opportunity to compete in sports in graded squads, playing and learning, thus acquiring some of the values heretofore only realized by those boys playing on the high school athletic teams.
The school teams have competed inter-scholastically in football, basketball and baseball in season, and record squads have turned out-approximately 35% of the total enrollment reporting for preliminary practice in football and basketball. The teams developed were typical Agawam High School teams and upheld past tradition in sportsman- ship and record.
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In closing, I would avail myself of the opportunity to make one more plea for an enclosed athletic field. The in- crease in game receipts to be obtained through such an acquisition would solve our present financial difficulty, and indirectly give more boys an opportunity to compete through our ability to provide more equipment, etc. Surely past records make this worthy of your consideration.
Respectfully submitted, HARMON ALLEN SMITH, Supervisor Boys' Physical Education
II4
REPORT OF THE MANUAL TRAINING DEPARTMENT
My dear Mr. Phelps :
The following is a summary of the activities of the In- dustrial Arts Department during the past year.
In conformance with the educational policy now gen- erally accepted for Junior High School classes of this type, the shop has been arranged on the basis of the so-called "General Shop," presenting a program of diversified "handy-man" activities which include simple, practical elec- trical projects, sheet metal construction, repacking faucets, woodwork, wood finishing, and mechanical drawing. Each correlated with the other in such a way that specific uses for individual mediums are explained definitely.
The motive behind such a policy has been not to teach every boy the various trades-although a foundation is laid for it-but simply to teach enough so that the boy may be able to differentiate between good and poor construction, design, and finish in his own work, or in a commercially- built article. In addition, it is hoped that he will be capa- ble of making minor repairs about his home, or will acquire a hobby which will use his leisure time profitably in later life.
The cost of maintaining the department is at a minimum as the material used by the boys for individual projects is paid for by them, and many of the articles constructed for the school save considerable expenditure for equipment.
The system was fortunate in securing the services of a man capable of conducting classes in both Industrial Arts and Science, who assumes charge of the few extra classes in this subject.
Respectfully submitted,
FREDERICK T. DACEY.
II5
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REPORT OF THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT
To the Superintendent of Schools :
The agricultural department has had an average enroll- ment of twenty-five, with 92 per cent attendance. Classes during 1933 numbered fourteen in vegetable growing, ten in animal husbandry, fourteen in poultry, and twelve in orcharding.
The objective of the course is to know the factors of all local farm enterprises, and to promote skill by practice. In regular class work two hundred and twenty trees were pruned and twenty were grafted, showing room for im- provement in such skills. A demonstration in the use of cyanimid as a source of nitrogen was started last spring on Mr Worden's orchard. Individual instruction in breed- ing, culling, caponizing, dry and semi-scald picking of poul- try, and in the testing of soils, the construction of hot-beds and houses, the treatment of simple diseases of plants and animals, and the control of pests, was given at the boys' homes or at the instructor's place. Over fifty samples of milk were tested and some of the boys became efficient in this work.
Agawam entered teams or individuals in twelve judging contests. The live-stock judging team excelled. Harold Bailey made the highest score in the State, and the State team for nation-wide contests. Agawam again placed first in the public speaking contest of the valley district of agri- cultural schools. Several boys exhibited prize products at the Community Fair last fall.
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The instructor made three hundred and forty visits to all farms during the past year. This is lower than usual because of the extra burden of transportation to distant places for the final judging contests. There were six auto- mobile loads to Amherst, and some heavy single-car loads to Topsfield, Northampton, Hadley and Hartford.
The most promising arrangement has been made for the farm mechanics course. Previously different local garage men have given efficient instruction, but the confusion of a public garage is not conducive to the best attention. Mr. Leon P. Hitchcock has remodeled his garage, which affords a most suitable place to work quietly and attentively.
An Agricultural Club has been organized. Members get club rates on poultry magazines, and a better spirit of cooperation in all work should follow.
Respectfully submitted, L. H. MOSELEY,
Instructor
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·
TEACHERS' TRANSFERS AND RESIGNATIONS-1933
RESIGNATIONS
Name
School
Grade or Subject
Service Ended
Dorothy H. Lilly
Senior High
English
Mrs. Viola W. Phillips
Junior High
English
June, 1933 January, 1933
Doris K. Kenney
Agawam Center
Grade VI
June, 1933
Nora C. Murphy
North Agawam
Special Class
April, 1933
Phyllis R. Gray
Feeding Hills
Principal
March, 1933
TRANSFERS
From To
Date
Eleanor C. Daly
North Agawam, Grade VI Junior High
Sept., 1933
Marian A. Agan
Springfield St., Grade I West Street
Sept., 1933
Margaret T. Hayes
Suffield Street School No. Agawam, Special Class
Sept., 1933
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TEACHERS UNDER APPOINTMENT
DECEMBER 31, 1933
Superintendent Benjamin J. Phelps
Subject or Grade
Education Yale College, B.A. Teachers' College, M.A.
Began Service in Agawam
Supervisors Mary M. Crowley Ruth A Perry
Art
Mass. School of Art, B.S.
Sept., 1926
Music
Keene Normal School Montpelier Seminary Sept., 1926
High School F. Earl Williams Mrs. Hazel C. Aldrich Frederick T. Dacey Marian A. Edgell
Mass. State College, M.S.
Sept., 1927
Skidmore College of Arts
Sept., 1922
Sept., 1922
Fitchburg State College, B.S. Boston School of Physical Education
Sept., 1929
Harmon A. Smith
Sept., 1924
Louis H. Moseley
Gertrude M. Belyea
Principal Domestic Science Manual Training Physical Training and Coach of Girls' Athletics Physical Training Y. M. C. A. College and Coach of Boys' Athletics Agriculture Commercial
Mass. State College, B.S. Nasson Institute
Sept., 1929 Sept., 1930
July, 1922
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TEACHERS UNDER APPOINTMENT-(Continued)
Subject or Grade
Began Service in Agawam
Ruth E. Dickerman
English
Education Mt. Holyoke College, B.A.
Sept., 1933
Allan M. Hadley
Science
Clark University, B.A.
Sept., 1927
Elaine W. Mansfield
French
Smith College, B.A.
Sept., 1930
Clara L. McIntire
Typewriting and Shorthand
Bay Path Institute
Northeastern University, B.C.S. Sept., 1922 Smith College, B.A.
Sept., 1928
Katharine M. Phealan
English and History
Smith College, B.A.
Sept., 1927
John M. Quirk
Science
Middlebury College, B.S. Jan., 1923
George L. Reynolds
Commercial
Amherst College, B.A Sept., 1933
Eleanor H. Smith
Mathematics
Smith College, B.A.
Teachers' College, M.A.
Sept., 1922
Marjorie Ward
History
Smith College, B.A. Teachers' College, M.A.
Sept., 1922
Kenneth B. Webb
English
Harvard University, M.A.
Sept., 1933
Cora M. Barnes
History
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1922
Jean Carman
Social Science Westfield State College,
Sept., 1929
Eleanor C. Daly
English
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1923
Eleanor B. Miller
Latin and Mathematics
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TEACHERS UNDER APPOINTMENT-(Continued)
Subject or Grade
Annette E. Deely
History and Hygiene Mathematics
Education Westfield State College,
Began Service in Agawam Sept., 192I
Mae P. Lynch
Sept., 1919
Raymond E. Harris
Science
Westfield State College, Fitchburg State College
Sept., 1930
Emily M. McCormick
Mathematics
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1924
Viva M. Potter
English
Keene Normal School
Sept., 1925
Catherine T. Powers
Social Science
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1917
Mrs. Marion C. Smith
Special Class
Providence Normal
Sept., 1929
I2I
Agawam Center School Mary E. McDowell
Principal and Grade VI
Eastern State Normal
Sept., 1926
Dorothy E. Hansen
Grade VI
Westfield State College, Westfield State College,
Sept., 1930
Nora M. Chandler
Grades IV-V
Farmington Normal Westfield State College,
Sept., 1926
A. Marion Loomis
Grade III
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1929
Cecily C. Pratt
Grade II
Fitchburg State College,
Sept., 1928
Theresa Kuivila
Grade I
Worcester State College
Nov., 1932
Mary F. Holmes
Grade V
Sept., 1927
Merriam S. Weeks
Grade IV
Sept., 1931
TEACHERS UNDER APPOINTMENT-(Continued)
Subject or Grade
Education
Began Service in Agawam
North Agawam School Katherine G. Danahy
Principal and Grade V
Westfield State College
Sept., 1899
Ruth M. Mason
Grade VI
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1930
Kathryn M. Roache
Grade V
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1922
Alice Mckeown
Grade IV
Westfield State College, Sept., 1923
Alice E. Hannon
Grades III-IV
Lowell State College
Sept., 1930
Olive A. Fox
Grade III
Westfield State College
Sept., 1914
Alice B. Connolly
Grade II
Fitchburg State College
Dec., 1929
Julia A. O'Connell
Grades I-II
Springfield Kindergarten
April, 1927
Jennie M. Lucas
Grade I
Southington Training
Sept., 1900
Margaret T. Hayes
Special Class
Westfield State College,
Sept., 1932
Springfield St. School Faolin M. Peirce
Principal and Grade II
Springfield Normal Sept., 1909
Mrs. C. W. Southworth Dorothy M. Emerson
Grade VI Grades V-VI
Cora Y. Desmarais
Grade V
Fitchburg State College University of Vermont Training Class New Haven State Normal
Sept., 1932
Sept., 1925 Sept., 1927
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TEACHERS UNDER APPOINTMENT-(Continued)
Subject or Grade
Elizabeth C. McCormick
Grade IV Grade III Grade I
Education Westfield State College
Began Service in Agawam Sept., 1927
Ruth M. Cassidy
Westfield State College
Sept., 1929
Lora M. Bettinger
Westfield State College
Sept., 1928
Feeding Hills School Mrs. Madrine W. Allen
Principal and Grades V-VI
Plymouth, N. H. Normal
April, 1933
Marguerite C. Kramer Ruth M. Ripley Madeline E. Townsend
Grades IV-V
North Adams State College
Sept., 1930
Grades II-III
Castine Normal School
Sept., 1925
Grade I
North Adams State College
Jan., 1931
West Street School Marian A. Agan
Grades I-IV incl. Westfield State College Sept., 1931
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Report of State Audit
September 28, 1932
To the Board of Selectmen,
Mr. Edwin L. Talmadge, Chairman,
Agawam, Massachusetts
Gentlemen : I submit herewith my report of an audit of the accounts of the Town of Agawam for the period from April 30, 1930, to June 16, 1932, made in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 44 of the General Laws. This report is in the form of a report made to me by Mr. Ed- ward H. Fenton, Chief Accountant of this Division.
Very truly yours,
THEODORE N. WADDELL,
Director of Accounts
Mr. Theodore N. Waddell
Director of Accounts
Department of Corporations and Taxation State House, Boston
Sir: As directed by you I have made an audit of the books and accounts of the Town of Agawam for the period from, April 30, 1930, the date of the previous audit, to June 16, 1932, and submit the following report thereon.
The financial transactions of the town, as recorded on the books of the several departments receiving or expend- ing money for the town or committing bills for collection,
125
were examined, checked, and verified by a comparison with the books and records' in the office of the town treasurer and the bookkeeper.
The recorded receipts from licenses granted by the se- lectmen were compared with the applications granted. The receipts and payments were checked and verified with the records of the selectmen and the town treasurer. Licenses, representing charged of $17, which were outstanding at the time of the previous audit, do not appear to have been col- lected, and it is recommended that these fees, which appear to be uncollectible, be abated in order to clear the records.
The books and accounts in the bookkeeper's office were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were compared with the town treasurer's books and with the books and records in the several departments in which charges originated and money was collected for the town. The records of disbursements were checked with the treas- ury warrants and with the payments as shown by the town treasurer. Approved vouchers and pay-rolls were exam- ined and checked with the appropriation accounts.
The appropriations as recorded on the books of the town clerk were checked with the ledger appropriation accounts and were verified.
The recorded commitments and abatements of taxes, sidewalk and curbing assessments. and departmental charges were checked and proved, and the charges out- standing were reconciled with the ledger balances.
The ledger accounts were analyzed and footed, a trial balance was taken off, and a balance sheet, which is ap- pended to this report, was prepared showing the financial condition of the town on June 16, 1932.
The books and accounts of the town treasurer were examined and checked in detail. The recorded receipts were analyzed and compared with the records in the departments collecting money for the town and with the other sources
I26
from which money was paid into the town treasury, while the disbursements were checked with the warrants of the selectmen authorizing the treasurer to pay out town cash and with the bookkeeper's books.
The cash book was totalled, and the cash balance was proved by reconciling the bank balances with statements received from the banks and by an actual count of the cash on hand.
The payments on account of debt and interest were checked with the amounts falling due during the period audited and were compared with the cancelled securities and coupons on file.
The securities and savings bank books representing the investments of the several trust funds in the custody of the town treasurer were examined and verified.
In checking the treasurer's accounts, the treasurer was charged with the following amounts which were shown to have been paid to him but which were not entered as re- ceipts in the cash book: Selectmen's licenses, $1; board of health license, 50c ; hall rents, $30; sewer entrances, $80; and library fines, $5 ; a total of $116.50.
The count of the treasurer's cash made at the beginning of the audit showed an apparent surplus of $76.74 which, applied toward the omitted items, leaves a treasurer's cash discrepancy of $39.76.
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