USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1931-1935 > Part 4
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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 a.m .- 12.30 p.m. 1.00-3.00 p.m.
84
REPORT OF School Committee
Another fiscal year has passed into the semi-oblivion of history and we, as a Committee, are again faced with the necessity of presenting for your consideration our annual 1 eport.
The year 1931 was one of unprecedented industrial, commercial and agricultural depression. Agawam must, we feel, still be considered as an agricultural community rather than an industrial center. Farm products reached the lowest prices in at least thirty years and very few of the farmers in Agawam were able to break even in 1931. Hundreds of our residents have been employed in the of- fices, shops and mills of surrounding towns. During the year just past many of them worked only part time. while others were laid off entirely. This state of affairs has naturally made it impossible for many of our taxpayers to fulfil their financial obligations as they have in previous years. As a result, the financial condition of our town de- mands the strictest economy by every department.
As the School Budget represents the largest amount of money raised in our town by taxation, we have deemed it our duty to our citizens to do all in our power to pare down our appropriation needs for 1932. Of course, it will be a real problem to do that, for we have always figured our finances so closely each year. There have been many sug- gestions made toward the reduction of our school running expenses. Whatever action your Committee takes on this
85
matter, the high standard of our schools must be main- tained for, as Benjamin Franklin once said: "The good education of youth has been esteemed by wise men in all ages as the surest foundation of the happiness both of private families and of the Commonwealth." Educational costs in our town in the past have not been as high as the average for the state. Statistics show that during the past ten years total expenditures for Massachusetts public schools have increased nearly 140 per cent, while the school enrollment has increased only 25 per cent. In Aga- wam during the same period, our enrollment increased nearly 30 per cent and our school expenditures increased a trifle over 70 per cent. Much of this increase, of course, resulting from the establishing and maintaining of our own High School.
At a recent meeting of the Agawam teaching force the teachers were asked to take a voluntary cut of ten per cent in their salaries for the ensuing vear. After considerable discussion this plan was adopted by the teachers with but few dissenters. The Committee has always had the loval support of the teachers in the past and we feel confident that they will all be only too glad to "carry on" for Aga- wam until the dawn of better times. We are certainly grateful to them. and we know that our taxpayers will ap- preciate their action by continuing to give them their loyal support.
Your Superintendent and the chairman of your Com- mittee were present a few weeks ago at a hearing in North- ampton held by a State Commission investigating the need of regulating School Motor Bus Transportation. They were gratified to learn that Agawam has as modern and as efficient a system of school transportation as any town in the state, and that it is operated at a minimum of cost. This Commission. in its final findings, made certain recom- mendations relative to the operation of motor 'busses transporting school children. Your Committee was pleased to note that practically all of these suggestions were in practice in our transportation system.
86
We would like to again bring to your attention the problem of the so-called South School in Agawam. This site is altogether too dangerous for an elementary school. Furthermore, the building is sadly out of date and has but few modern conveniences. Of course, now is no time to talk about a new building located at some central point, but this matter should be attended to at the earliest pos- sible moment. Last year there was some agitation relative to the closing of the West Street School at Feeding Hills. If that were done the pupils now accommodated there would have to be transferred to the Feeding. Hills Center School. This move might be a measure of economy on the part of the town but would, the Committee feels, be re- sented by the parents who now send their children to that school. Any action toward closing this school should, we think, be deferred until some later date.
In concluding our report, we wish to thank all who have in any way contributed to the success and efficiency of the Agawam schools: parents, friends, citizens, teachers and pupils.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman. GRACE B. REED JOSEPH L. ROY ALICE G. LEWIS SYDNEY F. ATWOOD WARREN C. BODURTHA
87
Financial Statement of Schools
December 31, 1931
General Expense
$ 6,935.82
Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and
Principals
99,728.50
Text Books
1,728.17
Stationery, Supplies, etc.
4,212.36
Wages of Janitors
10,360.80
Fuel
5,390.51
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
2,784.60
Repairs and Replacements
3,826.3I
Libraries
79.63
Health
2,022.00
Transportation
10,715.24
Tuition
3,548.98
Insurance on Buildings and Equipment
1,715.00
Miscellaneous Expenses
526.13
Outlay-New Equipment
276.08
Agriculture
2,599.87
Total
$156,450.00
88
Superintendent's Report
To the Members of the Agawam School Committee :
I hereby submit my annual report as Superintendent of Schools.
THE AGAWAM SCHOOLS IN A YEAR OF DEPRESSION
There are several words in the English language that are all permeating in significance, but there is no word which is so benumbing in power and bewildering in influ- ence as the word depression. Economic depression pays its respects in every quarter and leaves in its path de- throned kings, overturned governments, impaired industry, withered resources, and confused purposes. There is one quarter, however, in which depression is rebuffed most of all, and that is in the field of public school education.
Youth has the whole-hearted protection of the com- munity, the state, and the nation for its defense and rightly so, for are not the young folks of our land the very heart, soul, and hope of our country? Must we not sacrifice for them to the end that they may have healthy bodies and sound minds? Is not such a sacrifice the best insurance for the rebuilding of our homes and the safeguarding of our civilization after the depression has passed? The history of all of our national depressions shows that in these times of storm and stress our communities have yielded the least ground in this struggle where the prospects of youth were at stake. Depression, however, has its influence upon the programs of educational administration and the school re- port for 1931, colored somewhat by that sinister hand, is as follows :
89
ENROLLMENT
Enrollment in the Agawam Public Schools by Grades for the Year 1922 and the Year 1931, as of September I.
GRADE
Year 1
2 3 4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 Total
1922
212 170 145 158 142 123 119
89
42
49 37 33 1309
1931
166 181 190 190 173 166 190 160 127
94 61 65 1763
There are some significant contrasts in these enroll- ments. In the first place, there has been a decrease in the number of pupils entering the primary grades. In 1922 when the population of our town was 6000 there were 212 pupils registered in Grade I. In 1931 with an increase of 1000 in the population of the town there was a decrease of 46 in the number of first grade pupils. This decrease is not constant. It is very probable that there will be more than 166 pupils in Grade I next year. If the same ratio of pupils to popula- tion should prevail in 1032 as prevailed in 1922 there would be 250 pupils in Grade I in September. 1932. We know that such will not be the case. There are various reasons for the decline in the number of elementary school children. We have a larger adult population todav, but the new families have not brought into the town a large number of small children. The immigration laws have become rather strict, and in consequence thereof Agawam no longer receives large families from abroad. In a time of depression fewer homes are established. This is not a situation peculiar to Agawam, during the last decade in the State of Connecticut there has been a decrease of 13% in the number of elemen- tary school pupils. In the City of Hartford, Conn., there are 1507 fewer pupils in the elementary grades than there were last year at this time.
Another striking contrast in this tabulation is found in the seventh grade enrollments: grade seven in 1922 regis- tered 119 pupils ; in 1932 there are 190 pupils in the seventh grade. In other words, the situation is as follows: in 1922 with a first grade of 212 there was a seventh grade of 119: in 1932 with a first grade of 166 there is a seventh grade of 190. The fact is obvious also from our enrollments that
90
this same proportionate increase is found in all of our junior-senior high school grades. There are several reasons for this changed condition. In the first place, as a nation our people have decided, if possible, to give every boy and girl a high school education. Again, our labor laws are so wiselv administered that many boys and girls of high school age cannot find a place in our industries, so that in abnormal times like the present there are no opportunities of any kind whatsoever for them. It is interesting to note also that our State School Department and our Federal Bureau of Education have in recent months made an active campaign to keep our unemployed youth in school.
These shifts in the numerical enrollment of our school population have an important bearing in many aspects in the problem of school administration. and at the present time touch in a vital way the costs of education.
COSTS OF EDUCATION
The per pupil cost of educating children in the elemen- tarv grades (I-VI) in Agawam is $65.08. In the junior high school where we find this phenomenal increase in en- rollment the cost rises to $103.42 per pupil. The cause of this greater cost in the junior high school is found in the following items: Transportation, Gymnasiums and Equip- ment, Domestic Science, Manual Arts, Science Labora- tories, and greater expense for all books and supplies. The cost of instruction is also greater in the junior high school than in the elementary school. The average salary in the elementary grades in Agawam is $1250 per year. The av- erage salary of the junior high school is $1585 for women and $2100 for men. In our state the average elementary school salary for towns in our class is $1468. The average junior high school salary for women is $1606, for men $2140.
The following table shows the per pupil cost of educa- tion in Agawam and also similar costs in eight other towns in the vicinity of Agawam for the school years ending December 31, 1928 and December 31, 1930.
91
EXPENDITURES PER PUPIL FROM LOCAL TAXA- TION FOR THE SUPPORT OF ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR THE YEARS ENDING DEC. 31, 1928 AND DEC. 31, 1930
Rank in Rank in Group Group
Expenditure Expenditure Diff.
of 83
of 83
Towns Towns
Towns
Per Pupil 1928
Per Pupil 1930
- Loss
* Gain
1928
1930
Agawam
76.70
73.47
-3.23
39
54
Easthampton
75.96
73.27
-2.69
42
55
West Springfield
91.57
91.54
- . 03
II
16
Greenfield
79.45
77.59
-1.86
34
48
Amherst
84.28
79.62
-4.66
20
34
Ware
64.51
81.07
*16.56
67
29
Ludlow
80.69
77.26
-3.43
3I
45
Orange
76.67
74.54
-2.13
4I
53
Palmer
70.29
72.01
*1.72
56
56
The average expenditure per pupil in a group of 83 towns was $81.55 for 1930.
The data in the above table has been taken from the very latest report issued by the State Department of Edu- cation, and has been so arranged that some very important comparisons can be readily made. Our attention is attract- ed by the fact that nearly all of the towns were spending less money per pupil in 1930 than they were in 1928. The difference in Agawam was $3.23 per pupil. The towns of Amherst and Ludlow made a little more reduction per pupil than Agawam, but both of these towns are spending more per pupil than Agawam. When a town lowers the per pupil expenditure, naturally the town takes a lower rank in its group classification. There are 83 towns grouped in Class II. In 1930 Agawam dropped from rank 39 to rank 54. Again, the average expenditure from local taxa- tion per pupil in the whole group of 83 towns was $81.55 for 1930. In Agawam the expenditure per pupil for 1930
92
was $73.47. That is, Agawam spent from local taxation $8.08 less per pupil than the average of her group.
On November 20, 1931, the town was reimbursed on ac- count of the employment of teachers the sum of $19,841.33. No little part of this reimbursement was due to the train- ing and experience of our teachers. This sum amounted to $II.59 per pupil in net average membership and placed Agawam among the first ten in a group of eighty-three towns. We find, then, that an experienced and well trained group of teachers brings, in addition to high achievement in the classroom, a considerable sum of money to the treas- ury of the town.
A complete list of what the town received in 1931 on account of the schools is as follows :- Received from the state on account of Vocational and Continuation School tuition $1,346.55; High School tuitions $849.00; tuition of State Wards $629.30; received from Manual Training De- partment $168.60; received from Rental of School Build- ings $261.00; for glass breakage in Chemistry Department $44.45 ; received from the state on account of Agricultural Department $1,764.59; received from the state on account of Teachers $19,841.33.
There is one more item of significance in school costs, and that concerns the proportion of the school budget ex- pended for salaries of teachers-65% of the school budget in Agawam is spent for teachers' salaries; in our state 69.7% of the money raised for the support of the public schools is expended on teachers' salaries.
In 1929, the year that our depression started, Agawam inaugurated two very important administrative improve- ments in the school system; namely, the consolidation of the seventh and eighth grades in the new Junior-Senior High School building, and an up-to-date system of trans- portation. In the first case, the addition of four teachers and the equipment, supplies, and other expenses contingent
93
to the proper administration of a junior high school pro- gram raised the budget $8,000. Our increased expenditure for transportation added $3,000 more to the budget. How- ever, in face of these admirable improvements we are spending $3.43 less per pupil today than we expended in 1929. This decrease in expenditure has been brought to pass by carefully devised economies; to wit, the per pupil load of the teacher has been increased, thereby saving the services of two teachers; supplies have been purchased at the lowest possible prices consistent with quality ; the life of textbooks has been rejuvenated by repairs and extended to the utmost limit; the least possible number of changes in the course of study has been made, and the administra- tive force has been decreased by dropping the services of the truant officer.
TRANSPORTATION
A committee appointed by the Legislature of our state has recently made a survey of "school bus" transportation in Massachusetts. The committee, as a result of its in- vestigation, has recommended to the legislative body for enactment a measure designed to protect school children. In this bill for enactment thirteen points are cited. It is gratifying to record that our system of transportation, which has prevailed for the past two years, incorporates in its management nearly all of the recommendations of this legislative committee. At the present time we are trans- porting approximately 500 pupils each day at a cost of 12 cents per pupil per day. Indeed, it would be difficult to find in this state any town that affords its citizens such a modern type of transportation at so reasonable a price.
94
TEACHERS
A TABLE SHOWING THE NUMBER OF CHANGES IN THE TEACHING STAFF OF THE AGAWAM SCHOOLS FOR THE PAST TEN YEARS
Year
No. of Teachers
No. of Changes in Staff
1922
46
IO
1923
53
IO
1924
53
9
1925
54
8
1926
56
I5
1927
57
7
1928
60
7
1929
64
6
1930
64
I2
1931
64
3
57I
87=15%
The above table at once brings up the question as to what percentage of teacher turnover may be reasonably expected in a school system. Of course, this percentage would vary in different localities and under different con- ditions, such as a depression or an oversupply of teachers. Investigators have agreed that a 10% change is as large as may be expected in average school systems under normal conditions. In Agawam over a period of ten years the average per cent of change was 15. The majority of these changes has been in our elementary schools, where our lowest salaries prevail. In times of depression when teach-
95
ing jobs are scarce, naturally, but few changes come to pass in any teaching staff. This condition of affairs is fortunate for our schools: for in such times our schoolrooms are overcrowded; our supplies and books are curtailed; our pupils, in no few cases, are harassed and impoverished by home conditions. They need the steadying hand that ex- perience and training afford the teacher.
Our teachers are contributing one dollar each per month to a welfare fund. This fund is under the supervision of the school nurse and superintendent of schools. Each month the sum of $65 is available to purchase shoes and clothing for needy school children.
Your teaching staff has not been insensible to the pres- ent day demand that teachers seek to improve their tech- nique and broaden the background for their work by at- tending graduate schools of education or pursuing exten- sion courses. In some of our elementary schools all of the teachers have taken such courses, and during the past two years above 70% of our teachers have so improved their spare time. The schools have benefited to a high degree by such application on the part of the teachers, who have met the expenses of this professional improvement from their own resources. In many towns a bonus of $50 is granted to a teacher as an inducement to take this extra training. For, after all, no school system can rise superior to the caliber of its teachers. How important, then, to seek out and secure teachers who have a reasonable record of successful experience, who are well informed in the sub- jects they teach, who keep abreast of the times in the technique of their subjects, and who are naturally posses- sive of a sympathetic, cooperative personality. Such are the selective factors that have brought to Agawam a com- mendable teaching staff.
BUILDING PROGRAMS
At this time it may seem out of place to write about the need of new buildings for any part of our town. I can-
96
not fail, however, to direct your attention to the fact that quite a sum of money must be expended soon for the re- pair and upkeep of three of our elementary school build- ings if we are to continue their use. Reference is here made to the Feeding Hills Center building, and the single room buildings at West Street and the South end. The pupils of the West Street school can be housed at Feeding Hills Center and could be transferred to that building in September. Unless such action is taken repairs must be made on the present building. The South School is in the poorest condition of any of our school buildings, and no amount of money could put the present building in proper condition for modern school needs. The pupils in this sec- tion could be transported to Agawam Center. Such a circumstance, however, would overcrowd the present class- rooms of the Center school and would make it necessary to conduct a small class of pupils in the Town Hall.
HEALTH
The report of the nurse and school doctors together with the dental clinic report presents a record of the health activities of the past year.
ยท There have been two outbreaks of contagious diseases -one, of infantile paralysis-the other, scarlet fever. In the case of the paralysis outbreak the opening of our school year was delayed for a period of three days. In both of the outbreaks the schools were kept open in accordance with the advice of our State Health Authorities. When infantile paralysis is added to the burdens caused by a depression, the load becomes heavy and difficult to bear for all parties concerned. At such times a full measure of cooperation be- tween the home and the school is of utmost value. We are happy to record that because of this splendid spirit of co- operation our schools were kept in continuous session with no disastrous results.
There seems to be ample proof that a proper health staff can control and check the spread of communicable disease.
97
We know that in Agawam the number of cases of paralysis contracted among school children after the opening of schools did not exceed the number of cases contracted be- fore the schools were brought into session. We know also that a recent outbreak of scarlet fever was traced to its source and squelched without disrupting our schools.
In the passing from room to room in our schools we are attracted by the dental honor rolls. The dental honor roll, a new feature in health supervision, has been made possible by the service of our dental clinic. The funds for this dental clinic have been provided mostly by the different civic organizations of the town. May the members of these associations have the satisfaction of knowing that by their aid the health, comfort, and personality of many of our boys and girls have been enhanced. There is no health measure more significant and important for the young folks than the dental clinic.
CONCLUSION
Our schools have not faltered in this depression. The parents have not willed it, for they have a valuable equity at stake. The pupils have not lost courage, if anything they are more serious in their work. And the teachers have missed no opportunity to strengthen themselves for the task at hand-they realize now more than ever that youth needs their help.
These are sound conditions under which to work, and that they prevail is prime evidence of the civic usefulness of the Agawam School Committee.
Respectfully submitted,
BENJAMIN J. PHELPS,
Superintendent of Schools.
98
ATTENDANCE REPORT FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR
September 14-December 23, 193I
Total
Average Average
Per cent
Mem-
Mem-
Daily At-
At- Tardi-
bership
bership
tendance tendance ness
High School
Senior High III
67
63.50
60.99
96.05
29
Senior High II
62
60.46
58.33
96.48
56
Senior High I
97
94.65
90.46
95.57
22
Junior High III
I32
127.18
122.93
96.66
2I
Junior High VIII-I
35
34.96
33.70
96.40
2
Junior High VIII-2
35
34.49
33.30
96.54
6
Junior High VIII-3
38
35.00
34.14
97.54
6
Junior High VIII-4
36
33.17
32.74
95.45
4
Junior High VIII-5
20
19.25
18.68
97.04
3
Junior High VII-I
43
40.79
39.76
97.47
4
Junior High VII-2
4I
40.07
38.70
96.58
8
Junior High VII-3
44
41.3I
39.89
96.56
9
Junior High VII-4
4I
40.50
38.98
96.25
6
Jr. High Spec. Class
25
21.72
21.08
97.05
O
North Agawam School
Grade VI
36
33.54
32.75
97.64
2
Grades V-VI
32
31.43
30.83
98.09
4
Grade V
38
35.78
34.35
96.00
2
Grade IV
36
34.18
32.51
95.12
4
Grades III-IV
3I
29.54
28.65
96.99
2
Grade III
35
31.62
30.16
95.38
2
Grade II
37
33.27
31.00
91.93
3
Grades I-II
33
31.54
29.52
93.60
5
Grade I
35
31.97
29.70
92.89
II
Opp. Class
I8
15.99
14.93
93.38
I
Agawam Center School
Grade VI
54
49.22
46.39
94.27
6
Grade V
42
38.74
36.03
92.90
3
99
Grades IV-V
38
35.29
32.77
92.85
2
Grade IV
45
41.15
38.47
93.50
6
Grade III
38
35.00
33.66
96.10
5
Grade II
42
36.28
33.45
92.10
3
Grade I
38
35.48
32.49
91.57
9
Springfield St. School
Grade VI
38
37.28
36.46
97.79
4
Grade V
39
38.59
37.16
96.30
9
Grade IV
39
37.77
36.68
97.II
0
Grades III-IV
36
34.75
33.74
97.09
8
Grade III
34
32.62
31.74
97.30
I3
Grade II
44
42.68
40.50
94.89
19
Grade I
43
40.91
39.38
96.26
8
Feeding Hills School
Grades V-VI
35
31.89
30.44
95.67
3
Grades IV-V
46
43.30
41.18
95.17
IO
Grades II-III
38
35.21
33.50
95.14
5
Grade I
I9
19.00
18.39
96.81
5
South School
Grades I-II-III
3I
30.02
26.36
87.80
14
Suffield St. School
Grades I-II-III
20
19.55
18.65
95.40
15
West St. School
Grades I-II-III-IV
32
29.24
27.62
94.50
3
Total Membership for Town
1838
Average Membership for Town
1739.88
Average Daily Attendance for Town
1663.14
Per cent Attendance for Town
95.59
Tardiness for Town
362
Total Membership January 1, 193I
1823
Increase in Membership over last year
15
100
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL DOCTORS AND SCHOOL NURSE
January I, 1931 to December 31, 1931
Report of the visits of Dr. Wheeler :
On September 15. every child in the first. second and third grades of all the elementary and rural schools was examined because of an outbreak of infantile paralysis.
On September 14, 15. 16, 17, 18, 22, 23. 25 and 28. visits were made to the Agawam Center School to examine chil- dren about whom there was any suspicion of infantile paralysis.
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