USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1936-1940 > Part 33
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25,898.42
Water Department :
Rates,
$10,446.39
Miscellaneous,
338.10
$ 60,893.22 60.00
10,784.49
191
Aid to Highways:
State,
$3,918.34
County,
3,918.34
7,836.68
Estimated Receipts to be Collected, Overdrawn Accounts :
58,851.78
Davis Library Fund Income- to be Received from Fund, ยท $ 15.51
Highways, Chapter 90: Springfield Street, $2,097.05
Suffield Street, 1,717.81
3,814.86
Snow Removal,
415.43
4,245.80
$577,467.21
LIABILITIES AND RESERVES
Temporary Loans :
In Anticipation of Revenue, ..
$150,000.00
State Tax,
22,560.00
State Parks and Reservations Tax,
322.77
County Tax,
12,032.63
Treasurer's Cash Overage,
265.06
Dog Licenses Due County, ..
471.40
Unexpended Balance Centre School Construction, Public Works Ad-
ministration Project, Reserved for Payment of Debt, ..
4,138.75
Old Age Assistance Reimbursement,
152.36
Road Machinery Earnings,
599.64
Surplus War Bonus Fund,
2,701.14
Trust Fund Income :
Phelon Library Fund, $ 17.78
Old Cemetery Fund,
79.47
.... ..
192
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund, .... 26.22
123.47
Smith-Hughes Fund,
302.17
George-Deen Fund,
540.00
Appropriation Balances :
General, $159,217.97
Chapter 500,
1,400.00
Federal Grants :
Old Age Assistance :
Assistance,
5,752.08
Administration,
103.95
Aid to Dependent Children : Aid,
939.34
Administration,
74.92
167,488.25
Reserve Fund-Overlay Surplus,
2,074.24
Overlays Reserved for Abatements :
Levy of 1938,
$ 793.24
Levy of 1939,
4,494.06
Levy of 1940,
6,618.85
11,906.15
Revenue 1940,
14.00
Revenue Available When Collected :
Motor Vehicle Excise Tax, . $ 1,511.96
Tax Title,
76,446.71
Departmental,
25,898.42
Water,
10,784.49
State and County Aid to
Highways,
7,836.68
122,478.26
Surplus Revenue,
79,296.91
$577,467.21
193
DEBT ACCOUNTS
Net Funded or Fixed Debt :
Inside Limit,
$ 12,000.00 142,500.00
Outside Limit,
$154,500.00
Bridge Loans,
$ 15,000.00
Sewer Loans,
4,000.00
School Loans,
110,000.00
Water Loans,
11,500.00
Municipal Relief Loans
14,000.00
$154,500.00
TRUST ACCOUNTS
Trust Funds, Cash and Securities : In Custody of Town Treasurer,
$16,695.32
In Custody of Trustee,
12,718.09
$29,413.41
Whiting Street Charity Fund,
$6,555.23
Desire Pyne Charity Fund,
2,315.36
Mary A. Phelon School Fund,
5,218.94
Mary A. Phelon Library Fund,
....
500.00
Charles Palmer Davis Library Fund,
12,718.09
Old Cemetery Fund,
700.00
Maple Grove Cemetery Fund,
1,405.79
$29,413.41
194
ANNUAL REPORTS of the
School Committee and the
Superintendent of Schools of the Town of AGAWAM, MASS.
OF
INC
5.1855.
ORE
RATED
For the Year Ending December 31 1940
Agawam Public Schools
ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD
Clifford M. Granger, Chairman, Term expires 1941
Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Leslie C. Miller Term expires 1941
Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary
Term expires 1942
Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Edson A. Ferrell Term expires 1942 Post Office Address, North Agawam
Mrs. Grace B. Reed Term expires 1943
Post Office Address, Agawam
Warren C. Bodurtha Term expires 1943
Post Office Address, Agawam
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS Benjamin J. Phelps Telephone : 4-2831
OFFICE HOURS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT High School Building-School Days, 8.30-9.30 A. M. and by appointment
SECRETARY Emma Mellor Telephone 4-1630
196
SCHOOL CALENDAR-1941
Winter Term-January 2 to February 21 Spring Term-March 3 to April 25
Summer Term-May 5 to June 13, Elementary Schools Summer Term-May 5 to June 20, Junior-Senior High Fall Term-September 3 to December 19
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.
197
School Committee's Report
To the Citizens of Agawam:
Time marches relentlessly on and once again it is the season of the year, when, according to custom, it is our duty to make our annual report to the citizens of the Town.
There have been several changes in our personnel dur- ing the year 1940. Mrs. Vera Kellogg, after several years of faithful and efficient service as School Nurse, resigned at the close of the school year and her place was filled by the appointment of Mrs. Stella Kibbe. Dr. Wheeler, our School Doctor, having moved to Springfield, was of course not available, and we appointed to that position Dr. Langer of West Springfield. He has put a great amount of time into the work and has been very helpful with the boys on the football squad. We have added two more men to the faculty of our Junior High School, Mr. Purcell and Mr. Holmes, bringing the number of men on our High School staff up to an even dozen. At Agawam Center, due to the increased enrollment, we have been obliged to employ an extra teacher, hiring her on a sub- stitute's rating. At the Springfield Street School we have two new teachers, Miss Gibson and Miss Sears.
Due to the larger number of men on our High School faculty, it has become imperative that we provide a teachers' room for them, similar to the one used by the women of the staff. We have prepared plans for such a room and have included in our budget an amount we hope will be sufficient to carry out those plans.
198
We had no serious epidemic of contagious diseases during 1940 but the year 1941 has started off with an unusual number of colds, mumps and cases of grippe. The schools in many of our surrounding towns have been closed for a few days because there have been so many absent from school. In our own case we have had nearly two hundred out of school on some days, mostly in the grades and Junior High School.
The keynote in our national life today seems to be "Preparedness." Perhaps you may wonder what the schools are doing to help prepare the boys and girls so that they may do their bit. In September, we started a new course in Household Arts for the girls, which cor- responds to the Agricultural course for the boys. We were fortunate in securing Miss Pratt to take charge of this department. Miss Pratt has had several years of very successful experience in this type of work, and we are confident the girls under her supervision will be able to do their share in brightening their homes. Next year, we are in hopes of being able to offer a course in sheet metal work and have placed in our budget a request for money enough to buy a lathe for that type of instruction.
In passing, we would like to call attention to the un- usually fine exhibit on display in the gymnasium last June. The Domestic Science Department, in their rooms, also showed that they had been busy and had learned many things from Mrs. Aldrich which would help to beautify their own lives and homes. The Art exhibits were very well done and showed careful teaching and painstaking effort. Especially attractive were the products of the shops of Mr. Harris and Mr. Baker, ranging all the way from the simple tie racks to the superb kyaks. These are but a few of the things that our boys and girls are doing in preparation for life and its problems. We hope they are learning to be loyal, honest, upright, God-fearing Americans. What finer product can we demand than that? May our schools always uphold and teach the doctrines and principles of America for Americans !
199
Many of our public schools are making use of visual education along many different lines. We have recently purchased a new machine for use in this type of work. Mr. Hadley, who is very much interested in this form of instruction, has trained a number of boys in the handling and operating of the machine. Teachers have been active in developing more interesting programs with the aid of the movies. At various times educational films have been shown at the different grade schools. It might be of in- terest to note that Mr. Hadley and a corps of assistants have been preparing an Agawam film, showing many of the activities of the town.
There is still an increasing need of more land near our High School for playground and athletic purposes. However, we hear that there is a movement on foot to secure better facilities both for the American Legion and for the athletic teams of the High School. We have, it seems to us, been too long in the manana class con- cerning this matter. Let us do something about it and "Do it Now."
We are obliged to ask for a little more money in our appropriation for 1941 and we are in hopes that the Fi- nance Committee will grant our request. Agawam has a state-wide reputation for good schools and this record can only be maintained by going ahead along modern lines though still retaining the fundamentals of sound school policy. Most of our expenses are fixed charges; such as fuel, janitors and teachers' salaries, health pro- gram, and so on down through the list. Due to the cuts in past budgets many necessary repairs have been al- lowed to go undone. Such a course is of necessity bad school policy.
You hear and you read in the papers how prosperous the country is at the present time. But there is one class that Prosperity seems to have overlooked, and that is the farmer. With all the activity in the shops and facto- ries it seems strange that farm products should be selling at such low prices. Agawam is still, we believe, an agri-
200
cultural community, and it is upon that portion of our citizens who get their living from the soil that the tax burden is heaviest because they have no assured income. Bearing these facts in mind we shall be as economical as possible.
In closing our report we wish to thank all who have in any way contributed to the success of the schools dur- ing the year 1940.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman SIDNEY F. ATWOOD MRS. GRACE B. REED WARREN C. BODURTHA LESLIE C. MILLER EDSON A. FERRELL
201
Financial Statement
DECEMBER 31, 1940
Town Appropriation
$ 147,000.00
Federal Funds :
Smith-Hughes Funds for Agriculture $ 302.17
George-Deen Funds for
Household Arts
480.00 782.17
Total
$ 147,782.17
EXPENDITURES
General Expense
$ 6,826.59
Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and
Principals
89,824.10
Text Books
1,982.92
Stationery and Supplies
3,997.93
Wages of Janitors
10,778.11
Fuel
6,815.01
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
3,284.15
Repairs and Replacements
2,683.27
School Libraries
104.15
Health
2,042.52
Transportation
11,043.96
Tuition
1,529.45
Insurance on Buildings and Equipment
1,285.74
Miscellaneous Expenses
458.62
Outlay-Buildings and Equipment
829.65
Agriculture
2,966.43
Adult Alien Education
306.39
202
Household Arts 1,022.95
Total Expenditures $ 147,781.94
Unexpended Balance .23
Total . . . . . . .. ... $ 147,782.17
COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN
Total Expenditures $147,781.94
Federal Funds received for Schools 782.17 $ 146,999.77
Returns to the Town on account of
Schools, but not returnable to the School Department :
From the State :
On account of Teachers' Salaries $ 14,225.00
For Agricultural Instruction ....
1,607.62
For Adult Alien Instruction .... 112.00
On account of Trade School Tuition
735.22
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards
1,054.77
Tuition of High School Pupils from other Towns
412.50
From Manual Training Department
206.26
From Rental of School Buildings Miscellaneous
195.00
3.75
18,552.12
Amount paid for Schools from Local Taxation
$ 128,447.65
203
Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Agawam :
I herewith submit my annual report, the theme of which is: Education in a Democracy. The report will discuss briefly the following points: Democracy from the Administrative Viewpoint; Democracy from the Pupil Viewpoint; and Democracy from the Standpoint of the Teacher.
When democracy is viewed in juxtaposition to dicta- torship, democracy seems to be a rather loose way of liv- ing. Yet in that looseness, in which the mind and body are relaxed, forces are set free which bring greater satis- factions and successes to individuals and to nations than are known under Fascistic and Communistic ways of life- such ways of life as tighten up the mental processes of the people, and ultimately make their bodies fit instru- ments for shouldering rifles. On the one hand, you have the democratic, the creative way of life; on the other hand, the Fascistic, the destructive way of life. On the one hand, you have the individual acting for his best interests; on the other hand, the individual acted upon for his worst interests.
Democracy must not be confused, however, with li- cense or uncontrolled action. Democracy is a form of government and as such must have checks and balances. When these checks and balances are timed to the right momentum, then it is that the people are as free as they
204
can be in their present human state. Let us examine the school setup in Agawam from the standpoint of democracy.
DEMOCRACY FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE VIEWPOINT
The members of the School Committee in Agawam are elected by the people in an election which is free to all citizens who reside in the town. To this committee the people delegate their authority, to the end that necessary administrative policies can be formulated and put into ac- tion. If these policies are unsatisfactory to the people, the people can change such policies at subsequent elec- tions. The checks and balances are in the hands of the people.
The election of teachers is an important administra- tive function of the committee; for it is to the teachers that the committee must in turn delegate, to a large de- gree, the power conferred upon it by the people. The committee elects the teachers upon the recommendation of the superintendent. The election of teachers in Aga- wam is a very democratic process, for the committee is vitally concerned that the best teacher available for the amount of salary the town can pay is secured for each vacancy. The only check here is that the candidate must have had four years of training, either in a state normal college or in some other recognized institution of higher education. Within the past year, three elementary teach- ers and four junior-senior high school teachers were elected to teach in Agawam. In each case the successful candidate was selected from a large field of applicants. The decisive factor was the needs of the children to be served. It is a fortunate and democratic situation in any school system when the needs of the children are con- sidered in filling teaching positions. That such a pro- cedure prevails in Agawam is proof that the members of the committee are conscientious, and desire to render just service to the people who have placed them in a very responsible position in our democracy.
205
The adoption of a program of studies for the town is also a vital administrative function of the committee. Here, too, the needs of the children are the deciding fac- tors. There could be no situation more undemocratic than to conduct our public schools with a curriculum, which, by its very nature, would close the door of opportunity to the children. The educational needs of all must be con- sulted and courses of study to meet these needs must be offered in our schools. Agawam has kept abreast of the times in this respect. The town offers the Classical Course to those who wish to go to college; the Commercial Course to those who have a leaning toward commercial life; the General Course to those who are undecided in their choice of work; the Agricultural Course to those who wish to enter agricultural pursuits; and the Household Arts Course for those who desire to become homemakers. Our Industrial Arts Course offers the boys who are trade minded an opportunity to explore their possibilities in various fields of endeavor, so that they can make a wise choice of study should they later elect to go to the Springfield Trade School.
A new idea in trade school procedure has come into prominence. In former times, trade schools were in some measure the scrap heap of the public school system. Their doors were open to all boys who were fourteen years old, and especially to boys who were unable or unwilling to progress in the academic courses of the schools. Today, it is desirable that boys should be sixteen years old and should have completed a high school course before enter- ing trade school. By aid of such a program, the schools will turn out better tradesmen and better citizens for our democracy.
The addition of a lathe for metal work to our equip- ment would make our shop course more interesting and profitable to pupils who might later go to trade school. It is recommended that such a lathe be purchased during the coming school year.
From the foregoing statements it is clear that to a high degree the courses of study in the Agawam schools
206
are democratic, in that they reflect the interests, occupa- tions, and industries of the town.
Education to meet the needs of all the pupils must have an adequate budget in order to carry on successfully. Otherwise the educational program must be curtailed and hence lose its democratic appeal. The budget is the all in all of a public school system. The School Committee, representing the public, prepares the budget and submits the same to the Finance Committee for approval. At the annual town meeting the budget is presented to the people for their decision. There are no star chamber pro- ceedings here. There could not be any process of town government more democratic in nature.
The question foremost in the minds of the members of the School Committee as they administer their job is, how can we best serve the needs of the children of Aga- wam? Their answer to the question is as follows: by electing teachers well qualified for teaching; by providing courses of study which offer a high measure of equal edu- cational opportunities to the children; and by securing a budget adequate for the accomplishment of such worthy ends.
DEMOCRACY-FROM THE VIEWPOINT OF THE PUPILS
Democracy in schools is the blending of individual differences in such a manner as to make for equality of opportunity. It is like a picture puzzle of many pieces : each piece has an important part in the total makeup. No two pieces are equal, but each piece has its place and when fitted into place completes a highly satisfactory pic- ture. Democracy seeks to help each individual fit himself into his proper place: most other forms of government hammer the individual into some sort of a place.
We have already noted the various courses of study, avenues of opportunity, which the town offers to high
207
school pupils. The pupils elect these courses, after care- fully weighing their native assets and liabilities under the guidance of the principal and the teachers. If it becomes apparent that a poor choice has been made, there is an opportunity in due season to change to some other course which may be more fitting. The underlying principle is that pupils will make progress if given an opportunity to work under proper conditions: as is witnessed by the fact that retardation in the Agawam schools has been reduced to a minimum. There has never been a time when chil- dren have had as much equal educational opportunity as they enjoy at the present time.
As we have mentioned, democracy is not synonymous with uncontrolled action or license. The discipline of a democracy is centered in individual restraint-restraint fostered by education. Liberty generated by the observ- ance of a few rules which seek to give justice to all is of the highest type and makes for the best possible school spirit. In our schools today there is a freedom liberated by pupil self-restraint which makes our class rooms order- ly, and gives a maximum of opportunity for all to develop their native talents and interests. It is a pleasure for the superintendent to visit the class rooms.
In a democracy there must be leaders. Leaders are not developed when teachers assume charge of all details and thereby suppress pupil initiative. Our teachers are urged to use pupil helpers wherever possible. Our as- sembly programs, school clubs, student councils and extra- curricula activities are largely in the hands of the pupils. By the pupils, is not meant a few favorites-favorites be- cause of social position, or race, or creed. Leadership is given its opportunity in whatever group it is found, or wherever it may be developed.
It is the business of a public school system to take an inventory of the potentialities, native abilities, and inter- ests of all the pupils at hand, and in so far as possible provide an educational setup which will give legitimate interests and potentialities ample opportunity for expan- sion. Such is our aim in Agawam.
208
DEMOCRACY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE TEACHER
The course of study in the Agawam schools is a gen- eral outline of the specific work to be accomplished dur- ing the school year, and is made up by the teachers in cooperation with the superintendent. There is no attempt to dictate to a teacher the title of each subject to be taught for each hour of the school day. The superin- tendent cannot sit in his office and say to himself, "The teachers in the fifth grade of the town of Agawam are at this very moment discussing the topic, Washington Crossing the Delaware." The superintendent can visit the class rooms however and find the teachers working in an atmosphere free from restraint, which permits them to use their own ingenuity in their endeavor to put their subjects across in the class room.
The teachers not only have a voice in the making of the courses of study, but they are also consulted-and their opinion is respected-in the selection of textbooks. The teachers will do better work if they use textbooks for which they have a special preference.
It would seem that the day of closed books is passed. By closed book is meant a book of unimpeachable author- ity. History in the headlines has degenerated into mys- tery in the headlines, or misery in the headlines. No longer can controversial subjects be dismissed from the class room. In a true democracy there is provision for freedom of speech. Nazism, Fascism, Communism and Capitalism are all measured in the light of democracy. These "isms" cannot blot out that light: by contrast that light shines brighter and brighter : in that light our schools are conducted.
Human beings are not perfect and therefore no system of government is perfect. There has been, during the past decade, a decided attempt by many writers to debunk our national heroes. Washington, Franklin and Lincoln
209
have not been spared. The teaching emphasis in our schools is placed upon the splendid achievements of our forefathers in founding this republic and in giving us a constitution which guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of press, and freedom of worship; and at the same time gives every citizen a voice in making and changing our laws.
It is wholesome to report that our teachers are ever seeking to improve not only their fund of subject knowl- edge, but also their methods of instruction and techniques. Teachers are given great freedom in their choice of meth- ods. They are urged to use the vitalizing techniques of- fered in our graduate schools of education, in which many of our teachers are enrolled. They are encouraged also to make use of inert teaching talents with which they may be endowed. The spirit of the teachers is not that we must be told what to do and how to do it, but that we know what to do and that we will do it in the best possible way at our command. This same spirit animates the work of our teachers in extra-curricula activities and accounts for the more than average successes we have enjoyed during the past year. Many illustrations could be given, taken from the class room, from the stage, and from the athletic field, to show how both teachers and pupils profit by the democratic way of life.
The burning question before educators today is: what can our schools do to aid the cause of democracy? The answer to that question is not alone in waving flags, voicing democratic slogans, and taking oath of allegiance -wholesome as such attitudes can be-but there must be also the determined effort to make and keep our schools democratic in the real sense of the word: for then it is that children will grow up in the democratic way of life and will give their all for its preservation.
Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN J. PHELPS Superintendent of Schools
210
ATTENDANCE REPORT AND ENROLLMENTS FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR SEPTEMBER + DECEMBER 20, 1940
Total Mem- bership
Average Mem- bership
Average Daily At- tendance
Per Cent At- tendance
Tardi- ness
High School
Senior High III
100
97.48
93.39
95.81
43
Senior High II
109
106.63
101.22
94.93
54
Senior High I
131
125.21
118.55
94.69
67
Junior High III
150
144.62
137.45
95.05
19
Junior High VIII-1 35
34.87
33.41
95.81
1
Junior High VIII-2 35
33.27
31.86
95.76
2
Junior High VIII-3 35
33.50
32.45
96.42
1
Junior High VIII-4 35
34.69
33.82
97.52
1
Junior High VII-1
31
29.28
28.35
96.36
5
Junior High VII-2
34
33.23
31.37
94.40
10
Junior High VII-3
35
34.97
33.62
96.12
1
Junior High VII-4
34
32.74
31.04
94.82
1
Special Class
21
20.88
19.63
94.01
4
Agawam Center School
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