USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Agawam > Town of Agawam, Massachusetts annual report 1941-1945 > Part 15
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ORGANIZATION OF SCHOOL BOARD
Clifford M. Granger, Chairman, Term Expires 1944 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Paul J. Adams, Sr. Term Expires 1944 Post Office Address, North Agawam
Sidney F. Atwood, Secretary Term Expires 1945 Post Office Address, Feeding Hills
Edson A. Ferrell Term Expires 1945 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
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SCHOOL CALENDAR-1942
Winter Term-January 4 to February 19
Spring Term-March 1 to April 16
Summer Term-April 26 to June 11, Elementary Schools Summer Term-April 26 to June 22, Junior-Senior High School Fall Term-September 8 to December 23
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. 12:40-3:00 p. m.
Senior High School 9:00 a. m .- 12:45 p. m. 1:15 p. m .- 3:00 p. m.
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School Committee's Report
To the Citizens of Agawam:
Time marches on and once again it is the season when we are expected to make our annual report to the citizens of the town.
There have been several changes in our personnel during the year 1942. Mr. Frye, Mr. Holmes, Mr. Onischuk and Mr. Hadley all having left the faculty of our High School. The first three to enter some branch of government service and Mr. Hadley to accept a more lucrative position in Spring- field. Several of our elementary school teachers have suc- cumbed to the lure of the uniform and have married men in some branch of our armed forces. We still have a rule "that when a teacher marries she is automatically dropped," but for the duration we feel that it would be far from patriotic to dismiss a teacher because she married a service man. Raymond Montagna of the High School staff entered an officer's training school during the summer, and his friends are all proud of the splendid record he has made there. Our school physician, Dr. Langer, entered service in November and we shall surely miss him, as he was very faithful and con- scientious in his duties. In his place we elected Dr. George Steele of West Springfield, a nephew of the more widely known Dr. Steele. Mr. Freme, whom we hired to take Mr. Hadley's place, was under deferment when we engaged him, but has been reclassified since the opening of the school year and may not be able to finish the year with us.
According to government officials, we should scrap prac- tically all of our present curriculum and put all the emphasis on Science, Mathematics, Aeronautics, Aviation and Pre- flight Training. They say that 40 per cent of every grad- uating class will become aviators, most of them of course being men; and that another 40 per cent, including both men and women, will become members of the aviation ground forces; and at the same time they are drafting the men most capable of teaching those subjects, which does not make sense to us.
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If the war continues a couple of years more, the result will be an entirely feminine High School faculty and that would, in our judgment, give our educational setup a de- cidedly sissified aspect, a situation which was often criticized before we hired several men for our Junior High Department.
You have probably read a good deal in the papers about the Victory Corps in some of our neighboring high schools: such as Ludlow, West Springfield, and Easthampton. We have much the same setup in our school but we have not gone in for newspaper publicity in the matter.
The Physical Fitness program has been stepped up in accord with government suggestion. Mr. Lino Schinelli, a graduate of Agawam High School and also of Springfield College, has been engaged to help out with that work, and he will also take over some of the classes Mr. Onischuk taught. Lino is well remembered for his athletic prowess while a student at Agawam.
We have been comparatively free from contagious dis- eases, and though there has been an epidemic of scarlet fever in Springfield we have had as yet only a few isolated cases. We are hopeful that we may be spared that scourge.
The exhibit in the gymnasium last June, though perhaps not as varied as some years, was high quality all the way through. Mr. Harris spent much time in turning out some fine stretchers for the Red Cross, and Mr. Frye made a number of splints for the same organization. Miss Bradbury had a fine Art display, while Mrs. Smith's class held up their past record for excellence in their exhibit. The Domestic Science Department had a very tempting and pleasing display of their work in their rooms. Too bad they were not giving out samples.
We have been spared the headaches caused by the fuel oil situation. At Agawam Center School we installed a blower in one boiler and we will not be obliged to use oil in the other boiler except in unusually severe weather.
We have had difficulty in maintaining our present janitor force with the wages we have been paying them. We must increase their pay or some of them will leave for more at-
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tractive defense jobs. When they were hired, times were not so good and they were glad of a job, but things are dif- ferent now.
Transportation is going to be a serious problem in 1943. Due to gas rationing and the tire situation, to say nothing of the increased cost of labor, we are confronted with an increase in the cost of transportation. If we fail to meet that increase, the chances are our transportation will be greatly curtailed and possibly eliminated. We certainly cannot afford to have that happen if we wish to maintain a high standard of efficiency in our schools.
We should like to call to your attention again the need for more land near our High School for athletic and playground purposes. With our increased Physical Fitness program the need is more imperative than heretofore. We understand that the American Legion is sponsoring a program along that line. Let us all get behind them and help them put it across.
Of necessity, we must ask for a larger budget for 1943. Supplies of all kinds are more expensive, as well as textbooks. Teachers and janitors want more money. Everybody is getting more pay except the School Committee, and they get nothing for their services. We always try to be economical. We have said before, Agawam is still, we believe, an agri- cultural community, and it is upon that portion of our tax- payers who get their living from the soil that the tax burden is heaviest. With all the farmer has to contend with today: shortage of labor, scarcity of new farm implements, rationing of gas and tires, price ceilings which are inflated like a balloon in many cases, and added government taxes, we should strive to save wherever we can.
In closing, we wish to thank parents, teachers and pupils for their co-operation during the year 1942 and we ask for the same during 1943, which in our judgment may be the most critical year in the history of this nation.
Respectfully submitted,
CLIFFORD M. GRANGER, Chairman SIDNEY F. ATWOOD, MRS. GRACE B. REED WARREN C. BODURTHA EDSON A. FERRELL, PAUL J. ADAMS, SR.
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Financial Statement
December 31, 1942
Town Appropriation Federal Funds:
$159,000.00
Smith-Hughes Funds for Agri- culture. $ 435.05
George-Deen Funds for House- hold Arts
1,290.00
Total $160,725.05
EXPENDITURES
General Expense . .
$ 6,857.63
Salaries of Teachers, Supervisors and Principals
95,973.75
Text Books. .
1,931.42
Stationery and Supplies
5,222.62
Wages of Janitors
11,179.42
Fuel .
7,965.12
Miscellaneous Operating Expenses
3,438.91
Repairs and Replacements.
3,231.45
School Libraries.
222.41
Health.
2,112.76
Transportation.
11,850.72
Tuition-Trade School.
1,919.87
Insurance on Buildings and Equip- ment .
1,290.74
Miscellaneous Expenses
433.95
Outlay-Buildings and Equipment Agriculture.
1,985.77
2,998.94
Vocational Household Arts
1,698.36
Adult Civic Education
411.20
Total
$160,725.04
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COST OF SCHOOLS TO THE TOWN
Total Expenditures. $160,725.04 1,725.05
Federal Funds received for Schools
$158,999.99
Returns to the Town on account of schools, but not returnable to the School Department:
From the State:
On account of Teacher's Salaries $ 11,150.00 For Agricultural Instruction .. . 1,699.25
For Household Arts Instruction 104.10
For Adult Civic Education . ... 167.20
On account of Trade School Tuition .
593.51
Tuition and Transportation of State Wards. 633.96
Tuition of High School Pupils from other Towns.
173.00
From Manual Training Depart- ment .
229.88
From Rental of School Buildings. 66.00 Miscellaneous 7.59
14,824.49
Amount paid for Schools from Local Taxation
$144,175.50
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Report of the Superintendent of Schools
To the School Committee and the Citizens of Agawam:
The superintendent's report of last year was written on the topic, Agawam Schools and the Impetus of War. The report this year is written on the subject of Our Schools in the Midst of War. In war no activity is on a normal footing : many precedents are set aside: new ventures are made: and at times there is reversion to horse and buggy days. In view of the above statement, let us examine our schools in this time of war. The main topics of consideration are teachers, pupils, curriculum, and incidental war activities.
TEACHERS
Someone has said that a teacher, properly attired in civilian clothes and clothed in his right mind, standing before his class, is on the first line of defense in this all-out war. In such a war, however, it seems that all persons capable of bearing arms in an effective manner are drafted into service. Since this is the case, Agawam has given to the war effort six of her men teachers. The list is as follows: Captain Henry Baker, Edwin L. Frye, Frank Onischuk, all from the depart- ment of Industrial Arts; Raymond Montagna and Daniel Holmes from the department of Social Science; and Allan Hadley from the Science Department. Another war casualty to the Agawam faculty was William Purcell, who was elected in February to teach in Lexington, Mass., at a salary much larger than Agawam could afford to pay. He is now in the federal service.
The situation in the Industrial Arts department is most difficult. Within a period of eighteen months, three teachers have been drafted from the same position. There is no re- placement in sight. Principal Dacey and Mr. Harris have taken over most of the extra classes in Industrial Arts. If they can carry on with this enlarged program for the re- mainder of the year, the situation will be saved. It may be possible to secure a teacher in this field for the next school year.
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Mr. Hadley was out in front in giving Agawam advanced work in Radio, Preflight Aeronautics and Visual Education. His departure made it necessary to reorganize the work in the Science department. Mr. Quirk fortunately had taken a summer course in Preflight Aeronautics. He came to our rescue in this emergency. Mr. Freme, who came to Agawam at the very start of the school year, has taken over the sciences in the High School and is giving splendid satisfaction. If these men are not drafted into the army, we will be able to measure up to the requests of the federal government for changes in our curriculum to meet the requirements of war.
Our policy of hiring men to teach in the Junior High School has been set aside for the duration. The only avail- able men are found in three classifications: those who are dis- abled; those who are married and have several children, and those who are beyond the draft age. There are not enough men in those classifications to meet the demands of the avail- able jobs, in consequence thereof their services command very high salaries. The salary to be paid is not the only concern of these men. They are looking also for reasonable security in whatever positions they accept and they can hardly find security in war substitute jobs.
There is a scarcity of teachers everywhere in the land and good teachers are at a premium. Because of this fact, our practice of not continuing women teachers in the service when they marry has been modified. Under present conditions, teachers who marry men in the armed services may make arrangements to continue teaching, providing their work has been acceptable to the committee, and providing they can meet the terms of a new contract. There is no question but that the war has made its mark upon all teachers. They are subject to the pulls and drives which are influencing all citizens in every walk of life. The higher costs of living and the increased taxes are theirs in full measure. The source of their income is more static than that of those who work in munition plants where financial rewards are greater. They understand that in an all-out war education has no special priorities. The main idea is to win the war and the teachers are loyally doing their part to accomplish that end.
PUPILS
The number of pupils enrolled in our schools this year is virtually the same as that of last year. There are only four
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vacant classrooms in the entire town and these rooms are in our elementary schools: two at the Plains School, and two in the North Agawam School. The record shows a slight increase in the number of elementary school pupils and a slight de- crease in the enrollment of the Junior-Senior High School. The increased enrollment in the elementary school is symp- tomatic of the times and there is a prospect that there will be gradual increase from year to year in the number of elementary school pupils. The decrease in the number of Junior-Senior High School pupils is due to two factors; namely, a smaller class entering from the elementary school and the demands of the war. The draft is taking the eighteen and nineteen year old boys, and others, both boys and girls, have dropped out of school to enter industry and to work on the farm.
There is a minimum amount of unrest in the school popu- lation, when one stops to consider that the parents of many of the pupils are working in war industries, and that a large number of pupils have brothers in the fighting forces of our country. When the world is in a turmoil, we cannot expect the children to be unmoved.
CURRICULUM
War cannot change the fundamentals of the elementary course of study, except to color those fundamentals to meet the propaganda needs of this or that nation. Two plus two are four in England, Germany, Japan, China and America. Literature and social studies, however, can be turned to dis- tort the truth, and thereby to train the minds of the youth to bend to the will of the national Fuhrer. America has not stooped to such a procedure and it is inconceivable that America should do so. Our elementary school adheres to those studies which countless centuries of human experience have evolved for the proper instruction of the growing minds of boys and girls.
Since the start of the school year in September, new priorities in high school studies have been requested by our federal government. The reason for this request is war. The new priorities are as follows: Physical Education, Higher Mathematics, the sciences, including Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Industrial and Household Arts, and Preflight Aero- nautics. It is impossible to make all of the desirable changes in the middle of the school year, for such changes have many ramifications affecting both pupils and teachers. In so far
135
as possible we are accepting the new priorities, and to date have set up the course in Preflight Aeronautics. We are en- larging our program of Physical Education, and to that end have engaged a teacher to give part-time instruction to new classes in that department. The new priorities will be the determining factors for the enrolling of pupils in September, 1943. About all of the subjects which the government has listed as priorities are in our present course of study. For the past two decades those subjects have not had priority rating, hence the number of pupils taking such courses has been diminishing. Preparation for college was the important priority before Pearl Harbor. Many colleges were accepting pupils who did not stress Mathematics or Science in their studies. Today the winning of the war is the supreme priority. Senior high school students must engage their talents in those subjects which will be most helpful to that end.
The motivating force in the new war curriculum is the aeroplane. The aeroplane is destined to win the war, to dictate the peace, and to provide a major field of employment after the war is over. When the whole world has taken to the air, we will need some studies to bring us back to earth. It is then that the Languages, Literature, Social Studies, and other studies which must be curtailed somewhat for the present time, will be given their proper place in the curriculum.
OTHER WAR PRIORITIES
The public is well informed on the numerous rationings which have been conducted in our schools, on our school time and overtime. The Agawam teachers, assisted by a group of volunteers from the town, have rendered a most praise- worthy service for our country. Here is an efficient corps of rationers, ready for business and proud of their work. They act promptly, figure accurately, and file the results of their work in systematic order. This rationing club worked in harmony with the town rationing board at all times.
Another priority of war is attached to the purse strings of the boys and girls. It is hoped that not only are they help- ing to win the war by their savings but that they are also nurturing a spirit of thrift, which will prove to be very helpful to them in days to come. The record for the sale of war stamps and bonds for the year is as follows:
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Agawam Center School
$1,445.60
North Agawam School
2,197.30
Feeding Hills School .
733.10
Springfield Street School
1,118.80
High School
2,440.00
Total .
$7,934.80
Some of our high school pupils come from homes on the farm and they are doing their bit before and after school hours to help out in this emergency. The school department is ready to meet in any possible way the labor needs of the farmer. The department responded promptly to whatever requests were made for help by the farmers of Agawam during the past year. Farm labor is a distinct priority in this war and should be given such recognition by our government. Our Federal Government and our State Department of Education will undoubtedly formulate definite plans relative to farm help from our schools in this critical year.
Salvaging is also a war time priority of great importance and is in continual operation throughout all of our schools. The salvage list includes the following articles: waste paper, tin cans, metal scrap, keys, coat hangers, rayon stockings, tinfoil and rubber. Our boys and girls have been faithful in collecting these cast-off articles, and by their efforts this rubbish is consecrated to the winning of the war.
CONCLUSION
In this report I have endeavored to make clear that war has brought new priorities into the administration of our schools affecting teachers, pupils, courses of study, and at the same time instituting new school activities.
It is now clear that public school education is not a superagency apart from other government agencies. Public school education reflects the political and economic status of our government: that status today is all-out war against the enemies of our land. Our schools will not stand superior to our nation, but the fortune of our schools will rise or fall with the fortunes of our country.
The unhesitating cooperation of teachers, pupils, parents, and members of the school committee has been most helpful in this critical year.
Respectfully submitted, BENJAMIN J. PHELPS, Superintendent of Schools.
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ATTENDANCE REPORT AND ENROLLMENT FOR THE FIRST FOUR MONTHS OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL YEAR
SEPTEMBER 9-DECEMBER 23, 1942
Total Mem- bership
Average Mem- bership
Average Daily At- tendance
Per Cent At- tendance
Tardi- ness
High School
Senior High III
84
79.28
72.45
91.38
70
Senior High II
91
84.55
77.82
92.04
56
Senior High I
115
108.10
101.90
92.96
34
Junior High III
137
132.99
123.82
93.11
36
Junior High VIII-I
33
31.90
30.11
94.39
4
Junior High VIII-2
33
32.39
30.37
93.76
10
Junior High VIII-3
32
31.39
29.45
93.80
14
Junior High VIII-4
26
25.19
24.41
97.02
0
Junior High VII-1
34
33.75
32.28
95.59
9
Junior High VII-2
35
33.71
32.03
95.05
18
Junior High VII-3
33
32.50
30.90
95.08
19
Junior High VII-4
33
32.35
30.33
93.76
5
Special Class
15
13.67
12.44
91.00
3
Agawam Center School
Grade VI
44
41.65
38.76
93.03
25
Grade V
42
36.70
34.01
92.65
42
Grades IV-V
36
31.25
29.39
93.13
3
Grade IV
41
38.07
35.85
94.17
2
Grade III
42
36.38
33.65
92.48
8
Grades II-III
28
27.45
26.30
95.81
0
Grade II
39
36.62
33.13
90.48
13
Grade I-A
33
31.08
27.62
88.97
8
Grade I-B
32
29.30
25.51
87.05
7
North Agawam School
Grade VI
33
32.56
31.63
97.15
6
Grade V
36
34.65
33.40
96.40
3
Grade IV
35
34.66
33.24
95.90
14
Grade III
31
30.18
29.60
98.08
7
Grade II
31
29.94
28.90
96.54
13
Grade I
33
32.46
30.93
95.27
15
Special Class
16
14.57
13.49
92.59
0
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!
Springfield Street School
Grade VI
32
31.42
29.09
92.58
10
Grade V
26
23.61
22.28
94.39
19
Grade IV
37
36.11
33.92
93.93
11
Grade III
27
26.04
24.91
95.97
20
Grade II
27
26.86
24.90
92.70
22
Grade I
28
27.29
25.23
92.49
11
Feeding Hills School
Grade VI
13
11.36
11.04
97.18
0
Grades IV-V
35
34.42
32.72
95.06
10
Grades II-III
32
29.15
27.34
93.79
0
Grades I-II
31
1 30.09
27.68
91.99
0
Total Membership for Town
1541
Average Membership for Town
1465.64
Average Daily Attendance for Town
1372.83
Per Cent Attendance for Town
93.66
Total Tardiness for Town.
547
Total Membership for Town, December 19, 1941 ...
1547
.
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REPORT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
To the Superintendent of Schools:
Herein is my fifth annual report on the Junior-Senior High School.
The phrase, "These are historic times," has been repeated to the point of boredom since Japan's treacherous assault at Pearl Harbor but the truth of the statement still remains, and the schools are greatly affected. Education as usual must be forgotten until the Victory has been won.
Recently Lieutenant-General Brehor B. Somervell said, "There must be an all-out effort on the education front. Let us be realistic. Every able-bodied boy is destined at the appointed age for the armed services. The tempo of war is such that a complex college education is impossible. Those able to go to college must devote this time to training for a specialized work which services demand. Those who do not or cannot go to college must begin now, whether they're in school or out of school, to prepare themselves for the tasks which are for them inevitable and unavoidable."
This war is being conducted and fought by specialists in every branch of the armed forces. Out of every 100 men in the services, 63 must have a very highly specialized train- ing. And as the group inducted is to be doubled within the next few months, schools must cooperate to the limit of their facilities. Agawam High School has always geared its offering with contemporary endeavor and we are now revising its schedule as speedily as possible to conform to suggested changes.
It has been recommended above all that boys be physi- cally fit and toward that end the physical education program has been strengthened by increasing the periods to five per week for seniors and three per week for other classes and by presenting more calisthenics, apparatus work and body- building activities. Competence in science and mathematics is another must. It is necessary that technicians have basic training. Previously existing courses in these areas have been adapted to the recommended needs, and Preflight Aero- nautics in its separate identity has been introduced.
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The school has been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. L. John Schinelli, a graduate of this school and Spring- field College. He is well-qualified to teach in either the physical education or science departments and will divide his time between the two fields thereby aiding the boys to meet the requirements recommended by the administrator of war effort.
All other courses of study have been revised as far as is practical in a comprehensive school of this type, within the limits of its physical equipment, and the time available since the beginning of the war. First Aid and Nutrition classes have been introduced for the girls. Fundamentals of Shop- work and Touch Typing will be added very soon and other preinduction courses as quickly as reorganization can be accomplished.
A chapter of the Junior Red Cross has been very active in the school. The members have aided in salvage collections; made scrap books for the armed services; in cooperation with the industrial arts department have constructed games, ash trays and other articles for camp recreational rooms; knitted sweaters and afghans for foreign refugees and aided greatly in the war effort.
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