USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1928 > Part 16
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Conveyed one patient to the North Reading State Sani- toria for admission.
Conveyed one patient to the Cambridge Tuberculosis Hospital for admission.
Assisted Dr. Pratt in the examination of nineteen patients at the Dispensary.
Assisted at the Schick Test Clinic held at the Board of Health office October 5, 1928.
Investigated conditions in the homes of seven applicants for licenses to maintain Boarding Houses for Infants.
Inspected two licensed Boarding Houses for Infants.
Attended classes of instruction in Nutrition given by the State Consultant in Nutrition at Junior High Center.
REPORT OF DENTAL OPERATOR
To the Board of Health, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit the report of the work performed in the Dental Clinic during the year ending December 31, 1928.
With the opening of the schools in September the customary examination of the teeth of the second grade children was made. There were 628 children in this age group examined and 82% found to have defective teeth. This figure shows an improve- ment over previous years due to the pre-school campaign of the last two years. Parents were, as heretofore, notified by card. .
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BOARD OF HEALTH
This year we have treated 45 pre-school children, an in- crease over the previous year, but knowing the importance of dental treatment at this age we urge all parents to take advan- tage of this pre-school clinic. It is only through the interest of the parents that we can hope to reach these children.
The school authorities have co-operated with us in sending their quota on the days specified, and the attendance during the year has been satisfactory.
The following is a summary of the work performed:
Extractions 1 Deciduous teeth 617
Permanent teeth 102
Deciduous teeth 993
Fillings
Permanent teeth
1,296
Deciduous teeth
453
Treatments
Permanent teeth
268
Prophylactic 216
Total number of operations . 3,945
Total number of sittings
1,352
Total number of new patients
245
Total number of cases dismissed . 239
Respectfully submitted,
E. F. MACKAY, D.M.D.
REPORT OF DENTAL ASSISTANT
I have assisted the Dental Operator at the daily sessions of the Clinic, also assisted in the examination of the teeth of children in the second grade of the Parochial and Public Schools.
On my visits to homes with communicable diseases I have tried to arouse an interest in the early care of the teeth, by telling parents, with children of pre-school age, of the great advantage the Dental Clinic offers.
Respectfully submitted, HELEN M. HEFFERNAN, R.N.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF MILK INSPECTOR
To the Board of Health, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Milk for the year ending December 31, 1928.
There is consumed in Arlington 16,000 quarts of milk every day. Of this amount 15,796 quarts are pasteurized, and the balance of 204 quarts are raw. Of this latter amount 105 quarts are certified, and the remaining 99 quarts are from tuberculin-tested cows.
The per cent of milk fat (cream) is slightly higher than it was last year, and appreciably higher than five years ago. This means that your quart of milk today is not only richer in food value, but much more safe, as a result of the large amount of pasteurized milk sold.
Bacterial counts for the year have been unusually low, and in some cases astonishingly so, showing great care both in production and distribution.
The licensing of Pasteurization Plants has undoubtedly been very helpful in increasing the thoroughness of the pasteuri- zation process, and thereby adding to the safety of the product from a pathogenic standpoint. A summary of the work of the year follows:
Licenses issued
For sale of Milk from stores 167
For sale of Milk from vehicle . 44
For sale of Oleomargarine 40
Total 251
Taken from vehicles on street 251
Samples of
Taken from Schools . 10
Milk analyzed
Taken from Lunch Rooms 16
Taken from Stores
5
Total 282
BOARD OF HEALTH 293
Milk Plants 26
Inspections
Pasteurization Plants 6
Dairies
13
Total 45
Respectfully submitted,
ALFRED W. LOMBARD,
Inspector. 1
REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF SLAUGHTERING
To the Board of Health, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1928.
Number of Calves slaughtered 3,433
Number condemned .
7
Number of Goats slaughtered 38
Number condemned . 0
Number of Sheep slaughtered
189
Number condemned . 0
Total 3,667
Total number of inspections 100
Time required. 32434 hours
Respectfully submitted,
ARTHUR TAYLOR,
Inspector.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
To the Board of Health, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Inspector of Slaughtering for the year ending December 31, 1928.
Number of Calves slaughtered 72
Number condemned 0
Number of Sheep slaughtered
5
Number condemned .
0
Total .
77
Number of inspections 2
Time required . 8 hours
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. BRADLEY,
Inspector.
REPORT OF AGENT AND CLERK
To the Board of Health, Arlington, Mass.
Gentlemen: I herewith submit my report as Agent and Clerk of the Board for the year ending December 31, 1928.
REPORT OF CLERK PERMITS ISSUED
For Burial or Removal Permits (no fee) 356
For the keeping of Cows (no fee) 18
For the keeping of Ducks (no fee) 13
For the keeing of Goats (no fee)
6
For the keeping of Hens (no fee)
264
For the keeping of Swine (no fee)
5
For the construction of Cesspools (no fee)
190
For the emptying of Cesspools (no fee)
23
For the bottling of Non-Alcoholic Beverages (no fee)
2
For the hauling of Offal through the Town (no fee)
56
For the holding of Rummage Sales (no fee) 3
295
BOARD OF HEALTH
LICENSES ISSUED
For to deal in Alcohols (fee) $1.00
45
For to manufacture Ice Cream (fee) $1.00 7.
For to practise Manicuring and Massage (fee) $1.00 45
For to collect Meat Trimmings (fee) $2.00 8
For to operate a Milk Pasteurization Plant (fee) $10.00 1
For to operate a Slaughterhouse (fee) $1.00 1
For to engage in Undertaking (no fee) 10
REPORT OF AGENT
Inspections
Food Establishments 3,081
Other Inspections 433
Complaints
Investigated and Adjusted .
276
Legal Settlements
Investigated
33
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM H. BRADLEY,
Agent and Clerk.
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
To the Citizens of Arlington:
Your School Committee began its work for the year 1928 without any changes in its membership. During the year the full committee has held three meetings in each of the months January, April, and June, two in March and one in February, May, September, October, November and December. In addition there have been meetings ‹f sub-committees almost week y, especially those on Finance, on Buildings and Grounds, and on Courses of Study. During the months of July and August the sub-committee on Finance is empowered to act for the full committee.
In a town that is growing as rapidly as is Arlington, an ever-increasing school enrolment and an annual increase in the budget for schools are inevitable consequences. It is the privilege and the duty of the citizens of Arlington to share in the enlarging burden that such a growth in enrolment and in expense lays upon your School Committee, by active co-operation and support. As tax-payers the citizens should satisfy them- selves that the schools are being thriftily administered. As parents they should visit the schools and inform themselves at first hand as to the actual conditions under which their children are being taught, and they should, in the home, give that active co-operation without which the public school cannot perform its function. Few tendencies in American life are, in recent years, more observable than the growing willingness on the part of parents to place increasing dependence upon the schools for the guidance and the discipline as well as for the instruction of their children. There is more than one way in which this tendency places an undue strain upon teachers and adminis- trators, and it seems high time to emphasize the fact that the public school cannot, as can the private school, produce results without the daily and active support of the parent. Pupils cannot make progress in studies without effort; the teacher can
296
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REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
assign tasks for home work, but only the parent can see to it that they are done.
Citizens are urged to read with care the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools, and to note in particular the figures showing expenditures and those bearing upon our housing prob- lem. Our school system now serves an enrolment of nearly 5,900 pupils; it includes 11 principals, 6 supervisors, and 221 teachers; it has charge of 11 school buildings. Its pupil enrol- ment is larger than that of any town in the state except Brookline and larger than that of 14 of the 39 cities. Yet Arlington, which according to the report of the State Board of Education for the year 1928, was 2d in school population among the 79 towns of more than 5,000 population, and 12th among them in valuation per pupil in public school attendance, was 51 st among the 79 in the list of expenditures for school support from local taxation per $1,000 valuation.
In point of housing equipment we are still badly in arrears: overcrowding, the use of unsuitable rooms and por'ables, and the use of the platoon system are still evils unavoidable. It is to be hoped that the forthcoming report of the Committee on Additional School Accommodations will be carefully considered by the citizens. Our own pressing needs require immediate provision for relief in the Peirce and the Cutter districts and at the High School; the interests of the Town demand that sites for school buildings certain to be needed soon be purchased now while land values are reasonable and open land available.
The changes in organization, in courses of study, and in matters of policy, that have engaged the time and attention of your school committee during the past year, are given in detail in the report of the Superintendent of Schools. The efficiency of our system has been greatly increased by the appointment of Mr. Donald Height, who, since March 1, has been Business Agent of the School Department. He has relieved the Super- intendent of Schools of such duties as the purchase of supplies, the care of buildings, and the oversight of equipment, and has left him free for his most important responsibility, that of supervision.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
It is a pleasure to acknowledge the spirit of co-operation and support that we have received during the past year from the other Town boards, from the Finance Committee of Twenty- one, the Town Accountant, and the Committee on Additional School Accommodations.
Respectfully submitted, ALEXANDER H. RICE, Chairman.
1
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
January, 1929.
To the School Committee and Other Arlington Citizens:
It is gratifying to record at the beginning of my sixth annual report that with only one exception the changes, addi- tions, and improvements suggested in the last annual report have been adopted, and are either in effect or well on the way to an early introduction as soon as conditions warrant.
CHANGES, ADDITIONS, IMPROVEMENTS IN 1928
The new office created March 1, 1928, by the election of a Business Agent for the School Department is in full operation and has in many ways proved both the wisdom and economy of such organization in the business administration of the de- partment. The time and attention of the Superintendent have thus been released for more important educational problems from the details of purchase and maintenance.
One of the most helpful additions to the maintenance de- partment during the year has been the employment of a full- time plumber, bringing the corps of maintenance workmen to three full-time men, namely, a carpenter, a painter, and a plumber. These men operate under the direction of the Head Janitor, Mr. Richard Robbins, and under the supervision of the Business Agent, Mr. Donald Height.
The Locke School playground is practically finished, and it is understood that the Peirce School playground is to come along with the building addition to the Peirce School. A need for the immediate future in the matter of playgrounds exists at the Parmenter School lot, where the children have little or no protection from the traffic at two dangerous corners and one
299
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
dangerously winding hill. An, enclosed leveled playground is a necessity at this school, where there is a real and constant danger to children from automobile traffic.
The need to avoid platoon sessions at the High School to save students from a repetition of the loss of time and progress which they have suffered in the Junior High Schools because of a shortened school day resulting from division into morning and afternoon schools, has been temporarily met by successfully carrying out the plan to divide five large rooms at the High School building into two classrooms each. The study-room pupils previously assembled in large classrooms are accommo- dated in the auditorium by the convertible desk or chair type of furniture. This plan makes possible seven extra classrooms in the High School building at only a small fraction of the ordi- nary cost of additional classrooms.
The suggestion that an Evening High School be established has already been carried out in the organization of an Evening High School within the Arlington Evening School. Although the full course is an eight-year course, any student may begin at the point where he discontinued his work in High School or Junior High School. In spite of the expectation that it would be some time before the Evening High School would have any students ready to finish the course, the principal, Mr. Philip J. Palmer, advises that there will probably be two graduates at the close of the present term.
The need for teaching children who are physically unable to attend school has been met, and since September a teacher has visited each of these children every week to give academic instruction.
The need for trade courses in the High School has been pro- vided for the near future by the School Committee in the ap- proval of the introduction of such courses when the students beginning this year the revised Junior High School practical arts course reach the High School.
The recommendation that we need to make provision by which children may progress at different speeds according to
301.
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
their ability and ambition has been approved by the School Committee. There has been in operation since September the beginning of a Three-Track Course of Study which will make it possible for different groups of pupils to progress at three dif- ferent speeds, some by an accelerated course finishing the six years from grade one through grade six in five years, others taking the normal six years to do the work, and still other slower groups by a retarded course finishing the six years' work in seven years.
This does away with the extremely undesirable expedient of double promotion for the advanced child and eliminates largely the equally undesirable practice of repeating a grade for the slow pupil. This plan is already in operation in grades one and two, and will be introduced into grade three in September, 1929.
In addition to the above improvements, the following which were not asked for in last year's report have been ac- complished :
1. Arrangements have been made for pupils to study in- strumental music in class groups after school hours by provision of a teacher of stringed instruments and a teacher of piano. Nearly 500 children are now taking instruction in the instru- mental music classes.
2. Beginning in September, 1928, an addition to the primary course was made in the introduction of kindergartens. The entering age was lowered from five years before October 1st to five years before January 1st, and provision was made to accept beginners in February and September instead of only in September.
3. The Junior High School program of studies has been revised so as to include supervised study in many of the subjects and thus reduce the number of different studies which the chil- dren need to take home. Those to be done at home are definitely specified so that there need be no uncertainty regarding the matter of home study.
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
4. The Junior High School time schedule was revised on a two-session basis, which eliminates such undesirable features from the life of the adolescent child as the abnormally long five- hour stretch of application and restraint, the too long period of time between required reports to the home, and the too frequent attendance at moving picture shows, the indulgence in which is extremely detrimental physically, mentally, and morally to the child of Junior High School age.
5. The Junior High School practical arts course has been revised in preparation for a trades course in the High School, but the practical arts subjects have been eliminated from the elementary school. The general result is a double benefit in a better practical arts course at less expense.
SUPERVISION OF REGULAR ACADEMIC SUBJECTS
The one exception to the general adoption of improvements suggested in last year's report is that in regard to supervision of the teaching of regular academic subjects. To quote from the last annual report:
"Compared with such supervision, the supervision given to regular academic subjects is rather meagre
It is to be hoped that arrangement can be made soon so that the same kind of supervision can be provided for regular sub- jects as is given to the special subjects."
Of course something has been accomplished by the release of some of the time of the Superintendent for supervision and by his use of part of the principals' time for supervisory service, but when it is realized that one supervisor needs to give the whole of her time to drawing and another gives the whole of her time to music, it can be seen how inadequately the numerous regular academic subjects can be covered by part of the Super- intendent's time even when supplemented by part of the time of each of the principals. Many would consider the supervision so planned to be satisfactory, but the more it is known how ex- cellent is the work in the special subjects where close super- vision is possible, the more it will be realized how the same kind of close supervision is needed in the regular academic subjects.
303
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The Superintendent of Schools is supposed to cover the whole field of regular academic subjects from first grade through High School, but to do a thorough piece of work in a School Department as large as ours all the time he could find for super- vision could be used in the direction of mathematics alone or any other one subject.
We need, in order to put our department on an efficient basis and to greatly improve results already obtained, the fol- lowing supervisors:
1. Primary Supervisor.
2. Mathematics and Science Supervisor.
3. English Supervisor.
4. Foreign Language Supervisor (especially Latin and French).
5. Geography and History Supervisor.
Although this might appear on the surface to be a very expensive method of organization, it really can be accomplished, with annual watchfulness on the part of the administration, certainly at no greater expense and possibly even at less ex- pense than at present.
I recommend that a Primary Supervisor and an English Supervisor be appointed immediately, and until the appoint- ment of the others can be approved or justified by the further growth of the department, that the responsibility of the super- vision of the other subjects be divided between the secondary school principals and the Superintendent.
In addition to the above increase in staff we need several extra teachers in the High School and in the Junior High Schools to give individual assistance to students who fall seriously be- hind in their studies to the extent that the classroom teacher cannot give time enough to bring them back to grade.
THE 1929 BUDGET
The most significant fact in connection with the Budget of Appropriations for 1929 is that the percentage of increase in
304
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
appropriation asked for 1929 over the appropriation of 1928 is less than the percentage of increase in the school enrolment this year over last year. The following appropriation and enrolment figures will serve the above assertion to be a fact:
Enrolment 1927-1928 Enrolment 1928-1929 Percent of Increase 5,420 5,889 87/3
Appropriation 1928 $623,000
Requested for 1929
$675,665
Percent of Increase 812
That the business of the department has been carefully and economically administered during the past year will be indicated by the following schedule of balances turned back to the Town Treasury at the end of 1928:
Salaries
$12,133.09
Due to economies effected by Superintendent and approved by School Committee.
General
2,709.00
Expenditures
Due to economies effected by Business Agent, approved by Superintendent.
Fuel
2,811.39
Due to very favorable contract effected by Fuel Committee, also to mild weather.
Repairs and Outlay
1,223.50
Due to economies effected by Business Agent approved by Committee on Care of School Buildings and Grounds.
The $12,000 balance in salaries appropriation is the result of the prediction in the following quotation from last year's annual report :
"The Superintendent has made still further analytical study of the possibilities in economies for the future, and the School Committee has under consideration several recommen-
305
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE
dations which would effect continued and greater economies for 1929."
This is not merely a balance but an actual saving from ap- parent needs for 1928, resulting from careful study and planning on the part of the School Committee and the Superintendent. Nor is it merely a twelve-thousand dollar saving, since it repre- sents only four months of the year which will be duplicated every four months of the school year, or $30,000 annually, as long as the type of organization effecting the saving obtains.
That the budget request for 1929 is very moderate in com- parison with that of recent years can be seen from the following facts:
1929
1928
1927
1926
1925
Appropriation
Increase
$52,665
$74,268
$77,917
$58,705
$52,015
That the school expenses in Arlington are reasonable and economically planned and administered can be realized from the following facts taken from the Report of the State Department of Education. The first statement compares Arlington with all the 355 communities within the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts, and the second compares Arlington with all the 79 towns in her own group of towns of more than 5,000 population.
Though Arlington stands 27th in pupil enrolment among all of the 355 communities in the Commonwealth and stands 90th in valuation per pupil in attendance, she stands 204th in expenditures for school support from local taxation per $1,000 valuation.
In her group of 79 towns of over 5,000 population, Arlington stands in the above considerations respectively, 2d, 12th and 51st.
Being interpreted, the above statements mean simply that 203 communities in Massachusetts bear a heavier burden than Arlington, and 151 bear a lighter burden in the matter of school expense; also that 50 towns of greater than 5,000 population
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
bear a heavier burden but only 28 a lighter burden in school expense than does Arlington.
ADDITIONAL SCHOOL ACCOMMODATIONS
The completed Junior High School East and the nearly completed addition to Junior High School West more than double the number of classrooms in the Junior High School sec- tion of the school department. How much they were needed can be seen from the fact that in less than a year from comple- tion they will be practically filled to capacity. These accommo- dations were two years behind the schedule of needs and in the period of waiting the Junior High School Center pupils and the Junior High School West pupils have in turn suffered much inconvenience and loss from shortened hours and inadequate facilities. It is to be earnestly hoped that the new High School will be forthcoming on time to avoid a repetition of the experi- ence for the same group of students.
By the time an eight-room addition can be built to the Peirce School, the enlarged plant will be filled to capacity, since there are already fourteen classes in that eight-room building, with two new ones to be organized next fall.
The Cutter School again has four more classes than class- rooms and practically every class is at the maximum registra- tion, which will force the organization of three or four additional classes next year. This school needs immediate relief by a new school in the Brattle section, but the High School needs relief just as seriously. We can care for the overcrowding at the High School by relief measures for only one more school year, 1929- 1930, after which we must have additional high school accommo- dations or we shall be forced to divide the High School into morning and afternoon groups with shortened sessions. To avoid this, all the agencies in the Town having anything to do with the situation ought to bend all their energies. We shall en- deavor meanwhile by all possible measures to give relief at the Cutter School until a new elementary school can be erected to take some of the pupils from that building. This new building
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