Town of Arlington annual report 1937, Part 21

Author: Arlington (Mass.)
Publication date: 1937
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 462


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Whittemore, Edith A.


There has been much of long illness on the staff during the year 1937. Miss Barbara Darling resigned on April 23, 1937, on account of illness. Miss Miriam Snow resigned to be married.


Miss Rachel Santoliquido and Miss Miriam Snow were made staff members during the year.


Four girls took the Reference Course given by the University Extension.


The Library was hostess to the Charles River Club, the Pratt Library School, and to the Boy Scouts.


A number of the staff have been called upon to speak at various meetings, having to do with books and the pro- fession : namely, Mrs. Thelma Montague, and Miss Esther Gannett.


The Librarian has spoken at Parent-Teacher meetings, given book reviews, taken part in civic organizations, and served on a number of committees.


To the friends of the library, who by kindly criticisms and helpful suggestions have shown their interest, we are grateful. For flowers, pictures, magazines, books, and money, we are thankful. To the newspapers of the town, we owe thanks for their helpful publicity.


In concluding, I wish to express my grateful acknowl- edgement for the cheerful and faithful cooperation of my staff. To the Trustees, I extend my thanks for their con- fidence and interest at all times.


Respectfully submitted,


LUCINDA FIELD SPOFFORD, Librarian.


398


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE ROBBINS PRINT COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 1937


As is to be expected in a collection of some 100,000 portraits, the work of identifying and card cataloguing subjects and measuring them for permanent mats occupies the greater part of the curator's time. This is routine which is interrupted only when exhibitions are being pre- pared and hung. During 1937 two small groups from the collection were exhibited in the gallery on the main floor and one large one, now in progress, was hung in the print room upstairs. In the gallery, early in the year, were shown a group of landscapes and a few biblical subjects from Mr. Robbins' original collection, and in September there were portraits of famous actors and actresses of va- rious periods. On November 8, the large exhibition was opened: 85 subjects, comprising 22 English mezzotints, mostly of the classical period; 56 portraits in several print media of noted contemporaries and near-contemporaries (most of which are recent accessions) ; and seven drawings selected from a large group of interesting but unidentified drawings found among the prints. These prints and draw- ings will remain hung until early summer. The exhibition has received favorable publicity in the columns of two well- known Boston art critics.


By way of routine, research goes steadily on; several hundreds of the better prints have been measured for mats and mounted; and two hundred solander boxes have been purchased for the permanent housing of the matted 14"x18" portraits. It is expected that portfolios for the subjects of larger size will be added to the equipment during the com- ing year.


The following eighteen portraits have been acquired in 1937:


Astor, Viscountess Nancy. Drypoint by Walter Tittle


399


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


Chesterton, G. K. Lithograph by Walter Tittle, 1922 Autographed


Coolidge, Calvin


Etching by Dwight C. Sturges,


1925


Denis, Maurice Lithograph by Odilon Redon, 1903 Trial proof 1


Einstein, Albert Etching by Hermann Struck, 1923 Autographed


Foch, Marshal Ferdinand .. Drypoint by Walter Tittle, 1921


Gauguin, Paul Wood engraving by G. de Monfred


Gershwin, George


Etching by F. Coradal


Heifetz, Jascha


Drypoint by Walter Tittle


Henri, Robert Etching by John Sloan, 1931


Hodgson, Ralph Etching by A. Hugh Fisher


Hurd, Peter Lithograph-Self-portrait


Lewis, Sinclair Drypoint by Richard Hood Autographed


Morley, Christopher Drypoint by Richard Hood Autographed


Partridge, Roi Drypoint : Self-portrait (Book- plate)


Powys, Llewelyn Etching by Reginald Marsh, 1930


Yeats, John Butler Etching by Anne Goldthwaite


Yeats, William Butler Etching by A. Hugh Fisher


KATHRYN M. ACHUFF,


Curator.


400


CIRCULATION BY CLASSES FOR THE YEAR 1937


Gen.


Phil.


Rel.


Soc.


Lang.


Sc.


Useful Arts


Fine Arts


Lit.


Hist.


Trav.


Biog.


Non- Fict.


Fict.


Total


Jan.


1112


236


108


2325


32


329


691


789


1265


534


977


965


9363


17307


26670


Feb.


937


219


115


2593


3.4


308


643


748


1132


531


783


935


8978


16812


25790


Mar.


1079


282


128


2814


23


386


808


836


1340


560


911


783


9950


18752


28702


Apr.


1032


207


122


2443


113


440


746


849


1262


546


893


689


9342


17967


27309


May


977


199


108


2094


34


368


581


720


1044


358


772


734


7989


15386


23375


June


877


156


207


2714


18


577


709


713


906


524


924


898


9223


21128


30351


July


857


166


61


1778


33


191


422


483


576


320


668


557


6112


15331


21443


Aug.


793


156


58


1426


28


187


439


454


459


235


586


472


5293


14101


19394


Sept.


952


180


66


1718


24


305


501


563


656


388


722


575


6650


15847


22497


Oct.


1068


228


119


2360


18


350


652


760


1102


496


792


730


8675


17096


25771


Nov.


1073


232


130


2975


26


412


786


728


1079


564


905


877


9787


18065


27852


Dec.


904


245


104


3011


20


440


831


733


1096


560


843


767


9554


17207


26761


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Total 11661 2506 1326 28251


403 4293 7809 8376 11917 5616 9776 8982 100916 204999 305915


401


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS


Annual Report for the Year Ended December 31, 1937


Name of Library: Robbins Library.


City: Arlington. State: Massachusetts.


Name of Librarian: Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford.


Date of founding


1835


Population served (estimated)


38,555


Assessed Valuation of Town


59,436,500


Terms of use: Free for lending.


FREE FOR REFERENCE


Total number of agencies 3


Consisting of Central Library


1


Branches 2


Number of days open during year (Central Library) 302


Hours open each week for lending (Central Library) 66


Hours open each week for reading


(Central Library) 66


INCREASE


Number of volumes at beginning of year 55,527


Number of volumes added during year by purchase 3,482


Number of volumes added during year by gift or exchange 74


Number of volumes lost or withdrawn during year 2,923


Total number at end of year 56,160


402


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


USE


Adult


Juvenile


Total


Number of volumes of fiction


lent for home use


146,817


58,182


204,999


Total number of volumes lent for home use


204,180


101,735


305,915


Pictures circulated


1,097


REGISTRATION


Number of borrowers registered during year ..


1,871


Registration period, years


3


Number of periodicals and newspapers cur-


rently received :


Titles


165


Copies


208


Number of publications issued during year :


Booklists


0


Number of staff, library service (including part-time)


14


Number of staff, janitor service


3


LIBRARY FUNDS


Robbins Art Fund $42,976.60


Henry Mott Library Fund


5,200.00


Timothy Wellington Fund 100.00


Ellen W. Hodgdon Fund


1,000.00


Children's Book Fund 5,000.00


Nathan Pratt Library Fund


10,000.00


Elbridge Farmer Fund


54,003.77


E. Nelson Blake Fund 4,073.75


Dexter Rawson Fay Fund


1,741.60


FINANCIAL STATEMENT


Receipts from :


Trust Fund Income Balance, Jan. 1, 1937 .... $2,267.14


REPORT OF THE LIBRARIAN


403


Appropriation by Town


26,300.00


Income from Trust Funds, 1937


2,394.80


Transfer from Reserve Fund


252.25


$31,214.19


Expenditures


$28,565.92


Balance of Salary Account returned to


Treasurer


252.25


Balance of Materials Account returned to Treasurer


1.22


Balance, Dec. 31, 1937


2,394.80


$31,314.19


Payments for :


Salaries, library service


$15,653.83


Salaries, janitor service


1,893.


Books and periodicals


5,265.60


Bindery


1,603.52


Fuel


1,151.52


Light


825.02


Building and grounds


1,089.96


Telephone


143.06


Other expenses


939.49


$28,565.92


Robbins Art Fund .


Expenditures :


Salaries


$922.00


Prints


312.50


All others


681.14


$1,915.64


404


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


To the Citizens of Arlington:


During the past year the town suffered a great loss in the passing of its chief school executive, Dr. Clarence H. Dempsey. Dr. Dempsey resigned his position as Super- intendent of Schools, effective May 1, 1937. He was ap- pointed Superintendent July 1, 1931, and served faithfully and efficiently through six years of serious depression. Due to illness, he had been confined to his home the greater part of the time from the opening of schools in the fall of 1936 to the time of his resignation. During this period he courageously carried on his duties from his home with the assistance of his efficient secretary and immediate office force. On June 12, 1937, Dr. Dempsey died at his home on Newman Way, Arlington. His professional efficiency, genial and kindly disposition, and sterling character will remain a lasting influence on his loyal organization of teachers and pupils.


Mr. Joseph S. Keating was elected to the position of Superintendent of Schools by a unanimous vote of the Committee, to begin his duties July 1, 1937. His previous experience as a successful teacher, principal and superin- tendent well qualify him as executive officer of our system.


The School Committee had one change in personnel in 1937. Mr. Harrie H. Dadmun completed, in March, three years of very valuable service to the school department. Mr. Joseph J. Bevins was elected in March to succeed him.


Several changes have been made in the rules of the School Committee. All sub-committees have been elimi- nated and the Committee is presently acting as a body, holding meeting once a month with special meetings when necessary.


405


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


The school buildings have been well maintained and are in a fairly good condition considering the amount of money allotted for their upkeep. The past year, through W. P. A. grants, considerable painting has been done, both interior and exterior, stone walls built, walks constructed, drains installed and much grading completed. The Unem- ployment Department also rendered service of various types of work in the school department. Of the amount of $12,- 000 appropriated for repair of buildings, the greater part was used in minor repairs and in the heating, lighting and electrical equipment throughout the school system. The amount of expenditure for maintenance has been exceed- ingly low when it is considered that the valuation of our school plant is approximately $2,600,000. This item must be increased in the near future and, particularly so, if the W. P. A. is curtailed.


Reimbursements by the Commonwealth of Massachu- setts on account of Education for the year 1937 are as fol- lows :


Vocational Education


$2,326.98


Tuition of State Wards


2,637.86


Other Tuition


316.78


Miscellaneous


879.39


Americanization


1,166.82


General School Fund


50,981.90


$58,309.73


The Committee will return, in unexpended balance, an amount of $1,166.10 of the 1937 appropriation. The total of the last two items, $59,475.83, deducted from the total appropriation of $652,634.68, leaves a net charge against the real estate tax levy of approximately $593,158.85.


Your school buildings are in constant demand by va- rious organizations in the town. This constant use by the W. P. A. and Youth movements, Scouts, Parent-Teacher


406


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Associations, musical groups and many others causes an expenditure of approximately $8,000 for heating and light- ing and care of the buildings. What little revenue is de- rived from this source reverts to the Town treasury and is not credited to the school department. While the above movements are very desirable and useful, they are a direct expense to the school department and should not be con- sidered in the per pupil cost.


Your Committee feels that some definite action should be taken in the completion of the unfinished high school auditorium. This building in the present condition, with unfinished walls, ceiling, stage, balcony, and temporary lighting system, is practically of no use to the high school organization. We feel that immediate consideration of this matter should be given.


A central supply system has been put into operation with a general store room at the high school. This system will establish a correct inventory of all supplies and text- books on hand and in use.


During the year 1937 the Athletic Council continued under a budget system. The treasurer's report as of Janu- ary 1, 1937, showed an amount of $1,339.80 in unpaid ac- counts with cash on hand in the amount of $273.08, or a net deficit of $1,066.72. The report as of December 31, 1937, shows an amount of $1,309.07 cash on hand with current outstanding bills of $238.43, or a net worth of $1,070.64.


Mrs. Daisy K. Kelsey, elementary school teacher in our system since September, 1926, died on October 24, 1937, after a brief illness. Her devoted service and whole- some influence will ever be remembered by her host of friends in the school department.


The Committee records the retirement of three teach- ers under the State retirement statutes. Mrs. Elizabeth A. Roach, special class teacher at the Crosby School, en- tered service in 1925. Miss Lela C. Murdock, head of the


407


REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE


French department at the high school, began her long period of service in 1919. Miss Adelaide L. Hutchins, teacher of Spanish and History at the high school, entered our service in 1918. We wish to express our appreciation for their efficient and devoted service to the citizens and youth of Arlington.


Your Committee has confidence in the administration of the Superintendent of Schools to meet the standards of education approved by the citizens of the town.


We wish to express our appreciation for the splendid cooperation of all town boards and officials, and to the teachers and school employees for their contribution to the efficiency of our department.


Respectfully submitted,


CLEMENT J. BEAUDET,


Chairman.


January, 1938.


408


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1937


To the School Committee of Arlington:


Ladies and Gentlemen:


My first annual report is herewith submitted with some of the usual statistical data. To present a written report after a few months of service in my present position is a hazardous procedure. One risks being ridiculous by reporting concerning his own work when he is scarcely settled in a new position, or of being presumptuous by reviewing or criticising conditions with which he has not had time to become familiar.


A school report should be of informative and construc- tive value and should be of interest to the Committee, the public, the teachers and the profession of teaching. It should give a review of the work of the year together with an outline of the Committee's policy. I have not been with you during the last year; hence, I must be ex- cused from presenting an annual review. This, however, does not prevent me from calling to your attention several matters I have noted during my short period of service with you. I wish, before outlining a constructive policy, to record factors of which I feel that the Committee and the citizens of Arlington have reason to be proud.


Some Commendable Features


1. A community which is conscious of the needs of its various citizens ;


2. A community which has sufficient taxable wealth, approximately $59,000,000, to meet the needs of its boys and girls without undue hardship upon the taxpayers ;


409


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


3. A community which has a large proportion of able and growing teachers ;


4. Modern buildings for the most part, and grounds of which any citizen may well be proud. These are great assets. The erecting of buildings, prop- erly heated, lighted and ventilated, with proper sanitary fixtures and with sufficient room and equipment to properly and adequately train youth cannot be too much emphasized. This community has made a commendable effort in this respect.


5. The presence in this school system of many good things which the Committees, superintendents, principals and teachers of other years were fac- tors in effecting. It is upon these things that the present Committee and teaching corps must build.


The problem of training youth to meet the needs of a changing social order still remains. Education must necessarily develop and expand to meet the needs of the changing social condition.


Organization of the School Department


The chart on the following page shows in a graphic way the organization of the schools.


The value of such an organization can be more fully appreciated by those who have been or are connected with the administration of public education or with business.


There is probably no more important duty for the School Committee than the selection of its chief executive officer, the school superintendent. Education is such a large, technical and special field that the Committee must be largely guided by the recommendation of its superintend- ent whom, provided they give him authority, they hold responsible for the success of the school system. It is ob- vious that unless all employees of the system are directly responsible to him or to those to whom he delegates the


410


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


People (Stockholders)


School Committee (Directors)


Superintendent (General Manager)


Supervisors (Specialists)


Principals Department Menuges


Secretaries (office Force)


Teachers (Foremen)


Maintenance Dept. Janitors


Doctors (Health Agencies)


Pupils (Workmen)


Attendance and Visiting Teachers


Parents (Customers)


Nurses (Nurse Service)


SCHOOLS ORGANIZED IN A BUSINESSLIKE WAY


management of special divisions of school work, who in turn are responsible to him, there can be little responsibility placed upon him and little can be expected but lack of or- ganization and of system, with all of the inefficiencies and unpleasant things which follow in train.


The chart clearly brings out the relationship which the Arlington School Committee has wisely provided for in their new rules and regulations. I believe that the adop- tion of the new rules and regulations was a distinct step forward in the administration of the schools in Arlington.


411


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


Enrollment


I am presenting here a tabulation of enrollments in the Arlington public schools for the period of the past five years, with the thought of showing the trend of the enrollment in our grades in order that we might direct our future plans in taking care of the needs of our boys and girls. It is evi- dent from a study of this table that there has been a steady growth in the junior and senior high schools during the past five years. The enrollment in the elementary grades during that period has decreased about 240 pupils. The decrease in enrollment in the elementary grades will not be felt in the junior high schools for at least three years. Then, according to these tables, there should be a dropping off in the num- bers for the junior high schools unless other factors, such as growth in the population of the town, should enter in.


ENROLLMENT BY GRADES, DECEMBER, 1933-1934-1935-1936-1937


Dec., 1933


Dec., 1934


Dec., 1935


Dec., 1936


Dec., 1937


High School


Post Graduates


56


55


46


39


31


Seniors


270


283


264


313


333


Juniors


...


452


429


528


544


537


Sophomores


676


712


704


692


729


Industrial Class


33


30


32


32


28


Total High School


1,487


1,509


1,574


1,620


1,658


Junior High


Grade 9


476


512


537


556


586


Grade 8


551


568


580


611


593


Grade 7


566


572


608


615


656


Total Junior High


1,593


1,652


1,725


1,782


1,835


Junior High Industrial


3rd year


35


19


20


25


23


2nd year


17


26


25


24


24


1st year


29


26


22


24


29


Total Junior High Industrial ..


81


71


67


73


76


.....


....


412


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Elementary


Grade 6


577


608


606


646


580


Grade 5


609


640


629


587


593


Grade 4


633


633


564


597


597


Grade 3


609


586


589


592


554


Grade 2


595


598


585


584


542


Grade 1


584


589


550


508


507


Special Class


33


29


28


27


27


Total Elementary


3,640


3,683


3,551


3,541


3,400


Total of all grades


6,801


6,915


6,917


7,016


6,969


..


..


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


413


414


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


Co-ordination


After a careful survey of the Arlington school system, I found a need for co-ordination in the various parts of the system. The various grades and schools require more uniformity in the courses of study, textbooks, allocated time to each subject and in other matters. With a view to remedying this condition, and after a careful study of the situation, I recommended that the School Committee engage a person who would co-ordinate or in the old term "supervise" the work of the first six grades. There is a dire need for this service at the present time since it is my desire to do a great deal of work in curriculum building during the next few years.


I believe the crying need of the schools which I hope can be met, in part at least, during the next year is that of textbooks. The books used in many instances are inade- quate. Due to the necessity for curtailment for the past several years, the amount appropriated for textbooks has been considerably less than the amount that is appropriated per pupil for this purpose in the average town and city in the State. In the final analysis this is not economy. We cannot afford to have fine school buildings, excellent in- structors and deny them the tools to work with.


Through the cooperation of the town Finance Com- mittee we have been able to make some progress during the past few months. The Finance Committee of the town were not willing to recommend anything for our needs in this respect until they had thoroughly investigated the situation, but, after investigation, I believe they realized there was an outstanding need, and during the fall months trans- ferred from the Reserve Fund $2100 for purchase of text- books. The next school year we shall need an appropria- tion for textbooks that will be up to the State average in order to meet meagerly our needs in this respect at the present time. Last year a committee studied arithmetic and brought in recommendations for the adoption of a new arithmetic series in the elementary grades during the


415


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS


fall months. These books have already been placed in the third and fourth grades. It is my hope to supply the fifth and sixth grades with this series during the next school year.


Reading


The basal system of reading in the Arlington School system is supposed to be the Beacon system. This is a pho- netic system which has been replaced in progressive school systems quite rapidly during the past decade. In Arlington at the present time we are using several different systems of reading with the result that a child moving from one dis- trict to another finds it almost as difficult as if he were moving to some other town.


At the present time a committee has been appointed to study several reading systems with the hope that by next September we can have a uniform system of basal reading in all of the first grades in the Arlington schools. I believe we should have the same basal system at least in the first three grades.


Junior High Schools


In the school report last year it was stated that the limit of efficiency had been reached in your junior high school organization, both in regard to seating capacity and the teaching load. This proved to be true and during the summer it was necessary to make a new classroom out of part of the library at the Junior High School West and to add another teacher in order to meet the needs of the in- creased enrollment in this school. At the Junior High School East it was necessary to install seats in another classroom, and at the Junior High School Center to replace a teacher who had been dropped from the teaching corps about a year ago.


After conference with the junior high school principals it was agreed that there is lack of standardization and co-


416


ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT


ordination in the work of the various junior high schools. We have already agreed upon standardizing the books in English and mathematics and I hope in the next few months to have committees working in the unification and stand- ardization of some of the other subjects.


The High School


There has been a tremendous change in the high schools of our country during the past twenty years. In the early days our high schools were highly selective institu- tions accepting only such young people as had shown good or excellent intellectual ability in the elementary schools. The high school curriculums were narrow in scope. The standards of scholastic accomplishment were high and re- quirements for promotion were distinctly rigid. Gradua- tion during this period implied four years of intensive work, faithful effort, and considerable abstract intelligence. The diploma of the high school graduate was proof that he possessed these qualities.


Our high schools today have become secondary schools for all of the children of all of the people. It is now not possible to insist on our former rigid standards of achieve- ment for many of the pupils who are enrolled, no matter how expert the instruction or how carefully the curricu- lum be planned. I believe it is necessary to distinguish care- fully between scholastic training and the socializing function of our secondary schools.


The high school diploma at the present time may mean for the mediocre student merely three years of regular attendance, good behavior and, in the judgment of the faculty, reasonable and satisfactory effort. It is a process of meeting the demands of the boys and girls of adolescent age who are placed in our charge, a process very difficult in application. If the standard of the teacher be too high, many of these pupils will be denied the opportunity of graduating. If the standards are too low, graduation may come as a result of three years of bluff and shirking and




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