USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1945 > Part 22
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424
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Old friends and some new friends have generously sup- ported the Library and its work throughout the year. Their good will particularly has done much to brighten a year in which it was hard to keep our ideals.
I wish to express thanks to the staff for hearty help and cooperation.
To the Trustees I feel grateful for their continued and effective interest in the library's welfare.
Respectfully submitted
LUCINDA FIELD SPOFFORD Librarian
FORM OF BEQUEST
I hereby give and bequeath to the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts, for the benefit of the Robbins Library, the sum of Dollars for the purchase of books and peri- odicals under the direction of the Board of Trustees.
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS
Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1945.
Name of Library: Robbins Library
City: Arlington. State: Massachusetts.
Name of Librarian: Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford.
Date of founding 1835
Population served :
43,515
Assessed Valuation of Town $56,168,350.00 Terms of use-Free for lending, Free for reference Agencies
Central Library 1
Branches
Library Building ... 1
425
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
School Building 1
Others
School rooms 53
Fire Stations 3
Symmes Hospital 1
Total 60
Number day open during year
(Central Library) ..
304
Hours open each week for lending (Central Library) 66
Hours open each week for reading (Central Library) 66
Library closed Wednesdays during July and August Hours open each week 55
INCREASE
Number of volumes beginning of year ...... . 69,371
Number of volumes added during the year by purchase 3,948
Number of volumes added by gift
82
Number of volumes added by binding
18
Number of volumes lost and returned
21
Number of volumes lost and withdrawn 1,148
Total number at end of year 72,292
REGISTRATION
Number of registered borrowers December 31, 1945 17,552
Number of borrowers registered during 1945 1,509
Registration period, years . 3
Number of periodicals and newspapers received :
Titles
247
Copies 305
Number of staff, library service (including part-time) 13
426
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Number of staff, janitor service (including part-time) 3
Full-time
2
Part-time
1
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation by Town, 1945
$40,260.00
Expenditures :
Salaries-Library and Janitor Service
24,676.50
Supplies and Expenses :
Books
5,906.42
Periodicals
713.39
Bindery
1,716.56
Fuel
1,184.79
Light
982.81
Building and Grounds
719.22
Telephone
223.42
Other Expenses
1,398.66
Total
$12,845.27
Balance from Town Appropriation:
Salary account
$1,983.50
All others
754.73
Total
$2,738.23
Trust Fund Balance:
January 1, 1945
$8,002.45
Income during 1945
2,164.97
Total
$10,167.42
Expended during 1945:
Books
$23.86
Other expenses
22.87
Total
$46.73
Balance December 31, 1945
$10,120.69
427
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE ROBBINS PRINT COLLECTION
FOR THE YEAR 1945
To the Trustees of the Robbins Print Fund:
The year 1945 followed the pattern of the preceding war years-expenditures only for a few portraits, bought advantageously, and for the barest necessities of equipment for print-housekeeping.
The activity of the curator consisted almost entirely of cataloguing and research, an endless work in a collection of upwards of 100,000 prints. The cataloguing now is mostly in the field of obscure subjects and artists. Many prints were measured for new mats, but few were mounted. The cutting of mats was virtually suspended, owing to the fact that there is almost no space for the increased bulk of mounted prints. There is still on hand a supply of mat board of two standard sizes, and new mats can be cut as soon as there is room for them to be stored satisfactorily.
There is need of more cabintes for the permanent hous- ing of matted prints and also of more portfolios or boxes for the unmounted portraits. The most immediate need, however, is for more card catalogue drawers; since the con- centration on cataloguing has increased by hundreds the number of cards to be filed. The present drawers are filled to repletion.
During the year, two groups of portraits were exhibited in the Library Art Gallery while the exhibition in the Print Gallery upstairs remained unchanged. Nine portraits were purchased from the Robbins Fund, and fifty wood engrav- ings by the famous American engraver, Timothy Cole, were presented to the collection by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Holman of Holman's Print Shop, Boston.
The 1945 acquisitions are as follows :
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ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
By purchase : General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lithographed by S. J. Woolf
Henri Caro-Delvaille, Drypoint by Walter Tittle
Mme. Caro-Delvaille, Drypoint by Walter Tittle
Edward Hopper, Drypoint by Walter Tittle
General Douglas A. MacArthur, Lithographed by S. J. Woolf
Michelangelo (in his studio), Etching by Arthur Wm. Heintzelman
William H. de Beau Nelson, Drypoint by Walter Tittle Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Lithographed by S. J. Woolf Arturo Toscanini, Drypoint by Arthur Wm. Heintzelman
By gift :
Portraits by Timothy Cole : John Allen, M. D.
Mme. Aman-Jean Mrs. Alexander Blair Elisa Bonaparte
Carlos Baltasar, infante of Spain Mrs. Elizabeth Carnac Catherine of Aragon, Queen Duchess Cattaneo Princesse de Conty (Marie Anne de Bourbon) Baronne de Crussol Jeronima de las Cuebas (called "El Greco's Daughter") Georgiana, duchess of Devonshire (and child) Mrs. Glengowan (and young daughter) Lady Jane Maxwell, duchess of Gordon (and young son) Lord Heathfield Jeanne d'Arc Countess Lercari Marie Leczynska, Queen of France Mme. Mercier Lady Mildmay (and child) Helena Modjeska
429
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
Don Olivarez Lady Robert Peel Philip IV of Spain Mrs. Phipps (and grandchild) Dona Isabel C. de Porcel Mme. Recamier (after Louis David)
Mme. Recamier (after baron Gerard)
Comtesse Regnault de St. Jean d'Angely Lady Selina Skipwith
Frau Franz Snyder Mme. Sophie Princess Vitelli ("Lady Holding a Rabbit") Mary Wollstonecraft
and also six miscellaneous subjects after well-known paint- ers and ten portraits of saints and other subjects from the Bible.
KATHRYN M. ACHUFF December 31, 1945
430
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ROBBINS ART FUND 1945
Robbins Art Fund
$43,364.63
Expenditures :
Salaries
1,000.00
Prints
108.00
All others
17.89
Total
$1,125.89
431
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1945
To the Citizens of Arlington:
The annual report of the School Committee presented herein follows the practice of the past by mentioning only some of the general features in connection with the oper- ation of the school system, and we therefore recommend careful perusal of the Superintendent's Report which im- mediately follows in detail.
At the organization meeting in March, Mr. James W. Kidder who had served as chairman for three years declined to continue in that capacity and the present chairman was elected to fill this position. The committee is indebted to the retiring chairman for his judicious and capable handling of the duties of the office, and wishes to take this oppor- tunity to express its sincere approval and appreciation.
It is with profound regret that we record the deaths of two members of the staff. The shock of their passing was particularly acute, as both were stricken only a few hours after they had been zealously devoting their effort and the skill with which they were so richly endowed, to promote the success of the young people of this town in whom they were so deeply interested.
The death of Mr. Fred V. Ostergren occured on July 4. Prior to taking over his duties in the Arlington School Sys- tem in 1931, Mr. Ostergren's career as a teacher and coach of athletics had been outstanding. His splendid work in Arlington added further luster to his record. During his last year he was appointed Supervisor of Physical Activities and relieved of much of the arduous coaching duties through the addition of new personnel to the varsity coaching staff. His passing is mourned by a host of friends far and wide, many of whom had benefited from close association with him.
432
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Miss Frances B. Murray died on November 2, after hav- ing been a member of the staff in the High School Commer- cial Department since 1924, where she taught stenography and typewriting. Her classes were with the senior girls, who were given a splendid foundation in these subjects and thus enabled to obtain good clerical and secretarial posi- tions. She was an efficient and faithful worker, and her in- fluence on the young people of the high school during her long term of service was stimulating and most beneficial.
This committee, after weighing various factors care- fully, has decided that the chronological age required for admission to kindergarten shall be four years and eight months as of September 30, and an added year for admis- sion to the first grade shall be required. In addition, chil- dren not more than two months under those ages may be tested, at the request of their parents, to determine their mental age and will be admitted to kindergarten and first grade if the mental ages are not less than five years and six years respectively.
You will be interested to learn that during the past year there has been paid into the Thompson Fund approx- imately $360,000. through the further distribution of the residue of the estate of the late Mabel E. Thompson. The total amount in this fund is now approximately $410,000., and through the beneficence of this public-spirited citizen, deserving pupils graduating from Arlington High School are provided the opportunity to continue their education by means of scholarships awarded out of the annual income from this fund. As far as we are able to determine, few communities, if any, are as fortunately endowed.
The Arlington School System was also fortunate to ob- tain without cost during the past year certain equipment from the State Department of Education and the distribu- tion of surplus government material. This equipment is estimated to be worth approximately $40,000. We were thus enabled to offer to pupils an expanded course in Voca-
433
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
tional Training at a relatively small cost to the Town, inas- much as we are substantially reimbursed through the State Vocational Department for the cost of instructional service.
There are, as mentioned in the Superintendent's report, inadequate facilities in some of our school buildings and it is hoped that in the near future plans can be devised and funds made available to remedy the most pressing deficien- cies. A special article will appear in the warrant for the next annual meeting requesting a sum of money for archi- tectural and engineering advice in order that any recom- mendation presented by the School Committee to the town may be based upon sound professional advice and estimates. Due to the shortage of skilled man-power and materials dur- ing the past few years, we have been forced to defer action in many cases of ordinary building maintenance. For this reason, there undoubtedly will be in the future some in- crease in the amount of repairing and painting that will have to be done. Furthermore new regulations regarding safety of public buildings have been adopted by the Legisla- ture. Our buildings have been inspected by the representa- tives of the State Department of Public Safety, and we have been told that certain work will have to be done before a cer- tificate covering the public use of the buildings can be issued. To comply with the new requirements would require the expenditure of a considerably larger sum of money than is ordinarily included in the school budget for normal re- quirements of maintenance and minor construction. For this reason, we are therefore placing a special article in the town warrant to cover the cost of this work, although some of the safety requirements referred to have already been met with funds transferred to our department by the Fi- nance Committee.
In accordance with the vote taken at the last annual town meeting a special committee was authorized to recom- mend the purchase of a site for a school in the Mystic-side area. We are informed that an article will appear in the
434
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
warrant for the coming annual meeting calling for the pur- chase of such a site and we hope for favorable action.
Two years ago the School Committee approved the plan whereby chest x-rays were offered to seniors and juniors in high school. The State Department of Public Health fur- nished technicians for this work, and the expenses were de- frayed by the local health association through a portion of the funds obtained from the sale of Christmas seals. Al- though the examination was not compulsory, 884 members of these two classes were examined this year.
There was appropriated at the last annual meeting $787,062.00 for the Arlington School Budget. Since that time the school department received $2,500. from the emer- gency fund through the vote of the Finance Committee to take care of necessary expenditures which could not be anti- cipated and were of an emergency nature. The total funds made available to the School Department were therefore $789,562.00. However, only $744,860.00 was actually spent and an unexpended balance of $44,702.00 was returned to the Town Treasury. Of this amount $12,893.00 represented the difference between the salaries of the teachers in the service and the salaries of the war-time substitutes who were taking their places. As is customary each year there was also a substantial sum of money turned in to the Town Treasury which actually represented a return of funds expended by the School Department. The following is a list of such funds received during 1945:
From the Commonwealth of Massachusetts:
General School Fund $48,712.60
Adult Civic Education 366.25
Tuition and transportation of State Wards 2,844.62
From the City of Boston
Tuition of City Wards 97.73
From the Federal Government (George-Deen Fund) For Pre-Induction Courses 2,664.93
435
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Other Receipts Local Tuition
1,497.50
Rentals for use of buildings
481.39
Miscellaneous
960.02
$57,625.04
Adding these receipts to the balance returned to the treas- ury by the School Department and deducting the sum from the total funds allotted to the School Department, leaves $687,235.00, which was the actual cost of the schools in 1945 to the Arlington taxpayer.
A number of changes have occurred in the personnel during 1945. Six of our teachers have returned to their duties following their release from the Armed Services. Eighteen others are still on leave of absence, and it is as- sumed that the majority of these will return in the near future. We feel that Arlington has been fortunate in the type of teachers who have been willing to serve in these vacancies on a military substitute basis. The changes are recorded as follows :
Resignations:
Gladys P. Farwell-High School
Lillian W. Goodwin, substitute-High School
Ruth E. Hayes, substitute-High School
Alice L. Jenks-High School
Mary A. Kennedy-High School
Helen R. Whittemore, substitute-High School Edna G. Sanford-Junior High School Center Doris P. DeCost-Junior High School East Margaret B. L'Esperance-Junior High School East Gwilym R. Roberts-Junior High School East Rosamond Walsh-Junior High School East Charles J. Anton-Junior High School West Ruth E. Carter-Junior High School West Robert V. Frost-Junior High School West Marjorie K. Ionta-Junior High School West
436
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Cleone Cummings-Brackett School Mary E. Disken-Brackett School Harriett P. Hinckley-Brackett School Laura Phillips-Brackett School Rilla M. Hamlin-Crosby School June R. Phillips-Crosby School Janet C. Rutherford-Crosby School Edith O. Estey-Cutter School Phoebe A. Hayes-Cutter School Rena E. Lilly-Hardy School Helena S. Murphy-Hardy School Ann E. Dolan-Locke School Elvira E. Pacifici-Locke School Elinor C. Varney-Locke School Pauline Helle, substitute-Peirce School
Lisle M. Collins-Russell School
Martha E. O'Neill-matron
Retirements:
Florence W. Cromwell, who began service in Arlington in 1920, and at the time of her retirement was a teacher at the Locke School.
Appointments:
Ruth E. Hayes, substitute-High School
Josephine Lee, part time substitute-High School Glenna Kelly-High School Mary Donlon-Junior High School East
Robert L. Stevenson-Junior High School East Genevieve J. Humphrey, substitute-Junior High School West
Mary Vanasse-Junior High School West
Ruth L. McEwen-Brackett School Ann C. O'Brien-Brackett School Margaret Walsh-Brackett School Mary L. Gunnerson, substitute-Crosby School
437
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Josephine B. Keay-Crosby School
Frances M. Nye, substitute-Crosby School Elizabeth Davis, substitute-Cutter School
Shirley Vedoe-Cutter School
Louise B. Matthews, substitute-Hardy School Esther M. Russell-Hardy School Julia Scamman-Hardy School Marie A. Snell-Locke School Joscelyn Tozier-Locke School Barbara Welch-Locke School
Shirlie C. Gott, part time substitute-Parmenter School
Pauline Helle, substitute-Peirce School
Muriel F. Flight-Peirce School
Mary A. Lewis-Russell School
Barbara K. Gratto-assistant school nurse
Returned from service:
Charles H. Downs
George F. Fusco
Roger S. Houston
Edward L. Humphrey
George Lowder Dorothy Rounds
Edward Hardy Walter McClure
In conclusion, the Committee wishes to express its ap- preciation to the entire personnel of the School Department for their conscientious and proficient work during the year under most trying conditions. Through their efforts it has been possible to maintain the high standards desired in our school system. We are indebted to the other town depart- ments for their most courteous cooperation in our mutual relations, and to the Parent-Teacher Associations and other citizens in the town for their constructive support.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) HAROLD A. CAHALIN, Chairman.
438
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1945
To the School Committee of Arlington,
Ladies and Gentlemen :
It is my privilege to submit for your consideration the following report of the schools for the year 1945. I am including in my report excerpts from the annual reports submitted to me by various principals and supervisors.
A Broader Program:
With the passing of the war emergency, we must not fail to give youth their appropriate share in the develop- ment of a permanent peace. We asked our young people to bear many responsibilities in war and they have demon- strated ability, courage, and cooperation which have been a challenge to older citizens. The enlistment of these energies in promoting the general welfare of all peoples is a responsibility of all organizations whose purpose is to serve youth. After all, our greatest chance for a peace which will be permanent lies not with us but with them. The school program should provide instruction in the ad- vantage of peace and in the understanding and appreciation of the life, culture and contributions of the peoples of the world. The objective of international cooperation is to eliminate the kind of education that can lead only to war and substitute for it the kind of education that leads to peace.
Good Education is Good Business:
The Committee on Education of the United States Chamber of Commerce under the title, "Education, an In- vestment in People" has published a booklet reporting on their study of the educational and financial status of the people of each state. The Chamber first looked at the facts concerning adult educational levels, enrollment in schools,
439
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
current expenses of schools systems, teachers' salaries and sources of school funds. Together with this was a study of the economic well-being and its relationship to educa- tion.
These business men found that persons with more schooling earn more money and persons with higher edu- cation pay more rent for their dwellings or own homes with higher rental values. Furthermore, it was found that areas which maintain good schools and a high educational level are also the areas of higher per capita retail sales. Also, telephone service and magazine circulation are more widespread in areas which have a higher educational level.
This committee draws several conclusions on the basis of the collected facts-that education is an essential instru- ment through which commerce, industry and agriculture can be expanded in rising degree; that cultural education must accompany technical training to develop the appetites of the people for a better living that can come from the use of products of American industry and agriculture; that to maintain a representative republic under the system of private endeavor, intiative and direction, business must discover basically sound measures for the expansion of our dynamic economy. Education as an essential instrument in that expansion is a challenge to American business. Business must determine if its sponsorship of expanded education as a means of economic improvement will answer the maximum demands of the people for a fuller partici- pation in the larger life that the American scene promises in the era of peace.
Report of the Principal of the High School:
As in the previous years during the war, a number of boys left school to enter military service. Forty-six of these were seniors and twenty-nine were undergraduates. Since September 5, 1945 only one senior has left school to go into military service and very few if any other seniors will leave for this purpose because of the change in regula-
440
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
tions which now allows a senior to remain in school to complete the year and to graduate before reporting for military service. So far this school year three undergradu- ates have left for military service.
This year it was necessary again because of the size of the class (431) to hold the graduation exercises out- doors. Unfortunately, the weather forced a postponement of the exercises and, although graduation was held the fol- lowing evening, sudden showers just before the beginning of the exercises made it unwise to keep either the pupils or the audience any longer than necessary. The program, therefore, was shortened by omitting the original essays of five seniors and a beautful musical number in which a chorus and two soloists who were seniors were to be ac- companied by the school orchestra. This experience shows. that as long as we have outdoor graduations we shall have to face the uncertainty of the weather. Because of this and some other disadvantages, I hope that sometime the George H. Lowe Jr. Auditorium will be enlarged and finish- ed so that it will then be possible to have indoor gradua- tions again.
A survey of the members of the class of 1945 has been made by the guidance department and some of the important and interesting facts have been included in the director's annual report. Also in this report are facts con- cerning the help that our guidance department has been and is giving to returning veterans. I believe that our guidance department is doing a fine job not only in help- ing our veterans but in helping so many of our pupils with good advice and constructive suggestions. My belief is strengthened by the fact that last June Mr. Warren E. Benson, Supervisor of Guidance and Placement, Massachu- setts Department of Education, classified our guidance de- partment as a "Class A" program.
At the present time seven veterans of World War II (all of them Arlington boys) are attending our high school in order to complete the work required for their diplomas.
441
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
Eleven Arlington veterans are now attending the regional high school which has been set up in Somerville for the purpose of providing the opportunity to veterans to study those subjects that they need to pass either for their high school diplomas or for admission credits to college.
A few physical changes in the school have been made this year. The print shop was rearranged so that more than half of the room was outfitted as a machine shop. Through the auspices of the division of Vocational Educa- tion in the State Department of Education, we are able to get the machines at no cost. As soon as an instructor is available, we shall start a course in machine shop practice. This should be an excellent course for some of the boys each year.
A state requirement made it necessary last summer to rearrange the pupils' desks and chairs in four rooms. This necessitated taking out some desks and chairs, thus reducing the seating capacity of each of these rooms.
In June Mrs. Farwell, better known as Miss Porter, resigned after twenty years of service at Arlington High School. Miss Jenks resigned in November after nineteen years of service in our High School. In July Mr. Ostergren died suddenly. He had served Arlington as coach and teacher since 1931. In November Miss Murray died from a cerebral hemorrhage after teaching in our schools since 1924.
Three teachers who had been on military leave re- turned to their school positions during the year.
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