USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Arlington > Town of Arlington annual report 1946 > Part 24
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
STAFF INTERESTS
There have been many changes on the staff due in most cases to marriage and war time adjustments.
Mrs. Margaret Heaps, who held the position of Head of Circulation during much of the war period, with so much
435
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
understanding, judgment and technical skill, gave up her position in September to be with her family. We have been very fortunate however, in being able to have her help for shorter periods in a supervisory capacity.
The following have left the service of the Library: Miss Mary P. Brine resigned to take up work again in the Somer- ville Public Library; Miss Irene Christopher for a position in the Boston University Library; Miss Frances Macaulay, after years of faithful and ever increasing usefulness to the library, resigned to be married; Mrs. Jane Boss, Miss Mary Curry, and Miss Hope McMahon left the service of the li- brary because of adjustments of the times.
To find trained personnel is more and more difficult.
To the members of the staff I am indebted for their will- ing responses and gracious attitude during the trying period of many staff changes and difficulties due to the lack of trained personnel as well as mounting library circulation with added responsibilities. Their appreciation and loyalty deserves commendation.
Were it not for the devotion and vision of the members of the Board of Trustees and the library staff, the library would fail as an effectual tool in the community's betterment and education. To them and to the Board of Trustees for continued confidence, support and guidance I am deeply grateful.
Respectfully submitted,
LUCINDA F. SPOFFORD Librarian
436
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION FORM FOR UNIFORM STATISTICS
Annual Report for the year ending December 31, 1946. Name of Library: Robbins Library
City: Arlington. State: Massachusetts.
Name of Librarian: Mrs. Lucinda F. Spofford.
Date of founding 1835
Population served :
43,517
Assessed Valuation of Town
$57,059,800.00
Terms of use-Free for lending, Free for reference
Agencies
Central Library 1
Branches
2
In Library Building 1
In School Building 1
Others
School rooms 32
Fire Stations 3
Symmes Hospital 1
Churches 1
Total 40
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 & August Hours open each week 55
INCREASE
Number of volumes beginning of year 72,292
Number of volumes added during the year by purchase 4,515
Number of volumes added by gift 60
Number of volumes added by binding, etc. .. 24
437
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
Number of volumes lost and returned
46
Number of volumes lost and withdrawn 1,922
Total number at end of year
75,015
Number of volumes of fiction lent for home use
126,276
Number of volumes of non-fiction lent for . home use 86,037
-
Total number of volumes lent for home
use 212,313
REGISTRATION
Number of registered borrowers December 31,1946
17,994
Number of borrowers registered during 1946
1,974
Registration period, years
3
Number of periodicals and newspapers received:
Titles
220
Copies 228
Number of staff, library service (including part-time) 13
Number of staff, Janitor service (including part-time) 3
Full-time 2
Part-time
1
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
Appropriation by Town, 1945 $43,016.00
Personal services
27,966.00
Expenses 15,050.00
Expenditures :
Salaries-Librarian 23,854.00
Janitors
3,762.26
$27,616.26
Expenses :
Books
6,937.53
Periodicals
686.42
438
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Bindery
1,329.09
Building and Grounds
934.52
Fuel
1,152.18
Light
972.08
Telephone
229.79
Other Expenses
1,679.90
Total
$13,921.51
Town Appropriation Spent
42,034.56
Balance from Town Appropriation: Salaries (Janitor)
$
349.74
Expense
1,128.49
Trust Fund Balance :
January 1, 1946
$10,120.69
Income during 1947
2,243.13
Total $12,363.82
Expended during 1946:
Salaries
$496.79
Building (Furniture)
820.00
All Others
17.66
Total $ 1,334.45
Balance December 31, 1946
$11,029.37
Capital Outlay Appropriation
$14,400.00
Expended during 1946
Auxiliary lighting
$163.45
Building repairs on roof
200.00
1
Total $363.45
Balance December 31, 1946
$14,036.55
Reconversion Balance:
January 1, 1946 $1,079.19
Spent during 1945
713.00
Balance December 31, 1946 $366.19
Special Appropriation-Salaries $3,900.00
439
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
Special Appropriation-Salaries
(Bonus)
2,483.32
Total
$6,383.32
Expended during 1946 :
Special Appropriation : Salaries .... $2,398.43
Special Appropriation : Salaries (Bonus)
2,483.32
4,881.75
Balance December 31, 1946 returned to Town .... $1,501.57
ROBBINS LIBRARY TRUST FUNDS
Henry Mott Library Fund-Bequest of Henry Mott of Ar- . lington, in the amount of $5,200.00, of which the income is to be used for general purposes of the library.
Timothy Wellington Fund-Sum of $100.00, received March 1854, for the benefit of the Junior Library, a legacy by the will of Dr. Timothy Wellington.
Ellen W. Hodgdon Fund-By the will of Ellen W. Hodgdon, a bequest of $1,000.00 in memory of her father Richard Lord Hodgdon the income to be used for the purchase of books. 1
Children's Book Fund-Sum of $5,000.00 received April 1931 from an Arlington resident who wished to be unnamed. "The amount to be invested and reinvested and the in- come to be used for the purpose of children's books for the Robbins Library."
Nathan Pratt Library Fund-In 1875 the bequest of Nathan Pratt $10,000.00 to the Town of Arlington, the income to be expended for the increase and maintenance of the Public Library in said Town.
Elbridge Farmer Fund-Sum of $50,000.00 received 1892 by the will of Elbridge Farmer, the income of said sum to be used for the support and maintenance of said library and building.
440
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
E. Nelson Blake Fund-Sum of $4,000.00 received from sale of G. A. R. Hall by deed of will of E. Nelson Blake, 1934. "Proceeds of sale to create a fund, the income only to be expended for the benefit of the Robbins Li- brary, under the supervision and authorization of the Trustees of the Robbins Library."
Dexter Rawson Fay Fund-Bequest of Dexter Rawson Fay, the sum of $2,000.00 in memory of his father, Walcott Fay, and his mother Sally Rawson Fay, income to be used for the purchase of books. -
Francis E. Thompson Fund-From the estate of Francis E. Thompson, 1944, the sum of $8,181.54, "To be held as a permanent fund and the income only to be used for the general purposes of the organization."
Robbins Library Art Fund-Bequest of Winfield Robbins, the sum of $25,000.00. "The principal to be kept intact and the interest of said twenty five thousand dollars to be devoted to the care, preservation and increase of my collection of Prints."
FORM FOR GIFTS AND BEQUESTS
BEQUEST
I give and bequeath to the Trustees of the Robbins Li- brary of the Town of Arlington, Mass., the sum of for the purchase of books (for the purchase of books on a specified subject if desired, or for some other purpose to be specified).
GIFTS
I give to the Trustees of the Robbins Library of the Town of Arlington, Mass., the sum of to be used at the discretion of the Trustees (or for a purpose to be specified).
-
441
REPORT OF LIBRARIAN
REPORT OF THE CURATOR OF THE ROBBINS PRINT COLLECTION FOR THE YEAR 1946
To the Trustees of the Robbins Print Fund :
During the year 1946 research and cataloguing of por- traits and artists went steadily forward.
Eighteen portraits, mostly of noted women, were exhib- ited in the Library Art Gallery from mid-July until late fall, and later a small group of recent accessions was hung for a brief period in the same gallery.
Certain necessary equipment was purchased to facilitate the curator's work, and the following portraits were added to the collection:
Two color woodcuts by William Nicholson:
Henrik Ibsen.
Sada Yacco.
Two drypoints by Oskar Stoessel:
James F. Byrnes.
Cordell Hull.
Three drypoints by Walter Tittle:
R. B. Cunninghame-Graham.
Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes. William C. Potter.
Since the end of the war the curator has been in frequent communication with Miss Ida Robbins, who is still living in Switzerland. She is happy to report that Miss Robbins con- tinues to feel a very keen interest in the Robbins Collection and its future development.
KATHRYN M. ACHUFF
Curator
ROBBINS ART FUND EXPENDITURES
Salaries
$1000.00
Prints
99.35
All others
135.27
Total Expenditures
$1,234.62
442
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE YEAR 1946
To the Citizens of Arlington :
After seven years of continuous service together, the School Committee of nine members became a committee of eight with the election of our Chairman of the previous year to the office of Selectman. Harold A. Cahalin was an outstanding School Committee member whose service is missed, but we are pleased to have him continue as an official of our town. Mr. Cahalin's letter of resignation is included in this report as it accurately presents our harmo- nious relations.
March 6, 1946
Arlington School Committee Maple Street
Arlington, Massachusetts
Dear Friends and Members of the Arlington
School Committee:
Confirming my statement to you at the February meeting of the School Committee, I am presenting herewith my formal resignation from the Arlington School Committee to become effective as of March 6th, the date of your Organization Meeting.
I feel sincere regret in terminating the mutual interest which we have had for many years and shall miss the regularity of contact with members of the committee, but I hope that our paths will cross fre- quently in the future.
I will always value highly the experience I have enjoyed and knowledge gained in serving as a mem- ber of the School Committee.
May I express my sincere appreciation and grati- tude for the courtesy and cooperation which you ex- tended to me as Chairman during the past year. I have great confidence in the present committee and
443
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
feel that the children of Arlington and all others who have a vital interest in our school system are extre- mely fortunate to have men and women of your caliber, and a Superintendent such as Mr. Hall fostering and protecting their interests.
Yours sincerely,
(Signed) HAROLD A. CAHALIN, Member of the Arlington School Committee
Reconversion following the termination of the war has made itself felt in all school systems. Adjustments have begun and will continue for the next few years giving pub- lic school education much publicity and in the end benefit- ing every one connected with it.
A forward step, in the opinion of the Committee, that had been discussed for many years was put into operation the past year. Principalships of five of the elementary schools were combined under the administration of two men. This step will mean a small saving in operations and will give the elementary pupils contact with a man while attending the lower grades.
The school budget is always a matter of concern to the citizens and because of the increased amount it will be scrutinized more than ever. We desire to call your atten- tion to the following facts. The school appropriation for 1931 was $736,399, while in 1946 approximately $772,490 was expended despite salary increases voted at the town meeting, higher cost of supplies, materials, repairs and a larger school population.
A salary committee from the Arlington school teachers has submitted a new salary schedule based on preparation and experience, calling for a maximum of $4,060, and equal pay for men and women teachers. This is a $1000 increase over the present maximum for men. The Committee wishes to increase the maximum salaries paid to the teachers, but because of the equal pay referendum which will be on the
444
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ballot in March, was reluctant to adopt the new schedule. The Committee has voted a single salary schedule for all women teachers irrespective of the grade they teach.
Almost $50,000 was received from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on account of Education for the calendar year 1946. This is a small amount compared to what similar states in our class disburse. Legislation will undoubtedly be passed at this session of the State Legislature to in- crease the grant although no large increases are expected before 1948.
It is our duty to call to your attention the following matters which will require action presently :
Replacement of the seventy-five year old Russell School building;
New. elementary school in the Morningside dis- trict, the land for which has been selected;
Additional space at both the Junior High School Center and the West for gymnasium and cafeteria purposes ;
Additional stands at the high school field to ac- commodate the spectators at the football games. All of the seats were filled at the home games this year and many times the field was overrun, making it difficult to conduct the game.
During the year we welcomed back from Military serv- ice the following members of our teaching staff :
Bert A. Roens-Director of Guidance Department Guy A. Petralia-High School
James R. Powers-Junior High School Center James A. Smith-Junior High School Center John P. Dempsey-Junior High School East John D. Haley-Junior High School East Charles J. Sheehan-Junior High School East Arthur L. Tuohy-Junior High School East Arthur T. Burroughs-Junior High School West William J. Sullivan-Junior High School West Helen O'Brien Mulcahy-Locke School
445
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
It is our sad duty to report the deaths of Elizabeth L. Holton and Minnie L. Shedd during the year. Miss Holton began teaching at the Crosby School in 1918 and at the time of her death was a teacher at the Hardy School. Miss Shedd began teaching at the High School in 1919 and was appointed head of the French department in 1937, which position she held at the time of her death.
Both of these teachers were veterans in the Arlington school system, Miss Holton for twenty-eight years and Miss Shedd for twenty-seven years. They embodied all of the attributes of superior teachers and their passing leaves a void in their respective buildings.
The year 1946 saw the retirement of seven members of the school department having from twenty-two to thirty- two years of service to the Arlington schools, and two mem- bers with shorter service. We refer to
Ida B. Jewett, teacher at the High School since 1914 Harriett R. Pennell, supervisor of home economics since 1917,
Helen M. Fogg, who began service in 1919 as a teacher at the Russell School, and at the time of her retire- ment was a teacher in the Hardy School,
Flora B. Bradford, principal of the Cutter School since 1924,
Alma Casey, who began service in 1924 at the Junior High West and at the time of her retirement was a a teacher in the High School,
Ezekiel Pratt, M. D., school physician since 1914, Alice W. Mortimer, appointed school nurse in 1923, and at the time of her retirement was head nurse,
Percival Mott, who began service in 1930,
Ella M. Tewksbury, who began teaching in the High School in 1939.
The Committee expresses its gratitude to all of them for their many years of service, their loyalty and their con- tributions to the educational system of Arlington.
446
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
Resignations or Withdrawals:
Jerome C. Buckley-High School
Jean A. Hoyt-High School
Benjamin R. Lang-High School
Elizabeth A. Sampson, part time substitute-High School
Ethelwyn Wardle-High School
Edna C. Haviland, substitute-Junior High School Center
Sidney P. White-Junior High School Center
Alice S. Bowes, substitute-Junior High School West
Genevieve Humphrey, substitute-Junior High School West
Ruth L. Power-Junior High School West
Robert F. Thompson-Junior High School East
Alice L. Bennett-Brackett School
Isabell W. Eaton-Brackett School
Ann C. O'Brien-Brackett School
Ellen P. Nilsson-Brackett School
Mildred Felch-Crosby School
Mary L. Gunnerson, substitute-Crosby School
Florence P. Buckingham-Cutter School
Elizabeth Schroeder-Hardy School
Helen A. Clifford-Locke School Rita M. Hildreth, substitute-Locke School
Barbara F. Welch-Locke School
Shirlie Gott, part time substitute-Parmenter School
Muriel J. Blomquist-Peirce School
Pauline S. Griffin-Parmenter and Russell Schools
On Leave of absence: Mary K. Conlin
William C. Donovan-to enter military service Helen E. Nash
Charles J. Sheehan Arthur L. Tuohy
Appointments :
Charles J. Anton-Vocational School
Edmund J. Lewis-Vocational School
447
REPORT OF THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE
Bernard A. Courtney-High School
E. Christine Norwood-High School
John D. Roderick-High School
Walter E. Russell-High School
Arthur L. Russell, Jr .- Junior High School Center Ralph W. Brown, substitute-Junior High School East Deane W. Moores, part-time substitute-Junior High School East
Louise M. Callahan, substitute-Junior High School West
Ralph Gioiosa, substitute-Junior High Industrial Arts School
Muriel J. Maloney-Brackett School
Ethel V. Melin-Brackett School
Ethel E. Mellin-Brackett School
Eva V. Hall-Crosby School
Mary P. Lally-Crosby `School Louise F. Carter-Cutter School
Myrtle M. Webb, substitute-Cutter School
Elsie M. Burbank-Hardy School
Claire L. Emerson-Hardy School
Carolyn S. Haven-Hardy School
Mary T. Murphy-Locke School
Irene C. Wallace-Locke School
Susan B. Guy, substitute-Parmenter School
Marguerite F. Goodwin-Russell School
Kenneth A. Cameron-Principal of Cutter, Parmenter and Russell Schools
L. Curtis Foye, M. D .- part time school physician
M. Audrey Sisson, R. N .- school nurse
For further information regarding the operation of your school department, we respectfully refer you to the report of the Superintendent of Schools.
We express our appreciation to the school officials, teachers and employees for their loyal support, and we thank the members of the various town boards and depart- ments for their cooperation.
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH J. BEVINS, Chairman
448
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS FOR THE YEAR 1946
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 1946. I am including in my report excerpts from the annual reports submitted to me by various principals and supervisors.
A New Philosophy of School Support:
Every major profession in the country has set up power- ful machinery to elevate its standards. Education, as we know, is just beginning to receive through the newspaper editorials, magazine articles and the radio, the recognition it should have had decades ago. From this newly acquired recognition we should have a wholly new philosophy of school support. By school support we mean a program of building public recognition of the importance of teaching and the need for good schools. Once this attitude is achieved and maintained good salary schedules, sufficient to attract the best of our young people to the profession, will come as a matter of course.
It appears that one handicap to the elevation of our profession comparable with others has been the fact that local real estate has borne the burden of the costs of educa- tion. Over one-third of the total community budget goes to cover the maintenance of schools. Real estate represents but one-quarter of the wealth but it bears over three- quarters of the expenses of carrying on the various services of government. Public education is, however, a function of the State government and the State is responsible for see- ing that children are educated for the many duties of citi- zenship in a democratic society. The State has required its local communities to accept the financial burdens of educa- tion under ever increasing State mandates. The aid given to these communities by this State is but nine percent of the total cost of education whereas the average of aid to
449
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
local communities in other States is thirty percent. Massa- chusetts has long deferred action on State aid for schools. Local real estate cannot meet the needs, and a broadened and extended tax base can be provided only through action by the State. One Boston newspaper noted recently in an editorial that the present high cost of adopting a good program of State financial aid to public schools is the result of having been so slow about doing it before this.
In this growing public attitude of recognition of the importance of the profession there is an immediate concern shown in our communities for the raising of salaries now. Few persons will deny the justice of our teachers' request for pay increases. The most pressing problem confronting the schools today is that of securing and holding well quali- fied, experienced and competent teachers. This problem will be especially acute in communities where a definite professional salary schedule with immediate benefits is not promulgated. Teaching is a profession which should de- mand the full energies and time of the teachers. In the summer the teachers should be able to study or travel so that the education of the children would be further en- riched. As it is now, many of our teachers augment their salaries with summer or other part time employment.
Although the teachers as a whole have done creditable work in the past, with an adequate salary schedule they can and are eager to make a much greater contribution to the education of our children. Under bills now before the legislature a broader tax base is possible and through the enactment of a law providing State aid the burden on the real estate owner would not be increased. The community would receive more and improved educational services at no increase in the local budget.
Report of the High School Principal:
The enrollment in September 1945 was 1575; in Septem- ber 1946 it was 1641. The increase was due largely to the return to school of forty-six veterans. Of these thirteen
450
ARLINGTON TOWN REPORT
are postgraduates who are preparing for college and thirty- three are undergraduates. Most of these latter are seniors, five are juniors, and five are sophomores. All of the vet- erans have been absorbed in the regular classes and, with very few exceptions, have shown a keen desire to take full advantage of the opportunity to complete their high school education. The increase in enrollment was partly due to the appearance of nine postgraduates in addition to the thirteen veteran postgraduates. This is the largest number of postgraduates to be enrolled since the beginning of the war.
In September a new course, Clerical Training, was in- troduced in the commercial curriculum. This course is primarily for seniors in the Clerical course and consists of penmanship, review of arithmetic, filing, and office man- ners and procedure. It will give the pupils a valuable re- view in certain fundamentals just before they take com- merical positions. A course in World History was intro- duced this year as an elective in grades 11 and 12.
On November 1 the school lunch program, sponsored by the State Department of Education and subsidized by the federal government, was adopted in the school cafeteria. This program provides one-third of the daily protein re- quirements at a minimum cost.
In spite of the greatly increased problem of getting into college that high school graduates faced last June, a very high percentage of our pupils succeeded in gaining admis- sion to the colleges of their first choice and practically all of the remaining applicants were accepted in some college or other. The so called G. I. Bill of Rights encouraged such a vast number of veterans to seek admission to col- leges and technical schools that those institutions were compelled to diminish the number of freshmen admitted directly from secondary schools. Consequently, many graduates last June all over the country were unable to get into any college last September. Our record, therefore, is very gratifying and is direct evidence of the reputation for
451
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
high scholarship standards that our High School has attained with the colleges.
This reputation of requiring a high quality of work to be done by our pupils also extends into the business field. Practically all of our graduates last June who did not go to college were placed in good jobs even before the school year had ended.
Because of the very substantial income which provides the Francis E. Thompson scholarships, the Arlington Heights Study Club scholarship and the Arlington Teach- ers' Club scholarship were discontinued last June and the Warren E. Robinson scholarship has been discontinued since June. The Woman's Club scholarship, the first ever to be offered in our school, is to be continued. This scholar- ship with the Francis E. Thompson scholarships com- prised the largest number of scholarship awards ever to be made by the school. A number of the graduates also received scholarships from the colleges to which they were admitted.
This year the Harvard Club of Boston included our school in its distribution of the Harvard Prize Book. This book was awarded this year in about 400 of the leading secondary schools of the country. In each school the junior boy selected as the best all-round boy received the prize book.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.